Stephen Fry – Alison Runham

Surprise. surprise: the majority of items on my Christmas list this year were books (8 out of 10, in case you’re interested – the other two items were a face cream and Transcendence on Blu-Ray). I was lucky enough to get 7 of my 8 book wishes granted thanks to my husband, my son and my mum.

My Mum bought me the latest Tracey Chevalier, At the Edge of the Orchard, a book about a dysfunctional pioneering family settled in an Ohio swamp, plus a Kate Mosse that I was missing from my collection, Eskimo Kissing, a story about adopted twins. They were the only fiction books on my list. and they’re by my two

Kate Mosse and Tracey Chevalier are my two favourite authors, both brilliant at not only characterisation and plot but also immersive settings, meticulous research and beautiful language. I confess I’ve already read At the Edge of the Orchard. I finished it within ten days of Christmas, so a review will be following shortly.

My husband bought me my long-coveted paperback edition of Shaun Usher’s Letters of Note: Correspondence Worthy of a Wider Audience. I love letters and adored Simon Garfield’s To the Letter: A Curious History of Correspondence – I was lucky enough to go to my first Letters Live event in the autumn of 2016 and I’m determined it won’t be my last.

He also bought me two new books about writing: Susie Kearley’s The Little Book of Freelance Writing: Writing ideas, opportunities, inspiration and success stories, which I’m sure will be just as useful and inspiring as her Freelance Writing: Aim Higher, Earn More, which I already have, and From Story Idea to Reader by Patsy Collins and Rosemary J Kind.

Finally, he added to my Stephen Fry titles with Paperweight, a collection of Fry’s articles, columns and essays. I love Stephen’s Fry’s writing – it never fails to be insightful and witty.

My son bought me the third volume of Michael Palin’s diaries, Travelling to Work: Diaries 1988-1998. I’m looking forward to reading this latest volume, not only because diaries are right up there with letters on my literary love list, but also because I’ve read the previous tw0 – and Michael Palin’s writing is simultaneously humorous, fascinating and touching.

I can’t wait to read more of my Christmas books, but as I have books stacking up on Kindle too (far too many New Year bargains!) and two books that need to go back to the library shortly, I’ll be following a strict regime of interweaving those with the rest of these lovely new titles.

What books did you get for Christmas? 🙂

On Friday there was a meeting – not of minds, but of both my jobs. We took our preschoolers for a session at ‘big school’, where I also work. It was Old MacDonald Day so everyone dutifully dressed in jeans, boots and checked shirts!

Even though it’s only a few minutes walk from one to the other, we were drowned by the time we got there. Of all the days for the heavens to decide to open with a whoosh! But the children had a lovely time – they made animal masks, went on a farm animal treasure hunt in the hall, dressed up as animals, made funky horse masks, coloured in farm pictures, and of course they played with the toy farm as well. Oh, and sang Old MacDonald whilst learning the Makaton symbols for the animals. Lots of enthusiasm!

In a rare moment of relaxation (although it kind of crossed over to writing work as well) I finished the Writer’s Tale 2: The Final Chapter by Russell T Davis and Benjamin Cook. Great entertainment, lots of laughs, a behind the scenes look at Dr.Who and an insight into Russell’s writing – who could ask for more?

Personally I think he served an OBE just for the book, never mind ‘services to drama’! Reading it was like sitting ion the midst of a cosy chat – it’s all emails, save for the ocassional text message, so it really feels like you’ve just pulled up a chair…
The downside is, I had that really bereft feeling you get when you come out of a ‘book world’ you’ve been so comfy in.

Never mind. Thanks to my lovely husband, supplier of all things Christmas-booky, I have already betrayed the memory of Russell and Benjamin, and floated into Mr.Fry’s Chronicles. Armchair, anyone?

I have a horribly busy week ahead, and the playscript is still not finished. But I’ve made progress today, and the back is feeling a bit better. So there’s hope for me yet!