Jonathan Hollins recounts his time as a vet in various British overseas territories, including the Falklands, St. Helena and Tristan da Cunha.
It's an Jonathan Hollins recounts his time as a vet in various British overseas territories, including the Falklands, St. Helena and Tristan da Cunha.
It's an entertaining and informative read, with several moments that made me chuckle.
I was also impressed with the resilience of the people that live in these quite remote places with very limited access. Tristan da Cunha is basically an active volcano but the islanders don't seem fazed at all.
Jonathan clearly loved his work and came across as personable and friendly.
The first story, about an aged tortoise that had apparently died (it hadn't) was the gateway to this memoir, which I am happy to recommend to anyone with an interest in the natural world and travel.
I received a free digital ARC of this book via Duckworth Books, and am leaving this review voluntarily....more
Erin Alderson has written a book of very accessible recipes for anyone who wishes to cook quick and easy vegetarian meals.
Not all of the recipes have Erin Alderson has written a book of very accessible recipes for anyone who wishes to cook quick and easy vegetarian meals.
Not all of the recipes have photos, but several have variations for different times of the year to make use of seasonal produce. They can also be adapted to use what is in most people's store cupboards.
Readers should be aware that the book is aimed primarily at the US market, so some of the ingredients mentioned may not be available in the UK or elsewhere.
This was an enjoyable read and I will definitely try some of the recipes out. My niece is a vegan, so will suggest this book to her.
I received a free digital ARC of this book via Quarto Publishing Group - Four Winds, and am voluntarily leaving this review....more
Ben Jacob travelled the world searching for orchids until forced home by a frightening experience in South America. Whilst recuperating in the UK, BenBen Jacob travelled the world searching for orchids until forced home by a frightening experience in South America. Whilst recuperating in the UK, Ben found some Bee Orchids and this prompted him to take a deeper interest in British orchids.
Ben discovered that orchids have been around in Britain for centuries, being mentioned in many historical accounts from botanists. Sadly, orchids are now in decline and many threatened with extinction - indeed, native species have died out in several areas of the UK. This has to do with several factors, including building developments and intensive agriculture.
Planning and environmental laws in the UK offer inadequate protection to wild plants like orchids and their habitats are rapidly diminishing. Ben decided that he had a moral obligation to do something and so embarked on a mission to save as many threatened orchids as possible. This involved travelling to building sites and digging up orchids to take home, usually during the night or early morning.
Ben then turned his kitchen into a laboratory and used his fridge as storage as he strove not only to preserve but to propagate orchids and re-introduce them to their natural habitats. Not an easy job, and he didn't always get it right to begin with but gradually he found methods that worked and was able to see results over time.
This was a fascinating and inspiring read. So many people have strong views about the erosion of natural habitats and native plants, but few do what Ben has done and take action to reverse the trend.
I found the science of orchids fascinating as well. They don't pollinate as other plants do and even different orchids pollinate differently, depending on the microclimate that they are best suited to.
Ben also includes a list towards the end detailing essential information on each native orchid, and there is a detailed bibliography.
Having read this book, I now want to go out and look for orchids in my local area and beyond.
I received a free digital ARC of this book via John Murray Press, and am voluntarily leaving a review....more
Lee and Adam Parkinson's second book has a similar diet to their first, an inside look at education based on their popular podcast Two Mr Ps in a Pod(Lee and Adam Parkinson's second book has a similar diet to their first, an inside look at education based on their popular podcast Two Mr Ps in a Pod(cast).
Teachers and parents have shared their stories, some definitely more embarrassing than others.
Reading some of the stories recounted here made me chuckle, bringing back memories of children and teachers from my schooldays.
Inevitably, some stories involve bodily functions and items that belong in an adults only environment but somehow found their way into 'Show and Tell' sessions. Teachers didn't always realise what some items were for, leading to huge embarrassment when enlightened by colleagues.
Some practices adopted during the pandemic, such as the introduction of digital teaching platforms, have led to positive changes in education; however, resistance remains.
The authors are passionate about young people having a positive relationship with social media and argue for the introduction of a Digital Literacy Framework in England (it already exists in Wales).
This is an entertaining read that also makes some salient points around education, and can be enjoyed by educators and parents alike.
