Wow I am getting a history lesson from this audiobook. Told from the perspective of 3 women in post world war 2 Germany. Very well written. How lucky we are we didn‘t live through this time.
I listened to it as I walked to a far corner of our farm where a small creek usually runs. Previously when in drought it has always had waterholes but this drought has dried it out completely😟 #audiowalk #climatechange

Feeling a bit shocked and sad after our elections on the weekend. It doesn‘t always go the way you think it will. Just hoping for a fairer society and some action on climate change 🙏🏼! On a positive note I‘ve read some excellent Australian fiction over the past few months! From mystery‘s set in the outback to the building of the Opera House. All great reads😍

This is a story of 2 stories, one set in 1980‘s Brisbane, the other in 1930‘s New York. It‘s about books, the mystery of a dead author and the fragments of her unpublished novel. I liked it a lot...the love of books, how much impact a book can have on readers, and an interesting mystery plot make it definitely a 4⭐️ read for me. #ausliterature

A morning coffee and planning for my next holiday commences! Iceland has 100% literacy and publishes more books per capita than any other country. Plenty of bookshops to buy some Nordic Noir ❤️

Thanks @CarolynM for tagging me! @Eggs
1. For me it's definitely the plot, I love a well written story. Classics and Historical fiction are favourite genres 📚
2. I collect fabric for quilting and tea pots ☕️
3. My go to cook book is Margaret Fulton's encyclopaedia of Food and Cooking...it's 40 years old but still fab 🍲
4. I'm guilty of not reading poetry 😟
5. @Crazeedi @catebutler @Velvetfur 😊
#wondrouswednesday

I find choosing my next book to read very exciting!! I just go with what I feel like at the time. Next for me is The Fragments by Toni Jordan. A loan from a friend who has marked it with tags which means I‘m probably in for a great read!
Afternoon tea is home made carrot cake. I don‘t bake often now my children have flown the coop because I‘ll eat it all !!

Finished these two great books. A Column of Fire is the last in a trilogy I began many years ago with The Pillars of the Earth. It‘s a story of politics, love, hate , history in the 1500‘s. Ken Follett is a fabulous story teller!
TTSS is a very different but equally entertaining and complex spy story. I felt it helped that I had seen the movie to help navigate the complicated twists and character development!
Two books well worth recommending😍📚

One of my favourite things to do after a night shift sleep is to take a walk around our farm, especially now that the weather is milder. Today I took John Le Carre and Smiley with me on an #audiowalk along our driveway and through the Macadamia and Pecan orchard. Autumn is just such a great time of year.

I absolutely love Ken Follett‘s books! They take me to another place full of interesting characters and plot twists. It‘s a chunky book at 900 pages so not a quick read and I‘m 1/3 in! I‘ve also started a jigsaw which is taken from a painting of beautiful Queensland houses in Brisbane painted by my good friend Deb. It‘s tough!! #history #literature #easterfun

Shell is the story of Sydney in the 60‘s. It‘s about the Opera House being built, the looming Vietnam war, Australia‘s changing face and a relationship between a Swedish glass maker and an Australian journalist. It‘s wordy but beautiful words and insights.I remember the opening of the Opera House as a 12 year old and am pictured at 15 on its steps. I knew none of the controversy of its building, or our governments narrow views at the time. 4⭐️🤗

Wow Lanny is such a strange but lovely book. It reminded me of a dark fairy tale with an unusual writing style a bit like Lincoln on the Bardo. A short but top quality read! Also completed my audiobook A Murder of Quality 📚❤️
#fable #literaryfiction

I loved this book. Russell is an elderly man recovering from the death of his wife. He is a potter. His path crosses with three young children living in the bush. It‘s beautifully written. I grew up in Katoomba where it is set and it made me nostalgic for the bush, the quirky people and even the cold weather🤣The photo is one I took of the Three Sisters a famous landmark in The Blue Mountains. If you love pottery as I do, your in for a treat😍

I really enjoyed listening to this book, so much so that I have borrowed the next in the Smiley series A Murder Of Quality. I love the writing, the character of George Smiley, the Cold War , definitely a 4 🌟🌟🌟🌟read #audiosewer

The weather is kind enough now for #litsywalking and I have a wonderful voice narrating John Le Carre‘s tagged book. Some cloud about so hoping for more rain🙏🏼. Love Le Carre‘s British formality and vivid descriptions, and George Smiley is a favourite character😍 #audiowalk #englishliterature

European Travel was a fun light read but at over 700 pages it did drag a little for me. It mixed a lot of very well known characters like Sherlock Holmes, Dracula, Frankenstein and a group of 5 young women who make up The Athena Club in an adventure set in England and Europe. At times the women‘s voices cut into the story to make a comment and I wasn‘t a huge fan of this. A 3⭐️⭐️⭐️.
Looking forward to starting Hare‘s Fur set in my home town😍

I don‘t often bail whilst reading a book. I just found this one totally confusing. And not well written. It‘s my first Patricia Cornwell too so it makes me reluctant to try another. Maybe it‘s because it was an audio book. I find the narration can make all the difference. Can anyone recommend some audiobooks that they have enjoyed?

