Reading | Books that Embrace the Cold

Photography by Joe McIntyre

There’s no time like January for hunkering down with a book but it’s not all about hiding inside from the winter weather. Here are a few of our suggestions for books that will help you to embrace the winter chill.

The Ice Palace by Tarjei Vessas

In a rural Norwegian community two young girls, Siss and Unn, meet and find they have a connection that neither of them fully understands. When Unn goes missing in the wintry landscape, Siss struggles with her disappearance. A wonderful, wintry story that should be a classic by rights. 

A Woman in the Polar Night by Christiane Ritter

A one-of-a-kind memoir from 1934, when the author accompanied her husband to the Arctic island of Spitzbergen for a year. At first she finds the cold and isolation tough but slowly she begins to fall in love with the wildlife and the wild landscape.

The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe by CS Lewis

A winter classic that you’re never too old to reread. Lose yourself in Narnia, condemned to an eternal winter by the White Witch, and its cast of enchanting characters. 

A Winter Book by Tove Jansson

A collection of beautifully crafted short stories by the Finnish creator of the Moomins. Spanning most of the twentieth century, this is a wonderful book to dip in and out of while the snow is falling outside.

The Turn of the Screw by Henry James

This Gothic novel opens with a storytelling session on Christmas Eve. The action then moves to follow the story of an unnamed governess, trying to protect her charges from evil supernatural beings in the house they share. Chills for chilly days. 

The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey

Jack and Mabel are a childless couple living in 1920s Alaska. One day they build a child out of snow and a fairytale encounter begins…

Miss Smilla’s Feeling for Snow by Peter Hoeg

Set in Copenhagen, this novel follows in flashback Smilla’s relationship with a young boy called Isaiah who is part Greenlandic, as is she. During her own childhood in Greenland she developed an intuitive understanding of the various types of snow, which she used in her adult career as a scientist. Now, in the present day, it will help her to unravel a mystery surrounding Isaiah.

The Winter Ghosts by Kate Mosse

When Freddie’s car is forced off the road in a snowstorm he takes shelter in a tiny village on the edge of the Pyrenees, where he meets Fabrissa. They spend the night talking of love, loss and mourning but when day breaks… she vanishes. And that’s only the beginning of the mystery.

If you’re looking for more inspiration for winter reading, don’t miss our feature, Fireside Yarns, in our January issue, which is in shops now.

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Reading | Fenland Fiction

Mountains and rolling hills are inspiring but there’s something about a flat landscape that’s a bit special. Here are a few books that allow you to immerse yourself in the UK’s flat, low-lying areas and dream under big skies. 

Waterland by Graham Swift

Set in the Fens of eastern England, Waterland follows the story of Tom Crick but also spans 240 years of his family’s history. The flat countryside of the novel is almost the main character in this haunting, watery story. 

Fen by Daisy Johnson

Weird, wonderful and… flat, this collection of short stories takes inspiration from Graham Swift and lover of fairytales, Angela Carter, and celebrates myth, magic and eels. 

Coot Club by Arthur Ransome

Dick and Dorothea head to the Norfolk Broads to learn how to sail with Tom Dudgeon. But Tom has embroiled himself in trouble, having set adrift a motorcruiser moored among his beloved coots’ nests, and belonging to a bit of a rotter. 

The Wild Fens Murder Mystery Series by Jack Cartwright

Detective Inspector Freya Bloom has moved from her London post to a position in rural Lincolnshire, where she doesn’t always fit in with the locals, who are wilder than the fens themselves about Freya’s arrival. 

The Belton Estate by Anthony Trollope

Trollope was not a fan of the Fens but his portrayal of them in one of his lesser-known novels is still a joy to anyone who knows the area. When Belton himself walks to and from Denver Sluice, Trollope remarks drily that “a country walk less picturesque could hardly be found in England.”

Death of an Expert Witness by PD James

One for fans of Inspector Dalgliesh. When a girl’s body is found in a field the lab begins to investigate but soon one of their own is done away with too. Dalgliesh is called to the dark and gloomy Fens to solve the murders. 

Hereward the Wake by Charles Kingsley

The author of The Water Babies also wrote this historical novel based in the then very watery Fenlands, way before they were drained and became the flat lands they are now. This book looks back to a time when the marshes were sodden with myth and magic. If you thought The Water Babies was damp and a bit creepy… think again… 

The Nine Tailors by Dorothy L Sayers

This Lord Peter Wimsey novel is set in the Lincolnshire Fens and the plot revolves around bell ringing… and murder, of course. 

Fen Boy First by Edward Storey

Storey has written movingly about the Cambridgeshire fens where he grew up, largely in poetic form but this memoir is equally beautiful and very evocative of the magical, dramatic flat lands of England. 

Flatland by Edwin Abbot Abbot

Sadly you won’t find Flatland on a map but if you’re a fan of the flat you will love this satirical novella, set in the two-dimensional ‘Flatland’; a commentary on the hierarchy of Victorian culture. 

