Category: My Book Reviews

Dumped, Actually by Nick Spalding

5/18/2021

Nothing much to report this week other than I finished all 3 seasons of Ozark and the final 30 seconds of the final episode of season 3 took my breath away!

I also re-watched all of the Motherland series 1 and 2 and then binged the new series. This show makes me laugh out loud - and that's needed right now as the covid travel ban plods on (what was that green list?!) and the weather continues to rain.

It's good we're in stage 3 of coming out of lockdown now and I did get to meet up with two of my best friends for lunch on Saturday and then we walked around Fleet pond firstly in the sunshine and then, we ended up getting soaked when the heavens opened. Still, it was fun.

I read another of Nick Spalding's novels on my Kindle over the last few days. They are such an easy read. Ollie wants to marry Samantha but Samantha isn't ready to settle down just yet.

It's an insight seeing this scenario from the male perspective, but I can still relate to the way Ollie reacts and the things that he has / chooses to go through in order to get through the ordeal of being dumped quite spectacularly. He then blogs about it, which is a great part of the story. I love it when a writer gets their character to write to the wider audience. It's clever.

Checking Out by Nick Spalding

1/19/2021

I've been loosely following Nick Spalding's releases over the years and it helps that my Kindle makes suggestions, so I always know when he's published something new!

I think he's the first male author I've read who writes from the male perspective in the Chick Lit genre. I'm sure there are many others, but Spalding has captured my attention ever since he wrote that book "Life with no breaks" in 24 hours. I remember it was the first book on my Kindle.

"Checking Out" caught my eye because it verges on tragicomedy, a genre I"m very much enjoying at the moment. I would love to be able to fictionalise my mental health ups and downs for example. That ability to make your reader laugh and cry simultaneously has me captured.

Nathan gets given some extremely bad news and the story is about how he copes with it. His crazy and hectic journey of self discovery made me laugh out loud a lot, probably because I related to some of his attempts and the weird and wonderful scenarios we can get ourselves into when we feel so desperate. Then you look back at them and think, god what was I thinking?!

Anybody Out There by Marian Keyes

1/12/2021

This is my second Marian Keyes this year. I find her writing utterly compelling and believable. Again, I'd say the tragicomedy genre I'm enjoying so much is growing, as I'd put this novel into that category.

Anna has hit rock bottom and despite her large Irish family rallying around her, she just wants to be alone. Without giving anything away, I can relate to Anna's desperation and heartache and the impossible pain and having to drag your bum through another day that you can't bear to face. Throwing herself (and myself) into work. And mixed with the tragedy, there's the beautiful humour and the goings on of everyday life, as irritating as that is when you become obsessed with trying to get to the bottom of something and ordinary life is so tiresome and continuous.

I think it's brilliant writing!

The Break by Marian Keyes

1/5/2021

Kicking off the year with a review!

This was my introduction to Marian Keyes. I bought this one for Venice back in September, read quite a bit of it in hospital during October and then picked it up again to finish it this last week.

I love the big Irish family thing going on, they all bring something to the table and that's incredible plotting right there for you - trying to keep up with all the family members and how much "airitme" to give them, without overshadowing the main characters, Hugh and Amy.

I can imagine this being the stuff of nightmares for every person in a long term relationship - their other half suddenly taking off, saying they still love you but they want a break. It's so wishy washy for starters. What's the other person supposed to do with that?

But Amy has to get on with it. She's running a household, looking after her children and working full time and all that can't just be paused. Yep, it's difficult not to hate Hugh!

This is wise writing, glorious, believable. One of those life affirming novels for us women, who are trying to juggle it all. You will laugh and you will cry.

Between sisters by Cathy Kelly

10/29/2020

I'm passing time on the psyche ward here in Chelmsford with some reading. Anything to make this experience feel a little bit better!

This is only my second Cathy Kelly read and it comes with all the warmth and humour I’d expect from Irish writers of her ilk. I am a massive fan of Maeve Binchy (sadly now passed) and I think the likes of Marian Keyes (another favourite of mine) and Kelly are filling the void superbly. I love the fact their stories are rooted in Ireland. It gives the stories such a personal, authentic, believable feel with daily life and struggles that we all may encounter. The bond between Cassie and Coco in Between Sisters is special and the way the plot develops introducing the other important characters in their lives is steady and well paced so as not to overwhelm the reader. The story gently meanders through complex issues with little trinkets of detail where necessary. These details are precisely placed within the story and you can tell they are very well researched. A solid novel from Kelly for anyone who has ever had that fear of abandonment.

