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NeverImitate | Trying to avoid society's pigeonholes - Books & Literature
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Book Review: All to Blazes « neverimitate
All to Blazes, by Frank Sargeson, has been sitting on my shelves since I received a surprise copy in the post in 2021. Sent by Brian Hamill, co-founder of a then recently created small press, the common breath, it came with a note that explained he thought I would enjoy reading it and, while a…
Run Report: Newbury Parkrun « neverimitate
Team Law decided to run at Newbury this week to enable daughter to collect another letter from her name for the 5k app challenge. We were looking forward to what sounded like a flat course run on prepared pathways. Plus it is a one lapper which is a rare treat. Newbury is quite a drive…
Robyn Reviews: Say You’ll Remember Me « neverimitate
Having enjoyed 'Just for the Summer' by Abby Jimenez, I was keen to check out more of her work - and her latest release, 'Say You'll Remember Me', seemed promising. Veterinarian who rescues animals in his spare time? Check. Hard-hitting subplot about dealing with early onset dementia in a family member? Check. Cute romance? Unfortunately,…
Edward Explores: Withypool on Exmoor « neverimitate
It was with great excitement that Edward set off on his most recent adventure. All the bearers were coming along on what was planned to be a family walking holiday on Exmoor. When everyone is there Edward has extra friends to play with. There are also more stops for cake than is usually the case…
Monthly Roundup – July 2025 « neverimitate
July has included: heatwaves, downpours, a family holiday, a local running race. It seems that summer is upon us in the UK and it has so far been a good one. I continue to run, swim and visit the gym to lift weights regularly. I picked up a couple of minor eye infections and suffered…
Robyn Reviews: Problematic Summer Romance « neverimitate
'Problematic Summer Romance' is a spinoff novel from the fourth book in Ali Hazelwood's loosely-linked STEMinist series, 'Not in Love'. Where each STEMinist novel can be read and appreciated without reading the others, 'Problematic Summer Romance' is best read by those who have already read 'Not in Love', to fully appreciate the backstory and characters.…
Robyn Reviews: Funny Story « neverimitate
It's impossible to read within the contemporary romance genre without the name 'Emily Henry' cropping up over and over again in recommendations, so I had to see what the fuss was about. 'Funny Story' is one of her most recent releases, and has a fantastic premise - but ultimately, whilst cute enough at the time,…
Run Report: Minehead Parkrun « neverimitate
Taking part in a parkrun with a course set entirely on a seafront promenade has long been on my wishlist - adding a seaview to my preference for running with pavement underfoot and no hills. Minehead appeared to meet all requirements so, when we decided to book our annual family holiday in Exmoor, a night…
Book Review: Two similar looking men with umbilical hernias « neverimitate
This review was written for and first published by Bookmunch. “A woman phoned up and adopted a donkey called Gladys for her sister who was also called Gladys. She pledged for a full lifetime of looking after Gladys the donkey and receiving regular updates about her. Gladys died just after the transaction had gone through.…
Holiday Cottage Review: Royal Oak Cottage, Withypool « neverimitate
Having travelled abroad extensively when younger, husband and I now prefer to take our holidays in the British Isles. We no longer have any interest in visiting towns or cities, opting instead for coastal or rural locations with easy access to long, scenic walks. With these criteria in mind we generally choose a suitable country…
Book Review: Of Mice and Men « neverimitate
I decided to reread Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck, having watched the excellent 1992 adaptation currently available on Prime. It was pleasing to find that this film followed the story faithfully, something so many modern film makers seem to struggle with when they adapt an already good story. The nuances were successfully captured,…
Robyn Reviews: The Summer I Turned Pretty « neverimitate
'The Summer I Turned Pretty' by Jenny Han is the second of her YA contemporary romances to be picked up and adapted for TV by Amazon Prime, following the success of 'To All the Boys I Loved Before'. I wasn't overly impressed with 'To All the Boys I Loved Before', but given how many readers…
Book Review: Fall « neverimitate
"Clive couldn't speak now. Aaron held his breath. The moment had been rewritten. And there was no reorganising the words." Fall, by West Camel, tells the story of twin brothers, Clive and Aaron, who live in a huge scheme of London tower blocks designed by their award winning architect mother, Zoe. It is a slow…
