It was whilst listening to some undeniably talented authors at Destination HQ, that I had a rare damascene moment.
You see for too long I have thought of reading as a guilty pleasure. A reward when all the chores are completed, an opportunity for self-improvement when undertaking a long journey or passing the time in a waiting room or so on.
However, listening to these passionate authors speak about their latest books I decided there and then, that a rethink was long overdue.
Reading is quite simply a pleasure and I have a lot of catching up to do
Furthermore, who in their right mind would deny themselves such pleasure? Well certainly not me.
Fortunately, those clever folk at Destination HQ have timed the release of several fantastic books from now to late spring which means that I will not have to waste any time deciding which books to read, where, or when.
If this current cool and wet weather persists, I will be sat in an armchair, cat on lap, immersed in ‘About That Night’ by Elaine Bedell which reveals that sometimes it only takes one night to change everything.
Hopefully there will be better weather for the summer when you will find me sipping chilled white wine in the garden and reading ‘The First Time Lauren Pailing Died’ by Alyson Rudd and ‘Nightingale Point’ a working-class tale of a community in crisis.
For the holiday in August I shall be by the pool, on my balcony or indeed sat up in bed from where I can devour ‘The Last Concerto’ by Sara Alexandra who draws on her roots to transport us to Sardinia in the late 60s. and ‘What Happens Now’ by Sophia Money- Coutts a humorous romantic tale for the modern day.
In the autumn with a fire in the grate and a cup of Earl Grey tea by my side I look forward to reading ‘The Day We Meet Again’ by Miranda Dickinson a story of how one decision can change your life and ‘Lies, Lies, Lies’ by Adele Parks, a mesmerising tale of a marriage and the secrets therein. Finally perfect for those longer evenings, a story of a haunted house, ‘The Lost Ones’ by Anita Frank.
Surely Christmas was made for reading new books and no letter to Santa would be complete without a book list. Mine is sure to include ‘A Wedding in December’ by Sarah Morgan which promises a Christmas that nobody will forget and ‘The Move’ by Felicity Everett, a new story of nightmare neighbours only this time in the countryside.
Next year, regardless of an unseasonably warm, cold, wet or dry (delete as appropriate) I give fair warning that I am not to be disturbed whilst enjoying such titles as
‘She’ by HC Warner, featuring Bella a woman who transforms Ben’s life but not necessarily for the better and ‘The Dilemma’ by BA Paris that poses the moral question of when is the right time to break devastating news.
I am also looking forward to reading ‘The Family Tree’ the debut novel of Sairish Hussain a story of a journey undertaken by members of one family which may bring them together or keep them apart.
I will have to wait until March to read ‘This Lovely City’ by Louise Hare based in London after the Empire Windrush has docked and the passengers are the latest inhabitants trying to make sense of it all.
‘Precious You’ a first novel by Helen Monks Takhar which is not out in Hardback until 30th April 2020 but looks to be well worth waiting for. A story of when the lives of a Millennial and an older woman collide with disturbing consequences. I can’t wait.
So, if reading is a guilty pleasure then please lock me up and throw away the key as I have a reading list to get through and all those chores, long journeys and waiting rooms will just have to take their turn.
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