Decision time... and Book #62: Fly Away Home

It's always a challenge to write a review long after reading a book and as I sit here frantically trying to recall what on earth Book #62 of the year was, and what it was about, I once again wish my powers of procrastination weren't so, well... powerful!

But a quick check on Amazon (where would we be without Amazon) and the story of Fly Away Home, by Jennifer Weiner is slowly coming back to me... but only just.

I'd read my first Jennifer Weiner novel, Good In Bed, earlier this year and to be honest was slightly disappointed with it (review here. Fortunately I had a glass of wine to sob into while getting through it!). I was expecting a new Jill Mansell (my favourite chicklit author of all time) or a Sophie Kinsella, but not to be. However, thanks to A Few More Pages' 2nds challenge, I decided to give her another go and she redeemed herself.... to a certain extent. 


Only problem is, I read Fly Away Home back in the summer and I can't for the life of me remember what it was all about. Obviously not one that left a lasting impression!

The plot goes something like this: regular family, husband in politics, has an affair, wife finds out and leaves him. Meanwhile, two grown daughters, each battling their own inner - and outer - demons suddenly come to realise what their mother is going through. Everything comes together in the end - just how, I can't remember!

So, decision time. Is it third time lucky for Jennifer Weiner and I, or do I cut my losses and allow other Jennifer fans to continue to enjoy her books while me and Jill pick up where we left off?

Book #61: The Little Giant of Aberdeen County

I love it when you get on a roll and read one great book after another. The Little Giant of Aberdeen County, by Tiffany Baker was the second one in a row and I was caught between wanting to read it as quickly as possible to see what happens, and trying to make it last to savour this lovely, sweet, yet sorrowful story.


(I also loved having it on the bedside table - who wouldn't with a cover like that!)

The Little Giant's real name is Truly. She's the younger sister of Serena-Jane - the beauty of the family, and the youngest daughter to a father who becomes widowed upon Truly's birth. It seems life is difficult right from the start for Truly as her father, and indeed the community, aren't quite sure what to do with this 'little giant'.

Yet Truly has a big heart and while she may not have a big personality, she's kind, gentle and loving to those around her. However, not all deserve it. As she forms special bonds and relationships with the other outcasts of the village, then takes on the responsibility of bringing up her only nephew, Truly comes across a secret power that she never knew she had.

The story is a slightly unusual one, but it draws you in and Truly really is a beautiful character you want the best to happen to. She's captivating, enchanting and loveable all in one and deserves to be truly happy as a result!

Book #60: When God Was A Rabbit

With a title as unusual as this, it was no wonder that Sarah Winman's debut novel caught my eye earlier this year. I was mooching around the bookstore (as one does!) and was instantly drawn to the cover. "What on earth could this book possibly be about?" I wondered.

It has an absolutely beautiful cover design, this intriguing title - yet neither really provide any clue as to what this story contains. A quick skim of the blurb and I find out it's the tale of a brother and a sister. Perfect - that's what my family consisted of.

As the story unfolds, there's a definite relationship between the two characters - an inquisitive and curious younger sister and a protective older brother. Yet they don't come across as close. That said, there's certainly a great deal of love between the two. We're introduced to both characters as children but then the story skips ahead in time to New York and 9/11.

Although various events occur throughout the story, none of these are written about in great detail and nor do they have to be. It's not the events of the story that shape these two, but rather their sibling relationship and all that it entails.

I recently read a magazine article which listed the top 100 books of 2011. Shamefully I hadn't even read a half of them, but When God Was A Rabbit featured and I was able to put a tick beside it. As the year ends, this book still stands out as one of my favourite reads of the year. It's gentle, unassuming and a novel so different from any I've read before.

I always love finding a book like this and even better when it's an author's first one. That certainly bodes well for 2012!

Book #59: Quentins... without an apostrophe!

