Jason’s Book club #20
Susan Cooper, Andy Warhol, Matt Walker Liz Pichon, Kathryn Foxfield, Jodi Taylor, J.K. Rowling
Hello and welcome to the 20th issue of Jason’s Book club.
What great weather here in the UK. Well at least at the start of the month as cooler temperatures and rain towards the end was not as nice. Even though well needed for rain as this was welcomed by gardeners and farmers a like.
It’s been a bit of binge month except it was listening to podcasts, namely the fantastic Curious cases on BBC Sounds or which ever service you get your podcasts. While the first 20ish series was hosted by the wonderful Professor Hannah Fry and Dr Mark Rutherford, the latest series now feature the comedian Dara O’Brien who replaced Dr Rutherford. The series tries to answer questions from the public using science but the chemistry (see what I did there) between the presenters is almost as much fun as the science.
On to this months books…
**Disclosure: This E-mail reading list may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you.’**
Misc - BOOK CHALLENGES
Making more progress this month working through the big birthday reading challenge. This month started the Dark is rising sequence and while the book on my reading challenge is the second in the series I decided to also read/ listen to the first which I have included below.
Over Sea, Under Stone Book one in the Dark is Rising sequence by Susan Cooper - 1st published 1965
One line summary: Three siblings holidaying in Cornwall discover an ancient map that holds the key to finding the grail, but the powers of the dark also know they have found it putting the children in grave peril of their lives.
Rating: Recommend
Format:
Audiobook
Narration: Alex Jennings, actor, RSC member and past Audio File Earphone winner.
Chapters:100
Pages / Length: 7 hours 20 minutes
Date Started: 23rd April 2025
Date Finished: 26th April 2025
*How I discovered / Who recommended:
Sort of part of the Reading challenge #1 2025
*Opening Line:
"Where is he?"
If you like this try:
The rest in the Dark is rising series
Get it free here
The Philosophy of Andy Warhol by Any Warhol.
one line summary: Andy Warhol's autobiographer claims the usual ground of childhood and upbringing but also his candid thoughts on a range of topics from sex to shopping, beauty, shopping and fame. He also included his day to musings of everyday life and the conversations he has with those he encounters both everyday and famous.
Rating: Borrow it
Format:
- [ ] Print book
Narration:N/A
Chapters: 15
Pages / Length: 241
*How I discovered / Who recommended
One of the Reading challenge #1 2025
Opening Line "I wake up and call B."
If you like this try:
His other books
Get it free here
NON-FICTION
Only the one non- fiction book this week but one of arguably the most important areas for the health conscious, sleep. Professor Matt Walker has been researching sleep for over 20 years and worked with athlete’s, CEO’s, and global companies in his reporting the benefits of sleep. His book also explores some of the strategies we could use to help us get a better and more consistent nights sleep.
Why we sleep by Matt Walker
One line summary: Professor of Neuroscience and Psychology at University of California, Berkeley reviews the scientific literature and argues the importance of sleep in almost all areas of life and health.
Rating: Recommended
Format:
- [ ] Audiobook
Narration: John Sackville, award winning stage and screen actor.
Chapters: 17 and appendix
Pages / Length:13 hours 32 minutes
*How I discovered / Who recommended:
Library find via BorrowBox
*Opening Line:
"Do you think you got enough sleep this last week?"
Get it free here
Buy it here
Audiobook version here
KIDS
The 13 year old’s bedtime re-listening fix of Tom Gates series on Borrowbox continues with by Liz Pichon.
The 11 year old read two more from Kathryn Foxfield, It’s behind you and Good girls die first. He also started reading the Chronicles of St Mary’s series, starting with the first three, Just One damned thing after another; A symphony of echos; A second chance;A trail through time all by Jodi Taylor.
With the 8 year old we have finished the fourth book of the Harry Potter series, The Goblet of Fire by J.K.Rowling and started the next in the series Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.
Book Quote of the month
“The greatest part of a writer’s time is spent in reading, in order to write; a man will turn over half a library to make one book.”
—Samuel Johnson
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I hope you get around to reading, learning or enjoying from these books, if you live in the UK then if your local library stocks them please support them and borrow from there or if you prefer to buy a books most of them in this email can be ordered from Bookshop Online for next day delivery. If not Amazon usually have it.
Enjoy these books or if it is one that is helpful for you, please feel free to recommend it to someone you feel would also benefit.
If you know of a good book let me know and thank you for reading.
Jason