Before I Go To Sleep by SJ Watson

This book is about amnesia, a women wakes up in a bedroom that is not hers, beside a man she does not know and she wonders how much she had to drink last night to end up in someone else's house. That is until she makes it to the bathroom and realises that not only is she 20 years older than she thought she was, but there are pictures all around the mirror telling her that that man, in the bed, is her husband, Ben. She is married? She is older. She doesn't know who she is. Christine's memory resets every night before she wakes up. So she has no memory of the last 24 hours let alone the rest of her life.

I won't spoil this thrilling, page-turner for you. It is a breathless immersion into the life of an amnesiac. What would you do if all your memories were gone? If the only person you could trust was a man you didn't know, didn't recognise? How do you know who you are when you don't have any memories of your life?

I found this a very convincing and incredibly honest book. Similar to The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time this novel draws you into an unknown reality. While many of us would like to relive our past, right our wrongs, forget our most embarrassing moments - would you really want to lose it all? Without hindsight we are nothing, we never learn, we would always be making the same mistakes over and over again. You would never be able to move on, to experience life the way you should. I found this to be a rather life-affirming read, while also being a pacey thriller with incredible twists and turns that make your heart beat faster with every chapter.

I have to admit to being the glazed eyed commuter, head buried in my book, eyes widening with each turn of the page, an involuntary gasp emitting my lips whilst my head began to whirl. This is a book that is well worth the embarrassing glances I received this evening. Well worth nearly missing my stop and walking home in a daze.

A brilliantly executed novel that is worth reading no matter where you are. I can't imagine any reader will be able to put this book down.

The Ask and the Answer by Patrick Ness

Now, I desperately want to write all about this book - it was so good, I was on the edge of my seat the whole time. It was a roller coaster - like The Knife of Never Letting Go. A thrilling, no holds barred kind of a book that kept me turning the pages so quickly I nearly moved faster than light.

But, unfortunately, someone who reads my blog has finally got around to reading these fantastic books and therefore so as not to spoil it for everyone else who hasn't read The Knife of Never Letting Go - and you should!!! For now I will say I am a huge fan of the Chaos Walking trilogy and it belongs on every bookshelf. Get it from a bookshop, borrow them from a library and for goodness sake try not to give Amazon any more money - but if you must then do, because you really don't want to miss out.

So until next time!

The Girl with Glass Feet by Ali Shaw

Ali Shaw was quoted on the back of my last great read The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey and I was inspired to read this. It was beautiful, well-written and enchanting.
Ida is a beautiful girl, she used to dive deep into the ocean and sunbathe on beaches, she used to be a normal girl. Now, her feet are turning to glass. Slowly, slowly it starts, but the glass is spreading and Ida's only hope is to find the strange old man who once told her of people turning to glass on St Hauda's Island. Her adventure leads her to Midas, a man who is haunted by his father's death, by his mother's life and his own fears.

This story perfectly captures the fairy-tale essence without ever descending into the Disney world. Heartbreaking and breath-taking this novel draws the reader into the strangely intoxicating world of St Hauda's Island. It divulges slivers of information, character history as gifts you don't fully comprehend until it all slots into place.

The horror of turning into glass is told with a sincerity that made me ache with each chapter. The understanding that life has changed, now, forever and that we have so little control over it, that we know so little of life's possibilities. Turning to glass, a bird that with one look can turn you white, these seem likes dreams, nightmares and yet Shaw makes us believe in their reality. Questioning the importance of life, he draws us further into Ida and Midas' love affair and shows us that the only real meaning in life is to find love.

Read this book curled up on a sofa with a glass of wine or a mug of hot tea and be prepared for a heart wrenching journey that will sear through your defences and make you breathless.

The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey

This breath-taking novel is set in Alaska in the deep winter. An old woman and an old man were unable to have any children, but dreamt of being parents. One day they are frolicking in the snow (recapturing their love of one another and their joy of life, despite their difficult circumstances) and they build a snow girl, complete with mittens, scarf and a beautifully carved face. The next morning their snow girl is destroyed, but a mysterious child begins to visit their cabin. Their life becomes a fairy-tale and it is one so familiar to make this novel an absolute enchanting read.