This blog was inspired by our Outing feature ‘Flat Out’ from our November issue, in which we discover the beauty of this country’s flat landscapes. 

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How To | Get Started with Poetry

If you’ve ever felt like you’d like to read more poetry but weren’t sure where to start, or even fancied penning a few lines yourself, here’s advice on how to begin from Poet Laureate Simon Armitage

Despite it possibly being more accessible than many other forms of writing, being short and easy to dip in and out of, it seems that many of us don’t read much poetry beyond school. Where’s a good place for a poetry newbie to begin? 

“There are some really good anthologies, which are kind of portfolio collections that have lots of different poets writing in lots of different styles. I would probably start with one of those.

“There’s a very good anthology edited by Ted Hughes and Seamus Heaney called The Rattle Bag. 

“Bloodaxe have published a really great series of anthologies known as Staying Alive  that’s also really good [The collections are edited by Neil Astley and include Staying Alive, Being Alive, Being Human and Staying Human]. 

“I also like the anthology Andrew Motion edited when he was Poet Laureate called Here to Eternity. 

“So I’d try any one of them. Anthologies are like samplers really. You get a little bit of everything. If you find something you like, you might be inclined to follow up that point with more of that poet’s work. But I’d also say don't feel bad if you don't get on with a poem. Remember, it might well be the poem’s fault rather than yours.”

How would you encourage someone who has never done so to begin to write poetry themselves?

“I'd encourage them to, to collect words around the subjects they’re interested in first. So make yourself an inventory of words that you can use. Because when you’re writing poetry, there is always a better word; there’s always a word that will do a bit more work or have a better sound, if you can find it.

“Sometimes people come to me and say, ‘I want to write poems, because I've got something to say’. And I always think ‘Oh, no, that's no good’. You know, we've all got something to say. Even if it's just ‘I took the bin out today’. The point is, if you want to be a writer, it's because you want to work with language. You can have something to say as a painter. You can have something to say as a potter, and you can have something to say as a racing car driver, but you've really got to be interested in language to be a poet.” 

You can read more of Simon Armitage’s thoughts in our Wisdom feature in our May issue. Simon’s latest anthology, Blossomise, illustrated by Angela Harding, is available now, too.

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Why We Love | Cosy Crime

When the outside world feels a bit bleak, there’s nothing like escaping into a cosy book and cosy crime is as comforting as it gets

4:50 From Paddington by Agatha Christie (HarperCollins) Crime wouldn’t necessarily be your immediate go-to for a comfort read. But, in their neat solutions to difficult problems, and where a sense of order is reached in a chaotic world, they offer an escape from the messy reality of life. For a gentle whodunit that still offers a satisfying brain tease, Agatha Christie is an excellent choice.

The ‘Miss Marple’ mysteries, featuring Christie’s famous sleuth, have a particularly cosy feel, and 4:50 From Paddington is one of the best. A friend of Miss Marple’s arrives for a visit in a terrible state: on her train from Paddington, she witnessed a woman being strangled in a passing train (this may not sound that comforting, but keep reading!). As no corpse is discovered, the police refuse to investigate, but Miss Marple believes that a crime has been committed. Feeling her age, she asks for help from the young, intelligent Lucy Eyelesbarrow, who wrangles a job as housekeeper at a large country house in the area.

Through their alliance, Miss Marple and Lucy uncover surprising secrets, and arrive at the truth of what happened on that fateful train journey in a particularly satisfying ending.

IF YOU LIKE THIS YOU COULD ALSO TRY: The Unexpected Inheritance Of Inspector Chopra by Vaseem Khan (Mulholland Books). In this Mumbai-based mystery, Inspector Chopra’s retirement is complicated by the arrival of a baby elephant bequeathed to his care and an accidental death that Chopra is convinced is, in fact, murder.

This extract is taken from our feature ‘The Comfort Zone’ from our January issue, with words and photography (above) by Miranda Mills. Turn to page 51 of the issue to rediscover cosy reads from childhood favourites and comic classics to rural escapes and period drams.

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Reading Lists | A summer smorgasbord

Just like you’re meant to ‘build’ a cheeseboard, we reckon there’s a few select kinds of book that add up to a tasty summer reading selection. Our books editor, Eithne Farry recommends these for starters…

Worthy but rewarding

Because coming home feeling a little bit cleverer AND having enjoyed a book you suspected would be hard work is always very satisfying.

Middlemarch by George Eliot (Penguin Classics)

Moving, nuanced and intricately plotted, this is a glorious look at Victorian provincial life and the flawed, but unforgettable characters. A sweeping tale of bad marriages, emotional struggles and intellectual pursuits, it’s a classic for a reason.

More worthy additions: The Pillow Book by Sei Shōnagon (Penguin Classics); Beloved by Toni Morrison, (Vintage)

Cosy crime

When you need a bit of page-turning intrigue but nothing that’ll give holiday nightmares.

