Friday, 8 February 2013
Sunday, 3 February 2013
ChiRunning
ChiRunning by Danny Dreyer
Now that I'm getting more serious about running and am trying to increase my distance, I liked the sound of a book which promised to teach me how to run further, faster for less effort while removing the chance of injury. I have dodgy knees and will do anything to protect them while still allowing myself to be as active as possible.
The basis of ChiRunning is to develop a running technique which uses core muscles and lessens the stresses on your legs, knees and ankles. Essentially, you lean forward (from the ankles not the waist) while running, land on the mid-foot and never heel strike, and stretch out your stride behind you (by leaning further forward) to increase your pace. It all makes perfect sense.
There's a lot in here about being in touch with your centre, applying Tai Chi techniques, and knowing your own body etc. I glossed over the more hippy elements, but on the whole the book makes a lot of sense and I have begun trying out the techniques. Yes, I think it works, so far!
The book's style is very American which can be irritating to us Brits after a while, but is certainly worth reading if you're a runner or would like to run, especially if you are prone to injury.
Now that I'm getting more serious about running and am trying to increase my distance, I liked the sound of a book which promised to teach me how to run further, faster for less effort while removing the chance of injury. I have dodgy knees and will do anything to protect them while still allowing myself to be as active as possible.
The basis of ChiRunning is to develop a running technique which uses core muscles and lessens the stresses on your legs, knees and ankles. Essentially, you lean forward (from the ankles not the waist) while running, land on the mid-foot and never heel strike, and stretch out your stride behind you (by leaning further forward) to increase your pace. It all makes perfect sense.
There's a lot in here about being in touch with your centre, applying Tai Chi techniques, and knowing your own body etc. I glossed over the more hippy elements, but on the whole the book makes a lot of sense and I have begun trying out the techniques. Yes, I think it works, so far!
The book's style is very American which can be irritating to us Brits after a while, but is certainly worth reading if you're a runner or would like to run, especially if you are prone to injury.
The Secret Keeper
The Secret Keeper by Kate Morton
I read this on my Kindle as I did not want the hardback and could not wait for the paperback. I'm a big fan of Kate Morton's books. She writes timeslip novels - where two connected stories from different time periods unfold in alternate chapters throughout the book. These are my favourite kind of novels, and I'm currently trying to write one myself.
This book was no disappointment. It opens with a young girl, Laurel, witnessing something truly shocking in 1961. She finds herself covering the crime up, for her mother, but always wonders just what it was that drove her mother to do such a thing. Fifty years later, Laurel's mother is at the end of her life, and Laurel wants to finally get to the bottom of what happened that day and why it happened. Her mother is barely awake and barely lucid.
In alternate chapters, the back story is told. In wartime London, Dorothy and her suitor Jimmy meet the glamourous Vivien, wife of a respected author. Their lives become intertwined, and the secrets they keep from each other lead to dramatic events which will reverberate down the years. Can't say more for fear of spoilers.
Wonderfully drawn characters, an intriguing mystery and a fabulous twist which I did not see coming. Very enjoyable book and highly recommended.
I read this on my Kindle as I did not want the hardback and could not wait for the paperback. I'm a big fan of Kate Morton's books. She writes timeslip novels - where two connected stories from different time periods unfold in alternate chapters throughout the book. These are my favourite kind of novels, and I'm currently trying to write one myself.
This book was no disappointment. It opens with a young girl, Laurel, witnessing something truly shocking in 1961. She finds herself covering the crime up, for her mother, but always wonders just what it was that drove her mother to do such a thing. Fifty years later, Laurel's mother is at the end of her life, and Laurel wants to finally get to the bottom of what happened that day and why it happened. Her mother is barely awake and barely lucid.
In alternate chapters, the back story is told. In wartime London, Dorothy and her suitor Jimmy meet the glamourous Vivien, wife of a respected author. Their lives become intertwined, and the secrets they keep from each other lead to dramatic events which will reverberate down the years. Can't say more for fear of spoilers.
