Review: Mickey

Title: Mickey

Author: Helen Brown

Publisher: 1st May 2024 by ABC Books AU

Pages: 340 pages

Genre: pets, cats, autobiography 

Synopsis:

From the New York Times bestselling author of Cleo, a warm, wistful coming-of-age true story about the transition from childhood to adolescence, and the small stray cat who helped guide the way.

It was 1966 and the times they were a-changing, even in the provincial New Zealand coastal town of New Plymouth. Skirts were getting shorter, the Vietnam War was on TV every night and French nuclear tests in the Pacific turned the night sky a violent red. Twelve-year-old Helen, the youngest daughter of an eccentric engineer and a musical theatre fanatic, was living in a crumbling castle overrun by nature, and overshadowed by the majestic Mount Taranaki. On the eve of puberty, everything suddenly is uncomfortable and unfamiliar to Helen. She feels lonely and lost, adrift in this new turbulent sea. 

That is, until her father gifts her a tiger-striped kitten with extra toes on each paw. Noticing an M on the cat's forehead, Helen names her new companion Mickey. Inquisitive, clever and skittish, Mickey disrupts the already rambunctious household with his mischief. But as it turns out, he's just the ally Helen needs to explore the new world waking up around her.

My Thoughts

‘Cat and girl, we embraced the meow, surrendered to the shimmer, and let ourselves melt into the particles.’

The author, Helen Brown, has previously written three other books about cats and how they loved and supported her through challenging times. She has now gone back to the very beginning with the one cat that started it all, Mickey. When she was twelve years old, at the very cusp of what would be a challenging adolescence, her father presented her with a kitten. Mickey was her first friend and love with whom she shared all her dreams. 

Living in a household with her eccentric parents and older siblings, everyone seemed to be caught up in their own dramas. Feeling somewhat lost and unseen, Helen and Mickey traversed  through the challenges together. Living in provincial New Zealand in the 1960s, one was still aware of global tensions from Russia and USA, troubles in Vietnam and nuclear testing in the Pacific. So, far from being a book just about cats, it tells a story that is much broader. 

This is a heartwarming memoir about love and loss, family and friends and how our furry friends can provide the joy and healing we humans often look for. A genuine story that celebrates the power of our animal companions during life’s trials and tribulations. 

’Mickey and I shed our physical bodies and became weightless spirits, limited only by the size of our thoughts. The cat expanded to become the size of a giant tiger. I climbed on board her back. Together we dissolved through the ceiling and floated across the night sky.’

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.

Review: A Trip of One's Own

Title: A Trip of One's Own

Author: Kate Wills

Publisher: 3rd May 2022 by Sourcebooks

Pages: 224 pages

How I Read It: ARC book

Genre: nonfiction, travel, autobiography, women’s

My Rating: 5 cups

Synopsis:

A travel story is the best story of them all…

Travel journalist Kate Wills wasn't expecting to be divorced after less than a year of marriage, or to be forced to restart a life that had seemed so stable for so long. Luckily, her job as a writer offered her the perfect opportunity to escape from it all. But this time, with no deadlines to hit or all-expenses-paid trips to absorb in a few days before churning out copy for a travel magazine, her jet-setting felt different. There were no photographers working alongside her or assistants booking her flights. For the first time ever, Kate was traveling alone.

Feeling unexpectedly out of her element, Kate began to scour history for stories of female travelers to inspire her. From a 4th-century nun to a globe-circling cyclist, Kate discovered that there have always been astonishing women who have broken free from society's expectations, clearing the path for many of us to do the same.

Funny, heartfelt, and guaranteed to spark wanderlust, A Trip of One's Own is the perfect armchair travel read to inspire you to jump in the car or hop on a plane to explore the world. This book is the must-have next read for any aspiring solo female traveler!

My Thoughts

Let me say it from the outset, I really enjoyed this book. I went in expecting a simple travel memoir yet it proved to be that and so much more. Part memoir, part travel with tips and tricks, part historical investigation - this book has much to offer. 

‘Women have many reasons for going traveling alone, apart from seeking adventure. Often we’re searching for something, reaching for some meaning in our lives, something bigger and higher than ourselves.’

Kate’s personal story provides the foundation of this book and whilst some readers did not enjoy this aspect, I thought it made sense and helped project the book to the next level. Losing and finding yourself is life’s journey - both figuratively and actually - and is the obvious place to base your findings on life’s discoveries whether they be close to home or further afield. 

‘… I became obsessed with putting some distance between myself and everything I knew - both the monotony of everyday life and the big soul-searching questions that would creep in from time to time. It was as if I thought that the meaning to life could be found in a well-packed suitcase and a freshly printed boarding pass.’

