I've had a whole day to read and this is what happened:
A Life's Ambition - Alexandre Dumas
The adventures I've been reading about have been funny. He is now in a tropical location fighting off snakes and trying to earn a living.
The Journal of Madame Giovanni - Alexandre Dumas
War between the British and Maori tribes has just brought her visit to New Zealand to an end. Not sure where she will end up next.
The Prince of Thieves - Alexandre Dumas
Shocking revelations, turns out Robin Hood is really the Earl of Huntingdon. Will he be able to take back his title and lands? More excitement than a soap opera.
The Scarlet Letter and Selected Tales - Nathaniel Hawthorne
It is much better the second time round, I am enjoying his description more than in his other books. Although it has not been said I think that we all know who the father of Pearl is!
Deception Point - Dan Brown
I am very surprised but I like this book a lot. I know it has been out for ages and I'm slow in getting to read it, but I am very glad that I did. It is different to the Langdon stories and I think I like that there isn't much cultural information to absorb - I'm all about getting to the story.
Monday, 30 June 2014
Sunday, 29 June 2014
What's on the shelf?
A Book of Narrative Verse - compiled by V. H. Collins
The Cuckoo's Calling - Robert Galbraith
Racing Through the Dark - The Fall and Rise of David Millar
A Life's Ambition - Alexandre Dumas
The Journal of Madame Giovanni - Alexandre Dumas
The Prince of Thieves - Alexandre Dumas
Le Tour - Geoffrey Wheatcroft
Sweet Poison - David Gillespie
On Looking - Alexandra Horowitz
Time Warped - Claudia Hammond
The Scarlet Letter and Selected Tales - Nathaniel Hawthorne
Deception Point - Dan Brown
The Cuckoo's Calling - Robert Galbraith
Racing Through the Dark - The Fall and Rise of David Millar
A Life's Ambition - Alexandre Dumas
The Journal of Madame Giovanni - Alexandre Dumas
The Prince of Thieves - Alexandre Dumas
Le Tour - Geoffrey Wheatcroft
Sweet Poison - David Gillespie
On Looking - Alexandra Horowitz
Time Warped - Claudia Hammond
The Scarlet Letter and Selected Tales - Nathaniel Hawthorne
Deception Point - Dan Brown
Saturday, 28 June 2014
Cycle to work madness...
A couple of weeks ago I decided that it would be fun to cycle to work. Work is twenty miles away by bike and so I thought it would be easy enough to get there.
I was right in that it was fun. I was wrong when I thought it would be easy. The first half was alright, but then the path along the canal disappeared and I was left to cycle on grass at best and rocky bumps at worst. It wasn't long before I decided to get off the canal towpath and take to the roads.
A smart move until I got lost. Well sort of lost, I had a rough idea where I was. Even so I had to ask for directions. I did get to work, and was feeling satisfied as I went to lock my bike up. The satisfaction didn't last long when my bike lock broke in my hands. (How do these things break?) I was so baffled by such an unexpected event that I just stood and looked at it for a while, before I went in search of a solution.
Exercise before work is great, I enjoyed the experience. However, for my body cycling equates to holiday time, which equates to afternoon naps. By mid afternoon I was fighting to stay awake, and at the end of the day getting the train home seemed a better option.
I was right in that it was fun. I was wrong when I thought it would be easy. The first half was alright, but then the path along the canal disappeared and I was left to cycle on grass at best and rocky bumps at worst. It wasn't long before I decided to get off the canal towpath and take to the roads.A smart move until I got lost. Well sort of lost, I had a rough idea where I was. Even so I had to ask for directions. I did get to work, and was feeling satisfied as I went to lock my bike up. The satisfaction didn't last long when my bike lock broke in my hands. (How do these things break?) I was so baffled by such an unexpected event that I just stood and looked at it for a while, before I went in search of a solution.
Exercise before work is great, I enjoyed the experience. However, for my body cycling equates to holiday time, which equates to afternoon naps. By mid afternoon I was fighting to stay awake, and at the end of the day getting the train home seemed a better option.
Thursday, 26 June 2014
Three Reasons to Read Dan Brown
Dan Brown might not be your cup of tea but here are three reasons why I think he might be worth a read:
1. He knows how to keep you reading.
If you like reading stuff that keeps you on the edge of your seat, then Dan Brown is the author for you. He has got the art of suspense mastered. His chapters are short so you end up thinking that there is always time for one more, and he makes good use of cliffhangers.
