Not Just Reading

Karen Armstrong - Through the Narrow Gate -2010/048

2010-12-04T09:22:00.000-08:00

I decided to re-read this first volume of Karen Armstrong's autobiography when the second (The Spiral Staircase) came to the top of Mt ToBeRead. I remembered most of the content - Karen is a former nun and this book explains why - but I'd forgotten how deeply moving I'd found it. This time around I think I only cried twice.

Last time I read Through the Narrow Gate, was either just before or during my journey to converting to Catholicism through the RCIA process. The Roman Catholic Church has changed a great deal since the 1960s when Karen was in her convent but, even so, I feel there was less I simply did not understand this time around. That said, Karen is excellent at explaining (as one would expect from such an established writer of religious non-fiction) but she doesn't go into the nuts and bolts of Catholicism in this book. Instead, she's focussed on her own spiritual journey in, and out, of a religious Order.

This could be a depressing book and, indeed, I believe Karen was probably depressed during some of the events she describes. In the Introduction she admits to having written several drafts which were 'black and angry' but the finished item is warm and engaging. Although she does not spare herself (or the Order) a long, hard look, she is generous with what she finds.

I'm looking forward to reading The Spiral Staircase when I'm finished my current book - Lisa Bevere's You are not What You Weigh.

John & Stasi Eldredge - Captivating - 2010/047

2010-12-01T05:55:00.000-08:00

I was asked to read this title by the lovely people at BookSneeze and can only apologise for taking so long to do so.

This is a new edition of Captivating (a title I've read before) and have greatly enjoyed revisiting. It contains some new material but is basically a re-release of the rather battered paperback I already own.

The Eldredges have a theory. They believe that every woman (and every man for that matter) is born with a Question etched on their heart which only God can answer. It is in looking to other sources for answers that we tie our selves in knots, hurt others and open our arms to the Enemy (Satan). Captivating makes extensive use of the Bible (starting right back with Genesis) to explain why this is so and then offers a Biblical alternative.

As I read this book I found myself drawn in by the excellent writing and entirely agreeing with the authors - yes, I have a Question. Yes, I've looked for answers in all the wrong places. Yes, I've been wounded and, yes, I want Jesus to heal me. I've found that my faith has been rekindled and, for the first time in a while, I'm spending quality time with Him.

Although there were areas of this book with which I was less comfortable - I'm not big on spiritual warfare - there's enough here for me to mull over and work on without focussing on that aspect. Although I know the Eldredges have their critics, think this is one of the best books on femininity that I have read.

Deanne Gist - A Bride in the Bargain - 2010/046

2010-11-26T10:42:00.001-08:00

Just a brief review of this one as I read it some time ago and just didn’t have a chance to do anything with it before going on holiday.

I think this may be my favourite Deanne Gist book thus far. It has an intricate, fact-based plot and such rich, well-developed characters that live on in my imagination.

This is an unmistakeably Christian romantic fiction but it’s the most – erm – raunchy of the genre I’ve read. We’re not talking gratuitous sex scenes here, but there were a few passages which could have graced the pages of Mills & Boon!

I’m really looking forward to my next Deanne Gist and would thoroughly recommend this title.

Moving Home

2010-04-17T09:27:00.000-07:00

I moved house and forgot to tell you - I'm so sorry!

You can find me at:

NotJustLaura

Hope to see you there soon.

31. Karen Armstrong - Through the Narrow Gate

2009-07-19T04:48:00.001-07:00

What a powerful book! Ms Armstrong’s writing is beautiful even when what she must describe is not. She does not spare herself in this chronicle of her years as a nun but neither does she spare the Church or the Order of which she was a part. I found the narrative equally disturbing and enlightening. It was disturbing because I have certain character traits in common with the author and enlightening because she has found an alternative way forward. I look forward to reading the next instalment of her autobiography and shall look out for her other works.

30. Khaled Hosseini - A Thousand Splendid Suns

2009-07-13T06:55:00.001-07:00

I bought this book fully expecting something very like The Kite Runner. In fact, I don’t think I bothered to read the blurb on the back page beyond ‘By the author of The Kite Runner.’ Having read it – both book and back page – I am a little disappointed.

Mr Hosseini’s main characters in this book are female – Mariam and Laila – while those of The Kite Runner are male. I’m never very sure about male authors writing female characters and I’m sure that speaks volumes of my own prejudices. In my eyes, Mr Hosseini struck perfection in The Kite Runner. This time around, however, he has just missed the mark and I can only attribute the slippage to those female characters.

The story is engaging and exquisitely plotted. The first shift from Mariam to Laila left me feeling a little lost but actually sits well within the overall structure of the book (so do read past this). Some of the scenes are brutal but, I think, each was necessary in this retelling of Afghanistan’s story, from a woman’s point of view.

The overall, lingering effect is one of sadness. I have, however, been educated as well as entertained and I think that this is likely Mr Hosseini’s intention.

29. Donald Zochert - Laura

2009-07-11T04:49:00.000-07:00

This was a fascinating account of Laura and her family which, I believe, holds to the truth. I feel great love for the characters Mr Zochert has introduced me to and wish, once again, that I could know them in person.

28. Debbie Macomber - 16 Lighthouse Road

2009-07-08T06:45:00.000-07:00

This is the second Macomber book I’ve read and I enjoyed it rather more than the first. 16 Lighthouse Road is the first of the ‘Cedar Cove’ series and chronicles a year in the life of Olivia and her friends and family. I found the beginning of the book a bit tedious – there was a lot of telling and not so much showing – but I soon found myself so enchanted with Ms Macomber’s skilful characterisation and nimble plotting that the pages flew by. I’m already looking forward to the next instalment.

27. Martin Meredith - The State of Africa

2009-06-22T04:14:00.000-07:00

I’m feeling very proud of myself for having read this book. As one reviewer said:

“The State of Africa is a heavy book, but it is light reading because it is so unfashionably straightforward.” Wall Street Journal

To be honest, I’m not even very sure why this book is in my library or why it survived the cull. I’ve nearly given it away unread on several occasions. I felt intimidated by its size and unsure of my ability to understand the content – or even be particularly interested in it. I like history but not modern, international history. I’ve studied politics and didn’t enjoy it. And I tried economics in my first year of University and changed courses after the first tutorial.

Mr Meredith chronicles the past 50 years (1955 – 2005) of African political and economic history in a manner which I found captivating. It’s not that I enjoyed reading about famine and genocide – I didn’t and remain haunted by some passages – but his approach in following the ‘Big Men’ who shaped modern Africa (for better or for worse) and the quality of his writing have created a page-turner that also serves to educate. It is to be hoped that the book reaches a wide audience who, perhaps, like me start reading without really knowing why.

26. Andrea Busfield - Born Under a Million Shadows

2009-06-14T04:53:00.000-07:00

The cover of this book reminds me strongly of The Kite Runner but the story it tells is different. Ms Busfield’s is a grittier Afghanistan, seen through the eyes of Fawad – an 11 year old boy whose family is scarred forever by the Taliban. Fortune smiles on Fawad and his mother, however, when she finds work as a housekeeper for an Englishwoman named Georgie and with whom Fawad promptly falls in love.

This is much more than a romance novel, however. Ms Busfield’s characters often adopt the tone of lecturers as Fawad and the reader learn more about Afghanistan. At first, I found this rather irritating – if I’d wanted to read non-fiction I would have done so – but I was soon so immersed in the lives presented to me that the pages turned easily and I’m sorry now to have finished and to be leaving them behind. Ms Busfield has tied up all the loose ends very neatly and without, I think, leaving herself space for a sequel but I do hope this is not the first and the last book we shall see from her.

25. Micca Campbell - An Untroubled Heart

2009-06-11T07:22:00.000-07:00

I really chose this book because I loved the cover – the content was incidental. It is an exhortation to Christian women to live free from anxiety and fear and, as I have mental health problems and live with anxiety, I thought I would find it very relevant. It’s a shame I didn’t but I don’t blame Mrs Campbell in the least.

In this book, she presents the promises of God and suggests that the reader stand on those promises using faith to battle fear. I read the promises and wished I believed them. At this moment, however, I don’t. And my anxiety is too amorphous to be answered with a Bible verse, however well-chosen. So, this wasn’t really the right book for me and, to be perfectly fair, I doubt that I am quite the target audience.

Mrs Campbell’s writing is bright and clear, warm and friendly. She also speaks with great authority having gone through her trials and found her God. I think this would be a great book for any Christian woman who needs encouragement to step forth fearlessly in her day-to-day life.

24. Kathleen Y'Barbo - Golden Twilight

2009-06-08T08:46:00.000-07:00

I found myself reluctant to read this book when it found its way to the head of Mt ToBeRead. I’m really not in the mood for Christian fiction or romance books and this promised (and delivered) both.

The first part of the novel is a bit disjointed – Where did Fiona get her medical skills? How’s she paying for college? These questions are never really answered. Of course, it doesn’t really matter but I’m someone who likes the facts to be accounted for. It’s only a short book and the writing style was pleasant so I decided to continue.

I’m glad I did. The second half of the book is much improved and, as Ms Y’Barbo wove her web of romantic mystery, I found myself well and truly sucked in. Yes, there are gaps in the narrative. No, there’s no good description of people or places. But, ‘What happens next?’ was constantly on my mind as the pages turned.

I may not seek out more from this author but I do owe her the debt of a pleasant afternoon.

