Blithe is the black sheep

Arrowtown book buyer Miranda Spary continues her regular column about her recommendations for a good read and life as she sees it . . .

Does anyone out there have a family with a black sheep? It's so difficult and depressing, isn't it? I'm quite lucky as I am the black sheep of the family, so I don't feel the same shame and disgust as the others.

It's pretty tough on a family that all share the same interest to have one weirdo loser who just doesn't care about gambling, but particularly doesn't care about horse racing.

The last time I gambled was in a sweepstake a couple of weeks ago.

The two horses I picked were not even racing; they were just reserves.

And I didn't even notice - I did think it was odd that their names weren't being mentioned at all, but that's normal for horses I back.

I always insist on the sweepstake rules including a payout for first and last.

You have to think of a whole lot of new things to say if you want your horse to come last.

And the thrill, if that is what it is, lasts longer.

So hatless, frockless, friendless and betless, I did walk in on No 2 son watching the Melbourne Cup on telly.

I couldn't help but be interested in the overexcited announcer talking about a shocking crime scene somewhere at the races.

Without a bet, I lost much less money than in any other year, so I hope I remember this tactic for next year.

Thank you for all the emails this week, and thank you for all the suggestions for great reads.

I am delighted so many of you are enjoying the suggestions I make, so do remember many of them have come from other QT readers.

And I have taken on board all the requests for a list of my favourite books.

I am putting it together at the moment, and will have a gentle but loving nag at the editor to see if he will let me have enough space in the paper to print it.

Some days he is very lovely. And wise.

I am also very keen on all the compliments about this column.

I think I have been writing it for about a year now and, in that time, only one person has said they really hate it.

In fact, this person is obviously rather strange.

He not only hates it, but says my column makes him feel sick every week.

I think the solution is pretty clear.

If you are reading this, Mr Complaining Person, STOP READING IF SYMPTOMS PERSIST.

And Mr Complaining Person isn't even my darling husband.

My lovely and wise editor, who doesn't always know everything, said journalism is about being truthful and giving both sides of a story.

He asked if my darling would like to tell the world what life with me is really like.

I said he wouldn't.

So . . . on to books.

I have had a very busy week but still seem to have fitted in reading a lot of books.

Sarah-Kate Lynch has just finished her latest novel and let me read the manuscript which, in her usual style, makes me cry, makes me laugh, makes me hungry and makes me wish it would go on a bit longer.

I can't tell you the title, as she isn't sure of it yet, but I will keep you posted on that.

In the meantime, let me just tell you it includes cupcakes, Italian widows, a lot of secrets and romance.

And Paullina Simons' A Song in the Daylight is a great read as well.

At the start, the heroine has everything any woman could want - except a young lover.