Tinkers

Tinkers by Paul Harding is the story of two "tinkers" - George, the son, who "tinkers" with clocks. And his father Howard, who is an itinerant tinker, leaving each morning from home with his horse and wagon, and returning each night from his futile attempts to make a living. 

The story is well-told, moving back and forth between George, who is dying in a hospital bed in his living room, and Howard, an epileptic, who tries to keep his infirmity from his children (although I have to admit I did get a bit confused at times as to which character was being discussed, but this was due to my need to rush through the book without slowing down to allow the book to unfold as it should).

The book is full of wonderful language (each word is critical to create a scene or feeling), although at times I found myself skimming through the description and musings and descriptions of epileptic seizures to get to "what happens next." Despite the sometimes tedious language and descriptions of types of clocks, I found myself moved by the two stories. 


This book was full of smells, nature, beauty and death. Three generations of men experiencing confusion and amusement are fused together with words of nature, grief and soul. There are probably depths I couldn't actually grasp or understand, as it was hard for my brain to consistently concentrate on the story and descriptive narrative. 


Despite the hard-going nature of the read I can still appreciate that the book is wonderful. I wouldn't normally choose this sort of writing as I don't have the patience for it. But this is a book to be read slowly, take the time to absorb the poetry and use of the words, savour the images created and allow the book to take you on a journey.


Winner of the Pulitzer Prize 2010, this is not an easy read (thinking of death is never easy), but is a beautiful book that felt more like a long, very descriptive and unusual poem. 

Finally!

Most of you have probably already read this book, but I have to admit that this book took me two attempts to complete. The first time I started to read it, I didn't give the first couple of chapters enough of my attention and by the third, I had no idea who was who, why there were so many 'Thomas's and generally had lost the plot (literally).

The book was put down and forgotten.

But then, I kept hearing from all my well read friends how much they had LOVED the book and they all seemed to have found it fascinating and brilliant and it also won the Man Booker prize 2009! I was obviously missing something....

The book was relaunched in the last couple of weeks and, what with Christmas shopping, pretending to work and kids finishing school, I have only just finished it!

Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel is a truly epic story.

England, the 1520s. Henry VIII is on the throne, but has no heir. Cardinal Wolsey is his chief advisor, charged with securing the divorce the pope refuses to grant. Into this atmosphere of distrust and need comes Thomas Cromwell, first as Wolsey's clerk, and later his successor. Cromwell is a wholly original man: the son of a brutal blacksmith, a political genius, a briber, a charmer, a bully, a man with a delicate and deadly expertise in manipulating people and events. Ruthless in pursuit of his own interests, he is as ambitious in his wider politics as he is for himself. His reforming agenda is carried out in the grip of a self-interested parliament and a king who fluctuates between romantic passions and murderous rages.


I'm really glad I persevered with the book and did end up really enjoying it. It reminds me a lot of 'The Other Boleyn Girl' by Phillipa Gregory - which I found a much lighter read but still historically fascinating.

Apparently, now I need to watch 'The Tudors' and my history lesson will be almost complete.

Christmas list

Its beginning to feel a lot like Christmas.

I love giving or getting books for Christmas. It is so hard to know what to buy for kids to read. It always seemed easier when they were into picture books - I just looked for ones with a story I would enjoy reading at least twenty times with beautiful pictures to keep them entertained. Now it seems to be a lot harder - and there seems to be a definite gap in the book market for boys age 10 and up!!

I thought I would start the ball rolling though and tell you about the books that my boys (aged 8 and 10) have read during the year and would recommend. It's not a long list, but I'm hoping others out there have many more brilliant ideas and are happy to share...

All books listed (and photos) can be found at http://www.bookdepository.co.uk. (I should be getting a commission!)

The 10 year old is a mad reader but this is just a selection of his favourites:

• Eragon, Brisinger and Eldest by Christopher Paolini.

• Once, Then and Now by Morris Gleitzman.

Reviewed in Good Chapters here

• The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery. (Ok I did give him this to read and he did enjoy it, but not perhaps as much as his mother!)

• The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. (Ok I also gave him this to read and he did enjoy it, but not perhaps as much as his mother!)

• The Legends of the Guardian: The owls of Gahoole series by Kathryn Lasky. We have all enjoyed this series and there are 10 books in the series so it has lasted a long time.

• The Indispensable Calvin and Hobbes collection by Bill Watterson.

• The Guiness Book of Records - hours of fascinating reading for all.

The 8 year old has been mainly listening to stories read by his Dad (the ones that the 10 year old has already read but loved).

In addition to these, he has enjoyed:

• The 'How to train your dragon' series by Cressida Cowell

• The 'Boy vs Beast series by Mac Park

Aren't boy books delightful?