Let’s hear it for storytellers. Some authors are so busy writing for themselves, they forget what most readers are after is a really good story. A strong narrative populated by well-drawn characters that a reader can like, or sometimes dislike. So three cheers for Lesley Pearse. I must confess that the covers of her books … More Thank goodness for storytellers
James Bond is a great entertainer, but I wonder how good he would be if he was outside his comfort zone. Like dealing with a burst pipe or repairing a hole in the plasterwork. Yes, I know Bond in the movies is very different to Iain Fleming’s novels on which they are based, but it’s … More Move over, Mr Bond
It’s been a while since reading bedtime stories to my children featured as part of the daily routine, and I’m more of a dog person myself, so I didn’t think there would be much in Judith Kerr’s Mog the forgetful cat to appeal to me. I’ve never quite figured what it is that seems to … More Dogs v Cats
This time last year I was preparing for my first `long distance’ cycling event. I use the term advisedly because, although the 50 mile charity ride seemed like a major challenge at the time, I’ve realised it was pretty minor compared to the range of remarkable things that people are doing on bikes. Our attention … More The Breakaway: Cycling the Mountains of the Tour de France, by Rolf Rae-Hansen
While one of my friends is obsessed with sport to such a degree that he managed to arrange a visit to the athletics world championships in Beijing during his honeymoon, another regularly tells me he can’t stand sport of any kind. I’m somewhere in between, having spent enough on London 2012 tickets to leave a … More This Mum Runs, Jo Pavey
At one time cookery books were produced by internationally famous chefs and a few querky TV cooks. These days, thanks to the proliferation of shows like Great British Bake Off, Masterchef etc, it seems everyone has the knowledge to produce their own guide to a healthy, nutritious life. Like most people, I suspect, we watch … More Cook Happy, Cook Healthy, Fearne Cotton (Orion)
If, like me, you stopped studying the sciences at school at the earliest opportunity then the word `radiation’ may be something you associate with nuclear power and weaponry. Yet, as Tim Jorgensen explains in his fascinating book Strange Glow: The Story Of Radiation (Princeton University Press), radiation is involved in all sorts of processes that … More Strange Glow: The Story of Radiation by Tim Jorgensen
I imagine twins must get irritated by the stares and questions they get from the rest of the population. From asking if they’ve ever swapped places to wondering if they can sense what the other twin is feeling when they are apart, their unique status is endlessly fascinating to those of us who don’t … More False Hearts, by Laura Lam
What does a top sportsman or woman do when they’ve retired? Some pass their experience and knowledge on to the next generation of aspiring stars, while others share their wisdom with the rest of us by turning to punditry. Still others do something completely different. While we watched him hurtling around the velodrome at London … More Sir Chris Hoy: On Your Bike
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