What I'm reading ...

I have started Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett. I am not a big fan of the fantasy genre, but I like to stretch myself a bit and these authors are masters. Here’s the blurb:

What if, for once, the predictions are right, and the Apocalypse really is due to arrive next Saturday, just after tea?

It's a predicament that Aziraphale, a somewhat fussy angel, and Crowley, a fast-living demon, now find themselves in. They've been living amongst Earth's mortals since The Beginning and, truth be told, have grown rather fond of the lifestyle and, in all honesty, are not actually looking forward to the coming Apocalypse.

And then there's the small matter that someone appears to have misplaced the Antichrist . . .

The Madness of Grief - by Richard Coles

As expected, this is quite an emotional book. But at the same time, there is wit and lots of random bits of information, which pleased me. The book is well written with very good use of language, but took me a while to get through. Something about it resulted in my reading in small chunks.

What I'm reading ...

I have started The Madness of Grief by Richard Coles. I enjoy hearing the author on the radio, so, when I was recommended his book, it was an easy choice. Here’s the blurb:

When the Reverend Richard Coles's partner died suddenly, shortly before Christmas in 2019, what came next took Richard by surprise. Despite his years of experience assisting his parishioners in examining life's moral questions, Richard now found he needed guidance himself. Much about grief was unexpected: the volume of 'sadmin' that must be undertaken, how much harder it is travelling solo for work, the pain of typing a text message to your partner - then remembering they are gone. This deeply personal account of life after grief will resonate, unforgettably, long after the final page has been turned.

The Speed of Light - by Elissa Grossell Dickey

When I read a fiction book, part from [hopefully] being entertained, I like to feel that I might learn something. I was interested in the fact that this book features a main protagonist who has MS, as does the author. I hope to be a little more educated on this topic.

The book is really two parallel stories on different timelines, organized so that the reader is never confused. I found that this structure gave good pace to the book. I guess it could be dismissed as “chick lit”, as there is a romantic thread, but I think that would be unfair and I don’t really like categorization of books anyway.

Overall, a very good read which kept me turning that pages - particularly towards the end.