Sofa Spotlight - Shades of Light, Sharon Garlough Brown

 I wasn’t sure what I was expecting when I picked up this book. I’m not the biggest fan of Christian fiction so my expectations were not high, but I was pleasantly surprised.

The storyline is about Wren, a social worker in her late 20s who suffers an emotional breakdown after the departure of her best friend, Casey. Casey doesn’t feature much in the book but his presence is throughout and he isn’t certainly key to the story and Wren’s mental health.

What I loved about this story was the care that was taken to describe what Wren was going through. I’m sure that her experience will ring true for many people, as it did for me. But what gave the book great depth was also the impact of Wren’s illness on the people around her. Her great-aunt Kit is clearly a solid support for her but her mum’s journey is just as significant as Wren’s own.

I would say this is a must read, even if it is just to get a glimpse into what life is like for someone who loses their grip on their mental health, even for just a little while. Great book, loved it.

Sofa Spotlight - Landmarks, Robert Macfarlane

I chose this book because having just read Underland I needed a post great-read fix. This intrigued me because of its reference to language. I love words, and their origins and use is fascinating to me. So a book that looks at the locality of language, and how it is used to describe the world around us, was a must read.

My favourite part of each chapter was the glossary section at the end. I spent hours looking over the different words that describe subtle differences in weather, or details about hedgerows that I would normally miss. It’s a book that encourages you to engage with the world that we can see and experience and to go out and find or create our own words to describe our environments.

It was another excellent read, well enjoyed and very important. Language gets lost all the time and there’s such a wealth of vocabulary that we are losing.

Sofa Spotlight - Underland, Robert Macfarlane

When I saw this book I was so intrigued by its title and blurb that I had to pick it up and read it. What’s not to love about someone exploring deep places underground and mixing in a bit of the concept of time. Amazing. And it didn’t disappoint, for many reasons.

I like my books to teach me things and take me places I wouldn’t normally go (which, if given a choice, would be anywhere outside my front door). This book fulfilled both requirements, in fact, it was so good at taking my imagination on a journey underground that I was left feeling slightly claustrophobic. There was so much to learn from these journeys that I will be mulling them over for some time. The chapter on the tunnels under Paris alone makes this book a good read.

My recommendation would be that you read this on a really chilly winter’s day. It helps because it’s dark outside so you get a bit of a feel for the underland, and the chapters that are about the glaciers in Greenland – you’re going to want to fell cold so that you can appreciate them even more. So good was this book that I immediately went out and bought Landmarks, review coming soon.

Sofa Spotlight - Hamlet, William Shakespeare

This is my first time reading this since I studied it for my a-levels, sadly quite a while ago. I also read the edition that I used back then and having all my notes in the margin made it quite a nostalgic reading.

But it is interesting reading it as an adult, and somehow, I saw so much more this time. I still feel that Hamlet has a lot to answer for and that he could have handled things much better. Although, if my father’s ghost came to me and told me that my uncle had murdered him, I’m not sure how I would handle that situation either. But still, I would try not to kill one person, make another person go mad and then have my actions lead to the deaths of multiple other people.

If you’ve not read or seen it performed before, it might not be a Christmas read. There isn’t much that is jolly about it and by the end the only character I have any respect for is Horatio. Some great lines in this though and would recommend reading it.

Sofa Spotlight - Hunger, Michael Grant

 So, this is book two in the Gone series. I picked it up because I’m really intrigued to find out what is going to happen in the FAYZ. I can’t work out how this will end so I’m thinking I’m in this now until the end of the series. Which is unfortunate because what some of the kids get up to is a bit grim and sometimes makes for uncomfortable reading.

The FAYZ stands for Fallout Alley Youth Zone, which is a massive bubble around a large part of land and a bit of sea, which appeared when there when the nuclear power plant exploded. Also, everyone over the age of 14 disappeared. Which is where it gets uncomfortable because there are kids walking around with machine guns and those who have new powers are also perceived as lethal.

There’s a lot going on in this book and it was hard to keep track of all the problems the main character Sam is trying to sort out. I felt exhausted just contemplating his list so no wonder he was close to a break down. But the biggest one is sorting out the lines that being drawn between those with powers and those without and how do you stop society deteriorating to mob rule.

Now I just need to decide if I can handle the third book!

Sofa Spotlight - GCHQ, Richard Aldrich

This is the second time I’ve read this book, although the edition I’ve just read had a new chapter so that was exciting. The book is about the history of what GCHQ has been doing, how its role has changed and how effective it has been. It’s very factual and a good informative read. I particularly enjoyed the sections on the Cold War but that’s because I looked at it in history sometime when I was at school.

But there are some very interesting conclusions to the book around privacy and security as technology arises and computers are everywhere. I think we are all becoming more aware of how much influence social media and algorithms and digital advertising are influencing our lives now, along with the rise of things like fake news. And these things are probably not going to go away anytime soon. But what this book made me think about is – how much do I like the convenience of all the technology – like ordering take out on my phone without having to speak to a person (brilliant) or my washing machine being smart enough to remember how I like my laundry to be done, and how much do I hate the invasion of my privacy when all these things can be monitored and tell marketers all about my preferences for spicy curry.

Certainly food for thought.

Sofa Spotlight - On Reading Well, Karen Swallow Prior

This is a book that features highly on my list of best books read this year. It looks at different novels, such as The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain and A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens, and analyses the motivations and values of the different characters. It certainly puts a different perspective on some of the literature that I’ve read.

My concern was that I’d not read all the novels that this book covers and that I might lose interest in the chapters that covered my unread reading list. But I found those chapters equally interesting and I’m now looking forward to reading those books.

This is certainly a book that makes you think and enhances your reading experience. It is a book I would definitely recommend and it would make a good present for the book lover that has read everything. 

