tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13521720024532074582024-03-14T18:49:01.395+00:00Portrait of a WomanCarolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18270606510325274092noreply@blogger.comBlogger218125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1352172002453207458.post-24782113988133459462016-08-25T11:30:00.000+01:002016-08-25T11:30:30.282+01:00Pretentiousness by Dan Fox | When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi | The Argonauts by Maggie Nelson<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I've been reading a lot of non-fiction lately and I've been enjoying it so much. I always felt non-fiction wouldn't be something I'd enjoy reading when trying to relax but it turns out I was wrong! I've been looking forward to delving into yet another non-fiction book at weekends. I have topics I love but I also keep an eye out for interesting subjects which may catch my interest. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The three books I've selected below are all rather short but definitely pack a punch. <i>Pretentiousness</i> is a fantastic essay on the art of pretending and why it matters; <i>When Breath Becomes Air</i> is a stunning and beautifully written memoir from a doctor suffering from cancer; and <i>The Argonauts</i> is a book that blends essay and memoir about gender, motherhood and identity.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"><i>Pretentiousness: Why It Matters</i> by Dan Fox</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Published by Fitzcarraldo Editions, 2016</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>What is pretentiousness? Why are we afraid of it? And more controversially: why is it vital to a thriving culture? This book will argue that pretentiousness is the engine oil of culture; that it has always been an essential lubricant in the development of the arts, from the most wildly successful pop music and fashion through to the most recondite avenues of literature and the visual arts. Demonstrating how pretentiousness forms part of daily life, this book aims to ignite a lively debate about public discourse around the arts, advocating critical imagination and open-mindedness over knee-jerk accusations of elitism or simple fear of the new and the different. Drawing on the author's own experiences growing up and working at the more radical edges of the arts, this book is a timely defence of pretentiousness as a necessity for innovation and diversity in our culture.</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I kept seeing this book popping up in my Twitter feed and I couldn't quite understand why someone would ever think pretentiousness mattered. After reading the author's compelling case, I see I had fallen in the prejudiced idea of seeing pretentiousness as a very one-sided negative trait. Dan Fox goes through the history of the word itself and how it's been used in the past and the negative connotation which crept up relatively recently.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">No art would ever be thought-provoking, original and unusual if people didn't have a tendency to pretend. Everything would feel very same-y and safe. Pretending to be a bit more/better/different than you are is a way for a person to reach further than what they would/could otherwise have done. This really made me question my automatic reaction to some art that feels a bit too "out there".</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">One aspect of the book that has really been fascinating to read - and which I'd never really thought about before - is the part about people pretending, not to be better than they are, but pretending to be like everyone else - "just an ordinary person". I think it resonates particularly with all the discussions regarding diversity in the Arts with everyone pointing the finger to the problematic "them" and acting as if they themselves are not part of the problem.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">This book also introduced me to Fitzcarraldo editions who have a fantastic list - I already have picked up <i>Pond</i> by Claire-Louise Bennett and <i>Memory Theatre</i> by Simon Critchley to read.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"><i>When Breath Becomes Air</i> by Paul Kalanithi</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Published by Bodley Head, 2016</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Thanks to Vintage for the finished copy!</span></div>
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<i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">What makes a virtuous and meaningful life? Paul Kalanithi believed that the answer lay in medicine’s most demanding specialization, neurosurgery. Here are patients at their life’s most critical moment. Here he worked in the most critical place for human identity, the brain. What is it like to do that every day; and what happens when life is catastrophically interrupted?</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #181818;">When Breath Becomes Air</span><span style="background-color: white;"> <i>is an unforgettable reflection on the practice of medicine and the relationship between doctor and patient, from a gifted writer who became both.</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">With a foreword by Dr Abraham Verghese and an epilogue by the author<span style="background-color: white;">’</span>s wife, Lucy.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I love reading books about death and it seems there have been so many published this year. This one is spectacular, it is written by a doctor and a writer who wrote this while dying of cancer. It is powerful and beautifully written and in some parts took my breath away.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It blends memoir with incredible reflections on medicine, death and healing. I can't recommend it highly enough.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZcLnVApSAWvDceFe1iBizd4oJqEpXYsw1cDmGM7NfGMyv27hfQgwFeELUO3GcQE3euLNuCOgkcViMFHt67pKdaNffHA_vZUzO4Cwkm8SpCFVSSqEAwnwlhXcR7xayV1VqH2P3aNBedrM/s1600/1000x2000.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZcLnVApSAWvDceFe1iBizd4oJqEpXYsw1cDmGM7NfGMyv27hfQgwFeELUO3GcQE3euLNuCOgkcViMFHt67pKdaNffHA_vZUzO4Cwkm8SpCFVSSqEAwnwlhXcR7xayV1VqH2P3aNBedrM/s320/1000x2000.jpg" width="212" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"><i>The Argonauts</i> by Maggie Nelson</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Published by Melville House, 2016</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-style: italic;">An intrepid voyage out to the frontiers of the latest thinking about love, language, and family.</span><br style="color: #333333; text-align: start;" /><br style="color: #333333; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-style: italic;">A timely and genre-bending memoir that offers fresh and fierce reflections on motherhood, desire, identity and feminism.</span><br style="color: #333333; text-align: start;" /><br style="color: #333333; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-style: italic;">At the centre of </span><span style="color: #333333; text-align: start;">The Argonauts</span><span style="background-color: white; font-style: italic;"> is the love story between Maggie Nelson and the artist Harry Dodge, who is fluidly gendered. As Nelson undergoes the transformations of pregnancy, she explores the challenges and complexities of mothering and queer family making. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This is a fascinating book about Maggie Nelson's reflections on life, femininity, love, motherhood and language while also talking about her life and her relationship with trans artist Harry Dodge who describes himself as a "debonair butch on T". </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The writing in the book is incredibly compelling and the beauty of the writing combined with the breadth of topics made for a fantastic read. The author includes quotes from a bunch of theorists about feminism, parenting, gender studies etc to try to make sense of the reality she lives in.</span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> I like the idea that knowledge and awareness are fluid concepts that evolve over time, rather than a fixed <i>knowing</i> state of being that remains unchanged. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The title comes from the Argonauts who, despite replacing sections of their ship time and time again, still called it the Argo. It feels like a lovely metaphor about life and identity. I loved this book and I also loved the fact that it goes beyond the idea of family, motherhood and femininity as cis and heteronormative concepts.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Let me know if you've read any fantastic non-fiction lately!!</span></span></span></div>
Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18270606510325274092noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1352172002453207458.post-73045976350947522182016-05-16T22:10:00.001+01:002016-05-16T22:10:47.477+01:00The Glorious Heresies by Lisa McInerney | Pleasantville by Attica Locke | Rush Oh! by Shirley Barrett<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>The Glorious Heresies</i> by Lisa McInerney</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Shortlisted <span style="background-color: white;">for the Baileys Women's Prize for Fiction</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Longlisted <span style="background-color: white;">for the Desmond Elliott Prize for debut fiction</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>One messy murder affects the lives of five misfits who exist on the fringes of Ireland's post-crash society. Ryan is a fifteen-year-old drug dealer desperate not to turn out like his alcoholic father Tony, whose obsession with his unhinged next-door neighbour threatens to ruin him and his family. Georgie is a prostitute whose willingness to feign a religious conversion has dangerous repercussions, while Maureen, the accidental murderer, has returned to Cork after forty years in exile to discover that Jimmy, the son she was forced to give up years before, has grown into the most fearsome gangster in the city. In seeking atonement for the murder and a multitude of other perceived sins, Maureen threatens to destroy everything her son has worked so hard for, while her actions risk bringing the intertwined lives of the Irish underworld into the spotlight . . .</i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; text-align: justify;"><i>B</i></span><i style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; text-align: justify;">iting, moving and darkly funny, </i><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; text-align: justify;">The Glorious Heresies</span><i style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; text-align: justify;"> explores salvation, shame and the legacy of Ireland's twentieth-century attitudes to sex and family.</i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I was completely engrossed in <i>The Glorious Heresies</i> and it's one of my favourite titles on the Baileys longlist and shortlist. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The story follows the lives of five characters in Cork who meet each other, ruin each other's lives and save each other. The book talks about Ireland's recent history, religion, traditions, sex and family. There is a lot to take in in this book. It is at times funny, at times utterly heartbreaking. The language is beautiful and often lyrical.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">An interesting aspect of the interlacing stories was the different generations of the characters. This really put each story into perspective and showed some events in a new light. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The most striking thing for me was how much heart there is in the book. It's especially interesting to see inside the lives of characters from the fringes of society, ones who are usually dismissed and/or stereotyped - sex workers, addicts, drug dealers, killers.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This book is about life, the messy kind, the one you're given, the one you fight for. I loved it to bits and I can't wait to read what McInerney writes next.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOZqRPlJftC7lvhn07JYJbB9b50tIe52noTaDaeAT_9zfyU-fWC7dAnFN65GB4MTXV5TwR7oc6itp_6qI0pmHqSlFDDv0aU7-_aX3vcOv28NkFNhFL9Y6vdZO73lBpdyLsEaJP-H3dCjI/s1600/Pleasantville.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOZqRPlJftC7lvhn07JYJbB9b50tIe52noTaDaeAT_9zfyU-fWC7dAnFN65GB4MTXV5TwR7oc6itp_6qI0pmHqSlFDDv0aU7-_aX3vcOv28NkFNhFL9Y6vdZO73lBpdyLsEaJP-H3dCjI/s320/Pleasantville.png" width="205" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>Pleasantville</i> by Attica Locke</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Published by Serpent's Tail, 2015</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">Longlisted for</span><span style="background-color: white;"> the Baileys Women's Prize for Fiction</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>In this sophisticated thriller, lawyer Jay Porter, hero of Locke’s bestseller </i>Black Water Rising<i>, returns to fight one last case, only to become embroiled once again in a dangerous game of shadowy politics and a witness to how far those in power are willing to go to win</i></span></div>
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<i style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Fifteen years after the events of </i><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Black Water Rising</span><i style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">, Jay Porter is struggling to cope with catastrophic changes in his personal life and the disintegration of his environmental law practice. His victory against Cole Oil is still the crown jewel of his career, even if he hasn’t yet seen a dime thanks to appeals. But time has taken its toll. Tired and restless, he's ready to quit.</i></div>
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<i style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">When a girl goes missing on Election Night, 1996, in the neighborhood of Pleasantville—a hamlet for upwardly-mobile blacks on the north side of Houston—Jay, a single father, is deeply disturbed. He’s been representing Pleasantville in the wake of a chemical fire, and the case is dragging on, raising doubts about his ability.</i></div>