The Twyford Code by Janice Hallett (Profile Books)

Red herrings, elegant puzzles, poised prose and engaging characters make for a mystery worth solving as ex-con Steven Smith attempts to unravel the secret code that marks the margins of a children’s book and solve the disappearance of his beloved teacher Miss Isles.

Also making a good case: Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice For Murderers by Jesse Sutano (Harper Collins); Look To The Lady by Margery Allingham (Vintage)

Family fortunes

An epic saga always feels like good value suitcase-space-wise. (A weighty tome makes an excellent fly swat, too.)

Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver (Faber)

Set in the Appalachian mountains, this is a stunning retelling of Dickens’ David Copperfield. A coming-of-age tale, it charts the moving story of charismatic Demon and his embattled family as the opioid crisis wreaks havoc in the lives of their struggling community.

Or make room in the family suitcase for: Memphis by Tara M Stringfellow (John Murray); Pachinko by Min Jin Lee (Bloomsbury)

Fun froth

Easy digestible and diverting, the palate cleanser you’ll want amid more worthy titles.

The List by Yomi Adegoke (Harper Collins)

A smart, savvy take on the dark side of social media as a young couple’s marriage plans are upended when the groom-to-be appears on an anonymous internet list, pitching his fiancée, ardent feminist Ola, into a tailspin of doubt about their relationship.

Or froth things up with: Standard Deviation by Katherine Heiny (4th Estate); Darling by India Knight (Penguin)

Read more of Eithne’s summer reading recommendations on our feature on Summer Reading in the August issue of The Simple Things.

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Book Group | The Book Thief

The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak

Share with your book group, read alone and join us virtually on The Simple Things sofa, or simply find a bit of inspiration.

Not many books are narrated by Death himself, and that gives this novel set in 1939 Germany a unique perspective. We follow Liesel, a little girl being sent away to live with strangers whose brother dies on the journey. She steals a book and so begins a lifetime of finding comfort and strength in the pages of books.

Questions to ponder
How does this book compare to wartime stories from a British perspective? Are the concerns similar?

Further reading
The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly also looks at the impact reading can have on us. It follows an orphaned child who lives in an attic room, surrounded by books that have begun to whisper to him…

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Why we love | ridiculous romantic novel titles

We know you should never judge a book by its cover but sometimes it is rather fun

In our April issue, we’ve been celebrating the romance novel in all its forms. From Austen heroes brooding in drawing rooms, to steamy scenes from more modern times, romance as a genre is something we can all relate to and something we love to love, even though we know it’s just a bit silly. So in honour of all that, we’ve collated eight of the more silly and very real titles of romance novels we encountered and have imagined how their plots might pan out. 

Mad, Bad and Dangerous in Plaid

Two kilt makers in the Highlands are driven to a turf war over ownership of a design. The last thing they expected was for love to blossom over a patent rights dispute. 

Beginner’s Guide to Rakes

When Susan gets her first allotment, she is confused by the range of garden and DIY tools on offer in her local Homebase. Fortunately, Roger is there to lend a hand. 

Aroused by Two Lions

A chance encounter while on a day trip to Whipsnade brings more than Elsa bargained for.

Emily’s Magical Bejewelled Codpiece

Tudor historian Emily discovers the costume department of the museum contains a secret door to the court of King Henry VIII and adventure awaits. 

Desert Prince, Defiant Virgin

Prince Ali has never left his village home on the edge of the desert and decides if he is to find love, he must take his search to further flung lands. Unfortunately, due to Richard Branson’s cuts, the flight is cancelled. 

Grace Before Meat

The Reverend John Alford is a regular at his village butcher. Then one day a new apprentice arrives in the form of beautiful Emily Bones, and love blossoms over the lamb shanks.

Romance Goes Tenting

A dark and rainy night, a young couple on their first holiday… a row over why on earth he didn’t book the caravan as she’d suggested. Things are going to get stormy before they get steamy. 

Apollo’s Seed

An unlikely romance blooms between Ted, who is putting in his annual Thompson and Morgan’s seed catalogue order, and Octavia, a young Greek woman, working at the call centre. 

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Reading | Flash Fiction

If you like a short story, you might enjoy these ‘flash fiction’ tales

We’re big fans of flash fiction – especially, if you see our feature in our August issue, when you’re struggling to read right now. 

Back in 2018, we asked you to write a 100-word flash fiction story on the theme of ‘summer’. And you did not disappoint. We’ve reprinted some of our favourites below. And, should you feel inspired, we’ve a new flash fiction competition with Seasalt launching in our September issue – watch this space.  

