Book Snob

I have borrowed my title from a blog I follow (I like to think of it as positive plagiarism, a win-win for both parties?!)

I have a TBR (to be read) pile of quite some height at present.  But having been unwell for the past week  I felt unable to tackle some of the weightier tomes.  It was the same with food - only light would do. So I tucked into a book I had previously avoided, as I thought it too lightweight.  The book is Bill Bryson's Notes From A Small Island.  The book was a treat.  Bill (as I now call him!) is an unashamed anglophile.  Last night he was on the news, he's signed a petition to prevent the sell off of woodland to overseas investors.  He rails against litter and the ripping up of our ancient hedgerows.  He is the President for The Campaign To Protect Rural England.

These issues are close to my heart too.   Maybe my eating and reading diet will revert back to my old habits this week, but I will try and amend my judging ways and keep in mind the saying, don't judge a book by it's cover.

http://bookssnob.wordpress.com/

Love and Freindship (sic)

This is the title of the book I have been struggling to photograph. I love the way the gold of the title reflects off of the wood - the book sparkles and glitters, like the treasure it is.

www.etsy.com/shop/BeauBazaar

Anticccippaaaattion (as Tim Curry once said, whilst dressed in suspenders)

I am excited. I took a day out for hunting this week and found some good books, and one of them in particular made my heart beat faster, it was by one of my favourite authors, but a title I had never heard of, in lovely condition. I have taken a teaser photo of part of the front cover.

All I need now is some decent sun (ha!) light, so that I can take photos that do them justice.

Etsy BeauBazaar

Let there be light! Or, The One With Bulbs In

Bulbs - some in a jug found in 20p crate, more in an old olive oil can and the 3rd one in a tomato can covered in a risotto rice sack.

Gone but not forgotten

These are some of the books that have passed through my Etsy shop in 2010. I am looking forward to finding new treasures to fill the gaps left by these lovely books. I love finding them, it's hard to let them go, but I have a good excuse to go off buying again.

Etsy BeauBazaar

My Favourite Books in 2010

It was a tough choice but I have picked the books that left the biggest mark on me this year. In no order they are;

Venice because it is a love story that transports you to the city. I was there, standing on the ossuary island of Sant'Ariano, the hairs standing up on my neck.

Suite Francaise, for it's courage and prose, and the heartbreaking story of how Irene Nemirovsky's novel came to be.

Coco Chanel - A Life; for Justine's writing and her take on the woman behind the couture, and for Madame' s own ability to ensure that the legend is still shrouded in many layers - one of them being Cocos own ability to create a good story.

Love Child. This book may not have crossed my bows, had I not heard Allegra Huston speak at Hay. Not to be confused with a s'leb memoir, it is the beautifully written story of one woman's search for identity and family. It is suffused with honesty and love.

Flip It - I love this book for it's ability to make me see that a situation can be viewed in many ways, and how you can do that. I have dipped into it a few times to top up my optimism levels.

I would love to know which books left their imprints on you in 2010.

*Apologies for my lack of accents etc.

Wishing you healthy, happy, wealthy and wise.

Today was supposed to be a big party day. We were to travel to Derbyshire for a lunch to celebrate a family members 50th, but last night one of the family elders had a heart attack. He is OK but the surprise lunch and the big, happy birthday celebrations are off. Instead we will be staying home, and I will be grateful (for 10 minutes at least) for what I have.

Thank you for stopping by this year, and for taking the time to leave your comments. I am looking forward to reading, writing and more sharing in 2011.

The Quiet Ones Are The Best

When I was very young I had a book (The Women's Room, Marilyn French) that proclaimed very loudly on the front cover 'This book will change your life!' It didn't.

There are other books, that come in quietly, under the radar, making no such empty promises but changing your life in ways you can never imagine. Mistress Of Myself is such a book. When I found this book I was immediately drawn to the lovely drawing on the cover. Once I started reading Mrs Robert Henrey's book I so closely identified with her writing that I couldn't put it down. It is the story of a woman approaching middle age who was questioning everything and looking for a new raison d'etre.

Then, this unassuming tome helped me find mine. It was after reading this book that I decided I wanted to do something creative, additional to my day job. So, I started a shop on Etsy. I slowly put a few books on, and since that day last year I haven't looked back. I 've found something I love doing, and it gives me a perfect excuse to hang out in book shops. This week the book that started it all was snapped up. I do hope it has the same positive effect on it's new owner, I think of it passing through women's lives like a paper Mary Poppins, quietly making a positive change and moving on to the next owner when it's work is done.

About the author, Mrs Robert Henrey;

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madeleine_Henrey

Etsy shop;

Etsy BeauBazaar

Housework In A Hurry!

Here at Lilac Tenements we are enjoying the dizzying whirl of social activities that come round every Christmas, in punishing, tight knit clusters. Never in all of the rest of the year are we exposed to such quantities of Advocat and Twiglets!

How are we supposed to balance the demands of ensuring we have the right thing to wear/make up/nail varnish/hair colouring (a must in late, late, youth), child care, jobs, Christmas shopping and card writing together with maintaining some semblance of health and fitness? Something has to give. In my house it's the dusting. I have 2 tips for busy women - dim lighting and candles. Hides a multitude of sins - dust, stress lines and bags under the eyes!

Etsy BeauBazaar