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Friday 31 May 2013

Books ......

Books have always been a large part of my life.  I can remember loving books for as long ago as I remember.  Life was so much simpler when I was a little girl growing up in the early 1950's (yes, really, that long ago!!) and we certainly didn't have the amount of toys that the little ones have these days.

Books

I can still remember going to bed on the eve of my birthdays, and being SO excited, because I knew that I would be getting an Enid Blyton book as a present in the morning!  I loved all The Secret Seven and Famous Five series.  Gosh, lashings of ginger beer!  The books below date back to 1955 and 1957.  






I am delighted to say that my two daughters read as avidly as me and my three grandchildren absolutely love books as well.  It's lovely to see little Eli being able to start to read for himself now.  I often regret not keeping a Book Journal so that I could look back on all the books that I have read.  I guess I would have filled quite a lot of Journals by now!

books

I have just finished reading The Cornish House by Liz Fenwick, and I absolutely loved it.  This was her first novel, and I'm now eagerly looking forward to reading her second book which has just been published, called A Cornish Affair. (I can see a theme going on here!).  I adore books that feature Italy or Cornwall.

I have belonged to a Book Club for the past couple of years and I think this is a good idea, because it really takes you out of your comfort zone and makes you read books that you otherwise wouldn't bother with.  It's not always easy, because, sometimes, I'm struggling through a book and thinking to myself, "why am I doing this, when I could be reading something that I really enjoy", but, overall, it has been a good experience.  

The next one for the Book Club which I am just about to start, is called The Midwife's Daughter and is based in Cornwall in 1900.  The reviews look good.  The author is called Patricia Ferguson, who is a new one to me.

Books!

I'm delighted to say that the sun is shining in a very blue sky here in Devon as I type this post, and it seems to be set fair for the next few days. Tomorrow will be the first day of June - incredible!
Tomorrow morning, hubby and I are setting off to pick up the caravan.  Wish us luck, especially getting it up the garden!!  Wishing you all a happy and sun-filled weekend my friends.  Take care.

Apart from my own books, other images courtesy of Pinterest.

21 comments:

Duncan D. Horne - the Kuantan blogger said...

Hi Diane, The Secret Seven and The Famous Five by Enid Blyton were among the books I read as a child too. Reading is such a good habit to be in.
Have a great weekend :)

Shady Del Knight said...

Hallo, dear Thisisme! It's a pleasure to look at the covers of books you read as a child. If I showed you the ones I read you'd mostly see Mad Magazines and Tales From the Crypt comics! (LOL) I must admit that I was always reluctant to branch out and read material beyond the narrow scope of my specific interests, that is until my 8th grade English Literature teacher taught me to appreciate the classics. I hope children never stop reading actual books because the experience of holding a book in your hands, feeling its weight and texture, turning the pages and smelling its aroma, cannot be duplicated with a Kindle. More sunny blue skies over Devon? Proof that miracles do happen! (LOL) I hope your caravan arrives intact and that you find just the right spot for it. Have a wonderful weekend, dear friend Thisisme!

Unknown said...

I am a book lover too! If the story is especially gripping, my poor family has to deal with laundry piles and dishes in the sink, and my absent mindedness, or delayed responses to questions. My head will be in that story long after I've closed the cover. I remember reading a novel set in Cornwall when I was young. It was magical! I think there was even a movie made. Such a dreamy place with cliffs by the sea.

I'm so excited for you to be collecting your caravan. I know it will be fun to fix up and for the children to play in. What a great idea!

Southhamsdarling said...

Hi Duncan. I wonder how many millions of people have read those books !!!

Southhamsdarling said...

Hi Shadykins! Tales from
The Crypt, eh?! I don't think those comics made it over here to our shores!!!! I agree that books are the real thing , and I don't think they will ever be fully replaced, but I must admit that my Kindle does have a place in my heart now. . Bit like you my friend!! Have a lovely weekend and I hope all is well over there in downtown Florida!!

Southhamsdarling said...

Hi Jenny. Books are so precious, aren't they? Luckily we won't have to do anything to the caravan, as it has all been renovated and looks really good , inside and out. I can't wait to see it !

Lyndylou said...

I really enjoyed The Midwife's Daughter. I also love books because the take you away from your own life full of worries and woes and you get the chance to sample someone else's life for a short time.

