Yesterday I went for the last time to the BBC Three Counties Radio Studios in Luton. Next time I go they will have moved to Dunstable. Handily that is a bit nearer home for me which is good. The pictures look great so it will be fun to be in the new studios.
Now to get reading for the next batch of recommended books on July 6th. Summer reading!
I have a ticket to see the legend that is Katy Cawkwell tomorrow evening in Jordans where she is telling The Falcon Bride. Can’t wait!
I had the most brilliant time last night with Anna and George, two of my grown up children when we went to The Moth in the Union Chapel in Islington. What a brilliant evening! A range of stories, some funny, some scary and all really interesting and well told. The last storyteller was Jung Chang, author of Wild Swans. It was a privilege to hear her. I can commend The Moth to anyone who likes a good story. The principle is they are all true and all take 10 – 12 minutes to tell.
The Union Chapel is a marvellous venue, beautiful and good accoustics.
You can get podcasts of The Moth. You can find out more on www.themoth.org
I first came across The Moth as a book which I reviewed here some time ago. This was a collection of some of the stories that had been told at gatherings of The Moth and which transferred well to the printed page. I thought it wonderful and I have always been a fan of live storytelling. The Moth started in America and was really just people gathering on a porch telling each other of their experiences. The Moth name comes from the idea of moths being attracted to the light.
I cannot wait for the next one
What a lot to look forward to!
The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton published Jan 1st 2015 by Pan Macmillan £7.99 paperback
This is a kind of 17th century thriller. A bit spooky as well
Elizabeth is Missing by Emma Healey published Jan 1st 2015 by Penguin £7.99 paperback
Maud is 81 and has dementia. This is her story. Funny, poignant, sad and very readable.
Narrow Road to the Deep North by Richard Flanagan published July 2014 by Vintage £16.99 hardback
This is going into my top ten books of all time at number 3. It is the winner of the Man Booker prize and is just stunningly unputdownable. The hero, Dorrigo Evans, is a doctor from Tasmania, who finds himself held by the Japanese in a prisoner of war camp. The inmates of the camp are expected to build the Thailand Burma Railway.
The Boy in the Tower by Polly Ho-Yen published by Random House Children’s January 2015 £6.99
This has been shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal and for the Blue Peter fiction award which will be announced on World Book Day on Thursday. It is a gripping read aimed at 9 – 13 year olds
Sophia by Anita Anand published by Bloomsbury January 15 2015 £20 hardback
This is a biography of Sophia Duleep Singh, granddaughter of Ranjit Singh, the Lion of the Punjab and god daughter of Queen Victoria.
H is for hawk by Helen MacDonald published by Vintage February 2015 £8.99 paperback
Wonderful autobiography of Helen Macdonald training a goshawk called Mabel and learning to deal with her grief at her father’s death. Woven in is a biography of T.H.White, one time teacher and author of The Once and Future King
I went to BBC Three Counties on Monday to discuss books with Nick Coffer.
I went to a Book Group last week and we had one of the longest discussions about a book we all enjoyed – Apple Tree Yard by Louise Doughty. I have just been to another book group where we had an interesting discussion about Do No Harm by Henry Marsh. By contrast for another book group I plan to attend next week we are reading Tess of the d’Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy. I just love the variety!
Me on the right visiting New Hope in Watford to hand over the knitting from the project that was part of the Craft Festival in October.
The Craft day was attended by May Martin and Stuart Hillard from the Sewing Bee which was very inspiring. As part of the day which was sponsored by Trend and Thomas we ran a knitting project, with the object of teaching people to knit and giving them a purpose for doing so. Sirdar and Yeoman Yarns kindly provided the yarn, John Lewis provided the knitting needles and thirteen people provided the labour. Some were new to knitting and some were able to knit but thought it a good idea and got involved. The result – 19 scarves and 12 beanie hats made for New Hope in Watford, a charity that helps homeless and vulnerable people.
My grateful thanks to everyone who gave their time and effort to this great cause. New Hope were thrilled to receive them. I have sent the information to the Watford Observer.
I have just added the books Nick Coffer and i discussed on BBC Three Counties on Monday December 1st. If you are stuck for a Christmas present you could do worse than have a look!
My monthly book slot with Nick Coffer on BBC Three Counties Radio comes around very quickly! Always great to chat about books though and we managed to squeeze six books in today including 2 childrens books and one non fiction. You can see what I recommended by looking at the radio recommendations page. You can hear the programme by clicking on this link BBC3CR It will be there until Monday August 4th.
moragwatkins 