January Round Up

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Whilst I have planned on monthly round up posts before I never seem to quite get around to it.  So this year I have decided to try and collate a round up as each month closes, sharing what I have been doing, reading, listening to and even watching.  

Reading  - The Life Changing Magic of Tidying by Marie Kondo

In an effort to declutter and tidy the house properly once and for all I have turned to the tidying godess that has received high praise across social media in the recent months.  So fingers crossed her magic works on me!

Doing - Business Planning

This month has seen me helping my husband make plans for creating a business that fits around our family and gives him a way to share his talents.  To be honest I have thoroughly enjoyed this, donning my creative and marketing hats again.  Also one of the ideas will mean I can collaborate with him.  Watch this space.....

Listening - Adele, Foxes and Jo Whiley

This month I have continued to play Adele's new album, 25, whilst in the car.  A damn good sing along on my long drives home from work have been the tonic I needed as the dark evenings have become a little depressing.  My other love this month has been Foxes, I absolutely love this band and have added them to my various playlists this month.  Also this month I have been making sure I listen to Jo Whiley's Radio 2 show as much as possible, whether this is live or on catch up.  For me Jo's show is a celebration of talented musicians, old and new, whilst catching up with an old friend or big sister.  

Watching - War and Peace and Call The Midwife

After spending so much in the company of Dr McDreamy and the cast of Greys Anatomy whilst I devoured box set after box set on Amazon Prime, I needed a new fix.  This time it wasn't a hospital based medical drama, the only blood to be seen is on the battle field, or in childbirth. Having never read War and Peace, I know a terrible admission for a literature graduate, I was intrigued by the new adaptation.  Thankfully this does not disappoint and I am loving the character development, drama and beautiful location and costume of this epic.  Call The Midwife has become a firm favourite with myself and the girls, making time every Thursday after school to watch an episode in the wintry months, so we are thrilled that January saw it's return.  

What have you been up to this month? Any recommendations?!

Until next time, take care.

Zoe

xo

The Year in Books - November

Sadly these past few months I have had to stop participating in 'The Year in Books' organised by Laura at  Circle of Pine Trees, due to time restrictions. Yet I feel now would be a good time to join again, especially as cosy winter evenings are perfect for snuggling up with a good book.  My reading list recently has been quite varied as always.  A favourite in the past few months has been 'Where She Went' by Gayle Forman, the follow up to the amazing young adult novel 'If I Stay'.  This was one of those books I did not want to end but hungrily read on as I needed to know what happened.  Forman is definitely an author I will be reading again very soon and encourage anybody to try, even if like me you are not a young adult.  

So what will I be reading in November?  After a recent trip to the library I returned armed with books I have been wanting to read for a while.  First up is the tale of an adventure up the west coast of America.  'Wild - A Journey from Lost to Found' by Cheryl Strayed has been dramatised as a movie recently but as always I have chosen to read the book first.  Having loved books like 'Eat, Pray, Love' I am sure 'Wild' will be spiritually uplifting for me as the reader as I join her on her incredible journey.  Next up this month is an autobiographical journey with a lady I have admired for many years, Jo Whiley.  Over the years Jo has had a big influence over my musical choices and I just love her style and friendly yet incredibly cool way of dj-ing, so am looking forward to reading 'My World in Motion'.

Maybe two books are ambitious but I think it's about time I got back to reading reguarly again and know both of these books will keep me enthralled.  What will you be reading this month? Perhaps join in with The Year in Books? Find out more on Laura's blog here.

Until next time, take care.

Zoe

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The Year in Books : December

I know it has been a while since I wrote a post for The Year in Books but I have still been reading, although mostly journal articles for assignments and my dissertation.  However unless you have an interest in paediatric oncology, prostate cancer or health literacy I am sure none of these will be of interest! But thankfully I still find a few minutes each night to read before I go to sleep.  Over the past few weeks I have loved If I Stay by Gayle Forman and Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn.  Both have recently been released on the big screen but I am always cautious when great books are made into films, so I haven't rushed to the cinema just yet.  

This month I have opted for something a bit more light hearted, in the shape of my old heroine Bridget Jones.  A little late to the party in reading the latest diary, Mad About The Boy, from this character, but I have already spent the last few nights reading into the small hours. Clearly I am not disappointed with Helen Fieldings latest offering, already rooting for Bridget to make it through the abyss of single parenting and getting back on her feet after the loss of her great love, Mr Darcy.  

My Christmas list is always full of books and with a bookseller husband there is always something to read in our house.  Perhaps if you are stuck for what to read next pop over to The Year in Books link up on Circle of Pines for plenty of inspiration and reviews.  Also if you are looking for some vintage Ladybird, Enid Blyton or Penguin books for stocking fillers this Christmas then pop over to Letters & Luggage on Etsy.

