The Prey, by Andrew Fukuda, Reviewed.

On 17/07/2015 By stuartakenIn Author, Book, Review1 Comment

This science fiction novel was found in the small library of the hotel where I holidayed on the Greek Island of Thassos. Although this is the middle book of a trilogy, it stands quite well on its own. The depictions of both a world strangled by the genetic mistake of a fanatic and a sub-society …

Continue reading The Prey, by Andrew Fukuda, Reviewed.

Never Let Me Go, by Kazuo Ishiguro, Reviewed.

On 16/07/2015 By stuartakenIn Author, Book, Fiction, Review2 Comments

Discovered in the small hotel library whilst holidaying on the Greek island of Thassos, this book was one I'd always intended to read. I'm glad I did. It's an imaginative, moving and subtly horrifying romance about organ donation based on the use of clones. Told in 1st person by Kath H, it begins by recounting …

Continue reading Never Let Me Go, by Kazuo Ishiguro, Reviewed.

Sapiens, by Yuval Noah Harari, Reviewed.

On 16/07/2015 By stuartakenIn Author, Book, Review4 Comments

Subtitled, 'A Brief History of Humankind', 'Sapiens' is a work of extraordinary scholarship presented in very readable form. There's a great deal of humour here, carrying the message. The whole text is readily accessible without any dumbing down. Thought-provoking, mind-enhancing, terrifying, encouraging and illuminating, this piece of work encompasses many disciplines. It examines human endeavour …

Continue reading Sapiens, by Yuval Noah Harari, Reviewed.

Returning to the World of Technology

On 16/07/2015 By stuartakenIn Author, Creative Writer, Organisation, Progress8 Comments

On 25th June I wrote a longish post on the way technology seems to have taken the role of master instead of the servant it was intended to be. You can find that post by clicking here. This is the follow-up post I promised then. How did I manage without an online presence, without the …

Continue reading Returning to the World of Technology

Where There’s Smoke, by Penny Grubb, Reviewed.

On 14/07/2015 By stuartakenIn Author, Book, Fiction, Review3 Comments

This great crime tale in the P.I. Annie Raymond series see the detective back in Hull, working with people she'd much rather forget. As with all Penny Grubb's fiction, there is much more going on than meets the eye at first. Annie is at once suspicious, as she is sent back to her old tramping …

Continue reading Where There’s Smoke, by Penny Grubb, Reviewed.

Running for ME/CFS no. 41

On 13/07/2015 By stuartakenIn Author, charity, Fundraising, ME/CFS, Progress, Running5 Comments

Okay; so I was due to do a 25-minute brisk walk each of the Sundays I was away. No problem. In fact, we walked a good deal on the island where we holidayed, much of it on steep and rocky slopes. So I fulfilled that requirement. On the Wednesdays, I was expected to do a …

Continue reading Running for ME/CFS no. 41

1 Day to Reconnection.

On 12/07/201525/06/2015 By stuartakenIn Author, Creative Writer, Organisation

The final scheduled post on this topic. Did I make it? Hopefully, Tomorrow, I'll at least give you a clue! https://stuartaken.net/2015/06/25/technophobe-technophile-or-technosceptic/

4 Days to Reconnection.

On 09/07/201525/06/2015 By stuartakenIn Author, Creative Writer, Organisation

The penultimate scheduled post. But am I still offline? https://stuartaken.net/2015/06/25/technophobe-technophile-or-technosceptic/

Running for ME/CFS no. 40

On 06/07/201522/06/2015 By stuartakenIn Author, charity, Fundraising, ME/CFS, Progress, Running

As explained in my post, Technophobe, Technophile, or Technosceptic?, I'm taking a complete break from the internet and everything to do with the technology of contact for a couple of weeks. Here, as also explained, is my programme of training for the current week. (That wonderful facility of 'scheduling allows me to do this in …

Continue reading Running for ME/CFS no. 40

7 Days to Reconnection

On 06/07/201525/06/2015 By stuartakenIn Author, Creative Writer, Organisation

A scheduled post again. Am I still offline? https://stuartaken.net/2015/06/25/technophobe-technophile-or-technosceptic/

12 Days to Reconnection.

On 01/07/201525/06/2015 By stuartakenIn Author, Creative Writer, Organisation

Another scheduled post. Am I sticking to the challenge? https://stuartaken.net/2015/06/25/technophobe-technophile-or-technosceptic/

13 Days to Reconnection.

On 30/06/201525/06/2015 By stuartakenIn Author, Creative Writer, Organisation

A scheduled post to tease. Am I still here? https://stuartaken.net/2015/06/25/technophobe-technophile-or-technosceptic/

Running for ME/CFS no. 39

On 29/06/201522/06/2015 By stuartakenIn Author, charity, Fundraising, ME/CFS, Progress, Running

As I explained in my post, Technophobe, Technophile, or Technosceptic?, I'm taking a complete break from the internet and everything to do with the modern technology of contact for a couple of weeks. Here, as also explained, is my programme of training for the current week. (That wonderful facility of 'scheduling allows me to do …

Continue reading Running for ME/CFS no. 39