Book 27 of 2025 đŸ“š

‘I Am Number Four’ by Pittacus Lore

Teenage Fiction. Friendly alien comes to Earth from another planet, he is number four of nine in total, only a load of evil aliens follow him to kill him.

The evil aliens, for some reason or another, have to kill the nice aliens in number order, number three is dead, so number four is next.

It’s not a bad book – it’s the first in a series of six – it’s also been made into a film.

2025 Monthly Challenge: October

This has been the hardest month so far to find a production and a different venue. There didn’t seem to be an awful lot about. So after a bit of internet trawling I came across a walk in Norwich.

I know, I know, that doesn’t really sound like a trip to the theatre. But, it was definitely dramatic, it was definitely a night out, and anyway, I decide the parameters for the challenge!

So, October’s outing went something like this…

Production: Norwich Spooky Story Walk

Venue: The Streets of Norwich

A group of about 30 of us, meeting at Norwich City Hall and setting off at 7.30pm to experience spooky stories related to Norwich.

Step into the shadows of Norwich’s ancient streets on a bone-chilling Spooky Story Walk, where the boundary between the living and the dead blurs.

It was a good evening, heard some creepy stories, and it only cost a tenner, so fantastic value for money. Finished the evening with a pint in the pub!

It might not have been the sort of evening out that we envisaged when we started this challenge, but it worked all the same.

Goes straight in at number five!

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

Just two months left – need to get these booked in soon!

Book 25 of 2025 đŸ“š

‘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.

Book 24 of 2025 đŸ“š

‘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.

2025 Monthly Challenge: September

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!