23. Anne Graham - Womanhood Revisited

2009-06-07T13:17:00.001-07:00

When I saw this book in the shop I mistakenly thought it was written by Billy Graham’s wife. It’s not – Anne Graham is a Pastor’s wife, certainly, but she’s a British lady. I’ve since remembered that Billy Graham’s wife’s name is Ruth. But I digress.

Mrs Graham writes well and, although I didn’t agree with all her sentiments, I enjoyed reading her, carefully researched, book.

She opens by giving biographical accounts of the women in her family and then looks at the way religion and philosophy have changed over the years. She then moves on to women in the Bible before looking at the lives of women today – as they are and as she thinks they should be.

This is an anti-feminist book and I found some of Mrs Graham’s claims about feminism alarming. I struggle too with her picture of what a woman’s life ‘should’ be like when I compare myself to her ideal. Having just finished the book, I’m left with a feeling of unease and a lot of ideas to think through. I have a feeling that this was Mrs Graham’s intention and, therefore, the book has done its work.

22. Roger Lea MacBride - Little House on Rocky Ridge

2009-06-04T06:20:00.000-07:00

I was excited to read this next instalment of the Ingalls-Wilder family’s story, if a little apprehensive – how could Mr MacBride possibly do justice to such well-loved characters?

The first half of this book was a rather disappointing re-telling of the journey from South Dakota to Missouri which Laura covered in On the Way Home. I wonder whether it was really necessary for Mr MacBride to make such a thorough work of this when we already have Laura’s own account? Beside this, the MacBride version lacks sparkle and immediacy.

Once the Wilders are at their new home, however, my enjoyment grew as I read and I’m now looking forward to reading the rest of the series. My criticism is that Mr MacBride focuses strongly on events rather than characters. In fairness, it’s possible that Laura does also but, as the reader is already engaged by her own character as shown by the events she relates, one does not notice. I will be interested to see if the characters are developed further as the series progresses. I very much hope that they are.

21. Jon McGregor - If Nobody Speaks of Remarkable Things

2009-05-31T09:36:00.001-07:00

I was persuaded to read this book by two friends as we all wanted to discover the nature of the ‘terrible event’ alluded to on the back cover. However, I don’t feel I drew the short straw in having to do the actual reading - it was a breathless delight I would have hated to miss.

It’s a little difficult to tell you what the book is ‘about’ as few of the characters are named. Basically, there are two narrative strands. The first is tied to one street of a city on a hot, summer’s day. There’s an injured man caring for his daughter. Students are returning from a party. A young man reaches for eye-drops. A family gets breakfast. The characters are identified as ‘the man from number twenty-two’ and, at first, it was hard to remember who was who. I soon realised that who lived in what house wasn’t really important though and found my way through the text by virtue of each character’s unique identifier – age, moustache, illness.

The second strand visits one of the street’s residents at a point in the future. She has moved away. She’s lost touch with friends. She’s lost. And it’s really impossible to say more without spoiling your reading – and I do heartily recommend that you read this book for yourself.

Mr McGregor’s writing is beautiful and reminded me of Michael Ondaatje’s The English Patient in tone and pacing. I seemed to float from one scene to the next, from one narrative to the next as he drew me inexorably onwards to that terrible conclusion. There is a ‘terrible event’. But you will have to find out about it for yourself.

IB - Anne Graham - Womanhood Revisited

2009-05-03T12:45:00.000-07:00

Title: Womanhood Revisited

Author: Anne Graham

Publisher: Christian Focus

ISBN: 1857926854

Price: £7.99

The Back of the Book: Why do so many full-time mothers and homemakers feel inferior to career women?

Why do women feel they need to be more like men to be seen to be successful?

We have had over 35 years of feminism attempting to right the many wrongs of an immoral, patriarchal society. After a generation of discord and the removal of any preconceived gender roles the question has to be asked where are we now, and where are we going?

In her book Anne Graham suggests it is time to revisit the perfection of creation where woman was created for and from man - equal in value yet different in purpose, to live in co-operation and not competition.

This is a controversial book in the light of feminist teaching on the subject, but the author uses history, scripture and personal experience to make her case.

Why I Chose This Book: I am intrigued to read something by Anne Graham having seen her much lauded by other authors whose work I've enjoyed. To find her writing on the subject that interests me really sealed the deal - even though I don't like the cover!

IB - Micca Campbell - An Untroubled Heart

2009-05-02T12:38:00.001-07:00

Title: An Untroubled Heart

Author: Micca Campbell

Publisher: David Cook

ISBN: 9781434767974

Price: £9.99

The Back of the Book: Replace your fear with faith.

Today's world is anything but secure. We live in unstable times filled with conflict, economic uncertainties, and moral collapse. And because life is so unpredictable, fear and anxiety can become a daily reality.

Micca Campbell knows all too well the unpredictable nature of life As the twenty-one-year-old mother of an infant son, her world was shattered when she lost her husband in a tragic accident. Reeling from her loss, Micca feared for her future and struggled to overcome her aching loneliness. Yet in her darkest moment, God began to teach her His remedy for our deepest fears.

Now Micca presents a woman's guide for living a carefree, worry-free life. Micca explors the anxieties of every woman's heart - from insecurities, to finances, to marital challenges, to raising healthy children. With her distinctive southern flair and casual humor, Micca shares remarkable insights for becoming free from fear. You'll be encouraged to lay down your worries, trust in your heavenly Father, and embrace a life marked by peace and joy.

Why I Chose This Book: I battle anxiety on a daily basis so I'm always interested to try new ways of managing it. Plus, I really liked the cover ...

IB - Tom Cox - Under the Paw

2009-05-02T02:53:00.000-07:00

Title: Under the Paw

Author: Tom Cox

Publisher: Pocket Books

ISBN: 9781847391834

Price: £7.99

The Back of the Book: For years, Tom Cox might have seemed like a regular sort of bloke - a lover of late nights, rock music and beer - but he had a dark, furry secret. tom was a cat lover. For a while, he kept his passion in check, but then he met Dee, his moggy-loving soulmate. He left London and his job as a rock critic behind and he and Dee, her cat Janet and three new kittens moved to a remote part of Norfolk, thinking their cat madness had reached its limit. They were wrong.

In Under the Paw, Tom records the chaos of owning seven of the most charismatic, idiotic and duplicitous cats in the country. On call round the clock for multiple sets of whiskers, Tom encounters death, depression, flying fur and the first human sentence spoken by a feline. And then there is the heartbreaking story of The Bear, his oldest cat: a 'painfully sensitive' survivor moggy who may or may not be an evil genius.

Why I Chose This Book: I was looking for the second book for the offer I took up yesterday and saw the cat on the cover. What more can I say?

20. William Anderson -Laura Ingalls Wilder

2009-05-01T08:01:00.000-07:00

This is the first biography of Laura that I have read and I have to confess to being a little apprehensive about it – I love the ‘Little House’ books and didn’t want to be disillusioned by another author telling me that they are fairy stories. But I’ve found out that they are not! In addition to filling in the gaps of Laura’s life, Mr Anderson explains that Laura wanted the books to be autobiographical and accurate in their retelling of historical facts.

Although parts of this book were very sad, it was still an enjoyable and formative read and, I think, a good bridge between the children’s books that Laura wrote and the more serious side of history.

IB - Andrea Busfield - Born Under a Million Shadows

2009-05-01T02:49:00.000-07:00

Title: Born Under a Million Shadows

Author: Andrea Busfield

Publisher: Transworld

ISBN: 9780552775632

Price: £6.99

The Back of the Book: The Taliban have disappeared from Kabul's streets, but the long shadows of their brutal regime remain ...

In his short life eleven-year-old Fawad has known more grief than most: his father and brother have been killed, his sister has been abducted, and Fawad and his mother, Mariya, must rely on the charity of family to eke out a hand-to-mouth existence. But despite their struggles, Fawad's love of life never fades. Then Mariya finds a position as housekeeper for a charismatic Western woman, Georgie, who Fawad discovers is caught up in a dangerous love affair with the infamous Afghan warlord Haji Khan. At first resentful of Haji Khan's presence, Fawad learns that love can move a man to behave in surprising ways. But even the powerful Haji Khan can't protect Fawad from the next tragedy to blight his young life, a tragedy so devastating that it threatens to destroy the one thing he thought he could never lose: his love for his country.

Why I Chose this Book: Quite simply, I needed cheering up and paperbacks were 2-for-£7 in ASDA. I chose this one because it presents itself similarly to The Kite Runner which I loved. I hope I won't be disappointed!

19. Mimi Spencer - 101 Things to do Before You Diet

2009-04-30T13:03:00.000-07:00

I came to this book looking for an emotional boost to my dieting efforts. Unfortunately, Ms Spencer’s world is so different from mine that I didn’t get much out of large chunks of the book and, indeed, I nearly gave up half-way through. Perhaps I’m not the target audience?

Ms Spencer is a fashion editor who also has well-formed views on the food and diet industries. She advocates the idea that women (and, presumably, men) should ‘get real’ about their bodies, adopt healthy, natural eating practices and keep active. All of this, I understood. Being a fashion editor, she also wrote a lot about fashion and clothes and shoes. And that’s where I got lost. Basically, she has tried to point the reader towards fashion tricks that will flatter a natural figure and help the wearer to feel good about herself. Unfortunately, my knowledge of and interest in fashion just isn’t up to the job. I also found that many of the references to ‘A listers’ flew away over my head before I could try and decipher their meaning.

That said, this was still a motivating read which I’d recommend to women with a few pounds to lose – and an interest in fashion.

