‘Mind over Miles’ by Russ Cook

After a few thrillers, a couple of teenage fiction novels and the odd best-seller, we are back to a running book. In fact, I haven’t read a running book since June. so it was nice to read this.

Russ Cook, or better known as the Hardest Geezer, is a bit of a celebrity after his epic run down the length of Africa. He completed the 10,000 mile run in 352 days and I remember watching the odd social media post at the time. So when I saw he had written a book about the adventure I thought I’d give it a go.

I probably overuse the phrase ‘definitely worth a read’, but this is definitely worth a read. I really enjoyed it.

It’s more than just a book about a bloke doing lots of running. Of course, he came up against various obstacles, some bigger than others: attempted kidnapping, armed robbery, denied border crossings, and a plethora of running issues. But it also explores his own problems with drinking and gambling.

A story of grit and determination. You can’t read it without being inspired!

I’m off to book in the next 100km race.

‘What a Way to Go’ by Bella Mackie

I really liked ‘How to Kill your Family’ by Bella Mackie, so was always going to give her next book a go when it came out.

This book has the same dark, funny, twisted, tongue-in-cheek voice of her previous novel. The same commentary on caustic family relationship, and the same ‘something a little bit different’.

This book is definitely worth a read.

This month we returned to Maddermarket. “But that’s a venue you’ve done before!” I hear you cry. Well, actually, last time we when we saw a show at The Maddermarket we were in The Emmerson Studio, this time we were in the main auditorium.

So, September’s outing went something like this…

Production: Jekyll & Hyde

Venue: The Maddermarket

The auditorium seats about 300 people, lovely little bar, serves Guinness and ice cream. Cushty.

Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic, has been interestingly adapted to bring women to the front. Dr Stevenson finds herself in charge of the mysterious case of Jekyll & Hyde.

It was a good show. Clever use of characters, setting and lighting to maintain the originality of the text, whilst managing to produce something just a little bit different. Enjoyed it.

Goes straight in at number four!

1. An Inspector Calls
2. Dracula
3. Things We Do For Love
4. Jekyll & Hyde
5. Charley’s Aunt
6. 1984
7. Metamorphosis 
8. Shakespeare Revisited
9. Edgeland

Not even starting looking for October, better get it sorted!

‘Tangled Secrets’ by Anne-Marie Conway

Teenage fiction.

Maddie’s life is a tangled mess of secrets. She has lost her Nan, she has problems at home and being bullied at school.

Then she gets told a secret that sends her spiralling.

Pretty good little book.

‘The Drift’ by CJ Tudor

Now, I normally like novels by CJ Tudor, I’ve read a couple, The Chalk Man and The Taking of Annie Thorne, but didn’t really enjoy this.

It involves three groups of people, each with a killer within them, who come together (well, what’s left of the groups) at the end.

I quite liked the first half of the novel, but then I felt it got a bit monotonous and obvious.

Probably not worth a read.

If July was a bit tricky finding a production, August was probably even more difficult.

We’re probably not planning enough in advance, especially as we’re starting to run out of local ‘new’ venues to attend.

But we found one…

Production: Things We Do For Love

Venue: Southwold Theatre

The play, written by Alan Ayckbourn, first performed in 1997 centres on a love triangle between two women and a man.

Southwold Theatre holds around 180, nice little place, serves beer and ice cream.

As for the play, we quite liked it, well written, only four characters, all really good. Great acting, funny in places and staged really well on a small budget.

Goes straight in at number three!

1. An Inspector Calls
2. Dracula
3. Things We Do For Love
4. Charley’s Aunt
5. 1984
6. Metamorphosis 
7. Shakespeare Revisited
8. Edgeland