Showing posts with label book bloggers. Show all posts

Friday, 3 March 2017

Hollie in Wanderlust | My February Goodreads Reading List |

February was a VERY good book month for me for lots of different reasons. Firstly, I left my job (!!!!) and found myself 40 hours a week better off: all the more time for reading and relaxation! Secondly, I bought a lot of absolutely blooming fantastic books which made for easy reading. Thirdly, I spent 2 out of the 4 weeks of February in France, travelling around and of course, I made good use of my commute to devour as many pages as I possibly could. The result? 6 books completed. Result!

The first book was one that I read over the course of a weekend in Paris and is probably one of the best books I’ve read so far in 2017. Matt Haig is an author that I’ve already read a few books by, but Reasons to Stay Alive isn’t one of those. It was recommended to me by a good friend of mine and I asked my cousin to buy me a copy for one of my Christmas presents. She delivered and I devoured the entire thing over the course of a plane journey and a train from CDG to central Paris. Reasons To Stay Alive is a book that has so much hidden within its pages and brings so much to the table. It’s enlightening, brave and full of joy: it really does put life into perspective and make you consider all the good things in life, in spite of all the bad. It’s one of those books that I’ll probably always remember reading and I’ll be eternally encouraging people to pick it up and delve deep to fully appreciate the utility of Haig’s story.

Because I finished Reasons to Stay Alive so quickly, I found myself bookless on my return journey from Paris back the UK. I received a copy of Jodi Picoult’s short story collection Paris for One and Other Stories from Penguin books last month and I happened to have downloaded it onto my Kindle just before getting on the plane in Liverpool. I raced through this one as well, taking full advantage of every minute on board my flight. I loved the different combination of stories- they were compelling in all kinds of different ways. I particularly enjoyed the introductory tale and the tale involving a very pretty pair of high heeled shoes. I won’t say much more than that, as I’ve seen quite a few people I know with this one on their reading list and I hate to be the bearer of spoilers. It was a lovely, cutesy book to read on a short flight, especially with the format being short stories as I could pick it up and put it back down as and when. Definitely one for lovers of Jodi Picoult.

The next book that I read in February is actually one that’s part of a blog tour that I’m taking part in next week. The Method by Shannon Kirk was absolutely phenomenal. I love books concerning crime, psychological fiction, thrillers – we’re all so consciously aware of my love for all things sinister but I’m pleased to say that this book surpassed even my expectations. It was absolutely everything that I needed and everything that I wanted in a piece of fiction, gripping, enthralling and full of mystery. It kept me hooked right until the very last page. I’ll be writing a full review as part of the book tour so check back if you want to hear a little bit more about this one.

The next book that I read in February is actually one I’ve read before, granted I read it in the original language, French, under its published title Le liseur du 6h27. Translated into English recently, The Reader on the 6.27 by Jean-Paul Didierlaurent is an absolutely beautiful read. It’s become quite a hit in the UK and I’ve seen SO many people getting stuck into this. I loved the French language version of it but I wanted to know the translation would fare against the original text and I’m so pleased to say that it was translated absolutely beautifully. The story itself is lovely: a Frenchman, Guylain Vignolles, catches the same train to work every day. Guylain has the unfortunate job of working in a factory which generates machinery to destroy and recycle books- as a book lover, he has difficulty in accepting this and each day removes undestroyed pages from the inside of the machinery, machinery that he refers to only as “the thing.” He dries out the pages, packs them in his briefcase and reads them aloud to his fellow commuters on the 6:27 train every morning. When he discovers the writings of a bathroom attendant, he sets himself the task of finding her and, naturally, falls in love with her and her musings as he does so. It’s a book about books and the joys of reading and it’s definitely one that I am very glad to have read.

I treated myself to a few Valentines gifts from me to me in February, and obviously, books constituted the vast majority of my treats. One of the books that I got, I chose on a whim: I liked the look of the cover. I didn’t even bother to read the synopsis, which is usually a major faux pas but on this occasion, it actually turned out to be a bit of a godsend. We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson is considered to be her masterpiece, although I can’t say I’ve read any of her other tales to speak contrary to this. We Have Always Lived in the Castle follows a pair of sisters, Mary Catherine “Merricat” and Constance Blackwood in the years following the murder of their parents, aunt and brother. Constance Blackwood, the elder of the two sisters, was accused of the crime, eventually acquitted and has lived in isolation ever since. This book is mysterious and somewhat disturbing (in the best kind of way!) and one that I probably wouldn’t have normally picked up. I’m looking forward to exploring Jackson’s writings a little further as this was most definitely one of my favourite of the Penguin Modern Classics.