You know you have read a good book when you are really upset when it finishes!

Manzanita said...

How wonderful to pass on your passion for reading to your children. Oh fun, the caravan is coming. Look forward to pictures. Blue skies. Enjoy them as they are rare around here.

Claudia Moser said...

Yes, books are such an important part of my life as well

Shelly said...

I feel the same way about books! I'm convinced there would be far fewer problems in the world if everyone learned to love to read. What a legacy to leave to your children and grandchildren, too!

Many happy times under blue skies are ahead for you all with the caravan-

Southhamsdarling said...

I'm glad you enjoyed the book that I am about to read , Lindylou! You are so right when you can escape to another world, and I imagine that this would be a Godsend to you at times.

Southhamsdarling said...

Hi Manzi. Yes, the caravan is coming!! I'm sorry to hear that you don't get many blue skies over there. Mind you, we hardly got any at all last Summer. Just constant rain :( I'm hoping for brighter and warmer days this year.

Southhamsdarling said...

Thank you for dropping by Claudia. I do hope that the rain stops for you soon over there and that you have a nice sunny weekend.

Southhamsdarling said...

Hi Shelly. Well that's your first retirement week over. I remember when I first retired . I was busy tidying cupboards and drawers, when I suddenly realised that I had all the time in the world to do these things , and I didn't have to rush at them! I agree with you about there would be less trouble if everyone did read, but some poor children never get read a bedtime story, which is so sad really.

orchid0324 said...

Dearest Diane,
Good Morning from rainy Japan p;) Rainy season has come here. And I remember I loved to lie down on tatami floor and read books when young, especially rainy days(^_^)彡☆ The beautiful book of 'snow white' was my favorite when little.
Wonderful to know your precious little Eli start reading and learning♡♡♡

Wow exciting to welcome your caravan, my friend♬♬♬ I know everyone in your family will have wonderful memories with it.

Sending you lots of love and hugs from Japan, xoxo Miyako*

Southhamsdarling said...

Hallo dear Miyako. Thank you so much for always taking the time to visit me. I am glad that you also enjoyed reading as a little one, but sorry that you have the rainy season with you now :(. Take care . Sending love and blessings to you. I can't wait for Eli and Ruby to see the caravan!!

Unknown said...

Hi Diane,
I too am a book worm, and now when using the iPad it makes it so easy to bring my book :) I've always loved reading.

Happy to hear that your grandchildren also love reading.

Dry weather over here today, still windy but as long as there's no rain I'm happy. Have 3 days now to relax and that I will. My work desk is occupied with pens and papers hehe, so will be creative in between doing some house work.

Enjoy your day my friend.

Hugs x

Suzanne said...

Hi Thisisme...a lovely post. The pictures of your books are really great! I don't read as much as I did years ago. Somehow, I just got away from it. I do read for knowledge and entertainment daily though, just not the good romance mysteries that I dearly love. Like Shady, my brother would read the Mad Magazines! lol! We were always members of reading clubs as I was growing up, and, my mother also belongs to one even now! She loves to read also. I do have some old reading books from the 1940's and 1950's, and, even a shorthand text book for study, heehee! I didn't learn shorthand, because the teacher asked me to drop the class for being lefthanded, darn!!!

So I see you've gotten Sandy situated for now-she's simply adorable, and, I'm sure all of her new family agrees! Hope you have a wonderful weekend, will see you soon!♥

Sally Wessely said...

I loved reading about the books you read as a child. The titles were ones with which I am not familiar. I guess that the popular books for children during our youth must have been different on the opposite sides of the that great body of water that once separated us so greatly. Now you are just as far away as my computer to yours. I think I would have loved reading Enid Blyton. Perhaps I should read her now.

I love reading about Cornwall also. I shall have to read the book you are set to read. Here's to happy hours of reading.

Denise said...

Two more things we have in common-reading books that take place in Cornwall and Italy and with Me Australia too.The other is vintage trailers .I've been following your adventure with the trailer or what the English call "caravans".Paul and I have been looking to buy one too.So much fun after the work of fixing it up.Are you going to use it to travel or as guest quarters? Hugs to you Denise

Anonymous said...

LOVE reading. I was an English major in college. I'm a nerd! :P