Sofa Spotlight - Gone, Michael Grant

I love how this book looks. Although my worry with books that have coloured pages is that the dye will end up on my hands and I would end up looking like The Hulk! But thankfully in this case my fears were unfounded.

The story is about Sam and his friends who are under 14 on the day when everyone over the age of 14 just vanishes. In this respect it has the feel of Lord of the Flies, which is perpetuated by the leadership battle that emerges between Sam and Caine. But there is enough distinction for this to be a good book in its own right.

Overall I enjoyed this and I’m intrigued to see where the story goes in the rest of the series. But there were elements of the story that made me uncomfortable. I had to really remind myself that the characters were children, and in that respect some of what happens is shocking. Sam does stand as a moral compass for the group, but there are characters that are obsessed with violence and don’t seem to have any empathy.

I would say read with caution but it’s a good concept and intriguing storyline.

Sofa Spotlight - In the Afterlight, Alexandra Bracken

This is the third book in The Darkest Minds set of four books, but it rounds off the story covered in the previous two books. It was a great finale for a great series and there were some unexpected twists and turns, not to mention a couple of sad moments.

Without wanting to give too much away – this is a series you should read from the beginning and soon, the ending rounded things off nicely but at the same time I felt there were a few loose ends that needed to be expanded on. But maybe that’s where book four comes in. Because how can the world, or in this case, America go back to the way it was after something as devastating as that!

I’ve loved reading this series, it’s been a rollercoaster with character development happening at a reasonable and believable pace. Not everyone is as much of a jerk as they seem at first. And there is some great story telling around the impact having these abilities has on the characters and whether or not they would want to live without them now that they’ve got them.

Sofa Spotlight - Chasing Cosby, Nicole Weisensee Egan

I think that this counts as one of the most important books that I’ve read this year. As the #metoo movement has grown over the last few years it’s been incredibly shocking how many survivors have come forward to share their story and to seek justice. Which does beg the question, how many more survivors are there out there who haven’t come forward.

This book is shocking on more than one level. It’s terrible that these crimes were committed in the first place, but the cover up that followed, the vilification of the survivors, and how difficult it was for them to get justice, is just incredible. My stomach really turned when I read this book.

But it is a book that should be read, because these stories need to be heard and justice needs to be done, and future crimes prevented. For me there are not words to describe what these women have been through and the terrific bravery they have demonstrated in their quest to bring Bill Cosby to justice.

There are some graphic details in this book but they are not put there for sensitization. As I went through the journey that this book takes the reader one I experienced many emotions – from horror, to shock, to abhorrence at what had been done. But the feeling at the end was satisfaction, that the survivors of this story had been heard, and more importantly, believed.

Sofa Spotlight - A Long Obedience in the Same Direction, Eugene Peterson

What surprised me most was that this book was written before the rise of social media. The reason for the surprise is how relevant this book is for our current culture. The premise of the book is about following Jesus for the long haul in a world that is all about instant gratification.

I also think that it is quite an apt book to read during covid lockdowns because it speaks into the hard, drawn out seasons of life. The ones that lack excitement and are about being faithful, even when it isn’t glamourous or thrilling. When no one seems to be watching, and it’s a day by day crawl, those are the days when it can be hard to keep going as a Christian.

Like his other books Eugene Peterson isn’t about spouting knowledge. What comes through his writing is just how much he cares for his readers, and that he wants them to know the joy of being grounded in God’s Word.

This book may have been written decades ago but it is for now as much as it ever was.

Sofa Spotlight - Barnaby Rudge, Charles Dickens

 I think this is one of the most overlooked books by Dickens, which I feel is one of his best. It’s also perfect for reading on a wild autumnal evening as it has a very spooky start and a brilliant dramatic ending.

When Dickens writes, what would have been to him, historical fiction I feel that he is at his best. A Tale of Two Cities is my favourite Dickens of all time but Barnaby Rudge comes at a close second. It’s set during the Gordon Riots of the 1700s and involves a murder mystery, a ghost story and romantic intrigues.

Barnaby Rudge himself is a character who is easily led. The language used to describe him in the book is harsh, but of it’s time. Today we would say he has learning difficulties and his mental age hasn’t progressed much past that of a child. His constant companion is a raven called Grip who can repeat odd words and phrases, but not often on demand.

The Maypole Inn is possibly my favourite setting in a book and there’s something so cosy and pleasant about it. There are both good and questionable characters that inhabit it and they have a major part to play in the story of Barnaby Rudge.

All I can say is that you should find yourself a roaring fire and a mug of hot chocolate and start reading this at once. You won’t regret it.

Sofa Spotlight - John Henry Days, Colson Whitehead

I know that I said that I probably wouldn’t be reading anymore Colson Whitehead this year, but I thought I might just slip another one in. I actually picked it up because I thought it would give me a bit more info on who John Henry was. Having heard a little about him I was curious to hear his story.

Which is why it was good that this book revolves around the many legends of John Henry. The story is about a freelance writer/journalist, J Sutter, who goes to cover a festival about John Henry. J is also creating a legend of his own and his own narrative mirrors that of John Henry, following what is true and how can you find the facts behind the story.

It goes without saying that I enjoy the writing of Colson Whitehead, but it’s not just because he writes well. His work is often thought provoking and stays with me long after I’ve closed the book.

Sofa Spotlight - The Road to Somewhere, David Goodhart

Books about politics are not my first choice of reading material. I wouldn’t normally review them either as I find it a difficult subject to follow. So, I don’t really know what I was thinking in picking this one up, other than I did political history for my a-levels and I had a small amount of curiosity to see where things had progressed to.

My first surprise was that I was able to follow the arguments and kind of understand what the book is about. I think at a basic level it is trying to understand what happened with the Brexit referendum and to predict what might come in future votes, whether that’s referendums or elections. For me it made sense in what had to say about the values of the British people and how that influences their decisions in the polling booth.