My final book of February 2017 was one I read on the train from Montpellier to Avignon and then Avignon to Paris. It was apt, considering the setting, although the subject matter wasn’t as chipper as I probably should have been reading. As discussed in my post here, I have a love for War Fiction and I’ve tried over the last few years to read as much of it as I possibly can. Whilst not entirely based on the war, my final choice Sarah’s Key by Tatiana de Rosnay addresses a number of issues relating to the Second World War, principally the Vel’ d’Hiv round-up of July 1942. This book is devastatingly beautiful. It’s one of those books that you MUST read to truly appreciate: I believe that there’s a film adaptation of it, although I haven’t seen it as of yet. I found myself connecting with all of the characters in a way that I’ve not felt in quite a while: the writing is beautifully intricate and carries all of the techniques necessary to truly evoke emotion. It made me conscious of things that have happened in the past that I might otherwise not have known about and for this, I am very thankful.

What books did you manage to read in February? Any that you’d like to recommend? Let me know in the comments, if so!

Friday, 13 January 2017

Book Review: The Dry by Jane Harper

Friday, 13 January 2017

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Sometimes you have the pleasure of reading a book that just absolutely knocks you sideways and I am pleased to reveal that The Dry by Jane Harper is definitely one of those books. We’re all well aware of my preference towards crime fiction so I’m not all that surprised that I loved this one, really. I was a little unsure about the book to begin with: the cover wasn’t one that I found particularly appealing, although it is rather pretty: I just didn’t associate it with being the amazing piece of crime fiction that it actually turned out to be. Just goes to show really: you definitely should NOT judge a book by it’s cover.

The book’s premise is pretty simple. A family is found murdered in their home, the father apparently guilty of killing them and then turning the gun on himself. I say apparently, because as is always the case in crime fiction, there really is more than meets the eye to the tale. We meet Aaron Falk, a federal agent based in Melbourne but native to the small farming town of Kiewarra as he returns for his former best friend’s funeral. The town is all up in arms about the crime, even more so upon his return: he and his father having been run out of town years previously for their supposed involvement in the death of a young girl (and Aaron’s best friend) Ellie. Tensions are high and then doubled with the risk of drought. He is asked by the Aaron’s parents to have a look into the finances of the family and see if there is anything else that could explain why a happy, family orientated man would suddenly turn and throw all of that away in the blink of an eye. There is significant doubt whether Luke would be capable of doing such a thing and it is up to Falk to ensure that justice is served. Falk is an incredibly interesting and captivating protagonist: I instantly found myself warming to him and egging him on in his search to find the out truth.

I absolutely love guessing my way through crime fiction and coming up with my own theories as to what happened, and how the perpetrator committed and got away with the crime. Try as I might, I just could not have guessed how this one ended. Harper has a fantastic way with words: the book was beautifully written, flittering between scenes from the past and present and incorporated together in a flawless, easy to read manner. Her work is exquisite and reads like an established piece as opposed to the debut that it is. I was absolutely hooked by the narrative and found myself devouring the book over the course of an incredibly short period of time. The ending was tidy and thought-provoking and left you feeling content: although slightly unresolved. I have questions, Harper!!!! I can’t wait to see what Jane brings to the table next, although I have no doubts that it’ll be as fantastic as this contribution.

Thanks to Grace Vincent at Little, Brown for sending me a review copy of the book. It was published on 11^th January and you can buy it now in all the usual places. I most definitely recommend that you do: everyone’s talking about it for a reason.

Saturday, 3 December 2016

Blog Tour: Be My Baby by A. L. Michael

Saturday, 3 December 2016

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I’ve never read anything by A. L. Michael before and I must admit when I got an email off Jenny about being part of the blog tour for this book, I was a bit sceptical. It’s not one of the books I normally choose to read but I thought I’d take a bit of a risk and read something outside of my comfort zone for once. I’m led to believe that Be My Baby is the third book in a trilogy that follows a small group of friends: Be My Baby focuses its attention on Mollie and her young daughter, Esme.

I’m going to be truthful: I got off to a bit of a rough start with this book. It seemed way too happy go lucky for my liking and there were a few phrases and choice words that made me feel a bit weird. I put it down for a few days, read something a little more psychological and then picked it back up again with an open mind and a lot more perseverance.

I am very glad I did. The book IS incredibly cutesy but in an almost charming way. It’s not a very long book and that most definitely works in its favour. Mollie is an ambitious, single mother forced to bring up her daughter after the love of her (teenage) life pulled a fast one on her whilst she was pregnant with their child. Or, so she thinks. Jamie, aforementioned love of her life, is back on the scene and blissfully unaware of the child he left behind. The relationship between Mollie and her daughter is an envious one and definitely leads the book in the right direction. With her daughter, her multiple friendships and her up and coming business venture, it raises the question of whether she has time to invest time in a man who is, needless to say, just as handsome as he was when she met him. She finds herself having to fight the feelings she has for this man who she cannot bear to forgive.

As I’ve not read any of the previous books in the series, I have a pretty unbiased perspective of the characters. I absolutely loved the friendship between Mollie, Evie and Chelsie and their respective partners. I found myself disliking Ruby and her legacy, in spite of the positive things she had clearly brought to the trio’s lives. I love the way the story ends and how everything comes together and makes sense to a new audience.

