Gemma
Not what I was expecting but very pleasantly surprised! Liked how each chapter flicked between past and present which I found compulsive to read as I wanted to know answers about the past and equally wanted to know more about her present life. Would definitely recommend this book. Thoroughly enjoyable.
Cried a lot! But definitely worth the read. Was recommended by friends seems everyone had read it and had all enjoyed it. I was a bit sceptical at first - looked like a real chick book which I thought I had grown out of. However, found the book easy to read, was immediately attached to the characters and wanted to pick it up and read everyday. Although I knew there was only 1 possible outcome to the end of the book I wanted to read on (even though I knew I would shed some tears). An enjoyable emotional read.
Well what can I say about this book? It is intriguing, annoying, ridiculous and just plain weird. Never have I come across a book like this before but strangely I did enjoy elements and I know it will be a book I will remember for a long time.
Nine year old Rose discovers that she has a special gift, when eating food she can taste the emotions of the chef or the person who has prepared it. The emotions of others consume her whilst eating and affect her enjoyment of food. Her brother also starts to behave strangely and this causes disruptions within her family life. There are a lot of negative emotions weaved through the book and some shocking revelations around her brother's behaviour. You truly have to read it to understand the ridiculousness of the plot. It's a bit like Marmite, you will either love it or loath it.
Just finished this book and would highly recommend it! Found it difficult to put it down, wanting desperately to find out what happened to Cathy and Naomi!
I loved the fact that it flitted between the Cathy with Lee and the Cathy after Lee! It just made me want to read on and on.
An English author with her first novel - a book you just have to read!
This novel follows the lives of the two main characters spanning over the decades. They meet up every St. Swithin's Day (15th July) for a catch up along with some flirting/banter. The two lead completely different lives, one strives hard to achieve, the other given a privileged life from birth. Despite their differences the two remain ‘friends' and secretly carry deeper feelings for one another.
As a reader you know that they will eventually get together but life keeps presenting different paths for them to follow. There is a shocking twist towards the end of the novel. I personally believe the book should have stopped at that point rather than carry on for another 20 or so pages, as I found these had little purpose. Whilst some may find the twist added depth to the book it completely ruined the novel for me.
This was written in 1859 and considered to be one of the first mystery novels of its time. The story unfolds through a series of documents/witness statements held by a variety of characters designed to elucidate a conspiracy plan against innocent women. This novel is very long and written in the Victorian era so stamina is required unless you are used to reading classic literature.
I really enjoyed this book and was surprised by the complex story line which included mystery, suspense and romance. I could identify with the characters and found links to the present day, which is surprising having been written decades ago. I found the different genres throughout the novel (documents, witness statements etc) added a unique feel to the novel which I really enjoyed.
This is the first volume in the Millennium Trilogy. Mikael Blomkvist (a journalist) and Lisbeth Salander (computer hacker) join forces to investigate the forty year old disappearance of Harriet Vanger. This leads to a number of decade-old grotesque murders and an unravelling of the Vanger's family history.
A thrilling read. Although it was difficult to get into the book the story line was fascinating with a good build up and ending. It was definitely a good crime thriller and as a consequence made me go out and buy book number 2.
The story begins with a handsome young man driving whilst under the influences of drugs and alcohol. He suddenly sees a vision of shooting arrows coming towards him, swerves and crashes his car. The car catches fire and he watches himself burning, unable to move from the vehicle.
Surprisingly, he survives and ends up in a burns ward where he gets a visit from a stranger, Marianne Engle: a sculptress who tells him stories of how they met centuries ago. She takes him under her wings, provides financial and medical treatment as well as unconditional love. This is ultimately a story of friendship and love. It has short stories that weaving in and out of the main story line, which was a nice feature. These short stories are about characters who have loved and lost and were heart warming, although sad, to read.
There was plenty of vivid descriptions along the way, which at times was gruesome. The nameless main character I grew to love even though he was portrayed as a vile man before his accident. By the end I truly believed he was a changed man who had made friends through his journey of self-discovery and had understood the true meaning of love. The ending left me wondering whether Marianne had indeed lived the life she had claimed or had been good at researching the past in order to spin her tale.
I absolutely loved this book, it was unique, thought provoking and takes you through a multitude of emotions, from horror to tenderness. I would highly recommend this book.
Gabriel Blackstone who is a computer hacker by trade and also has a unique talent; he can enter people's minds. After being contacted by an ex to find her step son, Gabriel is lead on a strange and complicated journey to discover truth of this missing person. Along the way he meets two magical sisters who entrance and bewilder him. As he falls in love with one of the sisters he knows that one of them is a deadly killer, but which one?
This book takes you on a magical journey with elements of witchcraft, mystery and murder. The characters on the whole are realistic, there are twists along the way but a bit predictable in places. I really enjoyed this book, it kept me interested and wanting to read more. The two sisters with their similar names confused me at times and I had to keep going back to find out which one was which.
