Ever since childhood, I have loved reading.
I was born and educated on the beautiful Isle of Wight. It is so beautiful I couldn’t live anywhere else.
After graduating from the University of Swansea with a BA (Hons.) in English Literature, I completed a year of postgraduate study in Oxford before returning to the Island.
I had various jobs working in education, tourism and local government, then volunteered for a charity as a minutes secretary and administrator.
My mum developed dementia and I took a break from working to care for her full-time.
When my mum moved into residential care, I went back to work and became a Governance Professional (Clerk to Governors).
I am now Governance Professional to six separate governing boards. This involves minuting meetings, providing legislative and procedural advice to governors and senior leaders, and carrying out administrative tasks.
It sounds like a lot of work and is, so I need an escape. Reading provides part of that escape.
My main reading is done using a Kindle. My husband would often say to me, “Are you Kindle-ising again?” (Answer, yes.)
There is nothing like picking up a new book, fresh off the shelf, and turning the pages. I love browsing in bookshops and finding new authors to try.
The only drawback is not having enough room to store all the books I would like to have.
Hence the Kindle. It’s portable, light, and you can store hundreds of books on it. It also saves on luggage when I go on holiday or a weekend away.
Reading is a passion. I try to fit in as much as I can, but work sometimes gets in the way. When it doesn’t, I can usually be found with my head in a Kindle or devouring the latest issue of the BBC Music Magazine.
What kind of books do I read?
Travel, biography, historical, crime, poetry. Those are just to start.
Probably my favourite books from recent reading have been Hilary Mantel’s Cromwell series and anything by Joanne Harris.
I also love classic literature, such as books by Anthony Trollope and the Brontë sisters.
I don’t believe you should limit your choices. If a book interests or intrigues you, then that’s probably a good excuse to read it.
Covers are important. The first thing I look for is the cover. If that grabs my attention, I then look at the title. If both get a tick, it’s a ‘want to read’.
A few years ago, a friend on Goodreads posted a book review and mentioned NetGalley. I thought, “I could do that”.
So I signed up to request advance review copies. These are books prior to publication offered to reviewers like myself in return for an honest opinion.
The blog is a means of getting my thoughts out there, as well as persuading the more reluctant publishers that they should trust me to read their authors.
Reviews will be positive, honest and constructive.
What appeals to one reader won’t appeal to every reader. If you disagree with me, that’s fine. You might have seen something I missed, so please tell me and I can look again.
One final thought, not mine.
“The habit of reading is the only enjoyment in which there is no alloy; it lasts when all other pleasures fade.”
― Anthony Trollope
Thank you for reading my reviews.
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The Kindle Bookworm 