#DDMreadingweek roundup & Giveaway winners

First of all I want to say a very big thank you to everyone who took part in #DDMreadingweek in whatever capacity – review, photo, blog comment etc – I thoroughly enjoyed the week. By starting my reading very early, I managed three books too which I was pleased with.

A very brief roundup from me as you can find my event page here containing blog links – which I am still updating, and will continue to do so. Please hop on over and click through to the reviews written by bloggers taking part in the event this year.

I enjoyed some lovely conversations on Twitter and Instagram about Daphne du Maurier and her books – if you want to spot them, follow the hashtag. An English teacher on Twitter read some DDM short stories with her Y10s and shared some of their comments with us – I feel like we have some DDM converts there. Blogger Lisa has been sharing her experience of reading Jamaica Inn after abandoning it twenty years ago – it was such a joy to share her love of it. Some lovely photos of DDM books popped up on Instagram, it’s always lovely to see how much people still love DDM.

Now to the business of a certain giveaway – yesterday afternoon, I drew two random names from the comments on last Monday’s blog post. 

The first prize of the VMC designer edition of Rebecca and matching mug was won by Marina from Finding Time to Write blog.

The second prize of a print of The Birds cover to be supplied by Virago was won by Kate.

Winners have been contacted and address of the second prize winner has been sent to Virago.

I am still catching up with blog posts etc – bear with me, but please let me know if you think I have missed your post.

I think I will probably do this again next year. 😊

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Welcome to #DDMreadingweek 2022 – a giveaway!

Hello and welcome to the fourth #DDMreadingweek. It is that time of year again, which means that later this week, it will be Daphne’s (and my) birthday. That’s on Friday, when Daphne would have been 115 years old, I will be considerably younger.

I won’t be posting everyday – but I hope to get three book reviews up this week. Full disclosure: at the time of writing I have read two books, started the third and am behind on my review writing – so it’s possible review number three might be late. Anyway, I hope that won’t matter too much, as I know there are other DDM fans taking part this week, and I am so looking forward to seeing what everyone reads. As in previous years, there will be a dedicated page here on my blog – where I will be sharing other reader’s links to reviews. A way of finding great recommendations and maybe discovering new blogs to follow.

How to join in

• You don’t need to be a blogger
• Read a DDM novel, short story, story collection, or biography.
• Tell us what you are reading on Twitter, or Instagram using the hashtag.
• Share photos of your DDM read or your DDM books using the hashtag on Twitter or Instagram – (I am a bit rubbish at Instagram, but I keep trying.)
• Post your thoughts about the book you have read on Goodreads – and share the link to that on my blog or on Twitter – use the hashtag so I don’t miss it.
• Post comments/links on my blog, or on the blog posts of others.  

Giveaway – UK only, due to postage costs, sorry int’l readers.

I seem to remember I did a giveaway on the first #DDMreadingweek – and haven’t done one since.

There are two prizes – a first prize that I have provided, and a second prize provided very kindly by Virago – which will be sent out by them. I will enter everyone for both prizes – and on Sunday do two random name draws, the first name drawn will win the first prize, the second name drawn will win the second prize.

For the first prize I went shopping, I hope you all don’t mind that I chose the prize myself.

First Prize – VMC designer hardback and matching mug – Rebecca

I decided to offer a special copy of my favourite DDM novel Rebecca and the matching VMC mug. I already had this edition of the book and this mug, so there was no danger of me deciding to keep it for myself. These vmc designer edition hardbacks are delightful, such a pleasure to hold, and read. Every year I am so tempted to reread Rebecca – I loved it so much both times I read it. However, there are still DDM’s I haven’t read for the first time. As for the mugs, I have the full set. So, whether you have never read Rebecca before – or you rather fancy a beautiful new edition of an old favourite I hope I can tempt a few of you with this prize.

Second Prize – Poster – with thanks to Virago

Virago are offering a lovely, professionally printed cover image from The Birds – which will make a lovely poster. I can just imagine that striking image in a frame on the wall next to someone’s bookcase. Unfortunately, I don’t have an image of the poster to show you, but if you know what that cover looks like you will get the idea.

To enter the draw for either prize – simply pop a comment below telling me how/when you first discovered Daphne du Maurier and why you love her writing.

Winners will be contacted by email or Twitter DM. The First Prize will be sent out by me within two weeks of the draw. The winner of the second prize will have their name and address sent to Virago who will send out the prize, if you’re entering the draw then I assume you are consenting to me sharing those details with Virago should you win.

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#DDMreadingweek giveaway winners

So Daphne Du Maurier reading week is over – and it has been wonderful – so I am really going to miss it. Thank you everyone who made it so successful – let’s do it again next year shall we?

So, there was only one thing left to do – and that was to draw the winners for my giveaway (I can’t promise there will one of those every year).