The girl on the train by Paula Hawkins

6/1/2020

Continuing with the retrospective book reviews, I think I purchased this one for South Africa, early summer 2017. I had begun a trend of buying books at WH Smiths at Heathrow to distract myself from my grief because I was acutely aware I wasn't enjoying travel as much, even though I continued to travel and had further trips planned for the year (Canada and Prague). It was on my flight to Canada later that summer when I watched the film and was disappointed to see it had been Americanized. I'd had in my mind that they would keep the English backdrop. What I'd loved about the setting for the book was that it was familiar to me; the names of the places and the stations along the train route. To me, that does make a subtle difference when I'm reading a storyline; something that's only become noticeable to me in recent years.

So, to the story! It really is full of twists and turns and again, like my previous review, I did not see the ending coming. I whipped through it because I quite literally couldn't put it down. I think it's incredibly clever writing when you reveal pieces of information bit by bit and timed to perfection. Hawkins is controlling the narrative superbly through a drunken, unreliable spokesperson. "Suburban Noir" - I love that description. Taking ordinary, potentially boring lives and twisting it into something thrilling and suspenseful. Extremely good psychological fiction.

I'm travelling alone by Samuel Bjork

5/18/2020

Oh my goodness, it seems an age since I last posted a book review - and checking back on my blog history, I last posted 9th October 2016! I have still been reading since then, but events over the last few years slightly overtook the reviewing as you know.

I started this book 6 months after my last review, buying it at Heathrow enroute to Singapore and Cambodia back in Feb 2017. I fancied something edgy for my short adventure to the other side of the world.

After really enjoying the original Scandinavian version of The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo trilogy on Apple TV, I wanted to read a Scandinavian thriller. I was a little concerned with the translation to English and place names and it not feeling familiar, but there was none of that disjointedness and, even if there had been, I

think in hindsight it would've only added to the tense and compelling plot.

I did end up reading this book in fits and starts, having to completely start over several months after Col's passing, as I'd lost the thread a little and that is one of my pet hates when reading what I know is going to be a great story. However, once I did start over, I couldn't put it down. Page turner is such a cliche, but this is one of those.

At the time, when I too was feeling quite suicidal and lost in my grief, I could really get behind Mia (one of the two main detectives) and feel the absolute pain she is going through. You'll see what I mean when you read it. I was in a dark place and so is she. Desperately dark to the point of being in a cabin, alone, far from anyone, with a stash of pills and alcohol to keep her company. Oh, and the sea right outside. Talk about temptations at every turn!

I loved the whole cult aspect giving the murders another dimension and I really didn't see the ending coming until it was upon me. The remoteness of the locations also set the scene exceptionally well. Kudos to Bjork.

No Greater Love by Danielle Steel

9/10/2016

I haven't read a Danielle Steel for a while, so I really enjoyed this one and it reminded me why I like and admire her story telling.

I love stories with historical reference because it gives the plot credibility. Some people argue that this will then age the novel, but I disagree, especially when it's such a momentous occasion in history; something that shook the World - like the sinking of the Titanic.

Something I always struggle with when writing a story that will span many years, is how to go from year to year in the plot without ruining the ebb and flow. Steel does this effortlessly. The transitions are smooth and you don't feel you are missing out on something that should've been written, and wasn't.

I also love stories that centre around one family and how all the generations cope with whatever trials and tribulations are put before them. Courage and survival are excellent themes for a novel, as they spur you to keep turning the pages, as you will the protagonist on. Edwina is just that.

Falling For You by Jill Mansell

6/4/2016

This was a new author for me so I didn't know what to expect. I presumed a light hearted chick lit read with a nice, easy going story - and that's exactly what I got - plus a generous helping of familiarity (the author lived and worked in Bristol and the story was set in Bath, where I was born), along with some fantastic storytelling and great plot twists. I guess that's what separates good writers from great writers... the ability to take life and make amazing books out of it, conveying a whole range of everyday emotions with such beautiful writing.

I am a big fan of village story telling. It's fascinating what goes on behind closed doors and you can always have a close knit cast who weave in and out of each other's lives. Falling For You does just that. Maddy is single and the one chap she wants, she can't have. Sound familiar? Of course! But as the story develops you find out why, the history behind the two families and the reasons for the hatred. Mansell charts Life's ups and downs for this brilliant set of characters and it's all so believable.

I heart London by Lindsey Kelk

5/7/2016

Back on home turf, Angela is visiting her friends and family after two years away from home. I loved the cast in this book. We got to know Angela's parents better and her best friend Louisa, now with baby in tow. This story really developed her life outside of the States and I particularly enjoyed the way Kelk unravelled Angela's relationship with her parents. Humourous, comical, emotional - at times! Simply a really heartwarming read with the usual road bumps along the way, that we've come to expect of Angela and her life. I thought this was the end of the road for this series, but I believe there are a couple more I need to hunt down...

Watch this space!