Wooh! Not only have I committed myself to baking a loaf of bread a week, I am now about to undertake to read a book a month. I just hope it doesn't end in tears!
Anyway, following the mantra of Nothing Ventured, Nothing Gained, I'm joining in with Laura at Circle of Pine Trees. Details can be found here.
My first book is Maggie O'Farrell's 'The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox'. I discovered Maggie O'Farrell last summer, when I picked up 'after you'd gone' from an Amnesty second hand book stall. I took it on holiday and sat reading it on the sofa of our Colonsay cottage looking out over the sheep grazing in the field. It had been a while since I'd read a book I'd chosen for myself. The last few had been selected by members of the reading group I'd been attending, none of which I'd particularly taken to, and I'd begun to wonder whether I'd ever truly enjoy a book again. 'after you'd gone' broke the jinx. It's a good thing I was on holiday as it allowed me the hours required to finish it within a couple of days. Whether it was the poetic quality of the prose, the graphic portrayal of loss, or the references to my beloved Edinburgh ... Perhaps, because although I enjoyed 'Instructions for a Heatwave' it didn't grip me with quite the same force. I'm hoping that 'The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox' with its setting in both Edinburgh and India (where I was born and grew up, admittedly long after the Raj!) will draw me in again.
The other Maggie O'Farrell book I have read is 'The Distance Between Us' which I read a good few years ago now.. think it was about four or five. I didn't particularly enjoy 'Esme', it's not on my shelves so that shows I was happy to pass it on!
ReplyDeleteEnjoy the year in books, should be an interesting way of finding new authors.
Thanks for taking time to comment Edwina. I'm looking forward to drawing up a list of recommended reads.
DeleteThanks so much for joining in! I enjoyed The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox when I read it. Laura
ReplyDeleteHi I'm in the year of reading too. I popped over when I saw your choice. I've read Esme Lennox twice now as I found it a marvellous and deeply moving book. I'm reading instructions for a heat wave at the moment and whilst I enjoy the way she plays with themes and characters I just can't get as involved in this book. I'm making myself finish it as part of me joining up. I'll be interested to read what you think of the book.
ReplyDeleteLisa
Thanks for your comment Bobo Bun. So far so good with Esme Lennox. It's strange how some books grab you more than others, even ones by the same author. I've often found that if I love the first book I read by a writer then I expect the others to be just as enjoyable and am disappointed if they don't.
DeleteGreat book, enjoy x
ReplyDeleteOh I want to read this one so I'll be interested to read what you thought of it once you're finished.
ReplyDeleteJen | gingerellaj.blogspot.co.uk
Hi - just found you via your comment on my blog. Great blog and love your photos of Scotland. Loved Esme Lennox and Maggie O'Farrell is another favourite writer since she's from Northern Ireland. As you may have realised if you read my blog, tend to gravitate towards all things Celtic. Yes I loved the Quaker bits of 'Notes from an Exhibition'. Am pretty much agnostic, but I love the idea of everyone sitting in silence to worship and the equality of it all.
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