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<i style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The missing girl was a volunteer for one of the local mayoral candidates, and her disappearance complicates an already heated campaign. When the nephew of one of the candidates, a Pleasantville local, is arrested, Jay reluctantly finds himself serving as a defense attorney. With a man’s life and his own reputation on the line, Jay is about to try his first murder in a case that will also put an electoral process on trial, exposing the dark side of power and those determined to keep it.</i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This is the first book by Attica Locke I've read and I can tell you it won't be the last! The book starts with the disappearance of a young girl who was volunteering for a local campaign. The circumstances of the disappearance seem familiar and politics soon intrude on the investigation.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I love all things political and the mechanics of power and this was everything I love about political thrillers and so much more. The setting was particularly interesting. I hadn't heard of Pleasantville before and the role it plays in the political scene in Texas. The book is set in the 1990s during a mayoral election and it was fascinating to see changes in the political landscape, which would go on to affect elections as we've witnessed them. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This book has a lot to say about times changing, about race, politics and people. The characters were all layered and complex. Right and wrong isn't clearcut, just as in real life. I loved reading about Jay Porter's moral compass and his doubts.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So much of the book speaks about events happening in the world today - black girls disappear and no one goes digging. It was so heartening to see Jay Porter's mission to bring justice to the parents of these girls and his fight against corruption. It's the social aspect of the book and the idea of justice that really made the book special for me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">If you're a fan of the politics and legal drama in <i>The West Wing, The Good Wife </i>and <i>To Kill a Mockingbird</i>, then you're in for a real treat!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>Rush Oh! </i>by Shirley Barrett</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">Published by Virago, 2015</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">Longlisted </span><span style="background-color: white;">for the Baileys Women's Prize for Fiction</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181818; text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">An impassioned, charming, and hilarious debut novel about a young woman's coming-of-age, during one of the harshest whaling seasons in history. </span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; text-align: left;"><i>When the eldest daughter of a whaling family in New South Wales sets out to write about the particularly difficult season of 1908, the story she tells reveals itself to be far larger than she ever expected. As her family struggles to survive, and as she attempts to navigate sibling rivalries and all-consuming first love, nineteen-year-old Mary will soon discover a shocking side to these men who hunt the seas, and the truth of her own place among them. Swinging from Mary's own hopes and disappointments to the challenges that have beset her family's whaling operation, </i>Rush Oh!<i> is also a celebration of an extraordinary episode in history, when man and beast formed a unique, heartwarming allegiance.</i></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I found <i>Rush Oh!</i> to be utterly charming. It gave me the same feeling I have reading Jane Austen or Dodie Smith's <i>I Capture The Castle</i>, with a lovely (if a little innocent and clueless) heroine recounting her early life and her first foray into love.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Mary is the eldest daughter of a whaling family and, with her mother gone, she is the one taking care of the household. She has to cook for her father's team of whalers and look after her younger siblings. <i>Rush Oh!</i> is Mary's account of a difficult whaling season and her meeting with a young man she has high hopes about. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The storytelling is beguiling. I loved being inside Mary's head and seeing her relationship with the whalers and others in the local village. The period is also an interesting one, foreboding changes in the industry and looking at how a small town can survive when its main industry becomes superfluous. Another fascinating point was how the whalers operated -</span> helped by a group of killer whales, all with their different personalities. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">My one slight niggling issue is that it's all from the point of view of Mary but at times she recounts episodes about which she couldn't possibly know every detail, which pulled me out of the story sometimes. That being said, it didn't completely tarnish my enjoyment of the book and I spent such a good time learning about whaling, the fascinating relationship between man and nature and following Mary's affections.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Definitely one to read if you love a down-to-earth heroine you can root for.</span></div>
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</span>Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18270606510325274092noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1352172002453207458.post-62441552469661646212016-04-24T14:08:00.000+01:002016-04-24T14:08:14.598+01:00Girl at War by Sara Novic | The Secret Chord by Geraldine Brooks | The Book of Memory by Petina Gappah<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>Girl at War</i> by Sara Nović</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Published by Little Brown, 2015</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Longlisted for the Baileys Women's Prize for Fiction</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Zagreb, summer of 1991. Ten-year-old Ana Juric is a carefree tomboy who runs the streets of Croatia’s capital with her best friend, Luka, takes care of her baby sister, Rahela, and idolizes her father. But as civil war breaks out across Yugoslavia, soccer games and school lessons are supplanted by sniper fire and air raid drills. When tragedy suddenly strikes, Ana is lost to a world of guerilla warfare and child soldiers; a daring escape plan to America becomes her only chance for survival.</i></span></div>
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<i>Ten years later Ana is a college student in New York. She’s been hiding her past from her boyfriend, her friends, and most especially herself. Haunted by the events that forever changed her family, she returns alone to Croatia, where she must rediscover the place that was once her home and search for the ghosts of those she’s lost. With generosity, intelligence, and sheer storytelling talent, Sara Nović’s first novel confronts the enduring impact of war, and the enduring bonds of country and friendship.</i></div>
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This book was a real revelation for me and it shows how important prize longlists can be for bringing authors to the attention of readers. I had set out to read as much of the Baileys longlist as I could anyway, but Girl at War kept calling to me. I'm not sure if it's the book's European-ness that has appealed to me or if it's just the subject matter but I read it in two greedy sittings and I am already looking forward to the author's next book. </div>
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The book is set in two different times, one part with Ana as a 10-year-old when the Balkans war starts, and the other with Ana at college, being thrust back into her past and travelling back to Croatia. Ana's voice is so brilliantly woven between the two timelines that I still can't believe this is the author's debut novel. I was taken by Ana's voice from the start, and keen to witness what happened to her while she remembered her past.</div>
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I think it's a brilliantly written piece of fiction that highlights powerful themes. Especially with the anti-European and "anti-foreign" sentiments developing in the UK and the role of the UN getting severely criticised. </div>
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I loved following Ana when she goes back to Croatia and confronts what happened to her after years of quashing her memories. As a child she tried talking truthfully about what had happened to her but no one really wanted to hear. The reader can bear witness to the atrocities of this war by reading Ana's journey. </div>
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I couldn't recommend this book highly enough. </div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>The Secret Chord</i> by Geraldine Brooks</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Published by Little Brown, 2015</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Longlisted for the Baileys Women's Prize for Fiction</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>With more than two million copies of her novels sold, </i>New York Times <i>bestselling author Geraldine Brooks has achieved both popular and critical acclaim. Now, Brooks takes on one of literature's richest and most enigmatic figures: a man who shimmers between history and legend. </i></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Peeling away the myth to bring David to life in Second Iron Age Israel, Brooks traces the arc of his journey from obscurity to fame, from shepherd to soldier, from hero to traitor, from beloved king to murderous despot and into his remorseful and diminished dotage. </i>The Secret Chord<i> provides new context for some of the best-known episodes of David's life while also focusing on others, even more remarkable and emotionally intense, that have been neglected. We see David through the eyes of those who love him or fear him - from the prophet Natan, voice of his conscience, to his wives Mikal, Avigail and Batsheva, and finally to Solomon, the late-born son who redeems his Lear-like old age. Brooks has an uncanny ability to hear and transform characters from history, and this beautifully written, unvarnished saga of faith, desire, family, ambition, betrayal, and power will enthral her many fans.</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I don't read a lot of historical/mythical fiction (though I love history and myths, weirdly) and I never seem to seek out this kind of book but I'm always so happy when books like this pop up on a prize longlist, bringing them to my attention. I absolutely adored <i>The Song of Achilles</i> by Madeline Miller and though <i>The Secret Chord</i> didn't steal my heart in quite the same way, it definitely made me want to seek more books by Geraldine Brooks and more books in the same vein.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>The Secret Chord </i>is a retelling of the story of David (as in David and Goliath) seen through the eyes of his prophet Natan, but also through the stories of the people closest to him. Regardless of the religious aspect of the book, we can see how myths get built and a legend starts. I didn't feel taken by Natan's voice at first, feeling him quite emotionally detached from what he was observing, but as the story grew, and as his understanding of David developed, I loved the concept of Natan telling the story. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Natan is a fascinating character who channels prophecies through his body and rarely manages to witness them himself. He attaches himself to David as a young boy and serves as his prophet but also as his friend, being one of the few to be able to be honest with him. David is a flawed man whose decisions (and tragic flaws) impact on his life and the life of those around him. I very much enjoyed this brilliantly written and judged piece of fiction.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>The Book of Memory</i> by Petina Gappah</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Published by Faber and Faber, 2015</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Longlisted for the Baileys Women's Prize for Fiction</span></div>
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<i style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Memory, the narrator of </i><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The Book of Memory</span><i style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">, is an albino woman languishing in Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison in Harare, Zimbabwe, where she has been convicted of murder. As part of her appeal her lawyer insists that she write down what happened as she remembers it. The death penalty is a mandatory sentence for murder, and Memory is, both literally and metaphorically, writing for her life. As her story unfolds, Memory reveals that she has been tried and convicted for the murder of Lloyd Hendricks, her adopted father. </i></div>
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<span id="freeText17103002886608189828"><i>But who was Lloyd Hendricks? Why does Memory feel no remorse for his death? And did everything happen exactly as she remembers? Moving between the townships of the poor and the suburbs of the rich, and between the past and the present, Memory weaves a compelling tale of love, obsession, the relentlessness of fate and the treachery of memory.</i></span><span style="background-color: white; font-style: italic;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">There is a type of book that takes hold of you from the first few sentences and keeps you reading and invested in the story throughout. <i>The Book of Memory</i> was this kind of book for me. Petina Gappah's writing was quietly sublime; I was in Memory's head from the start and was fascinated to read her story. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The story is told through a diary Memory starts while in prison, accused of murder. Memory is an albino woman who grew up with her parents and sisters before being "adopted" by Lloyd, a white man, when she was young. It is Lloyd whom she is accused of murdering, and in her diary she recounts the events leading up to her imprisonment.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The prose is powerful and the voice strong. Though I finished the book a few weeks ago, I still think about the story and about Memory's life in prison, and what it must have been like growing up as an albino woman in Zimbabwe. What really shone through the book was her feeling of always being the odd one out and never feeling like she fit in. This is the author's debut novel, but she has had a bunch of short stories and essays published, which I'll be looking out for.</span></div>
Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18270606510325274092noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1352172002453207458.post-47418525943064787122016-01-02T14:36:00.002+00:002016-01-02T14:37:17.612+00:00LGBTQIA Classics Challenge 2016 on Queer YA<br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Happy New Year!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Just a quick post to let you know I'll be participating in the 2016 Classics Challenge organised by the lovely <a href="https://theprettybooks.wordpress.com/2015/12/27/2016-classics-challenge/">Stacey @ Pretty Books</a> with a focus on classics with sexuality and gender identity themes. I'll be posting thoughts on books over on my other blog Queer YA (<a href="http://queerya.org/2016/01/lgbtqia-classics-challenge-2016/">link here</a>) so do head over there if you're interested.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I hope you received many lovely books at Christmas (I did!) and you had time to read a bunch of them over the holidays (I definitely did!).</span>Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18270606510325274092noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1352172002453207458.post-38424864486737326642015-07-12T20:47:00.001+01:002015-07-12T20:47:26.845+01:00June Reads<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Hi all,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Here are the books I've read in June. I've read some truly amazing YA books, the new Judy Blume and discovered a fascinating gender studies book!</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>The Summer I Wasn't Me</i> by Jessica Verdi</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I read this book as part of the Queer YA Scrabble at the beginning of June. This was a stand-out book for me as it dealt sensitively with a lot of themes that are important to me and that I don't see so much in YA books: sexuality, femininity and religion. The fact that it was set in a camp to de-gayify was also fascinating. You can read <a href="http://queerya.org/2015/06/the-summer-i-wasnt-me-by-jessica-verdi-review-queer-ya-scrabble/">my full review here</a> on Queer YA but this is a book that more people should be reading and I will be pushing it into many hands!</span></div>
