Birthday Treats

Published on by Margaret

Yesterday was my birthday. I had some lovely presents, including two books:

Inspector Alan Grant of Scotland Yard, recuperating from a broken leg, becomes fascinated with a contemporary portrait of Richard III that bears no resemblance to the Wicked Uncle of history. Could such a sensitive, noble face actually belong to one of the world’s most heinous villains – a venomous hunchback who may have killed his brother’s children to make his crown secure? Or could Richard have been the victim, turned into a monster by the usurpers of England’s throne?

Grant determines to find out once and for all, with the help of the British Museum and an American scholar, what kind of man Richard Plantagenet really was and who killed the Princes in the Tower.

A fascinating blend of history and mystery.

  • A Room Full of Bones by Elly Griffiths. I posted the opening lines in yesterday’s post. This book is the fourth of the Ruth Galloway investigations. The description on the back cover is –

Night falls on Halloween eve. The museum in King’s Lynn is preparing for an unusual event – the opening of a coffin excavated from the site of a medieval church. But when archaeologist Dr Ruth Galloway arrives to supervise, she finds the museum’s curator lying dead beside it. Ruth and Detective Inspector Nelson are forced to cross paths once again when he’s called in to investigate the murder, and their past tensions are reignited. And as Ruth becomes further embroiled in the case, she must decide where her loyalties lie – a choice that her very survival depends on.

It was the perfect summer’s day and we went over to the Holy Island of Lindisfarne, one of my favourite places. We’ve been there a few times, but never in such good weather. We went round the Priory, walked up to the castle and then along the coast and back inland again. Here’s one of the Priory – I’ll put up some more photos of the day later in the week. Whilst on the island D bought me this book:

Lindisfarne: the Cradle Island by Magnus Magnusson – a history of the island from the beginnings to the present day, telling the story of people and nature. Known as ‘the cradle island’ it is the ancient shrine of Celtic Christianity and the home of the Lindisfarne Gospels.

14 thoughts on “Birthday Treats”

  1. Happy Birthday for yesterday! I am envious of you visiting Lindisfarne – I’ve always wanted to go there, but we’ve never made it beyond North Yorkshire on one side of the country, and Cumbria on the other!

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  4. Have you read The Daughter of Time before? I heard a radio adaptation a few years ago which I enjoyed a lot. As I like both history and fiction, anything that combines the two without falling between both stools tends to go down well. The book is one of many on my ‘must read that at some point’ list. Belated birthday greetings.

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    1. Thanks, David. Yes, I read it several years ago. It was a library book and I’ve been wanting to get my own copy ever since. I have lots on my ‘˜must read that at some point’ list too – and ones I want to re-read as well.

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  5. Happy Birthday, what a great selection of gifts you recieved, I’ll be waiting to hear your thoughts on them. A room full of Bones sounds good, but the daughter of time sounds REALLY good.

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  6. Happy Birthday – even if it is a bit late. The Bears will use it as an excuse for a special Birthday Tea – not that ever need an excuse!

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  7. Margaret, a belated Happy Birthday! Sounds like you had a lovely day and your book gifts are wonderful. I really enjoyed the Griffiths book earlier this year.

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  10. Happy belated birthday–sounds like a perfect day. When I read the post, I thought that I couldn’t believe you hadn’t read Daughter of Time, but reading the comments I see that you have but now have your own copy. I loved that book so much–enjoy the reread!

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