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I've been creative writing all my life, though with various haitus(es) along the way. IFrom 2010 I started this blog and enjoyed sharing writing and other information with everyone. illness and bereavement supplied the more recent hiatus.

Saturday, 18 May 2013

What's your current read?

I started reading A Surfeit of Aunts by Daphne Coyne, 

It's available at www.Lulu.com 
and the write up states: 
"This book concerns life in the twenty-five years before and during the second world war. Born in 1922, my first ten years were very happy years. Things changed with the sudden death of my father. Because he was a vicar, the family had to leave the vicarage in six weeks with no home to go to and very little money. To help my mother, her three widowed sisters (the aunts) came on the scene. The only security, away from this merry-go-round of our family life, was in boarding school and then the services. My brother in the Army and I in the WRNS. I was a plotter and worked in operations rooms at several naval bases. The last one was shortly before the invasion began. I was sent to Fort Southwick, near Portsmouth. I worked here, in the underground, steel lined, plotting room of ‘combined headquarters’ as ‘Operation Overlord’ unfolded in miniature on the plotting table in front of me. When the invasion was safely under way, I was posted to ‘tactical anti-submarine training’ in Scotland."

So far I am loving it! Though I confess I shed a tear or two over the description of her father's death.

Also do you remember my Novel Films Blog fest?
Well, I'm also reading 
The Firm by John Grisham having seen the film a number of times. It's great seeing the similarities and differences.



What are y'awl reading? 

15 comments:

  1. A Surfeit Of Aunts sounds very good, Madeleine. I think I would enjoy it very much.

    I'm reading Tom Vowler's The Method, a brilliant short story collection, very moving and full of surprises. x

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  2. I like how Daphne worked as a "plotter" - I mean plotting literally! What an amazing life!!!

    I confess to not reading any Grisham but I do remember liking The Firm (not that I remember what it was about - Tom Cruise as a lawyer doing something very thrilling and fighting conspiracy!!!).

    This month I am reading - very very slowly - The Bell Jar! :-)

    Take care
    x

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  3. Yes Joanna I'm sure you would. I've not heard of Tom Vowler or his story,

    Old Kitty LOL! Yes. I believe I once tried to read The Bell Jar and gave up!

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  4. True life stories are sometimes the best. I tried reading The Rook but had to take it back to the library; so BAD! Now I'm reading Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy and hanging on every word.

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  5. I just finished The Madman's Daughter, and I was very jealous! I LOVED The Island of Doctor Moreau when I was in high school. I wish I'd thought of adapting it! :D

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  6. Hi Madeleine .. I've read a couple of Grishams .. but can't remember which! I haven't seen The Firm or read the book - I guess a good way to start seeing the differences ..

    But .. the Daphne Coyne book in some ways ties into my extended family .. but those times both Wars and the time in between ... with loss all around you and probably affecting your own family - so difficult ...

    I too may well have loved working under war conditions, but I'd have been very unhappy about War itself ..

    Cheers Hilary

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  7. Hi Maddy; good to see you around again.

    I'm reading too many books at once, as usual, lol. But I just finished Farm Girl by Karen Jones Gowen. I bet you'd like it; along the same theme as The Aunts.

    ......dhole

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  8. Hi Maddy. I've just picked up The Bone Bed by Patricia Cornwell. I'm also reading 'The Vineyard' by Barbara Delinsky and 'Laughing Hawk' by Linda Katmarian amongst others. Love John Grisham too, but not so much Tom Cruise.

    Denise

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  9. Milo, I take it The Rook is a Grisham book. Yes Cormac McCarthy is one of your favs isn't it?
    Dianne, The Madman's Daughter sounds compelling. I will look that up.
    I'm sure Hilary you would enjoy Daphne Coyne's story.

    Thanks Donna. I will have to get Farm Girl, too I think.

    Denise, some of those sound distinctly historical. Yes Tom Cruise isn't to everyone's tastes. ;O)


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  10. Hi, Madeleine,
    I have several books going at once. A crazy way to read, but one book will grab me and I'll focus on that. On the table today is Island Pursuits.

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  11. Over the years, I've read quite a few of Grisham's books. The most recent one I read was his first non-fiction story, The Innocent Man... a shocking story and real "eye-opener"...

    Writer In Transit

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  12. I just finished True Grit by Charles Portis. I saw the recent remake, which was terrific, and I really enjoyed the book too. Now I have to choose what to read next from my big pile of new books I've purchased the past couple months! I'm thinking A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan.

    Happy reading and writing! from Laura Marcella @ Wavy Lines

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  13. Hi Joy, that's not one I've read.

    Michelle, I am very intrigued by The Innocent Man. Finished The Firm and felt the film was much better paced and showed Mitch in a slightly better light.

    Laura, I've not read True Grit or A Visit from the Goon Squad. They sound worth a look, too.

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  14. Hi Madeline!

    I have several on the go. One ebook on teh kindle for night time and another print for daytime!

    Then a new one arrived...

    Nas
    ps. Love Grisham, gritty but thrilling!

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  15. I just finished reading Man in the Middle, a political thriller by Brian Haig. I love a good political thriller and this one is excellent.

    Madeleine Begun Kane

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