Run Report: Tidworth Parkrun (new course) « neverimitate
The Law family’s summer of parkrun touristing continued this morning with a visit to Tidworth. We last ran at this venue in May of last year and both husband and I were keen to beat the PBs we set then. Daughter is in the process of collecting all of Wiltshire’s parkruns so was happy to…
Robyn Reviews: Just For The Summer « neverimitate
'Just For The Summer' is a cute, feel-good romance perfect for reading with a cocktail on the beach - but it's also a moving and thoughtful story about learning to process childhood trauma, complex family dynamics, and strong friendships. Jimenez examines all facets of love, from the challenges of unconditional love of family to the…
Monthly Roundup – June 2025 « neverimitate
June has been active and busy in our little household. As well as parkruns each Saturday, daughter and I ran in a race held in the pretty little Cotswold town of Fairford - we knew we had arrived in the Cotswolds when a Lamborghini passed us - and it wasn't even a tractor. I posted…
Run Report: Brickfields Park Parkrun « neverimitate
It is always exciting to hear of new parkruns starting, especially when they are close enough to visit without having to make too long a journey. Brickfields Park in Bath is less than an hour’s drive away, although time to walk from the recommended parking at the city’s football ground needs to be factored in.…
Edward Explores: Return to Dartmoor « neverimitate
In November 2022 Edward undertook a most daring adventure in the Dartmoor National Park, basing himself for the weekend at the lovely Mill End Hotel. He was therefore happy to hear that he was to return to the area, this time in what would hopefully prove more summery weather. As the bearers planned to participate…
Book Review: Burnt Paper Sky « neverimitate
Burnt Paper Sky is the debut novel from the now much published Gilly MacMillan. Readers are advised not to judge a book by its cover but I admit to buying this book based on that alone. I therefore found it interesting when I looked for a link on the publisher's website to discover that not…
Run Report: Simmons Park Parkrun « neverimitate
The last time we visited Dartmoor Simmons Park parkrun had not yet started. It was therefore with some excitement that we travelled to Okehampton on the Friday afternoon of our short break to check out the course ahead of Saturday’s planned run. Husband did his best to explain the route as we walked through the…
Hotel Review: Return to Mill End, Dartmoor « neverimitate
In November 2022 we stayed at the Mill End Hotel on the edge of Dartmoor National Park (you may read my review here). Impressed as we were with the location, food and comfort of the place it was decided we would return this month when a good offer appeared on Secret Escapes. Before I go…
Book Review: Spit « neverimitate
"I'm not sure, memory is a tricky thing [...] it might be the product of too much time and loneliness. We have to make up stories, to believe them, to live them" Spit, by David Brennan, is set within a small community living in the west of Ireland where generations of the same families have…
Run Report: Fairford 10k « neverimitate
On a cool but sunny Sunday in early June, daughter and I drove to the pretty Cotswold market town of Fairford for their annual 10k race. Organised by the Cirencester based club, Running Somewhere Else, and put on in conjunction with the Fairford Festival, this was a well organised event with: plenty of parking, a…
Book Review: They Set the Fire « neverimitate
"Each of us is born with a pair of scissors, a needle, and thread. What do we do with them? We cut and mend and stitch. Do we know what we're doing? Of course we don't. But one way or another, we sew ourselves together." We Set the Fire, by Daniel Kraus (illustrated by Rovina…
Book Review: The White Bear « neverimitate
The White Bear, by Henrik Pontoppidan (translated by Paul Larkin), contains two of the Nobel laureate's novellas, newly translated for this release. The first and titular story has as its protagonist a pastor who found happiness when banished to serve in the frozen wastes of Greenland, yet makes an ill thought through decision to return…
Book Review: They Stole Our Hearts « neverimitate
They Stole Our Hearts, by Daniel Kraus (illustrated by Rovina Cai), is the sequel to They Threw Us Away. Having read the first book in this proposed trilogy I was more prepared for the darkness of the story and the style of writing, quickly becoming immersed in the teddy bears' problematic lives. It is marketed…
Book Review: A Crumpled Swan « neverimitate