My favourite character was Gabriel's friend Isidore. I was saddened by some events that took place within the book and let down by the ending. For me it became a bit too much of a fantasy/sci-fi novel towards the end which I didn't enjoy. However, having said that it is a book I would recommend to others and will remember it for its uniqueness.
Favourite book of all!! Love it
I love this book. Such a powerful story about a period in history that is widely known. However, this novel explores the perspective of a German family apposed to Hitler's political views and the consequences that they face. The innocence of childhood, love, death and humanity all shine through in this beautifully written book. I could not put it down and shed a few tears throughout the story, especially at the end. This is a book to treasure, to pass on to others and to be re-read over and over again. I highly recommend this book.
This book was an absolute delight. I initially hadn't heard of the book and thought it would be a hard, long winded novel. On the contrary, I found it warming and descriptive. I absolutely got dragged away with this novel and found the ending very shocking, what a great twist. It is a book I would definitely recommend to others.
Firstly, let me point out what a beautiful cover this is and how addictive the story line is. The story is of a family stuck in time, with a daughter missing. Every parent's worst fear! For them life is a waiting game in the hope that she is found alive and well.
For six years her parents have struggled to carry on, but in their own way each have managed to stay afloat. Mary, her twin also struggles. She blames herself.
Each year they return to the place Lucy was last seen and every time they hope there will be news.
Reading this book evoked so many emotions; fear for Mary, anger and pity towards her parents over the way Mary is treated, and concern for the grandparents.
As the story progresses you start to feel that this family is going to implode, but there is hope. Mary feels it. If only she can find what happened to Lucy.
This is an emotional read, character driven and one that you want to devote your time into. It is definitely one you cannot rush. Chloe Openshaw's writing is both beautiful and descriptive; the imagery so vibrant it feels like you are actually there alongside the characters drinking up the setting.
And wow! What an unexpected, welcomed ending. I love how it all came together forming a complete circle and that Mary can now live the life she deserves. Such an enjoyable read.
Many thanks to Chloe Openshaw for giving me the opportunity to read Where Wisteria Falls.
This was a very quirky novel and one I thoroughly enjoyed. I loved the format of the book and how there were seven different short murder mystery stories within the overall novel. This made it quite the page-turner I was anticipating. I loved the narrative between the editor and author and was intrigued to hear about the inconsistencies that she stumbled upon in each of the stories. I completely missed these each time and found myself overtly trying to find them in the next story. I failed every time!
This book was very unique and written in such a clever way. I was hooked from the beginning and loved how there was a running thread which linked the stories. For me, the ending was shocking and one I didn't see coming. I adored the twists that just kept coming. What an exhausting, invigorating read! Highly recommend.
Miss Cat: The Case of the Curious Canary by Jean-Luc Fromental and Joëlle Jolivet is a gorgeous graphic novel and is the first book in this exciting new series.
Miss Cat runs a detective agency and is approached by Mixus Maximus, asking for help in finding Harry his beloved canary, who has been kidnapped. Miss Cat sets out straightaway, looking for clues into Harry's disappearance. Along the way, she meets a few other strange characters and reveals the answers in solving this mystery.
Graphic novels are so popular in our school, especially with reluctant readers. The illustrations in this book are fun, bright, as well as dark and mysterious, adding to the charm of this book. I could spend hours pouring over the pages. I love how each page is unique with a different layout and mixture of text.
The storyline is easy to follow with a surprise twist. I was thrilled to discover that the mystery was more complex than I was anticipating, giving it substance but still in a way accessible to young readers.
I can definitely see this being a popular book in school. It is the perfect size, slightly larger than a regular novel but smaller than a picture book to hold. It is broken down into chapters, making it easier to read in sections, perfect for those that may be overwhelmed by reading longer texts. Suitable for ages 7-10.
I am very much looking forward to reading the other books in the series.
This is a book of hope, belief and determination to achieve your goals. From the moment Robbie meets Fred and learns about the Celtic legend Patsy Gallacher his whole world opens up. I loved reading about Gallacher and the relationship that blooms between Robbie and Fred. The different length chapters add to the pace and anticipation of what will happen next. The illustrations are perfectly placed working in harmony with the novel.
Being a softy I did shed a few tears as the novel progressed as I become emotionally involved with the characters and the storyline, This is not just a book for football fans it is a beautifully written book, a feel good novel, that leaves you full of cheer.
Smorgasbowls are a balanced meal in a bowl which means they can be adapted to suit the dietary needs of your whole family. As a vegetarian married to a meat-eater and mum to a fussy eater, mealtimes can be a struggle. Having to cook separate meals can be really time consuming especially during the working week. Creating smorgasbowls for the whole family means that you can cook (rice, chicken, vegetables etc) paired with cold ingredients (fruit, tinned sweetcorn etc), lay them out and everyone can put what they want in their own bowl. In my experience this helps the fussy eaters be more in control of their own meal and encourages them to try new foods in a manageable way.
The book takes you through the principles of this way of eating, outlining the building blocks to creating smorgasbowls to produce balanced meals, as well as sharing lots of ideas for recipes. Each recipe is accompanied by a large, bright photograph. There are handy tips spread throughout the book, giving you lots of information so that you are confident and secure in this style of cooking.