It’s fair to say that I’m really glad that I put aside my initial thoughts and got stuck into reading it. I actually ended up finishing it in one sitting which is a rare occurrence these days in my incredibly hectic, work filled life. Thanks very much to Jenny for the opportunity to be a part of this little tour!

4/5

Goodreads: November Wrap Up

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November has flown by (is it just me, or do the months go quicker as we get older?!) and I’m back again with another round up of all the things I’ve read this month. I’ve done pretty well again, all things considered and got myself through a grand total of 5 books over the course of this month.

The first book I read in November was Lies We Tell Ourselves by Robin Tulley. I’ve actually already reviewed that book here, if you want to check it out. If you haven’t already got on the hype and bought yourself a copy of this book, then please for the love of all things holy, go and do it right now. It’s absolutely fantastic and worth every single penny. It lives up to all expectations and is a really compelling tale.

The Stranger in My Home by Adele Parks is another book that I’ve been eyeing up for quite a while now, so I was chuffed to finally get to it on my ever growing pile of books to be read. This book was probably one of the best I’ve read this year and it really satisfied my craving for a good old fashioned thriller. I didn’t expect the book to end the way it did, it was definitely unexpected and incredibly enjoyable. I’ll likely post up a full review of this at some point this month so keep checking back if you want to hear more of my thoughts.

I received a copy of Witness by Caroline Mitchell for review in the month of November. I’ve read one of Caroline’s books before now and really enjoyed it so I was chuffed to get the opportunity to have early access to her most recent contribution to the word of psychological fiction. Again, this is one that I’ll be writing a full review for so I don’t want to say too much. I will say, however, that it was a bloody good read and I definitely wasn’t disappointed!

Arguably the best book I’ve read this month, and perhaps one of the best I’ve read this year, was one that came to me as a bit of a surprise. The lovely Jess Duffy at Pan Macmillan posted me out a couple of books she thought I’d enjoy, last month, and I picked up Before You Go by Clare Swatman this week. I probably chose the wrong time to start reading it, considering the theme of the book and recent events in my life, but my oh my, what an absolutely breath-taking and thoughtful tale. Contemporary fiction is a genre I tend to overlook when I’m picking books out, mostly because I’m instantaneously drawn to thrillers and YA but I think I’ll have to delve into the genre a little more if works like this are hiding on in there. Clare Swatman has an absolutely amazing way with words and the story flowed in a such a way it was pretty difficult to put it down. Again, I’ll be reviewing this one in full so check back for more information soon!

The final book on my November wrap up list is Be My Baby by A. L. Michael. The review for the blog tour for this one is going live tomorrow so I’ll leave my thoughts on it for that review, but rest assured that this was another book that I really enjoyed reading. I don’t know if it’s me, getting soft in my old age, or whether I am just genuinely enjoying everything I read at the moment but I really do hope that this positive stretch of reading continues on into 2017!

Saturday, 19 November 2016

Book Review: Lies We Tell Ourselves by Robin Talley

Saturday, 19 November 2016

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I'm back again with another book review, this one being one I've had in the pipeline for quite a while now. If you read my blog regularly, you'll be quite aware that I love particular genres more than others. One of these genres is, of course, Young Adult fiction. I have an amazon prime subscription and find that often the next day delivery isn't entirely necessary, so I sacrifice this in favour of the free amazon kindle credit. with this credit, I've bought quite a few different books, all amazing in their own way.

The first book I chose was the subject of this review: The Lies We Tell Ourselves by Robin Talley. This is one of those books that everyone seems to be talking about nowadays, particularly considering recent events. The story focuses on a group of teenagers, although principally follows two teenagers, and concentrated on the process of integrating black pupils into an entirely white establishment. I have to admit; I was incredibly sceptical about this one. it sat on my kindle, unread and crying out for attention, for a good few months before I took the plunge and got my head stuck into it. Once I'd started, I definitely had no chance of not finishing it quickly.

It's one of those books that just makes you feel, a book that uses its words to advise and impact upon you as a human being. It had me grasping for every opportunity to read 'just a few more pages’, including during one of my less interesting Masters classes. I hesitate to use the word 'unputdownable', but that word is oh-so-relevant in this particular case as it was one that I knew I had to see through to the very end- and quickly!

The story itself is a simple and telling one, but the issue itself which is oh so relevant today in a world which seems to be regressing instead of progressing at an alarming rate. The alternating perspectives between Sarah, a black girl involved in the integration process and Linda, the white daughter of one of the main oppositions of the process, is particularly poignant. Of course, Talley chooses to take the story one step further than just the already complex issue of 1950s black/white divide. I'm doing so, she raises questions that are indeed still being addressed today. I found myself instantly interested in and almost compelled by the characters and their individual stories and demons.

I rarely find myself in a situation where I want to completely rant and rave about a book’s brilliance. For me, books are all brilliant and compelling in their own way and it takes something incredibly special to change my thoughts and my feelings. This book is definitely one which has done both of those things. It’s one that I’d recommend to everyone, something that I have already done to a number of my friends. It’s a book that will stay with me for coming years and I am incredibly glad to have read it.

5/5