Not sure if I would recommend it. I was a bit late to the party on this one and, although it is still relevant, there are possibly other things that are influencing politics right now.

Sofa Spotlight - The Ballard of Songbirds and Snakes, Suzanne Collins

I spent the first part of this year re-reading the Hunger Games trilogy so that I could be ready for the release of this book in May. If I’m honest, I wasn’t sure how I felt about the prequel coming out over ten years after the original books. And the original books were so good I thought it would be a tough act to follow. But I thought that maybe if the main character is someone like Finnick or Joanna Mason then maybe it would work out.

Needless to say that I had reservations when I heard that it would be President Snow’s backstory that would be the focus of the book. My worry was that it would be one of those stories where the villain has a terrible experience and becomes bitter and then misunderstood through life. What actually happened with this novel was that Snow’s story was one where Snow’s values, and who he chose to let influence him, were the driving force behind his choices. Those choices were knowingly made and led him down the path to the place where we meet him in the Hunger Games.

The story itself was long and didn’t have the excitement and drama that the original trilogy had, but there were redeeming features. Snow’s mindset and his spiral into intrigue and politics are interesting to watch and you almost hope that he can value something other than his family’s position, power and honour in order to choose a better path. There’s also an insight to the development of the Hunger Games as the book is set early in their history.

To enjoy this book though you would have to be a big fan of the original series, but having said that I’m slightly hoping that there may be another installment out there sometime in the future.

Sofa Spotlight - Apex Hides the Hurt, Colson Whitehead

I think this may be my last Colson Whitehead read this year, but it was certainly a good one to end on. In true Colson Whitehead style this is so much more than what the main narrative would have you believe.

The surface story is about a town that wants to change its name and so hires a consultant to come and give some recommendations. Said consultant arrives and the story follows his experience of the town, its people and its history. He also has an injured toe which he has covered over with an Apex plaster. Which is really what the deeper meaning is about. Apex or the sticking plaster hides the hurt. We can cover over the problems, but they are only hidden, and often fester beneath whatever it is that we have covered them with.

Another thought-provoking aspect to the novel was the meaning of names and qualities we attribute to things on account of their name. It is certainly worth contemplating assumptions we make about people or places based on their name. And that is the point of the story, the people want a name for their town that will make outsiders assume that it is the place to be.

I still think that The Intuitionist and Nickel Boys are stronger novels, but this isn’t far behind and if you’re looking for your next read this should be it.

Sofa Spotlight - The Book Thief, Markus Zusak

I can’t read this and not cry. It’s one of those books, and it’s one of those books that stands up well to a second reading. Some books become works of art in their own right, and it is a joy to wander through their pages and enjoy, not only the story, but the way the narrative is written.

Which I think is what I love so much about this book. The narrator is death and by no means as frightening as that sounds. Death has a very interesting outlook on life and his near neutral perspective gives a slightly different take on what the characters value. If there was a flaw, it was that I overthought his character and was trying to get my head round how he could be in multiple places at once etc.

But this book is about what we value, as opposed to what we are told to value, and also how quickly those things can disappear. Death’s perspective shows a life that isn’t fair, and this is something that Liesel has to come to terms with when Death comes for her brother at the very beginning of the story. It’s in the home of her new family with her new friends, Rudy and Max, that she learns how to survive and enjoy the moments that she has.

Rudy and Liesel are the characters that are really alive in this book. They experience all that they want to and live life on their terms. Whether that’s stealing apples, books or pretending to be Jesse Owens. They meet other characters who are living half lives, such as the mayor’s wife, and they share a bit of their own joy and enthusiasm with them.

I would recommend this one as a different take on WWII, but have a box of tissues handy.

Sofa Spotlight - Never Fade, Alexandra Bracken

 I was nervous about reading this book. The Darkest Minds was so good that I was concerned that the sequel wouldn’t be that good. For me it can go either way. And this went a good way. It was different enough to be exciting in its own right but at the same time followed nicely from The Darkest Minds.

The story continues to follow Ruby as she struggles to adjust to the outside world and her orange ability. She’s also dealing with the consequences of some of her actions in the previous book. What’s great about this is the new characters that come along. Jude is my favourite and I hold my breath every time he is anywhere near anything dangerous. Vida is also high on my list of fave characters, she’s got some great lines.

We also get to see quite a bit more of the Children’s League and Liam’s brother Cole. It took me a while to make my mind up about Cole, but I reached a decision in the end.

An excellent book, the series continues to keep me guessing.

Sofa Spotlight - Mockingjay, Suzanne Collins

 Reading this made me realise how much I enjoy this series and that Suzanne Collins did a great job with the twists and the drama right until the last page. I’ve been rereading the series so that I can remember all that happens for when I read the latest book, A Ballard of Songbirds and Snakes.

For my favourite of the three original Hunger Games books will always be the second one, Catching Fire. But they are all good and I’ve loved each of them. Mockingjay is the final installment of the journey of Katniss and her encounters with President Snow and the Capitol. There’s a lot to tie together before the end but nearly all my questions were answered, so I was satisfied.

It’s in this book that Prim’s character is developed and, funnily enough, I love her cat. But what makes this book stand out for me is that it reaches into grey areas and makes you think about what you feel is acceptable. There’s no doubt that the Capitol needs a revolution of some kind, but then where is the line between where justice becomes vengeance? Different characters have different takes on this and it is challenging to think through your own values.

Sofa Spotlight - The Colossus of New York, Colson Whitehead

 The latest instalment of my Colson Whitehead binge read. The only thing that could have made this read better would be if I had actually visited New York and knew what he was talking about. But isn’t that the magic of reading – you can travel all over the world, through time and history, without leaving the comfort of your armchair?

