What I've read lately - in 21 minutes a day

I enjoy reading, but I do very little reading for pleasure. I knew that was something that I could do something about, and so I made it one of my priorities to read for pleasure for 21 minutes a day. Why 21? Nothing more than it’s 2021. I heard someone mention it on a podcast I was listening to while sewing, and it stuck. It sounded doable, and mostly it has been, and just like that I’ve found myself reading a lot more than I have lately. Who knew?

Mostly I read on my iPad in bed. I prefer the touch of books, but the ease and convenience of a device. I have both a physical and a virtual ‘to be read’ pile and expect to make progress on both, but in the meantime here’s what I’ve read lately.

1 Better Than Before, Gretchen Rubin

The sub heading of this book is ‘Mastering the Habits of Our Everyday Lives’ so given that I’m on a quest to keep to my priorities this was an obvious starting point, in fact I think it was on Gretchen’s podcast Happier that I heard of the read for 21 minutes a day. I was also intrigued by the Four Tendencies quiz and then found myself head first into the book. It’s an easy read, and full of insightful content and advice but without being ‘preachy’. I learnt that I’m mostly an Obliger who meets outer expectations and resists inner expectations, or put another way “I do what I have to do. I don’t want to let others down, but I may let myself down” - my current crochet standoff with myself is a case in point!

I definitely wake up and think what I should do today, but rarely end up on my set agenda for the whole day. While applying the research and practical advice in the book I’ve realised that my external accountability is my lists - so given this was a book about habits, I downloaded a habit tracker app and get the enjoyment of ticking things off a short list, and also get the stats which appeals to my inner nerd.

2 Expectation, Anna Hope

I needed a different genre after finishing Gretchen’s book so headed for some fiction. This one is billed as ‘the most razor-sharp and heartbreaking novel of the year’ which is quite a claim. The book itself left me in tears, but that’s not unusual as I’m a soppy thing at times. It’s also testament to good writing and characters that are real - it was a book I didn’t want to end. It’s about three female friends, their friendship and the book covers various stages of their life. I enjoyed it, it’s an entertaining read but as I said the billing is quite a claim, but it’s definitely worth a read.

3 The Secret of Orchard Cottage, Alex Brown

I’ve had this book on my Kindle app for quite a while. I’d started it but not got very far - I probably abandoned reading rather than abandoning the book - but I tried again, and couldn’t put it down. The story follows April, the main character’s life as she navigates widowhood and a change of scenery visiting her elderly aunt. It’s overall feeling is feel good, but it’s not the plain sailing that you’d expect. There’s family history, relationships, village life and entrepreneurship and it ends on a higher note than it starts. Another one for your list if you’re after an easy read full of warmth and charm.

4 How I changed my job, my home, my husband & my hair. Re-educated, Lucy Kellaway

I’ll admit I was drawn to this book by the title. I’d a vague idea who Lucy Kellaway was - an FT columnist - but I’d not read any of her columns, I don’t think. This book is how she changed exactly what she said in the title, and founded, with her business partner, Teach Last - though that’s not the name they went with, but it’s the opposite of Teach First, and encourages people into teaching following successful careers.

It’s a good read, honest, funny and endearing. I liked the self-deprecating style, and even picked up some economics knowledge. It’s another book that focuses on change, in a ‘leap of faith’ kind of way and refreshing in her quest to continually learn and acknowledge her prejudices.

And I’ll admit I had to google the house she bought, which once I had felt a little more intrusive than I expected it to - but it’s easy to see why she fell for it. Now you’ll have to read it to find out that for yourself.

So here’s to many more 21 minutes!

Photo by marqquin on Unsplash

The Wideacre Trilogy, books 2 and 3

It's been a couple of weeks since I finished these books and even now looking back on them, it's still easy to immerse myself in the story.  After I finished the first book, simply titled Wideacre, I was keen to get started on the next one.  I already told you that I read the start of the second book hungrily, trying to work out who was the lead character, and let me just say that book 2 - The Favoured Child was just as good.

