vivdunstan: Photo of some of my books (books)
Kindle books anyway. I also have library books on loan, plus other books ongoing in the house. I mainly read ebooks now because of huge problems reading print due to a progressive neurological disease. Gargantuan fonts on my Kindle keep me reading for extended periods.

A screenshot of a Kindle Paperwhite - black and white / greyscale - showing 2 rows of 3 book covers. At the top are "City of Vengeance: introducing Cesare Aldo" by D.V. Bishop (with an image of Renaissance Florence); "Forgotten Churches: Exploring England's Hidden Treasures" by Luke Sherlock (with a cover image drawing looking down at an old church surrounded by gravestones); and "The Haunted Trail: Classic Tales of the Rambling Weird" edited by Weird Walk for the British Library "Tales of the Weird" collection (image of a spooky path in the countryside leading to a disturbing looking group of trees). At the bottom are "Is It My ADHD? Navigating Life as a Neurodivergent Adult" by Grace Timothy (image of a squirrel, looking distracted by lots of nuts); George Mackay Brown's "Beside the Ocean of Time" (image of a turbulent sea beside high cliffs); and "The Complete Sherlock Holmes" anthology by Arthur Conan Doyle (Sherlockian imagery, including a magnifying glass, and Holmes spoking a pipe while wearing a deerstalker).
vivdunstan: Part of own photo taken in local university botanic gardens. Tree trunks rise atmospherically, throwing shadows from the sun on the ground. (Default)
Bit shocked how wobbly I am now, and how dangerous it felt today going upstairs in Waterstones to the cafe - it felt as though I was about to fall on the stairs several times. Martin was coming up behind me. But overjoyed to have managed a rare midweek afternoon outing with him, during the summer too. For once I was awake enough during the day, and he was free - still using up holidays urgently before August. Really pleased how far I managed to walk into the Dundee University Botanic Gardens, even if it was very slowly with two sticks, and I sat down an awful lot! So nice to be sitting out among the plants and trees. I had fun sketching in various places in the garden. Martin was all over photographing plants, birds (especially that jay he was over the moon to see) and butterflies. We couldn't park near enough to Vintage Strings music shop on Perth Road to nip in, so headed to Waterstones instead. Where I was able to look at and buy one book I'd really fancied. And bought another I have been tempted with for a year or two. Getting to the cafe upstairs was extremely hazardous for me today, but we had a lovely sit down and drink/eat there. Then home. I will be very wobbly tonight and probably tomorrow too. But it was absolutely worth it. Oh and while out we also returned a library book that we'd not got back to the university library before today. Again I sat sketching while Martin scooted off to the library with my book.

The pictures show (1) a birder in action in the Botanic Gardens, (2) one of his jay photos (we are so pleased with these!), and (3) my book haul from Waterstones.





vivdunstan: Photo of some of my books (books)
Finished loads more books, and just wrapped up my 50th book of the year. I'd set a very modest Goodreads reading goal of 25 books this year. I knew I was intending to read a lot of lengthy books. But I've more than doubled it.

Among the new books, Steeple Chasing was a fun glimpse into church architecture, history and people. Though probably overlong. It did feel like a slog after a while.

Of course I reread Roger Zelazny's Halloween delight! And enjoyed it as much as every year.

Clanlands, by two Outlander actors (one also a hobbit) was fun, and often really insightful into Scottish history. But overly blokey for me.

Mario's Butt was an entertaining perspective on video game characters and design. Though an easier read for those games I was familiar with, having played myself, or watched Martin play.

The Insomniacs After School manga series continues to be enchanting. I already have the next two volumes in hand, ready to continue reading.

Travis Baldree's followup (well more a prequel) to Legends & Lattes was fun, but didn't quite hit the high spots of his earlier book. But a charming fantasy setting, with added bookshop content.

    earlier books... )
  1. Steeple Chasing: Around Britain by Church by Peter Ross
  2. A Night in the Lonesome October by Roger Zelazny
  3. Clanlands: Whisky, Warfare, and a Scottish Adventure Like No Other by Sam Heughan and Graham McTavish
  4. Things I Learned from Mario's Butt by Laura Kate Dale
  5. Insomniacs After School (manga) volume 4 by Makoto Ojiro
  6. Bookshops & Bonedust by Travis Baldree
vivdunstan: Photo of some of my books (books)
The books I'm currently reading. A mix of fiction (historical and fantasy), history, architecture/religion, Tolkien and space/astronomy.

Two rows of three books each: Queen Macbeth by Val McDermid, A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab, Clanlands by Sam Heughan and Graham McTavish, Steeple Chasing by Peter Ross, Adapting Tolkien essays, and Chasing New Horizons by Alan Stern and David Grinspoon

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vivdunstan: Part of own photo taken in local university botanic gardens. Tree trunks rise atmospherically, throwing shadows from the sun on the ground. (Default)
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