After a productive week at work, I took the opportunity to try out some new kit (rucksack, boots and socks) in advance of a 5-day trek planned later in the year. Rather than using water or weights in the rucksack, I filled it with various books that are on my bedside table waiting to be read. Total weight = 7kg. It was all good on the flat, but the hills were challenging, much work to do I think!
So why did I want to talk about books today? Life can get very hectic and it’s good to take some time out of your everyday head-space, and do an activity that allows the stresses and strains to fade into the background for an hour or two. For me, there’s nothing I like better than curling up on sofa or lying in the bath with a good book. I read for many reasons – to broaden my horizons, learn about new things, or just to escape to a fantasy land for an hour or two.
My book collection is quite eclectic and below is the list in my stack. I might do a monthly book review as one of my ‘Daily thoughts’. Have you read any of them? What did you think? Which one should I read first? Would you be interested in a monthly book review?
- Volcanoes, Earthquakes and Tsunamis by David A Rothery: a text book on my ‘special subject’.
- The Ravens Nest by Sarah Thomas: “An Icelandic journey through light and darkness” – preparation for a trip to Iceland later in the year 🤞
- Madly Deeply – The Alan Rickman Diaries: my Book Club’s latest read where the ladies expressed mixed reviews, I am a month behind and need to get on with this one.
- Equal Rites by Terry Pratchett: love the fantasy genre – about the first female wizard in a world where they are traditionally male… I’m sure magical mayhem will ensue in true Pratchett style.
- The Highland Lodge Getaway by Julie Shackman: a Christmas chick-lit present from my sister, knowing I love anything to do with Scotland.
- Revenger by Alastair Reynolds: I know nothing about this one, only that it is Sci-Fi – also one of my favourite genres – picked up from the ‘bring and borrow’ shelf at work.
- Song from dead lips by William Shaw: a thriller by a local author, the first of this series. I really enjoyed his DS Alexandra Cupidi series, set in Dungeness, so should be good.
- Be useful: Seven tools for life by Arnold Schwarzenegger: this one I picked up at WH Smith on my way home, read the first couple of pages, like it and bought on a whim.
- The hard road will take you home (with an extra long tag line) by Antony ‘Staz’ Stazicker: ex-military, who I follow on IG. Not quite sure how to describe/classify, the publisher states “As a creative resource, it’s a weapon” – maybe I’ll do a book review on this one, looking forward to it!
- Garth Marenghi’s Terrortome: belongs to my brother so I’d probably read this first and get it back to him. A Sunday Times bestseller of three tales of terror. I’ve actually read the first one and wasn’t sure what to make of it, hope the other two be equally as wacky and amusing.
Hope you’re having a great Saturday whatever you’re doing! Until tomorrow …
Elizabeth Mooney 