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"So many books…so little time"

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“We do not know very much of the future Except that from generation to generation The same things happen again and again. Men learn little from others’ experience. But in the life of one man, never The same time returns. Sever The cord, shed the scale. Only The fool, fixed in his folly, may think He can turn the wheel on which he turns.” 🎭 Murder in the Cathedral is T.S. Eliot’s dramatisation of the martyrdom of Thomas Becket, who was Archbishop of Canterbury between the years 1162 and 1170, when he was murdered on December 29th in his own cathedral church. The play explores themes of good vs evil and the cycle of time and it is steeped in British history, highlighting the conflict between the Crown and Church on certain constitutional issues. 🎭 As opposed to the narrative structure of Shakespeare’s plays, Murder in the Cathedral is a situation play and is full of atmosphere and tension. While much of the depth within the text went over my head on my first read, I really enjoyed Murder in the Cathedral, which was a recent book club read. Although it was very different to reading Shakespeare, it had echoes of Julius Caesar and Macbeth and I loved the dark tone of the text. Plays are designed to be seen on the stage and I would certainly like to see a performance of this one. With the use of autumn imagery setting the scene in the opening act, it is also the perfect read for this time of year! 🎭 Have you read Murder in the Cathedral or watched it performed live? Do you enjoy reading plays and do you recommend any to read or watch?

To quote the lovely @theclubofbooks, on Wednesdays we do Agatha. 🕵🏻‍♂️🕵🏻‍♀️ I’m quite a new reader of Agatha Christie, so I have yet to finish her Poirot and Miss Marple series, but I am loving what I’ve read so far. My next planned Christie read will be The ABC Murders for the @maidensofmurder readalong next month, which is timed perfectly to coincide with the latest @bbcone Christie adaptation. With John Malkovich and Rupert Grint in the cast, The ABC Murders is sure to be another BBC hit! 🕵🏻‍♂️🕵🏻‍♀️ Most of my Christie collection comes from charity shops and were bargain finds of only 50p-£1! I’ve also picked up a few in one of my favourite shops, the @addymanbooks Murder and Mayhem shop. I was lucky enough to receive the rest as gifts and The ABC Murders edition was a gift from @mylittlebooktique. The paperback edition of Murder on the Orient Express was from @meetbookgirl and @harpercollinsuk and the gorgeous hardback version was my Christmas present from @rossiter_books last year. I love the vintage Christie editions and I love the new hardback range too, so by the time I complete the series, I am likely to have quite a large collection! 🕵🏻‍♂️🕵🏻‍♀️ The beautiful Christie illustration is a sneak peak of the December page in my 2019 calendar that is designed by @itslauracrow. I’m so delighted to be given the opportunity to be a rep for Laura, especially when her products are so gorgeous. If you are tempted by any of the lovely items in her Etsy shop, use my code CROWREP18 to get 20% off! 🕵🏻‍♂️🕵🏻‍♀️ Are you an Agatha Christie fan? Will you be watching the latest BBC adaptation next month? What is the best book gift you have received? 🕵🏻‍♂️🕵🏻‍♀️ #grimdragon - Unfinished series

“It is in vain to say human beings ought to be satisfied with tranquility: they must have action; and they will make it if they cannot find it. Millions are condemned to a stiller doom than mine, and millions are in silent revolt against their lot. Nobody knows how many rebellions besides political rebellions ferment in the masses of life which people earth. Women are supposed to be very calm generally: but women feel just as men feel; they need exercise for their faculties, and a field for their efforts, as much as their brothers do; they suffer from too rigid a constraint, too absolute a stagnation, precisely as men would suffer; and it is narrow minded in their more privileged fellow creatures to say that they ought to confine themselves to making puddings and knitting stockings, to playing on the piano and embroidering bags. It is thoughtless to condemn them, or laugh at them, if they seek to do more or learn more than custom has pronounced necessary for their sex.” 📖☕️ #currentlyreading Jane Eyre for the #brontereadalong with @theartfulelle @literarianlife and myself. I’m really looking forward to the discussion at the end of the month, as there is much to talk about! Charlotte Brontë is such an incredible writer and there are so many fantastic passages that are quote worthy. Jane is such a compelling character and I really love her! This is a book that I will definitely enjoy reading again and I can finally understand why there is so much love for it. ☕️📖 Are you taking part in the readalong and are you enjoying it?

Monday Mail...I’m so delighted to be chosen as a rep for @itslauracrow and I was very excited when my rep package arrived in the post! Laura’s products are just gorgeous and her illustrations are beautiful. The pins are perfect for me to wear at work in the bookshop and I can’t wait to use the calendar, which features illustrations related to so many of my favourite authors. Thank you again Laura! 📭 If you would like to buy any of these lovely items, Laura has kindly given me a code for you to get 20% off! Use CROWREP18 over at @itslauracrow where you can find the link to her Etsy shop. I really recommend all these beautiful bookish items! 😍 #grimdragon - Black & White

Lest We Forget ❤️ Today marks Remembrance Sunday in the U.K. and one hundred years of the end of World War One. It is a day to remember those who served, sacrificed and changed our world forever. We will remember them. ❤️ Our family has quite a strong connection with the British Army as my brother served in the British Army for a number of years and my mother’s partner John spent much of his younger life in the British Army. This year I have also become more aware of the tragic effects of PTSD on soldiers when one of my family members lost someone they cared about very much. Awareness of mental health is becoming much better, but much needs to be done to support soldiers and their mental health. They deserve all the care they need, especially considering they risk their lives to protect their country and its citizens. ❤️ This book belongs to John, who kindly lent it to me for this special weekend. It is about his great uncle 2nd Lt. Victor George Ursell, who served during the First World War. The book was compiled by John’s uncle and includes letters written by Victor and many photographs. It is a special book that captures such a significant moment in history and one that we must never forget. ❤️

Flashback Feminist Friday to when I attended an excellent panel discussion at the @hayfestival in May this year with @places_and_books. The fantastic panel included Elif Shafak, Shazia Mirza, Allison Pearson, Edith Hall, Sharlene Teo and Gabrielle Walker, who discussed the #vote100books selection, a campaign by the Hay Festival and The Pool to find 100 books by women from the past century in honour of the votes for women centenary. The 100 books on the list were selected after months of public nominations and I’ve included the link to the list in my bio. Do check it out and let me know how many you’ve read off the list! 📚 Despite the excellent books on the list, I was surprised to discover that I had only read 14 on the list! After checking the list again this evening, my total still remains at 14. I did feel immediately inspired to buy an Elif Shafak novel after the event, which I still have yet to read. Where does the time go?! 🤷🏻‍♀️ On the bright side, many of my favourites reads were featured on the list, including Rebecca, To Kill A Mockingbird, Homegoing and Gone With The Wind. 📚 Have you read any of these titles? Do you make a conscious effort to read more female authors? After checking my reads for the year so far, I have discovered that I’ve read 12 male authors and 29 female authors. I tend to just read what appeals to me, as opposed to reading an equal balance of authors, but maybe it’s something to think about! 📚 I’m very excited about the upcoming Hay-on-Wye Winter Festival this month, especially the Bookstagrammers Breakfast on Sunday 25th November, which will be hosted by the lovely @addymanbooks. I can’t wait to catch up with Anne and some of the Bookstagram gang again! Will you be attending?

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