Beautifully written, this novel has had high praise from many broadsheets and novelists alike, it is full of stunning descriptions of the snow, winter in a desolate place and the incredible feat of finding something that is all yours. The characters were interesting, drawing you further into their thoughts and histories as you turn each page. Love is a major theme that is spun out throughout the novel, love between husband and wife, love conquering old wounds and love for a child. There is also kindness, friendship and adventure. I was entranced by this novel, reading it on the tube, pressed against sweating passengers in flickering light, my eyes were stuck to the page. I yearned for the solitude and grace living in a homestead in Alaska would bring, while gleefully turning the pages.

This novel is bewitching, it has woven a spell that is still unbroken, I feel the need to reach for this novel even after devouring it in 3 days, as it is a stunning debut worthy of all the attention and definitely worth buying from a lovely independent bookstore or borrowing from a library near you.

The Weird Sisters by Eleanor Brown

The Andreas sisters have been cursed, cursed with having a father obsessed with Shakespeare and giving them names that have a whole life already attached to them: Rose (Rosalind from As You Like It), Bean (Bianca from The Taming of the Shrew) and Cordelia (King Lear). Constantly fighting against their roles, the sisters lives are vividly spent within books. TV is something other people had, these sisters grew up in a world of books. Their father reads only his Shakespeare and dispenses advice and information by photocopying highlighted passages from these plays. Their mother drifts along in her own world, reading and discarding books all over the house.

The sisters, of course have grown up now, Bean lives in New York, Cordelia is travelling around with no fixed plan and Rose has stayed at home, looking after her ageing parents and working at the University like her father.
But all sisters have secrets and these secrets eventually have a way of working their way to the surface and destroying the careful balance of life. With all the sisters once again at home, faced with their mother's cancer and with their own mysterious secrets bubbling close to the surface, it is only a matter of time...

Now, I really loved this book, it was beautifully written and captures the relationship between three very different sisters perfectly. The constant need for attention, the desire to be special, the only child if just for one day drives them and makes them constantly compete for this affection. Being a bookish person, I loved the idea of a family that loved reading so much no one would dare walk outside without a book. That reading was akin to breathing, without what would you do to pass the time? I must confess I am also one of 3 sisters, while we do not call ourselves 'weird' or have names with such heavy expectations, we are very like these characters. It was so refreshing and interesting to read a story about sisters who felt real.

I also loved the family dynamics, the world of fantasy, the bookish-ness of the whole novel, the fact that I read it in 2 days (last weekend, I am late in posting!) curled up in the British sunshine. This novel was delectable and I thoroughly recommend it to anyone who has siblings and to all of you out there who grew up with a TV, but wished you had a house of books instead.

The Somnambulist by Essie Fox

This was a stunning Victorian read, the cover of course is what drew me to it, as it really is so beautiful. I also got my copy from a library! Yes, a library, those places that smell of books, the gorgeous real paper feel of the pages between my fingers! Oh after reading a Kindle for so long this was such a relief. I urge you all to check out your local library, there is something about leaving with a pile of books you can't wait to read and knowing it has cost you absolutely nothing!!!

Anyway, this novel is a Victorian story, it is a wonderful homage to the genre. The protagonist, Phoebe is a  beautiful but sheltered young woman, at the age of 17 her life is about to change. With her Aunt Cissy, a beautiful opera singer living with her and her mother, the Hallelujah Army supporter and all-around zealous do-gooder (with pretty terrible results, as you will soon see) Maud. All of her life Phoebe has wished that Cissy was her mother, as she is stifled by her own mother's zealous religious outlook.

When Phoebe first visited Wilton's Music Hall, she thought it was the most wonderful place she had ever been. On her second trip, at the age of 17, she is beginning to see that there might be another side to it all, but little does she know that this trip will change her life forever.

I am desperately trying not to give too much away! It is a twisting and dark story of family, life, judgement and secrets. I have to say after reading this novel, that some secrets are best left buried!

My final comments are these: It was not the most mysterious novel, I did pretty much guess how it was going to end by the middle, but it was interesting and involving. There was one scene that I felt was a little unnecessary, that without it the novel would not have lost any of it's mystery and magnificence. But, do read it, if only to have this gorgeous cover hanging around for a while!

