Meanderings about recipes, books, craft and more
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In reply to <a href="https://piningforthewest.co.uk/2025/03/11/the-women-by-kristin-hannah/comment-page-1/#comment-37773">Susan D</a>. Susan D, I hope you enjoy it - when you get a hold of it! Mind you it's a bit grim at times, but that's war for you.
13.3.2025 20:52Comment on The Women by Kristin Hannah by KatrinaReading this review, I thought of Home Before Morning, which I read a million years ago. And sure enough, there's a connection. So I've reserved it at the library, #815 in line. Thanks for blogging about it.
13.3.2025 17:58Comment on The Women by Kristin Hannah by Susan DIn reply to <a href="https://piningforthewest.co.uk/2025/03/11/the-women-by-kristin-hannah/comment-page-1/#comment-37752">Bonnie Shaljean</a>. Bonnie Shaljean, I'm so glad you're enjoying 'Pining', but as a Scot I'm a bit worried about your credit card bill! I try to borrow as many books as I can from the library, I'm trying to keep their stats up as the local council has closed so many of them already. I think my reading taste is best described as being eclectic, from classics to Edwardian children's books and everything in between. It just depends on my mood. Amazingly I don't remember hearing about Kristin Hannah until very recently when two of my blogpals mentioned they had been reading The Women. My parents and all their siblings were involved in WW2, so I got war stories from them as a child instead of fairy tales! My father-in-law was at Dunkirk and was lucky to get off the beach and back to blighty, if he hadn't my husband would never have been born. Others were in Singapore/Japan, Egypt, 'the jungle?!', Europe, Palestine until 1948, they certainly got about. I must say though that it was my mother who told the stories because the men rarely mentioned any experiences they had. I'll have a look for the books you mention. Thanks for taking the time to comment. Katrina
12.3.2025 20:50Comment on The Women by Kristin Hannah by KatrinaThanks so much for this review! I hadn't heard of this author (believe it or not) but immediately after seeing it, bought this and The Nightingale. What wars do to people on or returning to the home front is a subject of endless fascination to me. I am American, and old enough to remember the Nam years, and what it did to my generation, our brothers and boyfriends. My father and stepfather both saw combat in World War Two, which left permanent scars, physical and mental. Stepdad seems to rarely have enjoyed a peaceful night's sleep ever afterward. The ordeal of the nurses in Nam is not a new subject to me, having read many firsthand accounts - Home Before Morning by Lynda Van Devanter is probably the best known; also American Daughter Gone to War by Winnie Smith, among many many others. I love your blog for all the new titles it introduces me to - like Forrest Gump's box of chocolates, you never know what you're going to get! (Not very good for my credit card bill, though.) Many thanks for everything.
12.3.2025 11:17Comment on The Women by Kristin Hannah by Bonnie ShaljeanThe Women by Kristin Hannah was first published in the UK in 2024. The book begins in California’s Coronado Island where Frances (Frankie) McGrath and her brother Finley have had an idyllic sheltered childhood. Their father hadn’t been able … Continue reading
11.3.2025 22:51The Women by Kristin HannahIn reply to <a href="https://piningforthewest.co.uk/2010/08/15/coffee-cream/comment-page-1/#comment-37735">David Griffiths</a>. Hi David, If you click this link https://piningforthewest.co.uk/2010/08/15/coffee-cream/ it should take you to the recipe. I did this so long ago in 2010 and for some reason the photo I put on has the blogpost has disappeared. I hope you have success and enjoy it! It's under coffee cream but to me tastes very similar to the walnut and coffee Symington's table cream. Katrina
11.3.2025 21:09Comment on Coffee Cream by KatrinaHi all! I just read through this thread again and my mouth is watering. Could you lost the final final maple and walnut recipe here one more time please?
11.3.2025 21:01Comment on Coffee Cream by David GriffithsIn reply to <a href="https://piningforthewest.co.uk/2025/03/03/they-were-sisters-by-dorothy-whipple/comment-page-1/#comment-37661">Joan Kyler</a>. Joan, I think I've only read three of her books, but like you I've enjoyed them all.
7.3.2025 20:52Comment on They Were Sisters by Dorothy Whipple by KatrinaI think I've read most of Whipple's books and enjoyed them all.
