World Cup bonus!

As 'tis the World Cup, I started The Beautiful Game - Journey through Latin American Football by Chris Taylor today and I will wild release it somewhere during the World Cup.

You probably have to be a much bigger fan of football than me to enjoy this book but he had my interest from the first page when he wrote about watching Brazil win the 1970 World Cup in his parents' home in Whitton.

As that's where I'm from, and he's the same age as me, I'm wondering if I went to school with him - possibly not (as I went to a girls' school)

Week Five Books

As I'm whizzing through A Pale View of Hills I am reading An Artist of the Floating World next.

Plus one of my Birthday A - Z Wild Release Challenge books, I Was Amelia Earhart, which I have asked my friend Beth to wild release for me at the Imperial War Museum in Salford Quays.

Week Four books

I should finish A Kestrel for a Knave today so not too far behind.

My Week Four books are:

Having a Lovely Time by Jenny Eclair - borrowed this from my friend Bernie ages ago and need to give it back to her.

A Pale View of Hills by Kazuo Ishigoro.

I have only read The Remains of the Day and have all his other books so will try and read them all this summer (might have to leave The Unconsoled till after this challenge though as it is so huge)

Just changed my weeks

as I seem to be out of sync with everyone in the Forum.

No biggie but I don't want to come out in a stress related rash; this is supposed to be an enjoyable challenge after all!

Week One - 1 - 5 June - The Summer Book - challenge completed (as only half a week really).
Week Two - 6 - 11 June - Nothing But the Sun and Herland - just completed (phew!)
Week Three - 12 - 18 June - To the Nines and a Kestrel For a Knave. To The Nines will be easy, not so sure about A Kestrel for a Knave.

That's better, I can relax....snore.

Finished Herland

I've just finished Herland and it was absolutely brilliant.

I can't believe that it is 91 years old; it seemed really fresh somehow. It was also surprisingly funny.

It was also quite a concise book so I was able to read most of it while basking in the sun on Saturday afternoon.

Finished Nothing Like the Sun

last night (Thursday) and I really enjoyed it once I set my mind to it.

A very clever book, full of compelling conjecture about William Shakespeare's lovelife.

So Week One of my challenge is completed successfully.

Only 24 books to go.

Week Two books decided

Herland by Charlotte Perkins Gilman - I aim to return this to my friend Joyce on Tuesday 13 June.

To The Nines by Janet Evanovich - I am passing this onto bookcrosser Rillaith at the Bookcrossing Unconvention in Birmingham at the end of June.

Should be an easier week than this week then; phew.

Finished The Summer Book

I finished the Summer Book on Sunday and it was absolutely charming.

I am starting Nothing Like The Sun by Anthony Burgess this evening; it looks a bit hard though (oh dear) so I am already falling behind in my two books a week challenge.

First book!

Appropriately enough, I am starting my Summer Reading Challenge with The Summer Book by Tove Jansson tonight. This is a tale about a grandma and her grand-daughter who live on a small island off the coast of Finland.

As a fan of the Moomins, I'm sure I'll love this.

The book has been sent to me by smallbluepebble in Ilford and I am the first participant in a Bookring "for anyone who wants to share a little of the midsummer magic" as smallbluepebble writes.

This will be my "at home" book (to be read at home) and I shall read another scruffier book at work and when travelling.