I picked up two books from my local second hand bookshop today. Both authors Bernhard Schlink and Colm Toibin I know, but I have not heard of the books. The one by Bernard Schlink is set in Sydney. This is also my latest sewing project on the go again now that the days are cooling down ❄️😍

This classic tale was a quick and enjoyable audiobook. I loved the language and descriptions and the wonderful reading voice of the narrator. Great to listen to on my travel to and from work! 3 1/2 🌟 #classic #literature #fiction #timetravel

Generally my book choices are based on research and recommendations! This book I bought based entirely on the title and the cover but after 100 pages I am enjoying it a lot. It‘s a Victorian era fantasy mystery with a cast of feminist characters such as Mary Jekyll, Diana Hyde, Catherine Moreau, Justine Frankenstein and throw in Holmes and Watson😂 It is the second in a series but can be read as a stand alone. The first book sounds great too..

Afternoon tea with my neighbour Pam always involves a robust discussion on books we have recently read and loved. She always brings me a stack of recommended reads😍I try to read as many of her recommendations as I can as they are always so worth it! This stack includes great Australian literature Shell, Scrublands, The Fragments and Hare‘s Fur which is set in The Blue Mountains where I grew up. For my husband she included The New Silk Roads! 💕

I bought this book on my recent trip to Portugal. It is my first by the Portuguese author Jose Saramago. It is way outside my comfort zone! An epidemic of blindness hits the city and it shows the social structures we take for granted falling apart. At times it is brutal and dark but it is also brave and heroic and well written.
It has a strange writing style with long paragraphs and minimal punctuation. I am glad I read it and would read another

Lovely idea🌷My hobbies are reading, travelling ( currently in Portugal 🇵🇹) patchwork, walking and working in my garden. 🌷I love literary fiction, historical fiction, crime and thriller 🌷I have a beautiful dog Archie, 11 hens and 3 guinea fowls. 🌷I do own a few of my TBR list 🌷I collect books, fabric and tea pots 🌷I have been a registered nurse for 40 years😬, married for 30 to the same man and have 3 beautiful boys🌷#litsylove

Ian McEwan is a brilliant writer! This is a sad book really and at times I felt angry at the events that occurred and wanted it to be different. The war scenes kept me engaged which is amazing because I do not like reading about war. There are some important messages here and I highly recommend it #literature #fiction #travelbook

1. My home is in NSW Australia. Our mud brick farm house. 2. I love where I live. It‘s rural but close to a major town for buying books😊 3. Atonement by Ian McEwan..slow to start but loving it now 4. I read any time I have free as I work shift work. 5. I am currently travelling in Portugal...so maybe fish😘 @howjessreads

Another wonderful bookshop in Braga Portugal. The shop owner suggested the tagged book which is about bookshops around the world written by a Portuguese traveller....sounded perfect, so I purchased it 😍Other photos are from Ponte de Lima and the monument Bom Jesus de Monte.

Couldn‘t resist snapping a pic of this quirky bookshop in Porto, Portugal. Not sure how you would go about finding a book😂😂😂 #travelbookshops

My choice from the Livraria Lello bookshop in Porto was another Portuguese author. The Relic by Eca De Queiroz. A complete unknown author to me. #portugueseliterature #travelbooks

Today I visited the wonderful bookshop in Porto, Portugal called Livraria Lello. It is divine, built in a neo-gothic style in 1880. It was later made famous as the bookshop frequented by JKRowlings as she wrote the first Harry Potter book. There is definitely shades of Hogwarts here😍

Another wonderful day of exploring in Portugal. We are in Coimbra now and today I dragged hubby to the University Library which is rich in design and books. It holds more than 60,000 books from the 16th to 18th century‘s. Unfortunately they don‘t allow photography in the most divine section. The bottom left photo I took looking from across the river up to the University on top of the hill😍

Ancient book shelves in the scriptorium of The Convento de Christo in Tomar, Portugal took my eye😍😍 They have been around since the 12th century!!

I wanted to share my travels in Portugal 🇵🇹 I have come to Obidos north of Lisbon. It is a beautiful medieval walled town well known for its book shops and literary festival. I am staying at “The Literary Man Hotel” which has books every where. Above top left is the book shop which was originally a church where I purchased Jose Saramago‘s book Blindness. Other photos are from our hotel and myself at the medieval wall. Such a gorgeous place❤️

I am lucky to be travelling in Portugal at the moment. It is amazing.. lots of coloured tiles and brightly painted houses, cobbled streets and ancient churches. I found these beautiful book marks today and couldn‘t resist😍✈️📚#travel #portugal

Packing for a holiday overseas to a cooler place😂I never have any trouble packing clothes.. my dilemma is always which books to pack 😬I have a 25 hr flight so it has to be engrossing, I want to carry it in my backpack when I go walking so it needs to be compact..do I take one large volume or 2 smaller...or 1 book and buy another one (or 2) over there??? I have narrowed it down to Winter King ( some history), A Column of Fire or Atonement? Help!