IB - Yann Martel - Life of Pi

2009-04-30T12:20:00.000-07:00

Title: Life of Pi

Author: Yann Martel

Publisher: Canongate

ISBN: 184195392X

Price: £7.99

The Back of the Book: After the tragic sinking of a cargo ship, one solitary lifeboat remains bobbing on the wild, blue Pacific. The only survivors from the wreck are a sixteen-year-old boy named Pi, a hyena, a zebra (with a broken leg), a female orang-utan ... and a 450-pound Royal Bengal tiger.

The scene is set for one of the most extraordinary works of fiction in recent years.

Why I Chose This Book: Someone mentioned that I might relate to one of the characters.

IB - Colette Harris & Theresa Cheung - You Can Beat PMS!

2009-04-29T12:15:00.000-07:00

Title: You Can Beat PMS!

Author: Colette Harris and Theresa Cheung

Publisher: Thorsons Element

ISBN: 0007154259

Price: £12.99

The Back of the Book: What do you associate with PMS?

Bloating? Fatigue? Clumsiness? Mood swings? Tender breasts? Disturbed sleep? Sugar cravings? Irrational crying? Forgetfulness? Acne? Weight gain?

If this sounds like you, it needn't for much longer. women's health experts Colette Harris and Theresa Cheung have got together to help you put an end to all your PMS symptoms, so you can feel fit, healthy and happy all month long. all you need to do is follow the 12-week PMS plan and make some simple but permanent lifestyle changes.

* Your PMS symptoms explained - the latest scientific research.

* Clear and easy-to-follow week-by-week plan.

* Nutritional action plan and tasty recipes.

* Enjoyable exercise and other vitality boosters.

* Stress-management techniques to solve mood swings.

* Case studies and real-life stories from fellow sufferers.

Why I Chose This Book: There's really only one reason for reading a book on PMS: you (or someone you know) suffers from PMS. I'm not sure I'll actually do the 12-week plan but I'm hoping to find some knowledge to help me understand my problem and lots of practical suggestions to help with That Time of the Month.

IB - Imran Ahmad - Unimagined

2009-04-28T07:25:00.000-07:00

Title: Unimagined

Author: Imran Ahmad

Publisher: Aurum

ISBN: 9781845133252

Price: £7.99

The Back of the Book: Part Bend it Like Beckham, part Adrian Mole, Unimagined is the hilarious memoir of a Muslim boy born in Pakistan, who moves to London aged one and grows up torn between his Islamic identity and his desire to embrace the West. Imran recalls his childhood in a series of vivid snapshots: outrage as deservd victory is snatched away from him in the Karachi Bonnie Baby contest; bitterness as he is tricked out of his collection of Tarzan bubble-gum cards by junior con artists; the heady taste of early success in the Metropilitan Police schools quiz; joy at passing the entrance exam to the local grammar school; uncertainty as he seeks to become a doctor (like all good Asian boys); bewilderment as he tries to learn about girls at university; and shock at experiencing racism in its many forms.

Unimagined is the endearing sotry of a Middle England everyman who just happens to be Muslim.

Why I Chose this Book: I nearly deleted this book without purchasing a copy when it came to the top of my wishlist as I'm generally more interested in the experience of women than men. However, I'm fairly sure I'd added it in the first place after a very enthusiastic review on a friend's blog so I did buy a copy.

IB - Dava Sobel - Longitude

2009-04-27T07:19:00.000-07:00

Title: Longitude

Author: Dava Sobel

Publisher: Fourth Estate

ISBN: 1857025717

Price: £5.99

The Back of the Book: Longitude is the dramatic human story of an epic scientific quest. The 'longitude problem' was the thorniest dilemma of the eighteenth century. Lacking the ability to measure longitude, sailors throughout the great ages of exploration had been literally lost at sea.

At the heart of Dava Sobel's fascinating brief history of astronomy, navigation and horology stands the figure of John Harrison, self-tuaght Yorkshire clockmaker, and his forty-year obsession with building the perfect timekeeper. attling against the establishment Harrison stood alone in pursuit of his solution and the £20,000 reward offered by Parliament.

Why I Chose this Book: I grew up reading Alexander Kent's Richard Bolitho books and have a lingering interest in sailing ships so, when I encountered this book on Radio 4, I decided I'd enjoy it. As I now have a copy I'll soon find out if I was right.

IB - Tove Jansson - The Summer Book

2009-04-26T07:15:00.000-07:00

Title: The Summer Book

Author: Tove Jansson

Publisher: Sort of Books

ISBN: 0954221710

Price: £6.99

The Back of the Book: A literary gem from the creator of the Moomin books.

Why I Chose this Book: I love summer and, really, that's enough of a reason. And the cover is such a gorgeous shade of blue. But I'm sure I saw it reviewed - last summer, maybe? - and that's how it found its way onto my wishlist.

IB - Edna O'Brien - The Country Girls

2009-04-25T07:07:00.000-07:00

Title: The Country Girls

Author: Edna O'Brien

Publisher: Phoenix

ISBN: 9780752881164

Price: £6.99

The Back of the Book: It is the early 1960s in a country village in Ireland. Caithleen Brady and her attractive friend Baba are on the verge of womanhood and dreaming of spreading their wings in a wider world; of discovering love and luxury and liquor and above all, fun.

With bawdy innocence, shrewd for all their inexperience, the girls romp their way through convent school to the bright lights of Dublin - where Caithleen finds that suave, idealised lovers rarely survive the real world ...

Why I Chose this Book: I think I saw it reviewed somewhere. Having read the back of it, I'm not sure it's my cup of tea but I shall give it a go. Alternatively, it shall gather dust for a while before being sent off to find another reader!

IB: Roger Lea MacBride - Little House on Rocky Ridge

2009-04-20T07:58:00.001-07:00

Title: Little House on Rocky Ridge

Author: Roger Lea MacBride

Publisher: HarperTrophy

ISBN: 0064404781

Price: US$3.95

The Back of the Book: The journey continues ...

Once a long time ago a little girl named Laura Ingalls lived in the Big Woods of Wisconsin, in a little house made of logs. She grew up and wrote nine books about her childhood - the famous Little House stories. Laura had a daughter of her own named Rose, who gre up in the Oark Mountains of Missouri, also in a little house made of logs. Little House on Rocky Ridge is the beginning of Rose's story, which starts where the book The First Four Years ends.

Laura, Almanzo, and Rose say good-bye to Ma and Pa Ingalls and Laura's sisters. In a covered wagon containing all their possessions, they make their way across the drought-stricken Midwest to the lush green valleys of southern Missouri. The journey is long and not always easy. But there is so much to do and see as the landscape changes along the way.

The end of this journey marks a new beginning for the Wilder family: a new home and the promise of hard work, but also of wondrous discoveries and adventures to fill a childhood.

Why I Chose this Book: I couldn't just choose the fiction or non-fiction strands of the Little House tale and, on the fictional strand, this was the next logical place to go. Mr MacBride knew Rose Wilder Lane, Laura's little girl. In fact, she left him the rights to the books and all her papers when she died. This book is marketed as fiction rather than blurring the boundary between fiction and autobiography as the previous Little House books do - I remember having discussions on their genre with a very persistant teacher in HIgh School! - but I am looking forward to it no less for that.

Run and hide

2009-04-17T07:09:00.001-07:00

Providing the island has a well-stocked library and internet access I'm perfectly content, thanks. In fact, I'd probably run and hide if I saw a ship on the horizon and heading our way!

IB: William Anderson - Laura Ingalls Wilder

2009-04-14T09:57:00.000-07:00

Title: Laura Ingalls Wilder

Author: William Anderson

Publisher: Collins

ISBN: 9780060885526

Price: US$6.99

The Back of the Book: The Real-Life Laura. From her pioneer days o the prairie to her golden years with her husband, Almanzo, and teir daughter, Rose, Laura Ingalls Wilder has bcome a friend to all who have read about her adventures. This behind-the-scenes account chronicles the real events in Laura's life that inspired her to write her stories and also describes her life after the last Little House book ends.

Why I Chose this Book: I decided, after reading the last of Mrs Wilder's books, to start reading about her and this was the first biography that popped up on Amazon.

18 - Robert Louis Stevenson - The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde

2009-04-13T05:26:00.000-07:00

I’ve listened to this book via the ‘CraftLit’ Podcast over the past couple of months. I last read it at University so it’s been a while. I’m sure the ending was different so I’m wondering if Mr Stevenson wrote to conclusions? That said, with the very creepy ending I recall, I wouldn’t have chosen to reread it but I’m quite pleased with the ‘new’ closure.

This is the first CraftLit book I’ve heard all the way through and I was very impressed with Heather Ordover’s analysis of the text. She allowed me to feel part of an English study group without sounding like the English teachers I remember from my school days. She doesn’t dumb down at all, despite podcasting for the crafty rather than the literary community, but instead explains each point clearly. The whole is peppered with her observations about her life and crafting endeavours and sealed into a very enjoyable whole. Her voice is easy on the ear as was that of Dr Jekyll’s narrator.

Ms Ordover’s tagline is: ‘If your hands are too busy to pick up a book, at least you can turn one on.’ While she is thinking of crafting, I think I’ve found the perfect companion to a spot of housework on a sunny afternoon.