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<a href="http://queerya.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/summer-prince.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="http://queerya.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/summer-prince.jpg" height="200" width="133" /></span></a><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>The Summer Prince</i> by Alaya Dawn Johnson</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This is another book I read as part of the Queer YA Scrabble last month and it's been on my radar forever so I was so thrilled to finally get a chance to read it. This is another stand-out book for me in terms of YA. This book is utterly unique in its setting, characters and storytelling and I am in so much awe at Alaya Dawn Johnson's talent. The fantasy isn't your typical fantasy and there is a varied cast of characters. Brownie points for non-judgmental sex and masturbation scenes. You can see <a href="http://queerya.org/2015/06/the-summer-prince-by-alaya-dawn-johnson-review-queer-ya-scrabble/">my full review here</a> on Queer YA. If you love fantasy, this is one for you to discover this summer!</span></div>
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<a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61S9MKThBRL._SY344_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61S9MKThBRL._SY344_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" height="200" width="131" /></span></a><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Elspeth Hart and the School for Show-Offs</i> by Sarah Forbes</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I read this lovely book for younger readers in one sitting, it was at times sweet and at others quite terrifying. Elspeth is a deeply lovable heroine and we can't help but root for her as she is trying to find out what happened to her parents while going about her daily life in the Show-Off School. Some of the characters are truly sinister and will remind you of the nightmarish characters in Roald Dahl's books. A lovely start to a soon-to-be classic series. </span></div>
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<a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/5184QoaCiCL._SX325_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/5184QoaCiCL._SX325_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" height="200" width="130" /></span></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>One</i> by Sarah Crossan</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This book utterly broke my heart and is written with such a light and powerful touch that I'm sure it will be sweeping up all the children's / YA awards this year. This verse novel about conjoined twins Grace and Tippi will take over your heart. This is a heart wrenching and heart warming story about sisters, love and identity and is such an amazing addition to the UK (and Ireland) YA scene. It will also convert you to verse novels. Perfect for fans of contemporary YA like John Green, Jenny Downham and Gayle Forman. </span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Fear of Flying</i> by Erica Jong</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I read this as the author's new book, <i>Fear of Dying</i>, is out at the end of the year and I wanted to read her classic novel which I'd never read before. I think this is one of these books that can't be read without keeping in mind the context in which it was written. This was very much an instant classic when it came out for its portrayal of female sexuality and which resonated with a lot of women at the time. The novel is narrated by poet and writer Isadora who finds herself in Vienna for a conference. She ditches her husband of five years in search of a more fulfilling relationship and what she ends up finding is herself. Things have changed since it was written but I really liked the style and the feminist themes so I'm very much looking forward to reading the new book!</span><br />
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<a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/512BgL5iygL._SX330_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/512BgL5iygL._SX330_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" height="200" width="132" /></span></a><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Poirot Investigates</i> (Hercule Poirot) by Agatha Christie</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">As ever, there isn't any month where I don't read an Agatha Christie! I was reticent to read Poirot at first, thinking the stereotypes on Belgians (and French people by extension) would be too annoying for me but I actually ADORE Poirot and even read his dialogue with a French accent in my head. This book is a collection of short mysteries that Poirot, Hastings and the famed little grey cells solve. I am always very proud to solve some of the mysteries myself and this was greatly enjoyable.</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.davidhigham.co.uk/sitecontent/images/13637798471492_MMPB_cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="http://www.davidhigham.co.uk/sitecontent/images/13637798471492_MMPB_cover.jpg" height="200" width="131" /></span></a></div>
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>1492: The Year Our World Began</i> by Felipe Fernandez-Armesto</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I'm doing some research on this period of history for something I'm writing and was hoping this book would be perfect but I didn't like this book as much as I'd hoped. Each chapter is about a different country for the years around 1492 and it was hard to put in perspective what happened simultaneously. It was interesting to read but I will be tracking down some other books on the subject to get more insight on some aspects of the period.</span><br />
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<a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41C2Bikjt7L._SY344_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41C2Bikjt7L._SY344_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" height="200" width="123" /></span></a><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Women, History and Theory: The Essays of Joan Kelly</i> by Joan Kelly</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I loved reading this book. Joan Kelly is one of the first researchers in gender studies and she comes from a history background. It was so fascinating to read her essays - collected in this edition after her death - on looking at history from the point of view of women and how widely accepted periodisations in history can't apply to a history of women. Her essay on Renaissance and how there wasn't, strictly speaking, a Renaissance for women and this period of history was mostly about increased rights for men, was truly fascinating. This was a fantastic random find from the library and I'll be seeking more books by Joan Kelly in the future. </span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>In The Unlikely Event</i> by Judy Blume</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I adored this book! Loved it so so much! I'd only read Judy Blume's YA books and didn't know what to expect from one of her adult books but I totally loved it. The story is about three generations of family, friends and strangers in Elizabeth, New Jersey, after a series of unexpected events in the 1950s. I loved the variety of characters and what they were going through, especially Miri. I also loved the story, which was inspired by true events, and which is so topical and really makes you think. This is an amazing book and the perfect read for this summer. (Warning: not to be read on a plane or before a plane journey. You're welcome.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">What amazing books have you read last month?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In July I've already read a few <b>Judy Blume</b> classics in preparation for her event on 16th July in Edinburgh (SO EXCITED! <a href="https://www.waterstones.com/events/an-evening-with-judy-blume/edinburgh-west-end">Tickets here if you want to come</a>!), as well as <b>Naomi Novik</b>'s AMAZING new fantasy book <i style="font-weight: bold;">Uprooted </i>and <b>Nancy Tucker</b>'s memoir about her eating disorder <b><i>The Time in Between</i></b>. </span></div>
Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18270606510325274092noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1352172002453207458.post-66120684298887845552015-06-11T14:34:00.000+01:002015-06-11T14:34:08.062+01:00May Reads<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Hi all,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Here are the books I've read last month:</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-k955z5VKLtqigW-pMrqbLtRFvoDRTWzkLy2xfj_c1VHx4OCrLU67s807fIPzZ5sjlKizG_wqdpZpUrHbL-G8nj6aiv2tXlb6JIV4rJ3k0kwzDrEKNIK0QAFq3CX4TDU6kyRArg8483A/s1600/9782354882402_1_75.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-k955z5VKLtqigW-pMrqbLtRFvoDRTWzkLy2xfj_c1VHx4OCrLU67s807fIPzZ5sjlKizG_wqdpZpUrHbL-G8nj6aiv2tXlb6JIV4rJ3k0kwzDrEKNIK0QAFq3CX4TDU6kyRArg8483A/s200/9782354882402_1_75.jpg" width="142" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i>Bulles and Blues</i> by Charlotte Bousquet and Stephanie Rubini</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This is the third book in this
French graphic novel series that follows the lives of middle school teens. I
loved the first two ones (<i>Rouge Tagada</i><span class="ecxapple-converted-space"> </span>and<span class="ecxapple-converted-space"> </span><i>Mots Rumeurs, Mots Cutter</i>)
and this one was equally enjoyable. I love reading about the feelings of
isolation and fitting in that the main character experiences and also the
passion for drawing. I really love where this series is going and I think I'll
do a post about all of them soon!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht3cqoh8LNi4NKEjDLljIw-6zAkqEjmdnkPSTVU1B3AeydPvzrTC9Rb9AUQCGDdwolXnRDETL-o7iWrcp47Gf_Ehu14dT2LvHjYli108AXVCzydNxQNlQL50LfrbrGl0hz8vEM0Ws7Xhg/s1600/51P2XupIpJL._SY344_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht3cqoh8LNi4NKEjDLljIw-6zAkqEjmdnkPSTVU1B3AeydPvzrTC9Rb9AUQCGDdwolXnRDETL-o7iWrcp47Gf_Ehu14dT2LvHjYli108AXVCzydNxQNlQL50LfrbrGl0hz8vEM0Ws7Xhg/s200/51P2XupIpJL._SY344_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" width="123" /></span></a><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i>The Thirteen Problems</i> (Miss Marple) by Agatha Christie</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I
have become a HUGE Miss Marple fan so progressively going through the whole
collection. This one is about a group of dinner guests telling each other
stories with a mystery and the other having to guess the answer. There are
thirteen stories told by different characters and Miss Marple is just showing
everyone up by being amazing as always. This wasn't one of my favourite but I
still hugely enjoyed reading it (and guessing 5 of the mysteries!).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Girls Will Be Girls: Dressing Up, Playing Parts and Daring to Act Differently</i> by Emer O’Toole</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I was really looking forward to this
book and even though I loved most of it the last couple of chapters left me
cold. I'm a feminist and also queer and I struggle sometimes to agree with what
the new wave of (straight) feminists say. I thought this book would be one that
wouldn't elicit this reaction. I was completely behind the whole idea of gender
as a performance and costume and found that aspect fascinating to read about.
The part of "dressing androgynous" and feeling ashamed of one's appearance
less so. Worth a read if you ignore the last two chapters. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTPZIwfdsMbk5_Pg-EcGh7J2l1yjjOPwHCmzuq9g0nJQ76B1ZhydkkRDtaSVdV0Afg_JqlyeA8Srh6-dLj6dI6wDUt9Q4BwM3ErbbmHlqrN3ZDRrKFjaUHOZ411KRyrytwC0Mm9pN0588/s1600/18621200.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTPZIwfdsMbk5_Pg-EcGh7J2l1yjjOPwHCmzuq9g0nJQ76B1ZhydkkRDtaSVdV0Afg_JqlyeA8Srh6-dLj6dI6wDUt9Q4BwM3ErbbmHlqrN3ZDRrKFjaUHOZ411KRyrytwC0Mm9pN0588/s200/18621200.jpg" width="130" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i>Say Her Name</i> by James Dawson</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Say Her Name</i><span class="ecxapple-converted-space"> </span>was
shortlisted for the YA Book Prize shortlist and is a horror YA story set
in a boarding school. I was very much looking forward to reading it as I grew
up with (a French equivalent of) the Bloody Mary myth and it was great to see
how it’d work in a contemporary setting. It's great for fans of YA horror. </span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i>Finding Jennifer Jones</i> by Anne Cassidy</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I absolutely adored<span class="ecxapple-converted-space"> </span><i>Looking For JJ</i><span class="ecxapple-converted-space"> </span>and I've had my eye on this sequel
for ages. We find Jennifer Jones as a student living in a flatshare and working
for the summer. She is coming to terms with her new life and is trying to find
her place in the world. Looking at the age of the main character and the themes
talked about in the book, this could be technically qualified as New Adult
though I know most titles in this age group are very different and
mostly centred on sexy times. I loved this book and I loved the
themes covered and I'm so glad Anne Cassidy shared the end of JJ's story with
us. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMWZHRCPas7Mw1KsDBwOKtD5hpzqdzewZlHslL7H6tm_OFgpzT1XhEk6qxzl2DGA7mQxX2dMDZkRp1neEg9ZcWmWfZZUpHTjmIthypLOuL9DGxIbB4HwS04P0bpjNHN0xkPv3-G0BLhkY/s1600/41-qAQKy92L._SY344_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMWZHRCPas7Mw1KsDBwOKtD5hpzqdzewZlHslL7H6tm_OFgpzT1XhEk6qxzl2DGA7mQxX2dMDZkRp1neEg9ZcWmWfZZUpHTjmIthypLOuL9DGxIbB4HwS04P0bpjNHN0xkPv3-G0BLhkY/s200/41-qAQKy92L._SY344_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" width="130" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i>Better: A Surgeon’s Notes on Performance</i> by Atul Gawande</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Someone heavily recommended<span class="ecxapple-converted-space"> </span><i>Being Mortal</i><span class="ecxapple-converted-space"> </span>to me which is Atul Gawande's
latest title so the author was on my radar when I spotted this title at the
library and decided to give it a go. This is the first one of his books I read
and I was pleasantly surprised as I never thought a non-fiction book focusing
on medicine would ever be my cup of tea (I mean, I faint at the sight of blood
and have a phobia of needles and anything linked to hospitals...). I really
enjoyed reading this and I'm looking forward to reading his other books (which
Goodreads tell me are even better).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyiKA14K7H9Z036FN16jTL2p2lwGlH-_cXBZZp6wlJ3L_ftQMDalGW_RiYJODiG1PNVqtmpjJ-2xKTXGKm710RvM2zHLUDOQFFqdeOs7Z23RvKfMqQGHd-XrvR7oGqIQ4rWeRJJFp0zeE/s1600/9780857522818.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyiKA14K7H9Z036FN16jTL2p2lwGlH-_cXBZZp6wlJ3L_ftQMDalGW_RiYJODiG1PNVqtmpjJ-2xKTXGKm710RvM2zHLUDOQFFqdeOs7Z23RvKfMqQGHd-XrvR7oGqIQ4rWeRJJFp0zeE/s200/9780857522818.jpg" width="133" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i>Disclaimer </i>by Renee Knight</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This is one of the domestic noir
titles that has been recommended to me a lot. My wife loved it and I was
looking forward to reading it but I ended up not loving it. I think it made me
extremely uncomfortable and it wasn't quite the pleasant read but the plot is
full of twists and turns and I can see it working really well for crime
readers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8OAjdzL0y3aGeO5R9P_n0Q0I7xOvDZw1cIm3vc4ZC0LDTqjqS7x0pai6jVi_Mpur1reeZvYeLAo8MHrpix_6kWZiqWkQTTdyHcTTek_5w5VD_wEkABnXhDSv0bZ7G_xs2i_PCI0QfPFg/s1600/615O9rAywTL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8OAjdzL0y3aGeO5R9P_n0Q0I7xOvDZw1cIm3vc4ZC0LDTqjqS7x0pai6jVi_Mpur1reeZvYeLAo8MHrpix_6kWZiqWkQTTdyHcTTek_5w5VD_wEkABnXhDSv0bZ7G_xs2i_PCI0QfPFg/s200/615O9rAywTL.jpg" width="125" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i>Recipes for Love and Murder</i> (A Tannie Maria Mystery) by Sally Andrew</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I absolutely adored this book! Cosy
crime? Food? Fabulous main character? I mean was this book written for me?!
