The Earth Hums in B flat Mari Strachan

A title that got the better of my curiosity.

Set in a small Welsh town, Gwenni is a young girl who is inquisitive and seizes any opportunity to dabble in some detective work.

An off-beat read yet held me to the end as I wanted to know who done it! Yes, there is a death that requires investigation.

Continued references to the expressions/stance of some Toby Jugs add to the momentum of this book.

Family relationships/turbulence are issues playing a large part of this read. Biology homework reveals a few home truths. A family tree presented in eye colour and scientific diagrams transpire to be clues to the father of Bethan, Gwenni's sister. This has some bearing on the death of the local man in question, in the story.

Not my best read, but another novel under my belt!

I score this novel 6/10 ( 10 is high)

Books read...

11 The Day Job Mark Wallington
An account of one year spent working in gardens around Hampstead Heath, North London whilst Mark is financing his dream of becoming a published Author. Mark didn’t know anything about gardening so how he approaches developing repeat business and the characters he meets plus the scrapes he experiences is both entertaining and engaging.

12 Eat, pray, love Elizabeth Gilbert
After a bitter divorce and rebound fling Elizabeth was determined to embark on a year of self-enquiry. She bases the structure of her book on 108 beads of the Japa Mala then divides the book into 3 parts (Italy, India and Indonesia) 108 divided into 3 = 3 sections of 36 chapters. What is curious is she is also in her 36th year!
Parts 1 & 3 were best for me. Acceptance, allowing yourself space + time to think, rather than speak, are invaluable lessons shared with the reader.

13 The Lacemakers of Glenmara Heather Barbieri
Kate left Seattle to travel across Ireland. A broken relationship, failing career in fashion and grieving over the death of her Mother prompt her to flee. She arrives in Glenmara after a chance meeting with a Traveller.

14 The Other Family Joanna Trollope
Chrissie and Richie had been together in Highgate for 23 years and had 3 daughter - not married. Richie had married Margaret of his past when in Newcastle where he was a musician. They had a son Scott. Only Richie dies... Issues of legacy and inheritance are explored.

15 The Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Pie Society
Mary Ann Shaffer/Annie Barrows
It is 1946. Writer Juliet Aston is stuck for a writing idea. Out ofthe blue Dawsey Adams of Guernsey writes to her as he has acquired a book of hers and an exchange of correspondence develops. Life under the German Occupation in Guernsey unfolds in letters from members of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Pie Society that prompts her to visit. Ideal for Year six pupils to read portions of when studying World War 2 as the emotions and experiences of evacuees are informative in this book.

16 Lovely Bones Alice Seboold
Only age 14 when Susie was murdered by a man who lived alone in the neighbourhood, also known to her Mum and Dad. Susie Salmon is speaking from heaven throughout the book... Compelling and well written. I wanted the ending to deliver the murderer caught but instead you must assume he is left to rot having been covered over with large icicles? Susie watches her friends and family adjust to her death and do all the things she would never have the chance to do.

17 One Day David Nicholls
A friendship between Emma and Dexter unfolds who met at their Graduation 15th July 1988. Each chapter is about what they are doing the same day but the each subsequent year. I believed they would eventually marry and it took until 2003 they did but then tragedy fall!

18 Valeria’s Last Stand Marc Fitten
A first novel for this Author. Valeria a robust, direct character lives in Hungary. A talented potter turns sculptor mellows her, a rogue Chimney Sweep stirs up the way of life for the locals and adds action to the storyline. A delightful novel with descriptions that enable the reader to readily visualise the village and the characters therein.

19 On Chesil Beach Ian McEwan
Set in 1962. Edward & Florence married - their fears of the wedding night unfolds. Ian is a master of language skills – exquisite dimension with well crafted sentences. Their marriage lasted all of 8 hours and their genuine love lasted a lifetime. Quite a sensual read in places.For me a good mix of Oxford Locations and Chesil Beach near Lyme Regis.

