Winter/Summer Reading Lists!

Well! I'm in Australia and we're going through our first week of a cold snap this year - and I love the brisk chill of Winter here! 

This means I can snuggled into the warmth of my bed and get in and read some good, wonderful books during the chilly months!

Now, I've been writing more than reading lately, but I'm also jotting down notes during my art classes - which is always fun! But reading is always a great way to pass the time while drinking a nice hot cup of tea or coffee. 

So, I must ask: what's your list at this time of year? I'll share mine if you share yours.

'The Writing Class' by Jincy Willett
'The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society' by Mary Ann Shaffer
'The Portable Dorothy Parker'

I'll start off with these three and see how far I get... of course I'll take Dorothy with me everywhere to read her work as much as I can; and I've heard great things about the Potato Peel Society. So, I think I'm in for a couple of good reads there. But I've never heard of The Writer Class before - so that'll be a new one for me. Until my next post, happy reading!

Winter/Summer Reads

The cold snap has finally hit Australia and we've got snowfalls in the Australian Alps. Yep, everyone is feeling the chilliness all around. Last night, it was 3 degrees Celsius here in Brisbane and it's still cold here - and it's almost midday - why, right now, it's 15 degrees Celsius... and I don't think it's gonna get much warmer.

So, this calls for the Winter reads I'm going to get my nose into this year. I've already started 'The Stand' by Stephen King (an all-time favourite of mine). And I'm writing a book about books - which is going well. Then, I'm reading 'The Turning' by Tim Winton - short stories he's written; some of which were turned into three-minute films on the ABC. I didn't know until one day I saw them there by channel-surfing one day... very interesting.

I'm also looking through my art books and reading up on how to do some different types of art - as I'm working on another book-related painting. I'm actually hoping to get together an exhibition - but I'm not sure when I'll get into the gallery. 

I'm still reading copies of 'Good Reading' Magazine and enjoying looking up knitting patterns as well at this time of year - as it keeps my hands moving. Otherwise, I'm hoping to get in and read some of the books by my bed that have been there for a while. There's one by Dean Koontz about a family dog and another 'Dandelion Wine' by Ray Bradbury. Yep, it's good weather to catch up with all the reading I've been putting off as the mercury plummets. 

So, how about all of you out there? I know that as it's getting colder here in Australia and the Southern Hemisphere, it's becoming hotter elsewhere. What are you Summer Reads as you cool off in the shade of a sprawling Oak tree in the park? Or are you by the pool under the shade of a huge umbrella? Or are you fortunate enough to be by the beach and digging your toes into the sand while you've got your nose in a good book or two? Let us all know what you're reading and your opinions of your favourite authors at this time of year. Until my next post, happy reading.

The Great Re-Read List

Whenever I want to jump back into reading big books again, I'll reread something I have cracked the cover of for years. 

Dontcha just love doing that? I sure do!

Right now, I'm reading my all-time favourite book: 'The Stand' by Stephen King. This book normally gets me back into my reading mojo again - I don't know how it does, but I once I read it, it just gets me into another book and then another; and not necessarily by him.

There's always those books that do that to us, right? Well, I do have a few books I reread along with 'The Stand' to kick myself into reading again... and I usually get into doing this in Winter (yes! The best time to wallow well into a book is at the coldest time of the year) in my Reading Chair.

So, when do you get in and do the great reread of your favourite authors? Or are you one of those rare readers who, once you've read a book, you never reread it again? Until my next post, happy reading! 

Keep The Winter Blues At Bay

It's Winter here in Australia, and we've got some very chilly weather happening here right now at night - as well as during the day.  A really bad cold has been going around (and yes, it's had a go at me, and I'm taking all the right vitamens and it's still making me feel gross!).

So, I've been eating the right foods, making home-made soups laden with garlic, sour cream and garlic bread; as well as cooking up nice hot pastas and making pizza dough and calzones too... yummo! 

But it's not what I'm putting into my stomach that's keeping my blues away - well, okay, part of it is.  I'm getting in and snuggling under the duvet and reading more; getting to bed earlier in the night, as the temperature drops to get my nose between the pages of some great books, and read my way through the colder months.  
Just last night, I ploughed through about 20 pages of 'The Eyre Affair' by Jasper Fforde.  Okay, I'm in the beginning bits of this great read, but I'm loving it, and was wishing I didn't have to put it down... but i had to as my eyes were winning the battle of wanting to go to sleep.  

