After perusing Johnny’s ’summer intake’ list I realised he’d been tucking away his volumes quicker than I’d perceived. As you can see from his blog, vast amounts of material have been digested and chewed over. I’m pacing myself and am still doing a little chewing, but I did complete a couple of novels.

Marina Lewycka’s “A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian” was entertaining and amusing as predicted, and perfect for relaxed evenings whilst away. Grabbing reading time back in Brentwood is more of a challenge (I have an activity programme to supervise!) but I have just completed “The Other Side of You” by Salley Vickers. I loved it; it was so poignant in it’s exploration of human relationships. On one level it’s a tragic love story, on another it looks at faith and imagination, art and redemption - a field day for any art historian interested in religious imagery.

The third book I am absorbed in and as yet have not completed is “Nests above the Abyss” by Isobel Kuhn. In west China there are little villages clinging to ridges and shoulders of the mountains, usually above deep ravines, buried in Lisuland. Within the villages are nests of believers, often experiencing suffering and persecution, but joyful in spirit, clinging to their Saviour. Their testimonies are an inspiration and deeply moving; these nests are above the abyss because they’re in God’s hands, the Rock to whom we all must cling.