I just needed to have a laugh and two books recently have listed my spirits and taken me beyond the state of the world, the suffering of those I know and love and the difficulties of life in general. Personally, we had such a good 2023, which kind of counter-balanced the shocking state of the world, but 2024! Well! We don’t know whether we’re coming or going.
This is why, when I picked up Guy Browning’s little book of my bookshelf, with its amusing chapters reflecting on the absurdities of the situations we get ourselves in in life, how we think is such odd ways and our subsequent actions, have made me laugh out loud at times and smile most of the time.
It is written in chapters of How to … but not in anyway the conventional suggestions for Life’s smaller challenges.
A perfect ‘pick up’ or mood enhancer, especially to pause my mind from racing just before going to sleep.
I’m taking time out to repost a review of another Eventispress author’s debut novel.
I asked Ian to describe his novel now, in the light of feedback he has had so far and he said:
“If I am asked about my book now I always tell people it’s a satire on liberalism. I’ve sort of convinced myself that it in part is, and I get a massively more interested response now. It’s a tale of a serious of blunders made by leaders faced with bizarre challenges. That kind of thing.’
Here’s an excellent 5 star review:
“I found this an excellent read, engaging, humorous and interesting and I soon realized I had to be disciplined as it was something that was difficult to put down. It is no good reading as much as you can as you will miss so much, be disciplined, read a chapter or two, think about it and you will enjoy it all the more. The dialogue is speech and Jack’s thoughts, a man with a droll sense of humour who will have you smiling and nodding in agreement at his observations. The beauty of this book is that it has a definite rhythm, the narrative varies in pace and the reader, unconsciously , will be carried along as the story progresses. However, when I was reading about life in ‘Eden,’ this book’s greatest quality ‘hit me,’ it is a satire on liberal society and we even have a quote from the great liberal thinker himself, John Stuart Mill. It is all here, the generalities of liberalism, the subtleties and nuances that guide everyday society and make it work, the moral idealism and vision for a better world, whilst conveniently ignoring the awkward issues and inconsistencies. As I said previously, read too much and you will miss all this. Finally, I will leave you with this thought, in Orwell’s ‘1984’ the definition of power was ‘a boot stamping on a face forever,’ here it is the much less obvious, ‘wearing a watch with a red and green light’ to control, how much more civilized and consensual, a more liberal solution! This novel deserves to be read by a much wider public, it has got so much to offer.”
In my opinion this is a book well worth reading. It is fast paces, challenging, a life drama of the possible consequences of not looking after the world and what we are doing to it, but with real characters who you get to know and care about.
This books is extremely special to me. I have read it at least three times over the years, and decided to pick it up again recently.
It is the mind-blowing account of Lydia Prince, and her calling to Jerusalem, giving up her good job, income, home and family to follow her ‘calling.’ It is full of miracles; the life of a remarkable woman who lived totally by prayer. Derek and Lydia adopted nine children over the years, and followed their ministry around the world.
It is gripping, encouraging, unbelievable book at times, as well as challenging, which is why I keep revisiting it. In fact, over lock down, when I tried to find it I couldn’t, and must have lent it to someone.
It is also an account of the early years at the birth of Israel, by someone who lived there, and is from the perspective of a lady who loved Arabs, Jews and Christians alike. She had a huge love for her fellow man, especially innocent children
The new book version is not so warm and inviting as my battered paperback used to be, but I can highly recommend it, nevertheless. (the photo above is of the original)
Diana Jackson 