I drew two winners names last night and the winners are:

Liz D won a copy of Rebecca – slightly embarrassing as regular readers of both our blogs will know Liz and I are good friends IRL but I can assure you all it was done completely randomly.

Judith Field won a copy of Rule Britannia – you will all be relieved to hear Judith and I are complete strangers.

Congratulations to both winners – really hope you enjoy your new Du Maurier books.

I am getting very close to the end of Mary Anne – my third read for Daphne Du Maurier reading week ( I did start early). So I shall be reviewing that tomorrow all being well. After which the Daphne Du Maurier content may stop for a while – however I am continuing to add links to the DDM page – which I urge to take a look at – lots of fabulous blog posts and reviews to explore. The page will stay up for sometime yet – probably the end of the year.

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#DDMreadingweek starts here and a giveaway

Welcome to Daphne Du Maurier reading week. I started a few days early so I could review at least one book this week. I hope to review The Breaking Point stories tomorrow.

Today would have been Daphne Du Maurier’s birthday – it is also mine. So, it seems appropriate to have a little giveaway in celebration.

I love any excuse to buy books – I’m sure you all know that, so I have bought two new Du Maurier novels that I have enjoyed very much:

Rebecca (1938) Undoubtedly Daphne Du Maurier’s most famous novel. The young Mrs De Winter is haunted by the memory of her husband’s first wife – Rebecca. Having met the handsome Mr De Winter while working as a companion in the South of France, the young new wife accompanies him back to his brooding estate of Manderley. It is a long time since I last read Rebecca – I’ve read it twice – and seen the black and white film. A new Netflix film is currently being talked about on social media with Kristin Scott Thomas as Mrs Danvers. It’s a wonderful novel, and there must be someone out there who hasn’t read it or needs a nice new copy so they can re-read it.

Rule Britannia (1972) Was Daphne Du Maurier’s final novel – and an interesting one for many reasons. It isn’t her best novel – but I found it very readable and there are some wonderful characters, I’m sure I’ll read it again. In it Du Maurier imagines a Britain moving away from Europe, embarking on an alliance with the US which begins to look rather like a takeover bid. Warning; it is pretty anti-American – but it perhaps that in itself is interesting in what it tells is about Du Maurier’s thoughts at this time.

So, if you fancy winning one of these two books, just drop a comment below – letting me which you would like to win. You can tell me what your favourite Du Maurier novel or collection of stories is so far and whether you are you joining with #DDMreadingweek. Open worldwide – I will use a random name generator to pick a winner on Sunday May 19^th.

I have created a Daphne Du Maurier reading week page here – you can use it to drop in your links to your book reviews and Goodreads status updates or other comments about what you’re reading.

Have a lovely week reading Daphne Du Maurier reading week everyone.

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Miss Boston and Miss Hargreaves – a giveaway

I rarely take part in blog tours but having so, so loved Miss Boston and Miss Hargreaves last year when I read it, I simply had to take part in the blog tour which celebrates the release of the paperback edition.

So, a very big thank you to Rachel Malik and the folks at Penguin books for providing me with this lovely, new paperback edition to offer as a giveaway.

Miss Boston and Miss Hargreaves is a gorgeous novel, the kind I was sorry to finish, the characters have remained with me ever since I finished it. It is a story that comes from the author’s own family, one which would suit readers of vintage fiction. If you love writers like Stella Gibbons, and novels sets during the 1940s and 50s then this novel is definitely for you. I have yet to hear of anyone who hasn’t loved it.

I reviewed it back in July, having bought the hardback edition on something of a whim, I devoured the book. You can read my full review here, though I am copying some of it across here to help you decide whether you would like to read it yourself.

Miss Boston and Miss Hargreaves is the story of two unconventional women, who are brought together by a world gone mad. Elsie Boston is a farmer, working the farm her father signed over to her, the best she can, her brothers killed in the First World War, her sisters have left to get married and as another war gets under way she is alone at Starlight, happy in her solitude and with the animals and the land she loves. In 1940, Elsie applies for a land girl to help out, gets the spare room ready, nervous about having another person in the house.

Rene Hargreaves arrives, a little older than Elsie had expected, she is a city woman, a widow drawn to work on the land like Elsie. Rene’s past is more complex than Elsie realises at first, she carries the shadows of it with her, never quite escaping her own sense of guilt.

Rene and Elsie come to understand one another quickly, they develop an easy way of life together, playing patience, doing jigsaws and listening to the wireless in the evenings after the work of the farm is done.

The novel spans more than twenty years, trouble comes to Starlight but Elsie and Rene throw their lot in together and head off into the British countryside. Their lives will be turned upside down, held up for examination by the media, and subject to a high-profile court case.

If you would like to win this paperback copy of Miss Boston and Miss Hargreaves, drop me a line in the comments box telling me what your favourite period to read about is – mine is definitely World War Two.