Wonderfully drawn characters, an intriguing mystery and a fabulous twist which I did not see coming. Very enjoyable book and highly recommended.
Saturday, 12 January 2013
Dot Dash
Dot Dash by Jonathon Pinnock
This is a collection of award-winning short and very short stories. By very short I mean just that - some are only about 20-30 words long. Most are surreal, imaginative, clever or just plain silly. Some make you reconsider what you thought was true; others bring a smile to your face.
All of these have won or been placed highly in competitions so if that's your market it's a good book to buy and study. The link above is to the paperback from Salt but you can get it as a Kindle book too.
In one or two cases I felt the stories ended a tiny bit abruptly - you know that feeling when you just need one more sentence, to let the ending fully sink in? Otherwise they are beautifully written and I thoroughly enjoyed reading them.
This is a collection of award-winning short and very short stories. By very short I mean just that - some are only about 20-30 words long. Most are surreal, imaginative, clever or just plain silly. Some make you reconsider what you thought was true; others bring a smile to your face.
All of these have won or been placed highly in competitions so if that's your market it's a good book to buy and study. The link above is to the paperback from Salt but you can get it as a Kindle book too.
In one or two cases I felt the stories ended a tiny bit abruptly - you know that feeling when you just need one more sentence, to let the ending fully sink in? Otherwise they are beautifully written and I thoroughly enjoyed reading them.
Tuesday, 1 January 2013
My Future Husband
My Future Husband by Karen Clarke
Karen's a writing buddy and when she sold this novel in Germany but not in the UK I was disappointed not to get the chance to buy it, so I was delighted when she made it available for Kindle. This is a brilliantly lively chick-lit novel with a time-travel element, making it highly unusual.
Sasha is engaged to Pete who she is due to marry in a couple of weeks. Then Elliot turns up from the future, insists that she ought to be marrying the present-day version of himself, and that she must ditch Pete and also stop present-day Elliot from marrying his current fiancee. But when Sasha meets present-day Elliot she doesn't exactly hit it off with him immediately. Besides, she loves Pete, doesn't she?
This novel romps along with pace and wit, and keeps you turning the pages. I found I liked all the main characters immensely and was intrigued to find out how the messy situation would be resolved. Very much looking forward to reading Karen's next novel.
Karen's a writing buddy and when she sold this novel in Germany but not in the UK I was disappointed not to get the chance to buy it, so I was delighted when she made it available for Kindle. This is a brilliantly lively chick-lit novel with a time-travel element, making it highly unusual.
Sasha is engaged to Pete who she is due to marry in a couple of weeks. Then Elliot turns up from the future, insists that she ought to be marrying the present-day version of himself, and that she must ditch Pete and also stop present-day Elliot from marrying his current fiancee. But when Sasha meets present-day Elliot she doesn't exactly hit it off with him immediately. Besides, she loves Pete, doesn't she?
This novel romps along with pace and wit, and keeps you turning the pages. I found I liked all the main characters immensely and was intrigued to find out how the messy situation would be resolved. Very much looking forward to reading Karen's next novel.
Sunday, 16 December 2012
Three little books
Cornish Killing by Chrissie Loveday (Easy Reads Intrigue #2)
Emma travels to Cornwall to stay with a friend who has just inherited a clifftop cottage. But Charlie is nowhere to be found, and her car has been found burned out with an unidentifiable body inside it. Emma cannot believe Charlie is dead, and sets out to find what happened to her, with the help of dishy local policeman Sam.
This was an enjoyable mystery with lots going on, although I found the baddies were rather clearly signposted, and there were perhaps not enough surprises and twists in the plot. The characters were very likeable and it certainly kept me turning the pages.
I hope that with the return to old-style Pocket Novels, there will still be a place for this kind of crime story which I very much enjoy.
