Someone asked today if there is a book club, so I thought I'd try starting one. Not the usual type of club where everyone reads the same book - I thought we could write a synopsis of a book we've recently read, to give each other ideas for new books to read.
I have a Kindle subscription, so all of mine will be available on there for people who also subscribe.
Finished 'the one dollar horse' by Lauren St John - it's a trilogy and I'm into the second book
Not too spoil anything it in but the bases is it follows a girl who's dad buys a horse for one dollar and her dream I if bring in badminton and other races after that
I recommended if you like horses
Ive recently read and loved this book too!!
I do understand what you mean about the pleasure of a book in hand. Im reading ok now but have had bleak spells when it has depressingly impossible. A way I found to work my way back to reading novels and biograpies was to chose a book of short stories by an author I enjoy.
Some examples of famous authors who have also published short story collections include: D H Lawrence, Graham Greene, or more recently Ian Rankin, Ruth Rendell. I also found books of essays a good way to read short pieces by great writers. One of the 20C’s best essay writers was Joan Didion, Hilary Mantel has also published books of essays and stories, Virginia Woolf can be hard going but as well as her famous novels there are several volumes of essays and reviews. Or simply just good quality magazines depending on your tastes often have short prose pieces.
Best wishes
Alice
Thank you Dormouse, this booksounds really helpful and I will check it out, I am sure I could benefit from it 
Tomorrow evening;
I have set aside some time to read some of:
"Mindful Soldier" by Ash Alexander Cooper.
"Written by former soldier Ash Alexander-Cooper OBE and world-renowned trauma specialist Dr Jessica K. Miller, this dynamic book offers practical skills and techniques to help readers tackle trauma, build resilience and overcome life's toughest obstacles - personal and professional - with confidence.
Overcoming childhood trauma, embracing uncertainty, relationship breakdowns, self-doubt, recovering from failure - these topics and more are covered with real insight, plus practical exercises to help build resilience.
Drawing on first-hand experiences and cutting-edge research, Mindful Soldier is a must-read for anyone seeking to adapt, learn and thrive in the face of adversity."
'An essential and inspirational guide to surviving and thriving, whatever life throws at you.' - Bear Grylls
'A remarkable book - wise, painfully open, honest and very thoughtful' - Rory Stewart
'A powerful reminder that resilience and vulnerability aren't opposites, but companions, shedding light on what it truly means to endure, heal and lead by positive example.' - Levison Wood
Currently available in:
Paperback scheduled to be released on 7 January 2027.
(As can be seen in the Kindle read sample, all the Author's profits are being donated to two veterans' charities (which "provide mental and physical support to those most in need as a result of their service").
Review: Bi-monthly Pocket Colouring Book relax with art
Paper Quality: Biggest issue. Very thin and cheap-feeling. Alcohol markers bleed through instantly and even pencils don’t lay down smoothly. Had to put spare paper behind every page. Used colouring pencils.
Binding: Pages come loose from the spine during use. Makes it hard to finish illustrations and ruins the “pocket book” portability.
Illustrations: Inconsistent and generic. Lacks the curation you’d expect from a paid product. Some pages felt like filler.
Value: £4 for 24 images / £5 for 48 images. Doesn’t feel worth it given the physical quality. Other subscribers mention the same binding and paper problems.
*Verdict:*
Recommend: No
Good value for money: No
Would buy again: No
Alternative: Coco Wyo Colouring Books
Style:Known for “cozy” and accessible art. Simple, bold linework designed for relaxing, low-stress colouring. Great for adults wanting quick projects or beginners intimidated by intricate designs.
Pros:
Beginner-friendly: Non-intimidating, easy to complete.
Simple & bold designs:No complex techniques needed.
High-resolution illustrations: Clean lines give a polished finish.
Theme variety: “Spooky Cutie”, “Glow Cosmetics”, “Into Gardens”, etc.
Affordable: Usually 45+ hand-drawn pages for a low price.
Media versatility: Standard 80gsm paper, but many use alcohol markers, water-based markers, and gel pens successfully with a blotter sheet behind
Caution: Avoid Amazon/Temu — lots of fake copies circulating. Buy direct or from trusted retailers.
