Sunday 3 August 2014

Sunday Summary: Adventures in and out of books

It's a gorgeous Sunday afternoon as I write this. The sweltering heat seems to have died down a little, but if it can stay at this warm sunny level for the next week, I would be most grateful, thank you very much. I've been working long hours at work but now I'm on my summer holiday - hurrah! Tomorrow my friend and I are finally going on a holiday we've been planning for what seems like years: camping by Lake Windermere. I grew up having my mum read me the Swallows and Amazons books by Arthur Ransome, adventure stories for children from the days before health-and-safety, and now we're off to that part of the country for our own adventures - though on a National Trust campsite rather than an island, and we'll have to make do with barbecues because campfires are not allowed. I've been rereading Swallowdale, the second book in the series, in which the children are shipwrecked and have to make do without their beloved boat Swallow, as "research" for the holiday. I've warned Judith to expect me to talk in the language of the books while we're away.

I haven't done much reading lately. Looking back over July it seems I've only read 7 books - usually I manage 8-10 - and three of them were Discworld books. I'm blaming the heat. I'm not one to complain that it's "too hot" - I grumble enough during the winter not to tempt fate that way - but I did find myself lacking in energy or inclination to do very much mentally or physically. I've got a whole list of reviews I still mean to write, but some of them may end up on a combined mini-review post if they're ever to be written.

But Bout of Books 11 is coming up in two weeks' time. My love of books, never very far away, has returned and I mean to make up for lost time. I'm only working three days on the week of the readathon, and if it's still summery weather I expect I'll be doing a lot of my reading in the garden or on the beach. I'll aim for my usual target of 4 books, though I'll decide nearer the time which ones those will be. I'll probably make a shortlist and choose from those.

Bout of Books
The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda @ On a Book Bender and Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, August 18th and runs through Sunday, August 24th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure, and the only reading competition is between you and your usual number of books read in a week. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 11 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog.
- From the Bout of Books team

4 comments:

  1. Your holiday sounds magical! Windermere's beautiful - we've been to the town and stayed nearby - and one of the pootles around the water on an awning-covered boat is highly recommended. It's lovely having the gentle breeze and the gorgeous views from out in the middle of the lake. Just... try not to fall over in any variety of shallow water this time, okay? :P

    Seven books is actually LOADS at this time of year, especially with all the working and the hot weather. I get headaches a lot when it's humid and hot, so I haven't read much at all this last week or two. Plus I've been painting and rollering and sanding and stuff in my room, so because I'm so SLOW at all that (bit of a beginner here, outside the shop at least, and it didn't matter if I messed up a bit there!) I've been pretty much zonked by the end of the day and have just crashed out with a DVD instead. My bad... :(

    Aaaaaand of course I'll be doing Bout of Books. My aim is to work my ass off and get my room finished by then - the painting should be finished tomorrow, then it's off to Ikea to order furniture, then I've got to get the stuff in and put together, and THEN I can start bringing my worldly possessions and ALL THE BOOKS back in. If I can be just about done by that Monday, I'll be very pleased and entirely deserving of a week with my nose in a book, I reckon.

    Read on! Enjoy your holiday! Look after Judith! Don't buy too many books! Love to you both as usual! :D

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    1. I went to Windermere when I was probably about 13, but don't really remember much about it, other than I think there was a Swallows and Amazons section in a museum. I'll see if we can get a boat ride in there somewhere - as well as climbing "Kanchenjunga." I'll try not to have any silly accidents but am making no promises. You know me!

      I caught up a bit with my reading this week in the evenings - every time I thought to myself "I really need to write some reviews" I'd curl up with a book instead.

      Getting the books back in is possibly the best part of decorating a bedroom - that's when it really starts to feel like home. What colours did you go for? I got my room done up a couple of years ago in cream and dark red and I love it - though it is rather a mess now. :S Hope to see some pictures, maybe in the Bout of Books posts ("This is where I'm reading today.") Have fun at Ikea.

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  2. I agree with you about the heat. We British are just not used to really warm summers! I much prefer how the weather is now- less humid and a little cooler. It is definitely better for reading and getting on with things.
    Hope you enjoy your holiday

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    1. Yes, the weather can stay like this a bit longer, and I'd be much obliged. :) I love the heat if I can cool off in the sea, but it's not a lot of fun when working on the top floor of a stuffy shop.

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