2. Reading his books means you have to know what the Bible says.
Some of the topics that Dan Brown covers in his novels are controversial, but if you know your Bible then you can work out what the truth is. And these novels are fiction, not fact. Whatever you do in life or whatever you read, regardless of whether it is Dan Brown or not, you will find ideas that go against what the Bible teaches. Probably not a bad idea to know what the Bible has to say.
3. You might learn something
The last Dan Brown book I read was Inferno. Before reading it I knew nothing about Dante or what he wrote, other than that he wrote something. Since reading that novel, stuff like finding out about Dante and reading some of his works have found their way onto my to do list.
My favourite Dan Brown novels are below.
1. He knows how to keep you reading.
If you like reading stuff that keeps you on the edge of your seat, then Dan Brown is the author for you. He has got the art of suspense mastered. His chapters are short so you end up thinking that there is always time for one more, and he makes good use of cliffhangers.
2. Reading his books means you have to know what the Bible says.
Some of the topics that Dan Brown covers in his novels are controversial, but if you know your Bible then you can work out what the truth is. And these novels are fiction, not fact. Whatever you do in life or whatever you read, regardless of whether it is Dan Brown or not, you will find ideas that go against what the Bible teaches. Probably not a bad idea to know what the Bible has to say.
3. You might learn something
The last Dan Brown book I read was Inferno. Before reading it I knew nothing about Dante or what he wrote, other than that he wrote something. Since reading that novel, stuff like finding out about Dante and reading some of his works have found their way onto my to do list.
My favourite Dan Brown novels are below.
Wednesday, 25 June 2014
As challenges go...
It is not looking good for the challenge. Well for me anyway. Check out the star situation below. Even with three stars this week it doesn't look like I will be getting to Hay-on-Wye this year!
Tuesday, 24 June 2014
Sofa Shelf - Brown and Scougal
Some newbies:
Deception Point - Dan Brown
Might as well carry on with the books by Dan Brown that I haven't read. Nice to meet characters other than Robert Langdon, although I still sort of expect him to appear.
The Life of God in the Soul of Man - Henry Scougal
This is a book that I think was written in the 17th Century, and had a big impact on George Whitefield. From what I can gather it is about what it means to be follow Christ, rather than following religion. Anyway I shall find out when I read it.
Deception Point - Dan Brown
Might as well carry on with the books by Dan Brown that I haven't read. Nice to meet characters other than Robert Langdon, although I still sort of expect him to appear.
The Life of God in the Soul of Man - Henry Scougal
This is a book that I think was written in the 17th Century, and had a big impact on George Whitefield. From what I can gather it is about what it means to be follow Christ, rather than following religion. Anyway I shall find out when I read it.
Monday, 23 June 2014
Sofa Shelf Update - Weekend Reading
One Thousand and One Ghosts - Alexandre Dumas
Finished this one, this is what I thought
A Life's Ambition - Alexandre Dumas
The hero has quit acting and returned to his father's house, promised never to act again, and then run away to restart his acting career.
The Journal of Madame Giovanni - Alexandre Dumas
Not read much, but it's interesting to see what Australia was like in the 19th Century.
Time Warped - Claudia Hammond
I am really liking this book. I've finished the first chapter which was all about how we perceive time and what makes it speed up and slow down. Learning a lot.
The Scarlet Letter and Selected Tales - Nathaniel Hawthorne
I think I like this novel better than the others by Hawthorne. Three chapters in and the tension is rising.
Finished this one, this is what I thought
A Life's Ambition - Alexandre Dumas
The hero has quit acting and returned to his father's house, promised never to act again, and then run away to restart his acting career.
The Journal of Madame Giovanni - Alexandre Dumas
Not read much, but it's interesting to see what Australia was like in the 19th Century.
Time Warped - Claudia Hammond
I am really liking this book. I've finished the first chapter which was all about how we perceive time and what makes it speed up and slow down. Learning a lot.
The Scarlet Letter and Selected Tales - Nathaniel Hawthorne
I think I like this novel better than the others by Hawthorne. Three chapters in and the tension is rising.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)