Good Evening Hive & Hive Book Club Community
This is, I believe, my first time posting to the Hive Book Club so I am looking forward to sharing something with you, but also learning from the community too :)
All photos in this posting are my own
Before diving in, I'll confess that I'm a relatively new reader. I began in January with the ambition to read many books consistently, but honestly, I haven't succeeded. What went wrong, you might ask? I have two main reasons for my struggle.
First, when I started reading, I was part of a small social group—just me and two others, a trio, you could say. We enjoyed many weekends together, often visiting a Wetherspoons pub. A Wetherspoons on a Sunday morning through late afternoon, especially in winter, is surprisingly quiet. With unlimited tea and coffee and affordable food, it was a cozy, budget-friendly place to spend hours, staying warm and full. However, after finishing their PhDs—congratulations to them!—my friends relocated to Bristol and Doncaster. With busy lifestyles, rising railway fares, and other commitments, seeing each other has become rare.
The second reason is simpler but no less significant is simply put, stress and a lack of motivation. I was stuck in an awful job that caused immense stress, taking a toll not only on my reading but also on my time on Hive, with friends, and for myself. Im glad to say im out of that job now and all i can say is good riddence the role just wasn't for me.
Now onto good news, I'm reading and reading consistently!
I have just finished reading Diddly Squat Til The Cows Come Home by the incredible Jeremy clarkson
Despite ending The Grand Tour, Jeremy Clarkson has stayed busy with his life as a farmer, documented in his Diddly Squat series. This book, one of four currently published with a fifth due later this year, offers a firsthand look at the struggles of British farming. Clarkson vividly portrays the harsh realities of the industry, touching on political issues, climate change, unpredictable weather, and the cost-of-living crisis.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, as it taught me a great deal about farming and introduced me to some political insights. Clarkson's comedic style shines through, keeping me entertained and engaged with frequent giggles. The book is well-paced, with short, precise chapters adapted from his newspaper columns written over the year for various publications. Although the chapters aren’t always in chronological order, the topics are well-organized, and despite their brevity, Clarkson provides impressive detail.
To put it simply, i really enjoyed this book, its short chapters kept me intrigued, and Clarkson's comedic tone ran smoothly throughout the book. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who knows Clarkson, would like to know about farming or just looking for something fresh to read.
That will conclude my Review of Diddly Squat but before I wrap up the post I will just share my Book Logging apps incase anyone here uses them, if you use goodreads, storygraph or fable then consider following me and drop a comment so i can follow you back, I think this will not only keep me encourasged to read more but also find something new to read.
Fable book app also $5 for signup
Thank you for reading my post today! I hope you enjoyed it and feel inspired to check out Diddly Squat or explore Jeremy Clarkson's extensive and growing collection of books. A shout-out to the Hive Book Club for fostering such a wonderful and supportive community on Hive.
Starting anything new (especially reading consistently) while going through life shifts and a stressful job? That’s no small thing
I haven’t read Diddly Squat yet but the way you described Clarkson’s mix of comedy and commentary has me curious now. Adding it to the list. Oh! I’m on Goodreads but not on Storygraph
thanks for the kind words and yh im glad to have found some rhythm to read again. feel free to drop your goodreads url i will gladly follow :)
Right then:) Hmmm....Chris i need assitance from you not sure you can help though i'm only trying if i could be fortunate enough but i will never take it for granted.
Taking up the habit of reading is a wise decision, too bad your friends are no longer with you in this adventure, after all the satisfaction is personal.
yeah sadly life moves quick and things happen but im glad that reading has stayed and i continue to build on it.
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