Which brings me to what this book is about. It is obviously about New York, but from a hundred different angles. It seems to take on the life of the city in its memories and becomes a living entity in its own right. I’m not sure how far off poetry this book is, given that it is entirely prose, but to me this is the kind of impact I think poetry should have on you.

I’d definitely recommend this. I enjoyed it, mainly because I’m not one for travelling so this may well be the closest that I get to visiting New York. It’s not a long read and I was through it in a couple of hours – no I couldn’t put it down.

Sofa Spotlight - The Boy who Followed his Father into Auschwitz, Jeremy Dronfield

 I think this one has to be one of the best books about the Holocaust I’ve read – up there with Schindler’s Ark. It took me a long time to read but it was not because it was hard work, I just had my heart in my mouth the entire time.

The story follows the fortunes of Gustav Kleinmann and his son Fritz, as they get caught up in the persecution of their people. I cannot tell you how well written this book is. I was engrossed from start to finish. There were some truly heartbreaking moments, but what I thought that it was interesting that there were insights into the thoughts and feelings of those who were carrying out the killings.

For me there was a bit of confusion early on as the title made me think that Fritz was a young child, rather than in his late teens. But the feats that both father and son reach, within camp life as well as just in terms of survival.

Towards the end the pace picks up very quickly and all the hard work of the two men to stay together seems to be coming undone. At this point I couldn’t put the book down until the end. Highly recommend.

Sofa Spotlight - The Cats of Moon Cottage, Marilyn Edwards

I thought that this was going to be a light hearted read, and it was very cute. But never have I cried as much as I did at this story. I think what makes it worse is that I just didn’t see the tragedy coming and so there was no lessening the blow.

Anyway the book is about two cats, one an old chap who likes his home the way it is, and another who is a cute little kitten who moves into his home. It’s very endearing and I fell in love with both cats. But it all came to an end way too soon. And then I found out that there was more than one book, so more fun to come!

If you love cats then this is one for you, it’s not a gripping, fast moving plot, but it is cute.

Sofa Spotlight - 29 Seconds, T M Logan

This was edge of the seat stuff. The basic premise is – what would you do if you could make someone disappear forever, with no consequences for you. No one would find out and you wouldn’t have to do anything. It would all be taken care of for you.

This is the question that Sarah is left to answer after she rescues a young girl, and in return the father offers to make someone disappear forever. All she has to do is give one name. And there is someone who she can think of.

It’s a very dramatic book that centres around the relationship she has with her boss who is withholding a promotion unless she has an affair with him. It’s not pretty, but the question is – can she make him disappear and live guilt free afterwards?

Sarah’s choices lead the story along many twists and turns that lead to a dramatic ending. Really I don’t think the book could have ended any better, but it was gut wrenching stuff. Not to be read if you’re hoping to fall asleep straight afterwards! Also be warned - a bit graphic in places. 

Sofa Spotlight - The Darkest Minds, Alexandra Bracken

 The concept behind this series is amazing. A disease, called IAAN, breaks out in children in America. If it doesn’t kill them then it gives them one of five abilities. Helpfully divided into colours. Green is super intelligence and often used with computers. Blue is the ability to move objects with the mind. Yellows can commend electricity, reds can start fires and oranges can control minds and wipe memories. Of course this doesn’t go down well in the adult world and the kids are rounded up.

Which is what happens to Ruby, an orange, who uses her ability to convince everyone that she is a green. Cunning. The story follows her escape from the camp where she is being held and how she meets up with Liam, Chubs and Zu, who are also on the run. Ruby keeps her ability secret for a long time, fearing rejection and the abhorrence of her new friends.

There’s also a great character called Clancy. He is also an orange but less ethical with his use of the ability than Ruby is. This book creates a realistic world with a gripping storyline that held my attention right up until the end.

Fantastic read.

Sofa Spotlight - A History of Ancient Egypt, John Romer

This is one of those books that I thought was going to be one thing and turned out to be another. This is why you should always read blurbs properly. But as it happens, it was a happy mistake and I thoroughly enjoyed this. The book covers Egyptian history from the very very beginning – with the farmers who were there first and ends with the first pharaohs.

I’ve loved Egyptian history since I was in school, but this read taught me about a part of their history that I hadn’t considered, like where the first Egyptians came from and how their religion and culture developed.

To do the book justice though, as it was quite technical in places, it was a morning read with coffee on tap. But it was so worth the extra effort and my mind and historical knowledge was stretched. And when I got to the end I found there is a second volume! Wonder what I will be reading next!

Sofa Spotlight - Black Moon, L A Weatherly

This is the final book in the Broken Sky Trilogy and I had high hopes for how this would end. It didn’t disappoint. Just to warn you there may be spoilers below, so reader by cautioned!

The final book catches up with Amity aka Wildcat as she continues to try and bring down President Kay Pierce. There’s been quite an effective love triangle up until now but really by the end of the second book I was fed up of Collie and in this one there is no bringing him back from what he does. Ingo is by far the nicest of the two and I had high hopes of him and Amity making it work. Although, there are a few too many similarities with The Hunger Games’ Gale and Peeta duo, but it’s still good.

Anyway the Resistance is doing its best in New Manhattan to sort things out and bring sanity back to the world before Kay destroys it with the nuclear weapons she sort of inherited from Gunnison What happens as their plans unfold is some great story lines that twist and turn right to the end. Have to say that I loved it. This and the whole series.  

Sofa Spotlight - The Merchant of Venice, William Shakespeare

 I was looking forward to reading this play as lines from it are often quoted by my Dad. So it’s about time that I got around to reading it. And it didn’t disappoint. This is one clever play. Not that Shakespeare’s other plays are not clever but I appreciated this one so much more.