It's Miss Marple meets Nigella. I loved the intrigue, the characters, the
writing. Only negative thing I'd say is that the book really should come with
all the food mentioned in the book for you to eat at the same time as the characters. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLxFC_IS8KL59T8QmmXLA9DOh72dlsw5AIau1oJFqrelqz2GvckjGuhzyrNM6scNnoTPC-Fz-mYFiYOVROUTl5Yc3dkANL7TQbEV1STdtxTK__tIhV9Cgcf4CbCHWrFv8lDMvUnOUYN_o/s1600/the-girl-on-the-train-uk-e1420761445402.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLxFC_IS8KL59T8QmmXLA9DOh72dlsw5AIau1oJFqrelqz2GvckjGuhzyrNM6scNnoTPC-Fz-mYFiYOVROUTl5Yc3dkANL7TQbEV1STdtxTK__tIhV9Cgcf4CbCHWrFv8lDMvUnOUYN_o/s200/the-girl-on-the-train-uk-e1420761445402.jpg" width="130" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i>The Girl on the Train</i> by Paula Hawkins</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Another domestic noir which I ended
up not quite loving. In the same way that Gone Girl is a brilliant book that is
a disturbing and stressful read, I can't say this has been enjoyable. I didn't
like most of the characters. It's an interesting premise though and
I'm sure all crime/domestic noir fans are loving this book. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGK-L8xdr3TzGWq0oVSr_K6JVyRoadFApTbxanT12aoQI7H9mziBIeVGbGyuj_TJS1j4zYde7jZgRXWbC6QePsxal9UVUOQFakFOnBblMrI60uZsMe-8OMPFg6zbzl9nINPnCGIUAgHis/s1600/51Ux8Z3mvNL._SY344_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGK-L8xdr3TzGWq0oVSr_K6JVyRoadFApTbxanT12aoQI7H9mziBIeVGbGyuj_TJS1j4zYde7jZgRXWbC6QePsxal9UVUOQFakFOnBblMrI60uZsMe-8OMPFg6zbzl9nINPnCGIUAgHis/s200/51Ux8Z3mvNL._SY344_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" width="130" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i>A Court of Thorn and Roses</i> by Sarah J. Maas</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I was SO looking forward to this
book. I've enjoyed reading Sarah J. Maas's other series and this looked like a
retelling of the Beauty and the Beast so YES PLEASE. But I ultimately didn't
connect with the story as much as I'd hoped. There are Sarah J Maas's punchy
writing style and sensual characters but the plot and world-building was what
drew me out of the story. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i>Freakboy </i>by Kristin Elizabeth Clark</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I was part of the online event Queer
YA Scrabble last weekend on my other blog<span class="ecxapple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://queerya.org/" target="_blank">Queer
YA</a> and I read this as part of it. I've had this book on my
radar for years and was so glad to finally read it. I hadn't realised it was a
verse novel and it was a very pleasant surprise. The style really lends itself
to the story and I found it truly amazing and inspiring. See<span class="ecxapple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://queerya.org/2015/06/freakboy-by-kristin-elizabeth-clark-review-queer-ya-scrabble/" target="_blank">my
review here</a><span class="ecxapple-converted-space"> </span>if you want
to read.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">That's it from me. Hope you enjoyed
this new format of post on the books I've read and you see something in there
that you might fancy! What did you read in May that was mind-blowingly
good? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In June I'm
reading some more<span class="ecxapple-converted-space"> </span><b>LGBTQIA
YA</b>, the new<span class="ecxapple-converted-space"> </span><b>Judy Blume</b><span class="ecxapple-converted-space"> </span>and<span class="ecxapple-converted-space"> </span><b><i>A Little Life</i><span class="ecxapple-converted-space"> </span>by Hanya Yanagihara</b><span class="ecxapple-converted-space"> </span>which is fast becoming my new favourite
book ever. </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"></span></o:p></div>
Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18270606510325274092noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1352172002453207458.post-80180187165777730272015-05-26T14:16:00.000+01:002015-05-26T14:16:11.011+01:00All The Bright Places - Jennifer Niven<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><u>Summary:</u></b></span></div>
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<b style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;">Theodore Finch</b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;"> is fascinated by death, and he constantly thinks of ways he might kill himself. But each time, something good, no matter how small, stops him.</span></div>
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<b style="font-weight: bold;">Violet Markey</b><span style="background-color: white;"><b> </b>lives for the future, counting the days until graduation, when she can escape her Indiana town and her aching grief in the wake of her sister’s recent death.</span></div>
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When Finch and Violet meet on the ledge of the bell tower at school, it’s unclear who saves whom. And when they pair up on a project to discover the “natural wonders” of their state, both Finch and Violet make more important discoveries: It’s only with Violet that Finch can be himself—a weird, funny, live-out-loud guy who’s not such a freak after all. And it’s only with Finch that Violet can forget to count away the days and start living them. But as Violet’s world grows, Finch’s begins to shrink.</div>
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This is an intense, gripping novel perfect for fans of Gayle Forman, Jay Asher, Rainbow Rowell, John Green, and Jenny Downham from a talented new voice in YA, Jennifer Niven.</div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><u>Becky's review:</u></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I was surprised by how much this book moved me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I started reading it and was expecting the novel to be a
light teen-romance story: boy meets girl, girl meets boy, you know that kind of
thing! And I was right in a way as all of those elements, which we know and
love, from a Romance story are there in abundance. Niven describes the
electrifying thrills of first love so well that the reader feels the exciting jolts
of expectation and longing along with Violet every time she brushes against
Finch’s hand. The relationship that forms between the two central characters is
utterly believable; their love story is sweet, sincere and beautifully written.
But the fact that both characters meet on top of a Bell Tower at the start of
the book, contemplating thoughts of suicide, indicates that this is not going
to be your average fairy-tale love affair.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The central Romance is born out of this meeting, and
immediately flags to the reader that this story is going to be a complicated
one. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The book does not shy away from
complex issues about mental health, depression and suicide. As you read on and
begin to root for both Finch and Violet to be together forever the narrative
also subtly weaves in a sense of tragic foreboding. You want the star crossed
lovers to live happily ever after, but much like another literary duo, Romeo
and Juliet, the reader senses that this may not end well for one, or both, of
the main characters. Niven isn’t writing a light literary Romance, but is bringing
real and complicated social issues to the front of her narrative.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The characters are written really well, but for me it is the
bold choice of themes that I really loved about this book. Niven challenges
stereotypes and stigmatism surrounding mental health in our society by showing
the undefinable nature of mental health problems. There is no easy fix and
there is no typical person who suffers from mental health problems. The very
nature of mental health difficulties are that they are hard to define, hard to
explain to others who aren’t experiencing what you are feeling inside. But
Niven shows that even though they are seemingly undefinable that we shouldn’t
shy away from talking about them and sharing our thoughts and feelings with
others as this is how we start to be able to understand them better.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Niven doesn’t rely on stereotypes of what people with mental
health problems are like, Violet is just like you and me but she has suffered a
tragic shock and loss in her life which deeply affects her, while Finch is
extremely loveable, charming and strong in the face of an abusive father and
struggles to cope with his own highly personal and unique problems. The lovers
find each other due to their common grounding in suffering from mental health
problems, but this does not define how they see each other afterwards. They see
beyond that, they see each other, hear each other’s stories and love each other
for who they are. Their suffering sparks a conversation and a connection, but
it does not define or dominate their love story.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Well done Jennifer Niven! A brilliant and thought provoking
read with real heart and great characters at its core.</span></div>
Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18270606510325274092noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1352172002453207458.post-24293540964483482342015-03-04T12:11:00.000+00:002015-03-04T12:11:04.424+00:00My Best Books of 2014<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Hello!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This is what happens when you draft a blog post and forget to publish it! A bit late for this but hey, I still adore all these books :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I've been reading a lot more last year than I have the year before and I've been really pleased with how varied my reading has been. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I've done some stats over my reading year like the big geek I am and out of all the books I've read in 2014, more than 60% were by women writers. I've read more YA this year than I have last year (roughly 40%) as well as literary fiction (35%) and Fantasy/SF (25%). I've been reading more French books (and Italian) and have also been very interested in reading non-fiction titles so I'm really glad about that. What I am unhappy about is how diverse my reading was... only 25% of the books were diverse. Not great at all, considering diversity in books is something I'm extremely passionate about. There'll definitely be some improvement on that this year.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">On to my favourite books of the year. I don't know if you're following me on twitter or not but I've been banging on about <b><i>The Luminaries</i> by Eleanor Catton</b> since last January and this is definitely my favourite book this year. It is one of the best books I've ever read and I want to reread it soon. I loved the characters and the plot and the writing. You really really have to read it. None of this "too long" nonsense. Take a long weekend to read through the first few hundred pages and then you'll be hooked.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">A special mention goes to the French book <b><i>Charlotte </i>by David Foenkinos</b>. It's not (yet!) translated in English but I would urge you to read it if you can. So wonderfully written and Charlotte Salomon is a wonderful artist to read about. It was such an honour and a pleasure to discover her story and her work.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Other books which I've loved last year: <b><i>Americanah </i>by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichi</b>, <b><i>The Panopticon</i> by Jenni Fagan</b> and <b><i>Burial Rites</i> by Hannah Kent</b>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">My absolute favourite discovery last year was the fantasy author <b>Brandon Sanderson</b>. He might be my new favourite fantasy author and I am planning to read all his books! The <b><i>Mistborn </i></b>trilogy is utterly wonderful and mind-blowingly good. Do read it!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In terms of YA, I think my favourite in 2014 is <b><i>Two Boys Kissing</i> by David Levithan</b>, I loved the writing and the perspective from the generation before. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; text-align: left;">I also loved </span><b style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; text-align: left;"><i>Far From You</i> by Tess Sharpe</b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; text-align: left;"> and </span><b style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; text-align: left;"><i>Shadow and Bone</i> by Leigh Bardugo</b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; text-align: left;">.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I've also discovered some AMAZING French YA books that the amazing French bloggers I've met have been recommending and these two are quite possibly some of my favourite YA books of all time: <b><i>Frangine </i>by Marion Brunet</b> and <b><i>Le Faire ou Mourir</i> by Claire-Lise Marguier</b>. Both books have LGBT characters (lesbian moms in <i>Frangine </i>and queer/questioning main character in <i>Le Faire ou Mourir</i>) and are FANTASTIC contemporary YA.</span></div>
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<a href="https://surmonetagere.files.wordpress.com/2014/01/couv-frangine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://surmonetagere.files.wordpress.com/2014/01/couv-frangine.jpg" width="200" /></a> <a href="http://www.jeunzatrebates.fr/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/couverture.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.jeunzatrebates.fr/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/couverture.jpg" height="320" width="218" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Favourite non-fiction book is <b><i>Men Explain Things To Me</i> by Rebecca Solnit</b>. An author I kept seeing everywhere and hadn't read before. I love the writing and the topics of the essays and I'll be looking out for her backlist titles.</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.biblioimages.com/granta/getimage.aspx?cat=default&class=books&isbn=9781783780792&quality=100&type=jpg&width=300&height=0&size=custom&resize=1" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.biblioimages.com/granta/getimage.aspx?cat=default&class=books&isbn=9781783780792&quality=100&type=jpg&width=300&height=0&size=custom&resize=1" height="320" width="212" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And then various backlist titles that I've discovered last year and that I can't believe it took me all that time to read.</span><br />
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<a href="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1283651432l/16255.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1283651432l/16255.jpg" height="200" width="121" /></a> <a href="https://theasylum.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/driversseat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://theasylum.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/driversseat.jpg" width="130" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdSQB8Qg3ocqoN1qAo4ywRPuor6BcK6uHEAr2dURDBXRgzFCDEja2v33s5EFoBguD-Ujhpz9RCe01GVCVeEEoJCE8y22HDSwpwYkWCiCJ_u3YXlcK0ZgC-ZgVRVSkXAnFLlsRjB8Nvvxpz/s1600/agatha+christie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdSQB8Qg3ocqoN1qAo4ywRPuor6BcK6uHEAr2dURDBXRgzFCDEja2v33s5EFoBguD-Ujhpz9RCe01GVCVeEEoJCE8y22HDSwpwYkWCiCJ_u3YXlcK0ZgC-ZgVRVSkXAnFLlsRjB8Nvvxpz/s1600/agatha+christie.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a> </div>
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<a href="http://cdn.collider.com/wp-content/uploads/tale-of-two-cities-book-cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"> <img border="0" src="http://cdn.collider.com/wp-content/uploads/tale-of-two-cities-book-cover.jpg" height="200" width="150" /> </a><a href="https://m1.behance.net/rendition/modules/3761941/disp/a4ec370ada640f38769ab11b75f63a99.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://m1.behance.net/rendition/modules/3761941/disp/a4ec370ada640f38769ab11b75f63a99.jpg" width="131" /></a><a href="http://web.webstorage.gr/MEDIA/books/bookdata/largeImages/9780241956878.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://web.webstorage.gr/MEDIA/books/bookdata/largeImages/9780241956878.jpg" height="200" width="130" /></a></div>
