Joshua > Recent Status Updates

Nothing like starting a really long book before the end of the year

Starts like someone writing their own introduction to their novel but it’s a part of the novel

Already causing conflict in my brain so there’s a lot of journal therapy going on alongside this read

I was not expecting this 3 chapter biography on Bowie, I wasn’t aware of this in the slightest and my dad is a huge Bowie fan so I’m going to have to check in with him on this

Oh man, no wonder music journalists get a bad wrap; you upset them slightly and the halo they held over you dissipates into a nightmare. That does not seem to be the case for Cameron Crowe but the bad seeds they mention are people I would never wish to encounter. Enough to put off accepting a journalist to travel with you before knowing them; they are the wildcard

So it begins

The spark of two people looking at each other and playing music together is a powerful thing

Swapped back to an audiobook for this because it became a real slog, I think it’s no longer entertaining. A story can both be intriguing and have absolutely poor pacing, that’s where I’m at. Praying it picks up but I understand why this follow series isn’t nearly as popular as His Dark Materials

Reading slowly on purpose because I think I could quite easily read this in two sittings. Had to use a dictionary 20 times on one chapter and that was quite refreshing, even more refreshing when the dictionary didn’t have the variation of the word so had to find root words; not had to do that in a while

This is actually already, quite sad for many reasons; I don’t like spoilers on Goodreads if I can help it but it’s an autobiography and emotional spoilers are a bit different. The whole lifestyle of some of these journalists is incredibly taxing, being such a fan of other people that they almost lack an identity of their own. Observe, report but it’s early doors in their life. This may change

Chapter 13 ending from his dad, “nothing beats the sound of the human voice” his dad nailed it then and it’s right now

Okay, this has opened ideas in my mind that were reasonably closed

I understand why this is such an essential social commentary about being chef

My parents have been begging me to read this for years and the more they’ve begged the more I’ve averted; they focus on the elements of stories that I’m not particularly interested in. The what or the how. I’m more intrigued in the who and why

I decided this year that I would read the books that my family recommend the most and this is right up there. Numero uno of recommendations of local authors, Clive B

That was good fun, maybe ever bloke should read this and then be forced to talk about the characters. I have a hunch a large majority of people read this and pick up absolutely zero skills or awareness of how failing isn’t the end but also how many things could be prevented if they show up as a person instead of reacting to “problems” or social indifference

Read the opening letters, I know I’m going to love this more than most books I’ve read and I’m so glad I’ve delayed reading it

God I really would have an argument with this fella

Listening to this whilst working, Russell Tovey is making this 10 times better than I imagine it would be to read the words. Thanks audiobooks for bringing the words to life

I’ve seen some pretty shocking reviews for this book but they all seem to have one thing in common, all those readers have read and enjoyed other Nick Hornby books and I have not.

This was an extremely slow start but I’m starting to feel the story pick up. Almost like the publishers felt like it would sell just because of people being a fan of the series but I’m grateful. It’s like getting the full lore or why people are the way they are

Let’s go

The introduction alone was brilliant, Alan Turing was an exception theorist and should be studied by most people

It’s coming across extremely privileged, their whole circumstances are of their own poor judgements and the type of people that didn’t pay their invoices

This is gripping and hitting hard. Reading in 2026 really takes a darker tone when all is considered so bright and this world is so dark

Time to get on the Cormac McCarthy train!