Holiday reads are one of the best kind of reads, but often I only really get to power through a novel when I'm in the terminal between flights. El Husbandio is not a huge reader, and often we're so busy and so tired at the end of the day while we're on holiday, not much reading gets done at our destination. If we did more poolside holidays, more might be read, but that doesn't happen with us! We're more backpacking, visiting family and cycling, if the last couple of years is anything to go by - not much pool time!

So, we're off to Costa Rica again on Friday and I've chosen my holiday reads. I finished Frankenstein last night, trying to get it under my belt by Thursday, and now I'm ready for a change. 

Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry ~ Mildred D. Taylor
I read this when I was in Secondary School (about 14 years old) and I remember loving it but can't remember why. I hope it lives up to the memory!

A Mersey Mile ~ Ruth Hamilton
This is a gamble - I've never heard of the writer before, but I got a 241 deal on another book I bought recently and picked this one up to try. It's my back up in case I finish Roll of Thunder. 

Have you read either of these? What did you think?

Lou x

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Born to be a Tourist

My wonderful local library, Towcester Library, are holding a book sale. This was no ordinary sale... Anyone can go along and grab a jute bag and fill it with books! Amazing idea - and it only cost £3 per bag. I say "per bag" because I could have walked away with one on each arm, but I showed great restraint in only filling one. That's more than enough to last me until the end of the year and through my next holiday, hooray!

I was a little disappointed there was no one volume there which was on my 'to read' list already, but all the better in a way - my 'to read' list has become longer and I am going to be trying new authors as a result of some literary gambles. Nothing could be worse than Don Quixote, the novel I'm reading at the moment for part of my 30 Before 30!

So how did I pick my books?

Three of them are a present for my fiance: Surviving Extremes (just his cuppa tea), Villainous Victorians (he loves history) and a book on how to improve your swimming technique. He wasn't too overjoyed with me choosing the last one for him - he's a good swimmer already - but I think he was 66% pleased, so that's not bad!

Another book chosen is intended as a present for a friend I'm borrowing a car parking space off next month. He loves to travel by bus and gets his money's worth of his pensioners bus pass, so the Great British Bus Journeys was irresistible as a little 'thank you' present. 

And the rest of the books - all for me! Whoopee! Cancel my social life, I'll be reading! 

I'm chuffed I found an Iain M. Banks novel (love him), and I know Small Island is a winner; I read it a few years ago and loved it - so glad to have my own (almost free) copy! Jodi Picoult is a throwback to my teen years, so it's a bit digressive, but I know I'll enjoy it. Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry will bring back memories to anyone in my Mr Leslie English class at school - we studied it for SATs or GCSE (I forget which) and I can't remember any of it, so I grabbed this copy to remind me. It's one of those ones you should read, if I remember correctly. The rest are total mysteries to me, author and title. I hope I'll discover a new writer I love... if not, they'll all end up in a charity shop!

I'm starting to wade through the volumes this lunch time with Paul Torday - The Girl On The Landing. 

#ILoveLibraries
#ILoveBooks

15 books for £3. That's 20p each. Bargain. Thanks, Towcester Library! 

Lou x

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Born To be A Tourist

P.S. I pinched the title from an actual campaign - check out Books Are My Bag on Twitter or search #booksaremybag!

This is my book shelf. 

I love books and just wanted to share my shelves with you this week. It's nothing special, a fiver off a car boot sale, but these shelves are special to me. 

You can see it's not all books... I don't have a lot of storage in my current place and my DVDs need somewhere to go!

I have many more books than this - my windowsill is also piling up with books I want to read in the future. My elephants are kept company by books I love. 

I try to keep the books I know I will read again, but sometimes my list of books I want to read (and therefore have a copy stored somewhere) is an even bigger pile!

The ornaments are treasures from my life. I collect elephant figurines, so there's a few here. I also have gifts from my boyfriend, a hardy plant (can't believe it's still alive!), and one of my favourite photos of me. I really feel like these three shelves reflect who I am!

I will always have a book shelf. I tried out the phenomenon of the ebook last week, and I still prefer paperbacks. Even if my living quarters get too small one day for an actual bookcase, I'll probably pile my books on top of the toilet or something - somewhere!!

What does your bookshelf look like?

Lou x

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Born To be A Tourist

I normally share my holiday reads with you, so here's the next installment. 

I'm jetting off to Costa Rica again tomorrow for 12 days. I have, however,  been told by my boyfriend in no uncertain terms there won't be much time for reading. I'm currently working my way through William Boyd's 'Restless', but I imagine I'll finish that before it's time to board the plane.  

I read 'Any Human Heart' by Boyd last summer and really enjoyed it, so no surprises, this volume is working out very nicely for me and my reading tastes... unlike when I read Tom Jones... A spy novel I can actually get on with! *shock*

I'm also going to sneak 'East of Eden' (1952) by American writer John Steinbeck into my luggage. Just one extra book. I don't intend onto finish this while I'm away, but it would be a tragedy to be without a novel on my return journey!

I've been recommended this book by a former colleague and borrowed a copy off my mum (who also enjoyed it), so it looks promising for what Steinbeck called his 'magnum opus - his greatest novel.  Steinbeck stated "it has everything in it I have been able to learn about my craft or profession in all these years." I look forward to it!

I'm leaving early tomorrow morning, hence my weekly blog post is on a Thursday instead of a Friday. I'll see you in two Fridays time!

If you get bored in my absence, why not visit my travel blog? This blog is published every Monday, including while I'm away, so take a look! 

Recent posts include:

My Travel Life Story - in 150 words!
11 British Tourist Spots You Should Not Mispronounce 
How to find a Novel Set in the Country You're Visiting

Happy reading, writing and traveling, whatever you're doing in the next week or two - see you on the other side!

Lou x

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Born to be a Tourist

I'm leaving for Costa Rica and Panama in less than 11 hours and I have packed. I have been immunised. I have my diary to record amazing memories. 

All I had left to do this week was to choose a book to take with me.

It took time. 

It took four phone calls to the only local book store I have, which is the same place where stock control is Neolithic. 

I drove 20 miles.

It cost me twice as much in store than if I'd bought it on Amazon a week ago, planning in advance. 

But I know I'll love it. 

DEARLY DEVOTED DEXTER - Jeff Lindsay

As you can imagine, a holiday read is crucial to get right. You might be stuck with this novel and none other for a fortnight. This one has been carefully selected as an unchallenging but engaging read I can depend on. I loved the first in the Dexter book series and I ADORE the TV series, so book two will hopefully not be wasted backpack space. 

Have a great couple of weeks - doubtful I'll blog while I'm away (not sure how much internet I'll have), but stay safe and keep writing!

Lou x

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Born To Be A Tourist

I will leaving for Costa Rica this week. Far from a holiday, I am going to be working on a Raleigh International expedition for 8 weeks, and have to select some books to take with me. Harder than it sounds! 

Should I choose the books with the thought of swapping them with fellow volunteers when I'm done with them? Should I take ones I wouldn't mind leaving behind should I struggle for backpack space on the return journey? Should I pick something trusty and well-thumbed? And most importantly, should I go for a new and unknown author and story, therefore taking a risk it might not be that great a read? I bravely went for the latter, choosing one by an author I discovered early this year, and one recommendation by a great friend of mine, Ali Walker. Thanks Ali - but on YOUR head be it! *jokes* Wish me luck!

Lou x