The Ghost of Christmas Past by Sally Quilford
I got this for Kindle when Sally was offering all her 'Midchester' books for free one weekend. This one's set in Victorian times. One December a man's body is found in the snow, and two children are chased across an icy pond and fall in. The vicar's daughter Elizabeth is trying to find out who the dead man is, who killed him, and who put her brother in danger on that icy pond. She's also fighting her own feelings for the town's newcomer, doctor Liam Doubleday, who seems to be caught up in everything that's going on.
This novella has a distinctly Dickensian feel to it, both because of its setting and its wonderful cast of larger-than-life characters. There's the busybody elderly sisters, the grumpy titled lady, the creepy man who's trying to get Elizabeth to marry him...
As always with Sally's novels this one twists and turns and keeps you guessing right to the end, when all the plot elements are neatly sewn up. Very enjoyable read.
How to Crack Cryptic Crosswords by Vivien Hampshire
Vivien's name will be well known to readers of Writers' Forum. I have a go at the Evening Standard crossword on my train journeys home from London and needed a bit of help. This book takes you through the main types of clues and shows you how to solve them, with lots of examples. A great little book for crossword lovers.
Emma travels to Cornwall to stay with a friend who has just inherited a clifftop cottage. But Charlie is nowhere to be found, and her car has been found burned out with an unidentifiable body inside it. Emma cannot believe Charlie is dead, and sets out to find what happened to her, with the help of dishy local policeman Sam.
This was an enjoyable mystery with lots going on, although I found the baddies were rather clearly signposted, and there were perhaps not enough surprises and twists in the plot. The characters were very likeable and it certainly kept me turning the pages.
I hope that with the return to old-style Pocket Novels, there will still be a place for this kind of crime story which I very much enjoy.
The Ghost of Christmas Past by Sally Quilford
I got this for Kindle when Sally was offering all her 'Midchester' books for free one weekend. This one's set in Victorian times. One December a man's body is found in the snow, and two children are chased across an icy pond and fall in. The vicar's daughter Elizabeth is trying to find out who the dead man is, who killed him, and who put her brother in danger on that icy pond. She's also fighting her own feelings for the town's newcomer, doctor Liam Doubleday, who seems to be caught up in everything that's going on.
This novella has a distinctly Dickensian feel to it, both because of its setting and its wonderful cast of larger-than-life characters. There's the busybody elderly sisters, the grumpy titled lady, the creepy man who's trying to get Elizabeth to marry him...
As always with Sally's novels this one twists and turns and keeps you guessing right to the end, when all the plot elements are neatly sewn up. Very enjoyable read.
How to Crack Cryptic Crosswords by Vivien Hampshire
Vivien's name will be well known to readers of Writers' Forum. I have a go at the Evening Standard crossword on my train journeys home from London and needed a bit of help. This book takes you through the main types of clues and shows you how to solve them, with lots of examples. A great little book for crossword lovers.
Saturday, 15 December 2012
The Disappearing Spoon
The Disappearing Spoon by Sam Kean
My son, studying A level Chemistry, borrowed this from his school library, then I read it after him. The sub title is 'and other true tales from the Periodic Table'. It's a lively romp through the periodic table, telling the stories of how elements were discovered and named, and the stories of the characters who found them.
There are all sorts of fascinating facts in here- and the science covered is much more than just chemistry. I thoroughly enjoyed it though can't pretend to have understood every word. If you like reading about science I'd recommend this one.
Incidently the disappearing spoon of the title is one made from gallium. It looks just like aluminium, but melts at just over room temperature, so the minute you stir your tea with it it'll disappear.
My son, studying A level Chemistry, borrowed this from his school library, then I read it after him. The sub title is 'and other true tales from the Periodic Table'. It's a lively romp through the periodic table, telling the stories of how elements were discovered and named, and the stories of the characters who found them.
There are all sorts of fascinating facts in here- and the science covered is much more than just chemistry. I thoroughly enjoyed it though can't pretend to have understood every word. If you like reading about science I'd recommend this one.
Incidently the disappearing spoon of the title is one made from gallium. It looks just like aluminium, but melts at just over room temperature, so the minute you stir your tea with it it'll disappear.
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