Gone with the Penguins by Hazel Prior - Veronica McCreedy series - #bookreview #blogtour

 

I have asked Eileen to refrain from humming. In order to read the article in the Scots Times, I require absolute peace and quiet. Now silenced, she continues to busy herself flicking dust around the mantelpiece...

***

The Blurb

Still fiery and feisty at eighty-seven, Veronica McCreedy, the very first Penguin Ambassador, is determined to prove that nothing is impossible when you put your mind to it.

Eileen, Veronica’s ever-patient assistant, is content taking care of other people. But when a new adventure calls, it makes her question everything...

Ten-year-old, penguin-obsessed Daisy can’t wait to be reunited with Mrs McCreedy in her huge house by the sea for the school holidays.

When they discover that the local Sea Life Centre is under threat, the unlikely trio are determined to save it and the penguins that live there.

Inspired by the penguins and fuelled by Darjeeling tea and finger sandwiches, they embark on an epic fundraising walk. But soon, their mission becomes so much more and it might just lead each of them to a new beginning...

My Review

This book is the third in a trilogy, which you may think is a strange point to begin reading. I have had my eye on the first two books in the series, How the Penguins Saved Veronica and Call of the Penguins for some time. I know you all understand how difficult it is to find time to read all of the books that we would like to and so I never got to the first two in the series. When I was offered a place on the blog tour for this final book in the series I thought I would jump in.

To be honest, not having read the first two did not impede my enjoyment of this final book in any way. I fell in love with Veronica, Eileen and Daisy; three unrelated women from three generations and they were all wonderful in their own way.

I enjoyed the easy narrative of this book. It was perfect to snuggle up with in the evenings and to lose myself in the world of the three characters.

The author must have undertaken extensive research in order to write this book. She understands and portrays the need to be concerned about climate change, and it's effect on the world around us. This book is largely about conservation needs and the necessity of us all addressing them. It reads in a very lighthearted way but conveys an important message.

However, the book is also about friendship and love. It was delightful to read of the blossoming romance between two characters in the book. I am not going to reveal who. You will have to read the book to discover this for yourself.

This was a wonderfully heartwarming book which I highly recommend.

Book Details

ISBN: 978 1804993330

Publisher:  Penguin

Formats:  e-book, audio and paperback

No. of Pages:  448 (paperback)

Purchase Links

Bookshop.org

Amazon UK

Waterstones

Blackwell's

About the Author

HAZEL PRIOR lives on Exmoor with her husband and a huge ginger cat. As well as writing, she works as a freelance harpist.

Hazel is the author of Ellie and the Harp-Maker, the #1 ebook and audiobook bestseller Away with the Penguins and its follow-up, Call of the Penguins. Gone with

the Penguins is her fifth novel.

You can also find Hazel at:

Hazel Prior website

Twitter / X

Instagram

(book and all media courtesy of Random Things Tours)

(all opinions are my own)

(bookshop.org affiliated)

Reading Roundup for January 2024

If you have noticed that things have been a little quiet on the blog this week, it is because this gorgeous little bundle of mischief has joined the family!

When I lost my lovely border collie to old age last September I was completly heartbroken. At the time I did not think I would ever have another dog again. Any of you who have lost a beloved pet will understand exactly what I mean. But then my daughter-in-law sent me a link to this litter of puppies, and they and their mum were only twenty minutes away... well you can imagine the rest. I was instantly in love again.

We have called her Roxie and she is a border collie/Bedlington terrier cross. She is a little darling and I am so happy to have another writing companion... that is when she allows me to do any actual writing! So, I hope you will bear with me if my reviews are less frenquent than they usually are.

That said, here is my list of books that I have managed to read this month.

Books I Have Read

Cover the Bones by Chris Hammer - This book is part of the Ivan Lucic and Nell Bucanan series and well worth reading. You can read my review here.

The Pierogi Peril by Geri Krotow - The second book in the Kielbasa Queen series. It was a light-hearted story which will appeal to cozy crime readers.

War of the Wind by Victoria Williamson - I love this author's books. They are all very different but all brilliant in their own way. This one is aimed at children of 10+ You can read my review here.

Maisie's Big Book of Kindness by Lucy Cousins - This lovely picture book for children has a positive measure about kindness, thoughtfulness and sharing.

 

Back to Her Future by Cary J. Hansson - This was a fantastic novel and was easily a five star read for me. You can read my review by clicking here.

The Austrian Bride by Helen Parusel - This was an excellent book set in Austria during the annexation in 1938. You can read my review by clicking here.

Stitch by Padraig Kenny - Based loosley on Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, this was my favourite book this month. You can read my review by clicking here.

