Friday 1 August 2014

Holiday Reading

On average, I read about one book a month. I only usually read a chapter or two when I go to bed and that's it. When I go on holiday though, it's a different matter. It's lovely to sit and read a few chapters when I'm on the beach, or when I'm alone when the rest of the family have gone fishing for an hour or two.

Whilst I was on holiday this year, I read the Call The Midwife trilogy.


I've watched every episode of the series which is based on the books and thoroughly enjoyed them and I can now say that I've enjoyed the books too. The series is very true to the books, I recognised the different episodes I'd seen as I read each chapter, but it didn't spoil it for me.

I can recommend these books whether or not you've seen the programme. I've passed them on to my mum to read now, she's never watched Call The Midwife but I'm sure she'll enjoy them too.

38 comments:

  1. I read that trio earlier in the year with a similar level of enjoyment :)

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    1. I thought they might be a bit stale after watching the programmes but they kept me interested right through. I also learnt a lot about the workhouse system, such a terrible life for so many people.

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  2. I'm glad the series didn't spoil the books for you. Sometimes it's hard to keep up with a series, so in the books it's more cohesive. Take care.

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    1. I think you get more detail in a book, I suppose it's because of the time restrictions of tv. I like to read a book before I see a film because of this.

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  3. Hi Jo

    I love this series. I haven't read the books yet but have them saved to my kindle for when I have whittled a few more off my bookshelf.

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    1. I'm sure you'll enjoy them as much as I did. It will be interesting to see how the series progresses now as the stories won't be following the books.

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    2. I did think that at the end of the last series and did wonder whether that was it for the series too but very much hoping not.

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    3. Apparently, there's a Christmas special this year and a new series in 2015, but I suppose it will be without Jenny Lee now. In real life, she went off to pursue a career in nursing the terminally ill, and that's what she's done in the series too.

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  4. Call the Midwife is on my TBR list, with your recommendation I'll move it closer to the top.

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    1. I'm sure you'll enjoy it. Do read the other two books as well, they're all a really good read.

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  5. A good choice for holiday reading. Flighty xx

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    1. They're an easy read, perfect for holiday reading, though I didn't want to put them down once I got going.

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  6. I've only read the first one but I really loved it. I think I liked it better than the show, actually, though the show has lots of good things about it too. It's amazing what women went through back then, but I'm always impressed by the expertise of those midwives.

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    1. Do read the other two books, I'm sure you'd enjoy them. Shadows Of The Workhouse is very sad when you realise what people had to endure in those days, but it's good that books like this are written so that we don't forget.

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  7. I only get through about a book a month as well. I have such a huge list of books I want to read I am trying to read more often than just at bedtime. I loved the Call the Midwife books. I'm sure your Mum will enjoy them!

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    1. There's just so many things I want to fit in to my day, reading at bedtime seems like a sensible option but I don't get as many books read this way as I'd like. I think my mum will enjoy the books, they're her kind of thing.

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  8. I read the first one before the series and the others more recently and enjoyed them all, then I found the library book about the making of the programmes and that was good too. I wonder if they will do more TV.

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    1. Another series has been commissioned so it will be interesting to see how it pans out with Jenny leaving. I shall have to look in the library for the book about the making of the series, I bet it's really interesting.

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  9. I read Call the Midwife in 2009 whilst on holiday and so the tv series really brought the pages to life. I also took some knitting with me, how English am I ? Jean x


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    1. I think it's better to read a book first before seeing a film or watching a tv series rather than the other way round. I took knitting and crochet on holiday with me too, I love getting all my things together before I go and choosing what to take with me.

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  10. Im not a great reader but I really enjoyed the series on tv........you never know I might have a go at reading the books!

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    1. They'd be good books to have a go at reading, they're very easy to get in to and if you enjoyed the series, I'm sure you'd enjoy the books.

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  11. I loved watching that program will have to search for the books, thanks for that. Will look forward to the new series xcx

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    1. It's one of a handful of programmes I always make sure I watch, I really enjoy them. I'm looking forward to the next series, though it isn't back now until next year.

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  12. Good book, and series!

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    1. I enjoyed the books just as much as I've enjoyed the series. I'm glad it isn't coming to an end just because they're at the end of the books, though it will be interesting to see how they progress with it now.

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  13. I'd like to read them, I always read a pile of books on holiday but struggle to get through my book a month for reading group the rest of the time.

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    1. They were a good read. I always like to take some good books on holiday with me, it's the one time when I get to indulge and spend time just reading.

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  14. I would actually love to read these books, I absolutely love the show!!
    I changed my blog address so I'm no longer on any of your follow lists, please note my new address, it's http://www.tlcukjourney.blogspot.com ... I miss my blogging friends!
    xx Tammy

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    1. If you love the show, I'm sure you'd enjoy the books too. Thanks for letting me know your new blog address, I shall pop over soon.

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  15. I am glad that you enjoyed them Jo! I have read the first book and have two and three in my pile for reading sometime, so it is good to know that they are enjoyable for when I get to them. xx

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    1. You'll definitely enjoy the second and third books if you enjoyed the first. The second is a little different though, but really interesting, about the workhouse system and how it worked, I learnt loads about it from this book.

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  16. You're just my sort of person, reading on holiday! And reading back on your blog brought back memories of our holidays in Cornwall when my children were little.. all those ice creams and the crab fishing, the children loved it.
    Love those little hats, I hadn't heard of that, is it for a charity?
    I shall pop back to see how you're doing.
    Happy days
    Chris

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    1. Having time to enjoy some books is one of my holiday treats. Cornwall is a fabulous place for family holidays, lovely beaches and beautiful scenery and countryside, I wish we'd discovered it sooner. The little hats are for The Innocent Big Knit. They're popped on the top of Innocent Smoothie bottles and 25p from each one sold is given to Age UK, a very worthwhile charity. Thank you for visiting and leaving a comment.

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  17. I never watched it, but I am tempted to read the books! I am reading The Hunger Games at the moment, it's really good. But I wish I had more time to get stuck in (or feel less tired!) I used to read so much, but since the children arrived, it went a bit pear shaped! I will have to give these a go though, I think I would enjoy them. :)

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    1. I think you'd enjoy the Call The Midwife books, especially not having seen the programme. I just about stopped reading books when my children were small, I was just too tired and didn't have the time for reading. I'm glad to have got back in to it again in recent years though. Daniel's reading The Hunger Games at the moment and enjoying them too, actually, he may have finished them now, I'll have to ask him.

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  18. I bought these books a while back, but unfortunately I only managed the first few chapters as I found the events at the workhouse far too harrowing.

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    1. They had a very tough life in the workhouse, that's for sure. I learnt a lot from these books about the workhouse system which I didn't know before.

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