As the holidays draw to a close I thought I’d share with anyone who’s interested some of the literary delights that have been keeping my Kindle in overdrive for the last 6 weeks. As always, it would really great to hear what you’ve been reading too…

The Wombles

The kids and I have been enjoying a few of The Wombles books – it’s what I call Old School Cool. We started with The Wombles and then moved on to The Wombles Go Round the World and then The Wandering Wombles. Each book has about 10 or so chapters with each being pretty lengthy so they take some time to get through. Good value she says, tapping her wobbly back pocket.

Not only did the kids enjoy listening to the adventures of Great Uncle Bulgaria, Bungo and co (they even went so far as insisting on being called Wellington and Aldernay) but Elisabeth Beresford’s environmentally-friendly message has rubbed off. Of late they’ve made an extra special effort to pick up other people’s rubbish – such as fishing out bottles of water from the marina, putting rubbish in the bin and turning things into something new.

I’ll admit, it’s not only the kids who have enjoyed these books, we grown-ups have too. It’s been quite a trip down memory lane for us all. Discussing the names of The Wombles and the ones we used to like. My brother even dug out his old Wellington Womble toy that our Nan made him back in the 1970s.

I’ll admit I was so infuriated by not being able to remember the lyrics to The Wombles of Wimbledon that I loitered outside a Greek taverna, cheekily using their Wi-Fi, to Google the words. As a family we can now sing the whole lot. What a claim to fame!

Ivy & Bean

We also started reading the Ivy & Bean series by Annie Barrows. For those of you who don’t know (we had never read any before) it is an American series based on two 7-year-old girls who live in the same street.

When they form a friendship Ivy & Bean get up to all sorts of mischief including making various potions involving worms, hiding from a rather bossy older sister and trying to expel a ghost from the school toilets – as you do.

Pitched at just the right level to make the mischief not too naughty, my two were in hoots at some of the girls’ antics and I must admit it was a fun read for me too.

The Ivy & Bean books have plenty of lovely illustrations and they all appear on the Kindle so the kids can look as well as listen. I’d also recommend them as ideal reading book for Year 1 level. There are 9 books in the series so we’ll be carrying on with them when we’re back home.

Fifty Shades trilogy

It hasn’t all been kiddie stuff though. Oh no. I’ve also been busy reading some adult literature too – of varying genres. As I mentioned before I had been half way through the Marmite that is the Fifty Shades trilogy before leaving home so these were the first books I finished on hols.

I have to say I was beginning to get bored half way through the second book. Something isn’t right when even the bonking isn’t doing it for you but you’ll be pleased to know that I’m made of sterner stuff and persevered right to the end. I found Fifty Shades Free was slightly more entertaining as it has some other kinds of ‘action’ to keep it interesting. Think what you may of the storyline I did enjoy James’ characterisations and it has opened my eyes to a whole new genre.

Wuthering Heights

Yes, I can do ‘real’ literature too! Next on the agenda was finishing off Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte. Owners of Kindle have no excuse for not reading ‘classics’ as many are free (if they are out of copyright). I’d started WH at home but had skipped it in favour for E L James’ erotic fiction (I’m easily led astray).

Bronte’s novel, set in the Yorkshire Moors, is packed with brooding atmosphere, claustrophobia and enough hormones to blow your head off. The weather ‘up north’, Heathcliff’s constant glowering (he’d be a definite candidate for Botox) and Cathy’s teasing and turmoil provided a stark contrast to the sunny climes of Turkey. Without doubt it is a beautifully constructed read and although I zoomed through it I was quite glad to finish it. You see for me there is a definite right time and place to read some books and this wasn’t it.

The Great Gatsby

Next up Old Sport was The Great Gatsby, another classic that I’ve been meaning to read and all for only 49p! I absolutely loved this novel. Fitzgerald’s narrator is perfectly written. For me it felt like Nick Carraway had pulled up a chair alongside and was reliving the whole affair like some long lost pal and I greedily gobbled up every word. How I would have loved to have attended one of Gatsby’s parties – although Fitzgerald’s description is a pretty good second best.

The Great Gatsby offers a whole host of emotions and human traits from great generosity to the most exhausting cases of selfishness and egotism. I will be making a point of getting another fix of Gatsby charm when the new film version comes out next year (an added bonus that it stars Leonardo di Caprio and another hottie called Joel Edgerton).

The Picture of Dorian Gray

I’m now reading The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde again another ‘classic’. Wilde’s novel is full of memorable statements, sentiments and quotes. It’s the sort of novel that could be snipped into a thousands different pieces with each being able to stand alone.

I’m only half-way TPoDG so I can’t comment too much on this one but I will say I’m with Lord Henry Wotton on this one – I’m finding the blank canvas that is Dorian Gray most intriguing indeed. Goodness me – I’ll be smoking cigars soon!

Love From Both Sides

Contemporary reads have come in the shape of Love From Both Sides by Nick Spalding. I mentioned this one before, doubting somewhat that it was going to quite as ‘laugh out loud’ as reviewers had promised. However, I’ll eat my hat and say that I could probably be heard for miles around when I read the part about food poisoning.

If any of you have ever tried internet dating, speed dating or other ways of actively seeking a relationship you’ll connect with Spalding’s novel. If, like me, you find farting and embarrassing episodes of diarrhoea a hoot you’ll also like it. If both apply then, boy, you’re in for a riot!

The Curiosity Cabinet

With romance as a major theme of my Summer-time reading I also read The Curiosity Cabinet by Catherine Czerkawska (try saying that with your mouth full of cream crackers!) Czerkawska writes about two love stories, centuries apart but that both take place on the same Hebridean Island.

I found myself preferring the story and relationship of one couple only to then get more involved with the other. The story wraps itself up nicely and it’s I was surprised to find that it’s not purely romance either. I found the insight into island life was particularly relevant as at the time we were sailing around tiny Greek islands (some of which had less than 40 permanent inhabitants).

Room

A friend recommended this novel by Emma Donoghue and I must be honest I started it at home but couldn’t get into it. I went back to her and complained a great deal (I apolgise Kate) she advised that as it’s an intense read (a kidnapped mother and her child locked in a room for years) that it’s best to read it in a few stabs rather than dragging it out over weeks.

I must say my second attempt was a success and I zipped through it quickly. I found it particularly interesting that freedom is as big if not a bigger part of the psychological problems that captives face. Obviously there have been a few cases in the not so distant past that pop into your head when reading this book which adds to the very ‘real’ quality of Donoghue’s work.

Summer Loving

I found some similarities in Rivka Spicer’s novel with Fifty Shades – for example; the millionaire, over-protective male and the Cinderella fairytale type theme you find not very far below the surface of James’ trilogy. However, this is not a bonk buster but more of a jolly romance with a modern twist (the protagonist trends on Twitter- LOL – ;-o).

Spicer has written a few other novels (they all get good reviews on Amazon) so I’ll check them out another time.

The Rose Revived

Finally, I read an old paperback that I found lying around called The Rose Revived by Katie Fforde. Again, a romantic read focussing on a group of women who, in dire financial circumstances, answer a dodgy ad for cleaning work. They form a friendship and from that new business and love opportunities stem. There’s a real ‘aaahhh’ moment at the end. A real ‘feel good’ read.

What have you read this Summer?

Come on then, what have you been reading this summer? Do you have some recommendations to share? I’d love to hear what you and your kids and you have been enjoying. Please leave a comment below or share a link to you reviews.