I picked up this lovely fabric-covered edition of 'Cider with Rosie' by Laurie Lee, from a second hand bookshop the other day. I'm only a few chapters in but already I can tell you with confidence, this is a wonderful book, and I can't believe I've reached the grand old age of 35 without having read it before!

It's such a lovely story, and this particular edition also contains some beautiful illustrations and images that bring the story to life. It also includes a handful of precious photographs of that time and place, preserved by the author for over 50 years.

The story is an account of Laurie Lee's childhood. Born at the end of the first world war the book chronicles his life, growing up in a little cottage in a traditional village in the Cotswolds in a fatherless household with his brothers and sisters. I can't tell you much more as I'm still discovering it myself, but I can tell you it's a wonderful story and Lee is a wonderful storyteller; warm and humorous, and his descriptions of his early life had me pining for those simple days gone by. If you loved the likes of 'Larkrise to Candleford' you will love this. It certainly gives me a warm glow inside and I couldn't wait to share it with you.

JM x