Once again the words ‘it has been too long’ are typed up on the screen, as once again all has gone a little quite on Savidge Reads. However for those of you who have been following me elsewhere on the internet, you will know that on Monday I had a rather large operation to remove the tumours and lipoma’s that my body produces as I have dastardly Dercum’s disease. These lumps can turn nastier but in the interim they just really hurt as they sit on a vein, a nerve or stretch the skin in the various places that they grow. (This has been getting really bad in the last few months and why I have been quieter, too much typing can be agony.) Anyway that is quite enough information, suffice to say I went in on Monday and was sliced to bits and now resemble a pin cushion/scarecrow/bruised cooking apple. Ha.
Due to some slight complications with my blood pressure not all of those pesky lumps have gone, but 12 out of 20 sure ain’t bad. And I am finally home, though I feel like someone is still stabbing me or using the top half of my body as a bouncy castle. Interesting. Now I have the three weeks recuperation to look forward to where I aim to rest, relax, read and get this old blog back on track. That said it has taken me almost two hours to type this because a) woozy and forgetful b) ouch. Good to have aims and things to focus on though. The most skills I have at the moment seem to be the ones that involve lying on the sofa and moaning a lot. Ha. I have had some lovely bookish parcels, chocolates and flowers (the ones below from lovely Rob and Kate of Adventures with Words) which have made me smile, look I have proof I am not just a wincing whinge bag.
So, how are you all? What are you reading? Any books you think I should be heading too while my body recuperates that will stop my mind being bored and me going insane with cabin fever? Not that I am desperately worried about that of course. Hope all is good with you all, fill me in on all your news and bookish recommendations please!
Savidge Reads 
simon – so glad you finally had your operation and are now in recovery mode. best wishes for a quick recuperation! we miss you!!
i just finished “revolutionary road”. what a book!
Sounds grim Simon! Hope you continue improve and get back to reading and blogging!
I can sympathise since I’m also recovering from surgery and have been equally sick of being sofa bound. Just keep thinking how much better you will feel in a few weeks.
Oof, sounds rough 😦 I’m so happy for you that you finally got the operation over with though. When I was vanquished by the flu a few months ago, I read “The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating” by Elisabeth Tova Bailey. It kept me from going crazy while bedridden. Also made me want a snail, but that’s a whole different story. Take it easy during the recovery period (it’s supposed to be resting!) and I hope you have more good than bad days.
Simon—Glad you finally got into surgery. I am also glad to see your positive attitude towards the outcome not being quite as expected. Positive is a hard thing to do when you don’t feel well. I listen often to the podcast, and follow on twitter ( this is my first time to your blog ). I am reading The Chillbury Ladies’ Choir currently. Someday I will make it to the UK; for now I live vicariously. Best Wishes from Arizona!
Get well quickly, Simon!
Hope your recovery is quick and as enjoyable as possible. I’m sure you already have a lovely stack of books…
Best wishes for a speedy recovery. If you need an easy read at first I can recommend The Book Jumper by Mechthild Gläser. Recently translated from the German and billed as Teen book. I am loving it! Fun story that takes me back to why i fell in love with reading… every once-in-a-while we really need that.
Sounds dastardly. I hope you recuperate well and quickly. Aberdeen is generally a cultural desert (without the heat!) but this weekend was the first Granite Noir crime writing festival. Just finished Kati Hiekkapelto’s The Exiled, after hearing her talk on Crime with a Social Conscience. A good read. On to Antti Tuomainen now. Nothing like a bit of Nordic Noir to speed recuperation.
Sending you loads of healing vibes! I can’t really read when I’m super unwell – I would be bingeing Netflix like nobody’s business though!
Hi Simon!
Here’s hoping you feel much better soon! As you requested on The Readers I want to let you know I listened to and read A Little Life last month because of you and Ann K. and I thought it was a wonderful book. I didn’t cry too much because I had heard enough about it to steel myself, but I did find my face wet (Darn onions! Who’s chopping onions?) a few times. What an experience! And then I got to go back and hear you and Rob talk about it. 🙂 So thanks for the blogs and podcasts, old and new, (can’t wait to hear your thoughts on The Sympathizer, it sent me into a long reading slump) and take care of yourself! 💐🍭🎂📚
i’m glad you’ve gotten rid of at least 12 of those creatures simon and that you seem to be in good spirits..i know you like mc beaton’s agatha raisin and wonder if you can also escape with alexander mccall smith’s precious…the later read like bubbling streams to me…and then there’s a couple of other mystery writers i haven’t heard you mention and since the ones you do are also favorites of mine you might like these writers .denise mina, jacqueline winspear,laurie r. king, michael connelly,deborah crombie…
for my book club i’m rereading the age of wonder:how the romantic generation discovered the beauty and terror of science..and it’s even better the second time around..especially when i just discovered on the flap of gustav sonata..(which i bought on your recommendation) that he lives with rose tremain….anyway i’ll be praying for you..gail
Feel Better Simon! I’m reading an interesting book on mental illness…. called The Memory of Light by Francisco X. Stork. It’s great – but not sure i recommend it if you’re on heavy doses of pain meds 🙂 Get well soon!
Rest well, Simon. Has George Saunders, “Lincoln in the Bardo” been released there? Just read it. So wonderful. Take care.
I hope all goes well Simon ,it sounds horrible. It was also great to hear the readers again this week. I seem to be on a run of 5 star books at no; End of days by Sebastian Barry, Hide by Matthew Griffin, and The tidal zone by Sarah Moss to name a few and I’m currently on Homegoing by yaa gyassi which so far is excellent –
Anyway best wishes for your recovery.
Hope it goes ok Simon
Wow! Hope you feel better soon. Take it easy, read some good books and relax! Look forward to seeing Savidge Reads posts in the future. I’m sending good, good literary vibes to your general locality!
Glad you are on the post-op side of things and hope you feel better soon. I have been reading a lot of my own TBR books, nothing too New, but am enjoying them.
Hi Simon. I’m so sorry you’re in pain! I’m glad the operation went well, even if they didn’t remove them all. I can’t say I understand what you’re going to, but I know a lot about pain. It takes a lot out of you.
I don’t have any great recommendations for you since I’m in a bit of a slump, but I’ve been listening to the audiobook of Born a Crime by Trevor Noah. I’m really enjoying it.
Rest up and don’t overdo it! Looking forward to more blog entries. So happy you and Thomas are back to podcasting! I missed you guys!
Take care!
It’s nice to “see” you back again and I wish you a speedy recovery. I’ve just finished “Above the Waterfall” by on Ron Rash – brilliant, I think you would love it. I’ve also recently read “The Terranauts” (T C Boyle – always so good) and “Behold the Dreamers” – wonderful.
Take Care
Hope your recuperation is speedy and that you’re better soon. I’m reading Martine McDonagh’s new one Narcissism for Beginners which is inspired by the film Shaun of the Dead and is brilliant (like the film).
I’m pleased you’ve had your operation, despite not having everything removed. Hope you make a speedy recovery.
Hope you’re feeling a little better now, although I’m sure it’s early days. I think you should pick up Barkskins. IT’s a nice epic read with loads of twists and turns with an excellent message. Feel better soon Simon.
Glad to know you are recovering and doing better. What a relief to be on the mend.
Hi there, you’re adorable! I just discovered your blog. I have Dercum’s too and also love to read. I was an editor for most of my career, so I got paid to read all day, happy sigh! I just stopped working in 2016. What a great blog you have; I’m so glad I discovered it! Gentle hugs and hope the little buggers (lipomas) aren’t giving you too much trouble.