The most engaging aspect of this book, however, is Kate’s investigations into the stories of women from the past who made some incredible trips travelling alone. Some I had heard of, many I had not, but they all served to bring both entertainment, education and inspiration to this book. Gosh, there were some remarkable women with incredible tales to tell mostly from times when female adventurers were uncommon and mostly frowned upon. 

‘I was only just starting to unravel the untold stories of so many unconventional women who had traveled the world and lived life on their own terms.’

Kate then also includes practical tips and tricks to the various aspects of travelling - everything from staying safe to how to pack and travel on a budget. This alone is full of really useful advice no matter what or where you may be. 

‘Getting lost occasionally is essential—not only while traveling but when traveling through life. The destination we think we want is often, when we actually get there, not what we need.’

This book is definitely empowering and not only for women who intend to travel. Your journey may be an internal one and this book will be sure to speak to you as well. I so want to go back and tab this book as a future reference for drive, determination and inspiration. 

‘There was a whole world right on my doorstep; it had always been there, I’d just had to open my eyes and ears and nose to it.’

Please do not be deterred from reading this book if you are not a traveller. Whether you be an armchair traveller or just seeking to become more aware of things around you closer to home, I believe you are sure to find something that will speak to you from within these pages. Many of us now live vicariously thanks to Covid and if the backyard is as far as you get, Kate certainly has some thoughts to share on that. 

‘Travel doesn’t have to mean a journey through space, it can be an inner change, too.’

This book is wonderful. It is written from the heart and contains things that will make you smile and laugh, to things that will inspire and stir you to action. I very much appreciated the list of books referenced at the end detailing the many admirable women who are mentioned within this book. This is so much more than just a travel book, it really is inspirational in encouraging women to make ‘ a trip of your own’ whether it be around the world or around your backyard. 

‘Nearly all the women in this book speak of achieving remarkable feats by being in the moment and not thinking beyond the end of each day, the next step, the next mile.’

I am sure we have all wished to escape our seemingly humdrum lives at some time or other - physically or metaphorically. Katie gives readers a book that shows us how to live a life - wherever that may be - in a meaningful and present way. Thank you Kate. 

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.

Review: Living the Château Dream

Title: Living the Château Dream

Author: Dick and Angel Strawbridge

Publisher: 26th October 2021 by Hachette Australia

Pages: 318 pages

How I Read It: ARC book

Genre: autobiography

My Rating: 4 cups

Synopsis:

Dick and Angel Strawbridge share more charming stories from their life at the Chateau-de-la-Motte Husson. The follow-up to the massive Sunday Times bestseller, A Year at the Chateau. The follow-up to the massive Sunday Times bestseller, A Year at the Chateau.

In January 2015 Dick and Angel Strawbridge embarked on the journey of a lifetime when they swapped their cosy two-bedroom flat in East London for a derelict chateau in the Loire Valley.

Where Sunday Times bestseller A Year at the Chateau told the entertaining and heart-warming beginning of the family's French adventure, Living the Chateau Dream is about the years of hard graft that followed as Dick and Angel leapt into action transforming Chateau-de-la-Motte Husson into both a thriving family home and a sustainable business.

From throwing open the shutters to new suites, to exploring the walled garden, launching their wedding business and hosting guests, no stone was left unturned. With enormous tasks, like installing a lift, plus the beginnings of lifelong traditions, this much-anticipated follow-up includes many firsts for the Strawbridge family. As Dick and Angel recount stories of the next two years at the chateau, we start to understand the true extent of the work and skill that it has taken to make this incredible house into a much-loved home.

With never-before-told stories of remarkable discoveries, amazing transformations and once-in-a-lifetime celebrations, this book is sure to delight and inspire in equal measure!

My Thoughts

‘We are, however, realists - optimistic definitely, but we are grounded. There was so much more to do and we understood that we had only actually set the foundations for our dream life.’

Following on from the success of A Year at The Chateau and their TV show, Living the Château Dream sees Dick and Angel sharing the next part of the journey from their 19th-century French chateau. Who would not want a window into life in a 45 room chateau with a walled gardens and your very own moat! This new book regales stories covering their amazing efforts to transform the chateau - both inside and out - into a successful place to both live and work. 

‘The château was becoming more and more comfortable week by week and it was working as our home and our place of work. It seems a bit silly to say it but the château has a nice intimate feeling. It has never felt big and we definitely don’t rattle around in it. However, no matter how you look at it, there are a lot of stairs. To get up to our guest bedroom suites is four flights of stairs and it can be testing even for the young.’

For those of you unfamiliar with Dick and Angel, they left their London residence for the journey of a lifetime to renovate a derelict chateau in the Loire Valley. This second book continues their story detailing all their hard work and efforts to restore and renovate this dream residence. A place that would be not only their home but also host a sustainable business.

