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.