Getting To Know…Lesley

Lesley is mum to 4 boys and recently made a change to her lifestyle by a move to the wonderfully relaxing county of Cornwall. Village life near the sea has proved to be a fab tonic and although the nearest Starbucks is a good half hour away – boo! – Lesley still has a pretty intense relationship with her coffee cup and loves to curl up, mug in hand, with a good book.
She loves a variety of genres, but has been reading a lot of YA fiction of late. She loved reading Maggie Stiefvater’s The wolves of Mercy Falls Trilogy and always has a sizeable ‘to be read’ pile by the side of her bed.
When not reading, Lesley is usually juggling family life, taxi-ing her teenagers around for their various social jollies, or out on a beach somewhere with the children. Bliss.
What have you enjoyed the most about blogging over the past year?
Well, it’s been a funny year really… I took on a full time job for 4 months at the beginning of this year and had to step back from the blog for those months. So I’ve not done as much reading or reviewing as I would have liked. However as always, I enjoy reading then being able to reflect on what I’ve read as I write about it. I feel I get more out of it as a result.
What was your favourite read of the last 12 months?
Gosh, I’ve not read as many books over this last year, but ‘Fat Girls and Fairy Cakes’ by Sue Watson was a real laugh out loud book that I really enjoyed and will go back and read again.
What makes the perfect beach/holiday read?
Well I would say ‘Fat Girls and Fairy Cakes’ as above or ‘Pink Wellies and Flat Caps’ by Lynda Renham.
What book are you most anticipating reading over the summer?
I’ve decided to re read an old favourite; ‘Just for the Summer’ by Judy Astley. It’s one of my all time faves and as its set in Cornwall I thought it would be fun to read it again now I live here!
Describe your bookshelf/TBR pile.
Hmm, they are mostly on Kindle…. And I keep flipping back and forth between the ‘digital’ pages trying to decide which to read next!
How do you make time to read?
If my kids had anything to do with it, I would never have time to read, and life sure is busy so it’s usually just before I go to bed, unless I’m REALLY absorbed in a book, then it comes with me and gets read in dusty car parks while waiting for the teens to appear, or even propped up next to the hob as I cook dinner!
Where is your Favorite place to read?
In my bed, all snuggled up.
How do you encourage the love of reading and books in your children?
I’m thankful that my kids love reading and need little encouragement to pick up a book, but we love the school library where my 4 year old gets to choose books each week and we always make time to read, especially as a wind down before sleep so it’s become a natural part of our routine.
What is your favourite book you have shared with your child(ren) in the last 12 months?
I reckon that has to be ‘Room on the Broom’ by Julia Donaldson and Alex Scheffler. We all really enjoy that one, time and time again.
And because we ask our visiting authors- Just For Fun
Tea or Coffee? Difficult! Coffee in the morning, tea in the afternoon!
Slippers or barefoot? Barefoot.
Shower or Bath? Shower.
Marmite: Love it?Hate it? Love it- Only when pregnant!
Email or postcard? Email.