Seizure by Kathy Reichs

So, I am a very big fan of Kathy Reichs. I have devoured each Tempe Brennan novel with a kind of desperation that is almost unknown to me. I was never much for the thriller, never fond of a good crime novel and it was Kathy who introduced me to the genre.
Now she is writing a teen series and if you haven't read Virals or Seizure yet you have to! They are just as addictive and incredibly exciting with plot-twists a plenty to keep even the most distracted reader glued to the pages. I love all of the characters, so well formed you feel for Tory Brennan every step of the way, through her exile to the Loggerhead Island and the cruel bullying at school to the constant remembrance of her mother, dead, no longer there for her. She is now stuck with her father (estranged until her mother's death) a character we have met before, Tempe Brennan's nephew, Kit a brilliant scientist in his own right.

Of course Tory is also interested in science, this is a Kathy Reichs novel we are talking about, but she is more drawn towards animals. Anyway, I won't give to much away all at once, but the second novel in the series opens on the Virals (oh and did I mention that Tory and her three friends have been infected with a wolf virus and now have super human powers!?) about to be separated as Loggerhead Island looks set to be sold to the highest bidder. But our Tory is not one of those who would just let herself be separated from her friends, not now, not ever and she is set for an adventure - an adventure that involves buried treasure. Now we get to the pirate bit of the story, read it again I did just say PIRATE! Anne Bonny, one of the most deadly female pirates has hidden her treasure somewhere and Tory is sure that they (the Virals) can find it and save their homes and keep their parents from moving them thousands of miles apart.

So there you have it, there is adventure on the high-seas, gun-fights at dawn and a gorgeous wolf dog called Cooper, what's not to love! This is high-octane stuff, but is still perfect for it's teen and adult audience, with hardly the whiff of romance!

I personally read it in two days, jostling against people on the tube to work, hefting my hardback copy around and if I can do it so can you! So get out there, buy it, buy it from a real bookstore and don't forget your copy of Virals too as you will be hooked from the first page!

Bel-Ami by Guy de Maupassant

If you ever wanted to read an extremely well-written short-story then this is the one to read!
Synopsis: A young man, from a very lowly background, comes to Paris in search of a fortune, a rather modest one by most standards but he would like to make a decent living. By chance he stumbles into an old friend of his who happens to be a journalist, a journalist who is willing to help out an old friend and get him a job. Soon the young man is now gainfully employed, but he wants more...
Review: So, as you can see dear Bel-Ami is very easily seduced by riches, by what other people have and he is willing to take it from them at any cost. I really did enjoy this novel, it is engrossing and enchanting. Even if we are merely gazing at a man who is more in love with himself than those around him, it is an incredible read.
If you have been unfortunate enough to see the film promo for this, starring that man from Twilight, and a host of the most attractive and talented actresses spanning 3 decades you might think - this is a book about a man sleeping his way through Paris. Well, to one tiny extent it is - really film promos do strip a novel down to its most obvious layers - but it is really a story of success and how sometimes, no matter what, you can never ever have enough.
If you want to know, I will be going to see the movie - but we will see if it is to judge it or to enjoy!

Aside: Does anyone else think it curious that Robert Pattinson seems to love a good film made from a book? Water for Elephants, Cosmopolis, of course the unspeakable Twilight series...and Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire!

Valentines Novels

So I wanted to write something for Valentines Day because well it's a day when we can talk about our favourite romantic books.

While I am reading a wonderful Nora Roberts called 'Taming Natasha' (which if I'm honest is because it was cheap on kindle when I bought it and the title reminded me of Shakespeare's 'Taming of the Shrew'). It is very good and romantic of course! But I also want to mention some amazing romantic novels I had forgotten until today!!

For teens (or those who love a good teen novel):
'Ella Enchanted' by Gail Carson Levine
An absolute gem of a book about the cursed girl Ella and her fight for freedom. Ella is feisty and everything a young girl should be! But she also falls in love with a prince. Oh the romance at such a young age swept me entirely off my feet and onto the floor!

