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A General Life Update (with Photos)

By Amazon, Books & Authors, Home, Life, Music & Radio, Paganism, Pets3 Comments

Hello all,

Today, I’m going to be giving you a general life update (with photos). I’ve been saving to pay off an overdraft and as such I haven’t been out and about as normal. But a few things have gone on in my life recently.

I treated myself to some new bedding. I’d had the old bedding over a decade and it was time for a change. Here’s two of the three sets I bought:

yellow-and-grey-new-bedding-2-April-18

New Bedding #1
purple-new-bedding-1-April-18

New Bedding #2

I also have a Detroit set in various shades of red and white.

My cats are as vocal, mischievous and cute as ever. Here are some photos:

bengal-cat-Russell-April-18

Russell sat looking regal.
bengal-cats-Dylan-and-Russell-April-18

My housemate took this photo. Not sure what he was interrupting?

There hasn’t been any decent albums out in ages. However Kylie Minogue recently released Golden, which I am listening to and enjoying:

Kylie Minogue-Golden-Album-Cover-April-2018
View on Amazon.co.uk

I’ve watched a lot of rubbish TV on Netflix. I like programmes that I don’t have to think about, so in the main I’ve watched American documentaries set in prisons or following the Police on the streets. I’ve enjoyed watching anything and everything by Louis Theroux.

I’ve also re-watched some classic films including: Labyrinth, the Back to the Future trilogy, Matilda and Jumanji.

I’ve binged my way through Designated Survivor, all four seasons of Star Trek: Enterprise, all of the available Star Trek: Discovery and laughed my way through Russell Howard’s Recalibrate.

I’ve read The Immortalists by Chloe Benjamin. It’s a brilliant book and one that I shall be reviewing soon.

the-immortalists-chloe-benjamin-April-2018

I’ve started and finished The Immortalists by Chloe Benjamin. It’s a brilliant book and one that I shall review soon.

I’ve started reading The Signature of All Things by Elizabeth Gilbert:

I’ve received my signed copy of Boys Keep Swinging: A Memoir by Jake Shears from Waterstones. I haven’t started reading it yet, but intend to do so once I’ve finished The Signature of All Things:

signed-boys-keep-swinging-memoir-jake-shears-April-18

My signed copy of Boys Keep Swinging by Jake Shears, from Waterstones.

I treated myself to this gorgeous Tree of life Pentagram for wearing during rituals. It was bought from Inner Peace Holistic Therapy’s online shop:

pagan-tree-of-life-pentagram-necklace-April-18

How gorgeous is this?

Whenever I’ve not been too tired/exhausted, I’ve tried to spend time with family and friends. I’ve not done as much of this as I would have liked, but going forward I shall try to do more.

Write soon,

Antony

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Saturday 14 April 2018

Book Review: Patron Saint of Liars by Ann Patchett

By Amazon, Books & Authors, ReviewsNo Comments
patron-saint-of-liars-ann-patchett-book-cover
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 Some people are a mystery. What they think, what motivates them to act in the way that they do and why they tell the half-truths or lies to those closest to them. The reasons for all of the above are only known to themselves.

In Patron Saint of Liars by Ann Patchett, Rose is a mystery.

Rose is married to a sweet man, who allows her the freedom to spend all day doing what she loves – driving. For Rose the destination isn’t important, just the journey and the freedom it brings.

Rose discovers that she’s pregnant and takes off driving across to the other side of America. She leaves her husband a simple note.

Rose heads for St. Elizabeth’s. St. Elizabeth’s is a former hotel, that is run by Roman Catholic Nuns. It is a place where women go to complete their pregnancy, give birth and then give their baby up for adoption.

But nothing works out like Rose planned. Rose meets Son, a handyman more than twenty years her senior. She finds a place in the kitchen, helping Sister Evangeline out with the cooking. Sister Evangeline and Rose become close friends, but that’s because Sister Evangeline accepts that Rose will never open up about her past or herself. Rose also meets the kind June Clatterbuck, who owns the land St. Elizabeth’s is on and lives across a field.

