For many, many years, I always had a book in my handbag. I referred to it as my handbag book (I’m quite literal) and it was usually a small paperback and I would read it in queues or other unexpected moments in my day when I had to wait. I never found the episodic nature of this reading unsatisfactory and I was quite happy with my handbag book.
Then in 2011, I got my first smartphone. So light. So entertaining. I abandoned the handbag book and so it was for many years. But then the smartphone got a bit all consuming and gradually I deleted all the entertaining apps. So, I found myself recently going on to online banking for entertainment in a queue (insert your own joke here) and I decided that it was time to reinstate the handbag book. I am pleased with the result.
If there is a moral to this story
, I am unsure what it is.
I used to have a handbag book. I miss it. Maybe I should start deleting those apps?
I recommend it!
I bought one the other week in a charity shop because of its size, perfect for on the go and cheaper than a magazine for a train journey. Smaller than a regular paperback.
The Widow Couderc by Simenon. It doesn’t lend itself to sporadic reading though.
But perfect for the train!
At school I always took a book to read between lessons, I have always loved reading. The problem was the school library only opened for half an hour after lunch, so if I had not finished the book I might run out before the next chance came.
If shopping with the wife I have been known to spend an hour or so reading the fishing magazines. Luckily Bath still has some good bookshops.
The 1970s had brilliant thriller writers, Emma Lathen / RBDominic, yes I know they were two pen names for a pair of American academics , golden age thrillers, John Buchan, Desmond Bagley, Alastair Maclean, Ngiao Marsh, Helen Macinnes….I used to revisit them when staying on holiday in Scottish cottages. Then Covid came along and anything as dangerous as an old paperback was consigned to the bin. I did stay at an old and and very unreconstructed fishing lodge a coup,e of years ago and found a bookshelf stuffed with them. It was like coming home, although the fishing suffered a bit.
Charles
Me too on the book between lessons! Your Scottish holiday sounds lovely, even if the fishing did suffer.