Week 42

This week I worked on the bonus round for Erin 9.0 reading challenge and ticking off more categories for the Ultimate Reading challenge.  Dumplin by Julie Murphy was highly recommended by other readers in Erin’s challenge for the unlikeable character. Willowdean is a curvaceous sixteen year old living in a small Texas town. The highlight of Clover city is its yearly beauty pageant which her mother is head of the committee. Willowdean enters the beauty pageant along with a few unlikely candidates.

This book is due to be a film next year with Jennifer Anniston.

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Next was another highly recommended title, also due to be released as a movie. The goodreads winner for debut author and young adult read, The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas. This was a  powerful story... informative, eye-opening, emotional and message filled. I also highly recommend this one! 

Lastly is a book by someone not known as an author. Mycroft Holmes was a collaboration between Kareem Abdul - Jabber and Anna Waterhouse. After finishing The adventures of Sherlock Holmes I picked this book up based on Sherlock’s brother. It is set in the same time period as the original short stories and feels like it is written in the same voice. This story is set however in 🇹🇹 Trinidad, full of mystery and thrills. 

Week 35

After Reading The Cuckoo’s calling I wanted to read the original London literary detective -Sherlock Holmes! I have had the book for a while and it was one of my titles for Erin’s 9.0 reading challenge. I didn’t realise The adventures of Sherlock Holmes 🕵️‍♀️ was a collection of short stories. I spent more time reading this book than others as I put it down after reading each short story. The collection is very cleverly written. At times I found the beginnings of the stories drawn out as they start very similarly. There are ten short stories in total, with my favourite being The adventure of the blue carbuncle. Reading the stories I reminisced about my time in London early this year. I wish I had visited the Sherlock Holmes museum now in Baker Street.

Another book towards the Ultimate Reading challenge and Bookies R us. 

Week 34

The last fortnight I’ve read quite a few titles. The first was a book recommended by Reese Witherspoon from her Hello Sunshine book club. The  Light we Lost. This was an Ahhh-maz-ing love story that spanned 30 years. Another page turner I just wanted to read more about Gabe and Lucy’s story and find out what happened. I think will explore more titles from this book club in the future. 

Next I went back to my list for Erin’s 9.0 reading challenge list and decided to try For the Love of a Son. This story was a true story, very heartbreaking. Maryam is a defiant Afghani girl fighting for equality. After an arranged marriage, she is continually brutally beaten  and her young son kidnaped by his father. Maryam remarries and moves to 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia. This is one mother’s search for her son. This book was my 5th title complete in Erin’s challenge and another title for my read around the world. 

The next book enjoyed was Where the road takes me. This young adult romance was full of cliches but the escapism was just what I needed after a busy days work.   Chloe is rescued by Blake when he is out for a jog one night. She attends his school and takes the same Math class but he can’t believe he has never set sight in her before. He can’t stop thinking about her, can Blake break down Chloe’s walls that she has built and let him love her? Totally predictable.

Lastly, the Bookies R us have picked mysteries for the next genre challenge and I have had The cuckoo’s calling by Robert Galbraith (aka JK Rowling) sitting waiting for me, this was the perfect time to get into it. A great whodunnnit that kept me guessing. I am actually interested in more in the series featuring  this ex military detective and checking out the tv series based on this book. 

The last weeks have been very productive reading weeks. I’ve now managed 49 titles towards the Goodreads Challenge, and a few more crossed off the Ultimate Reading challenge. 

Week 32

At the beginning of the fortnight I increased my goodreads challenge from my original plan of 36 books which I planned to be roughly 3books a month to 60 books. At the same time I was looking for a historical fiction book to sink my teeth into. I had seen many reviews about the Tattoist of Auschwitz, and a few mentions of the Librarian of Auschwitz. Having not long along finished A Tree Grows in Brooklyn and being introduced to Francie Nolan and her love of books. I decided to stick with another bibliophile character and download the audio version of The Librarian of Auschwitz. I didn’t research the book before I did and was surprised that it was based on the true events experienced by Dita Adler. The literary recount was originally written in Spanish and translated. It tells of the horrific imprisonment of Dita and her family in a camp at Auschwitz. A few minutes I had to stop the audiobook as it elaborated with quite detail about the torturous experiments of Dr Josef Mengele.

Dita is a 14 year old girl who is a teaching assistant in Block 31. She keeps a precious library of 8 books and through the terrifying recount of events. Her love of books and living books creates a sense of hope and courage in this horrific era. It is not just her story that is intriguing but the interview with Dita and the author at the end and details about what happened to historic figures we just read about.

This was a book set in Poland 🇵🇱.

The next book I encountered was a change of genre, but was still a heavy read. Behind closed doors by BA Paris was a thrilling read. Grace meets Jack Angel. He is such a charming man but the moment that they marry, things do not appear as they seem. This psychological thriller was a page turner and I can’t believe what Grace experiences. 

This makes my book total 45 books. 

Week 30

This week I received my very first book club box. I subscribed for three months to Once Upon A Book Club. I loved getting the book like pink box.

The idea of this book club is that as you read they have carefully selected gifts which you open at the designated reading pause. 