Don't hang me! It's Quentins without an apostrophe! And although this little - but oh so important - grammatical symbol gets the better of me more than I would like to think, even I know that Quentins should have an apostrophe. The reason it doesn't is explained in the book, but I don't think it was explanation enough to justify it somehow!

But you know how when you see something you haven't noticed before, you all of a sudden see it everywhere?! Well, there's a shop in town that has just recently opened called "DavidsTea" - without the apostrophe! I've yet to step inside but before I ask for tea I'm going to ask for an apostrophe!

This blog entry wasn't meant to be a grammatical rant - instead, it's about Quentins, by Maeve Binchy. I was in need of a quick, easy read - to let the mind wander and to add another book to the 111 for the year. At the rate this year is disappearing on me, I'm going to be hard pushed to meet my target I think. Fortunately, I have a few holidays up my sleeve!

Needless to say, Quentins didn't disappoint. It's a lighthearted read about somewhat fluffy, warm characters. None of whom I can remember by name - apart from Quentin that is. But then that's the thing with Maeve Binchy's books - they never really seem to have a lasting effect. Great for a quick escape, but also great for bringing home the fact that a great read really is one that leaves a lasting impression.

That said, I knew what I was getting myself in for by turning through the pages of Quentins - which by the way is a cafe and of course central to the characters in the book. They all have a link to the place - both good and bad, and Binchy has cleverly intertwined them all together. However, I still think there are a few other Maeve Binchy books out there that are probably one up on this one.

Which brings me to my next query... at what stage do publishers simply publish any book by a top selling author. It seems that some authors out there all of a sudden lower their standards to get another publication to the bestsellers list? But perhaps that's a rant for another day...

I finally make Harry's acquaintance... book #58: Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

It's taken a while but Harry and I have finally met... Harry Potter that is! He's been sitting on my bookshelf for years, I've been told to read him by friends - both old and young - and I finally got around to delving into the world of magic.


And magical it was. I can see why Harry, Ron and Hermione have become such loved characters - the world of Harry Potter, magic and Hogwarts is utterly enthralling. Even those Muggles, the Dursley's are hard to resist in their own right. 


While reading Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone I was transported to another world - a magical world of wizardy, hocus pocus spells, broomsticks and witches' hats - not to mention dragons, three-headed dogs and Quidditch!


But I think you have to be in the right mindset to really enjoy Harry Potter. I'd tried to pick him up on a number of occasions but we just hadn't clicked - however, I'm off camping at the beach on an island this weekend and I think I may just take Harry along with me. Book #2 here I come!


It has been wonderful to make your acquaintance Harry!

Developing a penchant for historical entertainment...Book #57: The Tsarina's Daughter

Historical figures - and perhaps more specifically, women - always intrigue me. Take me to a museum, royal palace or memorial and the facts around certain historical events are certainly interesting, but not quite as interesting as the people behind it all. I'm more interested in Marie Antoinette, than Versailles; Winston Churchill himself rather than his war Cabinet rooms. I'm aware the two go hand in hand, but when I have a choice - I want to find out more about the person!

Which is how I've come to love Carolly Erickson's "historical entertainment" as she calls them. My first introduction to this style of historical fiction/biography was in Erickson's book: The Secret Life of Josephine - Napoleon's wife (well, one of them!).  It was a fascinating insight to the woman behind one of Europe's - and indeed the world's - most interesting historical characters.

So, it wasn't long, before I picked up another of Erickson's books, this one was The Tsarina's Daughter - and it was equally as good. It's the story of the Russian dynasty in pre-revolutionary Russia. Tania - also known as Daria (for reasons that are explained in the book) is the daughter of Tsar Nicholas ll and Tsarina Alexandra. As an individual she is slightly removed from the imperial family for she has a curiosity about life outside of the palace. This curiosity, however, brings with it implications of its own.