The plot revolves around Antonio who has defaulted on a debt to Shylock the Jew. Shylock wasn’t a fan of Antonio to begin with and is in a mood because his daughter has become a Christian and run off with Lorenzo. As soon as Antonio defaults on the debt Shylock is after blood – well a pound of flesh. It’s a bit harsh because Antonio seems to be a nice chap and the victim of a lot of bad luck. But Shylock is typical villain and comes after him.

Of course, there is the usual amount of characters going about in disguise and resolving the sticky situations people find themselves in. Which begs the question – would more of life’s problems be resolved if more people went around in disguise?

Anyway much enjoyed, and on my recommendation list.

Sofa Spotlight - The Intuitionist, Colson Whitehead

This is another excellent novel by Colson Whitehead. The story is about two schools of elevator inspector – the Intuitionists, who can intuitively know what is wrong with an elevator or if it needs maintenance, and the Empiricists, who rely on instruments to determine the status of an elevator. When I first hear that this was what the story was, I was skeptical that I would enjoy it. But in true Colson Whitehead style this is about more than just elevators.

The time in which the novel is set is not specified, but there are clues all through the story about where this society is. The main character, Lila Mae Watson, is black, which forms one of the struggles she faces in this novel. Integration is a big theme in this and as well as being black Lila Mae is also a woman in a predominantly male workforce, as well as an Intuitionist. Intuitionists are the minority, although Lila Mae finds a community that is looking for the truth behind the theory.

Lila Mae is a character on a quest – initially to find out the truth behind a fatal elevator accident that is being blamed on her. But then her quest becomes to get to the heart of the Intuitionist theory and the perfect elevator envisioned by the theory’s founder.

You should definitely read this book or listen to it as I did. It is intriguing, thought provoking and keeps you guessing until the end.

Sofa Spotlight - Angela's Ashes, Frank McCourt

 This was a book that seemed to be the book to read when I was studying for my A-levels. I’m getting around to reading it about 15 years later! It’s the memoir of Frank McCourt and his childhood in 1930’s/40’s Limerick, Ireland. Not an easy read at all.

What was hard was hearing how hard the conditions were for the poor in Ireland. The way it’s described makes you think it should be something out of Dickens rather than less than a hundred years ago. Like I say it’s a hard memoir to read as Frank’s father is an alcoholic and struggles to hold down a job, which ultimately affects the family.

It may not be easy to read but it did give some insight into what life was like in Limerick during the war. And there were tears from me too – life was so hard and it made me realise how much I take for granted. So, a thought provoking read but I’m not sure I could read it again, in places it was a little on the explicit side.  

Sofa Spotlight - The Merry Wives of Windsor, William Shakespeare

I think this might be the first one that hasn’t annoyed me in some way, and it might even have made me chuckle. Which is something I’ve been waiting to happen since I started reading these comedies! The basic plot follows Falstaff, a knight who is short on money. To solve his money problems he decides to court two married women, who are fairly wealthy. He sends them letters that are almost identical, and somehow not only do both the women work out his plan, but so do their husbands.

The wives lead Falstaff on a merry dance that ends up with him being attacked by fairies and all being put right at the end.  This was the first play where I was interested to find out what would happen. Full points for that, and I like plots that involve someone being hoist by their own petard, as it were. So this may not be the strongest of Shakespeare’s plays but I liked it, even if the characters may not have been the most morally upright.

Sofa Spotlight - And the Shofar Blew, Francine Rivers

 I don’t often read Christian fiction, and when I do, I don’t review it. So, this is a first for me. But there was something about this book that made me want to talk about it. When it comes to Francine Rivers I’ve not read much, in fact only the Mark of the Lion series, which was very different to this.

My biggest concern when I started reading this was that it would be dated and, if I’m honest, cringey. The book centres around Paul, the pastor of a mega church in the US, and his family. Paul starts off wanting to take a small, struggling church and use it to reach as many people as he can for God. Along the way he gets more than distracted and the focus shifts from building up God’s people to building his own reputation.

It didn’t take long for my opinion to change. And yes the book has a strong 90’s feel to it, and it’s American, but its message is bigger than those things. It gets to grips with the real struggles of pastoring a church and also how Christians do and should respond to inconsistencies that they see in the church and their pastor.

I thought this was a very well written, challenging novel. It doesn’t shy away from the nastier side of the church and provides a strong warning. I would put it down as a must read. Still not sure I like the title though!

Sofa Spotlight - Much Ado About Nothing, William Shakespeare

I’m in two minds about how I feel about my Shakespeare journey. Just when I think that I’m starting to enjoy his plays I meet ones that just baffle me and leave me regretting my decision. Much Ado about Nothing is one of those plays.

The plot follows to sets of lovers, Claudio and Hero and Beatrice and Benedick. Beatrice and Benedick are the more interesting of the two because they have decided to not marry ever but then it’s fun watching them fall in love. Claudio, on the other hand, seemed to be a bit of muppet when it comes to believing people, he should know better than to trust.

 But it all comes right in the end even for Claudio, who I don’t think didn’t really appreciate Hero enough. I didn’t enjoy this play as it seemed to be on the stressful side. But I could follow it so that puts it slightly higher in my estimation. Not sure I liked it enough to recommend it.

Sofa Spotlight - Love's Labour's Lost, William Shakespeare

So this one had very little effect on me. I apologise if you particularly love this play and I’m open to changing my mind if you can convince that I should pay it more attention. But honestly I didn’t really get what was going on, it was a bit hard to follow.

From what I understand it’s about a King and three of his friends decided that they are going to concentrate on studying for three years and therefore not have anything to do with women, and possibly they swear some kind of oath to this effect. It’s a case of speaking too soon though because all four of them manage to fall in love. Thankfully with different women. But there’s still the major confusion of who loves who, and who is saying what to who.

Like I say, not my favourite play so far on this journey. But maybe the next on will better. Also way too many apostrophes in the title.

