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Big Little House: Small Houses Designed by Architects
Book
What are the challenges architects face when designing dwelling spaces of a limited size? And what...
Designing Everyday Life
Matevz Celik, Vera Sachetti and Jan Boelen
Book
BIO 50, the 24th edition of the Biennial of Design in Ljubljana is taking place in September to...
Aprilia RSV100 Mille Motorcycle Repair Manual
Book
Complete coverage for your Aprilia RSV 1000 Mille (1998 thru 2003) and the RSV Mille R (1999 thru...
Ivana A. | Diary of Difference (1171 KP) rated The Swords of Silence in Books
Feb 3, 2020
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#1 <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2886479579">The Swords of Silence</a> - ★★★
<img src="https://diaryofdifference.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Book-Review-Banner-20.png"/>;
I was born and raised in a country where religion is sacred. I was surrounded with Christianity all my life. However, while I have learned lessons of love, respect and hope, I am not a believer. I do believe that we need to be kind to each other, respect each other and hope for a better tomorrow, but I don't believe there is a God out there who decides our faith. My review is based on how I felt while reading and I believe everyone is entitled to their own opinion and should be respected for that.
The Swords of Silence features father Joaquim, who moves to Japan in the 1620's, to share the religion of Christ. However, the brutal regime in Japan forbids any other religion than Buddhism. The Shogun is determined there is no more Christianity in his country. Throughout the book, we follow Joaquim's journey, where he manages to get captured and escapes several times, with the help of God.
<b><i>This book perfectly captures the regime in Japan during this time.</i></b>
The true terror and the brutal punishments if you ever dare make a mistake. The world of no mercy. But this book is also a product of divine inspiration and has great elements some of us consider fantasy.
<b>Many of the scenes in The Swords of Silence that featured escaping were unrealistic and resembled the Bible stories.</b> We had walking on water, moving of mountains and a big storm in the sea that only affects the enemy ship, even though they are only metres away from father Joaquim's ship.
There is one scene though, that I was absolutely in awe with, and that was the scene with the duels. As a person who trained karate all my life and is very familiar with the rules of a duel, honour, respect and combat in martial arts - this scene was perfectly set and accurate. It brought all the emotions and it was brutally realistic. And it is because of this scene that I will give this book three stars.
The Swords of Silence is a great book, and I love the fact that the author captured moments in history that were true and brutal, and not many people in the world know about. A story that will make people aware of what was happening in the past. Even though I am not a believer in God, I stand by that people shouldn't be mistreated, bullied, or in this case - brutally murdered for what they believe in. Everyone has the right to believe in anything they believe in.
If this book was more realistic with the events and scenes, I would have given it five stars for the message it shares with the world.
<b><i>True fact: Around 1% of the population in Japan claims Christian belief or affiliation. Most large Christian denominations are repressed in Japan today.</i></b>
Thank you to LoveReading UK, the publisher Harper Collins UK and the author, Shaun Curry, for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
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#1 <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2886479579">The Swords of Silence</a> - ★★★
<img src="https://diaryofdifference.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Book-Review-Banner-20.png"/>;
I was born and raised in a country where religion is sacred. I was surrounded with Christianity all my life. However, while I have learned lessons of love, respect and hope, I am not a believer. I do believe that we need to be kind to each other, respect each other and hope for a better tomorrow, but I don't believe there is a God out there who decides our faith. My review is based on how I felt while reading and I believe everyone is entitled to their own opinion and should be respected for that.
The Swords of Silence features father Joaquim, who moves to Japan in the 1620's, to share the religion of Christ. However, the brutal regime in Japan forbids any other religion than Buddhism. The Shogun is determined there is no more Christianity in his country. Throughout the book, we follow Joaquim's journey, where he manages to get captured and escapes several times, with the help of God.
<b><i>This book perfectly captures the regime in Japan during this time.</i></b>
The true terror and the brutal punishments if you ever dare make a mistake. The world of no mercy. But this book is also a product of divine inspiration and has great elements some of us consider fantasy.
<b>Many of the scenes in The Swords of Silence that featured escaping were unrealistic and resembled the Bible stories.</b> We had walking on water, moving of mountains and a big storm in the sea that only affects the enemy ship, even though they are only metres away from father Joaquim's ship.
There is one scene though, that I was absolutely in awe with, and that was the scene with the duels. As a person who trained karate all my life and is very familiar with the rules of a duel, honour, respect and combat in martial arts - this scene was perfectly set and accurate. It brought all the emotions and it was brutally realistic. And it is because of this scene that I will give this book three stars.
The Swords of Silence is a great book, and I love the fact that the author captured moments in history that were true and brutal, and not many people in the world know about. A story that will make people aware of what was happening in the past. Even though I am not a believer in God, I stand by that people shouldn't be mistreated, bullied, or in this case - brutally murdered for what they believe in. Everyone has the right to believe in anything they believe in.
