Madonna King This was an informative and accessible book. It had a number of quots fro fathers, dads and people involved in the education of girls. Very insightful. I was very pleased to find that I am achieveing a lot of what they advised. There is... more details

Patrick Barkham This was a very gentle and beautiful book. It bought us right into the world of Patrick as he attempts to see all 59 native species of butterflies in the British Isles in one season. He was introduced to butterflies by his dad and l... more details

Charles Kuralts This reminds me of Bill Bryson's books and this is rare praise as Bill is one of my favourite authors. It does not have Bills cynicism or depth but Charles is a wonderful observer and he can  convey what he sees very well. You c... more details

Eoin Colfer Douglas Adams wanted to write a 6th book and he said Mostlty Harmless was prtetty bleak. But he died before he could do it and so Eoin took on the project. I started reading it optomistaclly and loved see all my characters in a new adve... more details

on (not) Getting By in America Barbara Ehrenreich This was published in 2001 but it is still relevant and relatable today. An investigative journalist  leaves her comfortable middle class life and sees how she does as a member of the working p... more details

A. Bertram Cox Another op shop buy. The cover is horrible, but I love these farm life comedies.  First published in 1952 and set before the second world war. It is Bertram's accounts of his foray into farming in the Adelaide hills. He is a succ... more details

Freeing Yourself from Chronic Unhappiness Mark Williams, John Teasdale, Zindel Segal, Jon Kabat-Zinn This was a lifesaver. I think I got it at the right time too. It is an easy read with practical things you can put in place from day one. But it al... more details

Thomas Hardy I decided to challenge myself and pull a classic off the book shelf. First published in 1874. This was a delight. Having studied Hardy at school I could see exam topics with various symbolism and metaphors. But it was also a page turne... more details

James Herriot I read 'If Only They Could Talk' last year a throughly enjoyed it. I read book two 'It Shouldnt Happen to a Vet' in this omnibus. It was equally good, with all the regular characters - Siegfried and Tristant and the Dales famers. This ... more details

Bruce Sterling I read Bruce's Difference Engine when he wrote with Gibson. But he is good on his own too. This was an excellent book. Storm chasers in a dystopian world ravaged by climate change. Lots of good future tech, but also characters you emp... more details

Peter F Hamilton This was rubbish, I could not finish it. I have read his early cyberpunk and his later grand scifi. But this one was too sexist and has an old man and 15 year old relationship. Not enough scifi, more like a mills and boon for pervy ... more details

Tim Elliot. This is a fun travel story, it introduces you to the nation of Bolivia and the problems associated with its cocaine production and other third world issues. The travelling, get a job at a paper, make some friends is all good. But it is a... more details

Terry Pratchett. This is the first in the City Watch series, Carrot comes to Ankh-Morpork to join the police. He is very large but was raised by dwarfs. He is straightlaced. All the other characters we grow to love, Vimes, Fred, and Nobby. A secret... more details