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A (delayed) Gift from Bob by James Bowen

Sorry Folks, Christmas got in the way and before I knew it 2016 had arrived before I had even looked at a computer. So finally after the last mince pie has been eaten, the decs taken down and the obligatory January salad for lunch has been eaten here is the review of A Gift from Bob our Christmas choice for 2015.

Let me start by saying this book was actually my suggestion. I had seen the first Bob novel in the shops a few years back and had always been interested to read it but never got round to it. When I noticed Bob had a Christmas book it seemed a no brainer to put it forward as our December pick (#oneruleofbookclub!)

It was met with mixed reactions when I suggested it leaving me in doubt as to how well it would go down. I was slightly puzzled as we had read books involving animals before and enjoyed them so maybe we just has one or two dog lovers in the group.

Turns out the book wasn't from the point of view of the cat but from his owner James (also the author, yes it's based on a true story). Although some may view this as a positive for me personally it was a negative as I couldn't get away with Bowen. I appreciate that a good Christmas book should have an underlying message of hope, goodwill and love but I felt Bowen was very condescending and as I result I just didn't sympathise with his plight at all.

I think I was kind of my own on this point, however most of the group also didn't like the book for a number of reasons; one of the group found the book repetitive with the endless list of where Bob and Bowen went and how they got there (was it bus this time or metro?) Being from the North East we were unable to relate to the references to the various underground/bus stops in London which also didn't help. Some of us also couldn't get away with Bob - how HE wanted to dress up in a costume, how he told Bowen when he wanted to go to the toilet and how HE initiated the cute money making tricks he did when on the street selling the Big Issue.

At times the writing was very childlike and you almost felt like you were reading a children's book. We have reviewed children's books before and enjoyed them (last years Christmas offering The Polar Express springs to mind) however this one we just couldn't get away with.

So despite it being relatively short, having a message of positivity, new beginnings and the true spirit of Christmas which are all hallmarks of a good Christmas book we were left underwhelmed. A slightly disappointing note to end 2015 on given that it all started out so well (check out the Big Review of the Year coming up next!)

Next book is a Spool of Blue Thread by Ann Tyler.

Question of the month - I can't ask a Christmas related question given that we are now in January so it will have to be something unrelated instead. Seen as though it is January and we are all diet conscious the question is (drum roll please) Cook books, can they be classed as proper books worthy of a place on all fine book shelves or are they are a present doomed to the kitchen cupboard? I personally love Nigel Slater and would love to pass away an hour with one of his books but in general although I do love to cook and have loads of cookbooks I wouldn't put them on a bookshelf beside my dearly beloveds.

Happy New Year


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