There’s nothing I could writes in this review to explain the brilliance of this Patron Saint of Liars. The first person perspective is perfect and the changes between the three main characters happens at exactly the right times.

The description is ideal, informative and ignites the readers imagination. The pacing, set over a lifetime is impeccable. Each of the characters and their development is superb.

Patron Saint of Liars is a pleasurable read, that captivates throughout and will leave the reader wanting more. It is Patchett’s writing at her very best. It would make a blockbuster of a film.

I don’t grade reviews, but if I did Patron Saint of Liars would get 12 out of 10. You simply must read this fantastic and life-changing work of fiction.

Review soon,

Antony

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Thursday 22 March 2018

Book Review: Surprise Me by Sophie Kinsella

By Amazon, Books & Authors, ReviewsNo Comments
surprise-me-sophie-kinsella-book-cover
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 In Surprise Me by Sophie Kinsella, a routine insurance medical gives Sylvie and Dan some shocking news – that they have at least another 68 years of marriage ahead of them.

So Sylvie comes up with an idea – that they should surprise each other. This idea leads to disastrous consequences, funny scenes and the abandonment of the idea.

But from the outset there’s a mystery that entices the reader to read on. The reader comes up with questions like:

  1. Why does Dan always go tense whenever Sylvie mentions her father?
  2. Why does Sylvie’s mum always go quiet or dismiss Sylvie when she talks about her imaginary friend Lynn?

As well as the mystery, there’s normal life going on. Sylvie & Dan have two young daughters, Dan’s working very hard and there’s lots of change afoot in Sylvie’s job.

Sylvie is an engaging character and the book is written from her first person perspective. However Sylvie does get repetitive to the point of more than mildly annoying for the reader.

Sylvie and Dan’s friend and neighbour Tilda and her son Toby are fascinating characters, the only ones really worth mentioning and a novel telling their stories would be awesome.

What really let this book down was the generic and uninspiring book cover. Who designed and approved this? The background colour is unappealing. Sylvie’s defining feature is her long hair that flows down her back like Rapunzel, yet this isn’t represented by the character on the cover.

Surprise Me is a fun, easy read. However it doesn’t compare to Kinsella’s previous releases – particularly The Shopaholic Series.

Surprise Me is available to buy on Amazon and at all good book shops.

Review soon,

Antony

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I aim for posts on this blog to be informative, educational and entertaining. If you have found this post useful or enjoyable, please consider making a contribution by Paypal:


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Friday 23 February 2018

Book Review: How To Be Human – The Manual by Ruby Wax

By Amazon, Books & Authors, ReviewsNo Comments
ruby-wax-how-to-be-human-book-cover
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 Ruby Wax’s latest book is called How To Be Human – The Manual. It’s insightful, funny, warm and engaging. A pleasure to read. It’s like somebody is pouring wisdom into your head while you’re having a chat with them.

Each chapter covers a topic and is wittily written by Wax. For each chapter Wax has consulted with Ash Ranpura, a Neuroscientist and Gelong Thubten, a Buddhist Monk.

At the end of each chapter are fascinating transcripts of these discussions. Interspersed throughout How To Be Human Wax shares some of her own mental illness story.

So what exactly does Wax cover in How To Be Human? Pretty much everything. Here is each chapter title:

  • Evolution
  • Thoughts
  • Emotions
  • The Body
  • Compassion
  • Relationships
  • Sex
  • Kids
  • Addiction
  • The Future
  • Mindfulness Exercises
  • Forgiveness

How To Be Human builds on the strong foundations of Wax’s two previously published books: Sane New World – Taming the Mind, which I have reviewed here and A Mindfulness Guide for the Frazzled, which I have reviewed here.

You can also learn more about Wax by reading her autobiography How Do You Want Me?, which I have reviewed here.

How To Be Human is available to buy on Amazon and at all good book shops.

Review soon,

Antony

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I aim for posts on this blog to be informative, educational and entertaining. If you have found this post useful or enjoyable, please consider making a contribution by Paypal:


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Tuesday 20 February 2018
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