September 2022 Reading List

The title of the book got my interest when I found it in my library database after a search for “threads”. I didn’t read the blurb but took a chance.

It’s a lovely story based in Australia with some wonderful true Aussie characters. The title threads wasn’t sewing thread though which was disappointing, although there is a knitter of tea cosies. It has more to do with threads that connect people together.

It’s a delightful, easy-to-read book.

When I heard there was a movie coming out soon called Mrs Harris Goes to Paris and there was a link to Dior I shared it on the Australian Sewing Guild Facebook page that I manage with another member. One of the comments left was about how she loved the book. I didn’t even know it existed, so I tracked it down as an audiobook from my library.

It’s a beautiful story of a char-lady (aka cleaner) who is determined to go to Paris to buy her very own gown from the House of Dior. Over many years she saves her money and eventually finds herself in Paris fulfilling her dream. While in Paris she encounters characters from many walks of life, but they are all affected positively by this no-nonsense talking cleaner.

The audiobook was read wonderfully by Juliet Stevenson. It also had the second book in the series Mrs Harris Goes to New York but after listening for an hour or so I couldn’t get into it. Fashion was no longer the dream, but helping a little boy find his father was, and that didn’t interest me so much.

Narrated by Juliet Stevenson, it runs for 10 hours and 16 minutes. (includes Mrs Harris Goes to New York)

My second time reading The Dalai Lama’s Cat and it was just as enjoyable this time round. I originally read the first three books in 2019 when that was all there was. Two additional books have since been written – The Four Paws of Spiritual Success, and Awaken the Kitten Within. So why not follow HHC (His Holiness’s Cat) as she learns all she can from the Dalai Lama.

We meet the neglected cat when she is picked up by the Dalai Lama’s driver and brought to the spiritual home of the Dalai Lama.

She has free range of the spiritual home and surrounding streets including a local cafe, listening and interpreting all that she hears around her.

It’s a lovely way to learn about the Dalai Lama and Buddhism in an easy-to-read and understandable format. Highly recommend.

A favourite quote:

Most people think that their only option is to change their circumstances. But these are not the true causes of their unhappiness. It has more to do with the way they think about their circumstances.

The second book in the Dalai Lama’s Cat series where the cat (HHC) has been given the task of finding out why she purrs, ie why she is happy.

The people around her are also discovering what makes them happy, so we can see through the eyes of a cat, as well as people how to achieve happiness in our lifetime (and beyond).

My favourite quote is:

When decisions are made for the good of all, they are easy. But if there is ego—quite difficult!

The third book in the Dalai Lama’s Cat series and this time HHC is learning about mindfulness. All stemming from her attempt to meditate and the difficulties she has doing it. Something we can all relate to.

One lesson from the book is:

The main purpose of Buddhism is to experience the nature of mind. How our minds work is the main focus.

A Perfect Home is the story of Claire, her husband and three children living in a beautiful house that is about to be photographed for a magazine. But the person sent to do the photography takes an interest in Claire and they eventually have an affair.

Claire’s thought process of going behind her husband’s back appears totally rational, while also being very unsettling personally. I just wanted to yell at her to stop what she was doing as it was so stupid. It definitely got my emotions raised.

If you want to learn about the thought process of having an affair then this will provide some insight. But if that troubles you then give this book a miss.