Author: higgy88

Crazy dog owning musician who loves knitting, reading and exercising in her spare time.

Cats in Medieval Manuscripts by Kathleen Walker-Meikle (Review #48)

Cats in Medieval Manuscripts by Kathleen Walker-Meikle

Blurb

Cats were illustrated in medieval manuscripts throughout the Middle Ages, often in exquisite detail and frequently accompanied by their natural prey, mice. Medieval cats were viewed as treasured pets, as fearsome mousers, as canny characters in fables, as associates of the Devil, and as magical creatures. Featuring an array of fascinating illustrations from the British Library’s rich medieval collection, Cats in Medieval Manuscripts includes anecdotes about cats—both real and imaginary—to provide a fascinating picture of the life of the cat and its relationship with humans during the Medieval period. A great gift for all cat-lovers.

Review

I have been after this book for so long ever since I read Dogs in Medieval Manuscripts a few years ago. However, I couldn’t seem to get a copy but my wonderful husband managed to find me a copy for my birthday. 

Just like the dog version of this book I was not disappointed. Each two page spread in the book contains beautiful examples and fascinating facts. I couldn’t believe some of the facts about cats living or trying to survive in medieval times. Cats in Medieval times were not safe and life was definitely not easy for them unless they found a loving home and were kept safe.

I loved the variety of images in this book and the fact that you can just dip in and out of this book and not have to read it from cover to cover. You aren’t bombarded with information and the information you do get is told simply and succinctly. 

This little book is a perfect gift for cat lovers and will also look fab on your coffee table. I give this book a big 5 out of 5 Dragons. 

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Purchase Links

Bookshop.org | Foyles | Waterstones | WH Smith

About the author

Kathleen Walker-Meikle completed her PhD at University College, London on late-medieval pet keeping. She researches and writes on medieval and early modern animals and medicine.

Etsy

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Goodreads Monday: 27/11/2023

Goodreads Monday is now hosted by Budget Tales Book Club.  All you have to do is show off a book from your TBR that you’re looking forward to reading.

Hello!

I hope everyone has had a good start to the week. I’m on my last full week of teaching and I must admit I am looking forward to more free time to read once I have finished.

I’m still enjoying my Tudor history books and my TBR list is growing with Tudor related books. This one is currently at the top of the pile and I really hope to get reading it soon.

Henry VIII is best known in history for his tempestuous marriages and the fates of his six wives. However, as acclaimed historian Tracy Borman makes clear in her illuminating new chronicle of Henry’s life, his reign and reputation were hugely influenced by the men who surrounded and interacted with him as companions and confidants, servants and ministers, and occasionally as rivals–many of whom have been underplayed in previous biographies. These relationships offer a fresh, often surprising perspective on the legendary king, revealing the contradictions in his beliefs, behavior, and character in a nuanced light. They show him capable of fierce but seldom abiding loyalty, of raising men up only to destroy them later. He loved to be attended by boisterous young men, the likes of his intimate friend Charles Brandon, who shared his passion for sport, but could also be diverted by men of intellect, culture, and wit, as his longstanding interplay with Cardinal Wolsey and his reluctant abandonment of Thomas More attest. Eager to escape the shadow of his father, Henry VII, he was often trusting and easily led by male attendants and advisors early in his reign (his coronation was just shy of his 18th birthday in 1509); in time, though, he matured into a profoundly suspicious and paranoid king whose ruthlessness would be ever more apparent, as Thomas Howard, Duke of Norfolk and uncle to two of Henry’s wives, discovered to his great discomfort, and as Eustace Chapuys, the ambassador of Charles V of Spain, often reported.

Recounting the great Tudor’s life and signal moments through the lens of his male relationships, Tracy Borman’s new biography reveals Henry’s personality in all its multi-faceted, contradictory glory, and sheds fresh light on his reign for anyone fascinated by the Tudor era and its legacy.

Please drop me a link with your Goodreads Monday and I will head over for a visit. 

