Monday, 26 August 2019

Sofa Spotlight - Dewey, Vicky Myron


So I am very late to the party with this one, but its better late than never. Dewey is the story of a kitten who was pushed into the book return box at a local library and abandoned. He was adopted by the library staff and the people of the town and took up residence in the library itself.

It’s a really heart-warming story that if you’ve not yet read you should do. I found myself very quickly absorbed, and in need of tissues at the end. It might be because this weekend marks the end of the first year since our two rescue cats moved in. They too have taken up residence and despite my reluctance found their way to my heart (although I still don’t appreciate having to clean up after them)

As much as Dewey is the story of a cat it is a story that has wider implications on how we view life and one another. What I liked is that Myron was clear on how the effect that Dewey had is not an effect that can be achieved by just any cat, it has to be the right cat with the right temperament. Which is fair – I can’t imagine of either of mine putting up with being amongst so many people all the time.

If you haven’t read it you should, it’s easy to get into and there was only a couple of chapters that I found hard going. If you have read it, what did you think?

Monday, 19 August 2019

Sofa Spotlight - Le Tour: A History of the Tour de France, Geoffrey Wheatcroft

As we are between Le Tour and La Vuelta I thought this would be a good time to review this one. I was very excited to read it - having read a few cycling books now and being a big fan of Le Tour. At first I was surprised at how hard going it was, but I thought it would just take a little while to get into it. Truth be told I never really got into it.

And I don’t really know why. It had everything that it should. History and cycling. My two loves. But it wasn’t to be. Somehow I just found it hard going. Maybe there just wasn’t the space in this book to give me the depth of history I wanted. I did learn plenty though and I came away know much more about the sport and the development of Le Tour.

In the end I put it down to my knowing the race in the last ten years and so it was much more interesting when I got to names I recognised. Having said that, I’m not so sure that is why I didn’t enjoy it, because at the very least the history of the regions of France should have interested me.

Would I recommend it? Maybe not. Unless you are very into cycling and passionate about the Tour de France this probably isn’t the book for you. However, if those are your loves, as they are mine, give it a go and let me know if it’s just me that’s struggling with it.

Monday, 12 August 2019

Me and My Reading Challenge for 2019 Part 2

It occurred to me as I posted last week that my list of books that I am currently reading is not far off being as long as the one that I have read. So below is that list. Again I'm not planning to review all of them but if there is a title that you would like to see me review comment below.

Waverley - Sir Walter Scott
Not far enough in to have a valid opinion on this yet but it seems to be headed in the general direction of a typical Walter Scott adventure. See Ivanhoe and Kenilworth.

Darkness Follows - L. A. Weatherly
The second in this series following Broken Sky and just as good.

As Kingfishers Catch Fire - Eugene H. Peterson
Read it last year but so much in it I'm reading it again.

As Sure as the Dawn - Francine Rivers
The final book in The Mark of the Lion series. Looking forward to seeing how it concludes.

Furious Hours - Casey Cep
About a book that Harper Lee didn't write.

The Patricide of George Benjamin Hill - James Charlesworth
Not read enough to really know what this about yet.

The Pastor - Eugene H. Peterson
It's a book about Eugene Peterson by Eugene Peterson. Interesting to see what influenced him.

Jane Austen - Park Honan
Realised I'd never read a biography about Jane Austen so correcting that error.

Jane Austen in Hollywood  - Linda Troost, Sayre N. Greenfield
See above but these are essays about the films.

The Chemist - Stephenie Meyer
It's certainly not twilight but definitely edge of the seat stuff

The Essex Serpent - Sarah Perry
Loving this so much that I nearly read it in one day. Very close to finishing it and reviewing it properly.

The Key to the Half Worlds - Andrew Chaplin
Only one chapter in but I'm so so intrigued by this.

The Book Thief - Markus Zusak
Second time of reading and I'm going to try not to cry this time.

Nineteen Eighty-Four - George Orwell
Should have read before but haven't - correcting that error.

The Glass Castle - Jeannette Walls
Came highly recommended and I can see why.

Comeback - Lyn Ashwood, Rachel Rose
A novel about K-Pop - very different but very good.

A History of Ancient Egypt - John Romer
I like History and Egypt and expanding my knowledge.

Bacon Sandwiches and Salvation - Adrian Plass
I needed a laugh.

C. S. Lewis - Alister E McGrath
Realised I'd never read a biography about C. S. Lewis so correcting that error.

It's a ridiculous list I know, but I'm happy.

Monday, 5 August 2019

Me and my Reading Challenge for 2019 Part 1

It's the first Monday in August and I'm a little bit shocked to discover how far through the year we are. Which led me to thinking about how my reading challenge was going. I've never had one for myself before. My housemate and fellow reader EG had a competition a few years ago as to who could read the most and I failed dramatically. Every Christmas we compete to see who can read the most over the holidays but really I don't stand a chance - EG is in a league of her own.

So this year I decided to tackle my very own challenge - to read one book a week, so 52 books in total. And for your delectation and delight I have decided to let you in on where I'm up to with that. A couple of weeks ago I listed what I had read so far this year, but often with this blog what appears on here is a long way behind what I am actually reading. With this list there will be some duplication of the previous list, but as I have a list of books to review as long as my arm there will be some previews of what is coming up later this year. The other thing to mention is that I don't review everything that I read, so if there is a title on this list that you would like to hear my thoughts about comment below and let me know.

Otherwise enjoy:

An Echo in the Darkness - Francine Rivers


Le Tour: A History of the Tour de France - Geoffrey Wheatcroft


The  French Revolution and What Went Wrong - Stephen Clarke


Shoot Your Shot: A Sport-Inspired Guide to Living Your Best Life - Vernon Brundage Jr.


Ronaldo: The Phantom Carrot Snatcher - Maxine Sylvester


The Tattooist of Auschwitz - Heather Morris


A Journey of Three Degrees - A. L. Kent


To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee


The Hunger Games - Suzanne Collins


Broken Sky - L. A. Weatherly


Christ Plays in Ten Thousand Places - Eugene H. Peterson


The Sicilian Woman's Daughter - Linda Lo Scuro


Mortom - Erik Therme


A Stranger in the House - Shari Lapena


Dewey - Vicki Myron


Eat This Book - Eugene Peterson


Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen


The Gulag Archipelago - Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn


Defiance - Jason Krumbine


The Diary of a Young Girl - Anne Frank


Extinction of All Children - L. J. Epps


Twilight - Stephenie Meyer


Related by Blood - Holly Sheidenberger


As you can see I've a long way to go and haven't quite managed one a week, but there's plenty of time to catch up. At some point in the future I will give you the list of books I'm reading right now. I've a good ten or so on the go.

Remember comment below if you want my thoughts on any of the titles above.