Book review - the Crossing Places

The Crossing Places by Elly Griffiths
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Although I did enjoy this book there were a few things that prevented me from really enjoying it. I found the narrative style, a very active, present tense, third person narrative, a bit distracting. I found the style quite unsettling in some parts of the story I couldn't ever quite relax into being swept up in the story. Plus I worked out "who done it" as soon as it was possible to. But I enjoyed the archeological detail which was very interesting though I most of it was familiar from Time Team!

I don't mean this to sound like a dreadful review - I did enjoy the story and the character of Ruth. I will look out the second book as I feel there is potential for a good developing series.

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Book review

Remarkable Creatures by Tracy Chevalier
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really loved this book. I visited Dorset's Jurasic coast earlier this year and visited a fossil shop and bought an amonite. Sadly I didn't get the chance to fossil hunt myself though I have done in the past on the north east coast near Whitby. The novel is about the lives of two very different women in the early 19th Century who are drawn together by fossils in Lyme Regis.

The characterisation of the two women was vivid and believable and the story engaging. What I loved most about this novel was how it evoked a real sense of discovery and excitement in learning experienced by the two women. This desire to learn and understand is tempered by the restraints of the age which prevented women from an equal education and is really sobering.

The two narators and many of the other characters in this novel are real historical figures. I was left with a feeling of extreme gratitude and admiration of theses pioneering women who persisted in their own quiet ways to push the boundaries of what was "acceptable" for a woman to learn about and engage in. They both made sacrifices so that they could continue to study fossils in their own unoffical ways whilst formal study was denied them. The novel also examins class and religious issues which interfered with opportuities to study I feel very privileged to live at a time when I can study on equal terms to anyone else.

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Rookie

Rookie, a set on Flickr.

I've collected together some photos of Rookie and put them on Flickr. Rookie passed away on Monday after being unwell for some time. She was a little cat with a strong personality who loved to tell you exactly what she thought. She was also an incredibly loving cat who always wanted to be made a fuss of.

The house is not the same with out her. She is dearly missed by Jase and me.

Pigs and stargazing

 The last couple of weeks have been quite busy for me as I started a new contract working for Disability Alliance and specifically the work which Skill lead on with education and disabled people. Sadly Skill closed in April but thanks to Disability Alliance and Lord Low, the Department of Business Innovation and Skills has funded the work of Skill to continue managed by my old colleague and friend Andrea Lewis who was working at Skill when they closed in April. Andrea worked tirelessly with Lord Low and others to ensure that Skill's vital work, like their helpline continue.

I'm working on policy stuff and responses to the Government's FE consultation. It's good to be working again after all the time off in the summer.

Yesterday we went over to visit friends who have just moved down form Edinburgh to Cambridge. We went with them and their two little girls to a farm which has a selection of shops and a cafe. The picture above is of some pigs who seemed very happy to be wallowing in mud. Below is a picture of Rupert and Jen's lovely ginger cat. She decided to sleep between Jason and I on the settee with her head on my leg resting on her paw!

We stayed over in Cambridge quite late and Rupert decided to look for the new supernova which has appeared in the pin wheel galaxy just north of the plough. Rupert has a small telescope but we had some difficulty trying to find it. We may have seen it or it may just have been a very bright star. We did certainly get a good view of Jupiter though and 3 of Jupiter's 4 largest moons. I could only see 2 of the 3 but that is certainly more than I've seen before! I can't believe that it was the first time I'd actually looked through a telescope at stars and planets! We didn't get home until mid night but it was a long and enjoyable day.

Today I picked up some lovely begonias from Homebase which I've put at the front of the house as you can see in the picture above.

I have another busy week ahead with probably 2 days working in London, so I'm trying to rest this Sunday.