It's a fascinating account of the Russian royal family in the early 1900s; the influence of Rasputin on the family, and of course the devastating outcome that ensued. I really enjoyed finding out more about these characters in history, without being bombarded with overwhelming historical information. I'm aware the plot doesn't stick entirely to actual historical events, but it is largely based on them - with that entertainment factor thrown in. As such, it's a great introduction into a part of history that I didn't know much about and has certainly whet the appetite to find out more!

Book #56: Anne of Green Gables

How is it that I went 30 years without discovering Anne of Green Gables? This book is an absolute treasure!

It was a nickname I had at school and I still never got around to reading it. Although, Anne and I don't spell our name exactly the same, and she does have very strong views on this matter:

"But if you call me Anne, please call me Anne spelled with an e."

"What difference does it make how it's spelled?" asked Marilla with another rusty smile as she picked up the teapot.

"Oh, it makes such a difference. It looks so much nicer. When you hear a name pronounced can't you always see it in your mind, just as if it was printed out? I ca; and A-N-N looks dreadful, but A-N-N-E looks so much more distinguished."
p30, Anne of Green Gables, by L.M. Montgomery

I'll admit I picked up this book during the Royal newly-weds tour of Canada earlier this year. As Kate & Will headed to Prince Edward Island so Kate could see the location of her favourite childhood novel, I figured it was about time I read this book. And I'm so glad I did. I enjoyed it from start to finish. Anne (with an e) was such an entertaining character. The way she talked and talked and talked - it was almost as if you were in the cottage with her! Her imagination, her stories, her love of other people and the rivalry she had with Gilbert Blythe all made this a truly magical story.

It's true! The best things do come in small packages... Book #54: The Jester of Astapovo

I felt terribly guilty including this book in my 111 for the year. It's only about the size of my hand and just 56 pages long. But it deserves it's own unique place as book #54 of the year, because it is one of the most delightful and utterly charming books I have read in a long time.


The Jester of Astapovo, by Rose Tremain is published by Hay Festival Press. Every year, as part of the Hay Book Festival, formerly sponsored by the Guardian, now delivered by the Telegraph, the organisers produce a little, beautifully bound, book - an ideal collectors item for festival goers and literary lovers. This was 2009's edition and all profits from the sale of this book go to Oxfam.


It's a lovely story of a man named Ivan, who - as the opening sentence alerts us to - believed himself to be in love with an older woman. Ivan, however, is already married and currently works as the stationmaster in the little town of Astapovo, 120 miles south-east of Moscow. Nothing much happens in this town, and Ivan desperately wants to be known as somebody, he wants to make an impact and to be remembered. Up until now, he hasn't had the opportunity, but all that could all be about to change, when one day a train arrives, bringing with it the most curious of passengers on board - and they need Ivan's help.  


I don't want to give the story away, but at only 56 pages in length, it's a short story that won't take you long to read (I read it one afternoon as I was walking down to the beauty salon!). Ivan is an absolutely wonderful character - a true Jester - and this little story will be sure to warm your heart.





Book #55: Tangled Web


By Doris Lessing
I thought I'd continue on with the Hay Festival theme and picked up the 2007 keepsake, Tangled Web. There are two short stories enclosed in the covers of this one: A More Than Usually Tangled Web and Black Calf, both by Doris Lessing.  However, neither of them left quite the same impression as The Jester of Astapovo, so these two will probably get a reread at some time when I can appreciate them in their own light. For now, I'm still on a high from Rose Tremain! 

At his finest once again... Book #53: The Fourth Estate

I don't know how he does it, but I'm very glad he does. Jeffrey Archer's story telling is incredible and each book is as good as, if not better, than his last.  My collection of Archer's novels is slowly growing. I'm nowhere near the stage of having read all that he's written - in fact, to be honest, I'm really only just starting out. But that just means I have a very exciting road ahead of me - and I can't wait!


