Sunday 5 February 2012

The Other Side Of The Dale

My reading challenge is going well. After getting in to the habit of dipping in to magazines instead of reading books, I set myself the challenge of reading a book each month.


I'm now reading The Other Side of the Dale by Gervase Phinn. This book contains anecdotes of his first year as County Inspector of Schools in North Yorkshire, and what I've read so far is very funny. Kids say the most amusing things, even when they're not meaning to and this book highlights that. I'm enjoying it very much.


In January, I read The Illustrated Lark Rise To Candleford by Flora Thompson and really enjoyed it. After watching the series on television, it wasn't quite what I expected. I thought it would contain more stories about the people who lived in the hamlet, but the book was more about their day to day lives, and traditions and customs. It was very interesting, and the illustrations were beautiful.


I popped in to a charity shop yesterday whilst out shopping and picked up Sister by Rosamund Lupton. It's doesn't sound like something I would usually read, but the blurb had me hooked. It sounds as though it will be one of those books which has you on the edge of your seat right till the end, so I'm looking forward to reading it. I hope it doesn't disappoint.

11 comments:

  1. Sister had me gripped too. I love Larkrise, but haven't seen the illustrated copy. I haven't read Gervase Phinn, but I did hear him speak at a teaching conference. He was very entertaining!
    We have no snow here at all. I'm so glad!
    Keep warm.
    xxx

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  2. This is the same challenge I set myself my my 101 challenge. It's a great idea as it stops me just wasting time with magazines too.

    Read 15 books since last April so I'm well on tract.

    Small Island by Andrea Levy
    Ship of Brides by Jo Jo Moyes
    The Colour by Rose Tremain

    are my favourites so far.

    Loved Larkrise, had same edition as you.

    I have 2 Gervase Phinn books on my shelf unread but they sound lighthearted fun, which I'm sure as a teacher I'll related to.

    Sister was lent to me but it seemed a bit dark so I gave it back unread. I'll be interested to know what you make of it.

    Happy reading and stay warm.

    Does Archie like the snow?

    Sft x

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  3. I have read Sister although a while back and seem to remember i enjoyed it a lot. I am in a book group and we read a book a month. We are not very intellectual and the chats seem to centre around wine and children but it does get us reading.

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  4. I often wondered if I would enjoy Gervase Phinn, as I did like the James Herriots years ago. Will give them a go! xC

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  5. Glad you enjoyed 'Larkrise'. I think it would be my 'desert island disks' book, I love it so much! Jx

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  6. Well if you had the snow that fellow British bloggers have been posting about you'll have a little time to snuggle up and read...
    Susan x

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  7. Sister is totally gripping. I loved it. It was a book club read last year. I have heard a bit of GP books on the radio in the past.
    Love the photo of your white tulips in the other post, shame the penny trick didn't work.
    I wouldn't trust feeding a swan by hand either, I would be like Eleanor I think!
    Lisa x

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  8. Now I'm not blogging I find I have more time to read, I must look out for that 'Sister' book, it sounds like a good read. x

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  9. I've watched all the episodes of Lark Like to Candleford that we have here. Love to watch it.

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  10. I read a lot while I'm on holiday - I can get through a few books in a week. I seem far more able to relax with a book then. At home I always feel like I should be doing something else- especially since we moved and there is such a lot to do!

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  11. Thank you for all your comments.

    Kathy - I know people who have heard him talk and they say he's very funny.

    Sft - Archie loves the snow. We've still got quite a bit left here so he's enjoying it while it lasts. The only problem is that it sticks to his long fur so he comes in covered in snowballs.

    Ruth - Lark Rise to Candleford has finished here now, they're not making any more series, I'm totally gutted.

    Scarlet - I read whilst on holiday too. I think you're right, I don't feel guilty that I should be doing something else like I do when I'm at home.

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