I received a free digital ARC of this book from HarperCollins UK, and am voluntarily leaving a review....more
This is a gorgeous book that represents a deeply personal journey for its author.
Saghar Setareh moved to Italy as a young woman and the recipes in thiThis is a gorgeous book that represents a deeply personal journey for its author.
Saghar Setareh moved to Italy as a young woman and the recipes in this book demonstrate the links between the cuisine of her birth country, Iran, the surrounding countries of the Levant and Eastern Mediterranean, and Italy where she now lives.
Food may differ from one country to another, but it is clear from the recipes and ingredients described in this book that there are often similarities.
I loved reading about Saghar's food experiences growing up and the discoveries she has made in her adopted country. The food shown here is beautiful and definitely worth exploring.
This is a book rich in description and glorious photography, and is much more than just a collection of recipes. It is a journey filled with love and discovery and I thoroughly recommend it to anyone with an interest in food and culture.
I received a free digital ARC of this book via Murdoch Books, and am leaving this review voluntarily....more
A while ago, I read 'Pretty Little London' and this is the follow-up, showcasing places to visit that are within easy reach of London.
What I particulaA while ago, I read 'Pretty Little London' and this is the follow-up, showcasing places to visit that are within easy reach of London.
What I particularly like with this type of book is the juxtaposition of photographs with just enough information to whet the appetite. There are also lots of suggestions for eating and drinking, places to visit, local walks, and photo opportunities.
This is an ideal coffee table book and will give you plenty of ideas for destinations for day trips or long weekends. Some, like Cornwall, obviously can't be done in one day from London but can be combined with others that are closer to make a longer trip.
If you are on Instagram, you will gain even more from this book as the authors post a lot of content on there, including videos.
I received a free digital ARC of this book via Quarto Publishing Group - White Lion, and am leaving my honest appraisal voluntarily....more
Jack Chesher is a tour guide around London and has produced a fascinating and beautifully illustrated guide to some of the lesser-known secrets about Jack Chesher is a tour guide around London and has produced a fascinating and beautifully illustrated guide to some of the lesser-known secrets about the capital.
There are several quirky buildings and objects that would be easily missed for those not aware of what to look for.
I was surprised and delighted in equal measure and learned a great deal.
This would be an ideal coffee table book and also good to have in e-book form to guide you around the capital, particularly if following any of the suggested walking maps.
If you want to know where to find street furniture, Roman remains, hidden rivers, or stink pipes (yes, really!) - basically anything that tells a story of the capital's past, this is definitely a book to have in your collection.
I received a free digital ARC of this book via Quarto Publishing Group - White Lion, and am leaving my honest appraisal voluntarily....more
Linda Kulig Magoon decided to hike all the White Mountains in New Hampshire, which consist of 48 peaks of over 4,000 feet with a required level of eleLinda Kulig Magoon decided to hike all the White Mountains in New Hampshire, which consist of 48 peaks of over 4,000 feet with a required level of elevation.
This would be a significant challenge anyway, but Linda also had personal issues to overcome. She had finally left and divorced her controlling husband and, with the help of a therapist and a life coach, was learning to put her needs first. Unable to hike properly whilst married, this was now an opportunity to do something for herself and not worry about her ex-husband's reaction.
Part way through hiking the 48, Linda learned that her ex-husband had been arrested on serious allegations of sexual assault. He went to trial and Linda found it hard to separate herself from the situation whilst negotiating the sale of her former marital home and then the pain of a close family bereavement.
Eventually, the trial process concluded and Linda was able to complete her goal of hiking all 48 peaks.
Linda has been incredibly honest about the process she went through, the tears shed and the lessons learned. What also stands out is her determination and focus, despite everything that was thrown at her.
I enjoyed reading Linda's account of her hiking challenge and felt tremendous empathy for her. She has clearly come through a lot and it is to her credit that she wants to share her journey in the hope that it might help other women in a similar situation.
I received a review copy of this book for free via Booksirens, and am leaving this review voluntarily....more
This is the story of World War Two and the battle for supremacy over the airwaves.
It is a story I knew precious little about. Reginald V. Jones was a This is the story of World War Two and the battle for supremacy over the airwaves.
It is a story I knew precious little about. Reginald V. Jones was a scientist with a brilliant mind who understood radar and, more importantly, its significance as a weapon.
