Books & Reading

Before we moved to Cornwall, or at least before I stopped working last April, I was reading, approximately, one book a week. That was because I had quite a long journey to work, and could read whilst I was sitting on the bus and train.

But, since we moved to Cornwall, I have been finding it very difficult to read. Even though I have all the time in the world to spend reading.

That has now begun to change, for two reasons:

The first reason is that a friend gave me a manuscript that they had written and I promised to read it. Although it took me a long time to get started I finally made myself sit down and read, because I felt guilty about holding on to it so long. When I got into it I really enjoyed it, both the process of reading and the story itself.

The second reason is that I have joined a book club. Having read and enjoyed the manuscript, I decided that if I found a local book club then that would encourage me to read more. So the local library pointed me towards Waterstone’s  (a bookshop), which has a reading group that meets once a month. I went to our local Waterstone’s (about eight minutes walk from home) and enquired. They gave me the date and time of meetings so in early April I went along for the first time.  There were thirty people attending (28 women and 2 men including me). I was made very welcome and given a glass of white wine on my arrival.

We then did some introductions and had a discussion about:

A book, which I already had, because a friend recommended it, but which I had only read part of. Anyway it was lovely evening with lots of good discussion and varying views.

The chosen book for the May meeting was:

I managed to read it on time for the meeting. I had never read a Graham Greene book before. I enjoyed it. His characters were very well developed, and I felt it was a story line that could be applied today, even though it was written in 1938.

The book for next month’s meeting is:

Which I managed to read in a week (quite an achievement for me). It’s very good. It is the story of a family in modern day Bombay and explores relationships and personal dilemmas.  

I am now reading:

Which was recommended by The English Writer.

It is a fantastic book, I can’t wait to get it finished.

July’s book club selection is:

The point of all this is to say that I am getting back into regular reading and am enjoying it very much.

There is a lot to be said for turning the telly off and opening a book. Try it!