A Book A Day, Keeps Boredom at Bay

Am very excited about this Blip.

I know some people use the bookshelf as a standby for nothing less interesting. I had something more interesting today. My toe! But unanimously friends advised me against it. So no Toe.

My bookcase I decided was the place to be. My husband and I cannot be without our books. We cannot get rid of them, despite them being paperbacks, despite some of them having been read several times each, by both of us.

We both have our styles, but equally we have authors we both lovel

So what is on my shelf?

Current Favourite Author: Christopher Brookmyre. You will see several there, and there are actually several more behind. Yes, these shelves are stacked two deep. My very favourite Brookmyre is "The Sacred Art of Stealing", but then I start thinking and I could name another three, which I love and adore equally.

Twilight. I'm not a Jacobs / Edward supporter, but I loved reading these books in the seclusion of our holiday's last year. What escapism. I think they spoiled it rather by making the films (with very bad face only makeup).

James Patterson - Easy Read. Over and done in one day, but delightful escapism, if a bit icky sometimes.

Dan Brown, of course, you have to read it don't cha!

Lets talk John Irving.... The World According to Garp, which I believe might be one of the Best books in the world. And Robin Williams. Sheer Genius in casting. Oh yes Indeedy. From this book, which my husband and I shared in the early days of our relationship 24 years ago, we found "undertoads" and of course, the name of our much beloved and dearly departed Garp. One day, I will try to photograph an undertoad for you, and sum it up. There is also, Cider House Rules, A Prayer for Owen Meany, and Setting Free the Bears. (Which one day I will).

Eilidh's Dictionary - her leaving present from Barassie Primary.

The Official Scrabble Words, - A birthday present for me in 1992 from my mum, because she hated seeing me loose at scrabble every time to my husband. (The same mum who argued against me using it against her this Christmas).

My Beloved Thesaurus, which helped me write a thousand essays (it felt like it) while at Napier. Which amused me for hours on end, while I found other ways to say evil things to people in ways that they probably wouldn't understand.

Ballet Shoes, Noel Strearfeild which I bought for my daughter after she watched the TV adaptation. I still remember the BBC drama when I was little and I read the story then. I think I probably still have the original book upstairs in a box!

Scouting for Boys! If you lived in this house, you would know why we needed that.

Salmon Fishing in the Yemen, which I stole from a friend. Well actually didn't steal, borrowed, but we aren't speaking any more (yes, 45/nearly 46 year olds still fall out). She hated it. It was about Salmon Fishing in the Yemen. Apparently she hoped it was about something else. My husband has just finished it. He loved it, and understood the underlaying story. This is probably why I haven't fallen out with him.

Worst Case Scenarios... ha ha - Very funny Books.

1000 places to see before you die! Why not!

Enid Blyton. Every house with children should have Enid Blyton. Racist / Sexist / Bigoted or not.

Catch-22. An Amazing Amazing Book.

Harry Potter, and a Series of Unfortunate Events.... future classics for my grandchildren!

George Orwell, you gotta have some George! As with Hitchcock, and Elton. Yes, Surprisingly I love Ben Elton's writing.

I'll finish on Iain Banks. Scottish. Very, very clever. The Wasp Factory was the first book my husband gave me to read. This is our second copy of it, for the children, we loaned our first and never got it back. Every one of his books, as Iain Banks, have left me with an astounding "oumph" at the end. I have to go back and re-read, just to make sure that I really got the "Oh my god" factor right. As Iain M Banks, his Feersum Injun is sumthin to beold. Very hard work, especially for someone with slight dyslexia like my husband - every fourth chapter is written phonetically, but a fantasticallly woven tale, and I LOVE it.

Oh. This Blip could go on forever and ever, but I have to head to bed.