Just finished reading...

New Finnish Grammar by Diego Marani
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I liked the idea of this book - something about Finland, which always interests me after travelling there, about language and the difficulty of expressing yourself. It was very poetic, and some of the scenes will live on in my head - particularly the cold hospital room, the warm alcoholic spirit, and the tales from the Kalevala which almost seem to become a kind of reality for the narrator. Like others, I need more plot line to keep me hooked, and the almost-romance wasn't a page turner for me. Really good to see a book in translation which is also essentially a novel of ideas so popular.

View all my reviews

Folksy Friday: Holidays are here

School's out soon so maybe you need some of these items from Folksy sellers if you're off on holiday or just hanging round the garden hoping to see the sun!

This holiday aceo by Ghost Goose brings back some memories

Soap flip flops - what a great idea! - by Just Bev Soaps

For those of us who dream of owning a boat or a beach hut, 

recession-beating options from Buttons and Stars and Charlotte Hupfield Ceramics!

Bluebells and Oystershells (fantastic name!) will help you remember your passport 

and Cherry Tree Handmades will keep your souvenirs together in style.

What else do you need for the perfect holiday?

World Book Week: Folksy and Etsy picks

It's World Book Week, did you know?  I only caught up with this yesterday.  Wanted to put a link here, but couldn't find one that worked.  Apparently, the big event is focused on encouraging young readers, but there an additional Book Night on Saturday for the grown ups.

So here's a selection of Folksy and Etsy treasures which support reading.  Click on any of the pictures to go directly to the shops.

Love this Eqyptian inspired portfolio by ValSainsbury on Etsy - ideal for ideas and jewellery sketches, I think.  I have a Kindle for reading novels now, but there's no substitute for drawing my designs on paper, and this one is full of recycled, handmade paper so kind to the environment too.

An ideal present for a female reading friend, this brooch from Bookity on Folksy is just too cute!  And I'm sure I'm addled by now...

Not, as I initially thought, an instruction book, but a squared paper journal for you, perhaps to record the progress of your shop?! By Champignons on Etsy

A very short story, for when you're very short on time.  Comes with a free song.  What more could you ask?  By H.Ireland on Folksy.

Carry this notebook when you want to discreetly meet with other Mills and Boon fans... By InterAlia on Etsy.

And encourage the little ones to love books with this A3 poster print from Strawberrykitten on Folksy.  Bears need books too.

There are more book related UK items in this Etsy treasury.  Why not pop along and comment?

2010 Reading List

Here's what I read this year (a bit late, I know!):

My Antonia - Willa Cather
The Big Snow - David Park
The White King - Gyorgy Dragoman
Achilles - Elizabeth Book
*The Little Stranger - Sarah Walters
The House of Mirth - Edith Wharton
The Lacuna - Barbara Kingsolver
*The Glass Room - Simon Mower
The Good Man Jesus... - Philip Pullman
Trespass - Rose Tremain
One Day - David Nicolls
The Unnamed - Joshua Ferris
The Madonnas of Leningrad - Debra Dean
The 19th Wife - David Ebershoff
Cutting for Stone - Abraham Verghese
An Imaginary Life - David Malouf
*Brooklyn - Colm Toibin
Child 44 - Tom Rob Smith
*Await Your Reply - Dan Chaon
Tony and Susan - Austin Wright
*The Terrible Privacy of Maxwell Sim - Jonathon Coe
The Perfect Murder - Peter James
Not Untrue and Not Unkind - Ed O'Loughlin

and the stars (*) are the ones I really recommend!

What are your great reads of 2010?

It's all about the book - BESTeam weekly feature on ConduitPress

This week I'm featuring a real classy shop - ConduitPress, aka Talia, sells beautifully handcrafted notebooks, journals, baby books, albums, photographs and cards, all with a unique edge to them. There's a real vintage feel from the items, perfect if you want something that's pre-loved and kind to the planet!

Here are a few of my favourite items - click on the picture for more details:







1. This journal upcycled from a vintage novel has pages from the book interspersed with plain sheets!
2. This journal is in beautiful upcycled upholstery leather with a lotus motif

3. The vintage map is of Europe in 1939 and the Far East on the reverse. Perfect for history buffs!
4. Maroon leather journal with a beautiful green decoration.

5. A lovely fresh feel to this pocket sized journal
6. Mini albums with a die cut cover for your own picture - a perfect gift at $5!

If you're an arty or crafty person, you probably keep an ideas journal or a creative diary, collect photos for albums or scrapbooking and enjoy the feel of a beautifully made item. ConduitPress is bound to have something to interest you.

You can follow ConduitPress on her blog, on Facebook and on Twitter

2009 Reading List

Hubbie always keeps a note of what I've read. This year, the modern novels are:

Norwegian Wood - Haruki Murakami
The Archivists Story - Travis Holland
The Birthday Present - Barbara Vine
Talking to Strange Men - Ruth Rendell
Sashenko - Simon Montefiori
The Killing Doll - Ruth Rendell
Gods Own Country - Ross Raisin
Company of Liars - Karen Maitland
Blackmoor - Edward Hogan
Girl with a Dragon Tattoo - Steig Larsson
Oracle Night - Paul Auster
The Northern Clemency - Philip Hensher
Tales from the Scriptorum - Paul Auster
Live Flesh - Ruth Rendell
A Most Wanted Man - John Le Carre
Portobello - Ruth Rendell
Kafka on the Shore - Haruki Murakami
Brazzaville Beach - William Boyd
A Wedding in December - Anita Shreeve

I've got eclectic taste, as you can probably see! I like a page turner, and I have to read everything by Ruth Rendell/Barbara Vine (but not the Wexford novels) because you can't put them down and she writes so well. And a colleague at work introduced me to Paul Auster this year.

If I had to pick one to recommend, I'd be hard pushed, but would probably say 'The Northern Clemency' - it's a great read and especially if like me, you grew up in Sheffield and then moved, it will fill you with nostalgia. Blackmoor and Gods Own Country are also excellent 'Norh of England' novels.

What do you think of the list? What are your picks of 2009?