IB - Amitav Ghosh - Sea of Poppies

2009-04-12T06:44:00.000-07:00

Title: Sea of Poppies

Author: Amitav Ghosh

Publisher: John Murray

ISBN: 9780719568978

Price: £7.99

The Back of the Book: On an old slaving ship named the Ibis, fate has thrown together a motley crew of sailors, coolies and convicts, including a bankrupt raja, a French runaway and a widowed opium framer. As their old family ties are washed away, they come to view themselves as jahaj-bhais or ship-brothers. Set against the backdrop of the Opium Wars, this unlikely dynasty is what makes Sea of Poppies so breathtakingly alive - a masterpiece from one of the world's finest novelists.

Why I Chose this Book: I saw this reduced to half price in my local bookstore last week and resolved to buy it as soon as I could as I've enjoyed Mr Ghosh's previous books so much. I think The Hungry Tide is one of the best books I've ever read - I can still recall the atmosphere it created in my mind and it's been years since I picked it up.

IB - David Ebershoff - The 19th Wife

2009-04-09T08:04:00.000-07:00

Title: The 19th Wife

Author: David Ebershoff

Publisher: Black Swan

ISBN: 9780552774987

Price: £7.99

The Back of the Book: For the first time in six years, Jordoan returns from California to Utah, to visit his mother - in jail. As a young boy he was expelled from his family's secretive polygamous Mormon sect. Now his father has been found shot dead in front of his computer, and one of his many wives - Jordan's mother - is accused of the crime.

Over a century earlier, Ann Elia Young, nineteenth wife of Brigham Young, second Prophet of the Mormon Church, tells the sensational story of how she battled for her freedom from her powerful husband, to lead a crusade to end polygamy in the United States. Bold, shocking and gripping, The 19th Wife expertly weaves together these two narratives in an enthralling epic of love, family, murder and faith.

Why I Chose this Book: This is another wish-list book. I'm attracted to the religious and historical elements of the blurb, rather than the murder-mystery thread. It's quite a tome and looks like it will be a very satisfying read.

IB: Eliabeth H Winthrop - December

2009-04-08T07:53:00.000-07:00

Title: December

Author: Eliabeth H Winthrop

Publisher: Sceptre

ISBN: 9780340961438

Price: £7.99

The Back of the Book: It's December in New England, season of snow, log fires andhappy family Christmases. xcept not for the Carters. Eleven-year-old Isabelle hasn't spoken for months, countless experts have given up on her, andher parents are at their wits' end. Gnawing away at them is the thought that it must be their fault, and that their daughter's life might be ruined for good. Something has to give ...

In this superbly wrought novel, taut with tension, Eliabeth Winthrop portrays a marriage beginning to crack under pressure and a girl whose attempt to control her universe locks her into self-imposed silence. Wholly involving and ultimately uplifting, this is the work of an exceptionally talented young writer.

Why I Chose this Book: It's been on my wish-list for a while. As a troubled teen, I can remember resolving not to speak ever again so I'm intrigued to read this author's treatment of the subject.

IB - Mimi Spencer - 101 Things to do Before You Diet

2009-04-07T07:40:00.000-07:00

Title: 101 Things to do Before You Diet

Author: Mimi Spencer

Publisher: Doubleday

ISBN: 9780385616102

Price: £12.99

The Back of the Book: Ways to eat, Ways to cheat, What to wear, What to ditch.

Discover the secrets that really will mak a difference to the way you look and feel about yourself.

If you think it's time to free yourself from the tyranny of thin, this sassy, funny and practical book by style guru Mimi Spencer is for you.

Like your ideal best friend, she'll help you realise your thinner self without all the depressing self-denial, guilty weigh-ins and faddy food plans of conventional diets.

Mimi will help you mae the most of what you've got, and see that the woman you are now is just as fabulous as the woman you want to be.

Why I Chose this Book: Basically, I'm trying to lose weight and I could use a boost. I loved Neris and India's Idiot-Proof Diet. Let me be clear - I loved the book. The diet didn't do it for me. I followed it slavishly for a month. I lost 5lbs the first week and then 0lbs, 0lbs and 0lbs. I'm now on SlimmingWorld which I know from experience does work for me (when I stick at it). SW offers several different eating plans and I've been trying the newest one with little success. So I feel the need for a Neris and India-style boost while returning to the eating plan that does work.

The Waterstone's Card

2009-04-07T07:21:00.000-07:00

I've got a Waterstone's loyalty card. I've buy books from there most months (and, let's be honest, often several times a month). For the past wee while they've been asking, 'Do you have a loyalty card?' and it was only today that I had the wit to say, 'No. How do I get one?' So I've now been furnished with a nice, shiny, new piece of plastic. And I'm telling you about it because it really does seem rather good ...

With the card, one gets:

3 points per £1 spent.
book reviews by email.
competitions.
special offers.
free 'Books Quarterly' magazine.
'the chance to read and review books before they are published.'
double points and bonus points offers.
eco points if you don't take a carrier bag.

Hmmm ... now which of those options has me all excited? Well, Books Quarterly because I've been looking for a bookish magazine. But, really, it's the 'read and review' bit. And, hey, 3 points per £1 can't be sniffed at.

IB: Kate Williams - Becoming Queen

2009-04-06T04:49:00.000-07:00

And so here begins a new feature at Not Just Reading. 'IB' stands for 'Incoming Book' and these entries will let you know what I'm adding to Mt To Be Read and, most importantly, why! So, without further ado, please meet today's purchase:

Title: Becoming Queen
Author: Kate Williams
Publisher: Arrow Books
ISBN: 9780099451822
Price: £7.99

The Back of the Book: Becoming Queen tells the astonishing story of Queen Victoria's passionate youth, her bitter struggle with her mother - and how her life was shaped by the death of her forgotten cousin Princess Charlotte, the queen who never was.

In a dramatic tale of secrets, sexual repression, and endless conflict, Kate Williams reveals an energetic and vibrant woman, determined to battle for power. She also documents the Byzantine machinations behind Victoria's quest to occupy the throne, and shows how her struggles did not end when the crown was finally placed on her head.

Why I Chose this Book: First, I have to confess that I shouldn't really be buying books at all. I live in a house which is absolutely full of books and I really do want to read all of them so I can't just give them away. I'm surrounded by boxes of books as I type and there are more stacked on the floor and on my desk for which there just isn't room in the boxes! But don't you think that sometime you just have to buy a book? Or two?

It is family tradition that I always give gifts of books. Birthdays, Christmas, high-days and holy-days, if a gift is required then I give a book. This is a clear case of treating others as one would wish to be treated although I'm not sure the gifting of books is quite what Jesus had in mind. Anyway, how can I enter a bookshop and take out my purse without falling victim to temptation?

Anyway, today I needed a gift to send to my sister (in hospital with possible appendicitis) and, as any booklover would, I found what I wanted for her (Alexander McCall Smith's 44 Scotland Street) and then began browsing. I actually found it rather difficult to find a book today - and that's not like me at all. I was about to pay for the McCall Smith and leave the shop disappointed when I spotted this title on the '3-for-2' table. I've recently become interested in reading more (auto)biography and historical non-fiction but I'm wary of choosing anything too challenging which I'll abandon within the first chapter. But this book seems about the right level and I'm interested in the Victorians so it seemed like a good idea. I'll let you know if I was right when I've read it!

DNF - Joyce Meyer - The Confident Woman

2009-04-05T23:06:00.000-07:00

My confidence is not my best feature and I've found some of Mrs Meyer's other books helpful so I was rather pleased when this one came to the top of Mt TBR. After 50 pages, however, I laid it aside. Mrs Meyer appears to see a woman's confidence through a lens of whether or not she has been abused and, having set the scene for that with some information about her own experience, she launched into a long discussion on whether or not women should preach. Let's just say we have different views. I could live with that. But I fail to see the relevance of the discussion to the purpose of the book. Instead, it seems that Mrs Meyer was on a personal soap-box and using this book to answer her critics. That'\s not something I'm very interested in reading so I stopped.

17. Zoe Heller - Notes on a Scandal

2009-04-05T11:20:00.001-07:00

This was a re-read for a BookGroup I'm hoping to attend next month.

I'm worried by how strongly I identify with Barbara. She's a spinster who, at the beginning of the book, lives alone save for a cat to whom she is devoted. I am a spinster who is devoted to her cat. I do hope that there the resemblance ends.

Barbara is a teacher who, by her own admission, has few friends. She does, however, form a relationship with a new teacher at school. Ms Heller writes with Barbara's voice as she narrates this story of relationships.

Sheba, Barbara's new friend, is found to be having a sexual relationship with one of the school's pupils and this is played out against the backdrop of her relationship with Barbara. Additional information is supplied in the sub-text of Barbara's own relationships and the relationships within Sheba's family. Ms Heller handles the shifts in perspective seamlessly, drip feeding the reader just the right amount of information to build suspense, but leaving one tantalised by unanswered questions at the close of the novel.

This book has been made into a 'major motion picture', according to the cover. I'm not sure I want to see it though. Ms Heller's characters are still strongly alive in my imagination and I suspect they will remain so for some time. I think it might be best to leave them undisturbed a while - the capacity for a film to 'get it wrong' is huge!

16. Laura Ingalls Wilder - West From Home

2009-04-04T08:34:00.000-07:00

I’m sad to have come to the end of Laura’s writing but that didn’t spoil my enjoyment of this last selection. West From Home is a collection of letters, discovered and published after the deaths of both Laura and her daughter, Rose, which Laura wrote to Almanzo while visiting Rose in San Francisco. It was an exciting time. The completion of the Panama Canal was being celebrated by ‘The Panama-Pacific International Exposition’, there was war in Europe, electricity and motor cars were in evidence and Laura was just beginning, under Rose’s tutelage, to write and earn money by doing so. It was lovely to meet this happier, adult Laura after the travail of The First Four Years and On the Way Home.

