Top Ten Tuesday

This week’s Top Ten: Ten books I picked up on a whim (however you decide to interpret that – bought, read, downloaded or stolen) Top Ten Tuesday is a feature/weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. Every week they post a ‘Top Ten’ list and everyone is welcome to join. Just link back to The Broke and the Bookish and add your name to the linky. Divine secrets of the Ya-Ya sisterhood by Rebecca Wells – I received this book from someone as a ‘thank you’ gift for a favor done. Apparently this book reminded her of me. Never heard of it, but started reading that same night. Loved it. And yes, there might be a bit of me stuck in there. The Memory Keeper’s daughter by Kim Edwards – One of those titles that begs you to read it. Also no idea what it was about. A stunning read, but it was very sad. After Anna by Alex Lake – This was one of those cheap-cheapies on BookBub. I bought it (because it was so cheap) and then I needed a book with something pink on the cover for a reading challenge. Oh my word! This was one of the […]

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Posted May 17, 2016
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Cover Characteristics – Silhouettes

Today’s Cover Characteristics – Silhouettes Cover Characteristics is a weekly meme hosted by Sugar and Snark. Every week they give us these gorgeous themes and then you have to pick 5 (or more – whatever blows your hair back) covers featuring that theme. If you want to participate: Pick your covers Post it to your blog Share your post’s URL in the linky provided by Sugar and Snark Go and check out the other guys who also posted! (This might influence your current TBR list a great deal.) When I saw today’s theme, a song immediately popped into my head and yes – I’ve been singing the whole day to the music in my head. (I also march to the beat of my own drum, but that’s completely besides the point today). Who of you remember Bonnie Tyler’s album Silhouette in Red? I remember this soooooo well. I had (still have, thanks to facebook) this lovely friend in Primary School who introduced me to Bonnie Tyler when we were about 11 or 12. When this album was released, we listened to it constantly. She had an amazing sound system in her room, and when those first notes of the first song (When Sally […]

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Posted May 16, 2016
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The Sunday Post – RIP HP

Sunday 15 May 2016 The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Caffeinated Book Reviewer. This is a post to recap the past week on your blog, tell everyone about books and things you can showcase and share news for the upcoming week. Remember to link your post and to visit others who have linked up.My good-old trusted friend and companion – HP my laptop, decided to retire early in 2016. My husband and I thought it wise to put him in an “old age home” for computers. The type of home where they minimize your daily schedule to maybe just one or two chores and for very limited time. All HP-my-old-pal had to do, was wake-up every morning, go to just one folder, open it and connect to his HP nephew, the printer. Not too much strain on those old wires. But alas…. It was with the greatest of sadness that I declared HP as dead as a doorstop 6 weeks ago. (My husband suggested that we use HP as a doorstop in future – to honor the memory of our profound loss).I told my husband that I don’t need a new computer at the moment. He is at work during the […]

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Posted May 15, 2016
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Friday Meets – 13 May

Meet me on Friday @ Friday 56 for a bit of Book Blogger Hop to kick-start the weekend with Book Beginnings. Friday 56 is hosted by Freda’s Voice. For this date, you will need the following: Grab a book (Yes, any book. But it might get you to your other Friday activities a bit quicker if you just grab the book you are currently reading) Turn to page 56 or 56% on your e-reader Find a sentence or two (your other Friday activities might determine this) Post it! Remember to post your link on Freda’s Voice and to visit the other guys in the linky. And don’t forget to list the title of the book and the author as well. I’ve re-read an old classic this week. The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-expury. No particular reason – maybe I was just contemplating if somewhere, we do not know where, a sheep that we never saw has (yes or no) eaten a rose. Page 56: “….if you tame me, then we shall need each other. To me, you will be unique in all the world. To you, I shall be unique in all the world…” Before you run of for ‘hey hey hey it’s Friday’ Remember to join Rose City Reader for Book […]

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Posted May 13, 2016
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Recipes for Love and Murder – Sally Andrew

Recipes for Love and Murder by Sally Andrew Series: Tannie Maria Mystery #1 on October 6th 2015 Genres: Cozy Mystery Pages: 384 Format: Paperback Source: My Bookshelf Buy on Amazon Goodreads A bright new talent makes her fiction debut with this first entry in a delicious crime set in rural South Africa—a flavorful blend of The #1 Ladies Detective Agency and Goldie Schulz, full of humor, romance, and recipes and featuring a charming cast of characters Tannie Maria (Tannie meaning Auntie, the respectful Afrikaans address for a woman older than you) is a middle-aged widow who likes to cook—and eat. She shares her culinary love as a recipe columnist for the local paper—until The Gazette decides its readers are hungrier for advice on matters of the heart rather than ideas for lunch and dinner. Tannie Maria doesn’t like the change, but soon discovers she has a knack—and a passion—for helping people. Of course she shares her recipes and culinary advice whenever she can! Assisting other people with their problems, Tannie Maria is eventually forced to face her own issues, especially when the troubles of those she helps touch on the pain of her past, like a woman desperate to escape […]

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Posted May 12, 2016
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Currently Reading