You know when you read a book and you read every word...no skimming...and you think about that book when your not reading it...it‘s so well written, a mystery / thriller but mostly a family saga..this is that book! So subtle and atmospheric and powerful! I think my favourite of her 3 books... ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

#LitsyWalkers #Audiowalk Lovely late afternoon walk listening to the last chapter of The Secret Garden. It‘s a delightful story. The Breakwall here is decorated with artwork and poems and mosaics and Quotes painted by visitors to the town. @kaye @DarcysMom

My first Ellis Peters novel and I enjoyed it. It had many things I love...set in 1100...Ye Olde England, a collection of Benedictine Monks, pagan bones , murder and adventure. I did find it slowish and couldn‘t help comparing it to other similar books I love by CJ Sampson and Edward Rutherford. But a 3⭐️⭐️⭐️ and I will read another in the series at some stage😊 Now to something set in outback Oz..The Lost Man

Only a short sharp walk this morning whilst listening to The Secret Garden! It‘s so hot that no one is outside! Grass is dry and crunchy, palm trees wilting and warm sea breeze blowing. #LitsyWalkers #Audiowalking #Australiansummer

On my day off I popped into my local bookshop today for a browse❤️It often results in purchases as I like to support our independent book stores😂😂😂I have been wanting to complete the Ken Follett trilogy as it‘s one of my favourites. I have also been meaning to read Atonement since it was published and The Binding and The Toymaker were on my TBR list!!

Sneaking a bit of my current book in as I watch my son play cricket in Sydney. Only 20 pages in to A Morbid Taste for Bones but I think it‘s going to be a fun read.

#LitsyWalkers #AudioWalk I love walking but it‘s only since joining Litsy that I have been listening to audio books(I love Podcasts too)I‘m enjoying the Secret Garden. Todays walk was in the early evening when the heat is going out of the day. I started in town on the river front, along the Breakwall to the town beach through a small bush walk and back along the Breakwall for an ice cream 😍Thanks @kaye I‘m enjoying seeing where everyone walks

My reading journal asked me to describe this book in 3 words...unsettling, bleak, subtle..Its a difficult book to rate. For me it felt a bit like Daphne du Maurier, a gothic horror. You are left thinking what really happened ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️I think nearly 4 stars for me.

Thanks @TheReadingMermaid I love sharing everyone‘s favourite author. So hard to choose😍but I have picked Geraldine Brooks who is consistently amazing.Her first book Nine Parts of Desire looks at women in Islam, Year of Wonders set in 1600 plague stricken Derbyshire is brilliant. March won the Pulitzer Prize in 2005 a story of Mr March from Little Women, People of the Book, Caleb‘s Crossing and The Secret Chord are historical fiction.

This is a beautiful book. It‘s narrated by Enzo a dog. A very wise dog. It‘s sad but it‘s funny and heartwarming too. Simple and profound. I laughed and I cried. I read it in 2 sittings. The photo is of Archie my doggy, who is sleeping on my bed where he shouldn‘t be..on my patchwork quilt😬I didn‘t have the heart to remove him after reading this book..highly recommended😍

I enjoyed the rich descriptions and historical elements of this novel. Set in London in 1780 it takes you inside the bawdy whore houses and middle class homes of London. It is well written and atmospheric. I just can‘t help thinking how awful life would have been for women in those days forced into prostitution to survive, trying to protect themselves from men, disease and pregnancy!

Escaping the summer heat at a nearby swimming spot and working through my first book of the year. I can read anywhere😂😂I‘m enjoying being transported to London in 1785😊

I am totally in awe of the number of books everyone has read. Amazing. I have made a commitment to try to read 50 books this year. I also sew and garden and walk and work full time but reading is my lifelong love 💕 This is my bookshelf of TBR books above so no excuses😊. I am really enjoying Litsy and hearing what you are reading around the world. Thank you❤️😊Happy New Year xxx

Firstly Allissa I hope you had a wonderful Christmas and sorry Australia post is so slow at this time of year😬Thank you so much for my first Litsy swap the #ChristmasBookSwap. It is fantastic. I have not read Once we were Sisters, The Girl Before or The House of Unexpected Sisters. I will love rereading Mansfield Park whilst I sip that gorgeous tea!! I really appreciate your thoughtfulness😘

These are my favourite reads of 2018. It‘s always hard to choose but these are the ones I loved. Pachinko is a beautiful historical family saga set in Korea and Japan. I loved that I learnt something from it. I highly recommend it 😍

This is a gentle light read..only 100 pages. ⭐️⭐️⭐️Lovely quote “People move away, grow older, die and the bright belief that there will be another marvellous thing around each corner fades. It is now or never, we must snatch at happiness as it flies”

Hoping everyone has a healthy and happy Christmas with those who you love 💕 Hope you get time to read a little as well. My family know my love of books and spoilt me😍Lots of reading pleasure ahead📚📚📙❤️