Sofa Spotlight - The Comedy of Errors, William Shakespeare

Yet another of Shakespeare’s plays bites the dust. And this one I think would have been great if I could have bought into it. But I just didn’t find it that believable, and maybe the point is that you shouldn’t find it believable. If that’s the case it really was lost on me.

So the plot revolves around two sets of twins who don’t know that their corresponding twin exists. And just to add to the confusion they have the same name. So there is Antipholus of Ephesus and Antipholus of Syracuse and they each have a servant called Dromio and their servants are also, unknowingly, twins. The fun really starts when Antipholus of Syracuse shows up in Ephesus and then there’s loads of mistaken identity and everyone gets mad at each other and the Dromio brothers definitely get the short end of the deal. Of course it all gets sorted out in the end but it’s a bit of a farce, which is probably the point.

It comes in as one of the shortest plays Shakespeare wrote and all this drama takes place in just one day. Think I would recommend a read just for fun.

Sofa Spotlight - A Midsummer Night's Dream, William Shakespeare

Found this to be the most ridiculous play I’ve read yet. I know it has a lot going for it, but when you bring in fairies that are holding grudges and dragging humans into their squabbles, I get a bit put off. Bottom has the worst deal in my opinion.

Once again love triangles feature and then the fairies get involved and everything is up in the air. Hermia and Lysander want to get married, but there are complications. Demetrius also loves Hermia and Hermia’s father would quite like Demetrius to marry Hermia. But then Hermia’s friend Helena likes Demetrius, but of course he isn’t interested. And that’s just one of four plot lines that intersect at various points.

To be honest this wasn’t my favourite. It was alright but I didn’t really like any of the characters, other than maybe Puck. But it’s another one off my list and taken care of. Looks like I might be able achieve my goal this year. And the more I read of them the easier they are to understand. Maybe they improve on a second reading.

Sofa Spotlight - As You Like It, William Shakespeare

I think my head was spinning by the time I got to the end of this play. Everyone seems to get themselves into a bit of a pickle and thankfully it all comes right in the end. This play involves Frederick who has stolen the kingdom from his brother and exiled him (but has let his niece stay because she’s friends with his daughter). Which is how much of the trouble start.

There is also another pair of unhappy brothers; Oliver and Orlando. Rosalind is the beforementioned niece and she isn’t overly happy either. So, all the unhappy characters seem to run away to the forest of Arden and fall in love with one another, sometimes not realising who it is that they have fallen in love with.

This was another play that I enjoyed because it’s so ridiculous that of course it is funny. But there were also some great lines to be enjoyed (but it’s Shakespeare so no surprises there). As I work my way through these plays I have been enjoying recognising quotes that get used in everyday language. But the word play is clever and that I think is what I love about Shakespeare.

Sofa Spotlight - Measure for Measure, William Shakespeare

The latest conquest in my read all of Shakespeare mission this year. And also the first that really engaged me, to the point where I wasn’t sure how this was going to end and I needed to find out. So well done Mr. Shakespeare – you had me going there.

Once again characters in disguise feature heavily in this. Basically the Duke of Vienna leaves for a while and leaves Angelo in charge. Angelo is very much a “do it by the book” kind of guy. Which doesn’t work out well for Claudio who is sentenced to death for getting Julietta pregnant. Claudio’s sister Isabella goes Angelo to plead for Claudio. Angelo unsurprisingly says no. But then he has a second thought, because it occurs to him that he quite likes Isabella and would marry her. But Isabella is a nun so there’s the problem. Angelo gives her the ultimatum – be his wife or he makes sure Claudio is executed.

There are some great lines in this and I loved reading it. Angelo is despicable but with the help of some characters in disguise, the story ends satisfactorily. So yeah I would recommend this one.

Sofa Spotlight - Bible Matters, Tim Chester

After reading Mission Matters, it made sense to follow it up with this one. And this is my favourite of the two. Which on reflection might say more about me than the book, in that I probably find the Bible a more interesting topic than mission!

But that doesn’t lessen how exciting this book is. It gets you excited about the Bible. And I already like the Bible (a lot) but this inspired me much more than I was expecting. It isn’t a long read – I read it in a couple of ours. Once I got going with it I couldn’t put it down but I think a slower pace would work equally well.

This is an important book because it reminds us of how important and unique the Bible is. It inspires us by telling the story of what it has cost to have the Bible in many languages, and how highly it has been valued in the past.

If I had one criticism it’s that I’m not a huge fan of the cover – but the contents of the book more than made up for it and put it as one of the best books I read last year.

So not only inspiring but challenging as well.

Sofa Spotlight - Catching Fire, Suzanne Collins

For me this is the most interesting book in the series. While The Hunger Games did a good job at setting up this word, Catching Fire allows us to explore further. It’s the Quarter Quell and that lines up all kinds of action and drama to follow. I love that we get to see victors from previous games and understand their characters. Haymitch I found interesting but it is Finnick who I love the most, followed closely by Johanna Mason.

So President Snow is out to make sure that the inflammatory actions of Katniss Everdeen, at the end of the previous, book don’t ignite a rebellion, but I think we all know how that is going to work out. On her victor tour of the districts with Peeta it becomes clear that there’s a massive problem in the districts. So when the Quarter Quell comes along (the 75^th Hunger Games) Snow takes the opportunity to retake control.

All that to say that there is so much in this book that helps make sense of what makes up the world of Panem and the Capitol. And of course who can you trust? Because right up until the end you just don’t know. Throughout the entire series there are many twists that I enjoyed being shocked by. And I do think that Catching Fire has the best ones. Although sometimes I worked them out just a little bit ahead of the characters, but still they were fun!

