The only bad thing about a Rosamunde Pilcher book is turning the last page and having to say goodbye to new friends. I honestly don't know of any other books that leave me in this state! 😭
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Rather than write about the plot or the characters, I thought I'd mention some thoughts (life lessons?) that come through this magical family saga:
• Love your friends and family as they are.
• Own your mistakes but don't wallow in the consequences.
• Be really brave once in a while.
• Accept that life is messy.
• Be generous but don't allow your generosity to be taken for granted.
• Embrace beauty...in nature, in art, in character.
• Grow things. Create things.
• Know when to guard your independence.
• Appreciate solitude.
• Expect the unexpected.
• Holiday in Cornwall at least once in your life! 🐚
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Ok, I can't not mention Penelope Keeling. Once you've met her, you'll never forget her. 💝
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#rosamundepilcher #theshellseekers #cornwall
What an exquisite gem of a book this is! In spite of its moments of bleakness and tragedy, I found it to be a story full of hope, endurance, compassion and grit.
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I have heard it described as 'a big story but also a very small story'. One girl, her family and their daily battle with poverty and human nature, against the backdrop of huge social change... electricity, women's suffrage, prohibition and WW1. For anyone interested in women's history, this is a must-read.
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Betty Smith's writing is superb and I was completely immersed in the tenement life of Brooklyn. Some parts are shocking and brutal, some hilarious, some heartbreaking and some inspiring. For readers who love character-led books, this has everything. Loved, loved, loved it!
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#bettysmith #atreegrowsinbrooklyn
Here are the books I'll be reading this year as part of my '100 Years of Books' challenge. They will take me up to 75/100 which will keep me on track for completing the challenge in four years.
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I've made a change since this pic was taken... swapped The Age of Innocence for Queen Lucia (1920). If I have the time and inclination for a BIG read, I've got The Brothers Karamazov (1880).
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If you're interested in seeing the full list, the link is in my bio.)
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1854 - Walden, Thoreau
1857 - Tom Brown's Schooldays, Thomas Hughes
1873 - Around the World in 80 Days, Jules Verne
1878 - The Europeans, Henry James
1894 - The Jungle Book, Rudyard Kipling
1902 - Anna of the Five Towns, Arnold Bennett
1903 - The Call of the Wild, Jack London
1905 - The Scarlet Pimpernel
1911 - Ethan Frome, Edith Wharton
1912 - Daddy-Long-Legs, Jean Webster
1920 - Queen Lucia, E.F. Benson
1926 - These Old Shades, Georgette Heyer
1927 - The Bridge of San Luis Rey, Thornton Wilder
1932 - Cold Comfort Farm, Stella Gibbons
1934 - Rumour of Heaven
1935 - The House in Paris, Elizabeth Bowen
1940 - Bewildering Cares, Winifred Peck
1942 - The Little Grey Men, B.B.
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#100yearsofbooks #classicbooks
