Sunday Bookworm

Behind The Scenes

At The Museum

by

Kate Atkinson

This is my third Sunday Bookworm post, bringing you reviews of books I have recently enjoyed.  Following the recent BBC adaptations of Case Histories by this same author, I thought I would review one of Kate Atkinson's other books - letting you know that she is more than just a detective novelist, albeit a talented one.

Behind The Scenes At The Museum is the story of Ruby Lennox and her family. Not your usual family tale, but a heady mix of historical saga and present day grit. We learn about Ruby's life from childhood to adulthood, punctuated with landmark events and peppered with forgotten memories. Running alongside Ruby's tale is that of her ancestor Alice, and the story hops satisfyingly between the past and the present, pulling you into their lives, their stories, their trials and their tribulations.

This was Kate Atkinson's first published novel, and marked her out as a skilled writer and storyteller. This is not a detective story - although I would highly recommend the Jackson Brodie books as portrayed by the BBC, in particular When Will There Be Good News, which although well represented deserves a fuller reading - nor is it an historical novel. Instead it is a rattling good yarn, with wonderfully drawn characters to whom we can all relate. From the feckless father, to the frustrated mother and the bewildered child, as the story unfolds and the history is revealed they sit comfortably in context with their pasts - proving that we are not just who we are now, but the sum of the lives we have lived, and those who have lived before us.

This is a book that can be enjoyed on so many levels - simply written, and yet strangely deep - there is humour in the main players and the anecdotes of their lives, as well as sadness and situations that we all identify with. There is also mystery and coincidence, and the all different facets of this book make it sparkle like a diamond - it is simply a joy to read.

Please don't expect a plot as such, this is a story that tells a tale and recounts a history. The characters are not special, they are not stars in the making, they are real people - they could be me or you, or our mothers and fathers. There is a stark realism to the book, which only a talented writer could take from the everyday and turn into such a good read. It goes to show that we all have a story, and a history.

I urge you to read this book if what you have read about here appeals to you - you will definitely enjoy it.

You can find out more about the book, the author and her other published works at:

www.kateatkinson.co.uk

Next month's book will be something a little different - from the previous three books I have written about, and for me as a reader, but I assure you it is another cracking good read! Next month I will be reviewing

The Snowman

by

Jo Nesbo

I would love if it if other readers would join me for my Sunday Bookworm, so please leave any comments you wish about any of the books I have reviewed so far - or if you have already read next month's book, and would like your comments included in my review, please feel free to email me at

anna@thelimegarden.co.uk

and let me have your thoughts!

My next Sunday Bookworm blog is scheduled to be posted on Sunday 18th September 2011.

Bad Blogger!

It has to be said, I have been such a lax blogger recently. Is it any excuse to say that I have been very busy?
Or that my lovely husband dropped my laptop, so it had to go to *hospital* (back fully repaired now, thankfully) ?

Well, I have sat down today and sketched out a schedule for the next couple of months... I just hope I keep to it! My next post - later this week - will be about a fabulous lady and her amazing response to help the poor independent traders who fell victim to the recent riots across England. And then this coming Sunday it will be my monthly Sunday Bookworm post - I can't believe another whole month has whizzed by so quickly! This month's book is Behind the Scenes at the Museum by Kate Atkinson - so for any of you who became fans of this talented writer through watching the recent Case Studies dramatisations on the BBC, I hope you will enjoy hearing about this great book.

I also have plans to bring you some great wedding related features - hoping to introduce you to some different ideas to make your special day truly unique, and some gorgeous vintage (ahh, I do love a bit of vintage!) details, accessories and decorations, as well as a few do-it-yourself ideas for saving a few pennies. I will continue to post my occasional recipes, gluten free cakes and treats - that taste even better than the wheat varieties, so your wheat eating friends will, quite frankly, never know the difference!

Here is just a small sneak preview of my next recipe...

In between these posts I will resurrect my Folksy Fridays, fortnightly posts featuring all sorts of handmade gorgeousness from the talented makers as Folksy.com. As well as bringing you news of my own new products, creations and business ventures... and there are some very exciting new developments coming soon (some of which I just can't reveal yet!!)!

So I do hope you are going to continue to watch this space, and thank you for hanging around !

Sunday Bookworm

SISTER

by Rosamund Lupton

This is my second monthly Sunday Bookworm, where I am endeavouring to review books that I have read and enjoyed, and hopefully start some discussions about them - so if you would like to take part, please either leave your comments about this book, or see the end of this post for how to take part in future reviews, and even have your own comments included in the post...

This book was introduced to my via an organised Book Club that I attended for a short while, in fact it was the second of the books that they read since I joined - the first going down universally like a lead balloon amongst all the members - so it was with mixed feelings and some apprehension that I picked it up.

