Book Club: Quarantine Classics

Cooey,

If like me, you love a good book, but your regular busy lifestyle stops you from sitting still long enough to pick one up and get lost in its pages, then I invite you to enter into the magical world of audiobooks.

This I understand is nothing new, but had certainly been new to me within the last year or so. My

evenings are usually spent driving to and from dance classes, (which are located a good 45 minutes away) and so I've taken to listening to some good books whilst I drive.

However since quarantine began, I found myself with more time to lay back and relax with a good book...in my ear. With this glorious weather we've been having, I have been somewhat over indulging in doing some quality sunbathing in my back garden and catching up on my e-library.

The first three books I am going to recommend as part of my little book club (to all my fellow nerds, you're welcome,) are ones that I mostly enjoyed as a child and have only recently rediscovered how much I loved them over the past few months.

They're old but timeless classics that I think all children of today should still discover, (as well as all us grown-ups, who are still children at heart.)

1. Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson

This was truly one of my favourite books growing up, as I have always been obsessed with any sort of adventure tale. It also entertains my strange fascination with pirates, which makes me love it all the more. Published in 1883, Stevenson's written word has that lovely old-timey feel that takes you back in time, the same way old black and white movies do. This book has all the classic ingredients of a perfect pirate tale, including treasure maps, the black spot, tropical islands and of course a one-legged pirate with a parrot on his shoulder. We follow little Jim Hawkins on his adventure to this mysterious island and his encounters with many a shifty character along the way, including the infamous long-John Silver!

If you or your children love a classic adventure tale, this one will not disappoint!

2. The Butterfly Lion by Michael Morpurgo

This one still brings a small prang to my heart and a lump to my throat and takes me right back to my childhood, as I first read this book when I was in school.

Published in 1996 but set in the era of the first world war with an eery ending that makes you ponder, long after you've put the book down. The Butterfly Lion is the story of a young boy who runs away from boarding school, only to bump into a kindly old lady, who shelters him from the rain whilst telling him the beautiful story of her late husband's youth in Africa, where he found a pure white lion cub and brought him home. This adorable little novel, is one of love on many levels. Romance, friendship and family and although it's not as fairytale as the other stories I enjoyed so much as a child, there was something about this one that has stuck with me through to my adulthood. It's a truly beautiful story and I hope it's never forgotten.

3. Heidi by Johanna Spyri

This is another book that I read whilst still in school, however, I was somewhat a little older when I discovered this one. Published in 1881, this is another tale that has that melodic old-fashioned way of speaking that makes me feel nostalgic for a time before my own.

Orphan Heidi is eight-years-old when she is taken by her aunt to live with her grumpy old grandfather high up in the swiss alps. Heidi and her grandfather soon become very good friends as her refreshing, young and adorable nature brings him out of his bitter, reclusive ways. However, just three years later, her aunt returns and takes Heidi away to work in Frankfurt, as a companion to a little girl in a wheelchair. Reluctant though she is to go, Heidi soon makes new friendships and we meet some new and interesting characters. This is another adorable tale of friendship with some rather key lessons and morals for children of all ages to interpret.

If you do choose to invest in any of these amazing classics, I hope you and your loved ones enjoy them as much as I did!

You can find hard copies of all these stories here:

* Treasure Planet

* The Butterfly Lion

* Heidi

They are also all available on Audible.co.uk.

All my Love,

Lu x