I read a lot. More so since I made a conscious decision to make time for the things I really love.
I’m always on the lookout for book recommendations. I miss the prescribed reading lists that accompanied the start of a new module at Uni. They held so much promise. The thrill of the unknown, the potential to discover a new favourite author or fall in love with a previously overlooked genre. I liked to buy everything all at once, ticking each title off before heading to the till with a stack of volumes pressed against my chest.
There are no reading lists in real life, but I hope that if I make a habit of sharing the books I love, you might fill the comments section below with a few that you love. I’m not offering in depth reviews {my friend Kate is much better at that}, but just enough information to pique your interest and perhaps inspire the odd purchase or two.
1. The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey~ The first book I read in 2013 set the bar pretty high. I adored this, racing from cover to cover within a matter of days. Set in 1920s Alaska, the tale is both heartbreaking and full of hope, with a fairytale quality that I found mesmerising. Ivey’s depiction of a remote Alaskan wilderness infused with magic is breathtaking. Highly recommended.
2. The Hundred Year Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared by Jonas Jonasson ~ Although not guaranteed a place in my ‘top ten books of all time’, I enjoyed this witty story about an old man who, errr, climbed out of a window and disappeared. Jumping between the present day and the past, the book weaves history and politics into an amusingly far fetched, complicated plot. Jonasson’s prose manages to be both light hearted and clever at the same time.
3. The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh ~ You know when a book is so good, so absorbing and so incredibly inspiring, that finishing it leaves you positively bereft? I felt that with this book. I just didn’t want it to end. It tells the story of Victoria Jones, a young woman raised in the American foster care system. Dysfunctional and lacking purpose or direction, the Victorian language of flowers is the only means by which she can grasp emotions or communicate feelings. Flowers and gardens are weaved beautifully throughout the story, the supposed meaning of each bloom connecting Victoria’s journey of self-discovery and acceptance to a flourishing organic framework. Ultimately, the book is about love, family and the pursuit of happiness. I suggest you read it in the Spring, surrounded by blossoming plants and trees.
Of course, it’s not all about books. Here are a few blog posts that have caught my eye of late…
- Jem posted about a pretty vintage copy of The Language of Flowers just as I was finishing the contemporary book of the same name.
- I can’t profess to be a true Gala fan girl, but this post about doing it for love and avoiding the perils of comparison really struck a chord.
- I loved Jennie’s take on beating those winter blues.
- Lately I’ve been wondering if the humble blog comment is becoming an endangered species. This post considers their importance and gave me some much needed perspective.
- Victoria’s birthday trip to Beamish brought back some wonderful childhood memories.
- You absolutely must meet Barbara.
And the children? Well, Izzy is working her way through the final Harry Potter instalment at an alarming rate and Jesse has requested Goodnight Digger three nights in a row, a must read for any pint sized lovers of cars, trucks, trains and trams.
So, what have you been reading lately?
Love Audrey xxx
I’ve heard lots of good things about The Language of Flowers, I think I might suggest it for my next book club. Also just to let you know I don’t think the link to The Snow Child works? Going to look that up too as it sounds wonderful. Thankyou for your recommendations. xo
Rosie | A Rosie Outlook
Oh thanks for pointing that out Rosie, I don’t know how Jane Asher got in there! All fixed now. Do read it, it’s a truly beautiful book.
I really must look into joining a book club, I’m sure I’d love it, although I’d worry about not finishing the required books each week/month. Sometimes when I put pressure on myself to read something within a certain time frame it just doesn’t happen!
xxx
I’ve just finsihed ‘The 100 Year old Man… ‘ and written a review on it actually! I thought it was fab, a very lighthearted and fantastically interesting and entertaining read 🙂
L x
Ahh thanks for the mention! <3
My sister recently finished The Snow Child and loved it so it's on my list! x
The Language Of Flowers is now definitely on my ‘to read’ list.
The book that has made the biggest impression on me in the past year is The Buddha In The Attic by Julie Otsuka. I have bought three copies so far to give away to people!
After reading this I bought The Language of Flowers today so I’m looking forward to cosying up to a good read! X
I have book envy! I am still working on the balance of our new busy life with two working parents and two small people, and somehow reading seems to have slipped off the list somewhere along the line. It’s hard when there are 27 hours worth of things you want to do in every 24 hours! Sleep is for the weak, right?
Oh I love reading lists, can’t resist leaving a comment. Thanks for the recommendations – I am definitely adding The Language of Flowers to my ‘to read’ pile.
I recently finished Kate Morton’s latest (The Secret Keeper). In my opinion not as good as some of her others, but still an enjoyable, easy read.
My favourite read of 2012 was The Sisters Brothers by Patrick deWitt.
I read The Language of Flowers at the end of last year and really enjoyed it too. Such a unique story and a lovely concept. I wanted to go and look up all the flowers afterwards. I’m reading ‘Gone Girl’ at the moment (I tend to work my way through the Richard & Judy book list!) and just bought Jojo Moyes ‘Me Before You’ as I’ve heard so many good things about it. My friend was reading ‘The 100 Year Old Man’ when I saw her last week, so I might give that a go too!
I’ve been tempted by Gone Girl myself, think I’ll definitely have to pick it up 🙂
xxx
I agree with your comments on The Hundred Year Old Man and The Language of Flowers – they are both superb. I think the Language of Flowers is perhaps my favourite book from 2012, it’s so brilliant and I had no idea what to expect when I read it. Another must-read is Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn, it’s a fantastic thriller that just keeps on shocking you. Interestingly I didn’t like any of the characters in Gone Girl yet I loved the book so much, very unusual for me! I’m intrigued by The Snow Child as I’ve seen it everywhere, so perhaps I need to add it to my book list for 2013. x