The Sofa Shelf

Just one new book on the shelf this week.


The Woodlanders - Thomas Hardy

This is the last Hardy that I'm planning to read on this visit to his works. I'm thinking that it probably won't be a happy ending, but then you never know. Apparently it was one of Hardy's favourite stories. I've only read the preface which is all about the location of the novel's setting. Not knowing the area it didn't mean that much to me, but maybe one day I might have a cycling adventure in that part of the country. Has anyone read it? What did you think?

Sofa Shelf Update

I've finished two of the books that were on the shelf. Here is how I'm getting on with the rest of them.

Compared to Her - Sophie de Witt

This is one that I've finished. Find out what I thought about it here. 

A Book of Narrative Verse - compiled by V. H. Collins

Over the weekend I fell asleep reading it! I've got past the Chaucer poems and Old Ballads, neither of which I understood. Tonight I read extracts from work by Edmund Spenser and John Milton. Milton was the best so far but even that I found hard work. Does anyone else have this problem or is there something that I am missing? 

The Cuckoo's Calling - Robert Galbraith

Love it. Not that far through but I'm enjoying the build up of the main characters. However, I am learning that I wouldn't make a very good detective. Looking forward to my next reading session of this.

Racing Through the Dark - The Fall and Rise of David Millar

Sadly not had a chance to read any of this recently. Did some actual cycling instead though. 

Holiness - J. C. Ryle

I'm not far from finishing this and it has been a challenge. Not only does it require a fair bit of concentration but it doesn't leave you feeling warm and cosy. So far I am beginning to realise that I don't come anywhere close to the standard of holiness that God requires. Makes me very glad that Jesus met that requirement on my behalf, but also it pushes me to think about how I am responding to God's mercy. Watch this space. 

Wessex Tales - Thomas Hardy

Finished this one at the weekend. Read about it here.

The Da Vinci Code - Dan Brown

So far it's ok, not grabbing my attention yet though. I'm about a third of the way through so still time for me to get into it. 

The Sofa Shelf

There are four new books on the Sofa Shelf this week. If you want to know what books were already on the shelf you can see them here: http://onthearmofthesofa.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/the-sofa-shelf.html and you can find out how I'm getting on with them here: http://onthearmofthesofa.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/sofa-shelf-update.html

It's a bit of mix this week:

Racing Through the Dark - The Fall and Rise of David Millar

This is an autobiography of Garmin-Sharp, pro-cyclist, David Millar. It's the first time I have read an autobiography and I'm excited about the new experience. I've chosen an autobiography of a cyclist because after reading cycling is my great love. If I could work out a way to do both of them together I would. The world stops for me in July with the Tour de France. It was while watching the Tour de France that I first heard of David Millar. I didn't start watching the Tour until a few years ago and the first time I saw David Millar he was responding to an interview by talking about his return to the sport from a doping ban. Reading this book is my way of trying to get an insight into this part of the cycling world, a side of the sport I know very little about. Incidentally this book was written before Lance Armstrong confessed to doping.

Holiness - J. C. Ryle

J. C. Ryle is one of my favourite Christian writers. What I love about the way he writes is the concern he has for his readers. There is no getting away from the fact that he truly cares for those who read his books. I haven't read Holiness before but already I'm feeling deeply challenged. You would need to have a heart of stone not to be moved by the way he pleads with his reader to put their trust in Jesus for salvation or, if they have already done so, to press on and not be lazy in the way they live for Jesus in this life.

Wessex Tales - Thomas Hardy

It's Hardy again. This time it is a book of his short stories that I picked up in a second hand bookshop in Sheringham, Norfolk. Some of them I have read before, but I enjoyed them so much the first time that I'm looking forward to reading them again. I've read the first one in this collection called The Three Strangers and it was just as good the second time round.