Sofa Spotlight - Cymberline, William Shakespeare

I feel like I’m doing well at my Shakespeare challenge this year (if you missed it, I want to read all his plays in 2020). This is my latest read and probably the one that I’ve got emotionally involved with the most. There’s a lot that goes on and I couldn’t really work out if this play falls into the tragedy or the comedy camp. Lots of places put them in one of these but I couldn’t find a consensus and to be honest I couldn’t work out if it was meant to make me laugh or cry. Mostly I was left thinking “don’t be so silly.”

Anyway the play itself is about Imogen and her husband Posthumus. You know it’s not going to end well when it turns out they’ve married secretly. In true Shakespeare style there’s a lot of mistaken identity and people who think other people are dead, when actually they are just in a mysterious comatose state that mimics death. One of these one of them will get buried alive! Imogen and Posthumus are separated by different events and the play is about how they are reunited against, what I think are staggeringly intense odds.

I’d certainly recommend giving this one a read. It’s easy to follow, and some excellent scenes in there.

Sofa Spotlight - The Pastor's Kid, Barnabas Piper

There was a good reason for me reading this book. It resonated with me because I grew up in a home where my dad was the minister of our small Baptist church. And although Barnabas Piper is an American, and the son of the pastor of a much larger church, there was still much in this book that translates to my experience.

What is great about the book is that it takes both sides. What it’s like for the child of a pastor but also what members of a church can do to help. My own experience was kind of alright, it had its rougher moments, but some children find I hard to grow up in that environment.

For me there were some very challenging chapters. They highlighted things that I’m guilty of – and the frightening part was that I wasn’t always aware of them. So I’m grateful to this book for not only shining a light on those areas, but also talking about the grace of God and showing a different way of responding to church life.

I cannot recommend this book highly enough. It’s worth reading if you part of a church because if you’re not part of your pastor’s family, then it’s good to know what it might be like for them, and how you can help them. And also if you are a PK have a read. I was glad to know that my experience was not unique and particularly that it hadn’t gone unnoticed by God.

Sofa Spotlight - Captain Pamphile, Alexandre Dumas

Captain Pamphile is definitely a book of its time with values to match. It maybe qualifies as one of the lesser known Alexandre Dumas books and is not packed with the same amount of adventure as The Three Musketeers or The Count of Monte Cristo. But it does have its value and its moments.

It seems that Captain Pamphile is the owner of a ship who travels in a way that is sometimes less than legal and collects, among other things, stories. These stories are relayed back to us as part of another story, that of a Parisian collecting his one menagerie – which is where Captain Pamphile intersects this story – he often provides the unusual animals required. The bear was my favourite – I had an emotional connection with his adventures.

Although I wouldn’t describe this as thrilling, which is was meant to be, it did have some good points and once I’d got into it, I found I actually quite enjoyed it. It was originally written for children so it’s not a hard read and there’s a message behind it too, which given the time, is quite a surprising one. But you need to read it to find out for yourself.

Sofa Spotlight - All's Well That Ends Well, William Shakespeare

This year my ambition is to read through all of Shakespeare’s plays. I’ve only met with Shakespeare’s work a couple of times having studied Hamlet and Romeo and Juliet. So, I thought it was high time I worked my way through some of his other works.

My first stop on my Shakespearean journey is All’s Well that Ends Well. It’s an odd play and I found it to not only be hard to read but also baffling at how quickly Bertram, one of the main characters, changed his mind. Also confusing is the behavior of Helena, who is in love with Bertram. I found it hard to believe that after the way Bertram rejects her and how harsh he is to her; she still loves him and goes to great lengths to prove it.

As a first read it was a tough one. I was worried that getting my head around the language would be tough and I was right. Hopefully that will get easier as I press on. And maybe the content will be better too. Not sure how I feel about this one. But there are plenty more plays to get through so the only way is up.

Sofa Spotlight - Waverley, Sir Walter Scott

It’s Sir Walter Scott. What can I say? Each of his novels seems to have about the first half of the entire thing as his introduction. It’s like wading through treacle. And Waverley is no different. My biggest surprise in this novel was how little of it took place around Edinburgh, given the railway station. Also Waverley is English, another surprise, was expecting him to be Scottish.

Waverley’s history seemed a bit complex to me, but then it was probably in the dreary first half of the book. But it seems like he is brought up by his uncle, and thus is his heir. The uncle is a Jacobite, but Waverley’s father isn’t, I think. But Waverley himself gets sent off to Scotland to serve in the King’s Army. And he is supposed to be fighting the Scots.

By some strange twists and turns he actually ends up fighting with the Scottish against the English under Bonny Prince Charlie. When that goes wrong he has to try and not get tried for treason by the English.

It was hard to have sympathy for Waverley, although it was easy to his character progression, and he was less of a muppet by the end of it all. But there wasn’t really a character I could get behind. No one seemed to be particularly great at making good decisions.

Not sure I would recommend this one, I personally would be happy never to see it again.

Sofa Spotlight - Bare Bones, Kathy Reichs

As I mentioned when I reviewed 204 Bones by Kathy Reichs, I am a huge fan of the TV series Bones. Which is what has led me to the books. Although I would like to point out that I actually read one of the books first. Which is why around Christmas I progressed to Bare Bones.

It was a fun read, if a bit gruesome along the way. There are many threads and ultimately bodies to be discovered in this book. The first is the remains of a newborn baby in a woodstove. Maybe murder, maybe not. Then a small plane crashes and there’s two more unidentified bodies to deal with. And then more remains on a farm not far away. As we know they all have to be connected right?

How it all ties together is what I love about murder mysteries and it’s also what I enjoyed so much about the TV series. And of course there is the excellent dramatic ending. I love these books, but there is a bit of gore that makes me feel funny but if you’re good with that you would probably enjoy these. This one feels like a particularly good summer read.

