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NeverImitate | Trying to avoid society's pigeonholes - Books & Literature
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Robyn’s Reads of 2024 « neverimitate
Having once been a 120-books-a-year reader, it's somewhat disconcerting to struggle to hit 20. These days, I feel like more of a collector than a reader - still with every intention of getting to every book someday, but just enjoying having them on the shelf to admire, even if the time to read them isn't…
Run Report: Calne Santa Scamper 2024 « neverimitate
The Calne Santa Scamper is an annual 4km fun run, open to all the family, that starts at the Wiltshire market town's community campus and follows a route into and around the central shopping area. It typically sells out and this year had added some extra capacity, offering places to around 400 participants. For the…
Book Review: The Rosie Project « neverimitate
"I may have found a solution to the Wife Problem." Don Tillman, a thirty-nine year old, tenured, genetics professor working in Melbourne, believed when growing up that, as an adult, he would acquire: a job, a house, a wife. The last of these has proved troublesome to find. Don has always been aware that he…
Robyn Reviews: Not in Love « neverimitate
'Not in Love' is the fourth entry in Ali Hazelwood's 'STEMinist' series of rom-coms, and marks a slight departure from her tried and tested formula. Instead of focusing on pure academia, this moves into the world of science industry - and instead of a single POV, this is the first to feature dual perspectives, switching…
Edward Explores: Weston-super-Mare « neverimitate
After last month's adventure in Powys, Edward had not expected to leave home again until after the festive season. However, much to his delight, the bearers decided to add a very short break by the seaside to their travel year. The destination was Weston-super-Mare, a traditional English holiday resort in Somerset offering a long beach,…
Book Review: Unbound « neverimitate
Unbound, by Christopher Osborn, is structured as a fictional memoir written by Victor Zimmerman, a molecular biologist specialising in medical research. Victor and his colleagues are working on drugs they hope will treat auto-immune disorders. One of these, referred to as Telo, also appears to have the potential to reverse the body's aging processes. Victor…
Robyn Reviews: The Phoenix Keeper « neverimitate
'The Phoenix Keeper' is a slow burn of a novel - a bit of a slog for the first 40-50%, warming up into a cosy hug of a book with a delightful, if predictable, ending. It feels long for its just under 500 pages, but is worth persevering with for the smiles it brings at…
Book Review: The University of Bliss « neverimitate
"How did you fight back against the spreadsheets, the sociopaths, the dwarves of thought, the infantilists, the corporate fixers, the mind blockers, the dog therapists, the brainless bureaucrats, the soul-shrinkers?" The University of Bliss, by Julian Stannard, is set within an English university campus town in the year 2035. The direction academia has been taking…
Robyn Reviews: Alone With You In The Ether « neverimitate
'Alone With You In The Ether' is a contemporary romance in the same way that 'The Lord of the Rings' is a story about a ring: it is, but to reduce it to that takes away everything that makes it great. It feels like a fever dream. It spirals, tighter and tighter, along with its…
Monthly Roundup – November 2024 « neverimitate
November has flown by. It started mild and mostly dry so there were bike rides and local runs during which the stunning colours of autumn leaves could be enjoyed despite the seemingly never ending grey days. The weather then turned cold and we had our first snowfall of the season. This didn't stop me running…
Book Review: The Mirror and the Light « neverimitate
For those who somehow manage to miss these things, The Mirror and the Light is the final book in the trilogy that started with Booker Prize winning Wolf Hall and then continued with Booker Prize winning Bring Up the Bodies. There is also a popular and well made television adaptation that, at least for the…
Robyn Reviews: The Warm Hands of Ghosts « neverimitate
'The Warm Hands of Ghosts' is a historical fantasy chronicling the lives of two Canadians in the First World War: Laura, a nurse wounded after her field hospital was bombed, and Freddie, a private in the army. Weaving together powerful depictions of the horrors of war and the complexities of human nature, this is an…
Book Review: Grizzly Ben « neverimitate
There have been a number of discussions in the media recently about big publishers putting out more and more work under the name of celebrities - and the questionable issues this can create. Of course, none of this is new. There have long been rumblings about whether TV personality David Walliams actually writes the popular…