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Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18270606510325274092noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1352172002453207458.post-12107436550814407432015-01-16T08:15:00.004+00:002015-01-16T08:15:48.984+00:00The Art of Being Normal by Lisa Williamson - Interview on Queer YA<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Hi all,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I'm just posting here to send you over to <a href="http://queerya.org/">Queer YA</a> where I've posted my interview with Lisa Williamson, author of the wonderful book out this month <i style="font-weight: bold;">The Art of Being Normal </i>about a transgender teen. I've adored the book and I think it's a brilliant addition to LGBT YA books. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Head over [</span><a href="http://queerya.org/2015/01/interview-art-normal-author-lisa-williamson/" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">here</a><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">] to read all about her inspiration for the book, how she researched for some of the scenes and her bookish recommendation.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Caroline x</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxx885kHTeJaSpz9FiQAYWLChShswvYNjEl45XdkuPzB0GwpaBVooFwrpwU5ayRiLt7YHqbOokzf_B2LjpW9ycZo0zpqL3mwn4J-K5nexEV4tSrzLvVvVXomWArWH6l7nP0gdDdyaSjTQ/s1600/AOBN+front+on.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxx885kHTeJaSpz9FiQAYWLChShswvYNjEl45XdkuPzB0GwpaBVooFwrpwU5ayRiLt7YHqbOokzf_B2LjpW9ycZo0zpqL3mwn4J-K5nexEV4tSrzLvVvVXomWArWH6l7nP0gdDdyaSjTQ/s1600/AOBN+front+on.jpeg" height="400" width="353" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18270606510325274092noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1352172002453207458.post-63607325663873573972015-01-06T17:26:00.000+00:002015-01-06T17:26:04.892+00:00A Song For Issy Bradley - Carys Bray<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhudf588HrDlXY9uTZGI5E09T9NOTKuNbsGdkJ2wtI7qhlUKube0Euvf4ec6aVcrTo8yfbNgacq4O4vxrGQ1wo-kqGIcZO2uMBPZpvU_sUyvqF4etgGn4eZBiTmI6MB8VGYw1Rik5z4su4/s1600/ASong.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhudf588HrDlXY9uTZGI5E09T9NOTKuNbsGdkJ2wtI7qhlUKube0Euvf4ec6aVcrTo8yfbNgacq4O4vxrGQ1wo-kqGIcZO2uMBPZpvU_sUyvqF4etgGn4eZBiTmI6MB8VGYw1Rik5z4su4/s1600/ASong.jpg" height="400" width="247" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><u>Summary:</u></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><u><br /></u></b></span>
<div style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-top: -4px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This is the story of what happens when Issy Bradley dies.</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It is the story of Ian - husband, father, maths teacher and Mormon bishop - and his unshakeable belief that everything will turn out all right if he can only endure to the end, like the pioneers did. It is the story of his wife Claire’s lonely wait for a sign from God and her desperate need for life to pause while she comes to terms with what's happened.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It is the story of the agony and hope of Zippy Bradley’s first love. The story of Alma Bradley’s cynicism and reluctant bravery. And it is the story of seven-year-old Jacob. His faith is bigger than a mustard seed, probably bigger than a toffee bonbon and he’s planning to use it to mend his broken family with a miracle.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Incredibly moving, unexpectedly funny and so sharply observed it will make you feel as if you could pick the woodchip off the bedroom wall, A SONG FOR ISSY BRADLEY explores the outer reaches of doubt and faith. But mostly it’s a story about a family trying to work out how to carry on when their world has fallen apart.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">~~~</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Becky's review:</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Family, Religion, Faith, Grief, Loss and Life are all at the
heart of this captivating read by Carys Bray. Each member of the Bradley family
has to come to terms with the loss of their beloved Issy and the book shows how
the process of grief is as unique as the person experiencing it. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Each member of
the Bradley family is vividly portrayed with individual characters taking up
their own highly believable voice within the narrative. Ian, the head of the
family and a Bishop in the Mormon Church, draws strength from his faith, while
his wife Claire struggles to gain the same stability from her family’s
religious foundations. Their children Zippy, Alma and Jacob also strive to find
a way to carry on after their sister’s death in a world that suddenly feels
like it has fallen apart. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The narrative
is subtle, sensitive and at times unexpectedly humorous when dealing with such
complex themes. Huge questions about life and human existence are asked, and
yet no answers are ever given, the reader experiences the character’s pain,
agony and contemplates life’s big questions along with them, ultimately drawing
their own conclusions along the way. An extremely moving and enthralling read.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18270606510325274092noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1352172002453207458.post-24893010284238054422014-07-17T20:23:00.000+01:002014-07-17T20:26:31.042+01:00Shadow of the Wolf - Tim Hall<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxwJMixo9E-C1v8q4LcCK1HrJbOIBNG4m_w3O89IiKFER_sAbiMurDA1D-SgLjYWE0IwPXi7L3j3Z3hG8myvAY8RZAdydwgkvDpX662nL4IofH9yBA3lrdk4T0x6vk8_4JYWk7fhoSvYHI/s1600/Shadow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxwJMixo9E-C1v8q4LcCK1HrJbOIBNG4m_w3O89IiKFER_sAbiMurDA1D-SgLjYWE0IwPXi7L3j3Z3hG8myvAY8RZAdydwgkvDpX662nL4IofH9yBA3lrdk4T0x6vk8_4JYWk7fhoSvYHI/s1600/Shadow.jpg" height="400" width="268" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><u><br /></u></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><u>Summary:</u></b></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Robin Loxley is seven years old when his parents disappear without trace. Years later the great love of his life, Marian, is also taken from him. Driven by these mysteries, and this anguish, Robin follows a darkening path into the ancient heart of Sherwood Forest. What he encounters there will leave him transformed, and will alter forever the legend of Robin Hood</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">~~~</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">David Fickling Books has always been one of my favourite publishers in the UK and I was very much looking forward to reading their first titles released as an independent publisher. <i>Shadow of the Wolf</i> didn't disappoint. This retelling of Robin Hood is one of the boldest books I've read in quite a while.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The story starts with Robin Loxley being left alone in Sherwood forest and having to fend for himself. He soon meets Marian, a young girl his age and together they have incredible adventures and plan a fantastic future together. But their fate will be completely changed by the Sheriff of Nottingham. Tim Hall takes aspects of the Robin Hood myth (locations, characters (Robin, the Sheriff of Nottingham, Will Scarlett, Marian...), Robin's archery skills...) and creates a setting that takes a lot from local myths and folklore and links the story to nature and fantastical creatures. Tim Hall's take on Robin Hood is quite simply unique and reading it you forget all about foxes and Kevin Costner.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The story doesn't shy away from darkness and the reader can see the true cruelty of the Sheriff of Nottingham and Robin's full transformation into something not quite Robin-like in the forest of Sherwood. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Reading this book really reminded me of when I read Philip Pullman's </span><i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">His Dark Materials</i><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">. Both stories share a similar darkness, loss of innocence and depth as well as well-rounded characters. There is no sugar-coating of events happening in the book and I felt compelled to continue reading. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">YA has been very much discussed lately. Is it too dark? Is it not "literary"/ ambitious </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">enough</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> or a bit too simplistic/easy? </span><i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Shadow of the Wolf</i><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> is a book about fate, freedom and also love. It is about how sometimes your fate and your future may be stolen from you and you will need to fight for your freedom but also for who you love. A lot of times you might fail, but isn't trying already a step forward? I can't think of a more timely book to read, than that of a classic story showing how history repeats itself. You might be a Palestinian child whose future has just been blown to pieces. You might be a European child, slipping into poverty. Either way, the future you were planning for yourself may just have been taken away from you and you might need to fight <span style="font-size: xx-small;">(not literally, of course)</span> to get what you want. Darkness is a part of life and there is a place for it in fiction for young people.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Shadow of the Wolf</i> is by far one of the most exciting books I've read this year. It transported me all the way to Sherwood forest and quite frankly, I'm not sure I want to leave.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">~~~</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">To read a preview, head over to the <a href="http://www.davidficklingbooks.com/NewsStory.php?item=189">David Fickling Books website</a>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Thanks to Phil Earle for the proof copy!</span>Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18270606510325274092noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1352172002453207458.post-34990451470795363352014-07-06T21:03:00.000+01:002014-07-06T21:03:31.698+01:00Recent reads (featuring: Joel Dicker, Deborah Levy, Charles Dickens, Margaret Atwood, Jenni Fagan and Angela Jackson)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://images.telerama.fr//medias/2012/09/media_86919/la-verite-sur-l-affaire-harry-quebert,M93686.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="http://images.telerama.fr//medias/2012/09/media_86919/la-verite-sur-l-affaire-harry-quebert,M93686.jpg" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>The Truth About The Harry Quebert Affair, Joël Dicker</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">August 30, 1975. The day of the disappearance. The day Somerset, New Hampshire, lost its innocence.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">That summer, struggling author Harry Quebert fell in love with fifteen-year-old Nola Kellergan. Thirty-three years later, her body is dug up from his yard, along with a manuscript copy of the novel that made him a household name. Quebert is the only suspect.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Marcus Goldman - Quebert's most gifted protégé - throws off his writer's block to clear his mentor's name. Solving the case and penning a new bestseller soon merge into one. As his book begins to take on a life of its own, the nation is gripped by the mystery of 'The Girl Who Touched the Heart of America'.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">But with Nola, in death as in life, nothing is ever as it seems.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This book has been a massive hit in France since September 2012 when it first came out. My mother loved this book and sent me a copy a while ago but it's only this year - after it was published in English - that I ended up picking up my French copy. I have to say, I read the book in just a few days <span style="font-size: xx-small;">(so brownie points for that, I guess)</span> but I've been a bit underwhelmed by it. I was expecting great things (since it won prestigious awards in France and has been translated worldwide) but for me it was a fairly typical crime novel. There were so many twists and turns that it kept me reading but I didn't find it as exceptional as the buzz is making it out to be. The story within a story about the main character's writing life and his relationship with his publisher could have been brilliant but I felt it was rather tedious to read and rather unrealistic. <span style="font-size: xx-small;">(I won't mention the main character's parents or some badly drawn characters because they made me pretty cross). </span>All in all, a good page-turner, perfect for the summer, but not particularly life-altering. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">If anyone has read it in English - do let me know how you found the translation! I found several oddities (cultural and even factual) in the book, in particular about its American setting, so would love to know if these were kept in the English language version <span style="font-size: xx-small;">(just because I'm nosy)</span>!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">~~~</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Swimming Home, Deborah Levy</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">As he arrives with his family at the villa in the hills above Nice, Joe sees a body in the swimming pool. But the girl is very much alive. She is Kitty Finch: a self-proclaimed botanist with green-painted fingernails, walking naked out of the water and into the heart of their holiday. Why is she there? What does she want from them all? And why does Joe's enigmatic wife allow her to remain?</span></div>
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Profound and thrilling, <i>Swimming Home</i> reveals how the most devastating secrets are the ones we keep from ourselves.</div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This will undoubtedly sound odd, but I've been reading this book for the past two years. It is super short and yet it took me two years to read it. <span style="font-size: xx-small;">(I know, weird).</span> I started the ebook after it was shortlisted for the Booker in 2012, and didn't quite fall in love with it so I stopped reading it. Normally, I would have forgotten all about it and moved on to other books, but I could actually remember the story vividly. So when I left the book I was reading at home and wanted to read on the bus a couple of months ago, I started reading it again. I knew exactly where I left off in the story which made me realise how memorable the writing was. I have finished it and even though I didn't entirely love the book, I am so glad I persevered. I loved the cast of characters and their personalities and since the story is set in my neck of the woods in France, it really resonated with me. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>A Tale of Two Cities, Charles Dickens</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Charles Dickens's </span><i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A Tale of Two Cities </i><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">portrays a world on fire, split between Paris and London during the brutal and bloody events of the French Revolution. This Penguin Classics edition of is edited with an introduction and notes by Richard Maxwell.</span></div>
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'It was the best of times, it was the worst of times...'</div>
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After eighteen years as a political prisoner in the Bastille the aging Dr Manette is finally released and reunited with his daughter in England. There, two very different men, Charles Darnay, an exiled French aristocrat, and Sydney Carton, a disreputable but brilliant English lawyer, become enmeshed through their love for Lucie Manette. From the tranquil lanes of London, they are all drawn against their will to the vengeful, bloodstained streets of Paris at the height of the Reign of Terror and soon fall under the lethal shadow of La Guillotine.</div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I had never read any Charles Dickens before, and I was never sure where to start. When I wanted to teach myself English by reading English language books, I printed off this "100 books you should read in your lifetime" type of list and obviously there were quite a few Dickens on it. <i>A Tale of Two Cities </i>is my wife's favourite and I'm happy to say I absolutely adored it and will be reading some more of his books. I didn't find the writing as hard as I thought it would be and the story in both Paris and London during the French revolution was fascinating.</span></div>
