Sofa Spotlight - The Chemist, Stephanie Meyer

I wanted to read this because I wanted to try a book by Stephanie Myer that wasn’t Twilight. And this sounded like a good option, my other choice was The Host, which maybe I will get to later this year.

The Chemist is about a scientist who is on the run from her formal employers, not because she did something wrong, but because she knew too much. Her life is all about staying alive and using various convoluted ways of doing that and staying anonymous. I could definitely relate to her as someone who thinks through all the possible scenarios, but not because it’s a life and death thing to me, it’s a be the most efficient I can be thing.

As the story starts she is contacted by the people she used to work for and that throws her for a loop, and the rest of the story is about watching her make choices that she never thought she would make. All that thinking every detail through – it’s gone. And that kind of made me lose a bit of respect for her, but then I’m not in her shoes experiencing what she was.

For me this was very entertaining, there were a few mushy scenes worthy of Twilight, but on the whole it had me semi-guessing what was coming next and the ending was rather pleasing.

Sofa Spotlight - Cumulative Advantage, Mark W Schaefer

The basic premise of this book is that everyone has something that they can build on, some kind of advantage, and if you get the timing right, you can keep building on that advantage to reach your goal.

The principle is to do with what is called the Matthew Effect, taken from Matthew 25:29 which reads: “For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them.” And instantly I’m kind of ticked off because it might be a nice little soundbite that in some way reflects how the world works – the rich get richer while the poor get poorer. But when you look at the context of what Jesus is saying you see that it isn’t a commentary on how society’s work. Where this little soundbite sits is in a wider narrative, where Jesus is talking about the end of time and what it will be like to stand before God as the judge. It’s not about making money or achieving goals. It’s about making sure that we’ve made the most of the truth that we know about God, and that we won’t have any reason to be ashamed when we stand before Him.

Anyway after I’d got over my confusion of how that verse from Matthew was being used I thought that maybe there was something to this book. Maybe in a spiritual sense we should be looking at what we have and using it to have cumulative advantage in spiritual growth. And growing to be more like Christ is a goal, right?

For goal achievement I think this a great book. It is very clear and each section has a handy diagram, which as a visual learner I enjoyed very much. And what I liked about the conclusion of the book was the way Schaefer wasn’t worried that his goals might not be the same as everyone else, but he is doing what has value for him. That for me was a good takeaway and I appreciated his honesty. And in fact, the final part of the book felt very honest. What came across was that he felt no pressure to try and reach the top and have it all, but freedom to choose to do ordinary things well and add value to other people. I suppose for me that is more of a spiritual thing than a material thing.

Sofa Spotlight - Jane Austen: Her Life, Park Honan

If you’re anything like me you’ve probably grown up knowing the classic works of Jane Austen. You’ve probably even studied a few. I remember studying Pride and Prejudice at 16 and being amazed at how much was in it. From there the door was open to go and explore the other works, and whenever I read them I love them just as much as the first time I read them.

So then it occurred to me that I didn’t know much about Jane Austen. In an effort to correct that I picked up this biography of her life. And, I’m not going to lie, it was hard going. But in the spirit of not giving up on a book, I persevered. And I’m half glad I did. I accomplished the goal of learning more about Jane Austen, but I also feel that I could have chosen a better option. And if you know of an informative and fairly easy read biography then I’m all ears. Let me know.

Sofa Spotlight - Resthaven, Erik Therme

This book felt like a horror but without the really scary stuff that makes horror unbearable for me. Resthaven is a bout a group of teenage girls that find themselves trapped in a supposedly empty care home, which is set to be demolished.

Obviously, the care home is not empty and there’s all sorts of adventures to be had as they look for a way out. The ending is excellent in how dramatic it is and is open ended so there’s space for imagination and thought as to what happens next to the main characters.

For me this was a fun thriller without being too frightening and without a load of gore that I’m not a huge fan of. And the feeling I had although the way through was that I wasn’t going to read anything graphic and so it was quite a safe read in that sense. Would recommend if you’re looking for something quick, light and intriguing.

Sofa Spotlight: So Much More Than A Headache, Kathleen O'Shea

To me this was a very significant book to read. I’ve lived with migraines for 15 years and not once did I ever think to see if there was any literature about migraines. Turns out that there’s quite a bit. Which is what this anthology is made up of.

It goes without saying that this book was of interest to me. At the start there is a recommendation that those who don’t have migraines would benefit from reading it, to give an understand of what those who suffer with migraines experience. And I do agree with that, but I think for those readers dipping in and out of different sections would be more beneficial than trying to consume the whole thing.

The anthology is very well structured, each section following a different part of the migraine episode. I don’t often experience aura with my migraines but it was interesting to see and feel what that would be like. And I think that is what is so great about this read, it allows you to step into the shoes of someone who has a migraine and feel what it is like. For me there was a great relief in knowing that I’m not alone with these experiences and there are others who go through the same thought processes and worries.

For me what I found to be most helpful was learning how different people have learnt to live with their migraines. It removed some of the pressure of looking for a cure or a trigger to avoid. I’ve been inspired to think about my migraine life differently – to be thankful for the good days and enjoy them, and to weather the migraine days and not feel guilty about them.

Sofa Spotlight - The Jesus Way, Eugene Peterson

The Jesus Way feels like a continuation of Christ Plays in Ten Thousand Places. But for me it felt a bit of an easier read. This book deals with the different ways we can live life, what can motivate and drive us, and compares them to the way that Jesus has showed us we can live, when we follow Him.

I think it can be very easy to get caught up in how seeking money or glory or power can look good on the surface. This book really takes these other lifestyles apart, piece by piece, and reveals how they may look good, but they don’t end with satisfaction. Following Jesus is the other way around. On the surface it looks hard, and a bit stupid. But Peterson examines what makes following Jesus hard, but also worthwhile and ultimately the best way to live.

This is definitely one that I would recommend, it requires a bit of thought so maybe have a coffee on hand.

Sofa Spotlight - I Know You, Erik Therme

I love these books because they are an entertaining read. They don’t demand anything from you, all you have to do is make your coffee and settle in for a good ride. The only thing that I take for granted with these books is that it will have some weird twists and the most unlikely of people will be behind what’s going on.

I Know You is about Bree Walker’s journey to uncover what has become of her sister Alissa. Alissa storms out one day after an argument and although she doesn’t return, her backpack and creepy message do. Along the way Bree teams up, albeit reluctantly, with Alissa’s friend and together they start to track down Alissa.

It’s not a long book, but it’s full of action and very fast paced. For a quick and easy read it’s great, but I would love to see more character development and maybe a bit of a slow build. But it certainly gets the imagination going and even if the plot isn’t quite believable it’s a good story.