Target 52 books during the year!

I am back-tracking a bit, as I'd been reading and later started the blog, so I've chosen to copy my comments on each book I've read so far his year...

1 Teacher, Teacher! Jack Sheffield
One year in the life of Ragley Village School in North Yorkshire. An hilarious and honest account of true characters and their dialect.

2 The Story Factor Annette Simmons
Effective storytelling to inspire, influence and persuade.

3 That’s Another Story Julia Walters The Autobiography Julia Walters
I so related to this autobiography. Location of ancestry. Funny, so funny! Loved her truthful and candid way of sharingher life experiences.

4 Dear Fatty Dawn French
Endless laughs. Could visualise throughout. Captivated by using letters to present her memoirs.

5 toast Nigel Slater
This so struck a cord with my childhood! A refreshing & alternative way to present memoirs.

6 Christmas in Seattle Debbie Macomber
Discovering that people called Debbie Macomber “a hopeless dreamer” when she first decided to write a novel, only served to make me more determined to make an attempt.
I was surprised when approaching half way in the book I was coming to an end. There were two stories in one book, both equally compelling. I love Christmas, so eagerly read. I found humour and the twists engaging.

7 Twenty Wishes Debbie Macomber
A group of widows had gravitated from what originated as a reading group. They meet on Valentine’s Day and begin individual lists of 20 wishes of things they’ve always wanted to do. Proved food for thought.

8 Thursdays at Eight Debbie Macomber
Every Thursday at eight, four women meet to talk and share their lives...
Each chapter is headed with a quote and is devoted to one person. First their journal entry followed by storyline. Chapters 12, 30 and concluding 40 bring the reader to: “Thursday Morning Breakfast Club”. Interesting approach to linking people & events. Each arrived at a WORD for the year: Faithful, Time, Acceptance and Gratitude.The message: “Make time for friends”

9 Good Grief Lolly Winston
Referred to on page 10 of “Twenty Wishes” by Debbie Macomber. I couldn’t help but feel disappointed when I read she wasn’t a widow, although I would not wish it upon her. I remain amazed how she arrived at such a vivid account. I loved the feel of the paper and the texture of the cover which made it such a manageable book to read for bus journeys. Three parts to the book tastefully divided, each made up of chapters which highlight aspects of grief. Thought provoking!

10 Old Boyfriends Debbie Macomber
Susannah didn’t understand how she could lie with her husband night after night,
yet dream about another man... a previous boyfriend. She returns to her childhood home, to her mother now battling with loss of memory. She learns to value her husband and what she has!

Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert

After a bitter divorce and rebound fling, Elizabeth was determined to embark on a year of self-enquiry.




She bases the structure of her book on 108 beads of the Japa Mala then divides the book into 3 parts - locations: Italy, India and Indonesia.

108 (re: beads) divided into 3 = 3 sections of 36 chapters. What is also curious is she is in her 36th year when she is truly discovering herself!

Parts 1 and 3 made the best reading for me.

Acceptance as well as allowing yourself space and time to think (rather than speak) were invaluable lessons shared.

I read this book in March (some time ago now) as part of a promise to myself to read one book per week (week ending 3rd January being week one) a New Year resolution for 2010.

Due to the film now based on this book, it has become a topical theme of conversation right now, hence I am including a view point in this blog.

I plan to see the film this week,featuring Julie Roberts as Elizabeth, an adaption I am both curious and keen to view.

Read my blog: www.writeaboutfilms.blogspot.com, coming soon!

I score this novel 8/10 (10 is high)

Major Pettigrew's Last Stand

First novel by Helen Simonson...

A book with a wonderfully simple cover that provides reasons to set out to discover who owns each coat on the stand.

Ernest is a widower, who prefers the quiet life since his wife died. He demonstrates depth of character, a traditional stance and standards, yet under his formal exterior and awkwardness when someone stirs the passion in him, he is actually worldly-wise and sensitive!