Robyn Reviews: Yumi and the Nightmare Painter « neverimitate
'Yumi and the Nightmare Painter' is the third of Sanderson's 'Secret Projects' - written in secret during the COVID-19 lockdowns - and the second set in his wider Cosmere universe. Written in tribute to his wife, and inspired by his love of anime and video games, 'Yumi and the Nightmare Painter' has a distinctively Asian-inspired…
Run Report: Y Promenâd « neverimitate
We last visited Brecon in the spring, just a week before the inaugural event for Y Promenâd parkrun. Knowing it was due to start we walked the course and were impressed by the scenic setting. It was therefore pleasing to be able to return this morning and take part in their 24th event. A Facebook…
Edward Explores: Powys in Wales « neverimitate
Edward recently returned to Llangoed Hall in Powys, Wales, a hotel he enjoyed adventuring from earlier this year. The weather was damp and overcast throughout his weekend away but our brave bear was not to be deterred from joining the bearers on their many walks - exploring canals, mist covered hills and woodland. Entering Wales…
Robyn Reviews: Tress of the Emerald Sea « neverimitate
'Tress of the Emerald Sea' is the first of Sanderson's 'Secret Projects' - a collection of novels written in secret during the COVID-19 lockdowns, separate to his ongoing fantasy series' but mostly tying into his overacrhing fantasy universe, the Cosmere. Whilst this could be read separately, 'Tress' would be a much easier and more enjoyable…
Run Report: Melksham Parkrun, winter course « neverimitate
Melksham parkrun is one of our more local venues yet we have only participated here on a handful of occasions. We returned this morning as they were switching to their winter course and we had yet to try this. With not too much rain in the preceding week we hoped the loop around the field…
Book Review: Orbital « neverimitate
I am rarely drawn to read big book prize list selections although follow with interest the thoughts of a few fellow reviewers whose literary opinions I trust (they are not authors and don't write for the mainstream media so can be fully independent in their thinking). Having read a couple of titles from this year's…
Book Review: Bradley’s Railway Guide « neverimitate
This review was written for and first published by Bookmunch. We like trains in this house. I was therefore pleased when the opportunity to review a new Railway Guide presented itself. Simon Bradley’s latest book covers two centuries of British railway history with a chapter and illustration for each year. Given this format what is…
Monthly Roundup – October 2024 « neverimitate
Happy Halloween to all who celebrate! October has felt long to me but has been a decent enough month all told. Elder son completed on the purchase of his cottage - a small, centuries old terraced property with walls a couple of feet thick and, no doubt, rich in history (I will be delving into…
Book Review: Meadowlands Dawn « neverimitate
"All your life You kept repeating the same mistake; Your face was dirty But you were obsessed with cleaning the mirror." Meadowlands Dawn, by Jo Beall, is a work of fiction inspired by the author's experience as a political prisoner in apartheid South Africa during the 1980s. The protagonist, Verity Saunders, is a young woman…
Edward Explores: North Devon « neverimitate
After the many weeks of preparation for and then recuperation from his paw surgery, Edward was eager to get back to travel and associated adventures. His first trip was to North Devon. Edward likes Devon with its moors and rugged coastline. He is less keen on its confusing road system. The journey down the motorway…
Book Review: The Land in Winter « neverimitate
The Land in Winter, by Andrew Miller, is set in England's rural West Country during the memorably harsh winter of 1962. It focuses on two newly married couples, neighbours in a village some distance away from family and friends they were each content to leave behind as they started new lives together. Eric Parry, a…
Hotel Review: Northcote Manor – the return « neverimitate
This month we enjoyed a weekend away in Devon at a country house hotel we have stayed at before - Northcote Manor. As I reviewed the hotel on that occasion I will highlight here only what has changed, although will cover food consumed in some detail as our package - dinner, bed and breakfast, with…
Run Report: Bideford Parkrun « neverimitate
With a weekend away in North Devon planned we decided to include a visit to Bideford Parkrun. What a fine choice this turned out to be. The event is held in Victoria Park, near the centre of the town. Ample car parking is available between the park and the river - £1.50 per hour paid…
Book Review: Maps of Imaginary Towns « neverimitate
