July 2011 - Book 18

The Reading Group by Elizabeth Noble

At the beginning of a new year, a group of five woman meet to form a reading group. Through the course of the year and the books that they read, we get involved in their lives. It turns out to be a most eventful year all round and the choice of books strangely reflects the twists and turns the lives of the characters takes.

The story is told in wonderful, easy to read language without being too simple. I loved the wonderful woman created for this story- each one unique and charming in their own way. Each developing and growing through the year in their own way. Wishing that I could be friends with every single one of them.

A truly charming and gripping read this is a great bookclub choice as most woman will find a like minded  friend in at least one of the characters. I also loved how the writer suggests books at the end of the book for reading groups and I intend to read some of these suggestions as well as the books read in the book during the course of the next year.

A totally charming 8 and a half/10

June 2009 - Book 18

Spud - learning to fly by John van de Ruit
If you have not read the other two Spud books, please do so before reading this one. They are so worth it too!

This book really fulfilled on what it promised to be - a well deserved third book in the series. 'n Great read with a laugh a minute, and the inevitable tear to match. Filled with awesome real over the top characters that grips the imagination you are truly entertained on every single page. As with the previous books it documents another year in the life of Spud and the crazy eight in a school filled with more than it's equal share of  slightly crazy people. To top it all, Spuds own way dysfunctional family continues to entertain us through out.

I am sure that through the years I will read them all again, and so will my children. I also can not wait for the film of the first book to start showing- John Gleeson will simply be the best Guv possible.

Cat's rating: a stellar 9,5/10

July 2010 - Book no 18

The Monk who sold his Ferrari by Robin S Sharma

I have heard so much about this book that I grabbed the chance to be the first one to read it at the Bookclub. I am really not a keen reader of self-help type books so I should have known that like most other of it's species, this one would also not fascinate me. I read the first two thirds and tried to really concentrate and understand and remember as much as possible. I even re-capped on the handy summaries at the end of each chapter. But it was just not "happening". Maybe at the time I was simply too tired. The last third I speed-read through.

The message is simple - return to yourself and to true and honest non monetary values and you will get rich, be thin and healthy and eternally happy and perfect. Ok, maybe I am being a bit cynical. Recommended for self help junkies and semi-Buddhist  health nuts only.

Cat's score on this one; 4/10- but maybe it's just me.