If this book was more realistic with the events and scenes, I would have given it five stars for the message it shares with the world.
<b><i>True fact: Around 1% of the population in Japan claims Christian belief or affiliation. Most large Christian denominations are repressed in Japan today.</i></b>
Thank you to LoveReading UK, the publisher Harper Collins UK and the author, Shaun Curry, for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
<a href="https://diaryofdifference.com/">Blog</a>; | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/diaryofdifference/">Facebook</a>; | <a href="https://twitter.com/DiaryDifference">Twitter</a>; | <a href="https://www.instagram.com/diaryofdifference/">Instagram</a>; | <a href="https://www.pinterest.co.uk/diaryofdifference/pins/">Pinterest</a>;
A Schoolboy's Wartime Letters: An Evacuee's Life in WWII - A Personal Memoir
Book
This funny, fascinating journal follows the development of a boy and his changing attitudes during...
Sam (74 KP) rated Remember This When You're Sad in Books
Mar 27, 2019
The publisher kindly sent me a copy of Remember This When You’re Sad to review, and I’m so glad they did. This book is hilarious, helpful, and like a nice hug all in one.
Remember This When You’re Sad is part memoir, part self-help, based on the experiences of former Buzzfeed Social Media Editor and current BBC Social Media Manager Maggy Van Eijk. It focuses on her anxiety, depression, panic attacks and disassociation and how she gets through each day with them.
I really loved reading this. I never really read many self-help books before Matt Haig’s Reasons To Stay Alive, but now I really love them and enjoy that they make you feel like you’re being cuddled while reading them.
This book managed to be absolutely hilarious in places while somehow also remaining serious and to the point. It spoke about anxiety in the same way that I address mine. I wouldn’t have gotten through so much if it hadn’t have been for being able to laugh at it sometimes.
It doesn’t preach a miracle cure to mental illnesses. Instead, Maggy Van Eijk talks through different ways of getting through your worst points, from telling you the best places to have a good cry to explaining how to ‘Club Penguin’ your problems. It’s the perfect mental health book for my generation.
I loved how the book is split into lots of lists, and the chapters are split so you can easily flick to the one you need the most at the time you need it.
Maggy Van Eijk even went into the detail of discussing people’s reactions when you talk about your mental health and it made me think about something that happened when I was at college that I had forgotten about until now. I’ve always been open about my mental health, especially when it was much worse when I was in college. I spoke to a girl I knew about it and she said ‘But why are you so open about it? You don’t talk about things like that.’ People’s reactions in the book were quite similar to that.
It’s sad to see that this is a normal thing that people think, but at the same time, it’s not shocking. There is still a massive stigma around mental health conditions, which is why I love books like this that talk openly about it.
This is definitely one of my favourite mental health books. I’ve already had to buy it for a friend and I’ve got two friends waiting to borrow my copy. I’ve never read a book that has been so much like talking to a friend.
Remember This When You’re Sad is part memoir, part self-help, based on the experiences of former Buzzfeed Social Media Editor and current BBC Social Media Manager Maggy Van Eijk. It focuses on her anxiety, depression, panic attacks and disassociation and how she gets through each day with them.
I really loved reading this. I never really read many self-help books before Matt Haig’s Reasons To Stay Alive, but now I really love them and enjoy that they make you feel like you’re being cuddled while reading them.
This book managed to be absolutely hilarious in places while somehow also remaining serious and to the point. It spoke about anxiety in the same way that I address mine. I wouldn’t have gotten through so much if it hadn’t have been for being able to laugh at it sometimes.
It doesn’t preach a miracle cure to mental illnesses. Instead, Maggy Van Eijk talks through different ways of getting through your worst points, from telling you the best places to have a good cry to explaining how to ‘Club Penguin’ your problems. It’s the perfect mental health book for my generation.
I loved how the book is split into lots of lists, and the chapters are split so you can easily flick to the one you need the most at the time you need it.
Maggy Van Eijk even went into the detail of discussing people’s reactions when you talk about your mental health and it made me think about something that happened when I was at college that I had forgotten about until now. I’ve always been open about my mental health, especially when it was much worse when I was in college. I spoke to a girl I knew about it and she said ‘But why are you so open about it? You don’t talk about things like that.’ People’s reactions in the book were quite similar to that.
It’s sad to see that this is a normal thing that people think, but at the same time, it’s not shocking. There is still a massive stigma around mental health conditions, which is why I love books like this that talk openly about it.
This is definitely one of my favourite mental health books. I’ve already had to buy it for a friend and I’ve got two friends waiting to borrow my copy. I’ve never read a book that has been so much like talking to a friend.