I’m not torn between reading Rose’s story as written by her Executor, Roger Lea MacBride (who edited West From Home), investigating a series of books captioned ‘The Caroline Years’ which I assume contain something of Laura’s mother’s story, or moving into other biography of the Ingalls family and history of their times.

15. Barbara Hughes - Disciplines of a Godly Woman

2009-04-04T03:08:00.000-07:00

I bought this book at the Catholic bookshop rather than the Christian bookshop in Glasgow and therefore assumed it would be a Catholic look at womanhood. It’s not. The author is an evangelical Christian and writes from this viewpoint.

Barbara Hughes is the wife of a Pastor in the US and, in this book, shares a wealth of experience. She looks at the various aspects of ‘submission’ in each of her chapters and includes a further study section for each area. I was particularly interested in her treatment of the single (as opposed to the married state) which, as a single woman, I found quite liberating. I’m used to books which hold marriage in such high regard that the single vocation is a very poor second and only useful for providing the world with missionaries! Thankfully, that is not Mrs Hughes’ view.

This isn’t a book for the new Christian. I would be more inclined to recommend it to someone who is a few years on in her faith and looking to go deeper. The ideals Mrs Hughes examines seem far out of my reach but, nonetheless, I shall hang onto this book and explore the further study sections at my leisure.

What Your Initials Say About You

2009-04-04T00:34:00.000-07:00

I came across this fun little meme over at The 160 Acre Woods.

You Are Accepting and Open

When You Are Comfortable:

You are enthusiastic and flexible. You are open-minded. You prefer to learn from others... not judge them.

People see you as kind and cooperative. You are very supportive when friends are down on their luck.

When You Are At Your Best:

You are ambitious, and hard-working. Adversity allows you to shine. You resourceful and able to make due.

People see you as honest to the point of bluntness. But they always know that you'll be fair. You have the good intentions.

When You Are in a Social Setting:

You are a hyper, restless person. You need to keep busy, and you always are willing to take charge in life.

People see you as energetic and motivating. You inspire people to be the best they can be.

What Do Your Initials Say About You?

DNF - Shulamit Lapid - Valley of Strength

2009-04-02T11:25:00.001-07:00

I’m really disappointed by my failure to read this book as it’s the first I’ve snagged from LibraryThing’s Early Reviewer programme. I think I made a poor choice and this book is intended for a different reader. I found it depressingly dull and political and entirely lacking in the homely, farming, family life that I expected. Clearly I have read too much Laura Ingalls Wilder, but when I saw that this book was about living on the frontier of Israel at the turn of the century I settled down for a version of the Little House books with a slightly different setting.

If a reader were really interested in the history of Israel then I would recommend this book. For me though I was glad when the cat knocked it off the table and lost my place thus giving me permission to stop and choose something else from my shelves.

14. Mohsin Hamid - The Reluctant Fundamentalist

2009-04-02T11:04:00.000-07:00

I’m still working out how to take this book. On the one hand, it is clumsy and naive, and on the other it’s a very clever look at international relations with touches of romance and insanity.

The book is narrated by Changez, a young man from Pakistan. He attends Princeton in the USA and builds a life as a high-flying executive. He meets a young woman with whom he falls in love. And then things change.

The reader is cast in the role of an American visiting Pakistan. Changez joins you as you sit at a café in a marketplace. And, over the course of the afternoon and evening, he tells you his story. He is very polite and, I think, socially inept. His story is fascinating even though, at times, he offends you. Throughout the narrative there are hints and signals that something in this situation is very wrong. And then Changez wraps up his story while you walk back to the hotel. And we come to the end of this slim volume with many (perhaps most) of our questions left unanswered.

Clumsy and naïve? Clever and compelling? I’ll add that question to the list.

13. Frances Osborne - The Bolter

2009-03-23T06:58:00.001-07:00

I didn’t have any expectations about this book, save that I assumed it was fiction. It isn’t – it’s a biography of the five-times-divorced Idina Sackville – and, as such, I’m not sure I’d have picked it up if it wasn’t the March read for the Waterstones’ bookgroup. I don’t usually ‘do’ biography although I realise I’ve not long slogged my way through Dickens and I’m loving the Laura Ingalls Wilder books. The Bolter has made me think that, perhaps, I should ‘do’ more biography.

Frances Osborne is the great-granddaughter of the infamous Idina who, as the blurb on this book says, ‘scandalised 1920s society’. This isn’t just the story of Idina – interesting though that was. Osborne has done mountains of research and, therefore, is able to write about class, society, war, morality and history with an authoritative and pleasant voice. I now a lot more about English society, Kenya, both World Wars and Idina Sackville having read this book and I’d recommend that anyone with an interest in these subjects read it too.

12. Laura Ingalls Wilder - On the Way Home

2009-03-19T08:03:00.001-07:00

In this book, Laura chronicles the little family’s journey from De Smet to Mansfield, Missouri where they plan to finally settle. With an opening and closing by Laura’s daughter, Rose, we are quickly immersed in Laura’s thoughts and experiences as she travels – and it is a journey not without its heartache.

DNF - Simone de Beauvir - The Mandarins

2009-03-16T09:06:00.001-07:00

I started this book about a week ago and, after 40 pages, found myself so reluctant to read it that I was avoiding reading altogether and watching TV instead! It’s a long time since I’ve abandoned something without reading at least 50 pages but the thought of another 10, closely-typed pages of depression is more than I can bear. I haven’t met any interesting characters or situations in this book and really cannot find any reason to continue.

11. Michael Francis Pennock - The Seeker's Catechism

2009-03-16T08:05:00.001-07:00

This little book does exactly what it says on the tin by presenting the facts of Catholic belief clearly and concisely.

10. Laura Ingalls Wilder - The First Four Years

2009-03-08T01:54:00.000-08:00

I’m very sorry to have come to the end of the ‘Little House’ series and put off reading this little book for that reason. In it, Laura tells of the deal she made with Almanzo – if farming didn’t work out for them after three years then they’d give up and do something else. That isn’t quite what happens and Laura’s life is full of things going wrong and things going right during the first four years of her married life.

9. Richard Yates - Revolutionary Road

2009-03-07T12:05:00.001-08:00

In this powerfully evocative book, Yates tells us the story of April and Frank – a young couple living in the suburbs. Their characters are fully drawn and very memorable while other characters and lightly sketched. Full of tension, this novel had me sitting on the edge of my seat all the way to the end …

8. Peter Ackroyd - Dickens

2009-03-05T23:10:00.001-08:00

I really struggled with this book throughout February but I’m glad I finished it. Apparently, this is an abridged version of the original text. As it runs to 570 pages I’d hate to see the original!

Ackroyd provides a blow-by-blow account of Dickens’ life from cradle to grave. He also includes quite a lot of analysis of Dickens’ writing and tries to show how the author’s life shaped his work. There were times when I felt he made rather a large leap from known fact to supposition and didn’t back up his theory with much evidence. I think this bothered me more because the book reads like an academic text and I, therefore, expected the content to live up to that standard.

In all, this is an interesting, if heavy, book which does exactly what it says on the tin.

7. Steven Galloway - The Cellist of Sarajevo

2009-01-27T11:17:00.000-08:00

I didn’t expect to enjoy this book nearly as much as I did. Mr Galloway paints us a picture of Sarajevo during the siege of the 1990s. We see the city through the eyes of three very different people each of whom gives a subtly different perspective. The result is an incredibly atmospheric book which really made me think about war and how it effects ordinary people.

6. Beverley Shepherd - Created as a Woman

2009-01-24T11:26:00.001-08:00

This short book is based on Ms Shepherd’s series of Inspiring Women Bible notes of the same name. In it, she expands on her themes of creation, the Fall, redemption, predestination, transformation and glory. The text is a very easy read although there are questions at the end of each chapter for further study.

5. Beverly Lewis - The Shunning

2009-01-24T08:36:00.000-08:00

I’ve read some Beverly Lewis before and was pleased that in this one she has kept to ‘normal’ English except in the dialogue between the Amish characters. I really don’t like to read colloquial language and have set aside some of her other books because of this.

This book is the first in the ‘Heritage of Lancaster County’ trilogy and tells the story of Katie who is all set to marry the Bishop when she discovers a secret about her birth. What happens next is devastating and will lead to big changes for Katie and her family.

In this book, I suppose Ms Lewis is asking questions about the role of nature or nurture in the way people live. She seems to side with nature whereas I would favour nurture and so there were elements of the story that didn’t sit well with me. That said, this is the opening of a trilogy so who knows where we’ll end up?

Katie and her family are engaging characters, although I did sometimes feel a little exasperated by them, and I will look forward to reading the next instalment.

4. Joyce Meyer - Start Your New Life Today

2009-01-20T08:02:00.000-08:00

I saw this book some time ago and eventually bought a copy when I was at a particularly low ebb. I have previously resisted Meyer’s approach of managing negative emotions and thought that, perhaps, I was now willing to hear her. Well, I’ve read this book from cover to cover so I can now honestly say that I’ve tried. Her premise is basically that one can manage one’s emotions by a mix of positive thinking and willpower. I suspect she would deny this but that’s what it sounded like to me. If only it were that easy!

The book is divided into short chapters (each only three pages, at most) and that made the narrative choppy and difficult to follow although it did facilitate reading on the run. Each chapter followed essentially the same pattern – Ms Meyer would introduce the topic, give examples from her own life and then exhort the reader to do as she had done to gain victory over whatever.