Until next time, take care.

Zoe

xo

The Year in Books - July

With the promise of long, lazy summer days looming I have been stock piling books from the library.  There are several that I really want to read, having read reviews from other bloggers taking part in The Year in Books and also from reviews in Red.  Infact there are so many books I want to read at the moment that I wish there was such a job as professional book reader! 

June was a bit of a miss for me regarding my book choice.  I managed about the first third but to be perfectly honest I wasn't enjoying it.  It was well written but didn't really capture my imagination.  So having promised myself that if I'm not enjoying a book after the first quarter to waste no more time on it.  Long gone are the days when I had to read books for my English A level or the English Literature part of my first degree.  Life is too short to be wasted on books I am not enjoying, especially when there are so many books I really want to read.  Therefore I have spent much of June catching up on favourite magazines (Red, The Simple Things and Country Living) and have almost finished Picture Me Gone by Meg Rosoff as recommended by Lucy, my thirteen year old daughter.  I have to admit Meg Rosoff is fast becoming one of my favourite authors this year.  Even though her work is aimed at young adults and my greying hair and fine lines suggest I no longer fit this category, I am enthralled by her stories.  I adore the way she writes and have yet to find one of her books that I don't devour with great zest.

Already part way into July I have a little pile of books aligned, ready and waiting for my attention.  Dear Life by Alice Munro, Five Days by Douglas Kennedy and Life After Life by Kate Atkinson are on my list this month and I still have Gone Girl waiting in the wings.  However I am not sure I will get through all of these this month but I am hoping for plenty of reading time.  So now I am just hoping for the sunshine to return so I can lay out in the garden and enjoy many happy hours with a book.

What are you reading this month?  Recommendations are always appreciated and be sure to see what everyone else is reading for The Year in Books project.

Until next time, take care.
Zoe
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The Year In Books - April / May

I know I missed April, I had my head stuck in radiation physics textbooks and I am sure you would prefer me not to share my thoughts on these! Although I also managed to read some of my favourite magazines and I actually snuck in a book too.  I picked up 'From Notting Hill to New York Actually' by Ali McNamara in the library book sale, having seen a review for it a while ago in Red.  This was a fabulous story set in New York that I actually found very hard to put down.  With main characters that I could easily relate to and a storyline that was emotive, fun and verged on the romantic tales from Sex in the City, I did not really want it to end.  Infact I loved it so much the day after I finished reading it I reserved the first of Ali's books 'From Notting Hill with Love Actually' so that I can join most of the characters again very soon.  Just be sure to add either of these to your hand luggage this summer, I promise you will not be disappointed.

So for May I have chosen a book I have been waiting to read for a while.  As a huge Harry Potter fan I was of course delighted that Ms Rowling put pen to paper again for some more adult adventures.  I read The Cuckoo's Calling last year, devouring it very quickly so this month I am delving between the electronic pages of The Casual Vacancy, which I had squirreled away on my iPad.  Let's just hope it doesn't disppoint!

So what are you reading at the moment? I would love to know.  Perhaps you are looking for inspiration, be sure to visit Circle of Pines blog to see what many of us are reading for the year in books series.

Until next time, take care.
Zoe
xo

The Year in Books - February

Well January flew by in haze of wet and windy days.  At last February has arrived and with the second day of sunshine and blue skies here in Suffolk I can almost smell spring.  Inspired by the idea from Laura of Circle of Pines to read a book a month, I have ended most of my evenings throughout January reading Bonkers by Jennifer Saunders.  This was an adventure through the comedienes life and a thoroughly enjoyable one too.  Although Jennifers writing seemed a little erratic at times but what more would you expect from a comic genius.  In the early days writing down their sketches were not part of their work, but as soon as French & Saunders worked for auntie beeb suddenly pen and paper were required.  It is clear that Jennifers head is bursting with ideas that occasionally pour out, I imagine in the same way she has shared her life in Bonkers.  

So time to chose another book.  This months choice is a recommendation from Lucy, my eldest daughter.  I had picked this book up from the library for her having read alot about it before Christmas as it was released as a film.  Being keen to share books with my children I am really excited as Lucy gets older that we can share books, having already encouraged her to read The Help, To Kill a Mockingbird and some of Cecelia Aherns books. So for Februarys book I will be reading How I Live Now by Meg Rosoff.  

For more reading inspiration pop over to Lauras blog to see what the rest of the group are reading this month and what we read last month.

Until next time, take care.
Zoe
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