The five-second flight by Kirsty Boswell 

“Go long!” he yelled. So long I went. As I meandered around strewn towels, flicking sand up off my feet with every stride, I turned my head to see him release with the force of an Olympic discus thrower. It soared through the air, a bright blue UFO. Over the crimson crowns of balding dads waiting for beeps to reveal hidden treasure. It floated above the boy burrowing a magnificent crater, searching for the middle of the earth. It swooped over the baby enjoying a mouthful of sand, and crashed straight in to Mum’s 99. And then we ran. 

Before the flood by Agnes Halvorssen 

 Summer has gone off the rails. Doors slam and the hot sun shakes in the sky, the clouds pull close and raise their arms. She does not blow them away to reveal a clear blue, but pulls them nearer. There are rumours that she has been spending time with Winter. She comes back cold to the touch, icicles hiding in her golden locks, the tip of her nose red and damp. And nowadays Winter has a wild faraway look in his eyes, and pools of water gathering around his boots. 

Don’t look now by Gemma Smith 

‘Beware,’ shrieked the sign on the wall, ‘ignore at your peril.’ Eyes darting wildly, I make a bid for safety, clutching my prize to my chest as if it might evade me at the first opportunity. Lulled by its gentle rhythm, the ocean pulls me to it; the sun’s glow enveloping me as I step out from the dark cobbled streets, trance-like, into the open harbour. Feverishly unwrapping the pristine white paper, I marvel at the molten gold within, and then…GONE. Circling like a feathered storm in a squawking flurry of teacups, my aerial pursuers strike. Bloody seagulls. Bloody toastie. 

Hanami by Christopher P Davis 

They were midway through lemon-scented drinks when a wisteria flower descended feather-lightly into his glass and stirred the bittersweet memory of the previous summer. The two of them had hired bikes at dawn and rode across Tokyo, eventually finding their way to Yoyogi Park, where they spent the afternoon beneath purple trees, watching the dancers and talking, while he stroked her hazel-brown hair. A year had passed since then and he still wondered whether they had made the right decision. “What are you thinking about?” his date asked, noticing his faraway gaze, and tucking a blonde lock behind her ear. 

Summer wardrobe by Kate Life 

The seasonal shift sent her packing. Carefully she exchanged cashmere and tweed for cottons in shades of citrus zest and ice-cream scoops. Folding corduroy, she thought of Tom. He was the scent of wood-smoke, a trudge through leaves, crumble, and chilled fingers that had chivalrously scraped her windscreen clear. She transported him to the world of summer: petrol fumes heavy in sluggish air, the pop of fizz, and songs that would grate when autumn came. “Oh well,” she thought, shoving the last zippered package into the depths of the bed, “I can mothball him, till October at least.” 

Daisy days by Hannah Pank 

The pleasantly warm air of summer has finally tempted my head above the soil, a crown of pure, brilliant white petals encircling my golden yolk of a centre. A young girl is dancing upon the ground beside me, bare feet barely indenting the warm grass beneath. She stumbles over in a fit of laughter, giggles erupting from dimpled cheeks. Chubby fingers clumsily begin to interlock the bodies of my sisters, weaving them into a crown. Then I am chosen to adorn the head of the girl of my dreams. Together we dance toward the sunset. 

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Moments | reading in railway carriages

There’s something special about reading in a railway carriage. Perhaps it’s the rhythm of the ‘faster than fairies, faster than witches’ carriages rattling along as you read, or maybe it’s the way the countryside unrolls like a plot as you go. We have a particular penchant for reading a railway-based book on a train journey. So we’ve matched a few books with a few train journeys to inspire you. Think of it like a cheese and wine pairing, but with choo-choos and words. 

Harry Potter and The Philosopher’s Stone

Read it:  on any train from platform nine or ten at King’s Cross, London.

Bring with you: Chocolate Frogs and Bertie Bott’s Every Flavour Beans.

If you can’t locate Platform nine-and-three-quarters simply enjoy chugging out of this magnificent station, pretending you’re on your way to Hogwarts for the first time. 

Murder on the Orient Express

Read it: on the Istanbul to Paris line via Belgrade.

Bring with you: a pipe and a handkerchief embroidered with the letter H.

Get your little grey cells to work as you relive the great age of steam through Agatha Christie’s 1934 crime novel.

The Railway Children

Read it: On the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway at Oakworth Railway Station.

Bring with you: Apple Pie (for breakfast). How perfectly ripping.

Feel your heart swell with a love of steam as you read the immortal opening line: ‘They were not Railway Children to begin with.’

Strangers on a Train

Read it: On a train from New York to Texas

Bring with you: a good alibi.

Eye up your fellow passengers and mull over which might be best at committing the perfect murder while you settle into Patricia Highsmith’s fabulous 1950 thriller.

The Girl on the Train

Read it: on a commuter train from Buckinghamshire to Euston. 

Bring with you: gin in a tin for the journey home.

Nose in a few kitchens and back gardens as you pass through suburbia and enjoy making up backgrounds for the lives of the people whose houses you pass. There’s nothing like a train for people-watching. 