For me, the most interesting and motivational chapters were those at the end of the book which dealt with the physical self and therefore addressed sleeping, eating, exercising and drinking water. As Ms Meyer has already produced a very good book on physical health they seemed ancillary to the main text but at least their inclusion meant I got something from my reading!

All in all, I was very disappointed with this book although I’m glad I persevered and finished it. I’ve now heard Ms Meyer on the subject of emotions and know that her approach is not for me.

3. Laura Ingalls Wilder - These Happy Golden Years

2009-01-19T11:59:00.000-08:00

I am so enjoying my re-read of this series. In this volume, Ms Wilder covers the years in which she starts to teach school (at 15) until her marriage to Almanzo (at 18). Simply told, the stories of everyday life in town and in the country are wholesome and healthy. Each character, place or event is richly and honestly described and I find myself, once again, regretting that I am nearly at the end of the series.

2. Fr Michael Seed - Thinking of Becoming a Catholic?

2009-01-17T08:49:00.000-08:00

This is a very friendly little book in which Fr Seed briefly outlines the process of becoming a Roman Catholic.

1. Audrey Niffenegger - The Time Traveler's Wife

2009-01-13T08:09:00.001-08:00

Track book at BookCrossing.com

I was charmed by this book when I first listened to it as an abridged audio book and have now read the unabridged, print version for the Glasgow Women’s Library book club even though I will be unable to attend the meeting. My first encounter with it was long enough ago that I remembered the gist of it but not the salient points (like the ending) and, if anything, I enjoyed it more this time around. I remember feeling a bit lost the first time until I had a feel for how the book works.

This is the story of Henry and Clare. Henry is a time-traveler and first meets Clare near her home when she is six and he is an adult. Ms Niffenegger allows both characters to tell their own stories, writing always in the first person but switching perspectives. Thankfully, each change is clearly signalled in the text and the reader is advised in each section of the date and the age of the person speaking.

I usually avoid sci-fi and fantasy books and so was not much attracted to this tale of time-travel when I first heard about it. I also had some concerns about child abuse. However, Ms Niffenegger is not writing so much about time-travel as about love, death, childlessness, growing up, friendship, truth and loyalty. She deals with each of these large, difficult issues with great compassion and sometimes with humour.

Henry and Clare are the most fully developed characters. Neither is all good or all bad and they, therefore, seem very human and real to me. Other characters, such as Gomez, are painted with strong, bold brushstrokes which avoid caricature. The scenes are richly described and emotions run high throughout the book. There were times when I could really picture what was happening to such an extent that I nearly forgot the world around me – that hasn’t happened since I was reading as a child.

This book made a deep impression on me. I hope Ms Niffenegger writes more but this book will be a very hard act to follow.

105. Harrison Weir - Our Cats and All About Them

2008-12-17T08:18:00.000-08:00

I was very excited to find a copy of this book which was originally published in the 1800s. Weir is credited with moving the domestic cat's social status from 'necessary hunter' to 'beloved pet.' He organised the very first cat show (at Crystal Palace) and wrote this book as a means to help people enjoy and understand the species. Although some of the language used is difficult to read at first (think Dickens), I enjoyed this book. There's a lot of detail about what makes a good show cat and, I must confess, I did skip some of the detail as my interest isn't in showing. The rest of the book is made up of sections of varying size and covering such diverse topics as 'Cats Take Note of Time' and 'The Wild Cat of Britain'. I found it fascinating to note where Weir's thoughts match (or differ from) modern knowledge of cats.

104. Elizabeth Martyn & David Taylor - The Little Book of Cat Behaviour

2008-12-16T08:10:00.001-08:00

This is a beautifully illustrated little book, full of tasty bites of information.

103. Bob Briner - Roaring Lambs

2008-12-15T05:00:00.000-08:00

What an interesting book. I don't remember why I acquired this book but I'm glad I did. Generally, when I book comes into this house, it's registered on BookCrossing and put in a box or on a shelf until it works its way to the top of Mt To Be Read. Then I pick it up and read it without reviewing the marketing blurb on the back cover. I think that books should stand on their own merits and quite like the adventure of not knowing what I'm reading when I set out on my journey through the pages. I followed this pattern with Roaring Lambs and, from the title, was rather expecting an exhortation to lead a traditional and fundamentalist Christian life in the manner of, say, Elizabeth George. In fact, this book is quite different.

Briner takes a broad look at culture - literature, visual arts, television, films - and asks 'Where are the Christians?' He suggests that, instead of complaining and boycotting what we find objectionable, we should be praising the good and creating more that is good in these fields. He says that it isn't enough to write Christian books for Christian readers - this is, after all, a classic case of preaching to the choir - but Christians should be using the popular culture to bring the Gospel message to those who'd never darken the door of a Church or Christian bookstore.

The book is a very easy read - it's taken me only a few hours - and I am surprised at having enjoyed it and taken on board some of the ideas. I wasn't in the mood for a fundamentalist lecture and I'm glad not to have found one.

102. Laura Ingalls Wilder - Little Town on the Prairie

2008-12-14T11:11:00.001-08:00

Laura does a lot of growing up in this book - she's pinning up her hair, wearing hoopskirts and Almanzo is walking her home from Church. When I was growing up, this was one of my favourite books in the series and I'm pleased to say that it still is. Laura writes so honestly and simply of events big and small that I don't want me re-reading of the series to end.

101. Frank Delaney - Ireland

2008-12-13T08:45:00.000-08:00

This isn't the book I thought it was. Fortunately, by the time I'd worked that out I was well and truly hooked and read happily right through to the end.

Delaney is telling two ... or three, or four? ... stories in this book. First is the story of Ireland from prehistoric times right up to the 1960s. Then there's the story of the young boy we meet in the opening pages. Ronan is only nine when a Storyteller visits his family home. He is spellbound by the old gentleman and his tales and devotes a great piece of his life to finding him again. To say more about the plot would be to tell secrets so I shall leave it there.

Delaney's writing is engaging and knowledgeable. The characters are painted in broad brushstrokes and there are so many stories within the stories he tells that it might have all become a shade too complicated. Thankfully, Delaney is skillful enough to pull it off and I never had that nasty feeling of being all at sea. Highly recommended.

100. Laura Ingalls Wilder - The Long Winter

2008-12-06T08:16:00.000-08:00

I'm delighted to be finishing off 'Read 100 books in 2008' with this well-loved book. Laura is growing up and becoming more aware of events outside of her own home, even though she's frightened of living in town at first. She makes new friends and tells of their adventures, most notably Almanzo's. The Ingalls family face very real dangers in this book and Laura is honest about how hard the winter was for them. Despite the hardships this is still a warm and loving account and very readable.

99. Pam Johnson-Bennett - Cat vs Cat

2008-12-06T07:46:00.000-08:00

I have rather grave misgivings about some of the advice in this book. The author is a strong advocate of keeping cats exclusively indoors. She feels that the outside world is too dangerous for them and that allowing them out may cause redirected aggression within the home. I, on the other hand, am in favour of cats leading as natural a life as possible and that, I'm afraid, means braving the great outdoors. That said, this is still a useful guide for anyone in a multi-cat household or who has chosen to keep their cat(s) exclusively indoors. The author suggests great use of interactive play sessions and offers some good advice on feline relationships. That said, some of her advice does sound wrong to me - for example, if a cat is upset by something outside then one should cover the windows! - and likely to create a neurotic rather than a happy, confident cat.

98. Eliabeth Marshall Thomas - The Tribe of Tiger

2008-12-05T04:22:00.000-08:00

I found this a fascinating look at the social and predatory behaviour of cats large and small across a variety of situations. The author has spent a considerable amount of time in Africa where she observed lions and their interaction with the native bushmen and I found her account of these wild animals fascinating. She also looks at captive tigers and comes to the conclusion that circus animals are actually better off than their zoo-bound counterparts. Pumas are also covered as are the humble house-cats. I read this book as part of my studies but would happily read it again for pleasure.

97. Leslie Parrott - You Matter More Than You Think

2008-12-05T01:26:00.000-08:00

Although this is a very readable book with some interesting ideas, I didn't find myself drawn to the author although I'm sure she intended that I should be. I am left thinking that I am not a typical woman, according to her description, and that's a very unsettling feeling.

96. Debbie Macomber - Changing Habits

2008-12-05T00:38:00.001-08:00

I’m very interested in Catholicism so I was intrigued by this, my first Debbie Macomber. She tells the story of three women who become nuns and friends. She tracks their history from childhood, looking at why they became nuns, what that life was like and why they left their Order after Vatican II. There are some big issues addressed – homesexuality, abortion, alcoholism – and I think the book was well researched. Although Ms Macomber fell into the trap of telling rather than showing a few times, I enjoyed this book and will look forward to reading more of her work.

95. Charlie Connelly - Attention All Shipping

2008-11-19T07:33:00.000-08:00

I feel very lucky to have been sent a copy of this book by a BookCrosser and apologise for not having read it sooner. Although some of the sporting references went straight over my head, I enjoyed this travel book very much. Connelly resolves to visit each area covered by the UK's Shipping News over the course of a year and this book is his account of his travels. Beginning with Viking, he works his way right through to South-east Iceland although he does rather fudge Trafalgar. His descriptions of his adventures (and mis-adventures) are amusing and he provides information on the geography and history for each area he visits. All in all a very enjoyable and educational read.

