What have I been reading

Absolutely loved this story about a delinquent, Morgan who crosses paths with an elderly blind lady, Elizabeth, whilst doing community service. I connected with the characters quickly as the story alternates between the two voices.  Didn’t want to put this one down.

Another intriguing story. The action starts straight away with a stranger entering Sophie’s bedroom startling her in the middle of the night of her 40th birthday. Who is trying to blackmail her? The storyline keeps you guessing. Just wanted to find out who and why... heaps of twists that leaves you wondering.

Enjoyed this story, it satisfied my wanderlust through the descriptions of Paris, Brussels and Ireland and Florence. Nora travels on an art adventure with her mother. Reminds me a bit of the Gilmore girls.

And so with these books I was able to tick off Canada 🇨🇦: with The Lightkeeper’s Daughters and 🇧🇪 Belgium as Nora travelled there in her art adventures in And We’re off. 19 countries visited in the Read around the world challenge.

Everything, everything

Absolutely loved this book. Cute illustrations, emails, instant messages and definitions weaved into this narrative. A young love story with a touch of drama. Highly recommend this quick read!

A couple of audiobooks

I regularly listen to audiobooks to and from work. It takes me into my third space, I tune in, and block out the worries of the workday and I'm able to not "take" them home. I have an hour commute both ways, so I manage to devour a book in a week. It's been a while and the audiobooks on my to be read pile were piling up. In fact I currently have over a dozen waiting for me to play them.

One of the titles I added earlier in the year was Michelle Bridges Make it Happen. I couldn't remember adding it, but I'm glad I did. It was completely not like I was expecting. Part biography and part positive psychology, it was an engaging story about her life and successes. Each chapter finished with a toolbox for success. I think I would replay this one when I need to shift my mindset. It reminded me of the seven habits of highly successful people.

The second title was added after looking at an Oprah email with a list of must reads this Spring. It sounded intriguing. It's called Universal Harvester. It has been listed in the horror/thriller genre but I think it's more intriguing. Partly due to the style of the author, he consistently shifts timeframes and the narrator. This adds to the intrigue and you just want to know why things happened. You really don't know until the last chapter, I was waiting for that explosive ending like Gone Girl but it really was a tragic story.

Jonathan unleashed

This was an advanced copy from Goodreads. I thought it would be an enjoyable read and actually liked the first half of the book. But when Jonathan becomes "unleashed" it just became bizarre and ridiculous, and not even a satisfying ending. Don't bother!

The One plus One

I have enjoyed the few Jojo Moyes titles I've read, and this book made its way onto my to be read pile. I've spent the last few days in bed with the flu and so I decided to blow the dust off this title and get to know the characters. I truly got engaged with the story of Ed, Jess, Nicky, Tanzie and their dog Norman. It was quirky and fun and just what I needed as I've tried to stay warm. My book had this cover.

But I decided I much prefer this earlier version. It makes more sense of the story. 

I can't wait to read more of this author.

Leila's secret

This title was bought for my read around the world challenge as it is set in Iran. I thought it was a work of fiction, even upon reading it it mimics a work of fiction with alternating voices of Leila and the Doctor. It isn't until the final chapter when I realised that the author was in fact the doctor. This story tells of a doctor who lived in the outer cities of Iran and preformed many forbidden procedures on woman to save them from death by stoning or hanging or by suicide. He was tortured before fleeing to Turkey, and is now residing in Australia. A terrifying and heartfelt story at the same time. 

The Good teacher

With a flight delay, rather than reading a trashy magazine, I thought about reading a trashy novel.  A quick read. This was a real page turner from the beginning. Immediately you were thrown into the small town dram with the president of the P&C and new principal engaged in a romp. After the P&C meeting, the one classroom school burns down. This is an amusing tale of lies, lust and revenge. Lacks a bit of cohesion near the end but you are just dying to know how it concludes. Written this year, another book down for the 2017 reading challenge.