Wednesday, July 24, 2013

The best of books..........................


Today I will open this book.
I'll make a nice cup of tea, perhaps nibble an English 
chocolate biscuit (I have some squirreled away, naughty I know), 
grab a Summer-weight throw for my bare legs, and 
snuggle into the love seat tucked into the bedroom window bay. 
It's my favorite place to read, with bright natural light, 
and butterflies and bumble bees outside in the buddleia bush
which brushes against the glass in the Summer breeze. 
I'll commence reading this acclaimed first novel.
It's a very special book because of the way I acquired it.


The card above is an aerial photo of the city of Bath in England. It was enclosed with the book, along with a delightful silk bookmark. There is a special bookshop in historic Bath, Mr. B's Emporium of Reading Delights where recently author Tan Twan Eng was reading from his first book, The Gift Of Rain. 

My copy was inscribed by him and then mailed across the pond to me, arriving last week with a ring of the doorbell.
There is now a second novel, The Garden Of Evenings Mists, which again received accolades, and already I have it on my wish list.


 And who is Ruth you may be wondering? A kind and 
generous lady, originally from Germany, who lives 
in Wiltshire, England. 
Ruth started e-mailing me after reading about my visit to La Maison Bleu in Penang, Malaysia last year
She had already read Mr. Eng's first novel where the house is mentioned and went online to learn more about it. My blog post popped up, she enjoyed my photos from Penang, and has continued reading my blog ever since and 'traveling' with me.
Ruth insisted on gifting me with the book, not even allowing me to pay the postage. Her kind words were "I was in search of photos of La Maison Bleu and I found the world". What a lovely thing to say. Comments such as this make blogging so worthwhile. 


So dear Ruth, again I must thank you for my gift. 
I'm truly excited about reading the story and thankful 
for your friendship. Hopefully Ruth and I will meet 
in person when I next visit my home in England.

The beautiful beaded necklace? From my dear friend Patti in Washington State whom I visited recently. 
Just thought they looked perfect here, rather like cooling raindrops.
What are you reading this week? 


11 comments:

  1. Sounds interesting - and what a beautiful necklace! BTW, I love that header collage!

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  2. Oh honey, I want to read something besides Design magazines and gardening books !
    Enjoy your reading time, besos, C

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  3. Mary, that is such a sweet gift and a wonderful follower of your blog to send it to you. What type of book is this? I'm not reading much lately it seems but I do have a novel on the go. However, when I sit down to read it I only get a page or two in before nodding off. Enjoy the book! Hugs, Pamela

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  4. All of those connections are so precious and lovely - heartwarming, and it would never have happened if you didn't blog. People who don't blog do not have a clue about what they are missing.
    Did you enjoy The Pilgrimage of Harold Fry? Rachel Joyce's next book "Perfect" has just been published so I am off to get that.

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  5. Oh, what a lovely gesture. Please let us know how you like the book. I am always in the lookout for really good books to read.

    Marie

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  6. Such nice gifts. I love finding unexpected notes and gifts deliver to my door. Enjoy your book and give us a review. Bonnie

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  7. What a wonderful gift to receive Mary. Your reading spot sounds perfect too.

    I am reading several Mediterranean cookbooks.

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  8. What lovely, thoughtful gifts.
    I finished Paris and am almost finished A Week in Winter by Maeve Binchy. I am so glad I decided to read Maeve Binchy's book, as it her last, as she passed away after she finished the book.

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  9. That may be one of the coolest stories about meeting our online friends yet! I thought I had neat experiences but this one trumps even mine!!! The fact that she found you while searching for something else, loved your stories and travels and hs become a good friend??? Doesn't get much better than that!! I treasure my online friends...I've traveled far and wide to meet them in real life and have never been disappointed! Crazy world we live in now, eh??? Love love love the fact that she sent you an original autographed copy of book. Too cool!

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  10. Guess who is reading The Garden of the Evening Mists?

    Sft x

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    1. OMG - are you really? Do you like it? Have you read this one too?
      I've read the first two chapters and so far I love it - his writing is beautiful and I'm already drawn into the story.

      Happy reading time - happy day Julie.
      Mary X

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