Here you will read of the launch of their business venture - hosting weddings, Food Lovers Weekends and much more. Their truthful and honest approach helps readers to understand the mammoth undertaking and incredible skill set required to succeed - and succeed they have! This is a book that will both entertain and inspire you. 

‘There are times in life when you are completely in a moment and are overcome with happiness. That was one of those very special times. We were creating a magical place for our family and for a business and that was always our masterplan. Everything was looking stunning and we were ready to welcome our guests.’

Living the Château Dream is a wonderful read providing bonus content for those who have been following their TV show. If you liked the first book you will undoubtedly be thrilled with this gorgeous illustrated edition. I loved to hear the voices of both Dick and Angel as their love of both people and place pours off the pages. Slip away to a French Chateau and learn of their heartwarming tale. 

‘Moments like this made me realise that even though we were busy and hadn’t yet managed to achieve the two-hour French-style lunches, we were living our dream.’

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.

Review: Nala's World

Title: Nala's World

Author: Dean Nicholson

Publisher: 1st October 2020 by Hachette Australia

Pages: 258 pages

How I Read It: ARC book

Genre: nonfiction, travel, autobiography, animals

My Rating: 5 cups

Synopsis:

Instagram phenomenon @1bike1world Dean Nicholson reveals the full story of his life-changing friendship with rescue cat Nala and their inspiring adventures together on a bike journey around the world.

When 30-year-old Dean Nicholson set off from Scotland to cycle around the world, his aim was to learn as much as he could about our troubled planet. But he hadn't bargained on the lessons he'd learn from his unlikely companion.

Three months after leaving home, on a remote road in the mountains between Montenegro and Bosnia, he came across an abandoned kitten. Something about the piercing eyes and plaintive meowing of the bedraggled little cat proved irresistible. He couldn't leave her to her fate, so he put her on his bike and then, with the help of local vets, nursed her back to health.

Soon on his travels with the cat he named Nala, they forged an unbreakable bond - both curious, independent, resilient and adventurous. The video of how they met has had 20 million views and their Instagram has grown to almost 750k followers - and still counting!

Experiencing the kindness of strangers, visiting refugee camps, rescuing animals through Europe and Asia, Dean and Nala have already learned that the unexpected can be pretty amazing. Together with Garry Jenkins, writer with James Bowen of the bestselling A Street Cat Named Bob, Dean shares the extraordinary tale of his and Nala's inspiring and heart-warming adventure together.

My Thoughts

I had always been good at fixing and building stuff, but I hadn’t built much of a life for myself ... I felt that by hitting the road and spending time in another part of the world, I might somehow find myself. Or, at least, find a way of being myself. Someone said to me once that I hit the road to find a road. That seemed about right.’

I have been an avid follower of Dean and Nala since they were featured by The Dodo video. Every morning I need my ‘Dean and Nala’ fix to get me through the day. Being both a lover of travel and cats, there was just so much to enjoy about his Instagram account. Could there really be any more to share than what we had seen across social media? There certainly was and this highly anticipated book lived up to expectations. 

I was super excited to read this book. It provided so much more detail and insight into the journey of Dean and Nala since they first met. Through reading this, Dean has grown in my esteem tremendously so with the integrity and honesty he has displayed throughout this epic adventure. The way he truthfully details his own personal growth and the love he has for Nala - and indeed the entire animal kingdom - is inspiring. 

‘Nala had splayed herself out next to me, as content as could be, soaking up the last rays of the sun and without a care in the world. I looked at her and shook my head. In some ways, I envied her. She had no work responsibilities. No bills to pay, no possessions, no pressures. Lucky her. I’ve always felt that the more people have, the more they have to worry about. Life should be about the simple pleasures. Moments like this. Sunsets, sunrises over     deserted beaches. A couple of beers with friends. It doesn’t have to be complicated.’

To think about how much this man’s life has changed through the meeting of this sweet kitty is mind blowing. To then have Dean take this uncalled for fame and turn into promoting and supporting needy charities is highly commendable. His passion for the environment and animal rescue is inspiring and he has used all that has fallen into his lap for the promotion of positive change. Who does not want to read about that? 

Nala’s World is an exceptional memoir by Dean  - a travelogue, a cat story, a pedestal for the promotion of the environment and animal welfare - all tied together with a personal growth story of this lively Scottish soul. Dean and Nala, and indeed the range of people who cross their paths, take large leaps in restoring one’s faith in humanity. I am so excited to continue to witness their journey through social media and hope that there might be future instalments to read once COVID allows it to be so. 

‘At another time, in different circumstances, I might have felt disappointed or frustrated to be doubling back on myself. But I didn't feel that way at all. For a start, if the past few months had proven anything it was that my journey around the world wasn’t going to look like anyone else’s. It wasn’t going to run in a straight line or conform to some well-trodden path. I was travelling in Nala's worlds after all. And as long as I had her beside me, that was fine. We’d look after each other.’

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.