3 books, 3 points

Reviewing 3 books in 3 bullet points

Recently we travelled to Anglesey for the annual family holiday. One of my favourite things to do is to relax with a book, and being away from work, home and the general hubbub of everyday life meant I could finally get around to starting (and finishing) books I’d meant to read for ages!

1. The Reader on the 6:27, by Jean-Paul Diderlaurent
   -Was unsure at first where this story was going, but I got into it very quickly, enjoying the quirkiness of the story and the situations
   -Felt easy to read and I liked the peripheral characters, I became invested in the main character and was rooting for him throughout… a fun read, finished it in a few hours and it made me happy
   -I enjoyed the ending, it wasn’t what I expected – although it felt like it may be setting up for a sequel
2. Go Set a Watchman, By Harper Lee
   -I was drawn in straight away, Harper Lee’s use of language is as evocative as ever
   -I found myself getting angry throughout the book (which I don’t think is a bad thing) and frustrated – I think if a book can provoke an emotional reaction linked to the story then that’s a good book, I was angry but I enjoyed it, if that makes any sense!
   -In the end I felt the story was lacking in depth compared to To Kill a Mockingbird – but maybe because everyone compares it, that’s where it is shown up. (Also maybe because I spent a year studying TKAM at school!) Even though I felt this, it still make me think for days afterwards, well, actually, it’s still making me think, so it may be more layered than I first thought…
3. The Unselfish Spirit, By Mick Collins
   -I was intrigued to read this book about a solution to the current ‘global crisis’ – I wanted to see how the author would define this and what viewpoint he’d come from
   -I found it a little repetitive but really interesting. The author redefines individual experiences in terms of changing the general consciousness, steering humanity in a different direction. It’s a really positive read with lots of practical, soul-searching exercises at the end of each chapter, and a unique personal viewpoint
   -I felt this book was more of a journey than a book! It made me think in different ways about positive solutions, and reframing, that could help us move forward in the future. Not one to read in one sitting but a book to savour and challenge yourself with!

Best of the 3: Go Set a Watchman, due to the amount of thought-provoking discussions I had about it afterwards!

Books up next month:
-Meat: A Benign Extravagance, by Simon Fairlie
– The Watchmaker of Filigree Street, by Natasha Pulley
-Beyond the Tower: A history of East London, by John Marriott

If any of these take your fancy, or if you’ve read any of the books above, please join me in posting 3-bulletpoint reviews! 😉 And suggestions welcome for future 3 books, 3 points reading material…

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