One of my main aims in joining the Book Club was to discover some new authors whose books I could collect and devour, as well as generally broadening my literary mind...  I wouldn't exactly call this particular book mind-broadening - but I have added Rosamund Lupton to my list of authors to follow - which I think is a good indicator that I did enjoy this book!

Essentially you might think that the book is a "whodunnit".  In a nutshell, it charts the story of a woman setting out to find out who has killed her sister, and also why. But to leave it at such a short abbreviated summary is doing it a great dis-service. It is so much more than that.

I didn't know at all what to expect when I picked the book up - having been very disappointed with my previous Book Club read - and I started the book with the rather negative idea that I really wouldn't enjoy it.  And, probably only due to that very state of mind, at first it seemed that my fears were going to be realised.

But wait...

The characters were clearly portrayed, and true to life, and there was definitely a plot brewing! The writing style is easy to read without being dumbed down, and there is a certain appeal to "ordinary people" rather then the sometimes trumped up characters you tend to find in some modern books.

My attitude to the book was being turned - so I rather imagine that if I hadn't started it with a sour mind I probably would have enjoyed it right from the start!

The story soon gathers momentum, and you are introduced to various characters along the way, and you soon become drawn into the twists and turns of the plot. By two thirds of the way through the book you will probably have drawn, and then redrawn, your conclusions about what is going on and "whodunnit" and as the book draws into it's final chapters you really do believe that you have it nailed.

But wait...

The conclusion to the book is very unexpected. I had the perpetrator well and truly wrong! But then this is half the fun of the read. It plays the "whodunnit" card in a new and inventive way, and I defy you not to be hooked! And the bit I love the most - a very sharp twist right at the very end... but you're going to have to read it for yourself, as I'm not giving any more away.

This is a very engaging first novel, and introduces us to an author who promises to play with our minds as much as entertain us with her story lines. Suffice to say, I shall definitely be looking out for more Rosamund Lupton books!

To find out more about this author, and her two novels to date, please visit

www.rosamundlupton.com

Next month's Sunday Bookworm with be posted on

Sunday 21st August

when I will be reviewing

Behind The Scenes At The Museum

by Kate Atkinson

If you have read this book and would like your comments or views included in my review (good or bad, I will accept all-comers) then please email me at:   anna@thelimegarden.co.uk

...with the subject line "Sunday Bookworm" - I very much look forward to hearing your thoughts!

Sunday Bookworm

Welcome to my first Sunday Bookworm - where I am writing about recent favourite reads of mine, hopefully to provoke thought, and encourage others to pick up a good book. I will be announcing next month's book at the bottom of this post, so if you would like to join in the discussion please drop me a line at anna@thelimegarden.co.uk subject "Sunday Bookworm" and tell me what you thought, liked or didn't like about the book in question.

The Ice Cream Girls

by Dorothy Koomson

I first came across Dorothy Koomson as a writer when I read the much publicised "My Best Friend's Girl" way back when it was a Richard & Judy Summer Read - it may have been Ms Koomson's third novel - but for me it was her first, and it will always remain my favourite. I have been avidly collecting and reading all of the rest of her books ever since, and The Ice Cream Girls has been the latest one I have read. The writer likes to tackle emotional issues in her stories, although for me it is the depth of characters and realism that also shine through.

The Ice Cream Girls tells the story of two young women who were charged at a very young age with a brutal crime. One girl is convicted, and one is cleared. Now their paths cross again, and we are witness to the development and fall out that this brings to their lives. We learn the history to their supposed crime, told in sometimes alarmingly graphic detail, and are slowly drawn into their world - even thinking, what would I do in their situation?

This is one excellent novel! It is bold in the way it tackles a potentially very sensitive subject, and yet treats it with compassion at the same time. Personally, I thought it had a touch of "Martine Cole" about it - not in a bad way, but in it's realism, grittiness and down to earth nature - although it still retains Ms Koomson's own style and identity.

The characters are well drawn and totally credible, and the writer's ability to tell the story from two peoples angles, at two different ages in their lives, shows a lot of talent. The stage is again very credible - no yummy mummies, or public school off spring here (my banes of modern "chick lit") - set in Real England, warts and all. It is interesting to see how one act can touch so many lives, even years after it has taken place, and this adds depth and intrigue to the story. There are buried secrets and inner turmoils to be uncovered, moral avenues to be explored, and engaging people to meet.

Oh, and also there is a great twist in the tale at the end!

If you are interested in this, or any other book by Dorothy Koomson, or indeed finding out more about the lady herself, then she has an excellent website at www.dorothykoomson.co.uk which I urge you to explore.

Is My Best Friend's Girl still my favourite? Hmmm, to be honest, I'm not too sure any more!

Next month's Sunday Bookworm will be posted on 17th July 2011 and I will be reviewing...

Sister by Rosamund Lupton

I do hope you will join in and send me any comments!

What's new pussy cat....?

There has been lots and lots going on at The Lime Garden - plenty of gardening, both literal and figurative! So I thought it was time to tell you all about it...

