Will you look at that, somehow it’s the weekend again. Hope you all had a lovely week – mine has not been quite as busy as perhaps it should have been, but was very nicely interrupted today as Our Vicar and Our Vicar’s Wife paid a fleeting visit on their way through to a wedding in London. Oh, and the photo above isn’t particularly relevant – I took it last summer in Cornwall – but I don’t think I’ve shared it here before, and it is rather brilliant.
Right – as per usual, the link, the book, the blog post. It’s like the good, the bad, and the ugly – except it’s the good, the good, and the good.
1.) The link – is this rather fun and interesting article about joining a book group. I may or may not have stolen this link from someone else, I made a note of it last Saturday, and can’t remember – so apologies if I’m not crediting you! I look forward to my various book groups as highlights of my month, and love reading about other people’s experiences in them…
2.) The book – came through the post yesterday, and has the rather irresistible title Love, Revenge & Buttered Scones and is by Bobbie Darbyshire. I’m hoping to read this before too long, but thought I’d alert you to it now, in case it takes a back seat while I wade through the enormous fantasy book I’ve promised my brother I’ll read… Anyway, the novel is about (I quote the blurb) ‘an innocent meeting of a reading group which sparks a series of bizarre events. Three troubled people, driven by loneliness, vanity and revenge, hurl themselves on Inverness public library to find that nothing is as they expect.’ Sounds fun, doesn’t it?
3.) The blog post – is a little unusual for a book blog, but I was struck by Spitalfields Life’s post on Postman’s Park – which commemorates those who died in ‘Heroic Self-Sacrifice’. To give an example: ‘Soloman Galaman, Aged 11, Died of Injuries, Sept. 6 1901, After Saving His Little Brother From Being Run Over in Commercial Street.’ For lots of photos of the unique commemorative tiles there (they are Victorian and the turn of the century), and a bit of the history behind it, click here. I’ve never been in person, but will try and seek it out next time I’m in London. Have you ever been there?
Yes I've been several times – Postman's Park is lovely. It's a tiny square of grass between loads of modern office buildings and the tiles look quite insignificant until you get up close. Well worth a visit, and very touching. It's close to the Museum of London and St Paul's and Spitalfields so you can include it in part of a day out in that bit of London.
I liked the linked article — very relevant to me at the moment. Never heard of Postman's Park but it looks fascinating.
Ooooh, fascinating! Postman's Park is being added to my intinerary next time I fly over. We've been in that area before, shame it wasn't noted in our guidebook as well worth visiting.
OMG…this is so awesome!
Intrigued by Love, Revenge & Buttered Scones (how could you not be with that title?). I'm always willing to try books set in Scotland, so this one has been added to the TBR list. Looking forward to hearing your thoughts on it!
My sister took me there when she was training at Barts back in the 1970s. I love it
I really enjoyed the linked article. I was in a book group for a little over three years, and it was always the highlight of my month. Busyness of many caused us to disband a couple of years ago, and I have not been able to find a group since then. I soooo miss it! I recently started reading with Cornflower's group, and while I enjoy it, it isn't quite the same as a face-to-face group. My favorite thing about book groups was discovering new authors/titles I would never have come across otherwise. Book blogs are filling in that gap now, I guess. :)
You must go to Postman's Park. I've been there a lot, because I love it so much.
I took loads of pics the first time I went, which you can view here:
http://kimbofo.smugmug.com/London/Postmans-Park/513062_YKjC2#21084674_yRzV8