I will keep the giveway open for a week – closing it next Monday morning (19th) one winner will be drawn by a random name generator and notified by email. I shall be away for a few days but will post the book out when I get back. Happy to post anywhere by the way – so open to everyone – good luck.

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Nina Bawden giveaway

Christmas must have come early. I have decided to share some lovely Nina Bawden books with you all.

Last week Little Brown UK sent me these lovely editions of two Nina Bawden children’s books. Carrie’s War and The Peppermint Pig. I decided I would give them away, there may be a child in your life who will enjoy curling up with these lovely books, transported by Bawden’s consummate story telling. Or perhaps you would like to revisit your childhood favourites for yourself. So, the first giveaway is for BOTH these titles.

Giveaway 1.

When I was a child I adored Carrie’s War – I devoured the book, and watched the TV adaptation, I even watched the remake as an adult. It is a story I carried with me for many years and I think I had a slightly romanticised view of evacuation because of it. It tells the story of three children evacuated to Wales during World War two – such a wonderful cast of characters, it was definitely the book I loved most as a child – and still love now. I can’t remember if I read The Peppermint Pig, but I don’t think I did. The Peppermint Pig appears to be the story of a family living through a difficult period who are healed by the laughter a clever, mischievous little pig brings to their lives.

Giveaway 2

Of course, many, many years later, I discovered Nina Bawden’s adult novels, she was very prolific, and I have enjoyed quite a number of them now. So, I have purchased a new copy of The Birds on the Trees, one of my favourite Bawden novels for adults as giveaway number two (It has yet to arrive – so the image of the cover is only what was shown on a certain well-known shopping site – the images are not always correct, I find).

The Birds in the Trees is beautifully observed with great insight and honesty, it is a novel about parents and children and family life with all its complexities. In 2010 The Birds on the Trees was nominated for The Lost Booker – voted for by readers, Bawden lost out to Troubles by J G Farrell (another excellent novel). The Lost Booker was for books published in 1970 – as changing Booker rules that year meant many novels lost out on being considered.

Toby Flowers is the boy/young man at the centre of this novel – which is told in the varying voices of his family – his mother and father, younger sister and grandmother. These first-person narratives dropped into what is largely a third person narrative, works so well – giving the novel an added intimacy.

To enter simply tell me what your favourite children’s book was (I’m just being nosy really) and let me know which giveaway you would like to win, the two books for children or The Birds on the Trees. The Giveaway is open worldwide – and winners will be drawn next Monday, using a random name generator.

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Elizabeth Taylor giveaway – the winners are…

Phew! I’ve just finished typing names into a random name generator and due to the number of entries it took a while. I’m glad I didn’t have the responsibility and could leave it all to fate – and the internet.

Resh Susan who blogs at The Book Satchel wins A Wreath of Roses which will travelling all the way to India soon.

Anne P – wins a copy of A Game of Hide and seek

Mary Durant – wins a copy of In a Summer Season

Thank you everyone for entering – I’m sorry there can be only three winners. I hope the winners enjoy their books – all three are wonderful novels. Please let me know what you think once you have read them.

Once again, a big thank you to Virago Press and Little Brown books for providing these books for me to giveaway.

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The Classic Club spin has spoken.. and giveaway winners.

The classic club has spun and the number was number 4.

So I will have the very great pleasure of reading A Room with a view by EM Forster. I have actually read it before – but my memory of it was eclipsed by my great love for A Passage to India – which I read around the same time, and re-read not long ago.

  “We cast a shadow on something wherever we stand, and it is no good moving from place to place to save things; because the shadow always follows. Choose a place where you won’t do harm – yes, choose a place where you won’t do very much harm, and stand in it for all you are worth, facing the sunshine.”

 

I will most likely read this toward the beginning of September  and as I have no memory of it, it will be just as if I have never read it before.

 

Lost and Found giveaway

 

Thank you to those who entered the giveaway – I closed the giveaway last night and randomly chose three winners. So congrstulations to…

 

Si Stokes

Kerry Hale

and KatharineDS

 

I have passed you details to Corsair who have informed me that they sent out the books today.

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Lost and Found giveaway

 

It started with a letter…Carol is unhappily married to a man she doesn’t love and mother to a daughter she doesn’t understand. Stuck in a life she doesn’t want and crippled with guilt, she can’t shake the feeling that she has wasted her life. So she puts pen to paper and writes a Letter to the Universe.
Albert is a widowed postman, approaching retirement age, and living only with his cat, Gloria, for company. Slowly being pushed out at his place of work, he is forced down to the post room where they sort undeliverable mail. Forgotten in his work place and bullied by his neighbours, Albert is extremely lonely. When a series of letters turns up with a smiley face drawn in place of an address, he cannot help reading them.

