A Street Cat Named Bob - James Bowen

Official Blurb

When James Bowen found an injured, ginger street cat curled up in the hallway of his sheltered accommodation, he had no idea just how much his life was about to change. James was living hand to mouth on the streets of London and the last thing he needed was a pet.

Yet James couldn't resist helping the strikingly intelligent tom cat, whom he quickly christened Bob. He slowly nursed Bob back to health and then sent the cat on his way, imagining he would never see him again. But Bob had other ideas.

Soon the two were inseparable and their diverse, comic and occasionally dangerous adventures would transform both their lives, slowly healing the scars of each other's troubled pasts.

A Street Cat Named Bob is a moving and uplifting story that will touch the heart of anyone who reads it.

My Review

The story of one man, a remarkable cat and how they rescued each other.   An engrossing tale of life on the street, companionship and the uplifting effect of the latter.     A simple narrative is used for best effect and leaves the reader with a better understanding of what life is like for someone like James.   This is a lovely, heart-warming read.      

   

The Blue Cabin - Michael Faulkner

Goodreads Blurb

In 2002, following the collapse of his business and the loss of his family home, Mike Faulkner and his wife Lynn McGregor left Scotland for a cabin on Islandmore, an uninhabited island in Northern Ireland. Familiar to Mike as the haven where he'd spent holidays with his father - the last Prime Minister of Northern Ireland - and the rest of his family, moving there to live year-round was a different prospect. With no electricity, an erratic water supply and access to the mainland only possible by boat, life on Islandmore is one part catastrophe to three parts idyll. The result is a book imbued with sense of place; an honest, often funny, and moving account of one couple and two dogs living an uncomplicated life.

MY REVIEW

I read this book in one sitting and it was a little gem of a book, what a delightful way to spend my day.  Having recently visited a restaurant overlooking the lough Michael Faulkner just transported me back there.  It is a beautiful part of the country and I envy his Island hide away. 

Michael is a great story teller, the book being full of anecdotes recounting his first few years on the Island with his wife Lynn and their two dogs with glimpses into his early life, accentuated throughout with lovely little drawings and pictures.
  

It is a wonderful insight into an unusual life choice (albeit initially due to their financial circumstances) and full of interesting people.  It almost makes one long for ‘the good life’ regardless of the pitfalls.  It was a very enjoyable read, it made me smile, sometimes cry and often laugh out loud.

If you want an uplifting read this one is sure to hit the spot. 

I look forward to reading the sequel - Still on the Sound

For updates from the Island visit - http://www.thebluecabin.blogspot.com

We Bought A Zoo - Benjamin Mee

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Offical Blurb

Benjamin Mee decided to uproot his family and move them to an unlikely new home: a dilapidated zoo on the English countryside, complete with over 200 exotic animals. It was his dream to refurbish the zoo and run it as a family business. There was much work to be done, and none of it easy. Tigers broke loose, money ran low, the staff grew skeptical, and family tensions ran high. Then tragedy struck.

His wife had a recurrence of a brain tumor, forcing Benjamin and his children to face the heartbreak of illness and the devastating loss of a wife and mother. But inspired by her memory and the healing power of the incredible family of animals they had grown to love, Benjamin and his kids resovled to move forward. The Mee family opened the gates of the revitalized zoo in July 2007.

MY REVIEW

I read this in two sittings hard to put down.  Sometimes funny, sometimes sad but mostly uplifting.  It left me wanting to visit the zoo and if I am ever in the vacinity I fully intend to do so.  I thoroughly enjoyed reading about Benjamin Mee's  trials and tribulations involved in buying, rejuvinating and ultimately re-opening the zoo, whilst coming to term's with his wife's illness and subsequent death, this is not a spoiler as the reader learns of his wife's tumor and prognosis from the opening chapters. 

*  I hope the film does the book justice.

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The Slippery Art of Book Reviewing

How do I begin to review a book entitled The Slippery Art to Book Reviewing. That was the daunting question I asked myself when I finished reading this book. The best way I feel is to review it in the same way I would review any other book. That may seem like the book was ineffectual but this is by no means the case.

This book is a good aid for those who are thinking of becoming a ‘serious’ reviewer or wish to improve their reviewing skills, it contains some useful examples, reference material and in-depth explanations. I fall into the category of ‘reader to reader’ reviewer and although the book is aimed mainly towards the more professional reviewer I still found it interesting. It hasn’t influenced me to change my style of reviewing and level of participation in same but it has helped to reinforce my choice.

The Valkyries - Paulo Coelho

This is the first of Paulo Coelho's books I have read and perhaps that was a mistake. I found the first half of his journey intriging and compelling but when the Valkyries appeared it all seemed to be a bit too much. It went from simple explanations eg the 'second mind' to 'hard to digest' rituals and characters. I found myself asking 'is this book factual?', perhaps if I had read his other works first I would have had more of an understanding of his beliefs and practices.

A Friend Like Ben - Julia Rump

A lovely read.  I like the simplicity of the writing, relaying the relationship between an austisic boy, George, and his mum, Julia and how a little stray cat changes their lives.  A heart warming read for Christmas or any time of year.  Have the tissues at the ready.  

Watch:  Ben, George and Julia on youtube