Read a Book

Read a Book

Hi there.
Thanks for popping in.
Friday’s blog a private peek, right?
Wall plaques. They always draw me in.
I have to cross the street and find out who resided there…
round the corner from marylebone train station

You know this property was for the well-to-do back in the day.
Still is, I’m sure! Shame about the metal grid on the windows.
Sign of the times?
So who do you think lived in a house like this?
Ahhh. The Razor’s Edge

W. Somerset Maugham.
I have just googled him. 
Spent 10 minutes educating myself on this man.
It’s amazing what Life can throw at people, isn’t it.
He may have been from good stock, so food on the table never an issue, but by God. What a turbulent childhood! Poor bloke.
If you have time, read up on him. His story will give you gratitude. 

But back to the plaque.
“To acquire a habit for reading
is to construct for yourself
a refuge from almost all the miseries of Life.”
Thus spake the voice of experience. 
When I read his words on the plaque in London, I immediately thought he evidently had had trauma in his life. 
I won’t regurgitate his life to you – it’s not my story to tell.
But whether you read his works or his life story, it too will give you that respite from what ican so often be a sad or harsh reality. 
Love & Hugs,
Barb
xxx

24 thoughts on “Read a Book

  1. Hope you are feeling better today, Barbara. You were clearly upset yesterday. I didn't see the post which caused you so much hurt but I can hazard a guess at the sort of bilge it contained. Rest assured you have lots and lots of very loyal fans who will be hurting with you. We hate it when you get upset. Keep smiling, you are doing g a fantastic job, and don't let the few spoil it for you. X

  2. Somerset Maugham was reputed to have resided and composed in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei in a ‘planter’s’ house which over-looked the Brunei river. During the time I spent teaching in Brunei, the house was now the club house of The Royal Brunei Yacht Club, of which I was a member as it was the social hub for ex-pats. On my last visit there in 2003, it had become a museum. Wonder if it’s still standing as it was a typical wooden structure on stilts and suffered constantly and terribly from termites. Thank you for bringing back memories of these halcyon days. ;~}

  3. Hi Barbara, hope you have let go of the comments yesterday. The lady in question did have a right to an opinion, but maybe she should’ve kept it to herself. So in the words of the Frozen song
    “Let it go”. See you in March at the NEC. Love Zena xxx

  4. I like to read plaques like those too – most interesting usually. I wonder if you watched "A house through time"? – a fascinating insight into the history of one house throughout history. Watch it on catch up if you didn't see it – think it is right up your street. Today will be a better day!! 😉😉

  5. Couldn't agree more, I love reading and always have. Comes from my mum, love that sharing and chatting about a good book. I love that books can transport you out of the everyday and into the world of the characters, they can make you laugh, make you cry and sometimes they stay with you forever. I often re-read a book, especially in between starting a new one. Xx

  6. He is not an author I have come into contact with,so I ought to try. I would be totally lost without books, of all sorts. As a child, I would take six books out of our excellent library at least twice a week. Can I recommend another author to anyone who fancies it? He is one that Shelagh Metselaar mentioned yesterday, Charles Kingsley wrote about some of the awful conditions current in his era, particularly the dreadful way young children were treated, but it is not a miserable book in any way, and gives great emphasis to values that need to be given more weight in these days of social media. Its illustrations are pretty special too. My one little granddaughter is definitely a real bookworm and will read anything, even big thick books. To me,as an only child, my books were my most treasured companions and still are. I would love to hear what other books everyone on here prefers to read. xxx Maggie

  7. I love a good book, and have done since I was a little girl. Now I belong to a book group at the library, which really makes you read things you might not normally choose for yourself. x

  8. Since I retired I have been determined to read more and now read everyday. Sometimes it's a lighthearted novel, or a murder mystery, or an autobiography. I like to get absorbed in a good story.. It makes you use your imagination and that opens up so much creativity.
    I'll look up Somerset Maugham and see where that leads me!
    Love and hugs! Xxx

  9. Reading is my favourite pastime. I buy books all the time as I get withdrawal symptoms if I haven’t got anything to read. Our local library has an app called BorrowBox and I can download books to my iPad. Great for reading in bed as I don’t have my husband saying put the light out. My preference at the moment is crime novels, Anne Cleeves is a favourite and Linda La Plante. As a child I used to go to the library every week and worried about what would happen if I read all the books and there would be nothing for me to read!! xx

  10. Hope you are feeling better today Barbara. It's a shame some people don't stop to think how their words can hurt. I love to read and always have a book on the go. As an only child books were very important to me. You just can't beat a good book especially when accompanied by a bar of chocolate!!!!!
    Gayle x

  11. Like you Barbara, if I see a plaque on a building I have to find out if it is someone really famous and you found a really good one. I don't know much about Somerset Maugham but will look him up and find out more. I love reading and as a child would read all the time. I still read but not as much as I used to now I have hobbies which take up quite a lot of my time…lol. At the moment I am reading a crime thriller by Jo Nesbo, something a bit different for me as it is a bit graphic, but he is a good writer. Thanks for this interesting private peek. x

  12. Hi Barbara
    I like to stop and read the blue plaques too, I often walk away thinking, well I never knew that! I'm off to do a bit of research now. Sorry to hear you had unpleasantness yesterday, not what you need at any time but certainly not at the end of a lovely week with Grace.
    Love Diane xxxx

  13. Good morning Barbara. I am just catching up on your posts, as I have been away visiting family. First of all, I am so excited for you, having found the perfect dresses for you and Grace and it must have been such a special trip for you.
    How sad then, to read your post about the nastiness. I refuse to take part in any social media just for this reason, although many people tell me that I am missing out. I am just not strong enough to deal with the sort of hurt trolls can cause and so I choose not to get involved. I really dread to think what my young grandchildren will have to cope with as they grow up.
    You have so much support and respect from all your blog family and many others in the Clarity and craft world, so these nasty people should look to themselves before they criticise you.
    Have a great weekend. Sending a hug. Annette x

  14. Hello Barb, just catching up on all your posts and others from this week, as have been away for work. I do the same thing, if I see a blue plaque, I must go look what it says. Thanks for sharing this one with us. Take care all. Bx

  15. I love a good book too. One of the things about the school where I work that is fabulous is that every day for 15 minutes (in a different lesson each week), I get to Drop Everything And Read (DEAR) with the pupils that I have that lesson. We are aiming to read 350 000 000 words between us (pupils and staff) before the end of the school year which would be a record for a school of our size. I'm nearly on my second million but we have a pupil in Y5 (Middle School) who has already read 3 000 000 since joining us in September!

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