Saturday 29 August 2015

Challenge Update - August 2015

My 2015 challenges are:-

1) Read one book each month.

1a) Read Agatha Christie books in chronological order.

2) Watch films from IMDb's top 100 movies of all time.

3) Support charities.

I was on holiday for part of August, that accounts for the number of books I've managed to get through this month, seven in total counting my Agatha Christie read. I always read plenty whilst I'm away.


A little while ago, I received a parcel through the post, all the way from Australia. It was sent by my good friend, Susan, from Granny Smith's Quilting. The gift was beautifully wrapped in some floral fabric, which I'm sure I'll be able to make very good use of some time in the future.


Susan thought I might enjoy reading Footsteps in an Empty Room by Lilly Sommers, and she wasn't wrong. This was the first of this month's reads and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The story starts with bumps in the night and goes on to tell the tale of two different time periods which interweave. I've lent the book to my mum and she's coming to the end of it now, having enjoyed it too. I was lucky enough to receive the beautiful dolphin bookmark in the parcel too. Thank you so much, Susan, it was so kind of you to think of me.


What Have I Done is the second book in the No Greater Love series by Amanda Prowse, I read it on my Kindle. Domestic abuse is the subject of this book and it could be quite hard to read at times, especially knowing that this isn't a far fetched story, many women, and men, go through this in reality. It's very well written and kept me turning the pages to find out what happens.


After reading The Fault in our Stars a couple of years ago, Eleanor wanted to read something along the same lines so I bought her Now is Good by Jenny Downham. She's never read it so I decided that I would. Published previously under the title Before I Die, it's a story narrated by Tessa who's sixteen and is terminally ill. She's been given just a few months to live and so she creates a list of things she wants to do before she dies. This book falls in the Young Adult Fiction genre, however, having a daughter roughly the same age as Tessa, it was hard not to look at Tessa's story from a parent's perspective. It's a moving story and one I'd recommend to any age.


The third book in Amanda Prowse's No Greater Love series is Clover's Child and is my favourite book by this author so far. Set in the East End, the story covers what it was like to fall in love with, and get pregnant by, a West Indian boy in the sixties. The book tells of the attitudes and prejudices of people during that time and highlights how things have changed since. A real page turner.

I wasn't sure that I'd enjoy A Little Love, Amanda Prowse's fourth book in the No Greater Love series, but I did. Pru Plum turned sixty six last year but has never found love, mainly because she hides a secret from her past. I did guess Pru's secret quite early on but it didn't spoil it for me. I wouldn't say this is a fast paced, gripping novel but I enjoyed reading about a more mature lady falling in love for a change as most romance stories are centred around twenty somethings.

The Lie of You by Jane Lythell was a free book on my Kindle. This is a thriller about one woman stalking another. I like how the book is written, one chapter from Heja's viewpoint and the next from Kathy's. This is one book where I didn't expect the ending.



My Agatha Christie read for August was The Mystery of the Blue Train. This is another Poirot book and it kept me guessing right till the end. A real page turner and one of my favourites so far.


I've only managed two films again this month.

The Departed is a crime thriller from Martin Scorsese starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon and Jack Nicholson. An undercover cop is attempting to infiltrate a gang in Boston but there's a mole in the state police. All I can say about this film is Wow! The ending! I never saw that coming. A decent film but one I wouldn't have chosen to watch if I wasn't doing this challenge.

Sci-Fi is not a genre for me at all but I decided that I'd give The Matrix a go. It actually has quite a good storyline which put me in mind of a Doctor Who episode, New Earth, with the Sisters of Plenitude. I'm afraid The Matrix started to lose me half way through and then again near the end with prolonged fight scenes. Not really my thing.



I've done a bit of charity shop shopping this month. First of all, this Typhoo Tea tray caught my eye in the Age UK shop and then I came across a book in The Salvation Army shop which I'll be reading a little later on in my Agatha Christie challenge. These were both found in Pickering whilst we were on holiday.


I picked up another couple of books nearer to home, one from the PDSA Shop and one from the St Gemma's Hospice shop. I enjoyed watching Poldark earlier on in the year so when I saw the book, I thought I'd have a read. I picked up the Liane Moriarty book because I read one of her books earlier this year and really enjoyed it, I hope this one's as good.


I've recently bought some new towels as my old ones had seen better days, I've had some of them since before we were married and as you know, we celebrated our Silver Wedding anniversary last month. Although the old towels were past their best, I knew that the Dogs Trust would be able to get some use out of them so we bagged them up and took them to our local centre last week. There were bath towels and some beach towels amongst them. Whilst we were there, we visited the dogs which are waiting to be rehomed at the moment. It's heart wrenching seeing all those abandoned dogs waiting for a new home, but the Dogs Trust do all they can to help them so they're a very deserving charity to help.


