Reading

I’ve decided that, since I am ill a lot of the time and therefore do a lot of reading, maybe I should try reading something of a bit better quality than thrillers and adventure stories. A few years ago, when I was doing a degree as a mature student, I did a lot of the reading when I was ill and it didn’t feel like a wasted day then.

I’ve just finished a beautiful book, ‘A Tree Grows in Brooklyn’ by Betty Smith. I found it in a charity show and the title seemed vaguely familiar but I didn’t realise it had been adapted to a film and a musical. It’s based on the author’s childhood, growing up in Brooklyn in the early part of the 20th century. I love books like that, telling of people’s lives in different times and places.

Now I’m reading ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ I’ve never read it before, although I’ve seen the film a couple of times. It’s another book about children growing up. It’s full of atmosphere and I love it.

I think I might have another go at Dr Zhivago next. I got half way through it in the 70s and then gave up. It’s very long and quite philosophical, different from the film which has always been one of my favourites.

I’ve even considered reading ‘War and Peace’ – don’t laugh. A book I was reading a while back listed the authors favouites at the back and she said that she really envied people who hadn’t yet read ‘War and Peace’ because they had that experience yet to come. And it would last me a while, even if I was ill a lot!

I’m still working through the Poldark books. I like to read one and then read some other things rather than go through them all in one go. I read them in the 80s and was inspired to read them again after our visit to Cornwall last year. We’re hoping to have a few days in Dorset this year, so I’ll probably start reading Thomas Hardy after that!