Inspired by books

 

Squirrel mania!

As children, my sister and I had a lot of the Beatrix Potter books and two stick out as being my favourites - Mrs Tiggywinkle and The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin. I definitely think these two stories inspired my love of squirrels and hedgehogs.

As a sixth former studying geography I went on a field trip to the Lake District and on one day we did climb Cat Bells which appears in many of the backgrounds of Potter's books. We sadly didn't go to any  Beatrix Potter specific locations (and yes even at 17 I was pretty upset we didn't do anything kidlit related - no hunting Swallows and Amazons, or playing Picts and Martyrs either!).

Just recently however I did get to go to Brownsea Island in Dorset to see the wild red squirrels there - and it was wonderful. I didn't want to get my hopes up too high in advance of our trip as you can never predict wild animals but within seconds of being in the woodland we were seeing red squirrels foraging, eating, hiding nuts for the winter and just playing. The were so comical and so much more delicate than the grey squirrels we see daily.

Since getting home again I've re-read Squirrel Nutkin and I am slightly bemused as to why it was my favourite Beatrix Potter story as it is decidedly odd and a little bit cruel. I can only assume that it was the pictures that I liked rather than the riddles. Or perhaps it was Nutkin's rebellious streak... After watching the busy squirrels on Brownsea it becomes clear that Potter definitely spent time watching squirrels before writing and illustrating the book as their mannerisms in real life matched the book wonderfully.

None of the squirrels we saw had parts of their tail missing so I can only surmise that subsequent generations have learned from Nutkin and either bring peace offerings to any owls on Brownsea, or as is more likely - avoid them entirely!

Micro Review 31

 

The Book  Lover's Bucket List by Caroline Taggart (British Library Publishing)

Library book

This book for me is a cautionary tale in reviewing, as at first pass of this one I was a bit disappointed in it. However since those first thoughts the book has stuck with me and new thoughts keep rising to the surface and I think that my first response was too harsh.

A literary tour of Great Britain in just 100 locations is of course going to miss out lots of authors and locations, and as is so often the way in the publishing world the book is going to be quite London centric. 

The information within each entry is quirky, informative and interesting and that I was upset my favourite authors and locations weren't included is a fault with me and not the book! 

I also think that I am spoiled by living in Norfolk, a county that is very proud of its authors and literary locations - there's a whole website dedicated to them after all!

The book has definitely added some interesting places and authors to my own bucket lists and there's certainly some places in London that I now look forward to visiting.

This book has made me think what locations would appear in a Norfolkbookworm's Bucket List, and how I would structure it differently - who knows if we end up in another COVID lockdown this might become my pandemic project...

I'm glad I didn't write this review on finishing the book, and I think that I'd be even more generous with my thoughts if it was called A Book Lover's Bucket List rather than The Book Lover's Bucket List!

Literary locations

 Exploring the locations of a favourite book.

Last year I read When Marnie Was There by Joan G Robinson on Mr Norfolkbookworm's recommendation.  I don't know how I missed it as a child. I know that I loved Robinson's other creation, Teddy Robinson and that I also loved timeslip stories.  All I can think is that I picked it up at the wrong age. Teddy Robinson is definitely aimed at beginner readers whereas the complex plot of Marnie is more suited to those 10+.

Anyhow, it doesn't matter I've discovered the book now and as well as being a top read from 2015 I think it might enter my top books of all time.

Another great thing about the book is that it is set in Norfolk and we can easily get to the village in which it is set. This past weekend there was an added bonus as the Mill, which plays a pivotal role in the plot, was open to the public for the first time in 40 years.

While I really wanted to get to the very top for the views (heights don't bother me) I was defeated by the ladder access. Mr Norfolkbookworm has no fear of ladders but the height was too much for him so sadly we have no views of North Norfolk from the top, but I consoled myself that the plot doesn't revolve around the top floors and so I did walk where the characters had their adventures...

Looking towards Marnie's house

The main village staithe

The channel to the beach

Burnham Overy Mill

With many thanks to the National Trust for opening the Burnham Overy Mill to the public making it possible to fully imagine the whole of the book.