Sofa Spotlight - C. S. Lewis: A Life, Alister McGrath

I grew up loving the Chronicles of Narnia. The land of Narnia wasn’t somewhere that I just read in the novels, I of course watched and enjoyed every adaptation that was available. And who couldn’t enjoy the BBC adaptations from the late 80’s? Mr Beaver – terrifying.  But on top of all that I explore the lands C. S. Lewis had created in my imagination most days. I loved them.

My next experience of Lewis was in The Screwtape Letters, which in my opinion, are a work of genius. Mere Christianity was my most recent read of his and I am yet to read the Space Trilogy, or any of his other non-fiction works. So it was only natural when I saw this book that I would want to read it and meet the man behind the works that I had so much enjoyed.

Initially I found it hard to get into. I’m not a huge biography reader and I often find the opening chapters hard going. But once I had battled through that I found this to be a fascinating book. It was the kind where you get annoyed by interruptions and you have to be reminded to eat.

There was so much that I didn’t know about C. S. Lewis. My knowledge of him had kind of been limited to an awe of someone who could create a world like Narnia. I remember when I first found out that he was an Oxford academic and had a bit of difficulty getting my head around him being both academic and immensely creative. I know it’s not that unusual to be both but I was young. But that was where my knowledge ended. I had no idea about his involvement with WWI or about his relationships with his father and brother.

So yes, one I would most certainly recommend. Make a brew, or get an ice cream and make an afternoon of it.

Sofa Spotlight - The Pat Hobby Stories, F. Scott Fitzgerald

In the spirit of giving writers that I’m not sure about another chance, I decided to crack on and read these short stories. The Great Gatsby didn’t do much for me, but I had better success with Babylon Revisited, so maybe the Pat Hobby Stories would work out. And they sort of did but by the end I was glad to say goodbye to Pat Hobby and move on.

So who is Pat Hobby? He is a failed screen writer, loitering around Hollywood (I assume it was Hollywood) looking for a job, or more accurately, hoping that a job will fall into his lap. There is a feel of Bertie Wooster to him, in that he gets caught up in quite a few scrapes and, when he does get out of them, resolve themselves in remarkable ways.

A bit of research seemed to imply that Fitzgerald based Pat Hobby on himself. Which made me quite sad because Pat isn’t the kind of character you would want to have based on yourself, comedic as he is.

My main problem with the stories is the 1920’s style of writing. It’s ok if you can get into it, but I found it particularly difficult to navigate in some of these stories. But if that isn’t something that bothers you then I’m sure you will enjoy this collection.

Sofa Spotlight - Wilder Girls, Rory Power

This is the YA debut of Rory Power and it was phenomenal. The story is set in a girls school located on an island. A terrible illness has swept through the school and now they are quarantined (sound familiar).

Unlike Covid-19 this virus gives the girls mutations that are bizarre and include stuff like extra limbs. Their contact with the mainland involves a delivery of food and supplies that the boat crew go to collect. The boat crew are the only ones allowed to leave the school grounds. But of course those rules get broken.

Outside the ground it’s dangerous as the virus as turned the wildlife and vegetation into extreme predators. Less so with the trees but you get the vibe they’re not friendly. 

Hetty finds herself as part of the boat crew and pulled into an even darker narrative than being in lockdown at school. Especially when her friend Byatt disappears. It is a gripping psychological read that doesn’t let you stop guessing right until the end. 

Highly recommend it but there is a bit of graphic stuff in here so be aware of that. Great read though. 

Sofa Spotlight - Zone One, Colson Whitehead

Picked this up after reading The Nickel Boys. Very different story. This one set in New York in the midst of a zombie apocalypse. The story follows a clean up team as they try to put New York back together. The zombies are still out there but they have hope that the situation can be reversed.

It’s a good read, and kind of making me think. I know I enjoyed it because I had a dream about it. Basically, in my dream I ended up rewriting the ending because I needed a more conclusive ending. My dreams ending was the zombies taking themselves to cemeteries and graveyards where they belonged and all the trains and busses were rammed with them.

The actual ending is a lot more thought provoking and one that I didn’t anticipate. Colson Whitehead creates a completely new take on our world and the characters are very intriguing. 

I was left thinking about what I would do in a similar situation. One scene in the book sees the early days when the virus that turns people into zombies. One of the main characters is on a train when someone in the next carriage shows symptoms. Chaos ensues. And just before we went into lockdown I too was on a train and I couldn’t help but wonder what I would do if Covid-19 was a more sinister strain of virus. 

Anyway it’s a thought provoking, distracting read.

Sofa Spotlight - D-Day, Antony Beevor

Reading our history, particularly in times like these, is always interesting. I’ve read this book before and found it hard going, but this time round I found it hard to read for a different reason. War is not pretty. And the suffering that was endured was horrific.

By no means a short book but the events of D-Day are well told. I’m no historian but I learnt much from these pages. Would definitely recommend it. Things like these shouldn’t be forgotten and acts of bravery and endurance of suffering didn’t stop there. Just as we need to remember what happened 80ish years ago, so we the events of today will also be recorded with their acts of bravery and suffering.

Maybe not the most uplifting book to read at this time, but maybe it would be inspiring. And it’s probably long enough to see you through until this is over. 

Sofa Spotlight - Mission Matters, Tim Chester

This was another Christmas read that was quickly devoured. Having said that, I actually ended up rereading parts of it and there was a one particular section that will stay with me for a long time. For such a short book there’s a lot packed into it and I found it to be very inspiring.

And it’s an interesting colour.

What I found so good about this book was the weaving together of what the Bible says about mission and the history of mission. I think it’s very easy to forget that as people of God we have been sent to tell people the good news about what God has done. And I don’t often reflect on how effective that has been in the past or on the bravery of people who went to share the gospel with people who would otherwise have never heard.

Thinking about how we can fulfil this when we are all self isolating and staying home is a bit trickier and I don’t think many of us would have foreseen circumstances like ours today. Still the Word of God does still get out and about and it’s great to see that it is not bound by the virus.