I'm one of those guys who likes to read things. Anything (Pg 81)

A number of people have told me 'you must read The Happiest Refugee by Ahn Do' and finally, I have. I finished it just last night in fact, so it is still fresh in my mind!

If I had started writing this post about 100 pages before I reached the end of the book, I would've given an overall glowing review. Beautifully written, Do covers so much and tells a very touching and heartwarming tale. The characters of his family are amazing, especially his mum. Also everything they went through was astounding and I loved how the book never read like they were victims or hard done by, these things happened and they got through.

The humor is lovely and, whether by design or not, it doesn't read as stand up comedy until we have passed the point in Ahn's life where he has become a comedian. Nicely done.

The issue coming towards the end of the book is that it begins to read more like a resume  than a biography. I got a little tired of hearing about numerous channel 7 appearances. I was also put off by the endorsement on the cover of David Koch and Melissa Doyle, it was all a little too A Current Affair to me.

The television appearance list also detracted from things I would consider to have been more important in his life, like the birth of his children. There was nothing about his delight in learning his wife was pregnant, nor about the birth of any of his children, they simply appeared in the story.

It feels as though there were a few too many 'producers' involved in the editing of this story. That being said, it was lovely, laugh out loud and inspiring and made me ever grateful for what I have.

28 Books Remaining, 399 Days to go

That night Maia sat alone at the top of the mahogany library steps, and she read and she read and she read (Pg 6)

I have found the time to finish a book, and have finally found the time to blog about it (about two weeks later) I wish it happened a little closer together as I feel I could do the book more justice, however here we go.

I have read Journey to the River Sea by Eva Ibbotson before, when I was a little younger.

Technically it is a children's story, but it's fun and adventurous and it isn't strictly for children. A trip to the mysterious Amazon, two evil 'step-sisters' and step parents, a well to do orphan and a mysterious child who lives on boat on the river. Throw in a young actor who desperately wants to get back to England, and you have a story.

It's nicely written, I did feel a little let down at then end, perhaps it was just a little rushed, and ended a little conveniently. Too many nice characters and not enough bad people, more bad people! I think I wanted more complexity, but perhaps this is where i have to be remembering that it is a childrens book and also that I shouldn't be jumping into the anti mush campaign with too difficult a start.

There are some truly lovely moments, for example;  don't you like Shakespeare? Asked Maia. Miss Minton gave her a look. 'I rank Shakespeare as second only to god,' she said. 'which is why  I am going to my cabin.'

This story has put me in mind of other childhood adventure stories and I think I may include an Enid Blyton book soon.

One down! 29 books remaining, 400 Days to go

Who collected books about gangsters (pg 111)

I did actually finish Cold Comfort Farm by Stella Gibbons about a month ago. I have no idea why it took me 5 months to read this book. (Note; this book is not counted among the 30 for the campaign as I finished it before it started.)

It is a little full on to begin with, Gibbons may have been aiming for Austen prowess, indeed Austen is reffered to constantly throughout the book.

It is lovely though, very tongue in cheek as our heroine Flora Poste goes to live with relatives on a dilapidated farm and unashamedly goes about improving the lives of all its inhabitants. A good laugh really, as long as you don't see something nasty in the woodshed...

I had previously seen the film which was very well done and lead me to want to read the book. If you are in a mood for a little frippery, then I would recommend both the book and the film.

The 'Anti Mush Campaign'

 

It has been 6 Months since my last blog! How terrible. In my defense we have, in that time, bought a house and I am currently trying to start a small business, however that is no defense at all and no reason to have stopped reading.

I am concerned that my lack of literary adventures is slowly turning my brain to mush. I find myself unable to think of words to describe things and cannot blame baby brain. I am therefore taking up a new challenge and calling it the 'Anti Mush Campaign'.

The rules are simple: 

Read 30 books in 417 days allowing approx 2 weeks per book, which given my current reading rate is quite ambitious.

This challenge will start today, 10th of November 2011 and will run until the 31st of December 2012.

There is no set list of books this time, however a few have already started to pile up. I have therefore listed some of the books I'll read in the 'what to read next' column.

So here we go again, read and be merry.