I have completed one book this week and I must admit that my reading has been on the back burner for a couple of reasons. Firstly, because I am having difficulty with my concentration. Secondly, because I have become addicted to yet another TV series on Amazon Prime: Scandal. Just about all of my choices on TV have been dark and Scandal is very dark indeed!
A Prince and a Spy by Rory Clements
My choice this week was A Prince and a Spy by Rory Clements (Tom Wilde #05). I have really enjoyed this series so far, so was really pleased to see this new episode appear on our Library Service’s ebook catalogue. Here is the blurb:
“Sweden, 1942 – Two old friends meet. They are cousins. One is Prince George, Duke of Kent, brother of the King of England. The other is Prince Philipp von Hesse, a committed Nazi and close friend of Adolf Hitler.
Days later, the Prince George is killed in a plane crash in the north of Scotland. The official story is that it was an accident – but not everyone is convinced.
There is even a suggestion that the Duke’s plane was sabotaged, but with no evidence, Cambridge spy Tom Wilde is sent north to discover the truth . . .”
I awarded the book four stars on Goodreads and wrote this short review (apologies for the brevity. If you are interested in the book, the other reviews are well worth your time).
Yet another excellent episode in this excellent series.
The plot was edge-of-the-seat exciting against the background of the sheer horror of the Holocaust. Accurate historical events were woven together with more fictional, speculative narrative and characters to create a brilliant book. The amount of research that must be tackled before writing a book like this must be enormous.
I must admit that I feel so relieved that Lovely Husband and I have had both jabs. Unlike last time, I won’t go into great detail about the event on Saturday, but will just say a couple of things.
The first time, we arrived at the hospital, walked a long way down various corridors and then poor LH had to queue for nearly two hours before we could enter the room for our immunisations. This time, we had the long walk but were able to go straight into the room. It was all over so quickly!
Like last time, we have both had a very stiff and painful arm around the injection site but, two days later, the discomfort is fading. I also had several migraine attacks with full auras, yesterday, and then a horrible coughing fit in the night. These might have been caused by stress. Today, I feel a lot better and have been able to get out of bed for a few hours.
So, I am not sure how long it is before we get full immunity and, of course, there are rumblings about COVID variations. Generally, however, I must admit that I am in awe of the amazing work by the scientific and health care community who have not only discovered, developed, manufactured, distributed and administered the vaccines, but who have done this with incredible speed and efficiency. Thank you to everyone involved!
I just cannot write today’s planned post. After a misunderstanding, caused by my memory issues, Lovely Husband came to the rescue and, to get to the point, we both have our second vaccinations tomorrow!
Whoop!
I am feeling very giddy and I can’t write properly, so I had better sign off now…
This week I was able to finish two books and I really enjoyed both of them! I hope that you were able to have a satisfying reading week too.
Case Histories by Kate Atkinson
Having already read other books in the Jackson Brodie series, I was pleased when I found the first book on our ebook service. Here is the blurb:
”The scene is set in Cambridge, with three case histories from the past: A young child who mysteriously disappeared from a tent in her back garden; An unidentified man in a yellow jumper who marched into an office and slashed a young girl through the throat; and a young woman found by the police sitting in her kitchen next to the body of her husband, an axe buried in his head.
Jackson Brodie, a private investigator and former police detective, is quietly contemplating life as a divorced father when he is flung into the midst of these resurrected old crimes. Julia and Amelia Land enlist Jackson’s help to find out the truth about their younger sister. They embroil him in the complexities of their own jealousies, obsessions and lust.
Another woman named Shirley needs Jackson to help find her lost niece. Jackson meets solicitor Theo Wyre whose daughter, Laura, was murdered in his office and is desperate for Jackson to help him lay Laura’s ghost to rest.
As he starts his investigations Jackson has the sinister feeling that someone is following him. In digging into the past Jackson seems to have unwittingly threatened his own future. This wonderfully crafted, intricately plotted novel is heartbreaking, uplifting, full of suspense and often very funny.”
I really love Kate Atkinson’s writing style. This is the review that I posted on Goodreads:
I am really unsure how to grade this book or how to write the review. My problem is that the writing is wonderful, complex with a wry humour that I really enjoyed, but my memory issues mean that I struggled with the plot.
Since I had a stroke in 2019, my short-term memory has been very patchy. This means that, when I read a book over several days, I have problems with remembering vital parts of the plot and the names of some characters. Sometimes I go back a few pages, which can help, but this author’s style of writing doesn’t! The chapters range around the different characters and cases and I felt like I was really losing the plot!!!
But, of course, this is my problem, and not a fault of Kate Atkinson!
I have read some of her other books, including others in this series, and not had the same issues. So, I think my problems were probably worsened by the multiple cases in this book. In the end, I did manage to straighten it all out in my mind and finished the book feeling pretty positive about it. I love Kate Atkinson’s writing style, so will continue to read her work when I can get it from the library’s ebook service.
Yes, I will definitely have to find more books in the series!
You Let Me In by Camilla Bruce
My second book of the week was You Let Me In by Camilla Bruce. First we have the blurb:
”I wanted someone to know, you see. To know my truth, now that I am gone. How everything and none of it happened.