As you'd expect it picks up the story from before but this time focuses on the two Lacey children and only one of them can be the favoured child, but which one is it?

Photo by Prasanna Kumar on Unsplash

Following the fire at Wideacre the remaining family live elsewhere on the estate and although the children believe themselves to be cousins, are brought up more like siblings. The cousin/sibling thing is important, and each of the children have similarities to their Lacey parents and you can feel life repeating itself, as it so often does.

There's friendship, loyalty, love, heartbreak, deception and sheer bloodymindedness in this book which once again I couldn't put down.  Towards the end of the book, the introduction piece becomes clearer and you have to wonder how and where it will all end.

Meridon, the final chapter

Once again I broke my rule of paying for kindle books, and immediately started on the final book. I was in for a surprise though as the setting was completely different and Meridon, the central character is a gypsy girl. 

This book was no less compelling, but it felt a bit left field, even though there were clear likenesses to the strong female characters in the previous book - red hair and riding skills.  I wasn't sure how this related to the story, but carried on reading as you've probably already realised I was hooked.

The plot turns and Meridon arrives in Wideacre, a place that's familiar to her even though she's never been there before. I found this part the most far fetched part of the books but I also recognised that the author needed to connect the stories.  

At times too, it felt like the main character was going to fizzle out - and maybe she does, or maybe not, that would be telling wouldn't it?

For me the story picked up again and even though I was willing her to make different choices, she didn't always!  

I'm still in that book hangover period where I can't quite manage to start another book as I'm still pondering what I might have done differently, either writing the book or as the main character. I haven't come up with anything concrete, but overall I thoroughly enjoyed the whole series, and who knows, maybe the next book(s) I read will be just as compelling - but let's hope they don't all make me break my low-spend rule!

Have you read the Wideacre trilogy by Philippa Gregory?

What I've read lately: The Wideacre Trilogy, Philippa Gregory

Well that's not entirely true. I've just started the second book, and I'm hoping it will have me hooked as much as part one. That was simply titled, Wideacre, and was one of those books that kept my interest throughout; I was so keen to make progress that I'd dip into it even if I had five minutes to spare. That gave me comfort, which was odd really as after a short reading burst like this I'd often find myself re-reading a section. I was keen to make progress, but wanted to savour the story and not miss anything that would give me a clue to the ending. 

Photo credit: Photo by Tom Hermans on Unsplash

I anticipated a bit of a reading fest while we were away, but it didn't quite work out that way. I did finish a book - The Pie Life - I'd been reading on my phone, and then Wideacre took over.  I thought the book that had me hooked was a long one at 646 pages, but I've just checked and it was only half the length of The Pie Life, so maybe that's why that one took me a while to get through. 

But back to Wideacre...

I like books with strong female characters, and Wideacre certainly has that with Miss Beatrice; she loves the Wideacre Estate and is devastated by her inability to inherit it, with it instead going to her younger brother. She knows the land and is heralded as the greatest farmer around. Set in Georgian England she fights and plots to ensure her bloodline inherits.  It's a gripping tale with plenty of well thought out characters, as you'd expect from one of Philippa Gregory's books. I've read her Tudor novels - and they get the same treatment from me - so I was pleased this also had me gripped.

There's dark secrets at Wideacre and as the first of the trilogy as you'd expect there are at least a couple of loose ends.  Beatrice does marry, and that adds further intrigue to the story, and my one criticism of the book is shortly after her marriage she celebrates her nineteenth birthday. I'd assumed by the time she married she was much older, and so I found myself skipping backwards to double-check it wasn't a mistake. It wasn't - of course - but I'd have liked a bit more of a clue to her age before that.

The second book starts, as you'd expect, with a piece that sets the scene and already I can't help but think there'll be similarities in the plot. I found myself reading this chapter hungrily, wanting to know whose voice it was.  I've learnt who, and I'm not going to share that, but I am going to recommend this series.

And to give you an idea of how much I wanted to continue the story, I've broken my own rule and paid £3.99 for the second book so I can continue the momentum!  I make no apology for getting my head stuck in a book, e-book or what, there's nothing like a good story, is there?