Wednesday 16 January 2019

The Light in the Dark by Horatio Clare



Cover


 I was looking forward to reading this as I'd previously read his biography of childhood " Heading for the Hills".

This is the Amazon description........ Winter...............
It is a time of introspection, of looking inwards. Seasonal sadness; winter blues; depression – such feelings are widespread in the darker months. But by looking outwards, by being in and observing nature, we can appreciate its rhythms. Mountains make sense in any weather. The voices of a wood always speak consolation. A brush of frost; subtle colours; days as bright as a magpie’s cackle. We can learn to see and celebrate winter in all its shadows and lights.

In this moving and lyrical evocation of a British winter and the feelings it inspires, Horatio Clare raises a torch against the darkness, illuminating the blackest corners of the season, and delving into memory and myth to explore the powerful hold that winter has on us. By learning to see, we can find the magic, the light that burns bright at the heart of winter: spring will come again.


Well, that's what they said but I found it disappointing. It's a short book written as a diary of the winter of 2017/18 by someone who suffers with seasonal depression.
This is the way he gets through the weather and work and I think could have been written by anybody slightly depressed and living in the North of England through last winter!

An interesting short read  but it didn't cheer me up, just made me thankful for libraries so that I hadn't had to spend £12.99 to read it!

This is the 4th book read this month, the rest were all crime fiction so it was good to have a change. The library van is round again later this week and I still have 8 books unread.
Notes about books read have been entered on the new 2019 page.

Thanks for all the comments yesterday and hello to 3 new followers, hope you enjoy reading.



Back Tomorrow
Sue

15 comments:

  1. So disappointing when a book you're looking forward to reading, either because it's an author you know and like, or someone's recommended it, turns out to be not what you were hoping for.

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    1. I think it certainly sounds better on the Amazon blurb than it actually was. Small book and quickly read

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  2. It sounded very promising from the description - but then a lot of books do but then don't deliver. At least there are a world of other books to go at - just a shame it can be a bit hit and miss at times.
    Maybe someone who suffers with depression might resonate with it.

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    1. I still have so many to read and library van due tomorrow bringing me more!

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  3. It strikes me that authors who chuck out these books quickly after an event as he did, the event being our bad winter and his depression about it, are reacting to a publisher who sees a quick buck, pad it out with flowery language and a dark side and you're on to a winner. To be avoided.

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    1. Shame really as his first book was good. I haven't read any of his others which are about travel and wildlife

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  4. Glad you gave an honest review- so often “the Emperor’s new clothes” applies to much hyped books. I have managed one fact and one fiction so far.

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    1. I read it so quickly, not many pages and all double spaced lines. It was worth reading I think!

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  5. I'd considered buying this, so thanks for saving me money!

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    1. Oh sorry to put you off buying, can you borrow? as it is sort-of interesting to read but quite small and quickly read

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  6. Oh dear. Sorry you found it so disappointing. I think I'd want something to cheer me up in winter, not drag me further down when I don't like it as it is. Hopefully your next read will be better!

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    1. Definitely not a cheery book! Although he does eventually go for help for the depression which seemed sensible

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  7. Perhaps you could write a book Sue...I’m sure you have many tales to tell...though in a way blogging is writing an online book anyway. x

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  8. Unreadable, tedious, boring, wallowing. The quoted segment is so lyrical and lovely, but that didn't last. I was very disappointed.

    lizzy gone to the beach.....

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