the universe is in us

One thing that's stayed the same throughout my life is my love of a good book. Some of my clearest memories of my mum involved reading with/to her. I fell in love with books such The Time Machine, The War of The Worlds, 2001: A Space Odyssey and The Hobbit as a child and I've been a voracious reader ever since.

Jack, Lucy & I all struggled with both our physical and mental health during the pandemic and I found myself reading more and more, escaping to the safety of fictional worlds where the good guys win & everyone gets their happy ending. There was a lot of comfort watching of favourite TV shows and movies for the same reasons.

I still finding myself reading a lot. I really enjoy curling up in a comfy chair with a mug of tea or coffee, a tasty baked treat, a blanket, a cat, some music and a good book. It's become one of my favourite ways to spend a rainy afternoon or evening.

My favourite genres are contemporary romance/chick-lit, fantasy, non-fiction, physics, popular science, science & science-fiction.

My favourite authors include Cecilia Ahern, Jim Al-Khalili, Mandy Baggot, Arthur C Clarke, Jenny Colgan, Brian Cox, John Gribbin, Deborah Harkness, Marian Keyes & Sophie Kinsella

This year I have discovered and been thoroughly enjoying Emily Henry, Ali Hazelwood, Talia Hibbert & Alexandria Bellefleur - all recommended to me by the amazing staff in my local Waterstones.

While I'm enjoying all the contemporary and sometimes queer romances I've been reading over the last few months, I'm starting to itch to read the classic science fiction that I fell in love with as a child. It may be time to pull out some HG Wells, Isaac Asimov or Arthur C. Clarke. It's been decades since I read Dune. I think it's time to make some changes to my TBR pile

Just For Christmas by Scarlett Bailey

Synopsis When Alex Munro learns that the love of her life is getting married to another girl, all she wants is to be alone - and as far away from Edinburgh as possible.

Moving to a Cornish cottage, which comes complete with the world's scruffiest dog, Alex finds that her new neighbours are determined to involve her in their madcap Christmas festivities.

Then she meets her sexy neighbour Ruan - and somehow Alex doesn't want to be alone this Christmas after all. But having lost one fiance, Ruan has no intention of letting anyone get close to him again...
My rating: 4/5
Filed under: chick-lit, christmas, romance

Just for Christmas has the perfect winter cover. I am a bit of a magpie and anything that glitters grabs my attention and makes me go 'oooooooh!', so the twinkly cover appealed to me from the get-go.

I'm also a sucker for books about Christmas, chick-lit and animals, and Alex, the protagonist in Just for Christmas finds herself lumbered with a mad, scruffy dog called Buoy. I warmed to both characters immediately; they are both vibrant, full of personality and desperately in need of love. In fact the characters are the biggest success in this story. I felt like I knew them all, from Ruan, the slightly aloof boatman to Lucy, the barmaid with a hidden past, and I cared for them too.

Village life in Cornwall was also beautifully portrayed. Images of warm, bustling pubs where everyone knows everyone else, a strong community spirit and the importance of festive traditions being upheld made me want to be resident in Poldore myself.

There were elements of the plot that moved unrealistically fast, but I really didn't mind that at all-sometimes life does move crazily fast and situations change overnight, and even if they didn't I wouldn't care because one of the great benefits of fiction is that anything goes!

If you have enjoyed Scarlett Bailey's other books, or are a fan of Amy Silver, Sophie Kinsella or Marian Keyes, I am sure you'll love this heart-warming story. As well as Christmas fun and froth it touches on the importance of family, friendship, acceptance and community-something we all need more of at Christmas.

In Search of Schrödinger's Cat: Quantum Physics and Reality by John Gribbin

Synopsis Quantum theory is so shocking that Einstein could not bring himself to accept it. It is so important that it provides the fundamental underpinning of all modern sciences. Without it, we'd have no computers, no science of molecular biology, no understanding of DNA, no genetic engineering.

In Search of Schrodinger's Cat tells the complete story of quantum mechanics, a truth stranger than any fiction. John Gribbin takes us step by step into an even more bizarre and fascinating place, requiring only that we approach it with an open mind. He introduces the scientists who developed quantum theory. He investigates the atom, radiation, time travel, the birth of the universe, super conductors and life itself. And in a world full of its own delights, mysteries and surprises, he searches for Schrodinger's Cat - a search for quantum reality - as he brings every reader to a clear understanding of the most important area of scientific study today - quantum physics.

In Search of Schrodinger's Cat is a fascinating and delightful introduction to the strange world of the quantum - an essential element in understanding today's world.

My rating: 4/5
Filed under: non-fiction, physics, quantum mechanics, science

John Gribbin has created an excellent book for anyone vaguely curious about Physics and moreover Quantum Mechanics.

It accurately and succinctly introduces the reader to the alien world of the very small, the world of particle physics and it's associated theory area, Quantum Mechanics. The book details the history of this study area in enough detail to satisfy those with some prior knowledge and yet will also keep the reader that is perhaps new to the Scientific arena interested throughout. Although clearly not a fictional work the "plot" follows the illuminate of Mathematics and Physics who, in the early part of this century, laid the ground work for a hugely productive area of science. It neatly explores sub-plots that highlight supporting narrative about the key figures, the mathematics they used, the air of discovery, political diversions and war across the Lab Benches as classical physics, led by Einstein, sort to push the Quantum lobby to the very limit of absolute understanding.

There are equations and experimental examples but not enough to disrupt a thoroughly good read for people without prior mathematical experience. Perhaps not quite enough for those that crave the quadratic or the matrix mechanic?

A great way to open a fascinating new way of viewing the universe(s)..!