Goodreads Monday: 2/6/2025

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 had a good start to the week. I was back at school today which was chaotic as most of my students had forgotten their books.

My chosen book to feature today is one that I have had on my Kindle for a couple of years but I am hoping to read it for my 20 Books of Summer challenge.

Lessons by Ian EcEwan

When the world is still counting the cost of the Second World War and the Iron Curtain has closed, eleven-year-old Roland Baines’s life is turned upside down. Two thousand miles from his mother’s protective love, stranded at an unusual boarding school, his vulnerability attracts piano teacher Miss Miriam Cornell, leaving scars as well as a memory of love that will never fade.

Now, when his wife vanishes, leaving him alone with his tiny son, Roland is forced to confront the reality of his restless existence. As the radiation from Chernobyl spreads across Europe, he begins a search for answers that looks deep into his family history and will last for the rest of his life.

Haunted by lost opportunities, Roland seeks solace through every possible means—music, literature, friends, sex, politics, and, finally, love cut tragically short, then love ultimately redeemed. His journey raises important questions for us all. Can we take full charge of the course of our lives without causing damage to others? How do global events beyond our control shape our lives and our memories? And what can we really learn from the traumas of the past?

Epic, mesmerising, and deeply humane, Lessons is a chronicle for our times—a powerful meditation on history and humanity through the prism of one man’s lifetime.

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. I have had a lovely couple of days of reading. I always get loads of reading done when the Grand Prix is on.

Blog Posts

Currently Reading

I’ve got back into Under the Dome and so far I am enjoying it but finding it very different to the TV series. I have also started my reread of The Three Musketeers. This is one of my absolute favourite books and I am so excited to reread it. It is a different translation to the one I am used to though and I am finding it a bit different. My old copy completely fell apart and I sadly lost a few of the pages during a house move.

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. I’ve had a lovely weekend of reading so far which has been fab.

Blog Posts

Currently Reading

I’m still enjoying both of these books but I will be honest and say I can’t put Starshine down as I am absolutely hooked.

Happy Reading

Etsy

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

Medieval Cats: Claws, Paws, and Kitties of Lore by Catherine Nappington (Review)

Medieval Cats: Claws, Paws, and Kitties of Lore by Catherine Nappington

Bookshop.org | Waterstones | WH Smith

Blurb

A hilarious celebration of cats in artwork from medieval times

From the year 500 to 1500 numerous medieval manuscripts and works of art portrayed cats as lazy, selfish, and vicious. Centuries later, these masterpieces live on, shining a bright light on the dark age of cats and telling a brand-new story of their glory. Medieval Cats celebrates more than two hundred cats who are up to no good.

Also included are cat facts from the Middle Ages as well as poems and excerpts from literature where cats were mentioned. Both a humorous book and a peek into medieval art and literature, Medieval Cats will appeal to cat and art lovers everywhere.

Review

My husband had this fun little book as a Christmas present so as soon as he had read it I knew I had to read it as well. 

I read this book in one sitting because there are a lot of pictures but there are also some very interesting facts about cats. Some of these facts are quite gruesome so this book isn’t for the faint hearted. I didn’t realise just how cruel people could be to cats between year 500 and 1500. 

However, it wasn’t all doom and gloom. There were also some very humorous facts about cats. The chosen manuscripts to feature were also excellent and very amusing. Monks had a real love for cats and managed to slip a cat picture into their manuscripts in very cunning ways. 

This is a fun little book that is perfect for the coffee table and one that you can always dip into for some beautiful cat pictures and some fun facts. I give this book 4 out of 5 Dragons. 

🐲🐲🐲🐲

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!

My blogging this week hasn’t been brilliant but my reading has been going well.

Blog Posts

Currently Reading

I am thoroughly enjoying these books so far although I suspect they will take a while to finish.

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 is having a good weekend. I’ve done quite well this week with my blogging and reading but I am still way behind with my book reviews.

Blog Posts

Currently Reading

Starshine has been sat on my Kindle since 2018 so I thought I would give it a read. I’m finding it a little bit confusing so far but quite interesting. Tuf Voyaging is going well and I am loving all the cats!

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 is having a good weekend so far. I have had a good week of blogging but not as much reading as I would have liked.

Blog Posts

Currently Reading

I have been really getting into Belgravia now but keep taking little breaks on Tuf Voyaging.

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

Happy Easter!

I hope everyone has had a good Easter so far. Blogging has been going well this week and my reading has been quite good as well.

Blog Posts

Currently Reading

I am throughly enjoying this so far. I really do enjoy George R. R. Martin’s sci-fi work.

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. I now have two weeks off from teaching so I am looking forward to some good reading.

Blog Posts

Currently Reading

I am thoroughly enjoying this and can’t put it down.

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 you have all had a good weekend so far. I have managed to finish a book this weekend which is good.

Blog Posts

Currently Reading

Happy Reading

Etsy

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