Book Chat #19

A new look

Hello reading friends

You might notice that this newsletter looks a bit different to the previous ones. I’m using a new platform called Substack, which was designed specifically for writers.

I moved here because I like the idea of being in the company of other writers and I also want to build my own little community and my old platform couldn’t really support that. This platform enables you to makes comments so I’m hoping you will chip in with your own reading recommendations, or just say hi. No pressure of course!

I’ve moved the previous newsletters here too, so if you’re looking for a recipe or have forgotten the title of a book, you’ll find them in the archive.

I’m hoping this will be my home from now on, so thanks for joining me here.

What I’ve been reading

Last week I read the the new Sally Hepworth book The Younger Wife. It’s about two sisters who are furious when they find out that their father is going to marry his new girlfriend who is roughly their age.

Their mother lives in a care facility with end-stage Alzheimer’s disease, and doesn’t really know what’s going on, but they are outraged on her behalf. The new wife has issues of her own and is struggling to fit in with her new family.

Everyone has secrets.

This was a quick read and I enjoyed it but thought the ending was a bit frustrating. I much preferred her previous book, The Good Sister which was a more satisfying read. It was also largely set in a library so it got my vote for that reason as well. Both books would make great holiday reads.

What I’ve been writing

Writing for children is often regarded as easier than writing for adults, but if anything, it takes more skill. It’s a bit like writing poetry. I wrote a piece about it here.

I also wrote this piece on reading story books.

What I’ve been cooking

My eldest daughter had a birthday last weekend so I made her a mini birthday cake. I had to take in the car on quite a hot day, so I packed it in a chiller bag with an ice brick and it survived the journey quite well. Here’s the recipe for this orange and almond cake. It’s very easy and the flour can be substituted for gluten free.

That’s all for now!

Thanks for reading and if you like this newsletter, please share it with a reading friend.

Warm wishes

Marg xxx