Review: 11.22.63

11.22.63 by Stephen King
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

At around 36 hours long this book seemed a daunting listen. The first 8 hours or so seemed to be such a slog for us and at a few points we were getting to the point of giving up. Then things began to gain pace and the rest of the book was, for us, engrossing. It became one of those books that as soon as I came in from work, hubby was saying lets get the story on.
Told in the 1st person from the point of Jake/George the tale takes you through the lead up to the happenings on that fateful day.
A nice touch at the very end of this audiobook was Stephen King himself telling why he wrote this book.


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Review: Summer Secrets

Summer Secrets by Jane Green
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

An enjoyable summer read.
This was a delve into how the life of an alcoholic affects both themselves and others around them. Whilst this may sound very heavy it was not. There were quite a few spots in the book where both hubby and I laughed out loud. It transported us beautifully to the glorious sounding island of Nantucket and we both felt that we could feel the island breeze and spray of the sea.

Read as part of my library challenge.

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Review: Aesop's Fables

Aesop's Fables by Aesop
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

These short stories, written some 2500 years ago, are as relevant today as they have been throughout the entirety of the book's life. The morals of the stories include greed, lust, and gluttony to name but three. Many people name The Bible as the book to take life's lessons from but I would put Aesop's Fables right up there too as a guide to living a good simple life.
A most enjoyable listen.

Read as part of 1001 books challenge.

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Review: Murder on the Orient Express

Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Timeless.
Even though I have seen the TV adaptation numerous times I had never before now read the book. The story grips you and hauls you in and you can just imagine being a fly on the wall as Poiot goes about his investigations.
David Suchet's narration is faultless.

Read as part of my personal library challenge.

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WIP Wednesday

Having finished the test knit I was working on, (I will share finished photos when the designer allows), I decided that once again it was time to stretch my knitting skills and try something new. I have never knitted anything which starts in the middle before and my eye was caught by the beautiful India Stole free pattern on Ravelry.
Using the ever helpful Google I found the Provisional Cast On  on Knitty.com and proceeded to give it a go. I used a spare interchangeable cable rather than waste yarn to make life easier later on and off I went. I am using Drops lace in baby blue with tiny silver lined blue Matsuno beads.

Today finds me almost at the end of chart 1 and enjoying this project immensely.
My companion book today is Murder On The Orient Express by Agatha Christie narrated by David Suchet from my local library.

Review: Bite Me

Bite Me by Christopher Moore
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

K so, while I totally understand this was about vampire kitties on the loose in San Francisco and the like I totally lost the thread of the plot around chapter 3. I did however thoroughly enjoy the narration and laughed out loud a fair few times.
Truly not a book I would have enjoyed to eye read but the audio was very entertaining.

Read as part of my library downloads challenge.

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Review: The Great Gatsby

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Oh my! What a story.
In just one sitting I listened to this whole book. I was engrossed from the off. The story of love and loss and love and loss set in the decadence of how the rich lived their lives in the roaring 20's.
There were spots in the story where my mouth dropped open at things that were seemingly considered normal practice for the time but which would land one in jail nowadays.
Overall though a fantastic book and a wonderful performance from the narrator, Jake Gyllenhaal.

Read as part of 1001 books and the BBC Big Read Challenge.

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A Wee Walk - Cottyburn

It is another lovely afternoon here in East Lothian so I decided to take the dogs out somewhere new for their afternoon walk. Cottyburn Siding was our destination.

There is a small car park there and a choice of destinations if you want to go for a longer walk ( we went about 3/4 of a mile towards Haddington and then turned back).

Along the way there were signs that spring has sprung.

Bluebells in bloom












and the glorious yellow of Oilseed Rape in the fields.

Here are some baby pine cones.










Also along the way there were various posts with fabulous information about what to look out for as you walk.

The last post shown here even tells a little of the history of the siding itself.

We found a little pond, and had glimpses of the Hopetoun Monument in the distance.

Just before we returned to the carpark Gibbs decided to go and explore the bridge which has been restored to allow the footpath to cross it.

Towards Longniddry

Towards Haddington

It was a great place to go for a walk and I am sure we will be back soon for some more investigation.

Review: Kim

Kim by Rudyard Kipling
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I would put this book in the category of could not put down.
The story was wonderfully written by Kipling and beautifully read by Adrian Praetzellis.
The words brought vivid images to life in one's minds eye and I almost felt that I was there watching the story unfold.

Read as part of 1001 books and BBC Big Read challenge

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Seeing Stars

The other day I was keeping one eye on the Ravelry radar when a test knit opportunity caught my eye. A sideways knit shawl for which I just knew I had the perfect yarn.
I volunteered my services and was lucky enough to be chosen. Today whilst DH is sick I am sitting happily listening to Kim by Rudyard Kipling and working on said test knit using this wonderfully sparkly gradient yarn which I bought at Edinburgh Yarn Festival.

Review: Wuthering Heights

Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I listened to the Librivox version 2 wonderfully read by Ruth Goldman.
Having never read this book before I was totally unsure what to expect. I found that I developed an intense dislike of most of the characters. My sympathies throughout lay with the narrator, Nellie Dean. That poor woman had to put up with so much from almost the entire cast of the story.
To be perfectly honest I was glad when it was over.

Read as part of 1001 books and BBC Big Read challenge.

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