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<a href="http://dogeardiscs.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/surfacing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://dogeardiscs.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/surfacing.jpg" height="320" width="203" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Surfacing, Margaret Atwood</b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">A young woman returns to northern Quebec to the remote island of her childhood, with her lover and two friends, to investigate the mysterious disappearance of her father. Flooded with memories, she begins to realise that going home means entering not only another place but another time. As the wild island exerts its elemental hold and she is submerged in the language of the wilderness, she sees that what she is really looking for is her own past.</span></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I read this book as part of my book group. I had never read a Margaret Atwood book before and I thought I would absolutely love it. Sadly I just couldn't get into the story. The book is said to be "one of the most important novels of the twentieth century" and I just couldn't get into the story. Nor did anyone else in the book group. Having been published in 1972, </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I wondered if</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">the story may have lost some of its power and relevance over the years. Even though I didn't quite connect with this book, I really do want to read other Margaret Atwood novels (notably, </span><i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The Handmaid's Tale</i><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> and </span><i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The Blind Assassin</i><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">).</span></div>
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<a href="http://i1.wp.com/gavreads.co.uk/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/9780099558644.jpg?resize=261%2C400" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i1.wp.com/gavreads.co.uk/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/9780099558644.jpg?resize=261%2C400" height="320" width="208" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>The Panopticon, Jenni Fagan</b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Fifteen-year old Anais Hendricks is smart, funny and fierce, but she is also a child who has been let down, or worse, by just about every adult she has ever met. Sitting in the back of a police car, she finds herself headed for the Panopticon, a home for chronic young offenders where the social workers are as suspicious as its residents. But Anais can't remember the events that have led her there, or why she has blood on her school uniform...</span></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This is one of my favourite books of the year. I started reading it last year but got a bit intimidated by some of the writing being in Scottish and only came back to it this year with my (other) book club. Despite having put the book down after reading the beginning, I read the rest of the book quickly and fell in love with it. I absolutely loved the writing and the story and the characters. The book felt so real and raw and new. I'd like to read more books with heroines like Anais and I'll be looking out for Jenni Fagan's new book!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>The Emergence of Judy Taylor, Angela Jackson</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Judy Taylor married the first man who asked her. She lives in the neighbourhood where she spent her uneventful childhood. She still has the same friends she first met in primary school. But everything she once knew is about to be turned upside down.</span></div>
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Judy might be ready to start a new life in vibrant Edinburgh, if she's prepared to accept what it means to change. First she has to ask herself if it's ever too late to make up for lost time.</div>
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<i>The Emergence of Judy Taylor</i> is a story about first loves and second chances. It's about love and life and sex and starlings. It's about Judy and Oliver and Paul and Fabiana and Rob and Min and Lily and Harry and a French siren called Isabella.</div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This is a very short book which packs a punch. I feel it goes against the grain and tells the story of a woman's life in a way I'd like to read more of. Judy Taylor is a bit lost, she doesn't have the answers to the questions going through her mind, but she decides to take control of her life, throw financial safety out the window, and get ready to find herself. The novel is set partly in Edinburgh and you can't fail to fall in love with the city alongside Judy. A very promising debut.</span></div>
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Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18270606510325274092noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1352172002453207458.post-62400980544225015882014-05-16T20:50:00.001+01:002014-05-16T20:50:52.665+01:00Holiday reads!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv63kjoRc8SbowYQRbjfINxvkaSo_x_NBY5SMaO2GoC4Jz-D-a70hp8KYpPal4UK925N2Tu98CeeniXNtOqEHL3QeLlm-tdJHY3__n-nc0S-HspODBFbQfZNjdvB5XtkpYj92wivHazV4/s1600/photo-4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv63kjoRc8SbowYQRbjfINxvkaSo_x_NBY5SMaO2GoC4Jz-D-a70hp8KYpPal4UK925N2Tu98CeeniXNtOqEHL3QeLlm-tdJHY3__n-nc0S-HspODBFbQfZNjdvB5XtkpYj92wivHazV4/s1600/photo-4.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I don't know about you but holiday for me is all about the books! I love making a big pile of what I want to read and I end up reading books not on the pile and getting distracted by food and puppies and barely managing to read a couple. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">For a change, that's exactly what I'll do for this holiday! Above is the pile of books I'd like to read and you'll be able to see the pile of books I've actually anded up reading at the end of it. :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Enjoy the sunshine!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Caro xx</span>Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18270606510325274092noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1352172002453207458.post-28935682462068540542014-05-09T16:04:00.000+01:002014-05-09T16:04:22.108+01:00Eleanor & Park - Rainbow Rowell<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdhy30-ys_qS93xWH8IQ4D8EpaMFs6D6IKp2F3JJIGhTH0mTJcs0CxAywjX4BqOxp4XBVKF-k4OYDq4T85qmF2_yQeDfAVDDVywzZ_OXtfrgJRZrmcCgS8YzgWr0g7eua7C6lsUVDCzx8/s1600/eleanor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdhy30-ys_qS93xWH8IQ4D8EpaMFs6D6IKp2F3JJIGhTH0mTJcs0CxAywjX4BqOxp4XBVKF-k4OYDq4T85qmF2_yQeDfAVDDVywzZ_OXtfrgJRZrmcCgS8YzgWr0g7eua7C6lsUVDCzx8/s1600/eleanor.jpg" height="400" width="257" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><u>Summary:</u></b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Eleanor is the new girl in town, and she's never felt more alone. All mismatched clothes, mad red hair and chaotic home life, she couldn't stick out more if she tried. Then she takes the seat on the bus next to Park. Quiet, careful and - in Eleanor's eyes - impossibly cool, Park's worked out that flying under the radar is the best way to get by. Slowly, steadily, through late-night conversations and an ever-growing stack of mix tapes, Eleanor and Park fall in love. They fall in love the way you do the first time, when you're 16, and you have nothing and everything to lose. Set over the course of one school year in 1986, Eleanor & Park is funny, sad, shocking and true - an exquisite nostalgia trip for anyone who has never forgotten their first love.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I don't think I need to introduce this book, it's been rocking the YA world for the past year and it seems EVERYONE has already read it. There has been SO MUCH hype about this book that I wondered if I would like it. I rarely do when hype is concerned, but I was pleasantly surprised by this book. I can understand the hype surrounding it and even if I didn't completely LOVE it, I did think it was a great book.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The story brings together two characters. Eleanor has just moved back with her mother and step dad and sleeps in the same room as her three other smaller siblings. Things are very tough for her. She has no privacy at home and has to watch what she does in front of her step father. She is big with bushy red hair and second hand clothes. Not the popular girl type. Then there is Park, he is half-Korean and listens to a lot of (mostly alternative) music and reads comics. He doesn't feel 100% comfortable in his own skin and even though his parents are great, he feels his father would rather Park be a bit more like him (strong, masculine, white? ...). On her first day at school, Eleanor seats next to Park on the bus and from then on, they start getting to know each other and slowly falling in love. They don't fall in love immediately, they actually don't like each other very much, but they gradually fall for each other.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It completely passed me by that this was set in 1986. You'd think cassette tapes and no mobile phones would be a big hint but it just didn't register, I was whole-heartedly hooked to the story and to Eleanor and Park's emotions that this could have been set in 2013. This is such a universal story (first love) encompassing deep themes (racism, poverty, abuse...) that </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">are</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">sadly still alive and kicking today.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Eleanor and Park get to know each other through comic books and music.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> I am such a believer that art can soothe the soul and bring people together that I have loved seeing Park patch Eleanor up little by little with songs. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So why didn't I LOVE the book, as everyone else seems to have? Well, I felt there were parts of the story that were either too present or too scarce. Eleanor's home life is heart-wrenching and horrible and I would have wanted to read more about her and her sibling and what happens to them. I also didn't see a lot about Park's life aside from his feelings from Eleanor and I really wish I had, especially about him being half-Korean. I felt the questions raised in the book (race, poverty, abuse, bullying...) could have been explored more thoroughly and sensitively. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I know real life is never as neatly tied up as books are and sometimes things don't make sense but I would have liked more on these subjects to be able to completely fall in love with the book. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">A lot has been written about this book, some praising the love story and the writing, and some critising some aspects of the book and I think one should read the book as well as what others feel about it so do head over [<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/10/books/review/eleanor-park-by-rainbow-rowell.html?_r=0">here</a>] to read <b>John Green's review</b> of it but also [<a href="http://www.respiring-thoughts.com/2013/05/06/book-review-eleanor-park-by-rainbow-rowell/">here</a>] to read <b>Renae's review over at Respiring Thoughts</b> for her thoughts on race in the book as well as <b>Ellen Oh's opinion of the book</b> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">as a Korean American </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">[</span><a href="http://elloellenoh.tumblr.com/post/83378840406/whats-your-opinion-on-eleanor-park" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">here</a><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">]. And most importantly, head over to the comments to let me know what <b>YOU </b>thought about this book!</span></div>
Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18270606510325274092noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1352172002453207458.post-11333081105761734582014-05-08T17:25:00.001+01:002014-05-08T17:45:50.460+01:00Recent YA novels I've read...<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">... and don't have time to review individually!</span><br />
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<a href="http://rhymeswithfree.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/themidnightclub.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://rhymeswithfree.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/themidnightclub.jpg" height="320" width="193" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>The Midnight Club, Christopher Pike</b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Rotterdam Home, a hospice where teenagers with terminal illnesses went to die, was home to the Midnight Club--a group of five young men and women who met at midnight and told stories of intrigue and horror. One night they made a pact that the first of them to die would make every effort to contact the others . . . from beyond the grave.</i></span></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">My wife is obsessed with Christopher Pike and read most of his books when she was a teen so she made a little pile of her favourites for me so I could discover him and <i>The Midnight Club</i> was the first one I've read. I absolutely loved it. The story is really compelling and the characters felt so real. I loved the plot and the writing is brilliant. </span></div>