A few months ago I read a review copy of a debut novel which I enjoyed enormously. Lost and Found by Tom winter came out in February. Today the paperback edition is published and the lovely people at Corsair contacted me with a view to offering 3 copies to readers of my blog.

Carol wants a disease. Nothing deadly, and nothing crippling. She doesn’t aspire to disabled parking, for instance, despite its obvious advantages.
‘It’s true I haven’t done much with my life,’ she wants to tell people, ‘but it’s the . . . the leprosy.’
She imagines how they would nod sympathetically, albeit while backing away, and even she might feel better about looking at herself in the mirror each morning: a middle- aged woman who hasn’t accomplished much because she can’t, because she’s been too busy peeling off dead skin and looking for missing body parts.
‘Yes,’ she’d say, as she arrives at work late yet again, ‘I know I’m crap at this, but the good news is I’ve found a couple of my fingers.’
But, no, there is no disease, no excuse to hide behind. She has a husband who’s a certifiable dickhead, but this isn’t her disability per se. And her daughter – well, what can she say
on that subject? In the months prior to giving birth, she read

every book on child-rearing she could find. In retrospect, Sun Tzu’s Art of War would have been a better choice, or perhaps a field study of rabid primates.
Naturally, this isn’t how she’d expected to feel about motherhood, but watching her baby daughter morph into a teenager has been an alarming experience, like cresting the first hill of a rollercoaster just as she realized her seatbelt was broken.
Now seventeen, her daughter stands on the cusp of independence, the whole world at her feet. And Carol is on a bus home, staring at a window too wet with rain to offer a view of anything; an indeterminate cityscape, as fractured and abstract as her own life – the hint of a street sign, the edge of a shop front, but nothing complete, nothing she can look at and say, ‘Ah, that’s where I am.’
So, nearly twenty years of married life have come to this:
‘I’m leaving.’
She savours the words for a moment, already regretting that she’ll only get to say them once. Condensing so many years of frustration into two small words has given them a curious, almost nuclear power, as if they might slip from her mouth and accidentally level the whole of London.
She knows she’ll tell her husband over dinner tonight, though she still isn’t sure how she’ll raise the subject. The only certainty is that she’ll serve a nicer dessert than usual – her favourite, as it happens – though she’ll try her best to make
this seem like an act of consolation rather than celebration.

Lost and Found is a novel written in letters, the voices of the two main characters come across strongly and are really engaging and likeable. I found the novel hugely enjoyable – a real feel good book that I found hard to put down, I feel sure that many of you out there would enjoy it too. i am certainly looking forward to seeing what Tom Winter comes up with next.

PRAISE FOR LOST AND FOUND:

‘Witty, off-beat and moving’ Genevieve Fox, Daily Mail

‘Winter makes the reader not only smile, but pause and, in the final line, shed an appropriate tear about what it means to be given a second chance at happiness’ The Lady

‘A touching tale, full of pathos and laugh-out-loud moments’ Candis

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Tom Winter is a British writer living in Berlin. Lost and Found is his first novel. He is currently at work on his second book.

If you would like to win a copy of this lovely feel good read – then please add a comment to the box below leaving me an email address where I can contact you should you win. I will keep the giveaway open untill Sunday evening – and then choose three winners by a random name generator. I will pass the winners details to Corsair who will then send out the books. Good luck everyone.

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The Folding Star – DNF – and giveaway result

Alan Hollinghurst – birthday May 26th

I don’t often find myself setting a book aside – and am always very disappointed – and to be honest a little cross with myself when I do. Very late on Saturday – so late I only read about 10 pages – I picked up The Folding Star by Alan Hollinghurst. On Sunday I was out walking with my rambling group – and as usual I took my book to read on the coach. I tried valiantly to tell myself I was enjoying it – I wasn’t. Hollinghurst writes beautifully but there is a lot of – hmm how can I put it? Well the sexual content seems a little gratuitous at times – although it does serve to set the characters in their selfish self-absorbed context. The central character of this novel seems thoroughly unlikeable, sometimes that doesn’t matter but I found after less than 60 pages – that I really didn’t care about him and his goings on.

So on Sunday evening after getting home I tried a few more pages, and no! It just wasn’t working so I laid it aside. I have put it on the pile to bookcross – despite it being a signed copy I bought when I went to a talk by Alan Hollinghurst shortly after reading The Strangers child – a book I loved. The Stranger’s Child was the second of Hollinghurst’s books I had read, I read The Line of Beauty – which I enjoyed – although most of those characters I seem to remember were rather horrid too. I suspect that The Folding Star has put me off Hollinghurst for life – which is a shame because he really is a beautiful writer.

Giveaway result
Using random.com I have drawn A.M.B to receive the Virago Paperback of Jamaica Inn. Congratulations A.M.B I do hope you enjoy it.

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