The Da Vinci Code - Dan Brown

I read this book in 2009 and didn't enjoy it. The aspects of the book that I found irritating are probably the ones that make you want to keep reading. For example the short chapters, some no longer than a page, that end on a cliff-hanger so that you jump to the next chapter without thinking about pausing for a break. However, I've just recently finished reading Angels and Demons and I did enjoy that, without finding the short chapters annoying. What I am finding interesting is the striking similarity between the beginning of both books. Robert Langdon awoken in the middle of the night to be consulted about a grim murder. A mysterious assassin hired by an anonymous agent. I'm not sure how I feel about books in a series that follow a formula. When this book came out there was a fair bit of controversy surrounding it concerning the subject that it covers. It seems to me that most of that has died down now, but one thing I will be doing while reading this book is to make sure that I know the reasons for believing what I do.

Let me know what you think of my choices and if you have read any of them.

Sofa Shelf Update

This is a little update on how I'm doing with the books that I talked about on the Sofa Shelf last week. If you missed it you can catch up here:  http://onthearmofthesofa.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/the-sofa-shelf.html

Compared to Her - Sophie de Witt 

I'm halfway through and have quickly found that this book does have something to say to me. It's the sort of book that I find myself thinking about all the time. So far I've been shocked at how much time I spend comparing myself to others - suppose it is in the title. Looking forward to how it concludes, not looking forward to the changes I may have to make to my thinking.

A Book of Narrative Verse - compiled by V H Collins

Since last week I've managed one poem and it took me an hour to get through. It was by Chaucer and I didn't like it. Mainly because it took me an hour, but also because I couldn't understand most of it - please don't ask me to tell you what it was about because the best I could give you would be an educated guess. Not sure how I feel about trying another.

The Well-Beloved - Thomas Hardy

I finished this one. You can see what I thought about it here:  http://onthearmofthesofa.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/sofa-spotlight-well-beloved-thomas-hardy.html

The Cuckoo's Calling

Got a bit of time to read this one but not much, which is disappointing because I'm really enjoying it.

There's some new books coming up on the Sofa Shelf. Keep your eyes peeled for them.

The Sofa Shelf

There are currently four books on the shelf:

Compared to Her - Sophie de Witt 

I'm reading this one because an old housemate recommended it last May and it's about time I got on with reading it! My housemate made brilliant cake, so hopefully her book recommendations are just as good. Shame she isn't here to bring me a piece of cake while I read it. I have to say that it's not a book I would choose to read. The blurb says that it is a book about 'Compulsive Comparison Syndrome' - not something I have thought much about. Maybe that is a good enough reason to read it in itself. So far I've read the introduction and I'm intrigued.

A Book of Narrative Verse - compiled by V. H. Collins

Poetry isn't a genre I enjoy. I've tried a few times and this is my latest attempt. It's on loan from my Dad, I'm not sure where or when he got it but it's the 1972 edition. I've no idea who V H Collins is either, so I'm going in blind, but hopefully it will be an experience that I will enjoy. Again all I've read so far is the introduction.

The Well-Beloved - Thomas Hardy

For the past six months I've been working my way through Hardy's works. I haven't read all of his novels and I probably won't on this visit, but what I have read I have enjoyed. I certainly haven't tried his poetry -
not brave enough for that yet. The cover of this book is truly awful. It's another edition from the 1970s, which may explain the cover. I'll let you see it in a later post. I picked it up in a charity shop for not many pennies so I can't complain. I've got further than the introduction with this one, in fact I've nearly finished it. I'll let you know what I'm thinking about it soon.

The Cuckoo's Calling - Robert Galbraith

This is J. K. Rowling writing a crime novel. I've never read any of the Harry Potter books - they don't appeal to me - so I can't compare the two. What I have read of this seems really good. I'm glad to be trying a bit of crime fiction, I can't remember having read any before. I have it on loan from a friend, if the whole book is as good as what I have read so far I will be taking more recommendations from her!


I'm interested to know what you think about my choice of books, and if you agree with what I think of them.