But You Did Not Come Back Again by Marceline Loridan-Ivens - Although I did not get around to reviewing this book it is well worth reading.

Will You Be My Friend? by Sam McBratney - I will be posting my review of this gorgeous book for young children very soon.

A Kestrel for a Knave by Barry Hines - A brilliant modern classic and my review will be coming soon.

Harvest Cruise by Rebecca Benison - This is an exciting adventure story based around a singles cruise ship. You can read my review by clicking here.

River East, River West by Aube Rey Lescure - A fabulous book set in China. You can read my review by clicking here.

The Secrets of Crestwell Hall by Alexandra Walsh - This is a dual timeline book, moving between the 17th century and the modern day. You can read my review by clicking here.

Books I am Partway Through

 The Brother Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky - expect to see this one here for a while.

Newborn by Kerry Hudson

A Brilliant Life by Rachelle Unreich

Maude Horton's Glorious Revenge by Lizzie Pook

The Wit & Wisdom of David Attenborough by Chas Newkey-Burden - #bookreview #blogtour

 

Sir David Attenborough is many things - all of them wonderful. He is a broadcasting titan, whose passionate, semi-whispered narration of the natural world has been adored for generations. He is also an environmental warrior who has delicately shown us how we have harmed our plantet and what we can do to make it right. Along the way, he has rightly become nothing short of a national treasure - a charming, adorable and admirable grandfather figure for generations...

***

A fascinating and entertaining collection of facts, quotes and stories, celebrating Sir David Attenborough's wicked sense of humour and astute wisdom.

David Attenborough is a national treasure, known for his soothing voice, calming presence, passion for the natural world, and his humble, easy-going nature. Despite his incredible talent and influence, he tends to play it all down, one time stating that, 'I can't believe I'm still employed'.

So if he won't celebrate himself, we'll have to do it for him.

Filled with facts, tributes and anecdotes, as well as beautiful illustrations, this enormously positive book celebrates Sir David, providing a fascinating insight into his life as well as showcasing his brilliant sense of humour. Running chronologically, this book begins with his early days, to his first job at the BBC, to eventually becoming the most esteemed naturalist on the planet, as he is today.

Such revelations include:

- There are 18 plants and animals named after him

- When asked by a reporter how many degrees he had, he said it would be 'rude to count'*

- The single thing that would improve his quality of life is 'good, workable knees'.

Blending his quips galore with his powerful messages on the environment and future of the planet, this timely book showcases everything we love about Sir David, making it the perfect gift for any fan.

* He has over thirty!

***

It is very clear from the opening paragraph at the top of this page that the author is a huge fan of Sir David Attenborough. And why wouldn't he be? Throughout this book Mr Newkey-Burden goes on to provide evidence of the qualities and attributes of the incredible Sir David Attenborough.

The book comprises of five sections in the life of Sir David:

1. The Making of David Attenborough

2. Hitting the Small Screen

3. The Broadcasting Titan

4. Protector of the Planet

5. The Legacy

Throughout these chapters the prose is presented in snippet form, detailing biographical information, anecdotes, facts and interviews from his life. Interspersed throughout are some lovely line illustrations depicting everything from a puffin to a sundial. These complement the text nicely and certainly add to the appeal of the book.

This was an effortless and fascinating read. I read it in hardback form and it is sized that it is easy to slip into a pocket or handbag. Also, the nature of the writing made it an easy book to dip in and out of.

Although this book has not been endorsed by Sir David it is a celebration of the life and accomplishments of a great man.  Fans of environmental issues or admirers of Sir David Attenborough will enjoy this book very much.

ISBN: 978 1856755269

Publisher:  Gaia

Formats:  e-book and hardcover

No. of Pages:  272 (hardback)

About the Author:

Chas Newkey-Burden writes about animal rights, veganism and the environment for the Guardian, Independent, the i, Metro and the Daily Telegraph.

He is the author of dozens of books, including, Running: Cheaper Than Therapy, The Runner's Code, Get Lucky: Rituals, Habits and Superstitions of the Rich and Famous and The Reduced History of Dogs.

(book and media images courtesy of Random Things Tours)

(all opinions are my own)

My Heart was a Tree: Poems and Stories to Celebrate Trees by Michael Morpurgo and Yuval Zommer - #BookReview #poetry #poems #stories

 

The poems and stories in this book have been written because, every day that I can, I go for a walk in the bluebell woods behind our house. I know every one of the trees I pass. They hear me coming, they listen to me. I listen to them, to the whisper of them, the roaring of them, the creaking of them. 

