Libby Audiobook: The Dalai Lama's Cat, and the Art of Purring, David Michie

Looking at the reviews, I am definitely in the minority with this one.

The content was sweet, and I understood and appreciated what the book was trying to do, but I just didn't particularly enjoy it.

My biggest issue was actually with the audiobook. The story is told from the perspective of a female cat, so I found the decision to have a man narrate it rather odd. At first I assumed perhaps the author was narrating it himself, which would have made more sense to me, but that wasn't the case.

The narrator was good, so this isn't a criticism of his performance. Because the story is told in the first person by a female cat, I found myself wishing the audiobook had used a female narrator. For me, it would simply have suited the character better.

Towards the end, I also started getting confused by all the different names and found myself becoming more irritated than engaged.

Clearly this book has connected with a lot of readers, but unfortunately it just wasn't quite for me.

3/5 ⭐⭐⭐

 

Kindle Audiobook: Until She Dies, Kendra Elliot

Thir

d in the Noelle Marshall series. It's ok. The one where Emma, is kidnapped by the same guy that kidnapped her mom. 

Kindle: Nesting, Roisin O'Donnell

 

I think this might be my favourite book of the year so far.

I genuinely couldn't put it down.

The beginning caused me a huge amount of angst as Ciara tried to navigate leaving her emotionally abusive husband. I was rooting for her throughout and became increasingly frustrated with Ryan and his manipulation and control.

The characters felt incredibly real, and I was completely invested in what happened to Ciara and her children. It's beautifully written, compelling and, at times, deeply uncomfortable.

There were also some wonderful observations about family, love and ageing. This one, when Ciara is describing her mother, particularly stayed with me:

"Is this the final act of love, refusing to see someone ageing?" 

Absolutely loved it.

5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Libby Audiobook: A Home on Voster Street, Razina Theba

 

I don't usually enjoy short stories, so I wasn't quite sure what to expect from this memoir, but I really enjoyed it.

The short vignettes give you wonderful glimpses into different moments in the author's life. Some are genuinely funny, while others are incredibly sad and moving.

I also really enjoyed the insight into a culture and upbringing different from my own. Through the stories about family, traditions and everyday life, you get a very personal glimpse into the author's Indian-Muslim heritage and the world she grew up in.

Together, the stories build a lovely, heartfelt picture of a life, a family and a particular time and place.

A thoroughly enjoyable listen.

Libby: The Wilderness Between Us, Penny Haw

I so enjoyed this book.

The character development was wonderful. I became completely invested in the characters and their lives, and loved watching them develop as the story unfolded.

It was beautifully written, absorbing and one of those books I genuinely struggled to put down. I kept wanting to read just one more chapter.

A thoroughly enjoyable read.

5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

 

Libby Audiobook: Stolen Focus, Johann Hari

 

10 key learnings from Stolen Focus by Johann Hari

1. OUR LOSS OF FOCUS IS NOT SIMPLY A PERSONAL FAILURE

We live in an environment that is increasingly designed to distract us. Improving our attention therefore requires more than simply telling ourselves to concentrate harder.

2. MULTITASKING IS LARGELY A MYTH

What we call multitasking is usually rapid switching between tasks. Every switch has a cognitive cost, making us slower, less accurate and less able to think deeply.

3. TECHNOLOGY IS DELIBERATELY DESIGNED TO CAPTURE OUR ATTENTION

Notifications, infinite scrolling, recommendations and other features are designed to keep us engaged. Our attention has commercial value, which means some of the world's most sophisticated technology is competing for it.

4. DEEP FOCUS NEEDS UNINTERRUPTED TIME

We are capable of entering a state of "flow", where we become completely absorbed in something meaningful and sufficiently challenging. The task needs to stretch us enough to hold our attention, without being so difficult that we become overwhelmed. Constant interruptions make reaching and maintaining this state much harder.

5. BOREDOM AND MIND-WANDERING ARE VALUABLE

We do not need to fill every spare moment with stimulation. Allowing our minds to wander helps us process experiences, make connections, solve problems and think creatively.

6. SLEEP IS ESSENTIAL FOR ATTENTION

Sleep deprivation damages concentration, memory, decision-making and reaction time. Severe sleep deprivation can impair our functioning to a degree comparable with alcohol intoxication. Research has found that being awake for around 17 to 19 hours can produce impairment comparable with, and on some measures worse than, a blood alcohol concentration of 0.05%.

7. HARI'S TECHNOLOGY DETOX SHOWED HOW ATTENTION CAN RECOVER

During three months without a smartphone or internet in Provincetown, Hari found that his concentration, reading, sleep and ability to let his mind wander improved. Removing constant digital stimulation gave his attention room to return.

8. CHILDREN NEED INDEPENDENT, UNSTRUCTURED PLAY

Children learn problem-solving, negotiation, creativity, independence and how to assess risk by playing without constant adult supervision. Fear, including parental fears about kidnapping and safety, has contributed to children having much less freedom to explore and figure things out for themselves.

9. READING BOOKS TRAINS SUSTAINED ATTENTION

Reading requires us to stay with one idea or story for an extended period. It exercises a slower and deeper form of concentration than constantly scrolling, clicking and skimming information.

10. WE CANNOT SOLVE THE ATTENTION CRISIS THROUGH INDIVIDUAL WILLPOWER ALONE

Turning off notifications and putting our phones away can help, but Hari's larger argument is that many of the forces damaging our attention are systemic. Protecting attention requires changes both in our own behaviour and in the environments and technologies surrounding us.

MY BIGGEST TAKEAWAY

Protecting our attention isn't only about eliminating distractions. We also need to deliberately create space for uninterrupted thought, boredom, reading, play and simply doing nothing.

4/5

Libby: The Scammer, Tiffany D. Jackson

 

The Scammer was my first Tiffany D. Jackson book, so I had absolutely no idea what to expect.

Initially, I wasn't quite sure what all the hype was about, and I wasn't sure about the direction the story was taking. But somewhere along the way it completely pulled me in, and I ended up really enjoying it.

I got SO frustrated with the characters and some of the decisions they made. There were plenty of moments when I wanted to reach into the book and shake some sense into them. But I think that frustration was also part of what kept me reading. I was invested.

And then came the ending.

I didn't understand it. 😂 I finished the book, sat there wondering what on earth I'd missed, and eventually had to Google an explanation. Once I'd done that, it made much more sense, although I do think I would have preferred the ending to be a little clearer without requiring outside assistance!

Still, this was clever, engaging and very different from what I expected. For a book I started with some scepticism, it thoroughly won me over.

4/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