ClareR (5885 KP) rated The Witch Elm: A Novel in Books
Oct 16, 2019 (Updated Oct 16, 2019)
A psychological thriller that had me guessing along with the main character!
After a night out with his friends in Dublin, Toby Hennessy walks home alone and goes to bed. He’s woken up in the early hours by two men burgling his flat and when he confronts them, they attack him viciously and leave him for dead. He doesn’t die, and after a long period of time in hospital, he returns to his flat, clearly suffering from PTSD and a brain injury. Luckily for him (but not so lucky for his uncle) his uncle, Hugo, is diagnosed with terminal brain cancer. So Toby and his girlfriend Melissa move in to help keep him company, and ultimately to care for him.
They’re a close family, who meet every Sunday for dinner, and Toby and his cousins Leon and Susanna spent every summer at their Uncles house, living pretty much unchecked - every teenagers dream.
This idyllic life is brought abruptly to an end when a skeleton is found inside the trunk of one of the Wych elms in the back garden. It’s complicated further by the fact that Toby’s head injury from the burglary means that his memories are ropey, to say the least.
I really liked this book: I liked the slow build up and learning about the family and the relationship between the cousins. As for the skeleton, well that mystery had me guessing right up to the end.
Incidentally, this is sold as ‘The Wych Elm’ in the UK - ‘Wych’ is an alternative spelling in old English of ‘witch’, and it also means pliant or supple. The words ‘wicker’ and ‘weak’ come from this word too (yes, I looked it up, and this will join all of the terribly interesting, yet relatively useless, information that accumulates in my head 🤷🏼♀️).
This is my first Tana French novel, and based on this book, it won’t be my last.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Penguin for my copy of this book.
They’re a close family, who meet every Sunday for dinner, and Toby and his cousins Leon and Susanna spent every summer at their Uncles house, living pretty much unchecked - every teenagers dream.
This idyllic life is brought abruptly to an end when a skeleton is found inside the trunk of one of the Wych elms in the back garden. It’s complicated further by the fact that Toby’s head injury from the burglary means that his memories are ropey, to say the least.
I really liked this book: I liked the slow build up and learning about the family and the relationship between the cousins. As for the skeleton, well that mystery had me guessing right up to the end.
Incidentally, this is sold as ‘The Wych Elm’ in the UK - ‘Wych’ is an alternative spelling in old English of ‘witch’, and it also means pliant or supple. The words ‘wicker’ and ‘weak’ come from this word too (yes, I looked it up, and this will join all of the terribly interesting, yet relatively useless, information that accumulates in my head 🤷🏼♀️).
This is my first Tana French novel, and based on this book, it won’t be my last.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Penguin for my copy of this book.
The Directors Manual: A Framework for Board Governance
Peter C. Browning and William L. Sparks
Book
Directors: Improve Board Performance The Director's Manual: A Framework for Board Governance offers...
Merissa (12934 KP) rated The Ruby Dragon Prince (Omega Fairy Tales #1) in Books
Mar 28, 2025
THE RUBY DRAGON PRINCE is the first novella in the Omega Fairy Tales series and is a retelling based on The Twelve Dancing Princesses. Instead, we have six Omega princes and their cruel father, plus Dragon princes!!!
Tovey is extremely close to his brothers, being as they only really have each other. They daydream about what a life could be like, but Rumi doesn't need to. He's found his mate and has been given a small green marble which opens to a different realm. The princes go there and have a ball - literally. Tovey meets with fated mate, Rufus, but leaves to go back with his brothers.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story, especially the relationship between the brothers and their responsibility to the kingdom. They are in an untenable situation and are fully aware of it. However, a little bit of magic helps them out in ways I won't talk about because, you know, spoilers.
The scenes between Tovey and Rufus are dynamic, to say the least. I loved the difference in Rufus between catching, half-breeding, fully-breeding, and protecting Tovey. Talk about animal instincts!
This is a world I look forward to returning to, and I'm so happy that bookworm Selle is next. I cannot wait!
** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Mar 28, 2025
Tovey is extremely close to his brothers, being as they only really have each other. They daydream about what a life could be like, but Rumi doesn't need to. He's found his mate and has been given a small green marble which opens to a different realm. The princes go there and have a ball - literally. Tovey meets with fated mate, Rufus, but leaves to go back with his brothers.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story, especially the relationship between the brothers and their responsibility to the kingdom. They are in an untenable situation and are fully aware of it. However, a little bit of magic helps them out in ways I won't talk about because, you know, spoilers.
The scenes between Tovey and Rufus are dynamic, to say the least. I loved the difference in Rufus between catching, half-breeding, fully-breeding, and protecting Tovey. Talk about animal instincts!
This is a world I look forward to returning to, and I'm so happy that bookworm Selle is next. I cannot wait!
** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Mar 28, 2025