The picture above by Andreas Von Einsiedel is from our Home Tour feature in our June issue - a house built around a railway carriage! If you like the idea of escaping to a railway carriage for a weekend, you might like to know you can stay in the house itself, The Bolthole, in Pagham, West Sussex.

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Murder mystery story | The ending

Here it is… the original ending to our murder mystery short story competition…

Back in August we printed (most of) a murder mystery story by crime writer Sophie Hannah and set readers the challenge of finishing it. You can read the winning entry (as well as the beginning of Sophie’s story) in our November issue. But here you can enjoy Sophie’s original, intended, ending. Did you guess who the murderer was?…

If you missed the original story, we’ll be printing it here in full later in the month, or buy the November issue, on sale now.

---

‘Tell me.’ I crouched down beside her.

She stared at the square of words. ‘Edward was right. It is a palindrome, if you lay the five words end to end — ROTASOPERATENETAREPOSATOR. Lily misunderstood. He wasn’t claiming that each word was a palindrome. What a clever magic square! And to be able to make the Paternoster cross, too! It’s really rather marvellous that they found it among the ruins of Pompei.’

‘What does this have to do with Stanley’s death?’

‘All this time, I’ve wondered, Philip: what terrible things might Julia and Lily have said that day that prompted you to threaten them? Odd, isn’t it, for us both to forget? And why would my sisters savage me? I had promised to share everything equally. Lily didn’t even want Father’s money. Why should she accuse you of having gone mad unless…unless you’d reacted to something that never happened?’

‘What do you mean?’ There was a limit to how much Alice could know. She was surely unaware (or she’d have mentioned it) that Stanley had consulted me about making a new will, to make things equal between his daughters. Julia, damn her, had persuaded him that was fairer. And then, if Alice had married me as I’d hoped she would, we’d have been unnecessarily poorer. Unless something were to happen to Stanley before the new will could be made…

‘You reacted with anger to nothing,’ said Alice. ‘I didn’t forget the dreadful things Lily and Julia said; neither did you. They said nothing offensive. You needed that conversation to end: the discussion about palindromes and words that were other words reversed. You were afraid I’d tumble to the truth: that you murdered Father. That, while dying, he managed to turn over that cup of tea — and in doing so, name his murderer. The word cup, upside down, gives us the letters p, u, c. Philip Unwin-Carruthers. As you say, Father wasn’t one for setting puzzles. Your words contained an assumption: that Father turned the cup upside down, not his murderer. How could you have known that unless you were there? Unless you killed him?’

What a fool I’d been, so secure and smug in the assumption that she’d never work it out.

Well, there was only one thing for it — though Alice hadn’t yet got that far in her deductions. She soon would. What choice did I have? I was hardly about to let her leave my room and go straight to the police.

It was a terrible pity. I sincerely loved her. We could have been so happy together.

THE END

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Join our lending library

As you're travelling around this holiday season, consider leaving a book you've enjoyed for someone else - on a park bench, in a cafe or bar, on a train, at the hotel, cottage or campsite.

July's The Simple Things came with our bookshare book plates - maybe your book will touch someone's life. Not got a copy? Order yours today!

Many of us love books; we collect them, build a library at home, accumulate a pile by the bed of those we will get around to reading. And occasionally we have a clear out and take a box to the charity shop. When we move home, it sometimes means a purge. But what if, instead of keeping all our books, we pass a few on, recommending them in absentia to others by leaving them behind when we are out and about?

As you’re travelling around this holiday season, consider leaving a book you've enjoyed for someone else - on a park bench, in a cafe or bar, on a train, at the hotel, cottage or campsite. Some railway stations even have bookshelves for people to help themselves.

Download our free book plates so you can let people know what’s going on.
Maybe your book will touch someone’s life. It may introduce someone to a new writer they then fall for, let someone travel the world via its pages, or inspire someone to pen their own story. You’ll wonder at its journey and who picks it up next.

BECOME A LIBRARIAN

1 Choose a book to pass on.
2 Find a place you’d like to leave it.
3 Stick one of our book plates in the first page.
4 Write in your name, date and where you’re leaving it.
5 Leave it for someone else to enjoy.
6 Share socially: say where you left it and tag @simplethingsmag on Instagram.

Borrow a book from us! We’ll be taking a mini lending library with us to The Good Life Experience in September, so feel free to bring and borrow a book.

Lending Library etiquette

• Make sure any book you leave is clean and in good condition.
• Stick a book plate in the first page so people know they can take it.
• Don’t leave anything inappropriate where it could be picked up by children.
• If you are leaving it outdoors, remember the British weather is fickle.
• Don’t pass on a book that belongs to someone else.
• Avoid leaving in bookshops, libraries or places with high security.

NEED MORE BOOKPLATES?

Download them at thesimplethings.com/blog/bookplates.
You’ll be able to print them at home, A4 size, to cut and paste them into your books.

