Over the weekend while I was doing the weekly shop I found Mr Thirteen buried in a fridge digging for a Coke bottle with his name on it. His name wasn’t there. He was so annoyed he bought one which said Giulia, because he didn’t believe it was a real name. This morning I arrived at work to find a colleague of mine drinking from a bottle of Coca-Cola which had her name printed in bol... Read more
Book Recommendations Archives
The Power of Ignorance (a short excerpt from Daniel Deronda by George Eliot)
It is a common sentence that Knowledge is power; but who hath duly Considered or set forth the power of Ignorance? Knowledge slowly builds up what Ignorance in an hour pulls down. Knowledge, through patient and frugal centuries, enlarges discovery and makes record of it; Ignorance, wanting its day’s dinner, lights a fire with the record, and gives a flavor to its one roast with the burned... Read more
The Booktopia Book Guru’s Gift Guide For Father’s Day
THE BOOKTOPIA BOOK GURU’S GIFT GUIDE FOR FATHER’S DAY Though I think it right to celebrate Father’s Day, I do believe it is prudent to temper our collective enthusiasm for the day slightly. Granted, some dad’s deserve unchecked praise, but we all know that these few are in the minority. To allow Father’s Day to carry the same emotional weight as Mother’s Day ... Read more
The Street Sweeper by Elliot Perlman: review by Toni Whitmont
A page later I knew I was in the hands of a master - someone whose deliberately crafted prose, stunning ability to weave a story, intelligently thought through issues leaves the reader humbled, in a state of grace, in awe. Read more