This Jeffrey Archer was The Fourth Estate, the story of two competing media moguls, vying for the monopoly of the world's newspaper industry. No doubt based on a couple of real life media giants themselves, it was perhaps quite timely I read this just before the News of the World scandal hit headlines.


Despite his stories being so intricately crafted, I'm always able to follow each of the characters. The Fourth Estate was probably a real test, as both of these men were quite similar in their own right, so you certainly had to keep up with what each of them were thinking, planning and most of all scheming with the utmost ruthlessness. But it was relatively straightforward to do, which meant you were left with the head space - and reading space - to be totally captivated and enthralled by the story itself.


It's a bumper of a novel - be prepared to have to make your way through almost 750 pages of Archer storytelling - but they're certainly 750 pages you want to read every single word from. This one - as are his others - are the perfect holiday read. You get to enjoy a great book, but it's one that hubby would enjoy too, so you can put it in his suitcase to lug around, leaving you the space for another book - or perhaps an extra pair of shoes!

She quickly became a favourite... Book #51: The Villa Girls

If you ask me to recommend a book, I'll be sure to tell you to add one - if not all - of Nicky Pellegrino's to your TBR pile! They're light hearted, summer reading, with wonderful characters, stories of love, friendship and Italian food, set in both London and of course, the cuisine capital, Italy itself.


I received Pellegrino's latest novel, The Villa Girls, courtesy of my wonderful ma-in-law, who had the fortune to be able to listen to the author herself speak at a "Books & Bubbles" event. Needless to say, upon it's arrival in my hot little hands, The Villa Girls was instantly devoured.


It's the story of four girls, not necessarily friends to begin with, but a friendship certainly develops between each of them. One summer they all end up on holiday together in an Italian villa, and make a pact that such a holiday will become a regular occurrence.  But upon returning to their daily routines, they begin to drift apart. When the friendship rekindles between Rosie (an orphan and somewhat withdrawn loner) and Addolorata (the youngest daughter of a feisty Italian chef) - you can only imagine the difference in family environments that these two are subjected too - the pact of the Villa Girls is reunited.


There is of course a romantic storyline with an Italian man that develops, and plenty of references to mouthwateringly delicious Italian fare, but my reason for enjoying Pellegrino's books is that her characters and their antics never seem too far away. The little Italian restaurant could be down the road, the characters could be the group of girls you see together on holiday. They're relatively normal every day characters who you can relate to. They don't necessarily lead an over-exciting life, but they're people you want to keep turning the pages for to know what happened to them.


The Villa Girls stands alone as a book, but the Italian theme - and indeed Addolorata's Italian family - are also characters of Pellegrino's other books, in particular The Italian Wedding - one of my favs and a definite recommendation to anyone and everyone.


So, if you haven't already figured it out - I'd recommend Nicky Pellegrino's books. You can't go wrong!. 

My favourite read this year... Book #51: Goodbye Sarajevo

Without realising it, this was the book I had been waiting for. Goodbye Sarajevo, , by Atka Reid and Hana Schofield is without doubt, my favourite read of the year so far. And I think it will be hard pressed to beat!


It arrived into my house care of my father. My parents had come to visit, bringing with them sweets and treats from home - pineapple lumps, gingernuts, and my father's very own honey.  I'd told them not to bring any books. They were welcome to help themselves to my own library here, but of course they still needed a read for the plane, which is how Goodbye Sarajevo made it to Vancouver Island.


In the first few days that they were here, Mum & Dad snoozed, read, brunched and very quickly adapted to the relaxed island lifestyle. Needless to say, it didn't take long for Dad to finish the final few chapters of this book. When I looked up to see him with tears in his eyes as he made his way to the end, I knew this was going to be a must read.


Goodbye Sarajevo is written by two sisters, caught up in the  Bosnian War of the 1990s. There's a substantial age difference between the two, so needless to say their experience and memories of this crisis is very different. One remains in Bosnia, looking after the family, dodging snipers as she runs to stock up on water for the household, and burning her old jeans to light the fire to keep warm. The younger one is chosen to leave Bosnia and despite the war is able to continue with her schooling, all the while trying to stay in communication with her beloved older sister.