This month’s hard cover new release is The Lost Vintage by Ann Mah.

 

The gifts are wrapped in vineyard themed gift wrapping. I couldn’t wait to read and experience the world of the story. It wasn’t long before I got to the first book gift.

I couldn’t stop reading. 

  

 

 

 

I absolutely loved this book and the characters. I didn’t want it to end. This story is told in dual timelines. Helene narrates the past through a series of journal entries during WW2 , the present narrated through Kate. Kate is a sommelier, she is studying for the Master of Wine exam and visits her family vineyard in Burgundy, France. She finds a hidden wine cellar and the diary of her great aunt, and discovers the history of the vineyard during the war. It is exceptionally told. A great selection for a book club discussion later next month. I can’t wait for the next two instalments. 

This month the Bookies R Us challenge is to read as many historical fiction books as we can. This is my first. Overall it is my 43rd book this year for my goodreads challenge, and another for the ultimate reading challenge - a book about science. Helene is a chemist, it’s her knowledge of science that assists the vineyard during the war. 

Week 29

This week I knocked off two more titles for Erin’s book challenge and the ultimate reading challenge.     Because of Mr Terrupt was recommended by my son Liam, he had read it in primary school. When he saw it off the shelf and next to my bed, he kept asking, “what do you think of this book?”. I loved it, devoured it in an afternoon. It is about an inspirational teacher, Mr Terrupt told in seven of his students’ voices. I can’t wait to talk to him about it, I know he is going to want me to read the sequels too now.

A tree grows in Brooklyn is a PBS Great American Read and was my second book this week. It was slow paced but very descriptive narrating the story of Francie Nolan’s life almost 100 years ago. Francie loves books, reading and learning and even though her family is poverty stricken she manages to overcome many obstacles. This book is full of hope, determination and preservance. It’s a classic read as the setting and story are timeless.

Week 28

I couldn’t wait for my holidays from work and the first book on my list was the third in the Crazy Rich Asians series by Kevin Kwan- Rich People problems. This story continues with Nick’s grandmother falling ill. He hasn’t spoken with her since the night he proposed to Rachel in Book 1. The family antics continue with Eddie and his wife Fiona jostling for the favourite grandson position hoping to be the heir to the grand estate in Singapore,  Astrid and Collin’s union and Nick trying to see his grandmother before she dies. I loved this series and can’t wait to see the movie when it comes out. I wonder how much of the story they reveal. This also was another tick in my ultimate reading challenge for a trilogy or series ✅

The next book read was for Erin’s 9.0 reading challenge. Swimming lessons by Clare Fuller was on my audible app the longest and so I used this for the category. The story switched between the past and the present. The past was told through hidden letters from wife, Ingrid to husband Gil, when they were going through a difficult time in their marriage. The present was told through the stories of Nan and her sister, Flora as they deal with caring for their aging father, Gil and the disappearance of their mother many years ago. It was an interesting read. Well narrated.

Lastly, I joined another book challenge group on Facebook last month called Bookies R us. Each month they have a challenge to read as many book for the chosen genre. The past month was Romantic suspense. I hadn’t read a title in this genre for a long time, not since the Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich. So I read Linda Howard’s open season and Kerry Lonsdale’s Everything  we keep and lastly, Nora Roberts - Public Secrets. The genre surprised me, I actually enjoyed the novels more than I anticipated. I will probably revisit this genre again. Public secrets was a saga that spanned thirty years. Francie McAvoy, daughter to rockstar, Brian McAvoy, comes into is his life after her mother tries to use her birth to win him back. Seeing that she has been abused and neglected he decided to gain full custody. Brian has a new life with partner Bev, and a baby on the way and welcomes Francie into his new family. Baby Darren is adored by Francie and she promises him that she will never let anyone hurt him. Tragedy strikes when there is a bungled kidnapping and Darren is killed. Much of the book is about how Brian, Bev, Francie and the band members cope with this loss. Francie can’t remember the exact details of the night of the kidnapping and is isn’t until many years later and with the assistance of the son of the detective investigating that Francie remembers what happened that night. This was my first Nora Roberts book but it was when I finished this I remembered I bought a Nora Roberts book not long after I had my son Liam for a book club. Well I never read it and I am now thinking that this might be the longest unread physical book I own. 

Week 27

This week I read Nothing to Declare - memoir of a woman travelling alone by Mary Morris. This was the first book in Erin's 9.0 reading challenge. "Starting with N". It was an interesting travel log and memoir of a woman who ventured to Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua alone in the 1980s. Quite remarkable accounts of the landscapes, ruins and people in these parts of the world. I wonder if Mary returned to Mexico, I wonder what happened to her neighbour Lupe, who the book is dedicated to and her children. I choose this book also for my read around the world challenge for Guatemala.

