Dorothy's Updates en-US Mon, 05 May 2025 04:04:12 -0700 60 Dorothy's Updates 144 41 /images/layout/goodreads_logo_144.jpg Review7544441105 Mon, 05 May 2025 04:04:12 -0700 <![CDATA[Dorothy added 'The Memory of Animals']]> /review/show/7544441105 The Memory of Animals by Claire Fuller Dorothy gave 3 stars to The Memory of Animals (Hardcover) by Claire Fuller
bookshelves: fiction, pandemic, contemporary
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.
]]> Review4580893695 Mon, 28 Apr 2025 08:58:10 -0700 <![CDATA[Dorothy added 'The Other Side of You']]> /review/show/4580893695 The Other Side of You by Salley Vickers Dorothy gave 4 stars to The Other Side of You (Hardcover) by Salley Vickers
I really loved this book. As a former therapist, Vickers understands that anyone who works with "clients" or "patients" is also a fellow human being; we are changed when we engage deeply with each other.

The story-telling was masterful, with stories within stories within stories. Details that were passing moments at the beginning of the book were revealed towards the end as relevant, and in unexpected ways. The novel ranged widely through various kinds of relationships, diverse geographies and across different professions. Throughout, I experienced this novel as an exploration of what it means to be human.

There were a couple of moments that seemed contrived - I can forgive Vickers this. One was her mention, via her main character David, therapist doctor, of his professional body. The second was her brief mention of how David had followed up his long therapy session with Elizabeth, his client, by writing lengthy notes. The first was a nod to therapist readers, recognising how unlikely it was that a therapist would conduct the long session which is at the heart of the story. The second seemed to be a nod to the reader, explaining David's extraordinary (and unlikely) recall of his conversation with his client. I have allocated a paragraph to mention these and still, they are two passing details.

The truth is, on finishing this book I ordered another of her novels. ]]> Review7487340497 Mon, 14 Apr 2025 03:30:01 -0700 <![CDATA[Dorothy added 'The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared']]> /review/show/7487340497 The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Di... by Jonas Jonasson Dorothy gave 4 stars to The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared (The Hundred-Year-Old Man, #1) by Jonas Jonasson
This book was recommended by a friend when we came across it in my local book swap (telephone box) library. I took it home and it beckoned to me when the time came to choose my next read.

The premise of the book - a man, aged 100, escapes his room in an old people's home and goes on an adventure - was original, to say the least. The book describes both the adventure that follows his escape from the old people's home and the adventure which is his life over the course of a century.

My cousin's wife told me that she gave up on this book early on and didn't finish reading it. I, by contrast, found it laugh-out-loud funny, original, inventive - and rather bonkers. Even though it's years since I saw the film, I found the main character had a whiff of Forrest Gump about him and I wasn't alone in this - one of the reviews to the rear of the book also mentioned Forrest Gump. You get to decide for yourself.

Occasionally, I wondered if some readers might find the book offensive, because of the way it made light of significant and serious world events. Here, too, you get to decide for yourself. Personally, I enjoyed this quirky, original and very funny novel and am curious to discover whether the author has written any other books since writing this book. ]]> Review7477437562 Thu, 10 Apr 2025 04:33:42 -0700 <![CDATA[Dorothy added 'Something in the Cellar . . .: Ronald Searle's Wonderful World of Wine']]> /review/show/7477437562 Something in the Cellar . . . by Ronald Searle Dorothy gave 4 stars to Something in the Cellar . . .: Ronald Searle's Wonderful World of Wine (Hardcover) by Ronald Searle
bookshelves: wine, visual-comedy
This book is a work of fabulous visual comedy, taking in history and culture as well as the viticulture of the title. A fun gift in my case which has stood the test of time. ]]> Review7475367841 Wed, 09 Apr 2025 09:01:06 -0700 <![CDATA[Dorothy added 'How to Raise an Elephant']]> /review/show/7475367841 How to Raise an Elephant by Alexander McCall Smith Dorothy gave 4 stars to How to Raise an Elephant (No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, #21) by Alexander McCall Smith
bookshelves: fiction, botswana
I've enjoyed a bit of Alexander McCall Smith in recent weeks across three different series. I have travelled between Scotland, Sweden and, in this book, Botswana.

Picking up all three books in my local library, I may well have skipped books in all three series. McCall Smith easily weaves aspects of previous books into each one such that it doesn't matter of you haven't read previous books and nor is there irritation at the repetition if you have.

This book was a light read with just a bit of detection - this is, after all, a book about Mma Ramotswe of the No. 1 Ladies' Detection Agency. The story was engaging and amazing and caught aspects of the local culture. A good, light, be-time read. ]]> Review7475356157 Wed, 09 Apr 2025 08:55:05 -0700 <![CDATA[Dorothy added 'The Lost Spells']]> /review/show/7475356157 The Lost Spells by Jackie Morris Dorothy gave 4 stars to The Lost Spells (Hardcover) by Jackie Morris
I haven't even attempted shelves - how do you classify this book?

In truth, I bought it as a gift for my sister and dived in. I particularly loved the illustrations which are beautiful and a perfect accompaniment to Robert McFarlane's 'spells' - words woven in homage to nature.

It's a book you could easily read through in one sitting or dip into and out of. And it's small, so it can site easily on a shelf or by your bed. ]]> ReadStatus9289667003 Wed, 09 Apr 2025 08:53:08 -0700 <![CDATA[Dorothy wants to read 'The Evolved Nest: Nature's Way of Raising Children and Creating Connected Communities']]> /review/show/7475353114 The Evolved Nest by Darcia Narvaez Dorothy wants to read The Evolved Nest: Nature's Way of Raising Children and Creating Connected Communities by Darcia Narvaez
]]> Review7408015945 Sun, 16 Mar 2025 09:16:17 -0700 <![CDATA[Dorothy added 'The Talented Mr. Varg']]> /review/show/7408015945 The Talented Mr. Varg by Alexander McCall Smith Dorothy gave 4 stars to The Talented Mr. Varg (Detective Varg, #2) by Alexander McCall Smith
bookshelves: fiction, detective, sweden
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.
]]> ReadStatus9165899048 Sun, 09 Mar 2025 10:20:14 -0700 <![CDATA[Dorothy wants to read 'Good Boundaries and Goodbyes: Loving Others Without Losing the Best of Who You Are']]> /review/show/7388926234 Good Boundaries and Goodbyes by Lysa TerKeurst Dorothy wants to read Good Boundaries and Goodbyes: Loving Others Without Losing the Best of Who You Are by Lysa TerKeurst
]]> ReadStatus9165890855 Sun, 09 Mar 2025 10:17:57 -0700 <![CDATA[Dorothy started reading 'Why Zebras Don't Get Ulcers']]> /review/show/7332954990 Why Zebras Don't Get Ulcers by Robert M. Sapolsky Dorothy started reading Why Zebras Don't Get Ulcers by Robert M. Sapolsky
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