It's described as a "true story of courage, love and survival" and indeed it was. It's a story that will quite literally, move you to tears.


http://www.goodbyesarajevo.com/

Wading through the waffle... and Book #50: Blink

Book number 50 for the year! I decided I needed to mark this milestone with a good read, or one that would stand out from the crowd at least. So I chose Blink, by Malcolm Gladwell.

Reading, for me, is usually my opportunity to disappear from the world, into another where I can completely ignore all that is going on around me, so Blink  was out of the ordinary. Despite it's cover description "The Power of Thinking Without Thinking", it's a book that makes you think about everyday life, encouraging some element of self-reflection.

Now that's perhaps not a bad thing, and after making my way though the pages of this book, I have added confidence in responding to my first impression of things, but the waffle - oh the waffle that one had to wade through to get to the point of every chapter!

Each chapter in Blink refers to a particular case study that helps to illustrate that first impression we get of things and situations. From a marriage counselling session to a replica of an ancient statue, music auditions to a house fire. They're all interesting case studies in their own right and reveal an insight into how - and why - individuals respond the way they do.

My gripe is that each of the points Gladwell wanted to make, he did so in the first third of each chapter, but rather than ending there, the remainder of  each chapter was made up of waffle in an attempt to reiterate the point that had been quite clearly made in the first instance!

Blink does make for an interesting read, but the interesting parts can be found in a few sentences at the start of each chapter. There's no need to wade through the waffle!

It's all thanks to blogging and Book #49: Mudbound

There's a reason why I called my blog "The Book Gatherer". It's because I do exactly that - gather books. I just don't necessarily take the next step of reading them all. The problem is I gather books at a faster rate than I read them - but then I'm wondering if that's actually a problem at all or simply just a healthy addiction?!

Mudbound, by Hillary Jordan was one of the many books I gathered last year, and one of the many books that simply sat on my shelf. The "I'll get around to reading them one day" shelf, gathering dust, and I'm ashamed to admit, partially forgotten as newly gathered books were shelved in front of them.

But thanks to the world of blogging, Mudbound found its way off that shelf and to the very top of my TBR pile. However, it didn't stay there for very long. Instead it came with me on a weekend away and proved to be the perfect companion. I'd curl up on the couch, cup of tea in hand, with Mudbound. I'd go to bed early, snuggle under the covers with just the glow of the bedside lamp, with Mudbound. And as we took to the road, stopping at various vista points or tourist attractions along the way, I'd let the others go ahead for the photo opportunity, while I stayed put in the car with Mudbound.


Mudbound, Jordan's first book, is the story of Laura, a young 'spinster' who marries Henry, a man much older than she who has a love for the land. Moving from the city to the country, Laura faces the challenges of being a wife, young mother and a white woman, on a cotton farm in the Mississippi Delta. Yet throughout each of the challenges she faces, including the relationships with her father-in-law, brother-in-law, and the workers on the land, she maintains her own sense of self worth.

I was swept away with this story, which is narrated by each of the different characters in turn. And, although it flowed at a gentle pace, it had the right balance of events happening to keep you turning over the next page, while at the same time allowing you really understand each of the characters in their own right.

Mudbound won Jordan the Bellwether Prize for Fiction, founded by Barbara Kingsolver who described the book as 'storytelling at the height of its powers'. I'd have to agree! 

Book #48: Letters from Home

This book was always going to end up on my TBR pile - a World War ll love story - how could it not?


Letters from Home, by Kristina McMorris is the story of a love triangle - of sorts. The main character is Liz, a sweet yet strong woman, with relationship issues she tackles with such dignity, I was really drawn to her and her experiences throughout the novel.

She's also a loyal friend to both Betty and Julia, and it's through Betty that we are introduced to Morgan.