One story above all the others, imspired me to write about trees. It is The Man who planted Trees, by Jean Giono, about an old shepherd in the hills of Provence who makes it his life's work to create a forest high on the arid rocky slopes where very little grew.

***

Discover the beauty and wonder of trees in this stunningly illustrated collection of poetry and stories celebrating trees and what they mean to the world around us . . .

Inspired by the woods around his home, the mighty forests that support our life on Earth, and the Ted Hughes poem which gives this book its title, My Heart Was a Tree is a celebration, and Sir Michael Morpurgo's love letter to trees.

There are stories from an ancient olive remembering Odysseus and Penelope, and from a eucalyptus that gave shelter to a koala; from a piece of driftwood that was made into a chair, and from a tiny sapling carried by a refugee as a reminder of home – these are poems and stories that will amuse, move and energise families and readers of all ages to appreciate the beauty and wonder of trees.

Yuval Zommer's beautiful, detailed illustrations bring the natural world to life, and make My Heart Was a Tree a book to pore over for hours and hours, discovering something new each time.

***

This book is perfect in every way. Not only does it contain a gorgeous selection of poems and stories by Michael Morpurgo, but it also has the most delightful illustrations by Yuval Zommer. The collaboration between a best selling author and an award winning artist guaranteed that this book would be something rather special.

Written in celebration of trees in all their forms - it is a book very relevant to today's environment. It looks at the impact that trees have on our lives, in our communities as well as in the wider world.

I shared a couple of these poems with my six-year-old grandson and he enjoyed listening to them very much. The illustrations support the text perfectly and it made for a wonderful opportunity to create memories for us both.

If I had to choose a favourite from this superb collection it would have to be the poem, Driftwood. It tells of the nine lives lived by this tree and begins:

This chair was born where I was born,

In the forests of Nova Scotia,

About a thousand years ago.

Maybe more, who's counting?

It is a delightful poem which goes on to tell of its journey.

I highly recommend this collection of poems and stories. Regardless of whether you have a child in your life to share this with, it makes for lovely reading and I can envisage dipping back into it periodically.

ISBN: 978 1529094794

Publisher:  Two Hoots

Formats:  e-book and hardcover

No. of Pages:  96 (hardcover)

Support Independent Bookshops - Buy from Bookshop.org *

About the Author:

Sir Michael Andrew Morpurgo, OBE, FRSL is the author of many books for children, five of which have been made into films. He also writes his own screenplays and libretti for opera. 

Born in St Albans, Hertfordshire, in 1943, he was evacuated to Cumberland during the last years of the Second World War, then returned to London, moving later to Essex. After a brief and unsuccessful spell in the army, he took up teaching and started to write. 

He left teaching after ten years in order to set up 'Farms for City Children' with his wife. They have three farms in Devon, Wales and Gloucestershire, open to inner city school children who come to stay and work with the animals. In 1999 this work was publicly recognised when he and his wife were invested a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to youth. In 2003, he was advanced to an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE). He became a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature (FRSL) in 2004. He was knighted in the 2018 for his services to literature and charity. 

He is also a father and grandfather, so children have always played a large part in his life. Every year he and his family spend time in the Scilly Isles, the setting for three of his books.

About the Illustrator:

Yuval Zommer graduated from the Royal College of Art with an MA in Illustration. He worked for many years as a creative director at leading advertising agencies before becoming the author and illustrator of highly acclaimed non-fiction. Yuval has sold over 2 million books worldwide and been translated into 30 languages.

Yuval's stunning Big Book Of... series (Thames & Hudson) has won and been shortlisted for numerous awards including the UKLA Book Awards, The English Association's Nonfiction Award, and the Made For Mums Award. The latest title, The Big Book of Belonging, published in September 2021.

My Heart was a Tree (Macmillan), written by Michael Morpurgo, is Yuval's newest title which beautifully explores the life of trees, what they mean to humanity, to animals and the world around us. This highly anticipated book will publish in June 2023.

Yuval also writes and illustrates a seasonal picture book series for Oxford University Press - The Tree That's Meant To Be, A Thing Called Snow and The Lights That Dance in the Night. The Tree That's Meant To Be was named a Sunday Times Book of the Year.

(ARC courtesy of NetGalley, author photo and info from GoodReads and illustrator photo and info from Caroline Sheldon Literary Agency)

Support Independent Bookshops - Buy from Bookshop.org *

*Disclosure: I only recommend books I would buy myself and all opinions expressed here are my own. This post contains an affiliate link from which I may earn a small commission.

Hope: A History of the Future by G.G. Kellner - #BookReview

 

The clatter of something falling in the library startled Joyce, who was in the kitchen making a cup of tea. She went to investigate. Through the old wavy glass panes of the French doors that separated the library from the rest of the timeworn house, she saw a large book lying face down in the middle of the room.