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More from the August issue:

More food for thought:

A reading list for March

Books to make you literally (and literarily) LOL. As loved by The Simple Things team

How Hard Can It Be? by Allison Pearson
An about-to-be-50 mother juggles her return to work with teenagers, ageing parents and hormonal hell.

Nomad by Alan Partridge
Steve Coogan’s creation travels in the footsteps of his father to Dungeness power station while trying to secure a TV series.

Love, Nina by Nina Stibbes
The (real) letters written by a nanny to her sister as she’s plunged into the midst of the London literati in the 1980s. Even more hilarious for being true.

Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris
A series of essays following Sedaris’ attempt to learn French after moving from New York to Paris.

What would you add? Come over and tell us on Facebook or Twitter. 

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How to talk like Roald Dahl

Don’t be biffsquiggled – the Oxford Roald Dahl Dictionary decodes Dahl’s brilliant word play

With the new Spielberg BFG film getting rave reviews, we thought you might like to learn to talk like the big friendly giant and co. Here goes!
 

phizz-whizzing (adj): splendid

plussy (adi): full of life and energy

rommytot (noun): talking nonsense

rotrasper (noun): horribly mean or nasty person

scrotty (adj): when you feel sad and gloomy

swashboggling (adj): unusual

whoopsy-whiffling (adj): splendid or marvellous 

hopscotchy (adj): happy

horrigust, muckfrumping (adj): unpleasant, unwelcome

lickswishy (adj): a delicious taste

biffsquiggled, gungswizzled (adj): confused or puzzled

buzzwangle (noun) – a silly or far-fetched idea

delumptious, delunctious (adj): very tasty, delicious

dogswoggler (noun): someone who is very silly

gropefluncking (adj): something difficult to explain

grunion (noun): grumpy person

More from the August issue:

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Escape: How to read your way around a new destination

Whether exploring somewhere new or simply looking beyond your regular patch, wander a little to get to know a city

Getting under the skin of a city, old or new is one of the greatest experiences. Says Erin Spens, “I’ve found over the years the best way to get to know a city is to spend real time in it exploring, listening and following the locals. My strategy has always been to arrive in a city with as little foreknowledge as possible, apart from the necessities, which I’ll get to in a second. Don’t get me wrong, I am endlessly reading travel stories and good travel magazines but (unless I’m working on an issue of Boat magazine) I don’t research a place beforeI go. 

"My reason for this is twofold. Firstly, my love for exploring cities grew out of my own time exploring New York City and reading the great travel writers, and neither involved smart phones preloaded with all the information in the world. Those were the days when getting lost really did mean getting lost and so I try to stay true to the way I found my first love: by exploring the streets and the far-flung neighbourhoods like a young, wide-eyed Midwestern girl who’s somehow landed in the city of her dreams.

"The second reason I don’t research the hell out of a place before I get there is because I’ve found that the only constant in a great city is change. Even if you go back to a city you’ve already visited multiple times, or to a neighbourhood in your own hometown that you don’t often frequent, it will be different. An open mind on every single trip helps you to see it fresh each time, noticing the new things rather than seeking out what you remember from last time, or what you’ve read about, or what you’ve seen getting hashtagged.”

Erin’s tips for reading without researching*  

THE LITTLE BOOKROOM BOOKS
If you need a bit more structure and you’ve got time to mosey around a city searching for a random vintage fabric shop or the perfect pain au chocolat, these books are ideal. I once built a whole trip to Paris around things I found in them. littlebookroom.com

GRAB A NOVEL that’s set in the city you’re headed to. At goodreads.com, you’ll find lists of travel books and you can search by location. The ‘Women Travelers’ series from Restless Books is fantastic, too. 

BRING A PHRASE BOOK to refer to when talking to locals. I don’t find it easy to pick up new languages, but I find that locals respond to me making an effort and I’ve had great (if choppy) conversations that lead to secret spots I would never have stumbled upon myself. Penguin’s are very pretty: penguin.co.uk. Lonely Planet’s are a classic: shop.lonelyplanet.com

MY FAVOURITE TRAVEL MAGAZINES are Boat magazine (obviously!); The Travel Almanac; Motherland, and Delayed Gratification.

* If you prefer to be slightly more prepared when you go exploring, turn to page 76 of January’s The Simple Things to read about Herb Lester, which publishes city guides with a difference

Erin Spens is founder and editor of Boat magazine - an independent travel and culture publication that focuses on a different, inspiring city for each issue. From Sarajevo to Reykjavik to Lima, Boat Magazine shines a different kind of light on cities with big stories to tell.
 

For more of this feature, turn to page 74 of January’s The Simple Things. 

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From the January issue

Escape posts

More reading posts

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Win! A bibliotherapy session from The School of Life worth £80 (closed)

With more than 180,000 books published annually in the UK alone, how are we to differentiate between the friends and foes of the fiction world? Which is where bibliotherapy, the concept of prescribing literature, comes in. It came to prominence in World War II when doctors doled out Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility to shell-shocked soldiers because it was thought the solid English values and romantic plot lines would cure depression and mental troubles.

