Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Book Travels - April 2009

My April travels began in 1940s England with Noel Streatfeild's Saplings and then went right ahead sixty years with John Mortimer's Rumpole Rests His Case. I flew back to California and Maine with Sharon Lovejoy's A Blessing of Toads, and then headed again to England, this time Sarah Challis' modern-day Dorset in Blackthorn Winter. From there I went to a rarely visited literary locale, the Australia of Helen Garner's The Spare Room, set in the present day. The publication dates spanned 1945-2008.

20 comments:

  1. Nan, what great locations! I love to mix up my reading too!

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  2. Gee, Sherri, I feel like I don't 'mix' it much! I go to England and the US, with an occasional trip to Canada. But I love those places, so I spend most of my reading time there.

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  3. I spent a lot of time on the east coast with 6 of Nicholas Sparks' romances. Then I was in Germany with Bernhard Schlink's The Reader. I hope to see the movie via Netflix some day.

    These days, I try to focus on David Sedaris' collection of personal essays. For some reason, I am having a hard time finishing it. His previous books were great, so I don't know what the problem is with this one.

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  4. Oh, thank you, Gigi. I loved reading where you went! Tonight I'm popping over to visit you in Hawaii when I watch LOST! :<)

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  5. Your header photo is gorgeous. The daffs are such a buttery yellow it makes me want to take a bite out of them. Yummmmm

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  6. Whew, I have jet lag just reading about where you've been!

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  7. LOVE your daffs at the top. Noel Streatfeild - I loved her as a child, but haven't read any of her adult books. Nearly bought one yesterday, but something stopped me (uncharacteristic!). Which would you recommend to start?

    Joanna

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  8. You wouldn't believe how many pictures of daffodils I took, and threw away before getting one I liked. :<)

    Joanne, I'm sorry I can't advise you. This is the only Steatfeild book I've ever read.

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  9. Comment not on books but your new header. It is beautiful and like sunshine to me this cloudy day in Tennessee. Thank You

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  10. Thank you, Ernestine! I was just coming over to your blog when I got your comment.:<)

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  11. Noel Streatfeild was a favourite of mine but I've only read her children's books. (And I have to confess - I thought she was a he :)

    I've been in Gilead, Iowa lately and all over England and a bit of the States with Cherry Cake and Ginger Beer - what a fun book.

    Our daffodils are blooming now too - your banner is so pretty!

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  12. Glorious Header!
    We welcome Spring here in Ontario!
    Love how you travel! We do the same in our home by theme, country, cuisine, fiction and non-fiction...makes life so interesting!
    Our family has recently been to the Mediterranean recently through armchair travel and cuisine....love it!
    Thanks for your blog!
    Joanne

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  13. Hehehe
    I started reading this post and thought you were literally flying all over the world and then my brain kicked in and I realized you were talking about trips via your reading - I love to "travel" through my reading as well and will be following some of your same trips since I ordered two of the books mentioned in this post. A much safer way to travel, in today's crazy world, for sure!

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  14. Nan
    Thanks for visiting..
    I've been reading all your book entries this wk but haven't commented.
    Yes we are able to do all this handyman stuff cause my husband is home.. trying to make the best out of unplanned unemployment!
    He can do most anything and I'm just the "dreamer- up- of -ideas- and -helper" really.
    Because of the field of work he is in we fear we will have to move,since this is a small town, but having just moved into this fixer upper last year we really don't want to move! So until we know we just keep working away.
    Yes that curved brick walkway was part of the house, original to it.

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  15. Hello Nan!

    What a beautiful header, the daffodils are absolutely lovely!

    So few things can take you to so many beautiful and far away places like a wonderfully written book. You know, springtime and a good read just seems to go together! :o)

    Smiles...

    Beverly

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  16. Thanks for your thoughts during the difficult time my Spouse and I had- they were much appreciated. I'm trying now to get back to a normal rhythm of reading favourite blogs :)

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  17. Island Sparrow, I'm going to look into that last title you noted. I love it. Thank you about the header pic. It took me lotsa tries to get a good one. :<)

    Joanne, my friend, gosh I wish you would start a blog. I loved reading what you just wrote, and I'm sure others would as well! Of course, I want to know the titles. You could email me when you have a minute. :<)

    And going back to another comment, I'm sorry JoannA that I called you JoannE. Quite a common name for the readers of this blog.

    Blessed with Four, that was so funny! Which books did you order?? :<)

    Mim, I wonder if he could change careers instead of you moving?? I think he has a future in remodeling - really, I'm serious!

    And dear Beverly, how lovely to see your comment. I think of you all the time. I like your use of the word 'beautiful.'

    The Elementary, thanks so much for writing. I sent your mother/daughter piece to my own girl. It is a magical connection.

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  18. I have ordered "The forgotten garden" and "A Blessing of Toads"!

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  19. Blessed with Four, I'll be interested to hear what you think!

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