I enjoyed that one
Im now reading Vita Sackville-West’s ALL PASSION SPENT. It is about an elderly aristocratic lady who confounds her family after her husband of high rank in late colonial times dies. She refuses all their offers if “help”, gives away her jewels, refuses to live in luxury and instead goes to a rented house in Highgate, telling her family not to visit her.
At its core it is a positive alternative to the negative and depressing vision of aging which I for one had been experiencing. Im about ¾ through, the prose is of the highest quality, clearly printed in this the first edition, and is helping me to see hope for my remaining years as I had been allowing myself to sink into despondency. Its only a small part of turning my life around but for its very definitely the right book at the right time.
Vita S-W is famous as Virginia Woolf’s friend and lover, but she was a great writer in her own right, poetry and novels, and latterly a very gifted gardener. Her house at Sissinghurst in Kent is I think a National Trust property where you can learn all about her and her husband plus walk in her incredible gardens
Alice
I've just read The Nightingale by Kristen Hannah. Whilst the book and characters are fiction, it is based on real things that happened in France during ww2. I really enjoyed it and couldn't stop reading. It is about 2 sisters. 1 law abiding and 1 not so much. The second sister is desperate to help the war effort and doesn't like France's stance of complying with the Germans whilst the other sister thinks they should do what they are told. It then shows the different ways your average person went above and beyond in the war focussing on things like rescuing Jewish children and helping allied airmen escape. Part of it is based on Andrée de Jongh who was a real person that helped lots of airmen escape of the Pyrenees. Just unbelievable what people found the strength to do. One of the big messages from the book was how underestimated women were, to the point that the Germans disregarded them for a large portion of the war because they didn't think they were capable of doing anything that could hinder them. I highly recommend this book.
Reading baby city by Frieda McFadden and Kelly Stoddard, not got far in but going to try reading more chapters tonight
I just got an advert for a new book called 'this is not the diary of Izzy Dobson'. It's in the style of the diary of a wimpy kid books, but it's about a tween girl who has undiagnosed autism and ADHD.
It looks like good fun (and hopefully good representation) so I might give it a read, even though it's really aimed at kids!
Currently Reading 'Brain Damage' by Frieda McFadden!
Half way through
I have audible which helps but I'm very much traditional with books. Love a good book in hand and just nothing else but the story to escape to. I feel audible books can make me kind of still grounded in reality whereas a book feels like you can shut off everything around you.
Apparently folk from a big steel making town in north Lincolnshire have horrendous problems!
I wonder if listening to talking books might be a way back? These are free to loan if you tell the library you have autism.
I'm actually struggling to re-read again. I've lost that spark I think. On my birthday I buy a book and give myself until my next birthday to read it. It's a shame really because I was a massive MASSIVE book worm until I think depression struck and I can't face it.
I did join a book club once and it was online which I thought I might float the idea for you guys if you want to try it.
But basically everyone puts a book forward and all books by first come first served order all suggestions go in a list and you just go down the list. No voting and no book doesn't get read and it's fair. No worries if not but it's an idea. A one or 2 monthly online get-together to chat about the book is an option or just chat on a forum like this.
it's just an idea, but this is a great idea and hopefully I'll take some inspiration in some to try and read again.
I just re-read Nenius, it's interesting to go back and read all the mythic histories of Britain again, most of it is obviously wrong, but there's a lot of Ancestor Tales in them, back then your lineage was really important, Anglo-Saxon's and the Norse peoples always had a famous ancestor, usually going back to Woden/Odin, so creating an ancestry back to Noah and his sons after the flood makes total sense in this context. There's some very garbled, but real history in them too.
I did look at the prices and the prices I quoted were correct, it's all on the website.
I think you'll find they start at £150. Why not email for prices? My old flatmate in Oxford had his shoes handmade at £200 a pair (he had large feet) and said they were a dream to walk in. He sent a drawing of the outline of his feet with measurements and ordered through post.
Best thing about bespoke is you can have them repaired - they'll last years so are cost effective. Could you ask friends and family to pool you birthday monies and buy you a pair?
I don't think otherwise you are going to get properly fitting footwear which is awful as it's so important for your foot health. If you are worried about emailing suppliers, I don't mind asking for you.