But never has the practice been more popular than it is now, thanks to the pioneering sessions of Ella Berthoud and Susan Elderkin, who’ve been offering one-to-one and virtual bibliotherapy at The School of Life in London since 2008. In the last year, they have taken their service on the road, dispensing reading remedies everywhere from the Port Eliot Festival in Cornwall to the Jaipur Literture Festival in India. Their book, The Novel Cure (Canongate), came out in paperback in September, and they’re currently writing a children’s version called A Spoonful Of Stories (out in 2016).

“When choosing what to read, you are usually at the mercy of Amazon, bestseller lists and recommendations by friends – all perfectly valid but not tailor-made to help you,” explains Ella. “Through a questionnaire and a one- hour chat, we explore your reading habits and your bigger life issues, whether it’s career crises, relationship trouble or the menopause (all popular
reasons for bibliotherapy), and recommend six books that touch on similar themes or are ultimately uplifting.” 

Though not trained therapists, Ella and Susan, who met at Cambridge University, have an impressive back catalogue of literature at their fingertips. “I read at least three books a week to expand my knowledge and, when writing The Novel Cure, we got through hundreds,” says Ella. They know that stories get you through the toughest of times. “Reading the right book at the right time can change your life,” says Ella. “There are certain titles I go back to whenever I’m feeling depressed or wondering what life is all about. Jitterbug Perfume by Tom Robbins is an upbeat and quirky favourite, a magical realist work about the god Pan and the quest for immortality. I also love The Moomins stories by Tove Jansson – they’re for children, but they cover adult themes like melancholia and OCD.” 

Turn to page 80 of November’s The Simple Things (out 28 October 2015) to read Ruth Tierney’s feature on bibliotherapy.
 

WIN A SESSION ON THE COUCH 

We have a free bibliotherapy session from The School of Life, worth £80, to give away to one lucky reader. It can be taken either remotely or in person at the school in London.

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Ingredients for the perfect cold-weather reading session

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Think: Unusual words used to describe emotions

Happy, sad, angry, glad – it’s all in The Book of Human Emotions by Tiffany Watt Smith

This intriguing book gets to grips with our sometimes bewildering onslaught of feelings – from anger to apathy, wanderlust to worry – and explains how emotions and our perceptions of them have changed throughout history. Watt Smith also explores how different cultures have specific vocabulary for some unexpected, but resonant moods. 

There’s the Dutch gezelligheid – the cosy feeling that comes from being inside with friends on a cold night, the Finnish kaukokaipuu – the craving for a different land – and awumbuk, a word used by the Baining people who live in the mountains of Papua New Guinea to describe the heaviness and sorrow left behind after visitors depart. 

As well as these, we've found seven more unusual words and some curious images to match. Do you have an intriguing word you'd like to share with us? Head to Facebook or Twitter and let us know. And we share a Lost Word each month in the Miscellany pages of The Simple Things.

Words: Lottie Storey

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From the October issue

Think posts

Good reads

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Save it for a Sunday: Internet-free days

Step away from your touch-screen devices for a more retro, less stressful weekend all round

Having an internet-free day will help you realise how much you unthinkingly use it. When you feel the need to visit your usual go-to sites, find an alternative. Buy a newspaper instead of Googling, meet with a friend and set the world to rights rather than browsing Twitter. At the end of the day, ask yourself, what did you miss? Where did you go or what did you do instead? How many emails did you get and how many were important?

For more ideas, read How to be Happy by Lee Crutchley (Ebury Press) 

Like this? You might also like our Sunday Best campaign. 

We believe ‘the simple things’ are all about taking time to live well, to enjoy the now, slow down a little and remember moments that matter. Throughout the magazine, we'll be putting our Sunday Best logo on cakes, things to plan and do and mini-projects for in and around the home. Tell us your #sundaysuggestions of what makes you happy at the weekend - share them on Twitter or snap them on Instagram. We’ll share the best ones every Friday.

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From the October issue

Sunday Best ideas

Good reads

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Think: Emily Dickinson

Emily Dickinson was a prolific poet, but most of her 1800 works remained undiscovered during her lifetime. After her death, her sister Lavinia found a cache of her work and set about publishing the poems, with their unconventional punctuation and capitalization, and their themes of loss, love, death and immortality.

“Hope” is the thing with feathers - (314)
By Emily Dickinson

“Hope” is the thing with feathers -
That perches in the soul -
And sings the tune without the words -
And never stops - at all -

And sweetest - in the Gale - is heard -
And sore must be the storm -
That could abash the little Bird
That kept so many warm -

I’ve heard it in the chillest land -
And on the strangest Sea -
Yet - never - in Extremity,
It asked a crumb - of me.