From the author's website:

Chicago, 1944. Liz Stephens has little interest in attending a USO club dance with her friends Betty and Julia. She doesn't need a flirtation with a lonely serviceman when she's set to marry her childhood sweetheart. Yet something happens the moment Liz glimpses Morgan McClain. They share only a brief conversation - cut short by the soldier's evident interest in Betty - but Liz can't forget him. Thus, when Betty asks her to ghostwrite a letter to Morgan, stationed overseas, Liz reluctantly agrees. 

Thousands of miles away, Morgan struggles to adjust to the brutality of war. His letters from "Betty" are a comfort, their soul-baring correspondence a revelation to them both. While Liz is torn by her feelings for a man who doesn't know her true identity, Betty and Julia each become immersed in their own romantic entanglements. And as the war draws to a close, all three will face heart-wrenching choices, painful losses, and the bittersweet joy of new beginnings.
http://www.kristinamcmorris.com

There is a happy ending to this book, how could there not be - although it does take a while to reach. And the story itself, is much like its main character Liz - it's sweet. However, unlike Liz, I just found the book to be a little weak in places. Plot wise - great, a really lovely story that flowed well, had a few twists and turns, and left you wanting to read on to the next chapter. But I felt the whole time I was looking into the novel, rather than being a part of it, and I think this was due to not developing the characters enough. I also thought there was perhaps an extra storyline within the book that didn't need to be there, and thus took away from the central theme.

Perhaps I'm being a little too critical - it's not that I didn't enjoy the book, I think I just expected more from it, and where I thought it was going to be one I'd highly recommend, it instead became one I'd have to say, if you need something for the beach go for it, but there are probably others to read before this one.

Funnily enough, it's actually the story behind the story, explained on McMorris' websit, that intrigued me more than the novel itself!

Book #47: The Mermaid Chair

Nothing beats the feeling of a good read. Well almost nothing. A feeling that would rival it is finding out that the author of said good read, has written another one (or two!) and you didn't even know about it!

It was how I came to add The Mermaid Chair by Sue Monk Kidd to my bookshelf. Years ago I had utterly devoured and thoroughly enjoyed - yes, the book was as sweet as honey itself - The Secret Life of Bees. In fact, it has been so long ago that I may just have to put it on the TBre-read pile. But I hadn't realised Kidd had another book to her name, and after seeing it on a fellow book blogger's site - thank you Lucy at The Secret Life of Books (how apt is the name of her blog!) - it immediately went to the top of the pile.

The Mermaid Chair is very different to The Secret Life of Bees. It's the story of Jessie Sullivan, a mother, wife, daughter, friend and woman who is desperately seeking that extra 'something'. And, as the opening line of the story reveals, she finds it in a rather unusual place:

"In the middle of my marriage, when I was above all Hugh's wife and Dee's mother, one of those unambiguous women with no desire to disturb the universe, I fell in love with a Benedictine monk."
p1, Prologue, The Mermaid Chair

Jessie finds her Benedictine monk on Egret Island, the place she grew up in and the place she returns to in order to look after her increasingly frail - and slightly disturbed - mother. But it's also here that she returns to memories of her childhood and discovers the truth about an event that shaped much of her younger years.

It's an easy read, but not one I'd place high on my list of books I've most enjoyed. I got a little frustrated with what I deemed to be the selfish acts of Jessie, but then perhaps in a voyage of self-discovery one needs to put themselves first. I just didn't enjoy the fact that in doing so she was hurting loved ones around her.

This is the only catch with finding another book written by an author who's work you've already enjoyed. Can they live up to expectations? Produce another novel that captures you in the same way their previous one did?

Which authors have done that for you?

A character in her own right and book #46: Emily Carr

It's always interesting moving, particularly when it's moving to a new country! There's always so much to explore - new towns, cities, and in Canada of course, there is the great outdoors. But I'm a people person, when I don't have my nose in a book that is, so it's the characters of any new town or city that really intrigue me - particularly those who have shaped the city itself.


