Ian McEwan is another author who just doesn’t get it wrong. Often his novels can be quite complex and use language that is difficult to understand but, whilst there were some words I had to look up, this book is very readable. 

It deals with the very difficult subjects of religion and law and the relationship between the two. The protagonist, Fiona, is a High Court judge and a case is brought before her of a seventeen year old boy who needs a blood transfusion, or he will die. However, the boy and his parents are Jehovah Witnesses so are refusing the transfusion on religious grounds.

The novel is sensitive, intelligent, unpredictable and moving. As is typical of McEwan, the book is incredibly well researched so you really feel like you are getting an insight into the exclusive world of a High Court judge. However, it is not overloaded with legal jargon, it is very humane and at times heartbreaking. My sympathies swayed from side to side, which surprised me. I thoroughly enjoyed it and highly recommend it, though be prepared, it’s not a light read.

A thought occurred to me recently. Life is what you make it. Yes it’s a cliché, and yes, life is also a lot more than that. But, the point stands.

One of my biggest flaws is that I’m a complainer. This was driven home to me  recently when I was chatting with my brother about my new job and I said “It sucks”. He looked at me with an eyebrow raised and said, “What sucks about this one?” Ouch. Yet thinking back, I have always found something to complain about. It’s true that I’ve never found a job that ticks all the boxes, but I’ve had a few really fun jobs and worked with some wonderful people. For one job, I got to hang out at the park in the middle of the day, for crying out loud!

My main complaint about my current role was I wasn’t making any friends. Yet there are a number of older women who have been so warm and friendly to me, watching out for me. But I’ve instead focussed on the lack of my peers showing me any attention, basically.

I need a head adjustment. A shaking up. A slap around the face, probably. There’s no point complaining about things, wallowing and expecting other people to do all the work. Yes, it will probably mean me stepping massively out of my comfort zone but if we never did that, we’d never get anything done.

Through wallowing in how miserable I’ve felt, I think I’ve lost my pursuit of joy. If anything, I’ve been denying myself joy by comparing where I’m at and what I have to other people. (Social media is a blessing and a curse). Comparison is indeed the thief of joy. Sometimes you need to make things work for you. And that  may require a lot of work and effort.

My Bible reading at the weekend was the following passage:

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.

Philippians 4:4‭-‬8

Need I say more? I believe whether you’re a Christian or not, you can take something from this passage.This is the path to joy. Gratitude. Thinking positively. Rejoicing in things, no matter how small. Celebration. If you believe in him, offering things up to God and saying “You take this”, and him saying “and you have this in return”. His peace. It’s not always easy. Some days when the sun is shining and the sky is blue, it will feel easy. Some days it will be a real effort. Some days, you will not have the mental strength. But, otherwise, try. I feel like I need these verses imprinted on the inside of my eyelids. How easy it is to forget all you have, especially when you’re peering over the fence and what your neighbour has.

But how WEALTHY we are. If you’re reading this, you’ve got some means of accessing the internet… and you can read. You probably have some idea where your next meal is coming from. You probably have a home you can rest in. You probably have a job, or you may be in school/university/college. You can probably turn the tap on and drink what it provides.

You’re in the minority.

Let’s be thankful for all we have. And let’s hold it all with open hands.

As far as I’m aware, Sebastian Faulks can do no wrong. This is his latest novel and, if you have sometimes found his work a bit dense, it is short and very readable, while still possessing the gravitas Faulks is famous for.

Like all of his novels (I think), where my heart used to beat is focussed on war. However, it is more about memories of war as the protagonist (Robert Hendricks) revisits his experiences for the benefit of his very elderly host, a man who seems to know more about Hendricks than he does himself…. In recounting these experiences, Hendricks reawakens feelings, desires and fears that he had long ago buried.

A large part of the novel is also about psychiatry and mental health, which adds an intriguing layer to the war story and makes Hendricks more complex. Then there is of course a love story which is passionate and heart-warming.

This is an intelligent yet moving novel with enough twists and turns to keep you turning pages. The characters and their relationships are complex and well constructed so you find you care for them. I’d highly recommend it, especially to Faulks fans but also to anyone who has been put off from trying him before because of the length of, say, Birdsong. 

Half way through! Both the year and the challenge, this book is my 25th 😀.

A lighter read, one by the incomparable Jojo Moyes. A story of redemption, love, marriage, divorce and horses.

I really enjoyed it. It is at times heart-warming, heart-breaking and heart-clenchingly tense! Don’t get the wrong idea, it isn’t going to win any awards, but Moyes is a masterful storyteller, one of my favourites. I devoted hours at a time to this book, something I haven’t done in a while.

Sarah, one of the protagonists, is a complex teenager with a complicated family life who finds solace in her horse-riding. Natasha and Mac are going through a bitter divorce and both are reluctant to be in each other’s lives.

How do their paths cross? You’ve got to read it to find out!