"Poetry has, I believe, made me more like the person I've always aimed to be - not better than anyone else, but better than the person I would otherwise have been." David Collard is respected within literary circles for his clarity and erudition. In A Crumpled Swan he focuses his intellect on a single poem…
Monthly Roundup – May 2025 « neverimitate
May started with a long weekend in Cornwall where husband and I celebrated our wedding anniversary. We stayed at the lovely Talland Bay Hotel, on the coast between Polperro and Looe, and enjoyed scenic walks in sunny weather. As well as the hotel review, I posted about this holiday through the lens of my teddy…
Book Review: Heart Lamp « neverimitate
"The particulars may be different, but at the core is a resistance to being controlled, 'tamed', or disallowed the exploration of our full potential." Heart Lamp, by Banu Mushtaq (translated by Deepa Bhasthi), is a collection of twelve short stories capturing the day to day lives of a variety of women and girls living within…
Book Review: The Leftovers « neverimitate
The premise on which this story has been built is that around three years ago, on 14th October 2011, 2% of the world's human population disappeared. They all vanished at the same time on the same day and no trace of them has been found since. There were no obvious similarities between those taken -…
Run Report: Andover Parkrun « neverimitate
With the weather forecast to remain fine it was decided that a visit to Andover Parkrun was in order this week. The course description informed us we would be running mainly on grass but following recent dry weather it was expected this would be firm underfoot. Appropriate footwear was chosen based on this assumption. This…
Book Review: The Versions of Us « neverimitate
"he is old enough now to know happiness for what it is: brief and fleeting, not a state to strive for, to seek to live in, but to catch when it comes, and to hold on to for as long as you can." Until I started to put this review together I was unaware I…
Edward Explores: Return to Talland Bay « neverimitate
On a sunny morning in early May Edward was excited to pack his bag and travel to beautiful Cornwall. Although not a shire, our adventurous bear remembers a most enjoyable visit to this county several years ago - it was chronicled here. Crossing the Tamar bridge he was eager to arrive at his destination, the…
Book Review: Water in the Desert, Fire in the Night « neverimitate
"How can you live in a city where a child stabs another child to death every couple of weeks and not see the sword? How can you live in a city where one child in five is going out to school without having had and breakfast and not see famine? How can you live in…
Book Review: All of Us Atoms « neverimitate
This review was written for and first published by Bookmunch. “You need to remember […] Time is a dance, not a march. That there are no lines, with beginning and end points, just circles upon circles, within loops, twists, swirls. This is the Memory: a distillation of those circles.” All of Us Atoms is a memoir…
Run Report: Lanhydrock Parkrun « neverimitate
Having booked a celebratory holiday in Cornwall several months in advance we were blessed to be able to enjoy the few days around our wedding anniversary in glorious sunshine. No weekend away would be complete without making a tourist visit to a parkrun. Last time we were in the area we ran at the Eden…
Hotel Review: Return to Talland Bay « neverimitate
Three years ago husband and I stayed at the Talland Bay Hotel, located on the south coast of Cornwall between Looe and Polperro. We very much enjoyed its location, quirky features and delicious food. When a suitable offer arrived in husband's inbox earlier this year we decided to make a return visit. Good memories can…
Book Review: A Stranger City « neverimitate
A Stranger City, by Linda Grant, is a story of community and the fragile ties that bind it together. Mostly set in London it focuses on the city's recent history and varying attitudes to multi-culturalism. Many of the characters introduced are generational immigrants. What is portrayed is how prejudices linger below the surface of apparent…
Run Report: Corsham 10k 2025 « neverimitate
On a sunny Sunday morning at the end of April, Team Law gathered in the Wiltshire market town of Corsham to run the local running club's annual 10k event. Having taken part a couple of years ago (report here) daughter and I knew what to expect. Son and husband didn't but we had pre-warned them…
Monthly Roundup – April 2025 « neverimitate
April started with a couple of nights away in sunny Surrey. As avid parkrunners husband and I have long wanted to return to the source of this weekly phenomenon and run at Bushy in west London. This is where the first 5k weekly time trial that evolved into parkrun was held and where events continue…