94. Nigel Slater - Eating for England

2008-11-19T07:24:00.001-08:00

Having read Slater's previous book - Toast - I'd been looking forward to reading this volume. I was not disappointed although, rather than being a memoir, this book is full of little essays each covering some aspect of the British experience of food, cooking and eating. I do have one complaint though. I don't know who organised the chapters but they seem to have done so in a totally random manner. I would have enjoyed the book more if all the chapters on chocolate were together, all those on cooking together and so on.

93. Lee Janogly - Stop Bingeing!

2008-11-19T07:07:00.000-08:00

I don't re-read this book so much because I like it as because it's the only thing that gets me back on the straight and narrow when I've been stuffing myself ...

Teaser Tuesday

2008-11-04T06:03:00.000-08:00

"I wondered later how long my fellow music lovers had had to wait before their received the message that 'Reverend Cholmondeley-Pottlestone sleeps with the fishes', or some such. I was up and about early the next morning hoping to catch the fish market open for business on the west quay."
Attention All Shipping by Charlie Conelly

TEASER TUESDAYS asks you to:
Grab your current read.
Let the book fall open to a random page.
Share with us two (2) “teaser” sentences from that page, somewhere between lines 7 and 12.
You also need to share the title of the book that you’re getting your “teaser” from … that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you’ve given!
Please avoid spoilers!

It's Tuesday - Where Are You?

2008-11-04T05:46:00.000-08:00

I'm going to some unusual places this week, reading Charlie Connelly's Attention All Shipping. I've been to North and South Utsire, Dogger, Cromarty and Forth so far and have the delights of Clyde (my home), FitzRoy and Trafalgar still to come. I'm travelling round the nautical areas that make up that portion of sea covered by the Met Office/Radio 4's Shipping Forecast. I'm anticipating cold, wet and wind along with a healthy dose of humour.

Where Are You?

92. Victoria Osteen - Love Your Life

2008-11-03T07:14:00.000-08:00

When I received this book, I was really worried I wouldn't like it. Fortunately, I did. Let me explain.

A few weeks ago, a woman from Simon & Sauster: Free Press contacted me to see if I'd be interested in receiving a copy of Victoria Osteen's book. Well, how could I refuse a free book? Which rather committed me to reading and reviewing it. Which is great - but what if I didn't like it? Of course, I resolved to be honest about it and to try to find something good about the volume even if it wasn't my cup of tea. But I haven't had to struggle.

Victoria offers her own take on living life to the full in this slim volume. Using Bible stories and anecdotes to illustrate her points, she talks about attitude, relationships and love - giving *and* receiving. She avoids dotting about from one topic to the next and the book hangs together well without being repetative. Her language is rich and evocative without being too flowery so this book is a pleasant and quick read. Each chapter comes with a set of affirmations (called 'Anchor Thoughts') which is nice although I feel an explanation of how to use them would have been helpful. Also missing is a 'Going Deeper' or study section so there is a danger of the reader thinking: "That's all well and good but how do I *do* it?" But perhaps that's something that will be covered in future work? I'll certianly be looking with interest to see if Victoria publishes anything further - she has a talent for writing and it'd be a shame not to use it.

91. Monica Ali - Brick Lane

2008-11-02T08:13:00.001-08:00

I'm rather torn on how to review this book. I met with friends last night, before I'd finished it, and was ambivalent then too. I felt that my opinion would be strongly influenced by the ending. And it was.

Basically, this is the story of Nazneen. She grows up in a Bangladeshi village and then travels to England for an arranged marriage at 18. Her husband is Chanu - pompus, self-obsessed, talkative, ineffectual, irritating. He is a failure. Nazneen lives with him and their children in a high-rise flat in London. She learns to submit - although it does seem to come very naturally to her and she rarely rebels - and, I think, loves her husband.

Then she meets Karim - a young man, full of life and passion. And Nazneen has to grow up. One might say that she 'finds herself' and, indeed, she comments later 'that was before I knew what I could do.'

And the ending? After toiling through about 300 pages, the pace shifts dramatically. There are lost children, riots and absent husbands and the pages turned quickly. Was 'toiling' the best word? Parhaps not - I enjoyed the preceding pages. Monica Ali is an expert when it comes to characterisation and Chanu, in particular, will stay with me for a long time. I don't grudge the time I spent 'toiling'. I wonder if I would have enjoyed the read more if there had been more drama mixed with the day-to-day detail. But more drama would have lessened the impact of the last few chapters. Perhaps the sudden shift in pace could be seen as a metaphor for Nazneen's life - hum-drum, grey and boring and then, suddenly ...

But you'll have to read the book to make up your mind.

The Year of Readers 2009

2008-11-02T00:15:00.000-07:00

Urgh. I was nearly finished writing a (slightly) witty post for this new project when Sammy-cat jumped on the computer. Of course, this would be the time when autosave hasn't autosaved. Le sigh. I really don't have the energy to write it all out again (even if I could remember my witticisms) - it's too early and too cold - so I will give you the bare bones.

I found this new challenge. I've decided to ask people to sponsor my reading for Eco Libris.

You know, if I'd just said that at the beginning I'd of saved a whole lot of time. Sometimes being witty isn't the best option.

Sponsors will receive a monthly email (also published here) letting them know which books I've read but I won't chase people for payment - I'd hate doing it and we're all adults. Payment can be by post in the UK (sterling only) or by Paypal in any currency (sterling preferred) although I would ask that you use Paypal sparingly (save up your payments and then give me a lump sum every few months) as I'll incur fees. When I have $10 I'll donate the money by buying 10 trees.

The little extra I'm planning is that the books I read will (mostly) be released via BookCrossing thus encouraging people to read in my locale. I will pay for any BookCrossing supplies I want rather than using sponsorship money. I'll also provide the books, obviously.

I think this is a great opportunity to get Mt ToBeRead under some kind of control, help the environment, help people in the developing world and encourage reading localling. You can help by also seeking sponsorship for your reading (for the charity of your choice) or by sponsoring me. If you'd like to sponsor me, please email me using the link on this page.

56th Page Meme

2008-10-31T01:24:00.000-07:00

I'm jumping on the bandwagon with this meme which I found at A Girl Walks into a Bookstore.

Here's the deal:

"open up the nearest book to page 56. Write out the fifth sentence on that page, and also the next two to five sentences. The CLOSEST book, not your favorite or most intellectual."

And here's my answer:

"'It'll be noisy and dusty. I didn't want to get started without showing you the drawings and explaining it all first. And I ned your signature on a couple of permits.'"

And the book is Sealed with a Kiss by Mae Nunn.

90. Pam Young & Peggy Jones - Get Your Act Together

2008-10-27T04:45:00.000-07:00

The Slob Sisters present a more streamlined version of the card index system for housework and incorporate some ideas from The Happiness File in this, their most recent, book. They also provide chapters on storage, how to get the family working alongside you and health. As with their other books, I found this an easy read (although I confess to skipping the sections which had no relevancy for me - I'm single). There are lots of ideas that I'd like to come back to - at the moment, I'm working on getting Back in the Box!

89. Claire Bessant - The Secret Life of Cats

2008-10-16T07:28:00.000-07:00

Bessant offers a comprehensive look at the domestic feline covering all aspects of its care and behaviour. Although some parts of the book were repetative (especially the A-Z of problems at the end) I enjoyed Bessant's writing which was friendly and confident.

88. Pam Young & Peggy Jones - The Sidetracked Sisters' Happiness File

2008-10-16T00:57:00.000-07:00

It's difficult to review this book. I enjoyed reading it and left motivated to do the things I'm supposed to be doing but have neglected. Do I want to build a Happiness File? I want to adapt it but, yes.

Pam and Peggy begin this book five or six years since they 'got organised' using the 5x3 card system described in Sidetracked Home Executives. They are running seminars and making media appearances across the USA but are still disorganised in many ways. Realising that they're not walking the talk, they describe the steps they took to improve themselves and create their own Happiness Files. There are weekly and monthly themes and lessons for the reader but she is encouraged to make the system fit herself rather than the other way round.

The authors illustrate with lots of stories from their lives and, in parts, this book reads rather like a memoir rather than self-help. That said, the tone is engaging throughout and without the sugar that one has come to expect from FlyLady (who bases her system Pam & Peggy's).

I'd recommend this book to anyone who is securely using the original SHE system but wants to take it to the next level.

87. Laura Ingalls Wilder - By the Shores of Silver Lake

2008-10-14T10:06:00.000-07:00

I am amazed at how much I have forgotten since I last read this book as a teen. Of course, my forgetfulness has meant I had to pleasure of reading it almost for the first time. Laura and her family leave Plum Creek in this book and make their last trip West to De Smet where Pa finds work for the railroad company. They spend winter in 'the surveyors' house' before Pa files their claim in the Spring and they move to the homestead. Their characters are becoming more defined in these, later books, and it is interesting to see the girls growing up and thinking about their futures.

86. Nancy Leigh DeMoss - Lies Women Believe

2008-10-10T12:00:00.001-07:00

Going back to The Fall, DeMoss traces the deceptions Satan uses to bring women into bondage and asserts that only the Word of God can set them free. While the tone was sometimes preachy, she makes a lot of good points in this book which I will reserve for further study.

85. Elizabeth George - A Woman's High Calling

2008-10-10T07:44:00.000-07:00

Elizabeth George presents a comprehensive examination of Titus 2. Although she tends to lists rather than narrative, I found this an interesting book.

