Book review...

Heart to Heart by Jodie Picoult - well, this was in many ways a typical Picoult recipe - chosing a contrversial ethical dilemma and creating a story around it. I found this read rather contrived however, and I am not sure that I feel the need to read any more Picoult. What she does, she does very successfully. I suppose similar to Dick Francis, she has a formula that sells.  This particular novel, though, had some rather peculiar religious threads running through it, which didn't really work for me, and I couldn't be moved by the book as probably I ought to have been.

Book review...

Mr Brigg's Hat by Kate Colquhoun - well I though this would be in a similar vein to a book I read last year about a peculiar and unsolved murder in Victorian times (can't recall the name of the book now or the author; hence why I am keeping a note this year of my reading!)  And I suppose in some ways it was. But it was not as gripping, and I kept reading just to see if the right person had stood accused. But it was a little bit of a slog to get through really, and I'm not convinced I'd read another by the same author. It did make me realise I suppose how well we do these days with crime detection and I wonder how many innocent in the past were sent to the gallows! - cheery thoughts..

Book review...

A long long way by Sabastian Barry - a tremendous read. The language is beautiful. It has to be said, I had to read the whole thing in a good Irish accent throughout in my head. It is also heart-breaking and is hard to read in places, with graphic and disturbing descriptions of the grim nature of war.
But probably the best of the fiction I have read this year so far.

up at the farm..

Had a lovely afternoon with Lynne and Faith up at the Victory outreach farm on Sunday, meeting all the animals. A lad called Steve introduced me to all the various creatures there - Adam and Eve the turkeys; Samson and Deleila the bull and cow; the 2 disgusting looking pigs whose names I can't recall!  Callie the ex racehorse is impressive and is moving to a field near the fourten locks in a couple of weeks where Lynne and Helen will be looking after her.  The view from the farm is stunning, looking out to Sugarloaf and Table mountain. The sun was shining and it had the feel of a little bit of heaven that afternoon.
Looking forward to a break soon.
I have been working too long without a mini holiday of any kind. I forget that after six weeks or so I need a break, starting to feel the grind and monotony of a job that usually I enthuse over. But I will have a lovely Easter W/E with a trip to Spring Harvest and the Blakes then at the weekend. And then Krakow a week or so later. Hoping the weather holds.... Will we pay for it later?!