Everyone knew bestselling novelist Cassandra Tipp had twice got away with murder.
Even her family were convinced of her guilt.
So when she disappears, leaving only a long letter behind, they can but suspect that her conscience finally killed her.
But the letter is not what anyone expected. It tells two chilling, darkly disturbing stories. One is a story of bloody nights and magical gifts, of children lost to the woods, of husbands made from twigs and leaves and feathers and bones . . .
The other is the story of a little girl who was cruelly treated and grew up crooked in the shadows . . .
But which story is true? And where is Cassie now?”
What a strange, weird book! I have just finished it and I have no idea what to write about it. I have given it three stars, but it could be worth five or four, two or one.
I have no idea what to make of it!
The main character is literally away with the faeries, or was she really abused as a child? Are the faeries real, or just sticks and stones, made up and part of her vivid imagination?
I can’t decide and I wonder if the author even knows…
So, this is the day when things in England are supposed to be opening up, including hair salons. As everyone will be rushing to get their hair cut as soon as possible, I think that I might wait awhile. I need to decide what to do with my hair!
Here is a very candid photo to show you exactly what it looks like at the moment. As I am so ill, I only manage to wash my hair every three or four days. When it is first washed, my hair is quite curly – it used to be very curly when I was younger. Over a couple of days, most of the curls drop out, leaving a few at the ends.
My hair has always been fine, but was much thicker when I was young. Its colour was naturally a dark blonde or “mouse”, but I dyed it regularly and all kinds of shades from dark brown to golden blonde, from auburn to mid brown with pink streaks. It is now a dark grey with silver strands near my face. As I have got older, my hair has thinned on top quite drastically, mainly due to a really serious attack of blood poisoning in my late thirties. At that time, my hair fell out almost totally and grew back much finer and thinner than before.
So, what shall I do with it now? I tried to ask Lovely Husband, but he refused to commit himself to an answer, saying that it is entirely my decision. Well, that is a very gallant position, but it doesn’t really help!
Can anyone assist me? Should I just have a trim and leave it longer or cut it short again like I used to wear it. My scalp will always show through, whether my hair is longer or shorter. My hair curls more when my hair is longer, which is a bit strange. Maybe I’m getting a bit obsessed and over-thinking. After all, I am in bed most of the day so only LH and ES see my hair on a daily basis!
Anyway, here are four photos of different lengths. Only one is “straight from the hairdresser” – I expect you can guess which one! Which do you think is the best?
I am feeling rather under the weather as I attempt to write today’s post, so I am unable to make the usual collages for each outfit. Instead, I have posted the quick selfies that I use in the collages and will briefly list the clothing and accessories.
There are two outfits for you this week. The first was with my gorgeous colourway, in denim blue, pink, yellow and a range of purples, of Hermès’ Jaguar Quetzal:
Outfit of the day 07/04/21 with Hermès’ Jaguar Quetzal scarf
Jaguar Quetzal by Alice Shirley for Hermès
I thought that I would show you an image of the whole scarf as well, because it is so amazing! It was worn with my Marks and Spencer lilac cashmere v-neck, a purple scarf ring by MaiTai, amethyst earrings by Blue Nile and a purple enamel and gold Halcyon Days bangle.
Today I am wearing Hermès’ Musique des Dieux scarf, tied in an asymmetric knot with a mother of pearl scarf ring by MaiTai:
Outfit of the day 09/04/21 with Hermès’ Musique des Dieux scarf
Musique des Dieux by Claudia Stuhlhofer-Mayr for Hermès
With this scarf, I am wearing a John Lewis navy cashmere v-neck, ice blue crystal earrings from Sainsbury’s, and an old silver bangle. The scarf colours are purple, green, black, pale blue and white with a border in silver grey.
Once again, I still wore my navy pyjama bottoms with these lovely outfits. They are so much more comfortable than trousers!
Anyway, I hope that you like these outfits and I wish you all a lovely weekend.
Well, I actually managed to read two books this week, unlike the week before. I was fortunate in that I chose two absorbing reads, which I really enjoyed.
The Other Passenger by Louise Candlish
The Other Passenger by Louise Candlish was my first choice from our ebook catalogue. Here is the blurb:
“On the morning of Monday 23rd December, Jamie Buckby takes the commuter riverboat from his home in St Mary’s, southeast London, to work in Central London, noting that his good friend and neighbour Kit Roper has not turned up for the 7.30am service they usually catch together.
At the London Eye, where he disembarks for his job in a café behind the South Bank Centre, Jamie is met by the police. Kit has been reported missing by his wife.
As Jamie is taken in for questioning, he discovers someone saw him arguing with Kit on the boat home late on Friday night. The other passenger believes Jamie committed murder.
I wish our library’s ebook service had more books by this author! As soon as I had finished The Other Passenger, I rushed to look up the author’s name in the hope that there would be a long list of her books on there. But, no.
So, you can see that I really enjoyed this book! I love stories with a twist, and this one was like a corkscrew. Just when I thought I had worked it all out, another turn would come along, leaving me gasping in surprise.