84. Linda Gillard - Star Gazing

2008-10-09T23:45:00.000-07:00

I found this an engaging read even though I didn’t always feel sympathetic towards to central character. The writing is rich and evocative although a lot of the musical references went right over my head. Highly recommended to anyone who enjoys good writing, detailed characterisation and unpredictable romance.

83. Pam Young & Peggy Jones - Sidetracked Home Executives

2008-10-09T00:55:00.001-07:00

Another re-read of one of my favourite non-fiction titles.

82. Kraybill et al - Amish Grace

2008-10-05T03:40:00.000-07:00

I found this an interesting and educational look at Amish life with particular regard to forgiveness in extreme circumstances.

81. Joanna Weaver - Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World

2008-09-25T04:09:00.000-07:00

Weaver has a pleasant voice as she describes her journey towards balancing te 'Mary' and the 'Martha' in her life. She suggests that there are two sides to spirituality - the Living Room where one meets with God and the Kitchen where one gives service. She draws on Bible stories (and especially those of the sisters in Bethany) to highlight our need for a Sabbath and regular Quiet Time. I think there is a sequel to this book waiting on Mt TBR and I will be interested to see Weaver develop her ideas further.

80. Wanda E Brunstetter - Going Home

2008-09-23T08:50:00.000-07:00

The first volume of 'Brides of Webster County' this novel tells the story of Faith, a young woman who left the Amish community to become an entertainer in the English world. After the death of her husband, Faith returns to her family in Webster County intending to leave her daughter for her parents to raise while she returns to the entertaining circuit. Meantime, Amishman Noah is falling in love with Faith but knows he cannot enter into a relationship with her unless she has a relationship with God. This is a beautifully told love story with enough twists and turns to keep the reader guessing right until the end and I look forward to reading more from the series.

79. Elizabeth George - Following God with All Your Heart

2008-09-15T09:25:00.000-07:00

Elizabeth George returns to her usual good form with this inspirational work. Taking six verses of Scripture, she discusses how a woman can become successful, courageous, exceptional, humble, contented and confident. This is an easy read even if the standards set seem somewhat unattainable!

78. Laura Ingalls Wilder - On the Banks of Plum Creek

2008-09-13T05:48:00.001-07:00

I am so enjoying re-reading this series of childhood favourites. Laura and her family have come to stay in a little house ‘On the Banks of Plum Creek’ where they hope to raise wheat. They go to school and Church for the first time as we watch the family cope with happenings big and small.

77. Jennifer Chiaverini - The Quilter's Apprentice

2008-09-12T07:56:00.000-07:00

This is a start to the Elm Creek series that is almost as beautiful as the quilts it describes. We meet Sarah, Matt and Mrs Compson and are quickly drawn into their present life even as Mrs Compson tells the story of her family home - Elm Creek Manor. I'm greatly looking forward to the next instalment.

76. Laura Ingalls Wilder - Little House on the Prairie

2008-09-08T04:12:00.001-07:00

I greatly enjoyed this episode from Laura Ingalls Wilder. The family settle in Indian country and we are given a detailed account of their year there setting up home, planting a garden and starting til till the soil. There are chuckles, chills and tears galore and I am very much looking

75. Clare Blake and Chris Ledger - Insight into Anxiety

2008-09-07T06:49:00.000-07:00

A very helpful look at anxiety from the Christian perspective. My only criticism is that the case studies seemed rather simplistic, unreal and patronising.

74. Jenna Bailey - Can Any Mother Help Me?

2008-08-30T08:14:00.000-07:00

This is the story of the Co-operative Correspondence Club - a group of women who corresponded for over fifty years through the pages of a secret magazine. I first heard about it in a mailing from Mass Observation where the articles are no help and was particularly interested to read it as it covers the Second World War years and promises an intimate look at women's lives. I was not disappointed. Bailey has skillfully edited the articles together into a cohesive whole while allowing the women to speak for themselves. Although I skipped the last two chapters (they appeared to deal mostly with death and this is a topic I'm not fond of!) I greatly enjoyed my peek into the lives of some extra-ordinary and ordinary women.

73. Janette Oke - Love's Long Journey

2008-08-28T08:56:00.001-07:00

http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/6274986

In this, the third in the Love Comes Softly series, the narrative moves away from Marty to her step-daughter, Missie, and her ne husband, Willie. They join a wagon train moving west to start their own cattle ranch. The book tells of their adventures, joys and sorrows on the journey and over the first two years of their new life.

Still holding to the 'Laura Ingalls Wilder - for grown ups' style, Oke has a stronger Christian theme running through this book than the previous volumes - Missie is more overt in her religion than Marty. Oke avoids preaching, however, and this is still a romanticised view of frontier life.

A very enjoyable, light read - 8/10

72. Rob Bell - Velvet Elivs

2008-08-10T08:11:00.001-07:00

Title: Velvet Elvis
Author: Rob Bell
Publisher: Zondervan
Format: Audiobook
BCID: http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/6414380
No. of pages: 4 discs
First sentence: --

I listened to this recording over a long period and I think this did not do it any favours. Additionally, I found that the author's reading of the text was very fast which made it difficult to really take in what he was saying. However, the gist appears to be that he is passionately excited about Christianity while being disappointed in the modern church.

Mimi Wilson & Shelly Cook Volkhardt - Holy Habits

2008-08-10T06:03:00.000-07:00

Title: Holy Habits
Author: Mimi Wilson & Shelly Cook Volkhardt
Publisher: Navpress
Format: Paperback
BCID: http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/6257523
No. of pages: 207
First sentence: The morning of my 30th birthday I determined not to waste any more time.

I picked up this book in Wesley Owen on a whim, just because I like the title. I think I was expecting a list of all the does and don'ts that one usually associates with Christianity. The authors have far exceeded my expectations. Presented at the CDs of 12 lessons, the book is divided into two parts. Section 1 deals with "Making Him Our Daily Focus" and provides a study of eight of the names of God. The second section is entitled "Changing Us from the Inside Out" and looks at the wheeze God works in our lives when we are willing to let him do so. Both sections include expediencies from the authors' lives along with examples from fictional accounts and people the authors have known. In the first section, the final part of each chapter includes the habits the authors suggest one acquires and questions for study and discussion.

It took less than a day to read this book although I fully intend to return to it for a further, more detailed study. I found the opening chapters dealt with some abstract concepts which I found difficult. However, the remainder of the book is much more practical in content and tone and there are many ideas which I look forward to implementing in my own life. Highly recommended.

70. Susan Cilyk -- Rainbow Bridge

2008-08-09T05:56:00.001-07:00

Title: Rainbow Bridge
Author: Cilyk, Susan
Publisher: Athena Press
Format: Paperback
BCID: HTTP:\\www.bookcrossing.con/journal/6337096
No. of pages: 129
First sentence: As I stood in a private car park on an abnormally cold Sunday afternoon in the early summer setting a trap pilchards, my thoughts were filled with images of the many times I've been in similar positions…

I am so grateful that I have had the opportunity to read this book. This is the story of the many cats who have entered the life of the author in her work as Cats Protection volunteer. I started reading the book by accident on the day that I received it and I read it in little bursts ever since. Some of the stories have made me cry and others have made me laugh until I cried. I find it amazing that there is someone in the world who is as dotty about cats as I am and who has had some similar experiences. For the first time in my reading to hear I'm actually considering writing to an author!

69. Lisa Bevere -- Nurture

2008-08-09T04:39:00.001-07:00

Title:
Nurture
Author:
Bevere, Lisa
Publisher:
Faith words
Format:
Hardback
BCID:
HTTP://www.bookCrossing.com/journal/6392438
No. of pages:
244
First sentence:
I write as a mother and daughter of our time.

I have greatly enjoyed other books by Lis8 Bevere so I was very excited about the publication of Nurture. And fortunately, while I did enjoy reading this book, it did not quite live up to my high expectations. Lisa is writing about the role of women in society and highlights the way in which women for connections. She is suggesting that we are all daughters mothers and grandmothers to one another in mentoring relationships. This is an interesting concept, but not one I feel able to run with at present. For me, the most interesting part of the book was Lisa's experience of chancing upon an anti-abortion film on TV -- this has made a big impression on me.

I would be interested in looking at this book in greater depth but, at present, there is no work book available.

The Movements of the Books

2008-08-04T02:04:00.000-07:00

Erik Rees - SHAPE: This book moves from Mt TBR to the Bible Study pile as it's the kind of book you do rather than the kind of book you read.

Orson Scott Card - Sarah: DNF - I've decided I don't like fictionalised accounts of Biblical characters.

Corrie Ten Boom - The Hiding Place: DNF - I did start this and am sure I would have got a lot out of it but I'm a bit depressed at the moment and so an autobiographical account of life in a concentration camp does not appeal.

Eirc & Leslie Ludy - When God Writes Your Life Story: 8/10 - I read this in a day after waiting impatiently for its arrival! Although I prefered Authentic Beauty, I found this an enjoyable and worthwhile read. The authors tell of the early years of their marriage and ministry and their aim of living life totally surrendered to God. There's plenty of practical help although, as with all books of this nature, there is the danger of legalism. This is a radical approach to Christianity and one which I find very appealing. I'll hold on to this for further study although I fear some of the ideas are beyond my reach.

In Other News, I'm experiencing severe problems with one of my wrists. I'm seeing the Dr this afternoon but suspect I'll be told to rest it which will curtail my online life. Fortunately, the other book I've been waiting for (Lisa Bevere - Nurture) has finally arrived so I do have something good to read!