It was nice to sit down in a quiet room and read

Contributor: Joe Swindells, Gardener.
Interests: Sports, gardening and cooking

Have you read more or less during lockdown, or much the same as usual?

I have read a bit more than usual during lockdown.

Has lockdown affected your choice of reading material?

No, same as usual technical, informative books.

Have you switched from your normal genre? eg started reading poetry, short stories, non fiction, drama?

No, stuck to my usual informative and educational reading.

Have you been using reading in a different way – for example for comfort, raising your spirits, escapism, distraction?

Have used it more for distraction, when had enough of tv and doing jobs around the house it was nice to sit down in a quiet room and read.

Have you been finding it harder to concentrate during lockdown?

Yes it’s been harder to carry on working, as having to travel to work you sometimes think you’re the only one working and everyone else is in bed and watching tv.

Have you started books and been unable to finish them?

No actually much better at finishing the books I have started instead of leaving them half unread

Where do you get inspiration for titles? 

They are practical books which I already have and not had time before to read

Where are you sourcing your books/audiobooks from?

Normally get them from the internet after researching them.

Have you embarked on reading all the books you already own but have never read?

Not all the books, just made a start on some of them when time allows, but would like to read them all if I had time.

Have you been listening to audiobooks rather than reading? If so, does listening add something to your experience of the book that you wouldn’t get by reading it yourself?

No not been listening to audio books, prefer to read an actual book than listen as have problem concentrating when listening, as have found out trying to learn a new language online, not good at listening!

Have you been reading books about pandemics? eg The Plague by Albert Camus, Journal of the Plague Year by Daniel Defoe, Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel Garcia Marquez, The Roses of Eyam by Don Taylor etc?

No not felt interested in reading about pandemics after hours of tv talking about the  pandemic.

Can you recommend up to 5 books/audiobooks that you have enjoyed during lockdown?

Being technical books I don’t think anyone would be interested, but here are two:

Start and run a gardening business by Paul Power

Pruning and training by RHS

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