Reading Tastes that Change Daily

It's been a short while - I've been busy working mainly - creating at my desk while the sun has shone and tried to lure me away. Well actually it doesn't have to try too hard, I'm usually in the garden by 3 o'clock each day. Although we have had one awful day weather wise - it was almost dark during the daytime, like mid winter. But I'm not one to complain, I am a winter weather type of girl - love the jeans and jumpers, the coming home to a cosy house after a brisk walk in the

cold wind, and lovely evenings snuggled up under blankets with a hot water bottle - yes that's very me. I had a slight blip in my work life lately - trusting someone a little too much, my own fault, I should know better - so I've been trying to catch up really. It's been a whirlwind of creating beads and pendants with some reading and housework in between.

I've got such varying taste in books, which also changes on a daily basis, depending on my mood and what I'm currently doing or interested in. On my coffee table in front of me now is a pile of books - one on self sufficiency, one on thrifty living, a british cookbook and one on car free living - all library books and all seem pretty good. I always find myself reading up on whatever takes my fancy that week - such as this week I've been in the garden planting lettuces and beetroot, so here I am reading 'Sufficient' by Tom Petherick. I find myself drawn to novels about readers or writers, simply because I love to read myself. If I am particularly stressed I will find myself in the self help section in the library - really you could tell what's happening in my life by my book pile!

I've finished a couple of good novels this last couple of weeks - 'The Island' by Victoria Hislop and 'After Dark' by Haruki Murakami. I found 'The Island' an easy read, although the subject matter seemed rather stressful it was dealt with in an almost comforting way by the author. Lovely images of a Greek island, a way of life depicted in her words portraying a strong sense community, a continual thread of leprosy and death throughout was somehow lightened by the warm descriptions of everyday lives of the families. The book didn't become too deep or dwell upon one person too much, there were a variety of interesting characters intertwined within the writing that made this a constant delight to return to - I look forward to reading another by Ms Hislop.

'After Dark' also kept me entertained although I felt duped by a very unfinished finish. The writer leads us into scenes of almost paranormal happenings that aren't explained, tv screens that are switched on when uplugged, reflections remaining in mirrors after the person has walked away. The whole novel takes place over one night with about four main characters. I enjoyed the actual events of the night and the conversation, however, there were no satisfactory conclusions to any of the events - I felt cheated. I'd been drawn all that way for nothing, no reward, no clever answers...............but then maybe I'm missing something more, do let me know if you have the answers please.