Tuesday 10 May 2016 Paperback Recipes for love and murder by Sally Andrew – what a fun read! I am just about finished with it. Just still need to scroll through some of the delicious recipes (not the one for murder – although all the ingredients and method are very well explained in this novel). The widow by Fiona Barton – will start with this one later tonight. Kindle 11/22/63 by Stephen King – I am currently reading this one and enjoy it immensely. But it is 842 pages long and I am suppose to partake in the Bout a book read-a-thon this week. Sooooooo – I will try to finish the following (or at least one!) this week. Five little pigs by Agatha Christie The longest ride by Nicholas Sparks Still Alice by Lisa Genova Google Play books and audio The little prince by Antoine De Saint-Exupery – I am reading this little, but lovey book on my phone. In class. While the kids are working. OR while waiting for the next ones to arrive. The rest of the time – I do teach. Honestly. Three men in a boat by Jerome K Jerome – also just about finished […]

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Posted May 10, 2016
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Cover Characteristics

Today’s cover characteristic – MAPS Cover characteristics is a meme hosted by Sugar & Snark – each week they post a characteristic and choose 5 of our favourite covers with that characteristic. Remember to add your name to the linky so that others can visit! The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis – If there is one place I would like to have a map to, it would be Narnia. Oh wait – I’ve got one. Keep on forgetting that in this world we just know Aslan by a different name. Paper Towns by John Green – this was the first novel I thought of when I saw the theme. I loved this book! The 100-year-old man who climbed out the window and disappeared by Jonas Jonasson – Isn’t the original Swedish cover just so cool? I was searching and hoping that one of the covers will feature a map. The ‘feel’ of the this whole amazing book was that of a man who is walking over a map. Or at least that’s how I felt when reading it. Heart of darkness by Joseph Conrad – this is the cover for the Kindle edition. Otherwise I might never have seen it. But […]

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Posted May 10, 2016
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When God was a Rabbit – Sarah Winman

When God was a Rabbit by Sarah Winman Published by Headline Review on May 12th 2011 Pages: 341 Format: Paperback Source: Book Club Buy on Amazon Goodreads This is a book about a brother and a sister. It’s a book about secrets and starting over, friendship and family, triumph and tragedy, and everything in between. More than anything, it’s a book about love in all its forms. In a remarkably honest and confident voice, Sarah Winman has written the story of a memorable young heroine, Elly, and her loss of innocence- a magical portrait of growing up and the pull and power of family ties. From Essex and Cornwall to the streets of New York, from 1968 to the events of 9/11, When God Was a Rabbit follows the evolving bond of love and secrets between Elly and her brother Joe, and her increasing concern for an unusual best friend, Jenny Penny, who has secrets of her own. With its wit and humor, engaging characters whose eccentricities are adroitly and sometimes darkly drawn, and its themes of memory and identity, When God Was a Rabbit is a love letter to true friendship and fraternal love. Funny, utterly compelling, fully of […]

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Posted May 2, 2016
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Reading in the rocking chair

‘Worrying is like a rocking chair – it gives you something to do, but it doesn’t get you anywhere’ I remember reading Samuel Beckett’s Waiting for Godot when I was in High School. How absolutely absurd the whole thing was to me. Vladimir and Estragon were just sitting there. On a bench (or was it a rock?), under a tree. Waiting. Endlessly and in vain. They didn’t do anything. They didn’t go anywhere. They just waited and worried for and about this Godot person/entity/deity/pty.ltd – whatever. “Nothing happens. Nobody comes. Nobody goes. It’s awful!” How awful that must be (thought the 18 year-old me). Imagine that. You just sit and wait while nothing happens. By choice. Whoa. For a young girl who’s life was still ahead of her, a young girl who never seemed to have enough hours in the day or days in the week – Waiting for Godot was, well, ABSURD. Somehow I have always managed to squeeze in a bit of reading time in my hectic schedule – but oh, how I wished to have more time for reading and writing. The years went by (I am not going to say how many years) and my schedule just seemed to increase. […]

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Posted April 29, 2016
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Currently Reading

Paperback My reading progress for the past week was a bit slow. Flue-season in SA and I got it. Thankfully I also got the most beautiful flowers from a wonderful friend. I’m still reading Come, thou tortoise by Jessica Grant. It is a lovely read with the loveliest characters. Especially Winifred. She is a tortoise yes, but I do so love her. So why don’t I just finish it?? I’m just running through books at the moment. Very similar to a hare. Quite sure that Winifred will catch up with me. I’ve started When God was a rabbit by Sarah Winman on Sunday afternoon. Not exactly sure what is going on here yet, but so far it is an easy read and I’m looking forward to see what happens with Elly and Jenny Penny. Oh.My.Word…….. As I’m typing this, I suddenly realize I am reading about a Tortoise and a Hare. Will definitely keep you posted on who won the race! The funniest part of all, this was NOT intentional. Kindle What’s the use of a ‘reading schedule’ if it’s not to not follow your reading schedule? This book is not on my April library card, but it has […]

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Posted April 26, 2016
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