I can't sleep....

[Margaret Pilkington]

I can't go to sleep at night without having a read.
It doesn't matter how tired I feel, I have to turn a few pages(even virtual ones)....so going away without any reading matter was a bit of a problem.

It was turned 3pm when we arrived at the house, then we had to go over to Aldi and do some shopping.
It was nearly 4pm by the time we finished that...just time for me to nip out to a couple of the charity shops and look at what reading matter they had on offer.
St David's Hospice shop had three books for a pound.......but if you only wanted one they were a pound each.
I couldn't find three which tickled my fancy.
I found two....Sue Townsends 'The Woman who went to Bed for a Year' according to the blurb on the back, it was a 'laugh out loud' novel...so I bought it along with another unmemorable chick lit novel.....for my third choice I picked something I would never read in a million years - a Wilbur Smith novel.
I took them to the counter and paid my quid, then I donated the Wilbur Smith book back to them......the lady behind the counter wasn't sure if this was allowed, but after consulting her manager she was told that it was......so I got two books for my pound.

I read the Sue Townsend novel. Did I laugh out loud? No, it was dire. An implausible story with characters that wouldn't stand up in a soft breeze.
I don't know what you are like when you are reading.......I can cast the characters, either from people I know or from actors...and in my head I can 'see' the story.
With this book I could only really do that with two of the characters, the story had nothing at all to recommend it...but still I ploughed on...eventually giving up the ghost in the last couple of chapters.
It was a disappointment to me...the other chick lit book was slightly better, but a very 'flimsy' read.

I was out and about last Friday when I spotted Bill Bryson's 'The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid'.
It was in the Scope charity shop at 99 pence.
I like Bill Bryson, he is of my era, is funny, with a wit that I can relate to.
I have read most of his books but this one is fairly new.(to me, that is)
I bought it.
This was more my taste. I took it to bed with me and laughed so loud that when Nicola came to bed she popped her head round the door to see just what was tickling my funny bone. I waved the Bill Bryson at her and grinned.

I have rationed myself to reading only a little bit at a time...it really is so good that I do not want to finish it.
I can heartily recommend it - especially if like me, you have a pictorial imagination.

 

[walkinman221]

I know exactly what you mean Margaret , i like the Lee Child Reacher series of books, a film has been recently released called Reacher so i thought might watch that, in the book reacher is six feet five and two hundred and fifty pounds of what is probably called alpha male , they have cast ......Tom cruise in the lead Tom cruise for gods sake all five foot five and eight stone ( being generous there i think) of him wont be seeing that film now.. Hope your having a relaxing time and all is well.

 

[Margaret Pilkington]

It's good to know that it isn't only me that does this.
I rarely watch a film of a book..because invariably my imagination has spoiled it for me...what I mean by that is, my version is better because I used my own imagination.
Thngs could be better, but then again they could be a whole lot worse.
The relaxation period is over..now it is back to the grindstone.

 

[Turtle]

I too have found some of my favourite books just by chance in a second hand book shop. They seem to 'find' me, and their appeal is lasting. I know what you mean about visualizing the characters. Movies made from books are often disappointing.