Book Reviews

‘The best moments in reading are when you come across something - a thought, a feeling, a way of looking at things - which you had thought special and particular to you. And now, here it is, set down by someone else, a person you have never met, someone even who is long dead. And it is as if a hand has come out, and taken yours.’ Alan Bennett

“Many a book is like a key to unknown chambers within the castle of one’s own self.” ― Franz Kafka

Wednesday 16 October 2013

A trip to the Highlands and some good reads!

I've not shared a new blog post for a few days, as we've been away in the Highlands of Scotland. I'm gradually catching up with things, including the blog, and hoping to get around  to reading and commenting on blog posts soon. 

Here are a few photos from the trip. The scenery is quite breathtaking, the mountains seem to stretch on as far as the eye can see in places, the colours of the lochs and the nature all around are just incredibly beautiful. 

Glen Affric

Some fabulous rainbows...

Rainbow on Skye

...and a four-legged friend always part of the action!




We visited a couple of lovely independent bookshops, new and secondhand, and I belatedly got a Books Are My Bag shopping bag, at the Nairn Bookshop. 

Nairn
Kingussie

The natives were friendly...



and we even saw some of these, just spectacular...





I've been reading too, some great stories:


Snow White Must Die by Nele Neuhaus

The Cry by Helen Fitzgerald

Trust Your Eyes by Linwood Barclay

The Husband's Secret by Liane Moriarty

Emotional Geology by Linda Gillard 
(reading this one at the moment, keeping my thoughts about Scotland alive!)


Lots of reviews to catch up on. Back soon!

20 comments:

  1. I'm a bit jealous. We're always hampered by term-times so, although I've been to Scotland lots of time, I've never been in Autumn. It looks wonderful.

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    1. This is only our second time in the Highlands and it made us long for more! I do like the colours at this time, though we are thinking of maybe visiting in Spring in future too. Thanks for commenting Mary.

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  2. I didn't know there was a secondhand bookshop in Kingussie. Hooray! That's on my patch. Well, it's a bit of a haul from the Black Isle but I don't mind trekking around the Highlands.

    So pleased you had a good time. The autumn colours are wonderful, aren't they? I never used to see them on Skye because we always had gales as soon the leaves turned and the trees would be bare in no time.

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    1. Thanks for commenting Linda. I thought of you whilst we were there. We didn't quite get to the Black Isle but maybe next time. The Highlands are so beautiful, we long to visit again soon. The colours are indeed stunning. The bookshop in Kingussie was really well stocked and at bargain prices, I think the fiction paperbacks were all £1 each. I managed to resist purchasing there but I did buy things in the Nairn Bookshop. I can totally understand why you live in this part of the world. It's perfect reading Emotional Geology now, too, as it is taking me back there. Cambridgeshire seems so flat now.

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  3. Lovely photos of your trip.
    We stayed in Nairn a couple of years ago.
    We had good weather, too for April.

    I only saw one field with the Highland Cows. I expected them to be everywhere!

    carol x

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    1. Thanks Carol. Lovely to hear you stayed in this area too. It was pretty good weather we thought for October overall. We saw them a few times, these ones I photographed were in a field in the place we stayed in. x

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  4. Great scenery and fantastic reading - it really doesn't get any better.

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    1. Exactly right Tracy, a lovely combination.

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  5. Great pictures! I particularly love the rainbow.

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    1. Thanks for commenting, glad you liked them. We saw some amazing rainbows during our stay.

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  6. Thanks for sharing your photos. Makes me realise how much I could do with a break. Always hard to come back when it's that good though!

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  7. You have just enjoyed my idea of THE perfect holiday, books, a little dog and nature - perfect! Thank you for sharing so many lovely photos.
    Barbara
    marchhousebookscom.blogspot.co.uk/

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  8. Beautiful photos... thanks for sharing!

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  9. Beautiful photographs of Scotland! I love the deer.
    Happy reading!

    Juliet

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  10. Lins, sounds like you spirits have been uplifted and you've come back refreshed.

    Loved the photo journey :)

    Happy Reading.
    Shaz
    x

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  11. Amazing photos! Your pooch is gorgeous :) I hope you've had a lovely break, sometimes some fresh air, books and wildlife is just what you need.

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  12. Really enjoyed your photos, It looks like you had a wonderful time : )

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  13. It sounds a great holiday was had. Lovely photos, thanks for sharing x

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