Darn!

I'm also reading a bit of 'Good Reading' Magazine.  A great monthly magazine that I've subscribed to.  I love how it just shows up in my PO Box and I can delve into it any time I want.  I've been leafing through that when there's an advert break on the tv... just to pass the time during my favourite television show.  
And I don't watch television until very late anymore - only until around 9:30pm or so.  Seeing it feels later than it really is, I'm off to bed by around 10:30pm, with my nose between the pages of a book.  So, I'm reading more in Winter.  It's great!

So, what are you reading now?  I know that in other parts of the world, it's Summer - and a real boiler right now too! Do leave a comment below and let us all in on what books you've gotten your nose into?  Might give us some ideas to read new things over the next few months.  Until my next post, happy reading!

Early Winter Readings

Winter has struck early here in Brisbane and so we've had to pull out our jumpers, slippers, beanies and scarves early this year!  

This also means I'm into my Winter Readings early this year too.  I'm still reading the book about Mozart - very fascinating stuff!  Alfred Einstein did his homework on this great composer, his family and friends completely.  I'm impressed!
However, there's so much more to read this Winter that I'd love to get my nose into.  I'm hoping to read '84 Charing Cross Road' by Helene Hanff, 'One Hundred Names' by Cecelia Ahern and maybe a few others too.  

I'm also writing a book about Angels, humans and Demons.  It's in the beginnings stages and I'm not quite sure what's going on but it's looking good so far; and I'm up to chapter 4 on my first draft.  It's looking good so far, and even I want to know what happens next; and this is a good thing... yeah, I don't plan my books, I just let them take me wherever they go naturally.  I have an idea of where they're going, but not a real plan.  

So, what are you up to with your reading?  Until my next post, happy reading!

Winter Reads Time!

Winter is just around the corner here in Australia, and the cold has visited us in the South East Corner of Queensland to give us a taste of what it's going to be like when it really hits!  But in other parts of the world, you're welcoming the Summer days... the long, hazy, lazy days of summer where the afternoons stretch good'n'long and don't ever seem to end.  

So, my question for you - my followers from all over the globe - today is:  what are you planning to read through the middle of the year?  

Me? I have some great plans.  Some include my iPod; as I scored myself a gift voucher from Paul D. Dail (have you guys entered his competition below to score yourself a free copy of his new e-book 'The Imaginings' yet?  If not, do and do so, I've got a copy of it off Smashwords and am enjoying it totally!).  Then, I thought to get my nose into 'Dandelion Wine' by Ray Bradbury to remind me of warmer days long gone.  I have other books on my Mt TBR by the office door of the likes of 'I Am Leather-Man' by Ged Maybury & Anna Venczel and 'Touchstone' by Letitia Coyne; both books I do plan to read over Winter.  

So, there's my Winter Reading Pile all organised.  I haven't named many as I love to absorb my reads more than zoom through them.  Have you got any books you'd like to get through this Winter/Summer?  Of course you do... leave a comment and let us know of them and it might lead the rest of us to find more to read as the year goes on.  Until my next post, happy reading!  

Winter Reading

Here in Brisbane, the cooler weather has struck us early and so, I've been looking at what I'm going to read while I'm locked up in my house during the cooler months of the year with my little bird and a mug of hot chocolate by my side.  

There's a few books I'd like to get through in the next few months.  However, I'm not going to be solidly sticking to a list, the ones here are going to be hopefuls of mine that I've had my eye on for a while, or I've recently brought into the house and they look good.

'Death, Taxes and a French Manicure' by Diane Kelly 

'The Devil and Miss Jones' by Kate Walker

'The Seal' by Adriana Koulias

'Other People's Diaries' by Kathy Webb

'Dark Legacy' by M.A. Anderson

'Me & Her' by Karen Tyrrell

Now, the first and last ones are books I'm halfway through; and I'm going to finish both of them in the next week or so.  Then, I'll see what I can do about the other books I've got listed here.  I've picked a good variety - some thick, some thin, a romance or two, a general fiction and a fantasy novel... all totally different from each other.  So I get to read a good choice of books this Winter.  Well, what have you got in store for your Winter reading?  And if you're just coming out of your Winter Hibernation, and into your Spring/Summertime, what have you got planned to read over the next few months?  Leave a comment below and let us all know.  Until my next post, happy reading!