Here in Victoria, on Vancouver Island, one such character is Emily Carr. I first came across her in the form of a statue. She's sitting outside the Fairmont Empress Hotel, complete with a pet monkey on her shoulder. My next encounter with her was inside the Royal BC Museum, where an exhibition depicting her artwork is currently on display. Yet I still had absolutely no idea who she was, and why she was such an icon to this Canadian province. 


Fortunately, the answers were in Emily Carr: The Incredible Life and Adventures of a West Coast Artist, by Cat Klerks. A short, 100-page, biography of this remarkable, yet rather eccentric woman, who finally found fame at 70-years-old. 


One of six children, Emily travelled to London in pursuit of her artistic dreams, spent time in Paris, Vancouver and San Francisco, before returning to Vancouver Island to sketch indigenous totem poles. She had few friends, a sister she was close to, established a boarding house called "The House of Allsorts" and eventually turned to writing selections of short stories, most of which were published posthumously.


This little book had everything I wanted to know about Emily. I've since visited Emily Carr House, now a heritage site in James Bay, and still on my to do list is the art gallery, named in her honour. A lonesome individual, she seemed to spend her time searching for solace in painting and writing, yet has left a legacy and in doing so become a character in her own right.

Book #45: Never Let Me Go

I'm a little stumped for words, to be honest. It's not that I have 'writers' block' (or bloggers' block!), it's just I really don't know what to say about this book, Never Let Me Go, by Kazuo Ishiguro. Interesting? Yes somewhat. Boring? Yes, that too. Captivating? Yes, but I'm not sure in a good way. Frustrating? Yes, yes, yes... I wanted something to happen. Different? Most certainly.


I was given Never Let Me Go earlier in the year, and despite it being an international best seller, and having been turned into a major motion picture, I hadn't actually ever heard of it! Now I may have been living under a rock, but having since read it - and seen the movie - I think I'd happily crawl back under that rock and go on living in ignorant bliss. 


It's not that I disliked the book. I certainly don't feel strongly enough to 'dislike it' - but the book was just a bit bland really. Three non-descriptive characters, continuing through their rather odd, yet uneventful life, to do nothing but "complete" at the end of it all.


But I'm wondering if I'm missing something here? Is there an underlying theme that I have completely read and watched over altogether? Was I meant to read further into each of the chapters to find a hidden meaning in there? Were the characters something else entirely that I didn't understand? I'm truly mystified as to how this has become such a talking point.


I've ticked it off the list, added it to the books I've now read (but wondering if I actually needed to read it at all) pile, and now know what people are talking about when they mention Never Let Me Go. Whether or not I have anything to say about it should they ask me is another story, but for now, I'm going to go in search of a captivating, utterly enthralling, highly entertaining, un-put-down-able book because I'm in need!

It's all on the very last line in Book #44: Sons of Fortune

Years ago, in fact, having just recently had a birthday such a term could now be described as "decades ago", I read First Among Equals, by Jeffrey Archer. It's the story of four ambitious MPs who take their seats at Westminster in the 1960s. The story covers three decades and the quest by each man to become prime minister. I don't remember much about this story, and to be honest, I don't think I truly understood it, nor appreciated it, but I don't think it will be long before I re read it, particularly after devouring another of Jeffrey Archer's novels.


Sons of Fortune captivated me. Absolutely and utterly. I was totally blown away by Archer's story telling and all the research he must do for each and every one of his novels. There are so many characters, so many twists and turns in each of his books, and so many "teasers" throughout, that I was constantly on the edge of my seat (or couch, or lounge chair in the sunshine, or bed!) desperate to find out what happened. 