Just when you think the story is going to be about his inheritance of his fathers second gun (after the death of his brother) one that when put alongside his own gun returns a pair, the storyline turns to an unexpected friendship that develops between himself and a shopkeeper in the village.

A love story unfolds that takes the reader into the realms of family obligation and tradition verses risk to obtain personal happiness.

I liked how he described the stage the lady he falls in love is in, "the very prime flowering of mature womanhood."

The character (Major Pettigrew) also reminds his son, "Youth is a wonderful time of vigour and action. For collecting friends and experiences." which I believe is so true to life.

The Author describes his relationship with another lady as having "developed a gravitational pull, slow but insistent, as a planet pulls home a failing satellite". Another description that I think is worthy of note and a situation that you can recall happening if not to yourself, someone else.

As someone who makes the most of an opportunity to take in the early morning air, I also found Helen's description, "The frost was still deep and the sun only a vague promise in the mid-morning sky" quite striking.

A book I just had to finish. A quirky yet lovely novel which holds a few surprises.

I score this book 7/10 (10 is high)

Moon Tiger

This is the first book I was given to read as part of a Reading Group, who I am yet to meet, which did present a challenge.

A Modern Classic by Penelope Lively that starts with a famous writer (Claudia hampton) dying in hospital, however by Page 208 I did not gather whether she was dying due to a terminal illness, accident or whatever... I wanted to know???

Her memories of times and life present an informative history. Main characters emerge such as Tom, her great love, Jasper her untrustworthy lover and father of her daughter, Lisa plus Gordan her brother who she adored.

There are great phrases throughout. An example of just one...
"She had drawn S.Dorset around her like a shawl".

Some food for thought too:
Sometimes in life you can feel "shuffled and re-shuffled" like a pack of cards...
Some do seem to "grab at the status of marriage..... at the first likely young man to come along."

A book which proved a vehicle to extend my vocabulary with such words as: propitiate, incandescent, admonished, malevolent, pruriently, atavistic, esoteric and recalcitrant... to list a number of them!

Lovely to read words I have not heard or used in a while like, "shufti".

Chapter 16 was like a prize after the previous 15, an old & stained exercise book used as a diary which revealed Tom's experiences and feelings. It was left for Claudia by Tom's brother.

This is not my kind of read, so I will not be running to explore more from this Author. I have achieved reading this novel from the beginning to the end. It is good to read many styles of writing and varied types of topic, so I guess it has been a broadening experience. I remain open minded....

On the basis of my liklihood to re-read and dimension of my enjoyment of it...
I score this book 5/10 (10 is high)

The Widow's Tale by Mick Jackson

Proved an easy read...

A rash decision to get in the car and go where the car pointed.... a woman new to widowhood finds herself in Norfolk where she rents a cottage leaving her
north-London home whilst she explores her feelings and new situation.

What the woman does is made more possible as she transpires not to have children or a job to consider. She is a woman who seems quite resilient, very independent with a feisty dimension.

Descriptions that took my attention were:
"The sort of vagueness born of emotional exhaustion."
"How death arrives all done and dusted."
"Death's intransigence that's so hard to swallow."
"Contain within oneself reservoirs of anguish."
"Statistics identifying the multitude of deaths", new widows in an instant, "how this does not generate comfort."
"You don't wake up each morning feeling a tiny bit better than the day before."

Written by a male author makes this story even more remarkable (some readers would despair at my opinion) as he captures a substantial part of the journey that takes place.

A candid account that is quite believable and honest, elements of which, I can relate to.

I loved the use of simple words such as: traipsing, pally, vivacious, feisty, sparkly, gawping, stoicism, reprehensible, resolve as well as tetchy.

A novel I am glad to have made time to read.

It is one route to settling with the past, to arrive at engaging in the present but yet to believe in the future.


I score this read 6/10 (10 is high)