Ingredients can be added as to taste requirements and after reading and trying out a few of the recipes I have started to create my own smorgasbowls. The options are endless as long as you follow the four pillars to ensure a balanced meal is achieved. I honestly believe that this way of cooking gives us as a family an easy weekday meal where the whole family is happy. And saves us time, especially if you are using leftovers and ingredients that come straight from the fridge/store cupboard.
Highly recommend smorgasbowls, they have added a touch of creativity to our mealtimes, saves us time with less washing up. A definite winner.
This gorgeous chapter book is perfect for children aged 7 to 9. It has beautiful illustrations by Laura Ireland which help ignite the story visually and break up the amount of text on the page, perfect for reluctant readers.
Ernie has just moved house with his mum and older sister Ivy. With his toys still in boxes, Ernie starts to unpack and discovers a tiny dog in his memory box. But with a ‘no pets allowed' rule in their rented house what is Ernie to do with this satsuma-sized dog? With a dog so small, Ernie comes to the conclusion that he can easily hide it away from his family and so the adventure begins; Ernie and his new best friend Swop.
Noguera has produced two endearing characters: Swop and Ernie. The story is full of fun, adventure and laugh out loud moments which I know children will enjoy, especially the toilet issues that Ernie has to face and Swop's mischievous nature. Noguera explores themes of losing a parent, starting a new school, and bullying with sensitivity, which could encourage lots of discussions, both at home and at school. I love the added addition of Ernie's guide to signing the alphabet, at the back of the book, along with a message for the readers to decipher.
What an amazing start to the series and I cannot wait to see what Noguera has in store for Ernie and Swop's next adventure.
Gemma's Thoughts:
A modern day Romeo and Juliet, with feuding families and a long host of traditions and superstitions. The town of Coraloo was both whimsical and intriguing; it had an old fashioned feel about it that I loved. The colourful, quirky characters with their eccentric manners were both charming and humorous. I was captivated by the mystery surrounding Innis and Wilkin Wilkinson and couldn't wait to reach the chapters dedicated to these characters. I found their story fascinating and loved how it slowly weaved through the main story of Roy and Margarette.
A unique and charming book perfect for curling up on a lazy day, forgetting about the world around you and diving into the town of Coraloo.
Maria's Thoughts:
This tale is somewhat like Romeo and Juliet, two warring families in one town. The Blackwells and the Tofts can't see eye to eye about anything and each have their own turf, but somehow Margarette Toft and Roy Blackwell manage to fall in love and that's when their family troubles start.
The descriptive narrative makes this little town come to life from the Coraloo flea market with its array of brightly coloured stalls to the tiny police station that sees very little crime, thus giving Roy little to do. Roy finds a ‘cold case' that he decides to solve which only confuses the families even more.
This story meanders through the lives of the residents, all richly depicted by the author, and takes you to Roy and Margarette's wedding. There was much humour throughout the book especially around the expectations of the demanding Blackwells and the ancient wedding dress! I loved that Innis and Wilkin had a history that added a few surprises to the book and to the town of Coraloo.
Many thanks to Fern at Lion Hudson for inviting us on The Marriage of Innis Wilkinson blog tour.
This fun, colourful book is such a delight to read and makes it all the more special knowing that this book was written for The Boat of Hope project. Their purpose is to help open up conversations with children about mental health across the world and to provide help and support for young people and their families.
Bernie and Boatie tells the story of a little boat anchored in Liverpool docks. She is too scared to sail the sea until one day Bernie comes along, he promises to take her for a ride. Along the way they face a terrible storm which threatens to destroy them both. But through the ups and the downs and the support they give one another they ride that storm and realise they are not alone and in this together.
Natalie Reeves Billing is such a magical lyrical storyteller, her writing flows beautifully through the book capturing the characters' emotions and echoing words of encouragement that every child needs to hear. Although the characters face moments of stress, anxiety and difficultly there is also a calmness that is portrayed which encourages the reader to acknowledge that these moments don't last forever.
The illustrations are so fun and you may be able to spot a few celebrities hiding in the pages. Another thing to spot is the hope spark on each page.
All proceeds from the book go the The Boat of Hope charity.
The Dorp Rescue is a charming picture book with gorgeous illustrations that will capture the imagination of its reader. Dongal and Doodle find themselves alone and their village destroyed, their mission - to find and rescue the rest of the Dorps, but in order to do so they must be courageous, determined and work together. As they travel through the snowy landscape they encounter many hazards and obstacles. Together the pair find solutions to the problems and dangers they face as they continue on with their rescue mission.
This is a fun, action-packed, adventure with a sprinkling of humour. The characters are cute and loveable, the setting, (I'm sure) will appeal to its reader, afterall who doesn't like snow? This is a longer picture book, perfect for those in KS1 or children aged between 6-9. There is a great mix of text and illustrations and very desirable for early readers to read themselves or those looking for a longer story to be read to.