'Stargirl' by Jerry Spinelli
This book captures young love so perfectly it is difficult to describe it. When a gorgeous free-spirit arrives at his school, Leo knows she's different, not only does she carry a rat around but she sings happy birthday to people in the lunch room and will burst into laughter at any moment. But when he tries to change her...well I defy you not to read on! So go buy the book silly! (the cover is gorgeous, just so you know!)



For adults (and all those other people who don't believe they like teen books!):
'One Day' by David Nicholls
Yes, yes everyone in the whole world has read this book! The film has also come out and ruined it (slightly - well quite a lot in my opinion but it's ok I suppose). But! It is a brilliant love story. One about real love that challenges the reader as we are introduced to these characters warts and all. I was so involved with this book I would shout at it and reprimand the characters every once in a while. For a book to get that kind of reaction it must be worth another look!

'Doctor Zhivago' by Boris Pasternak
This is book is so terrific I wish everyone read it. It is also one of the greatest love stories ever told (it even says that on the book cover - so it must be true). Lara is his one true love, but can Yuri ever really be with her? Of course not, because this is the Soviet Union people! Communism, true love, hospitals, war, winter, horse drawn sleighs, and incredible yearning... what more could you want?
 Read it please! I beg you!!!!




'The Princess Bride' by S. Morgenstern abridged by William Goldman
Anyone who has seen the film will be scornfully laughing saying: This is not a book! But it is! I promise. It is also fantastic. Read it read it please. If only for the romance and the adventure.

'Persuasion' by Jane Austen
If you thought I was avoiding dearest Jane do not fear, I was merely waiting to mention her last and by far her most romantic novel! It is far more romantic than Pride and Prej or Sense and Sensibility. It is about a woman who waits, who pines for the man she was forced to give up many years ago and yet she refuses to marry another and waits for him in her heart without any hope of every seeing him again. But of course he returns and that is all I will say on the matter. But read it please!

Finally, I have said all of the books I can think of though there are thousands more that I would love to mention: 'Gone with the Wind', 'The Lost Art of Keeping Secrets' (of course) and 'Anne of Green Gables' but I have no more time and could really just go on forever....

So I will stop there and wish you all a very happy Valentine's Day where ever you may be. Just remember a book will always be there so pick one up and fall in love with reading!

Christmas

I know, I know, you're all thinking - but it's February aren't you a bit late in posting about Christmas? - well I am sorry, I started a new job, had a lot to do and basically just didn't have the time to formulate full sentences. So I am going to write about it now. So there!

For Christmas I received a Kindle (*gasp) I wasn't sure how I felt about it, being pretty much a book person to the core and by book I do mean paper pages and beautiful covers and the new book smell! But it was a gift from my parents and I felt I had to try it out. And as my commute to work has only gotten longer I thought it might be helpful to carry around a tiny Kindle and not a massive novel like Bleak House.

Here are my results:
I downloaded 'Locked In' by Kerry Wilkinson (because it was cheap and at the top of the download list), 'Look at Me' by Jennifer Egan (special price on 12 Days of Kindle) and the Short Stories of Guy Maupassant (currently I am reading Bel-ami).

'Locked In' was fine, it is a totally fine self-published novel. If an editor got hold of it they would improve it tenfold but for 98p I can't really complain. But when I started 'Look At Me' by Jennifer Egan I was breathless, it was such a terrific book I hardly noticed I was reading it on a piece plastic!

So, my opinion of the Kindle:
The Kindle store on the Kindle is rubbish, it doesn't show prices until you click through so you have no idea what you are looking at. To be completely honest my purchases on the Kindle are entirely based on price. I refuse to pay more than £3 - which is awful I know, but if I could get it cheaper in real book format why wouldn't I?
While it is lighter to carry than those massive novels, I have to admit I don't use it all the time. Holding it can be a bit tricky on a crowed train and you have to keep clicking this button at the side of the screen to turn the pages.

But...I don't mind it. I can't curl up in bed with it, I wouldn't dare take it in the bath with me and I am more paranoid with it in my bag. But it really is fine. Not for reading on all the time, but for books I'm not sure about it's pretty good and testing things out is great (you can download a free sample of any title).

But all in all this is not a rave review. Get one if you want one, don't bother if you don't. It won't change your life.