Set in America, beginning in the 1940s and covering several decades, Sons of Fortune is the story of Nathaniel Cartwright and Fletcher Davenport, twin brothers separated at birth. They're raised in different worlds, but nonetheless, worlds of relative privilege and as such their paths eventually cross as they both vie for significant political power. In what seems to be typical Archer style, each of the chapters alternates between the characters, telling the stories concurrently and eventually intertwining. Which means, one chapter is never enough.


I was engrossed with each of the brothers. I didn't have a favourite, both captured my attention, and each of their stories was as strong as the other... right down to the very last line. And I mean, the last line. Archer delivers the ending to this book, quite literally, at the very end. As I read the last line I was left gobsmacked. I didn't see the ending coming, nor could I have predicted it, but it was the ultimate way to finish this novel.


What's more, if you're one of those people who sneakily peeks at the end of books to see how it all comes together - you won't have any luck with this one, because you need the info throughout the story to really appreciate, not to mention understand, the ending!


This one gets an A++!!

A short story a day is good for the soul and Book #43: An Elegy for Easterly

I love a good novel, one that you can really become absorbed into the lives of its characters. It needs to be a page turner, with several hundred pages to turn at that. But I also admire the short story. I don't tend to read many of them, but over a month ago now (and yes, that is an indication of just how far behind I am on my reviews!), I got into the rather addictive habit of reading a short story over my bowl of porridge at the breakfast table in the morning.


The short stories in An Elegy for Easterly, by Petina Gappah were just perfect for this. Each of her short stories, all set in Zimbabwe, drew me in from the very first line. The opening few words were often the last I expected and I never could tell just how each of the stories were going to turn out. They were all incredible works of writing on their own - as any good short story is - but this was a whole book of them. Usually, I have a few favourites in a short story collection such as this, but in An Elegy for Easterly, each story was as good as, if not better, than the last.


There was the story of 'The Mupandawana Dancing Champion'
Opening line: When the prices of everything went up ninety-seven times in one year, M'dhara Vitalis Mukaro came out of retirement to make the coffins in which we buried our dead.


And the story of 'Aunt Juliana's Indian'
Opening line: Mr Vaswani of Vaswani Brothers General Dealers was the first Indian that I saw closely enough to count the teeth in his mouth and the buttons on his shirt.


The stories were clever, witty and very entertaining, and at the same time, provided an intriguing insight into the country of Zimbabwe, a place I was fortunate enough to visit when it was safe to do so! And the stories were all of such a length, that I never felt too guilty about reading at the breakfast table. 


I'd definitely recommend An Elegy for Easterly, by Petina Gappah as a different kind of read - it's a book Mums could have in the car while waiting to pick the kids up from school, commuters can have on the tube, or, like me, to have at the breakfast table. My only comment is that each story needs to be read on its  own, so much like an apple a day keeps the doctor away, a short story a day has got to be good for the soul!

Book #42: An Offer You Can't Refuse

Oh, it feels like a long time ago that I read this one of Jill Mansell's. So long ago in fact that I'm probably due another fix of this wonderful, light hearted chicklit. An Offer You Can't Refuse was just as good as any of Jill Mansell's other books. A quick, light read perfect for a Friday night on the sofa, vino in hand, or to simply flick through a book to get the reading momentum going again.

An Offer You Can't Refuse was the story of Lola and Doug. Well, mainly the story of Lola. Her and Doug are highschool sweethearts, but as the years of university approach, Doug's mother confronts Lola with an offer (one she can't refuse funnily enough!). Doug's mother is prepared to give Lola £10,000 to break up with Doug and leave his life forever.

And does she? Indeed she does - but not for reasons you may initially think. However, as is the predictability of Mansell's books (and why we love them so), Lola and Doug are reunited through an intricate web of circumstances. Yet along the way, there are plenty of colourful characters to keep us entertained and throw us slightly off plot.

Is there a happy ending? Ah - I won't spoil it for you. Suffice to say, you won't be disappointed.

Enjoy!