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From the September issue

Things to make you think

More Books posts

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Books: Ingredients for the perfect cold-weather reading session

With plenty of dark evenings and icy temperatures, there’s no better time than winter to settle down with a good book. Whether you’re getting stuck into the latest bestseller, or immersing yourself in the classics, guest blogger, Vicky from The Owl & The Accordion, rounded up a few key ingredients for the perfect cold-weather reading session.

Clothes

If you’re going to spend an evening immersed in a book, the most important thing is to make sure you’re comfortable. Shed the day’s stiff tailoring or rigid denim, and sink into the cosiest clothes you can find; think chunky jumpers, woollen socks and the thickest flannel pyjamas. Checks optional.

Blankets

Whether you’re heading to bed or settling down on the sofa with your novel, a good selection of blankets is the ideal accessory for a winter reading sessions. Mix up the fabrics and textures with vintage crochet, luxurious handweaving and the softest woollen wraps; for the ultimate in relaxation, pile them up and sink in.

Food and drink

There’s no doubt that reading is thirsty work, so make sure you’ve got plenty of tea on hand to keep you refreshed; if herbal is your thing, choose from relaxing chamomile, refreshing peppermint or a calming Jasmine blend, while simple Earl Grey or Darjeeling are great for traditionalists. If you’re going for a marathon reading session, you’re going to need a good selection of snacks to keep energy levels up – everyone knows that biscuits are a cuppas best friend, so mix it up with organic flapjacks, chunky chocolate chips and some florentines for a touch of chewy luxury.

Lighting

Good lighting is an essential part of reading; while you want to be able to see the print, you don’t want to feel like you’re being interrogated with overhead lights and maximum wattage light bulbs. Table and desk lamps positioned behind either your left or right shoulder are ideal, as they won’t cast shadows over the page, and the light is still soft enough to create a relaxing atmosphere. 

Join The Simple Things' virtual book club! 

We'd like your book recommendations and have put together a new board on Pinterest inviting you to contribute your top reads. Head over now to have a look and to request an invitation. Plus, show us where you read yours - we love seeing The Simple Things out there in the wild.

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How to run a book club PLUS an easy book club cocktail recipe

How to run a book club PLUS an easy book club cocktail recipe

January is a good month for a good book. And if your resolution is to read more, consider joining one of the growing number of book groups in the UK and beyond. 

Turn to page 86 of January's The Simple Things for Frances Ambler's feature on the reads, the snacks and the chemistry that make a literary get-together work. Or read on for our top tips to make your literary appreciation society a success.

How to run a book club

1 Think about numbers: between six and ten people is good – small enough for everyone to be heard, not too pathetic if a couple of people can’t make it.

2 Pick a regular frequency: every 4 to 6 weeks allows enough time for books to be found and read.

3 Think about book length: this might not be the time to try out War and Peace: there’s a rule of book club that means the greater the page count, the lesser the number of attendees.

4 A few ground-rules may be helpful: are you going to allow people to speak in a free-for-all or take it in turns to comment? How are you going to decide what to read next?

5 Meeting snacks are heartily encouraged, see our suggestions on page 86, but be wary of competitive catering. One book group we know imposes a strict soup and sandwich-only rule.

6 The Reading Agency’s Reading Groups for Everyone offers even more tips on running a book group. 

Recipe: Blackberry sage spritzer

This requires a little preparation – making a simple sage syrup – but this takes barely 10 minutes and can be done in advance.
 

20 sage leaves
225g caster sugar
Gin to taste
Handful of blackberries, washed 
1 bottle soda water
ice cubes
Fresh sage and blackberries, to garnish
 

1 Put the sage leaves and sugar in a small pan with 240ml of water and bring to the boil. Once boiling, turn down the heat to a low simmer and keep on the heat until aromatic and slightly thickened, about 10 mins.

2 Cool the liquid and then pass it through a fine mesh sieve and discard the sage leaves. (The syrup can be decanted into a sealable container and kept in a fridge for up to a week.)

3 Reserve a few of the blackberries for garnish and place the rest in a bowl or jug and add a glug or two of the syrup to sweeten. Mix the berries with the syrup and then pass the mixture through a fine mesh sieve, pressing down the berries with the back of the fork to extract all the juice. Discard the pulp and any
pips left in the sieve.

4 To assemble the drink, place some ice cubes in a glass along with a measure of gin and a glug of the blackberry/sage juice. Top up the glass with soda water, garnish with blackberries and sage leaves and serve. (Omit the gin for an equally delicious non-alcoholic version.) 

Taken from www.buttercupdaysuk.blogspot.co.uk 

Fancy more snack ideas?

Take a look at our Pinterest board.

Follow The Simple Things's board Book group snacks on Pinterest.

And tell us on Facebook and Twitter what you're reading (and eating!) in your book group at the moment.

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Introduction: Lottie Storey
Feature/tips: Frances Ambler
Recipe and photography: Louise Gorrod