As I mentioned in my Yarndale Sock Line post, I'm sending a pair of hand knitted socks off to help someone in need. In fact, the socks have been posted today so that they'll be there in plenty of time. Eleanor made me a little label to attach to the socks so that I could write the particulars on the reverse.


It's a bank holiday weekend here in the UK (except Scotland I believe), and Mick's taken the rest of next week off work too so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that we get some fine weather so that we can have a few days out. I hope you all have a good weekend, whatever you're up to.

24 comments:

  1. What a lovely selection of books! I might look up the Amanda Prowse books, she's been hovering on the back reading burner for some time now. I've just read the latest Marcia Willet novel which is set in nearby Dartmouth, and I can recommend it: Summer on the River, a lovely romantic read. Marcia is a very clever writer insofar as her books aren't just about 20-somethings, or even 30- or 40-somethings but about people of all ages, from children to pensioners, although they are what I call smart, modern, even quirky pensioners so you don't feel you've joined the bingo and Wincarnis (who can remember that? brigade!
    I don't think we have a Dogs Trust outlet anywhere near us here in Torbay, but I'm sure I can find a use for our old towels - those beyond sending to the charity shops become rags for the garage (for various jobs husband might do) ... I've just bought some lovely new towels from M&S (pale turquoise and white chevron design; and some pale cream guest towels for our shower room/loo) and I have white bath towels on order from The White Company - you really can't beat good quality pure white towels, but I wanted some pastel coloured ones for the guest bedroom/bathroom, which is all in shades of pale lemon yellow.
    I should think, even for a busy person, one book a month is achievable? I devour books like others do chocolate (and yes, I devour chocolate as well!)
    Margaret P
    PS And as well as buying and reading books by the yard, I also support charities - I have standing orders direct from my bank account to two of them.

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    1. Thank you for visiting and for your lovely comment. I haven't heard of Marcia Willett before but she sounds like an author I might enjoy. I suppose the books being set in a place you're familiar with holds some appeal, I know I enjoy books which are set in Yorkshire, I can identify with them somehow. Do give Amanda Prowse a try, she writes about all manner of subjects, though some are quite hard hitting. I've enjoyed all her books so far. I know I've seen a Dogs Trust in Ilfracome when we've holidayed nearby, that's still some distance from Torbay though, even though it's in the same county. Your new towels sound lovely. I've gone more for deeper colours this time, though I do still have a couple of paler ones. I bought mine from Wilkinson's, I was quite surprised at the quality for the price I paid, I'm very happy with them. I'm trying to highlight through my charity challenge that you can support charities in lots of different ways, though I do have standing orders from my bank account set up to them too, they do need all the help they can get and there's so many deserving causes. It's only in recent years that I've come back to reading but I'm enjoying it so much. I was an avid reader in my younger years and then family life took over. I've already smashed my reading target for the year, there's just so many more books I'd like to read.

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  2. I'm laid up on holiday with a dizzy and achy bug, so I'm writing this on the quietest afternoon I'm likely to get in Wales. Your challenge is going well, and I'm pleased to see you've got A Caribbean Mystery. This, and the follow on Nemesis, are two of my favourite Miss Marple's adventures.

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    1. I'm so sorry to hear you're not very well at the moment, especially as you're on holiday, that's no fun at all. I've read many Agatha Christie novels in my teens but I can't remember any of them now so I'm not sure if A Caribbean Mystery is one I've read before or not, but it's good to hear that it's one you enjoyed. Do get well soon and in the meantime, take it easy, you're on holiday afterall.

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  3. You have been busy, I will try and get hold of a couple of those books to read.

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    1. It has been a busy month, especially considering I was on holiday at the start of it. I can recommend all the books I read this month, I enjoyed them all.

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  4. Your books look great. I loved The Fault in Our Stars, so I might look for this other book. I just finished watching Poldark on TV over here and really liked it. There was a Poldark book in the library yesteday and I almost got it but I was already borrowing a heaving bagful and decided to leave it until next time. I would really like to read the books, though, particularly because I want to see how Demelza is portrayed in them. She is my favorite character and I really love any scene she is in.

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    1. I enjoyed Now is Good, though enjoyed isn't really the word I should use given the subject matter. The ending was just as heart wrenching as The Fault in our Stars. I'm surprised you've had Poldark over there already, it isn't that long since it finished here. I liked Demelza too, I think all the casting was excellent but of course I hadn't read the book so it will be interesting to see if I feel the same once I have.

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  5. I'm just catching up with news. You've had an eventful and good month. Belated best wishes for your special anniversary. I haven't read the books you mention, but the subjects of the Amanda Prowse novels sound interesting. I have so many To Be Read Books on my bookshelf so I mustn't add to it as I'm a slow reader. However I'm on the look out for DVDs in the charity shops so I shall put The Departed on my list as I like Matt Damon and hubby enjoys fast-paced thrillers. Let's hope we have good weather for the long weekend, although the forecast isn't very positive for our part of the world. Have a good one!

