I love long lazy days, stretched out in the sunshine, reading a book that takes me far, far away. When you have a book in your hand, you can go on flights of fancy, no matter where you are. I especially enjoy those books that stay with you, even after you have finished reading them - the kind of novels that transport you somewhere completely different, say Tudor England or Jacobite Scotland. Reading is the best way to time travel!
At this time of year my mind turns to thoughts of autumn and I like nothing better than a good old fashioned ghost story. For me Barbara Erskine is the best modern author of spooky novels and I have just finished reading Sleeper's Castle, which is about a young Druidess who has visions of the Welsh rebellion against the English in the 1400's. Erskine's books are always very atmospheric, and usually concern a modern protagonist haunted by spirits of the past, but in this novel she adds a twist - for the ghosts are looking back! This is so refreshing to her usual style and completely unexpected. I enjoyed the Celtic setting of this novel and the Druid magic and weather witching was very authentic.
Another book that had me gripped was Paula Hawkins The Girl On The Train. This is not the kind of book I am usually drawn to, but I was intrigued by the movie trailers and I wanted to read the novel before I saw the film. It's a thriller that held me captive and I read the book in a day - I literally couldn't put it down and I got nothing else done at all that day, but it was time well spent as I had been thoroughly entertained. It also means that I have discovered a new author and I shall be looking out for more of Hawkins books.
Finding a new author is great, but nothing beats an old favourite and Philippa Gregory is one of mine. Her novel The Little House is a book I like to read during the summertime. It is full of domestic details and descriptions of a beautiful country-side home and affluent life-style. It illustrates the dichotomy of mother-hood, wherein a new mum is doing battle with her 'helpful' mother-in-law! In this novel Gregory presents the war between a traditional mother, for whom nappies should be terry-cloth and baby-food hand-made in the kitchen; and the modern young mum, who believes nappies are disposable and baby-food comes in jars - because who has time for washing and blending when they have a job, a house, a husband and a baby to maintain?! This is a great novel with psychological undertones and a fantastic twist at the end. It was also made into a TV drama a couple of years ago, so you might be able to find it on catch-up. Read the book anyway - it's brilliant, though it made me even more glad that I've never wanted children!
So there you have it - the books that have been keeping me entertained during the summer. It's so refreshing not to have to read counselling text books and to be back to my old book-worm self, with my nose stuck in a novel for hours on end. I'm looking forward to doing more reading as the nights begin to draw in and the weather turns colder. Autumn is just around the corner and I can't wait to welcome it in. For now though, I am going to light a spiced apple-pie candle, pour a glass of Merlot and watch The Girl On The Train on DVD - I hope it's as good as the book!
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