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Monday, 20 March 2017

BOOK at BEDTIME ..........


I am currently reading The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern.



I can't give you a full review yet as I am only about 100 pages in but, so far, I am loving it !!!




The book has had mixed reviews as all books do but, for me, the prose sparkles and the story itself is a feat of magical acrobatics. 



I find books very hard to summarise and this book is no exception but here is a short summary .....


The Night Circus is a fairytale, set in Victorian London - a wandering magical and mysterious circus that is open only from sunset to sunrise .....



Les Cirque des Rêves, the circus of dreams ..... wonders of a blooming garden made of ice, acrobats soaring without a net, where patrons can float on clouds ..... the circus appears without warning and leaves without notice.

Two magicians young proteges, Celia and Marco, are set against one another in a magical contest ..... but, things get complicated when they start falling in love with each other .....


OK , that's what I'm reading. I have My Last Duchess by Daisy Goodwin to read next but then I'm book less so can you all tell me what you are reading so that I can line up some more books for my book at bedtime ?

Thanks.

XXXX





images 1 & 7: via pinterest, image 2: via beat kusagi, image 3: via tumblr, image 4: via costumers guide, image 5: via yama bato, image 6: via katis yellow, image 8: via bustle


Jackie
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29 comments:

  1. Cro Magnon20 March 2017 at 09:47

    I have no book on the go at present; I'm obsessed by Crosswords.

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    1. Jacqueline @ HOME20 March 2017 at 10:29

      OK ... that's happy and good Cro !! I do those Peak brain games to keep my ancient brain going !! XXXX

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  2. donna baker20 March 2017 at 13:57

    Such beautiful pictures Jacqueline. I can't recommend any as more often than not, I can't finish them. I'm reading A MAN CALLED OVE and just about finished, so that is the closest I can come to a recommendation.

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    1. Jacqueline @ HOME21 March 2017 at 10:29

      Thanks Donna ..... I just need inspiration !! XXXX

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  3. It's me20 March 2017 at 14:02

    No Reading staat this time.....must clean the house extra more...because the pup arrive sober than expect.....happy me !....Yes 5days to go......so exciting....love from me Ria x ❤️

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    1. Jacqueline @ HOME21 March 2017 at 10:30

      Can't wait to see more photographs of your new puppy Ria. XXXX

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  4. Mary20 March 2017 at 14:11

    I've read this book Jackie and found it strange and magical in my imagination!

    You must, if you haven't, read Jane Gardam's OLD FILTH trilogy - Old Filth, The Man in the Wooden Hat, Last Friends. Her writing is beautiful and the story will amaze you and keep you reading for some time, haha! The first title is odd but stands for 'Failed in London Try Hong Kong'. The books kept me reading all winter - mostly in bed late at night, my favorite time.

    Recently finished Tatjana Soli's THE LOTUS EATERS. A haunting novel of a woman photo-journalist during the Vietnam war, with betrayal, courage, obsession and love. It was mesmerizing for me - and taught me a lot more about courage and the uselessness of war.

    Lastly, Tess Hadley's THE PAST kept me up late the last couple of weeks! Think Summer holidays in a dilapidated old family home in Somerset countryside. Brother, three sisters with children and eccentric others - disturbing, memorable, elegant prose - I loved it.

    Love your photos in this post - the ballet shoes are gorgeous.
    Happy week Jackie - happy Spring too!
    Mary x

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    1. Jacqueline @ HOME21 March 2017 at 10:32

      I am enjoying it Mary .... it reminds me of Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell.
      ... and, thank you so much for all of your recommendations . They should keep me going for a while !!!
      Happy week and Spring to you too. XXXX

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  5. helen tilston20 March 2017 at 14:15

    Hello Jacqueline, How lovely to see your post. I do like the sound and the name of The Night Circus. Will look for it.
    I am reading The Spectator Bird by Wallace Stegner. He is an American writer whom I love. He also wrote Angle of Repose and Crossing to Safety. I think you will like his work.
    One I read, which I loved, "The Thrill of It All" by Joseph O'Connor (a fictitious rock bank in the UK. When I finished reading it I wanted to find that band) Joseph O Connor is Sinead O'Connor brother and may have had some insight into how bands operate.
    I am reading more, as there is less and less on TV that appeals to me.
    Have a glorious week Jacqueline.
    xx

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    1. Jacqueline @ HOME21 March 2017 at 10:36

      Hi Helen and many thanks for the book recommendations.
      I'm afraid I've not been reading too much lately as there have been some really good things on tele !!! We do have some great programmes over here. Quite a few series have finished now though so the books are coming out again !!
      Hope you are well and doing lots of painting. XXXX

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  6. La Contessa21 March 2017 at 00:18

    What is My LAST DUCHESS about?
    I am reading boring books at the moment..................I shall ASK around!
    Love the photos here...............XX

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    1. Jacqueline @ HOME21 March 2017 at 10:40

      Hi Elizabeth ..... I think that you might like My Last Duchess. It's about a wealthy American heiress in the 1890's. Her mother takes her to England to secure her an aritocratic match !!
      Hope you are feeling better and that you are getting some answers. Lots of love. XXXX

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  7. Maria21 March 2017 at 20:07

    I am reading Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See. A friend loved it and recommended it to me, but I'm not so enthusiastic about it.