It was a completely quiet afternoon - not a breath of wind outside, no music playing inside. No one else was in the house besides her daughter Grace, home from school sick, sleeping in her bedroom. Their cat, Plato, curled in his favourite library chair, seemed unconcerned by the noise or the large book on the floor.

***

One quiet afternoon in 2037, Joyce Denzell hears a thud in her family’s home library and finds a book lying in the middle of the room, seemingly waiting for her―a book whose copyright page says it was published in the year 2200. Over the next twenty-four hours, each of the Denzell family members discovers and reads from this mystical history book from the future, nudged along by their cat, Plato.

As the various family members take turns reading, they gradually uncover the story of Gabe, Mia, and Ruth—a saga of adventure, endurance, romance, mystery, and hope that touches them all deeply. Along the way, the Denzells all begin to believe that this book that has seemingly fallen out of time and space and into their midst might actually be from the future—and that it might have something vitally important to teach them.

Engaging, playful, and thought-provoking, Hope is a seven-generation-spanning vision of the future as it could be—based on scientific projections, as well as historical and legal precedence—that will leave readers grappling with questions of destiny, responsibility, and the possibility for hope in a future world.

***

I am confessing from the outset that I was drawn to this book because of the cute cat on the cover.

Anyone who has been following my blog for more than about a week will know that I can be easily seduced into reading a book solely by the prettiness of its cover. And if it has an animal, books or a pretty dress on then it is in my basket before I can say "whoops." 

My son argues that for every new book I bring into the house, I should relieve my overburdened bookshelves of one and send it to the charity shop. Yeah right! Never going to happen! I love my books too much for that, although I do have the occasional cull and donate those books to the library. Anyhow, this book was gifted to me as an early reading copy from the lovely people at NetGalley and, therefore, it does not have to go on my crowded book shelves and so it does not fit his theory.

This is very much a book within a book as it demonstrates various members of a family reading a book which mysteriously appears, and therefore, we also get to read the book verbatim alongside them.

The premise of the book is an interesting one, and I was keen to read it. The idea of a book from the future which explains how the world will progress is an exciting concept. When the book, The History of the World To the Best of Our Knowledge, Researched and Compiled for the Hall of Records by The World Council Committee for Remembrance Published 2220, appears to Joyce from nowhere she, of course, wants to read it.

What I did not quite understand was why the whole family, who find the book at various points, are so reluctant to share it with one another. Perhaps, I just missed the point with that aspect.

However, the actual book, Hope, felt like it was two very different books. The contents of the mysterious book flowed really well and were pleasing to read. Interestingly, the parts with the family felt more stilted, as though they were included solely as a vehicle for portraying the book from the future, but this is more of an observation than a criticism. I almost felt the author would have presented a better book if she had just told the story of the futuristic book.

Having said that, I did love the cat, who has an intriguing part to play. There are some enjoyable aspects of the book and please do not let my earlier comments deter you from reading it. As I have said on many occasions, reading is a very subjective experience.  Hope has some good things to offer, so please do read it and I would be very interested in hearing your thoughts.

ISBN: 978 1684631230

Publisher: Spark Press

Formats: e-book and paperback

No. of Pages: 336 (paperback)

About the Author:

G. G. Kellner is a writer, an artist, a poet, and an educator. Her major focus over the last few years has been the completion of her book  Hope, A History of the Future in which she envisions a world seven generations into the future in which we have solved the some of the major social, political and environmental crisis of our time.  

Her essays, letters, and poems have appeared in Utne Magazine, Orion Magazine, The Loop, The Beachcomber, and The Nature of an Island. Her most recent publications include the poem "Instructions: On Getting Ready to Die."  It can be seen on line at everywritersresource.com and her essay How to be Mistaken As an Islander was recently published in the collection, "The Heart of Vashon."   

She is currently a regular guest and occasional host on the community radio program The Brown Briefly VOV 101.9 FM. Her paintings and sculptures have been shown at Lopez Library, the Blue Heron Center for the Arts, and the Barnworks. Her work in stone has been shown at the International Museum of the Horse in Lexington Kentucky. She recently facilitated a community art project as part of a local movement to move to a fossil free future. 

Gayle lives on an island in the Salish Sea in a home that has been in her family for five generations. She spends most of her time writing, reading, working on artistic interests in painting and sculpture and walking the beaches and forests of her island home with her dog. She is allergic to cats.

(author photo courtesy of Book Sparks

author bio info courtesy of the authors own website

ARC courtesy of NetGalley)