Books Galore

Visiting my daughter Jane, and our dear little Grandson Oliver today I walked out in the sunshine. I was not tempted to visit the wool shop but I could not resist walking into a couple of charity shops that are known for good condition second hand books. No, I will not tell you where they are!

I ended up buying three. "Precious Time" by Erica James, "Spring Music" by Elvie Rhodes, "Rebecca's Tale" by Sally Beauman.

Only last week in the same charity shops I purchased seven books. "Blackbird" by Jennifer Lauck, "Shopaholic and Sister" by Sophie Kinsella, "The Seige" by Helen Dunmore, "Child of the North" by Piers Dudgeon with Josephone Cox, "Eden Close" by Anita Shreve, "Cold Mountain" by Charles Frazier and "The Swallow and the Hummingbird" by Santa Montifiore. I obviously need to keep away from these shops as well as the wool shop!

I just love books and reading as these pictures will testify to. I read novels in bed at night, some times into the early hours and heavier stuff and biographies are read at snatched intervals (like coffee and tea times) during the day. About 15 years ago I sent 500 books to the local Hospice shop. My shelves were a lot clearer for a while but as you can see I have managed to fill them up again.

When walking back from the shops today I realised that I have been a book lover for a very long time. When I was 9 years old I started a small library in my class at school. I began with about 5 books. I carried these books in a suitcase and using a notebook made a quite elaborate library record. I charged my classmates one penny to borrow a book and as soon as there was enough cash would buy another book to add to the collection. I have to say that one penny was worth a lot more in 1947. So fair to say that I have always treasured books and I have learnt so much just from reading apart from the enjoyment.

Below are some of the overflow in the "store room"

Another book corner. These are a selection of Christian books old and new. Some of the old ones written centuries ago.