Blood, Sweat and Tea - Tom Reynolds

It's taken me a while to read this book, but since it's a collection of blog entries it's easy to 'dip in and out' without losing the plot.

Tom Reynolds is an Emergency Mediecal Technician (Ambulance crew to you and me!), who lives and blogs in London.

I've been reading his blog for sometime thanks to the recommendation of Liz, and he writes extremely well; often about difficult or sensitive situations that he's had to deal with.

Pulling no punches, Tom describes his working days (or nights); the frequent flyers (often alcoholics), the false alarms, calls for colds, headaches and other non-emergency patients - along side the descriptions of real emergencies, the frustrations of working for a 'failing' NHS, the politics and the crazy pedestrians who think nothing of trying to 'make a dash for it' in front of his speeding vehicle!

I've really enjoyed this book, but then I knew I would as I still follow his blog!

Visit the blog here - http://randomreality.blogware.com/

Bought on Green Metropolis
19th January - 6th November 2009

Sum - David Eagleman

What happens after we die? I can't believe that there is any 'semi' intelligent person on the planet who hasn't wondered about this at least once in their lives?

David Eagleman seems to have thought about it a lot! Sum, which is subtitled 'Forty tales from the afterlives', is a collection of short essays telling about different afterlives that could possibly be.

Maybe you become part of the background cast in someone else's dream? The characters who populate dreams, but who we never meet or see clearly. Sometimes you take centre stage, but most of the time you'll be waiting in the wings.

Or perhaps death is a three part process; firstly the body ceases to function, then the body is consigned to the grave, and then the final death is when you are forgotten by those who remember you. So, until that happens you wait in a sort of 'lobby area'. For those who have no family or friends the wait might be short, but for those who have achieved much, done great deeds, or have large families, the wait can be long and extremely boring!

How about getting the chance to live your life again - but you can change one single thing? What would you choose?

Or maybe you get the chance to met God - but what or who is he or she - there are so many different possibilities.

This little book is so thought provoking - each story sets you off thinking in a different direction. Don't try to read it in one sitting, each essay is worth taking the time to think over afterwards. It's got to be one of the most original books I've read - and I have a feeling I'll be going back to it again and again.

Bought on Green Metropolis (although John was going to buy it for me for Christmas!)

14th - 25th October 2009

The Host - Stephanie Meyer

I can't get over how much I enjoyed this book! It seems a shame that it will probably be overlooked by many people because of it's connection with the Twilight series - which it is very different to.

Although not an avid science fiction reader, I have read my fair share (Asimov, Heinlein, Harrison, Clarke....and others) - so I was looking forward to this book, hoping it would be as well written as the Twilight series, but also hoping it would be very different.

I wasn't disappointed. It did take me a while to get into the story, and it is perhaps a bit over long - but it's an excellent story, well set up, well written, which can't fail to drag you in.

Melanie is one of the last humans on Earth, the majority of humanity has been taken over by the 'souls', aliens you use other lifeforms as 'hosts'. When she's captured and a 'soul' is given her body, the hope is that she will lead the aliens to other remaining humans - but it doesn't quite work out like that.

Melanie is strong, she refuses to give in to the invasion of her body, still yearning for the man she loves, Jared, who is still in hiding. Wanderer begins to realise that she too loves the human - and so their journey together begins.

I've seen fan made film trailers for this book on Youtube that make it seem like a horror, but to me it's a love story - both Melanie and Wanderer are fighting to find the man they love. It's a story about the resilience of human spirit, and the need for friendship and companionship.

It's a great book, even if you weren't interested in the Twilight novels, or you don't like science fiction, I'd still recommend that you try this book - it's worth the effort.

Bought on Green Metropolis.
30th September - 21st October 2009

Dear Fatty – Dawn French

The only problem with reading an autobiography is that afterwards you are left with the feeling that you know the person really really well. Bob forbid I ever bump into Dawn French when shopping in the Co-op, I’d have so much I wanted to discuss.