Happy Reading

Etsy

If you enjoy reading my blog and would like to make a donation I would be very grateful. Thank you

Friday Poetry: A. E. Housman

Happy Friday!

I hope everyone has had a good week so far. Apologies for not blogging much this week, tiredness has been hampering things.

I chose the poem for this week because I live very close to Wenlock Edge and love walking there. 

On Wenlock Edge

On Wenlock Edge the wood's in trouble;
His forest fleece the Wrekin heaves;
The gale, it plies the saplings double,
And thick on Severn snow the leaves. 

'Twould blow like this through holt and hanger
When Uricon the city stood:
'Tis the old wind in the old anger, 
But then it threshed another wood.

Then, 'twas before my time, the Roman
At yonder heaving hill would stare:
The blood that warms an English Yeoman,
The thoughts that hurt him, they were there. 

There, like the wind through woods in riot,
Through him the gale of life blew high;
The tree of man was never quiet:
Then 'twas the Roman, now 'tis I. 

The gale, it plies the saplings double, 
It blows so hard, 'twill soon be gone:
To-day the Roman and his trouble
Are ashes under Uricon. 

A. E. Housmann

Happy Reading

Etsy

If you enjoy reading my blog and would like to make a donation I would be very grateful. Thank you

WWW Wednesday: 22/11/2023

WWW Wednesday is a meme hosted by Sam at Taking on a World of Words.

The rules are answer the questions below and share a link to your blog in the comments section of Sam’s blog.

  • What are you currently reading?
  • What did you recently finish reading?
  • What do you think you will read next?

Hello!

I hope everyone is having a good week so far. I must admit this week is getting a little bit on top of me work wise but I’m hoping I can get through it ok. Next week is my last full week at all my different schools so I am looking forward to having a little bit more free time from then on.

What I am Currently Reading

I’m still going with Mary Beard and I’m still really enjoying it but it is rather a detailed read which I really can’t read when tired. The Lost Bookshop is a kindle book I downloaded for my holidays but never got around to reading. However, finding myself on a train journey I got the kindle app on my phone and started reading it and I’ve been hooked ever since.

What I have Recently Finished Reading

I will be honest I was not impressed with this read but I will elaborate more when I review it.

What I Think I will Read Next

I really want to continue with my nonfiction reading but I’m not sure whether I will manage it as when I’m tired I always want easy reads.

Please drop me a comment with your WWW Wednesday and I will head over for a visit.

Happy Reading

Etsy

If you enjoy reading my blog and would like to make a donation I would be very grateful. Thank you

Goodreads Monday: 20/11/2023

Goodreads Monday is now hosted by Budget Tales Book Club.  All you have to do is show off a book from your TBR that you’re looking forward to reading.

Happy Monday!

I hope you have all had a good start to the week. I’ve had rather a busy day with teaching but I managed to get some reading done today.

My chosen book today is by an author who is fast becoming one of my favourites. I have added every single book of Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s that I haven’t read to my Goodreads TBR.

The Mayan god of death sends a young woman on a harrowing, life-changing journey in this one-of-a-kind fairy tale inspired by Mexican folklore.

The Jazz Age is in full swing, but Casiopea Tun is too busy cleaning the floors of her wealthy grandfather’s house to listen to any fast tunes. Nevertheless, she dreams of a life far from her dusty small town in southern Mexico. A life she can call her own. 

Yet this new life seems as distant as the stars, until the day she finds a curious wooden box in her grandfather’s room. She opens it—and accidentally frees the spirit of the Mayan god of death, who requests her help in recovering his throne from his treacherous brother. Failure will mean Casiopea’s demise, but success could make her dreams come true.

In the company of the strangely alluring god and armed with her wits, Casiopea begins an adventure that will take her on a cross-country odyssey from the jungles of Yucatán to the bright lights of Mexico City—and deep into the darkness of the Mayan underworld.

Please drop me a link with your Goodreads Monday and I will head over for a visit. 

