We’ve had a welcome change of season in the UK since my last snapshot. This month’s includes a book of healthy habits, a short story collection from a small Irish press and a novel from another, both with striking covers.
The non-fiction book I’m reading is the much missed Dr Michael Moseley’s Just One Thing which some readers may remember from his Radio 4 programme. It’s a set of thirty suggestions for improving health several of which I adopted some time ago. I won’t be changing the shower setting to cold anytime soon, but I may well build a few other ideas into my routine.
The short story collection I’m reading is Maggie Armstrong’s Old Romantics from Tramp Press. I’m two stories in and enjoying this selection linked by the theme of love as you might expect from the title, although romance seems not to be on the cards in relationships which seem distinctly one-sided. Armstrong’s collection is as accomplished as I’ve come to expect from Irish writers.
What about you? What are you reading?
If you’d like to see more snapshots, I’ve listed them here.
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Cold showers was something I adopted and even needed when I was with my Spanish family recently. ‘Feels like’ 42 meant that twice daily cold showers were a necessary luxury. I even had my hair washed with freezing cold water at the hairdressers there. Bliss! Here though? Not a chance! Annoyingly, Ravelling is not in our libarary’s catalogue. I’m just reading Banu Mushtaq’s Heart Lamp at the moment, and finding it harder going than I feel I should. A book best taken slowly I think.
I have washed my hair in cold water but that’s as far as I’m going! Heart Lamp’s theme is very appealing. Let me know what you think when you finish.
Ravelling sounds great.
My only quibble is that it’s a bit too long.
Haha, no the cold water thing has never tempted me, either! You’ve got a lot of Irish writing going on there, Susan. Do you think Ireland has become an area of special literary interest for you? It’s certainly got a ton of interesting writers working there at the moment.
It’s the work of the devil! I do read a great deal of Irish fiction and continue to be amazed by its quality. This year’s PISA report ranked Ireland top in the EU for reading which I think explains a lot.
Sounds a really strong selection! Even though I struggled with the summer temperatures this year, I never got as far as cold showers!
I draw the line at cold showers. Surely only enjoyed by the masochistic!
We all miss Michael Mosley don’t we. . .
I remember those few days when we all hoped that he’d be found safe and well. His book reads like a knowledgeable friend chatting with you.
What a great selection Susan.
I’m enjoying an excellent reading week!
I’m reading Old Romantics at the moment, too! I think all the stories are about Margaret? I haven’t quite worked it out yet, but she’s the protagonist of most, and there’s another recurring character. Her sequence of cretinous boyfriends is quite something.
I hadn’t realised that although I’ve not got very far. Let’s hope it’s not autofiction, then!
I think it must be!!
Oh dear!