Although it’s not very likely, as the sleeve notes, she lives in Cornwall with a bloke called Len and a daughter called Bill. Despite the fact that this is an autobiography – very little ‘detail’ is given about her life now, or the people in it.

The whole book takes the form of a series of letters to various people who have some meaning to her; ex-boyfriends, the BF (best friend, whose name is never revealed), Lenny Henry (the letter to her husband is truly a love letter), Fatty (Jennifer Saunders) and of course her family.

Through reminiscences we hear about her early life, with the suicide of her father when she was a teenager, her boarding school, college (learning to be a teacher), and the various people she met and worked with along the way.

Throughout the book it was obvious how much she misses her father, but also how she’s been lucky enough to have been surrounded by some wonderful friends and family. Many of the letters are hilarious retellings of incidents, some are even jokes themselves, many more are extremely moving – particularly the letter to ‘Scotty’ telling the story of his death from AIDS and the subsequent ‘scattering’ of his ashes in New York – this one had me howling with laughter and crying at the same time!

I’ve never been a follower of ‘celebrity’, so for me this was just a book about someone who is living an interesting life. I’ve not read many other autobiographies or biographies – but maybe I will do now, but only if they are as engaging and entertaining as this one – it will be a hard act to follow.

Bought on Green Metropolis
29th August - 10th October 2009

Eclipse - Stephenie Meyer

I was going to wait, but I couldn't....then I was going to take my time ready it (even reading something else at the same time), but I didn't!

The third book in the Twilight series sees Edward back in Bella's life full time, but with the complication of her close friendship with Jacob Black. It must be very difficult being so close to two men, both with very complicated 'conditions' - not to mention the fact that their types are sworn enemies.

But nearby Seattle is being ravaged by a spate of mysterious killings, and it looks like someone, or something is coming after Bella again.....well, she does attract them! The two factions must work together to destroy a common foe - before it manages to find Bella.

The interaction between the reserve at La Push and the Cullen family is great, I have to admit to loving reading about Alice, the vampire who loves to arrange parties and organise!

Only one more book to go, but I'm forced to wait as it's not out in paperback yet. It will do me good!

Bought on Green Metropolis 12th-27th September 2009

New Moon - Stephenie Meyer

Given how much I enjoyed the first book in the series, it's not surprising that I moved directly on to the sequel.

Although not quite as 'grabbing' as the first, this book was equally as enjoyable, and only took me three days to read - I really should ration myself a little more!

With Edward gone Bella doesn't know what to do with herself, this is much more of a loss than is normal for teenage love - she feels it so strongly that for a time she is unable to function normally and just wanders through life like a zombie.

Until she is re-acquainted with Jacob, and a friendship that starts to rebuild her shattered life.

But as you'd expect, Bella can't choose anyone simple to be friends with.....and Jacob turns out to be as dangerous a friend as Edward was.

I'm amazed at how good these books are, and sorry that they don't seem to have made the cross over to adult reading in the same way that the Harry Potter or His Dark Materials books did. The third in the series has arrived, but I'm going to take a break and read something else first - or at least that's the plan.....

Bought on Green Metropolis. 8th-11th September.

Twilight - Stephenie Meyer

I can't get over how much I enjoyed this book - I really couldn't put it down! Seriously, I was reading it in traffic queues and supermarket toilets!

The basic storyline of the book is a love story between two teenagers - it just so happens that one of them is a vampire!

When Bella moves in with Charlie (her dad) and starts at a new school she makes a few friends, but she soon notices the mysterious Edward - and he notices her. Despite being warned by various people they do start a relationship - with all the problems associated with the fact that he has to control his bloodlust when he's with her.

It's hard to put my finger on why this book was so compelling, it's written for teenagers so is easy to read - maybe that's why I read it in only a few days!

Part one of four, so more to come!

Bought on Green Metropolis. 31st August - 2nd September