Happy Reading

Etsy

If you enjoy reading my blog and would like to make a donation I would be very grateful. Thank you

The Weekly Brief

Hello!

I hope everyone has had a good weekend so far. This week has gone well for me reading and blogging wise. I’m finally catching up with my book reviews!

Blog Posts

Currently Reading

Finding this really interesting so far. I also love the amount of images used.

Happy Reading

Etsy

If you enjoy reading my blog and would like to make a donation I would be very grateful. Thank you

Exit Strategy by Martha Wells (Review #47)

Exit Strategy by Martha Wells

Blurb

Murderbot wasn’t programmed to care. So, its decision to help the only human who ever showed it respect must be a system glitch, right?

Having traveled the width of the galaxy to unearth details of its own murderous transgressions, as well as those of the GrayCris Corporation, Murderbot is heading home to help Dr. Mensah—its former owner (protector? friend?)—submit evidence that could prevent GrayCris from destroying more colonists in its never-ending quest for profit.

But who’s going to believe a SecUnit gone rogue?

And what will become of it when it’s caught?

Review

I love the Murderbot series and with every book I find Murderbot more and more adorable. This book really shows that Murderbot cares even though Murderbot wasn’t programmed to care. In fact Murderbot wasn’t programmed to have feelings at all. 

Murderbot has risked it all travelling across the galaxy to get the knowledge it needs to find out about its previous life but then Murderbot finds out that Dr Mensah is in trouble. Dr Mensah is the only human to ever show respect to Murderbot and in a way she is a friend and protector of Murderbot. 

I love that even though Murderbot has no idea what to do with the situation it uses its vast amount of media knowledge to find a way to rescue Dr Mensah. Even if the shows it decided to get help from are unrealistic and extremely risky. It also uses its menacing presence to full advantage. 

With each novella Murderbot has developed more as a character. Its sense of humour gets more dry and snarky and its language gets considerably more filthy. However, what Murderbot really starts to develop is an unfailing loyalty to those who have been good to it, those who have cared for it but with this also comes an ever increasing hate to those who have treated it as a tool and something to be discarded. 

I love the Murderbot series but I always find myself wanting longer books. I can’t wait to continue with this series and give this book 4 out of 5 Dragons. 

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Purchase Links

Bookshop.org | Foyles | Waterstones | WH Smith

(All purchases made using one of the above affiliate links gives a small percentage of money to myself with no extra cost to yourself. All proceeds go towards the upkeep of this blog. Thank you ever so much, your support is gratefully received.)

About the author

Martha Wells has been a science fiction and fantasy author since her first fantasy novel was published in 1993. Her New York Times Bestselling series The Murderbot Diaries has won Nebula Awards, Hugo Awards, Locus Awards, and an American Library Association/YALSA Alex Award. Her work also includes The Books of the Raksura series, the Ile-Rien series, and several other fantasy novels, most recently Witch King (Tordotcom, 2023), as well as short fiction, non-fiction, and media tie-ins for Star Wars, Stargate: Atlantis, and Magic: The Gathering. Her work has also appeared on the Philip K. Dick Award ballot, the British Science Fiction Association Award ballot, the USA Today Bestseller List, and has been translated into twenty-four languages.

Etsy

If you enjoy reading my blog and would like to make a donation I would be very grateful. Thank you

Friday Poetry: G. K. Chesterton

Happy Friday!

My chosen poem today is by the English writer, poet and essayist G. K. Chesterton (1874-1936).

Elegy in a Country Churchyard

The men that worked for England
They have their graves at home:
And birds and bees of England
About the cross can roam.

But they that fought for England,
Following a falling star,
Alas, alas for England
They have their graves afar.

And they that rule in England,
In stately conclave met,
Alas, alas for England
They have no graves as yet. 

G. K. Chesterton

Happy Reading

Etsy

If you enjoy reading my blog and would like to make a donation I would be very grateful. Thank you