7.3.2025 17:02Comment on They Were Sisters by Dorothy Whipple by Joan KylerIn reply to <a href="https://piningforthewest.co.uk/2024/05/02/the-chalet-school-in-exile-by-elinor-m-brent-dyer/comment-page-1/#comment-37609">Thata</a>. Thata, I've read about a dozen of the Chalet School books, mainly the earlier ones, I don't think I'll read the post war books. Your school subjects sound very similar to my own although we were taught Scottish country dancing, and just normal UK recipes. I really prefer Dorita Fairlie Bruce's school days books. Thanks for dropping by. Katrina
6.3.2025 19:25Comment on The Chalet School in Exile by Elinor M. Brent-Dyer by KatrinaHeya. In order to find out more about school life read the novels. I started reading the books at only five years old on one day. Each single week in a literature lesson in question the storybooks were discussed in great detail. From time to time additional research was done to find out who the author was. Best wishes. As a entire class we explored the key central themes of the books as well. A small extra number of mini summary notes were made. Quizzes were completed. Other classic fun activities included making mini mind maps and predictions. We also took part in many different hot seat interviews and lively games too. Lessons certainly were varied. Tasks covered many different skills and qualities. We created poems. Alternatively we had fun doing art and craft activities like making free word puzzles or personalised mini bookmarks to use. In dance lessons we studied folk dances and tried out European dances. We also sketched chalets in our art lessons. In our weekly language skill classes we decided to recite songs and learn five new words. Mind maps were used to explain key themes. In the cookery lessons we made apple pies and cooked French food. We also discovered a entire new fictional world. In terms of games lessons the focus was primarily on staying fit and healthy. We studied a number of cool table sports. For example we played timed games of table tennis and table football. Culture was discussed. We did baking. We also learnt fun games like table cricket and handball. Other sports included mini lacrosse and gym skills. In addition we learnt about the events that make up the novels. In the cookery lessons we also prepared other dishes like slices of Xmas cake and took extra food to a food bank. We also explored the main topics that are related to European culture. In the weekly music lessons we studied both the guitar and the recorder. Some of us took up the flute.
5.3.2025 22:39Comment on The Chalet School in Exile by Elinor M. Brent-Dyer by ThataThe Resurrectionist by A. Rae Dunlap was published in 2025 and it’s the author’s debut novel. I borrowed it from the library. The setting is Edinburgh 1828 where the professors at Edinburgh University, and various others were busy conducting experiments … Continue reading
5.3.2025 22:00The Resurrectionist by A. Rae DunlapThey Were Sisters by Dorothy Whipple was first published in 1943, but my copy dates from 1946 and was published by John Murray. In recent years it has been reprinted by Persephone Books, their blurb is very succinct: Three sisters … Continue reading
3.3.2025 21:18They Were Sisters by Dorothy WhippleThe Lost Words by Robert Macfarlane won the Kate Greenaway Medal in 2019. The Lost Words is a beautiful book with really sumptuous illustrations by Jackie Morris. It’s described as being a spellbook to conjure back the lost words of … Continue reading
1.3.2025 23:32The Lost Words by Robert Macfarlane, illustrated by Jackie MorrisDust off your virtual walking boots if you fancy coming with me on a wee walk. It was cold this afternoon but the sun was shining so we decided to take a walk in the afternoon, it has been months … Continue reading
27.2.2025 23:00A walk in the woods – in FifeDeath at the Sign of the Rook by Kate Atkinson was published in 2024 by Penguin Randow House. I borrowed it from the library. It’s the latest in the Jackson Brodie series. Ex-police detective Jackson Brodie has been hired to … Continue reading
26.2.2025 00:00Death at the Sign of the Rook by Kate AtkinsonI bought a copy of Candy Floss by Rumer Godden when I went to the book fair at Tynemouth in Northumberland back in the Autumn. The book was published in 1959. I have most of Rumor Godden’s books so I … Continue reading
23.2.2025 23:33Candy Floss by Rumer GoddenThe Keelie Hawk, Poems in Scots by Kathleen Jamie was published in 2024. Kathleen Jamie became Scotland’s fourth Makar in 2021 until December 2024. The Keelie Hawk (Kestrel) is a fairly slim volume, as books of poetry tend to be. … Continue reading
21.2.2025 23:09The Keelie Hawk – Poems in Scots – by Kathleen JamieThe Deal of a Lifetime by Fredrik Backman was first published in Sweden in 2016 by Helsingborgs Dagblad. It was translated into English by Alice Menzies and published by Michael Joseph. This is a beautifully produced little book with just … Continue reading
18.2.2025 23:01The Deal of a Lifetime by Fredrik BackmanThe House by the Sea by Jon Godden was first published by Michael Joseph in 1947, according to the front of my copy of the book but Wiki claims it was published in 1948. The setting is Cornwall towards … Continue reading
17.2.2025 22:40The House by the Sea by Jon Godden