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    1. Thank you, my anniversary seems such a long time ago now. I'm really enjoying the Amanda Prowse books, as you say, the subjects are very interesting. There's still more in the series to go so I'm looking forward to reading them. The weather isn't too bad today but the forecast doesn't look very good for tomorrow, typical bank holiday weather.

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  6. Another month of the year gone? Isn't it scary how fast it's going? Well done on achieving your goals again this month! :o)

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    1. The year's flying by. I bet it's only a matter of weeks now until we hear Christmas songs playing in the shops.

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  7. Wow, that's a lot of reading Jo and so glad you like the book. I'll email and tell about a couple of others she has written which are good too. I'm going to jot down a couple from your list and see if the library has them, as they sound good. I've only finished two this month, one being Dewey about a library cat and the other Walking Home about the Penine Way, so am lagging a bit at the moment. You'd love Marcia Willett and if you were closer I could lend lots of hers. She is one author's books I've kept along with Rosamund Pilcher. I seem to go through stages with reading, but was an avid reader as a child, but stopped after 'kids', then had a big swing back when I was made redundant. Since hubby retired I don't seem to have read much at all, but must get back into it. We only said last week we need some new towels too. Hope the week ahead is good weatherwise for you both and take care.

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    1. I always manage to get through a few books on holiday. Both books you've read this month sound interesting, I like reading about animals, I've read a few books like that. I must look out for Marcia Willett and give her books a go, I like to have recommendations. I'm really pleased with my new towels, I've been wanting new ones for quite some time, there's only new ones in my drawers now.

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  8. Wonderful work on all of your challenges Jo! I haven't read that Poirot book and think that it is one of the few that isn't in my pile, but as you said it was so good I will perhaps have to track down a copy sometime. I also have the Caribbean Mystery one to read at some point. The towels will be well appreciated by the Dogs Trust I am sure as having a dog yourself you know just how many towels you can go through! Lovely to have new soft fluffy towels for yourselves too! xx

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    1. I'm enjoying working my way through the Agatha Christie books and I've come to realise that some of them refer to earlier books so it's actually a good way to do it. The Dogs Trust were pleased with the donation, I'm sure they need a lot of towels for the number of dogs they have in their care, especially coming up to winter.

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  9. The Mystery of the Blue Train is one my my favourite Poirot books. I like Sci-Fi films but thought that The Matrix was over-rated.
    Well done with the Dogs Trust donation. As I sometimes point out it's not just monetary donations that some charities depend on.
    Enjoy the rest of the weekend, have a good week and fingers crossed for some good weather. Flighty xx

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    1. I'm glad you enjoyed The Mystery of the Blue Train too. Mick doesn't mind Sci-Fi and watched The Matrix years ago but was of the same opinion as you. I agree about your observations with regards donations to charity, I'm hoping that my challenge highlights that there's lots of ways in which charities can be helped. Thank you, you too.

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  10. Lovely post Jo and you have done very well with your challenges, especially as you were away for part of the month.

    I love the floral paper in your first photo ... and Eleanor made a lovely gift tag.

    Never thought to give old towels to an animal charity - what a good idea.

    I do hope the weather picks up a little and you get out and about while Mick is off ... we've had showers AGAIN today, typical bank holiday weather!

    I'm keeping fingers crossed that Bank Holiday Monday may be better!

    All the best Jan

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    1. I asked Eleanor to make a tag for the socks and that's what she came up with, I thought it was great. I've had old quilts which I've donated to Dogs Trust in the past, they're always grateful for bedding or towels, they must go through quite a bit with the number of dogs in their care. I think the forecast is for rain here tomorrow but we've had a nice day out today and given Archie a good walk whilst it stayed fine. We've got to make the most of any good weather we get whilst it's here.

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  11. I really like your challenges. I have a seasonal list of things but I've yet to complete them all, still it makes me think about doing things and gives me the incentive to try.
    I really enjoyed the Departed but I can't remember how it ends now. I saw it at the cinema and remember that I was blown away by it, DiCaprio's performance was amazing.
    I have a pile of towels and bedding that needs a new home, I hadn't thought of The Dogs Trust...

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    1. My challenges are all fun things, but it keeps me focused and the film watching especially is making me watch films I wouldn't ordinarily choose to watch and I've found some really good ones. I can't say I've watched many films which star Leonardo DiCaprio but he was excellent in The Departed, he's grown up since Titanic. I'm hoping that my charity challenge shows that charities rely on lots of types of donations as well as monetary ones, as well as highlighting lots of deserving charities.

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  12. I loved watching Poldark, brilliant series. It's hard to believe we're so far through the year, you're challenges are going great xx

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    1. I wasn't going to bother watching Poldark but I really enjoyed it. September already, hard to believe where this year's gone.

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