Maps of Imaginary Worlds is a collection of sixteen short stories, many of which were previously published in esteemed literary magazines of webzines. They are set in either recognisable contemporary situations - where life is challenging for a variety of problematic reasons - or in futures where the worlds lived in have not improved for…
Book Review: The End of the World is a Cul de Sac « neverimitate
The End of the World is a Cul de Sac is the debut short story collection from Irish writer Louise Kennedy. It contains fifteen stories that, while often biting, offer a depth of understanding of the human condition. There is little that is soft or easy within these pages although the skilfully crafted prose will…
Run Report: Ashton Court Parkrun « neverimitate
This year we have enjoyed a high level of parkrun tourism, gaining pleasure from visiting venues an hour or so’s drive from our home. Having run every event in the county of Wiltshire, today we decided to visit Ashton Court to complete all those available in Bristol. Loading the recommended postcode into Google Maps we…
Book Review: Best British Short Stories 2019 « neverimitate
"no one is really responsible for death; even a murder is only foreshortening. But a birth? Conjuring something into being, into blood and bone and nails? You were truly culpable for that." Edited by Nicholas Royle, the annual anthology of short stories from Salt Publishing brings together an impressive collection of fiction from a wide…
Book Review: Harvest Moon « neverimitate
"Nuria was left disconcerted, because she considered herself a shy, loving, understanding woman. She wanted to be the best person in the world." Harvest Moon, by Anxos Sumai (translated by Carys Evans-Corrales), opens with two teenagers, Nuria and Quin, having sex on a beach near where they live. There are unpleasant details - 'semen on…
Run Report: Wotton Parkrun « neverimitate
Wotton Parkrun has been our NeNDY (nearest not done yet) for quite some time but was forever being bumped for one reason or another as Parkrun Day approached. With summer, such as we have had this year, approaching its end, we decided this Saturday was to be the day we made the trip north and…
Edward Explores: Recuperating « neverimitate
Edward is home. After a few weeks at Flump Bear Care where he underwent delicate procedures to replace his paw pads and restore his smile, followed by a bumpy journey courtesy of the postal service in a carefully packed box, he was welcomed back by all his friends who were eager to hear tales of…
Monthly Roundup – September 2024 « neverimitate
September has been a mixed month once again. I recovered from the nasty virus that laid me low at the end of last month in time to enjoy our first trip away for some time. We travelled to Chard in Somerset, staying at The Lordleaze Hotel - you may read my review of this establishment…
Run Report: Seven Fields Parkrun (summer course) « neverimitate
Although we have run at Seven Fields in Swindon on a couple of previous occasions, this morning was our first time when they were using the ‘A’ course around the titular fields. And what a lovely morning it was for this, with bright sunshine and just a gentle breeze. We arrived at the venue a…
Book Review: The Light Years « neverimitate
"That's what ordinary life is, isn't it? Carrying on as usual." Although a prolific novelist, Elizabeth Jane Howard is arguably best known for her Cazalet Chronicles, a series of five books following the lives of the eponymous family. The Light Years is the first in this series. It is set in Southern England, across the…
Bartie Explores: Chard and Glastonbury « neverimitate
Regular readers will be aware that Edward recently travelled to Flump Bear Care for necessary treatment on his poorly paws and unravelling smile. He was not, therefore, available to accompany his bearers on their latest adventure, to Chard in Somerset. Edward's friends discussed this predicament and it was decided that Bartie should step in as…
Run Report: Frogmary Green Farm Parkrun « neverimitate
When booking a long weekend away in early September it is hoped the weather will be kind. Sadly, this was not to be. The torrential rain that fell steadily over the two days prior to this morning’s Parkrun had us questioning the wisdom of choosing a course mostly run across the fields of a working…
Book Review: Held « neverimitate
This review was written for and first published by Bookmunch. “No gas, no hot water; soon there would not even be the memory of these things. Always the same blunt strategy, Paavo thought, to keep us so concerned with staying alive, we forget about living.” Held presents a series of generational love stories tinged with loss…
Hotel Review: Lordleaze in Chard, Somerset « neverimitate
The Lordleaze Hotel in Chard was once a working farm, part of a large estate owned by the Lord family. In the mid 20th century the longhouse was converted into bedsits and then into a hotel in the 1980s. Leaze is an Old English word for meadow. The hotel is still approached through fields, accessed…