Just recapping my read around the world challenge so far:

Oceania:

Australia - The Light Between Oceans by ML Stedman

Asia:

Korea - Kite fighters by Linda Su Park

Lebanon  - Oranges in No Man's Land by Elizabeth Laird

Israel  - One More River by Lynne Reid Banks

Afghanistan - A thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseni

Iran - Leila's Secret by Kooshyar Karimi

Singapore -  Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan

Africa:

Kenya - Facing the Lion by Joseph Lemasolai Lekuton

Sudan - A long walk to water by Linda Su Park

Rwanda - One Thousand Hills by James Roy and Noel Zihabmwe

Somalia - Through my eyes: Amina by J L Powers

Europe:

Ireland - A taste for it by Monica McInerney

United Kingdom -  The War that Saved my life by Kimberley Brubaker Bradley

Guernsey - The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows

Denmark - Number the Stars by Lois Lowry

France - Paris for One by Jojo Moyes

Norway - The Sunlit Night by Rebecca Dinerstein

Finland - Big Game by Dan Smith

Belgium - And We're Off by Dana Schwartz

Sweden - A Man called Ove by Fredric Backman

Russia - Sapphire Skies by Belinda Alexandra

Greece - Girl Gone Greek by Rebecca Hall

Italy - Trafficked by Sophia Hayes

Northern and Central America

United States - Everything I never told you by Celeste Ng

Canada - The Lightkeeper's Daughter by Jean E.Pendziwol

Mexico - Little Sister - Lucy Dawson

Jamaica - The Best of Us - Sarah Pekkanen

Guatemala - Nothing to Declare by Mary Morris

South America

Venezuela - Keeper of the House by Lisa St. Aubin de Terane

29 countries visited so far. 

29 categories completed for the Ultimate Reading challenge as well.

Week 23

It’s taken me 3 weeks to read however Dark Places by Gillian Flynn is a haunting psychological thriller that left me wondering. After the first chapter I was hooked, I just had so much going on workwise that I found it difficult only uncovering what was happening at a chapter a night. Last night was a cold wet night, so I showered and dressed in my Pjs and was determined to read until the very end.

Each chapter is told in a different character- Ben Day, Libby Day and Patty their mother. Ben and Patty narrate the past and Libby the future. Who killed the Day family? Was it Ben who was into devil worshipping? Was it Runner - husband to Patty and father to Ben, Michelle, Debby and Libby? In true Gillian Flynn style there is a twist at the end which keeps you turning the page.

Week 19

This week I listened to Little Sister by Lucy Dawson and Meant to Be by Lauren Morrill. Last year I read You Sent Me a Letter by Lucy Dawson which I found a really good thriller and so I added Little sister to my to be read pile. This book did not disappoint, Anya disappears in Mexico 🇲🇽 and her sister Kate struggles as they try and find her. It was really gripping.

I then wanted something a little light, and Meant to Be joined my to be read pile as it had this attractive cover and the story took place in London. I just spent a week in London and as Julie and Jason visit tourist sites as part of a school trip, I imagined myself with them. This was a light young adult read, highly predictable.

And so I am at 27 books for the year..

Week18

This week I listened to the audiobook, The Woman in Cabin 10. I hadn’t read this author before but as I was listening to the book, it reminded me of Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express. There is a burglary and then Lo (a travel journalist) boards a luxury ship to the fjords of Norway. Then there is a murder... this book is full of twists, it kept me intrigued right until the end.

Week 17

This book was on a list I discovered on Pinterest. I use Pinterest, goodreads and blogs to find new titles. I had read a Jojo Moyes title off the list and then added A Window Opens by Elisabeth Egan to my to be read pile. I had this title on my audible app. 

A window opens reminds me of a Sarah Jessica Parker movie, I just don’t know how she does it. Alice is a working mum, juggling a career and raising three children. Her father’s cancer returns sending her life a curve ball.

This was my final title in Erin’s book challenge... Read a book by an author whose first and last name begins with the same letter. I originally chose a Monica McInerney novel, but didn’t take it on holidays with me.

24 books read so far this year. 

Week 15

I enjoyed Sophie Kinsella’s Finding Audrey version from audible this week.  The narration was quite good and I quickly got into the story. Audrey is a funny, sweet and heartwarming character who is struggling with interacting with anyone. She wears dark glasses in front of her family and can’t face strangers let alone her acquaintances and friends. This book handles the subject of mental health well.

 

Week 14

I had previously discovered Nicola Yoon after reading Everything, everything, and I added The sun is also a star to my audible app. This was another young adult book about first love. I fell in love with the characters and wished that they would get their happy ever after despite all the oppposing forces in the story.

The other book read is also a young adult novel called One of us is lying. This book started off like the Breakfast club movie, the main characters were in detention when someone is murdered. It then read like the murder club full of twists. I loved it.a minor character had the same name as myself.

Another two books 

Two more books towards my challenge.

 

20th book in 2018

A Man called Ove (pronounced OOva) is one of the books that has been highly recommended on a number of sites I peruse to get inspiration for selecting books. So I added it to my audible app. Ove is a likeable character due to the influence of the other characters in the book. He is quite lonely after the death of his wife and after finishing up at his work. Parvana, his new neighbour injects a new lease of life into him despite his quirks. Parts of the book were quite sad, and some entertaining.

This book was originally written in Swedish, so I’ve changed my selection to this title for the category Read a book that was originally published in a different language than your own. It is also set in 🇸🇪 Sweden, so I’ve added it to my read around the world challenge.