The Germans already had radar but Britain did not and it was Jones who persuaded Winston Churchill and others how radar technology worked.
Initially, Jones worked on his own but eventually more like-minded individuals joined him. The ability not only to develop radar but to intercept and disable the effectiveness of the enemy's systems became of paramount importance.
This involved acts of extraordinary heroism from pilots, agents and resistance fighters to gather information that Jones then used to help develop the systems that would eventually turn the tide in the Allies' favour.
Jones came across as quite a character, one who didn't suffer fools gladly and whose ability to interpret complex information was second to none. Without his knowledge and acuity, it is quite possible that World War Two's outcome may have been very different.
The science is explained clearly without going into overly technical language and gives a fascinating insight into a crucial period of 20th century history.
Some sections, such as diagrams and indexes, were missing but these would have been added prior to publication.
I received a free digital ARC of this book from Random House UK, Transworld Publishers, and am leaving this review voluntarily....more
Anthony Inglis is a conductor, probably best known for his 33-year tenure at the musical 'Phantom of the Opera' and is also associated with the shippiAnthony Inglis is a conductor, probably best known for his 33-year tenure at the musical 'Phantom of the Opera' and is also associated with the shipping line, Cunard.
This is an entertaining account of Anthony's life and career. Several family members were in the RAF and one of his uncles flew in the Battle of Britain.
Anthony is very proud of his family history and RAF connection, which is completely understandable.
Having decided from an early age that he would be a conductor, Anthony left school early to attend the Royal College of Music. He has been fortunate to travel the world doing a job he loves pretty much ever since.
This is a detailed account - one could argue too detailed at times - but there are a lot of genuinely funny anecdotes along the way. Anthony has met and worked alongside many well-known people, including the Two Ronnies, and is now music director for the singer Katherine Jenkins.
As a violinist in my local symphony orchestra I certainly appreciate how important a good conductor is but, as Anthony explains, not everything always goes according to plan, even with the best orchestras and musicians.
Anthony has never been what he would call an academic, yet he comes across as charismatic and a witty raconteur.
Several sentences end with exclamation marks, not all strictly necessary, and this may prove irritating for some readers.
Nevertheless, it is a good read and certainly for anyone who has seen Anthony conduct over the years.
I received a free digital ARC of this book via Matador, and am leaving my honest appraisal voluntarily....more
This is a book aimed primarily at children about cats, with some introductory text before each section and descriptions for the many photos.
Cats are fThis is a book aimed primarily at children about cats, with some introductory text before each section and descriptions for the many photos.
Cats are fascinating creatures and their history goes back many centuries.
The first section deals with wild cats and then moves to their domestic relations, shorthairs and longhairs. The final sections deal with cat behaviour and kittens.
I enjoyed looking at the photos and learning more about the various breeds of cats in them. Some were already known to me but many were not. I didn't know, for instance, about munchkins. These are cats with short legs that actually looked quite cute; however, further reading has highlighted welfare concerns and health issues around this cat breed.
Clearly, it is a matter of taste as I didn't like the bat-eared or almost hairless cats very much, but there are plenty of people who do.
This book has helped me clarify the breeds to look at in more detail as I am looking to adopt one or two cats in the near future.
I received a digital ARC of this book via Amber Books Ltd, in return for an honest appraisal....more
Cats are fascinating creatures but we don't always understand the reasons behind certain of their behaviours. This book explains what cats like, how tCats are fascinating creatures but we don't always understand the reasons behind certain of their behaviours. This book explains what cats like, how they sense and respond to the world around them, and also how to care for and stimulate them to ensure they lead happy and fulfilled lives.
I particularly liked the way the book was laid out so that there were sections explaining cats' senses, diet, play, feline health and stages of a cat's life. There were some really cute illustrations as well.
If cats are happy, they will generally let you know, but it is also important to be aware of the triggers for the behaviours we may not like so much and how to avoid these from presenting.
Anyone who already has a cat may well know a lot of what is in this book, but there is still much to learn.
As someone who is thinking of getting a pet cat (or cats) in the near future, I would be happy to have a copy of this book to hand for reference.
I received a digital ARC of this book via Quarto Publishing Group - Ivy Press, in return for an honest appraisal....more
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