First of all, as you can see, this blog has had a total makeover - with some fab new pages added, which will hopefully make it a more interesting place to visit. I have added a "mini-web" page to introduce you all to what I do; it's not a substitute for my full website at www.thelimegarden.co.uk but allows you to take a peek before heading over to the full version.

[Important note: at the moment I have some problems with Google in accessing my website for editing, so please bear with me, and content will be updated just as soon as they rectify the problems! ;-)  ]

The next new page is dedicated to Weddings & Parties... The Lime Garden is supplying more and more Vintage Cup Candles for weddings and other special events, and so I thought it was time to have a page that tells you all about our services. We offer a completely bespoke service, catering to the needs, requirements and desires of each client - putting together a beautiful collection of candles that is unique to their event. (These services are also detailed on the full website.) So if you like what you see then please drop me a line, and we can chat about your plans and ideas!

I have also added a Gallery page to this blog - it is simply a collection of pictures of stock, previous and current, so that you can see what we do.

And the last new page on the blog is my "Trading Post".  This was inspired by seeing posts on Twitter from fellow Folksy.com sellers, letting people know that they are willing to trade their handmade goods for other handmade goods.  I thought it was a great idea, and if I could collect a list of these traders in one place then it would be a useful tool for all of us... It is early days at the moment, but I am hoping that many more traders will get in contact, and we will soon have lovely selection of handmade goodies represented. If you think that you may be interested, please click over and take a look - there is absolutely no obligation whatsoever to agree to any trade at all, you only accept trades that you really want! It is free to sign up, and if nothing else could increase traffic to your Folksy.com shop.

These pages though are not all that's new on the blog... Take a look at last Sunday's post "Sunday Bookworm" where I am starting a monthly book review and inviting other readers to chip in with their views and comments too. Please read the post, and if you would like to take part, please get in contact!

But work on the blog is not all that has been going on...

The Lime Garden is now a listed supplier for Vintage Cup Candles for wedding decorations, and "Melt Your Heart" wax melts as wedding favours, on the following wedding directories:

www.marrymeinsomerset.co.uk

www.gatheredhere.co.uk

www.yourweddingunveiled.co.uk

And if you are in the throes of planning your wedding, you could not do anything better than check these sites out, as there are many wonderful suppliers listed - from frocks to florists and cars to cakes - and they all have fantastic forums too, where you can ask questions, get advice, trade tips, and chat about all things weddings related - or just have a good old rant to relieve some of that planning stress!

In addition to all these activities, I have also been busy working on some lovely new products. In particular I have started working with palm wax - another eco-friendly product as an alternative to soy wax - which has some marvellous properties that allows you to create the most beautiful pearlescent finishes. So I will be introducing them to you shortly, with lots of lovely pictures and a bit more about working with the wax itself and all it's eco credentials.

Finally, it hasn't all been work, work, work... real life has been pretty busy too! Along with my handy husband, we have totally transformed our real garden - more pictures and the full story coming soon. And I have been perfecting my baking with gluten-free flour - so I will have some fab tasty recipes to share with you too... just as soon as my cakes and biscuits hang around long enough to be photographed!!

I really hope you will enjoy visiting my new look blog, and hopefully will join in with some of the activities, if you want to contact me about anything in particular I have written about today, please email me at:

anna@thelimegarden.co.uk

subject line either: Blog Trading Post or Sunday Bookworm

or if you would like to find out more about our wedding & party sale or hire services:

enquiries@thelimegarden.co.uk

I look forward to hearing form you!

♥

Sunday Bookworm - Coming Soon...!

Calling all fellow bookworms!

One of my New Year's Resolutions this year was to read a wider selection of books. In an attempt to get away from just grabbing at any old book from the charity store, I would be a little more judicious, search out books by my favourite authors, seek out new writers, and compile a list of authors and books to discover.

I'm not doing too badly so far, and I am gaining far more pleasure from my snatched bookworm moments - it is certainly a case of quality beating quantity.  So I thought I would share my little literary journey with you.

Each month I will be reviewing a different book. Some by favourite authors of mine, and some I have discovered through recommendation. I can't promise that they will all be weighty tomes, mind blowing literature or praiseworthy classics; but they will all be books I have enjoyed!

And I hope that some of you will join me - and hopefully find a new book that you will love too!  I will let you know each month what the next month's book will be... And I would love if some of you will read it too, and then send me your own thoughts or comments that I can include when I write my own review.

The first Sunday Bookworm will be posted on Sunday 19th June, and I have chosen....

The Ice Cream Girls

by Dorothy Koomson

...so if you have read it already, or would like to read along with me and tell me what you think, please email your comments to me at 

anna@thelimegarden.co.uk

subject line: Sunday Bookworm

and I will pick two or three comments to add to my own review.

I look forward to hearing what you think of the book!