Don't buy books, they're free from the library

Today I will do a book review.....before I have even read the books, ha ha. Bit different, eh! Yesterday the mobile library came as it does every Monday. It parks across the road on the Medical Centre car park, so not far to walk. It comes twice, first session 10.45am to 12.45pm, then again in the afternoon 3pm to 5pm. It also goes to some of the other surrounding villages. We are lucky that all this is free, well almost, I am sure a very small portion of my council tax goes towards paying for this service.

I thought you might be interested in why I have chosen these particular books, and because I haven't thought of another topic to post, this will fill the space nicely. So, what floats my boat, what am I interested in, and the reasons why I chose these books. 

HERE'S ONE I WROTE EARLIER, by Peter Purves, the autobiography. I remember him as a presenter on the TV programme Blue Peter, and his close association with the show's dog called Shep. I loved that programme. I see he was brought up in Blackpool, so that will be interesting as I lived in Blackpool for three years in my late teens. He is widely known as a presenter at Crufts, the national dog show, so there will be lots of doggy stories to read in this book.

REMEMBERING THE HIGH STREET, a nostalgic look at famous names, by Gordon Thorburn. I spent my early working life on the High Street, first at a leather shop, then Woolworths, and next at a smaller grocery store called Melias. My dad always wanted me to be a window dresser, at the time I didn't think I would be good enough so didn't push myself forward. It will be interesting to see how the High Street has changed. There are some old shop fronts in the Streetlife Museum in Hull, I love looking at them.  

BITS OF ME ARE FALLING APART, by William Leith. I skimmed through this in the library and it struck me that the writing style was very similar to John's, of Dont Unplug Your Hub blog. Easy reading, thought provoking, with a smattering of humour. It's about a middle aged man who is trying to put his life back together after a marriage breakup, when all around him the rest of the world is falling apart. Leith examines the ageing process in humans, and everything else as well, from the universe to the banking system. Should be a glorious mish mash of thought provoking ideas. 

REDUCING YOUR RISK OF DEMENTIA, by Dr Tom Smith. I am interested in any books which might point me in the right direction to living a healthy lifestyle. Dr Tom writes the medical column in The Guardian every Saturday, and has written several other books on medical matters. His style is easy reading and he doesn't blind you with science, he offers a good dollop of common sense. Chapters six through to nine deals with the dementia provokers of smoking, alcohol, high blood pressure, and cholesterol risk. He says that while we can't rely on lifestyle changes as a way of preventing dementia, the good news is that if we do our best, we will almost certainly delay it's onset and slow it's progress. 

A LUCKY CHILD, by  Thomas Buergenthal. A memoir of surviving Auschwitz as a young boy. I think this book will make me cry. When I was a little girl my mother told me stories of how it was in Hamburg in the war, how she lost her home through bombing. The stories are now becoming a little vague as I struggle to remember all she told me. I wish she was still here to tell me more. Thomas Buergenthal is a former judge of the International Court of Justice. You can find out more about him here. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Buergenthal

RAINING CATS AND DONKEYS, by Doreen Tovey. A bit of light hearted reading here. Doreen has written many books about her life in a 250 year old cottage in Somerset, mostly about all the animals she has adopted. Looking forward to being entertained, perfect for bed time reading.

I have untill the 12th of November to read all these, phew, don't know where to start. Toodle pip.