Fall in love with reading – Galaxy Quick Reads
It’s no secret that I love reading. A while back I started the #3Books meme, asking bloggers to share their favourite books from childhood, adulthood and parenthood, and I try to take part in More Than A Mum‘s monthly book club.
All that said, it’s also true to say that I rarely read anything other than children’s books. That’s awful, isn’t it? I love readings, I encourage reading, but once I’ve read JD his bedtime stories, I’m generally too tired to read anything for myself.
From time to time I attempt to read a novel, but no lull in the busy life of a working family lasts long enough, does it? Those snatched moments in between nappies and mealtimes and emergency Calpol doses don’t exact allow for concentration. For me it’s often so long before I come back to my half-read book of choice that I’ve lost the thread and have to all but start again. It’s disheartening.
Quick Reads are short books written by celebrities and best-selling authors, designed to give reading fans a quick fix and to reignite a passion for reading in those who haven’t found the time in far too long.
I was sent some books for review – all in mercifully large-print for my tired eyes – and my overall feeling is that they’re great; a genuinely fantastic way to ease yourself back into the habit of reading, to remind yourself what you love about it or for some, no doubt, to learn to love it for the first time.
The Cleverness of Ladies
A collection of short stories by Alexander McCall Smith, this book focusses on “times when ladies must use their wisdom and good sense to face life’s little problems”. It’s an enjoyable, easy read, with simple, well-phrased observations rather than anything particularly trying. The first story, featuring Mma Ramotswe will please fans of the No 1 Ladies Detective Agency series, but it was the closing story that really struck me. A moving tale of a wartime village orchestra with a perfect ending. Overall, the style of the stories reminded me of Ernest Hemmingway or even Thomas Hardy’s Life’s Little Ironies, which is no bad thing.
Beyond the Bounty
Mel Gibson and Anthony Hopkins? No. This is the story of what happened after the mutineers headed off into the sunset, and Fletcher Christian is goner within the first couple of pages. Instead, this is the story of how the surviving mutineers and their enslaved Tahitians live and die on a plentiful but otherwise desserted island. It’s not a happy tale, and I found parts of it quite upsetting, but if mutiny on the bounty is your cup of tea, you’ll like this study of what happens when mutineers make an attempt at settling down.
The Little One
The Little One is a dark tale about an irritating, News of the World-type journalist and her quest to get an exposé on a former actress with a tragic past. Though cliched in parts and not at all the type of writing I would normally choose, I found myself enjoying this little ghost tale right to the end. Perhaps that’s where the ‘quick reads’ format comes into its own – allowing us to enjoy a taste of something different, without asking for the commitment of a 300 page novel.
Further reading
Disclosure: I was provided with some ‘Quick Reads’ for review. No payment was received and all posts are 100% honest.