Now, because of this it is impossible to say much more about the plot as I wouldn’t be able to avoid giving too much away. The characters were really interesting and well-drawn and quite unusual in my experience. Of course there are echoes of other books and films, but then nothing is totally original, is it?
Anyway, as you can see, I really recommend this book, and if her others are as good, they will be worth a go too!
My second choice was a very different kind of book for me: The Mermaid by Christine Henry. This is the blurb:
”Once there was a mermaid who longed to know of more than her ocean home and her people. One day a fisherman trapped her in his net but couldn’t bear to keep her. But his eyes were lonely and caught her more surely than the net, and so she evoked a magic that allowed her to walk upon the shore. The mermaid, Amelia, became his wife, and they lived on a cliff above the ocean for ever so many years, until one day the fisherman rowed out to sea and did not return.
P. T. Barnum was looking for marvelous attractions for his American Museum, and he’d heard a rumor of a mermaid who lived on a cliff by the sea. He wanted to make his fortune, and an attraction like Amelia was just the ticket.
Amelia agreed to play the mermaid for Barnum, and she believes she can leave any time she likes. But Barnum has never given up a money-making scheme in his life, and he’s determined to hold on to his mermaid.”
Once again, I gave the book five stars and wrote the following review on Goodreads:
I really enjoyed this fantasy re-telling of “historical” events. Apparently, the FeeJee Mermaid hoax actually took place, although not in quite the same way as in this book!
The writing was straight forward and easy to read. In fact, I read the book very quickly as I was so taken with the tale. The description of Amelia in mermaid form was intriguing and her character was strong and almost heroic, unlike some of the other figures in the book.
I will have to look out for other books by this author. If they are as good as this, I will be in for quite a treat!
OK, by “M” I mean Massaccesi handbags! I have to admit that I already have one on order as I was tempted by a really good offer. Then, another lovely bag, which I had been stalking on eBay for ages, dropped in price and I couldn’t resist!
But this is crazy!
I am a very ill person who is just about always stuck in bed!
Maybe I should add “kleptomania” to my list of current conditions? Or “scarfitis”? Or “handbagitis”?
Anyway, here is the evidence of my shame. First the dust bag:
Here is the bag: Massaccesi’s Midi Modena in white pebbled leather, with light gold hardware and a silver lining.
As usual, my photos are not the greatest, so this is a slideshow of the vendor’s photos from eBay:
I hope that I can model the handbag very soon to show you how it looks. It is quite large, which is necessary for me as I have to carry a lot of stuff when I do go out. The colour is a lovely creamy white, which will be gorgeous on sunny days, although the pebbled leather also works well when it rains. The bag has not been used before and is in a pristine condition. It even came with the original protective covers over the zips! The front pockets are a useful size and the interior is laid out with the typical Massaccesi pockets and clips. The open inside pockets are edged in leather – this is a sign of a high-end handbag, as is the quality of the pale gold hardware.
Right, I will now stop eulogising (is that a word?) about my newest purchase and return to my latest book!
Today is our 33rd Wedding Anniversary! It seems pretty amazing to have reached this point in our lives and I am so grateful that, somehow, Lovely Husband and I crossed paths so many years ago. This evening he is going to cook us a scrumptious meal and I am really looking forward to it. In fact, I am going to try to eat downstairs in honour of the occasion.
I also managed to go out with LH this week! It must be at least a month since I last ventured forth – I think it was for the vaccination. We had a drive around the area and it was so lovely to see the daffodils and other flowers in the sunshine. I wore the first outfit below with my pink denim jacket by Joules over a navy short sleeved jumper from Lands’ End, with jeans and my Hermès Mythiques Phoenix Coloriage scarf in red, pinks and denim blue. Gold earrings and the pretty cobalt Agama bangle from Halcyon Days, plus navy shoes and my gorgeous blue handbag from Massacecesi completed the outfit.
Outfit of the day 31/03/21 with Hermès’ Mythiques Phoenix Coloriage scarf
Here is my gorgeous blue Massaccesi Midi Muse handbag:
Midi Muse by Massaccesi with Hermès scarves
The next outfit is what I am wearing today: my cobalt cashmere v-neck from John Lewis, earrings from a local boutique and the same Halcyon Days bangle as before. I haven’t worn this beautiful chiffon rectangular scarf before. You may remember that I saw the William Morris design from Liberty of London earlier in the year. It goes really well with the jumper, I think!
Outfit of the day 02/04/21 with Liberty’s William Morris scarf
OK, so that is all for this week. We have had some gorgeous sunny days and I am glad that I was able to enjoy the drive around to experience some of the Spring flowers.
I do hope that you all have a great Easter Weekend if that is your “thing”.
I have to admit that I haven’t managed to finish a book in the last week! Concentration was the problem – lack of, I mean. I started a few books, but then didn’t get on with them for some reason. One was about an epidemic! So that wouldn’t do.
I wish you all a week of Happy Reading and hope to return with the usual Reading Roundup post next week
Former professional school librarian, now retired through chronic illness. Trying to keep cheerful by reading, drinking lots of tea, blogging my new life, and my love of bling!
A Prince and A Spy by Rory Clements
The Librain
The Librain......retired 
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