    I love your pictures, Jackie! You must go into a lot of research so to find all these perfect scenes to fit your posts' titles; all your pictures are always very beautiful!
    Greetings Maria x

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    1. Maria21 March 2017 at 20:18

      I'm reading it in Italian. I translated the italian title to English, so I don't know if the English version may have the same title. X

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    2. Jacqueline @ HOME22 March 2017 at 08:23

      I shall investigate your suggestion Maria .... thank you. I have loads of pictures stored on my computer and on Pinterest so I can always find something appropriate and I do love beautiful images !!! Is Beautiful Italy getting lovely and warm ? XXXX

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    3. Jacqueline @ HOME22 March 2017 at 08:23

      XXXX. !

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  8. Alexandra MacVean21 March 2017 at 21:12

    Sounds like a wonderful book and one I MUST get my hands on. Ohhhh!!! :)

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    1. Jacqueline @ HOME22 March 2017 at 08:26

      Hi Alexandra ... hope you are both well and sorry for lack of commenting .... I've been a bad blogger lately !! I promise to get back on track soon !!!! I think that you would enjoy The Night Circus. It's magical !! XXXX

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  9. nick22 March 2017 at 12:53

    Have you read The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton? Set in Amsterdam in 1686, it's the story of a woman who receives a very mysterious wedding gift. Great fun.

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    1. Jacqueline @ HOME22 March 2017 at 14:47

      Ooooooo, that sounds good and right up my strata ..... I shall seek it out .... thanks Nick. XXXX

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  10. Iris22 March 2017 at 20:38

    I had to think about this one for a bit. I wanted to recommend something really good, but for the last couple of years I have been reading nothing but crime novels. The ones where little old ladies with pinched lips in grey cardigans, worn thin at the elbows, solve the murder down the lane. This suits me, as I am living 'on the road to dorkdom', but, of course, it won't do for you! Thinking back over the years there have really only been two books, which I still remember liking very much. They are older publications and you may have heard of/already read them. But here it goes: 'Middlesex' by Jeffrey Eugenides (scandalous!) and 'The Sins of the Seventh Sister' by Huston Curtiss (also scandalous!)

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    1. Jacqueline @ HOME22 March 2017 at 21:17

      Iris ...... I really think that you have got the wrong impression of me !!!!!! I actually still watch Miss Marple which sounds very much like your little old lady in a grey cardigan !!!!! ..... and, I often read some rubbish sometimes !!!
      Thank you so much for your recommendations. I will put them on my list as I think you have very good taste. Many, many thanks. XXXX

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  11. Terra 22 March 2017 at 23:08

    Your review has made me put this book on my to read list. My grandpa was a professional magician so that grabs my interest. I am reading "John Caldigate" by Anthony Trollope and loving the story, strong faithful love, a heroine, a trial, the gold mine towns of Australia, mostly set in rural England. "Old Filth" by Jane Gardam was brilliant. Filth as in "failed in London try Hongkong", thus his nickname.

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    1. Jacqueline @ HOME22 March 2017 at 23:33

      Hi Terra and many thanks for the recommendations .... much appreciated. Mary also recommended Old Filth so it's a must !!
      It's great getting all this feedback .... saves me taking hours looking at the backs of books in the bookshop !!!! XXXX

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  12. Aril24 March 2017 at 07:55

    I picked this up for pennies because it had red pages...maybe not the best recommendation for choosing it, but I loved it. It made me feel slightly uneasy throughout, rather like Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell.
    Arilx

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    1. Jacqueline @ HOME24 March 2017 at 10:10

      Hi Aril.... I said the same in my reply to Mary ( above ) .... really reminds me of Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell .... I loved that too ..... I think I must like odd things !!!!!
      I always need ' something ' to get me to chose a book .... red pages would have done it for me too !!!! XXXX

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  13. Bonnie Schulte15 April 2017 at 01:06

    I'm late to comment here...I have the book Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell, but have not been able to really get into it??? Don't know, but will try starting again, with it. One of my favorite books I've read, and I've have read quite a few, but maybe not what you are looking for, is Water for Elephants. It just made a huge impression on me, a book I started reading in one evening, and finished in the morning. Anyway, just my choice..Not an odd story, but one that I will always remember.

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  14. Sol24 April 2017 at 10:00

    This is one of my favourite books. I have read it a few times and recommend it to friends

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  15. Unknown2 May 2017 at 07:05

    Sounds like a wonderful book and one I MUST get my hands on.Cartincoupon.com

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