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<a href="http://www.panmacmillan.com/devpanmacmillan/media/panmacmillan/Books/Original/fangirl-978144726322701.jpg?ext=.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.panmacmillan.com/devpanmacmillan/media/panmacmillan/Books/Original/fangirl-978144726322701.jpg?ext=.jpg" height="320" width="211" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Fangirl, Rainbow Rowell</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.31999969482422px; text-align: left;">Cath is a Simon Snow fan.</span></i></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.31999969482422px; text-align: left;">Okay, the whole world is a Simon Snow fan...</span></i></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.31999969482422px; text-align: left;">But for Cath, being a fan is her life—and she’s really good at it. She and her twin sister, Wren, ensconced themselves in the Simon Snow series when they were just kids; it’s what got them through their mother leaving.</span></i></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.31999969482422px; text-align: left;">Reading. Rereading. Hanging out in Simon Snow forums, writing Simon Snow fan fiction, dressing up like the characters for every movie premiere.</span></i></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.31999969482422px; text-align: left;">Cath’s sister has mostly grown away from fandom, but Cath can’t let go. She doesn’t want to.</span></i></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.31999969482422px; text-align: left;">Now that they’re going to college, Wren has told Cath she doesn’t want to be roommates. Cath is on her own, completely outside of her comfort zone. She’s got a surly roommate with a charming, always-around boyfriend, a fiction-writing professor who thinks fan fiction is the end of the civilized world, a handsome classmate who only wants to talk about words... And she can’t stop worrying about her dad, who’s loving and fragile and has never really been alone.</span></i></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.31999969482422px; text-align: left;">For Cath, the question is: Can she do this?</span></i></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.31999969482422px; text-align: left;">Can she make it without Wren holding her hand? Is she ready to start living her own life? Writing her own stories?</span></i></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.31999969482422px; text-align: left;">And does she even want to move on if it means leaving Simon Snow behind?</span></i></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I'm guessing everyone has read this book by now! I read </span><i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Eleanor & Park</i><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> first and I liked it but didn't love it (I'll probably write a post about my thoughts soon) so I wasn't sure what I would make of </span><i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Fangirl </i><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">but I actually LOVED it. Part of the reason I loved it is the irrational feeling that this book was about my life at Uni. I've never written (or read) any fanfiction but I was a complete Potter fan (still am) and the book really reflected what I was feeling at the time. The love story was utterly adorable and I loved the characters.</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.usborne.com/images/covers/eng/max_covers/9781409570318.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.usborne.com/images/covers/eng/max_covers/9781409570318.jpg" height="320" width="210" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>A Boy Called Hope, Lara Williamson</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.31999969482422px; text-align: left;">I'm Dan Hope and deep inside my head I keep a list of things I want to come true.</span></i></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.31999969482422px; text-align: left;"> For example, I want my sister, Ninja Grace, to go to university at the North Pole and only come back once a year.</span></i></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.31999969482422px; text-align: left;"> I want to help Sherlock Holmes solve his most daring mystery yet. And if it could be a zombie mystery, all the more exciting.</span></i></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.31999969482422px; text-align: left;"> I want to be the first eleven-year-old to land on the moon.</span></i></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.31999969482422px; text-align: left;"> I want my dog to stop eating the planets and throwing them up on the carpet.</span></i></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.31999969482422px; text-align: left;"> And finally, the biggest dream of all, I want my dad to love me.</span></i></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.31999969482422px; text-align: left;"> A Boy Called Hope is a brave, bold and funny debut about family in all its shapes and sizes.</span></i></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This is younger YA / older middle grade book and it is funny and heart-warming and sweet. I really loved it and I thought it's such a thoughtful book and I loved the characters and the writing. I went from laughing out loud to crying my heart out reading this book and I can't wait to read Lara's next books!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>The Fiery Heart, Richelle Mead</b></span></div>
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<i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;">Sydney Sage is an Alchemist, one of a group of humans who dabble in magic and serve to bridge the worlds of humans and vampires. They protect vampire secrets - and human lives. </span></i><i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;">In The Indigo Spell, Sydney was torn between the Alchemist way of life and what her heart and gut were telling her to do. And in one breathtaking moment that Richelle Mead fans will never forget, she made a decision that shocked even her. . . </span></i><i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></i><br />
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<i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;">But the struggle isn't over for Sydney. As she navigates the aftermath of her life-changing decision, she still finds herself pulled in too many directions at once. Her sister Zoe has arrived, and while Sydney longs to grow closer to her, there's still so much she must keep secret. Working with Marcus has changed the way she views the Alchemists, and Sydney must tread a careful path as she harnesses her profound magical ability to undermine the way of life she was raised to defend. Consumed by passion and vengeance, Sydney struggles to keep her secret life under wraps as the threat of exposure — and re-education — looms larger than ever.</span></i></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I love all of Richelle Mead's books and after the end of Vampire Academy, I was so happy to read the Bloodlines series with Sydney and Adrian as the main characters. I love where the story is going and I can't wait to see how the series continues.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">~~~</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Half Bad, Sally Green</b></span></div>
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<i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;">Half Bad</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;"> by Sally Green is a breathtaking debut novel about one boy's struggle for survival in a hidden society of witches.</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;">You can't read, can't write, but you heal fast, even for a witch.</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;">You get sick if you stay indoors after dark.</span></i></span></div>
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</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;">You hate White Witches but love Annalise, who is one.</span></i></div>
</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;">You've been kept in a cage since you were fourteen.</span></i></div>
</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;">All you've got to do is escape and find Mercury, the Black Witch who eats boys. And do that before your seventeenth birthday.</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">There was so much hype about this book that I was excited (and slightly wary) to read it. I've read many good things about it and I liked the idea at the start but it sadly didn't quite work for me. I wasn't sure where the story was going and I wasn't rooting for many characters. I'll be interested to see how the sequel goes so I'll wait for reviews for this one.</span></div>
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<a href="http://fantasyworks.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/divergent_veronica_roth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://fantasyworks.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/divergent_veronica_roth.jpg" height="320" width="211" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Divergent, Veronica Roth</b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago world, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue--Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is--she can't have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.</i></span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles alongside her fellow initiates to live out the choice they have made. Together they must undergo extreme physical tests of endurance and intense psychological simulations, some with devastating consequences. As initiation transforms them all, Tris must determine who her friends really are--and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes exasperating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers unrest and growing conflict that threaten to unravel her seemingly perfect society, Tris also learns that her secret might help her save the ones she loves . . . or it might destroy her.</i></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The big new YA franchise everyone is talking about. I wasn't keen on reading it when it first came out but I just wanted to give it a chance and I thought it was entertaining enough but I didn't quite see the point of this dystopian world and it didn't make a lot of sense. It's the case with most dystopian YA these days but I wasn't passionate enough about the characters or the writing to suspend disbelief like I've done for other books. I don't think I'll bother seeing the film but I've heard the dystopian universe actually makes sense in the sequels so I may give them a go next time I want a fast pace read.</span></div>
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Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18270606510325274092noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1352172002453207458.post-33133787656041835352014-04-25T13:39:00.001+01:002014-04-25T13:39:20.645+01:00Midnight Crossroad - Charlaine Harris<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.gollancz.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Midnight-Crossroad-hires.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="http://www.gollancz.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Midnight-Crossroad-hires.jpg" height="400" width="247" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><u>Summary from Goodreads:</u></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 19.31999969482422px; text-align: left;">From Charlaine Harris, the bestselling author who created Sookie Stackhouse and her world of Bon Temps, Louisiana, comes a darker locale — populated by more strangers than friends. But then, that’s how the locals prefer it…</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 19.31999969482422px; text-align: left;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 19.31999969482422px; text-align: left;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 19.31999969482422px; text-align: left;">Welcome to Midnight, Texas, a town with many boarded-up windows and few full-time inhabitants, located at the crossing of Witch Light Road and Davy Road. It’s a pretty standard dried-up western town.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 19.31999969482422px; text-align: left;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 19.31999969482422px; text-align: left;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 19.31999969482422px; text-align: left;">There’s a pawnshop (someone lives in the basement and is seen only at night). There’s a diner (people who are just passing through tend not to linger). And there’s new resident Manfred Bernardo, who thinks he’s found the perfect place to work in private (and who has secrets of his own).</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 19.31999969482422px; text-align: left;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 19.31999969482422px; text-align: left;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 19.31999969482422px; text-align: left;">Stop at the one traffic light in town, and everything looks normal. Stay awhile, and learn the truth...</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">I'm a huge fan of Charlaine Harris's
Sookie Stackhouse series - I even met her a few years back [<a href="http://portrait-of-a-woman.blogspot.co.uk/2010/03/charlaine-harris-in-london.html" target="_blank">details here</a>] - and I was excited/scared to read her new
series. </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">Midnight Crossroad</span></i><span class="ecxapple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">has an interesting premise. Midnight is a small
town situated on a crossroad in the middle of Texas. Few people go through it
and even fewer people live there. The ones who do live there, do so for a
reason. They want to disappear, they don't want to attract attention. Midnight
is a bit like Fight Club. There are rules and if you have to ask what they are,
you're clearly not meant to be part of it. We start the story as Manfred
Bernardo moves to Midnight for various reasons he mostly wants to keep to
himself. He's a psychic, the type that makes money on the internet with photos
of himself looking all mysterious, but he also experiences some genuine
visions. He quickly gets how the town works and even though he is curious about
his new neighbours, he knows better than to ask any questions.</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">In Midnight, there is a gas station,
a pawn shop, a diner, a magic shop, an antique shop, a church and a
hairdresser. Each one of Manfred's neighbours owns or works for one of these
establishments and they have a routine set up. Manfred tries
to glean as much information about them but there are some people he
just can't seem to put a finger on who they are and what they do. One of the
residents also owns a cat - Mr Snuggly - who seems to be more than just a
regular cat.</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">The plot revolves around Manfred's
landlord and the owner of the pawn shop, Bobo, whose girlfriend disappeared a
couple of months ago. Bobo, alongside all the Midnight residents, thought she
had left him and had gone to live somewhere else. But her departure was a bit
sudden and she left all her belongings so everyone was still a bit suspicious
and it didn't surprise many of them when her body was found in the town. Things
quickly get worse and we learn that more than one person in Midnight has
secrets to hide <span style="font-size: xx-small;">(well, MORE secrets than everyone thought)</span>.</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">Unlike the Sookie Stackhouse books,
the story is told from the point of view of an omniscient narrator, following
each character living in Midnight. When I started reading the book, I had some
issues getting into the story and I felt it didn't hook me as much as<span class="ecxapple-converted-space"> </span><i>Dead Until Dark</i><span class="ecxapple-converted-space"> </span>did and the pace was a bit slow. But as I read along and
discovered more about the mysterious Midnight residents, the story hooked me in
other ways. I loved following each character and seeing how they interacted
with each other and I can't wait to read the second book in the series to know
more about them.</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">I haven't read Charlaine Harris's
other books aside from the Sookie Stackhouse series and I am told some of the
characters in<span class="ecxapple-converted-space"> </span><i>Midnight
Crossroad</i><span class="ecxapple-converted-space"> </span>come from her
previous books which is rather exciting. I think this book is different from
her previous series but also has some classic Charlaine Harris aspects. The
characters are fascinating, the world she created is very intriguing and there
is SO MUCH mystery ... so much, in fast, that you just HAVE to relocate from Bon Temps to Midnight,
Texas.</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">~~~</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Check out the atmospheric trailer for it:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Thanks to Gollancz for sending over a proof.</span></span></div>
Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18270606510325274092noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1352172002453207458.post-56459134052267191542014-03-07T15:24:00.001+00:002014-03-07T15:24:10.420+00:00The Driver's Seat - Muriel Spark<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://theasylum.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/driversseat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="http://theasylum.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/driversseat.jpg" height="320" width="208" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Described as 'a metaphysical shocker' at the time of its release, Muriel Sparks' <i>The Driver's Seat </i>is a taut psychological thriller, published with an introduction by John Lanchester in Penguin Modern Classics.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Lise has been driven to distraction by working in the same accountants' office for sixteen years. So she leaves everything behind her, transforms herself into a laughing, garishly-dressed temptress and flies abroad on the holiday of a lifetime. But her search for adventure, sex and new experiences takes on a far darker significance as she heads on a journey of self-destruction. Infinity and eternity attend Lise's last terrible day in an unnamed southern city, as she meets her fate. One of six novels to be nominated for a 'Lost Man Booker Prize', <i>The Driver's Seat</i> was adapted into a 1974 film, <i>Identikit</i>, starring Elizabeth Taylor.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I read this book as part of a new Book Club organised by the wonderful bookshop <a href="http://www.lookingglassbooks.com/Home_Page.html">Looking Glass Books</a> for #readwomen2014 and I think it's a perfect book to read and discuss! I came in having my thoughts about the book and I realised there were so many details I had missed! I think I'll reread the book soon and will probably see other things. It's one of those books that can have so many shapes that everyone can take something different out of it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It's hard to talk about it without giving any spoilers (and this is definitely the type of book that can really use being read without knowing anything about it) so I'll keep things quite general. I learned that this book is Muriel Spark's favourite from all her works which is an interesting fact and I'm looking forward reading more of her books to try to find out why that is.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I have only read two of her books but I feel there are some common characteristics which I gather are very 'Spark'. I like that she has a style that is so intrinsically hers no matter how different the stories are. The writing is at times witty and playful but with crisp and sinister undercurrents. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">There are various themes in the book, it goes from religion to fashion and lifestyles. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">One of the things I loved the morst about this book is Spark's relation to the reader. It's as if Spark is tricking us into thinking one thing about the character or story (mostly using our prejudice) while actually writing the opposite. I found the book so inspiring to read because it really challenged the way I look at life and at stories as well. The title in itself is the key. Are we ever in the driver's seat? And if we are, like the main character in the book, are we actually in control? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Lise's journey through the book gets more baffling and shocking as it goes and it is amazing how much this book can challenge the reader in a little over a 100 pages. the writing always goes straight to the point.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I don't think I want to say more for fear of spoiling the experience but I really loved it definitely want to read more of Muriel Spark's books!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Next book up for the book club is <i>Honour </i>by Elif Shafak which I'm really looking forward to reading!</span></div>
Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18270606510325274092noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1352172002453207458.post-24930666265743723132014-03-06T21:08:00.001+00:002014-03-07T10:12:21.153+00:00Baileys Women's Prize for Fiction longlist 2014<div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Launched in 1996, the Prize is awarded every year to celebrate women's writing around the world. The judges this year were <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Helen Fraser, Mary Beard, Denise Mina, Caitlin Moran and Sophie Raworth. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I used to only look at the shortlist but I've read so much and so much more varied books since last year that I'm actually incredibley excited about this year's longlist and have quite a few of my favourites I was expecting to be part of the list and others whom I wasn't expecting.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This year is also the year to read women writers (#readwomen2014) and the longlist for the Prize is the perfect source of inspiration if you're planning to read more women writer and are not quite sure where to start. I have to admit I generally read more books written by women (out of the 16 books I've read so far this year, 10 were written by women) but I'm always keen to discover new authors.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">What do you think of the longlist?</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaOm9848TMjCrSPSCU3il7IE48pjyXk541jnft5QRPbZP3eaNUtTymOj2j7ZHsk3xDw_0fI7UlOVlf0yogrnToJVkBuBn0hau8koKj6PMh-wKj1OwjJ3eAs8i1_RXNDu8RclXFMjdfZF0/s1600/1904208_691276847585160_76935740_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaOm9848TMjCrSPSCU3il7IE48pjyXk541jnft5QRPbZP3eaNUtTymOj2j7ZHsk3xDw_0fI7UlOVlf0yogrnToJVkBuBn0hau8koKj6PMh-wKj1OwjJ3eAs8i1_RXNDu8RclXFMjdfZF0/s1600/1904208_691276847585160_76935740_n.jpg" height="252" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><em style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit;">Americanah</em> by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Fourth Estate<br /><em style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit;">Maddaddam</em> by Margaret Atwood, Bloomsbury<br /><em style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit;">The Dogs of Littlefield</em> by Suzanne Berne, Fig Tree<br /><em style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit;">The Shadow of the Crescent Moon</em> by Fatima Bhutto, Viking<br /><em style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit;">The Bear </em>by Claire Cameron, Harvill Secker<br /><em style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit;">Eleven Days </em>by Lea Carpenter, Two Roads<br /><em style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit;">The Strangler Vine </em>by M.J. Carter, Fig Tree<br /><em style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit;">The Luminaries</em> by Eleanor Catton, Granta<br /><em style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit;">Reasons She Goes to the Woods</em> by Deborah Kay Davies, Oneworld<br /><em style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit;">The Signature of All Things</em> by Elizabeth Gilbert, Bloomsbury<br /><em style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit;">Burial Rites</em> by Hannah Kent, Picador<br /><em style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit;">The Flamethrowers </em>by Rachel Kushner, Harvill Secker<br /><em style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit;">The Lowland</em> by Jhumpa Lahiri, Bloomsbury<br /><em style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit;">The Undertaking </em>by Audrey Magee, Atlantic Books<br /><em style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit;">A Girl is a Half-Formed Thing </em>by Eimear McBride, Galley Beggar Press<br /><em style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit;">Almost English</em> by Charlotte Mendelson, Mantle<br /><em style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit;">Still Life With Bread Crumbs </em>by Anna Quindlen, Hutchinson<br /><em style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit;">The Burgess Boys</em> by Elizabeth Strout, Simon and Schuster<br /><em style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit;">The Goldfinch</em> by Donna Tartt, Little, Brown<br /><em style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit;">All the Birds, Singing </em>by Evie Wyld, Jonathan Cape</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I've only read <i>The Luminaries</i> and I've had on my radar <i>Americanah</i>, <i>Burial Rites</i>, <i>The Flamethrowers</i>, <i>A Girl is a Half-Formed Thing</i>, <i>Almost English</i>, <i>All The Birds, Singing</i> and <i>The Goldfinch</i> of course so I'm looking forward to read those and discover the other authors from the longlist.</span></div>
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Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18270606510325274092noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1352172002453207458.post-5302088154339794572014-01-15T14:39:00.001+00:002014-01-15T14:39:12.592+00:00Looking for JJ - Anne Cassidy<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51FYjm81LQL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51FYjm81LQL.jpg" width="208" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr-DUpw-AAPaWvuuMzoR7X-N1PXu0BOr_HdWMJwS2WShWOqkJFY33_YGCjuuRqMJF1Agw6DSD6g2lNYnkoAbgro4mbTyiz2Oucun92PjRh4aa8y6HkmdrawBDYEZfuf0s8SM_x8Apei6mR/s1600/Looking+for+JJ+new+cover+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr-DUpw-AAPaWvuuMzoR7X-N1PXu0BOr_HdWMJwS2WShWOqkJFY33_YGCjuuRqMJF1Agw6DSD6g2lNYnkoAbgro4mbTyiz2Oucun92PjRh4aa8y6HkmdrawBDYEZfuf0s8SM_x8Apei6mR/s320/Looking+for+JJ+new+cover+(1).jpg" width="208" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><u>Summary from Goodreads:</u></b></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Three children walked away from the cottages on the edge of town toward Berwick Waters. Later that day, only two of them came back. . . . Alice Tully knows exactly what happened that spring day six years ago, though it's still hard for her to believe it. She'll never be able to forget, even though she's trying to lead a normal life--she has a job, friends, and a boyfriend whom she adores. But Alice's past is dangerous, and violent, and sad . . . and it's about to rip her new life apart. Includes a reader's guide.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This book is one of my wife's absolute favourites so I knew I would love it, but little did I know that it would literally blow me away. It felt like a punch in the stomach. Over and over again. I haven't felt like reading a lot of YA lately, and I even fell out of love with it slightly. But reading this book reminded me why I loved young adult fiction so much.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We start the book with 17-year-old Alice Tully who is working as a waitress in a coffee shop. Alice seems to be obsessed by a crime committed six-years ago by 10-year-old Jennifer Jones. Jennifer Jones killed her friend and has been in prison ever since. The media loved that story and Jennifer has been in and out of the papers for half a decade. Now the media is in uproar because she is soon to be released.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It might be a slight spoiler to say that Alice is none other than Jennifer Jones herself. She has been given a new identity and is trying to start her life again. She was released six months earlier so that journalists wouldn't find her easily. It would sound like Alice's life is set to be a real new start, with a job, a boyfriend and University starting soon. But the newspapers keep talking about Jennifer Jones and </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Alice's guilt is eating away at her. No matter how far she is from her old life, the past always seems to find her again. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The book starts with Alice Tully in her new life and is followed by a part narrated by Jennifer Jones where we see events that lead up to the tragic death of one of her friends. The structure is notable because it helps the reader get into Alice's head before knowing her past. A way for us not to be blinded by our prejudices. If the parts were swapped, I'm not entirely sure we would feel exactly the same way... </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The writing is so strong and raw. I was in Alice's head straightaway and felt her pain. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I loved the portrayal of all the characters, they all had their positives and negatives and felt realistic. I was fascinated by Alice and how she relates to her boyfriend and Rosie (the social worker she lives with) as she doesn't have a great deal of experience when it comes to having what we would call "normal" relationships with people and especially boys.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">There are a lot of themes in this book. Themes that make you think. Themes that hit you to the most profound of your beliefs. Can a child be inherently bad or can a terrible upbringing justify a bad action?</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> Nature vs. nurture. Does society need to know about everything? Should a person who commits a crime be condemned for life or can they change? Do they have to</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">relinquish their right to privacy? How </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">much intrusion can we justify for our own security?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This book is so important because it asks the right questions and leaves it to you to provide an answer. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It's easy to forget that this book was published ten years ago because the story resonates today more than ever. We have the same issues of culpability, nature vs. nurture and privacy. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">If you're looking for a brilliant example of quality contemporary YA, look no further.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Excitingly, a sequel is being released later this year. If you want to r</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">ead a blog post by Anne Cassidy about writing a sequel ten years after publishing the first book, it's over here: "</span><a href="http://awfullybigblogadventure.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/never-say-never-story-of-sequel-by-anne.html" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Never Say Never: The Story of a Sequel</a><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">" </span></div>
Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18270606510325274092noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1352172002453207458.post-69398750953240251442014-01-09T14:08:00.000+00:002014-01-09T14:08:20.768+00:00My Best Books of 2013<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Happy New Year!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I hope you've all had a lovely time over the Christmas period and are ready to tackle this new year! I have just started reading The Luminaries and after a few pages of getting into the Victorian writing style, I can't stop reading it! It is extremely fast-paced and gripping.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I have posted this on Twitter but I thought I'd do a formal blog post as well as an update with a book I had forgotten and the last book I've read in 2013 (<i>Graceling</i>). Here is the list of my favourite books of 2013:</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEg3CYuXza47WeV-fTs7NmzcpzD8zb8e2ZV1SRmi6esNLXaVkKim0YvkRnHcpDvmaPyUsfFNSFRenivi4D2X2qNDklCL3mZCnaiJuy_2N1ruQ_nv7RNX8-Cu-3loQg6hyWG0Hwc3DFIXUVDTha-dsHBEZ2je8KzHdQN2eMl4R_ZEw12_sKYQIbPi=" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><img border="0" src="http://bibliojunkie.files.wordpress.com/2010/05/half-of-a-yellow-sun.jpg" height="200" width="130" /></a><a href="http://www.indieboundbookrecommendations.co.uk/uploaded_files/covers/images/twan_garde_of_evening_mists_uk_canongate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="display: inline !important; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.indieboundbookrecommendations.co.uk/uploaded_files/covers/images/twan_garde_of_evening_mists_uk_canongate.jpg" height="200" width="130" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7qMaz3qIWubDIpN0yTTthMyKTVDgVuHH3Hi4Q3G5P_Wpol0otIilooFRVCIwL-eZfPiWhZqUee6wMhhcPChW6I9WGfI0xcdlWOqQDotWo7IR0UUryIj1EtOTdL6IOsaKU-aJnSVoowLY/s1600/Comf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="display: inline !important; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7qMaz3qIWubDIpN0yTTthMyKTVDgVuHH3Hi4Q3G5P_Wpol0otIilooFRVCIwL-eZfPiWhZqUee6wMhhcPChW6I9WGfI0xcdlWOqQDotWo7IR0UUryIj1EtOTdL6IOsaKU-aJnSVoowLY/s1600/Comf.jpg" height="200" width="126" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The Comforters by Muriel Spark</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The Garden of Evening Mists by Tan Twan Eng</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3xtaljA-5_ijlTCTm1mQFZ86fZ0OEhh51Ak_nLx1yxmBRjmykK3CdGQr8YfEIGLThldhVlMUGs1CgsPSog4NQwtkFSqv_pZxvUb5SCmLMxEfiEvsD-KAB8gTFt2ajAVHq5GPeBL6yfiJk/s1600/life+after+life+atkinson+uk+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3xtaljA-5_ijlTCTm1mQFZ86fZ0OEhh51Ak_nLx1yxmBRjmykK3CdGQr8YfEIGLThldhVlMUGs1CgsPSog4NQwtkFSqv_pZxvUb5SCmLMxEfiEvsD-KAB8gTFt2ajAVHq5GPeBL6yfiJk/s1600/life+after+life+atkinson+uk+cover.jpg" height="200" width="129" /></a><img border="0" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/81r0tqUt9BL._SL1500_.jpg" height="200" style="text-align: center;" width="130" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEiwLKULeIu6JpBEZmcOg3GgYsOaysOMdPT_U3tPOfS5nhIkwffSqvEfYegF2m6IujT7diqWphWgodGFNKt4PeRoal1K1_H_nhnmxNF_Q77zYPW6E8n7srCIUg8K5Fd_sw-C4YFQl4-40iJvZveVK-MXOOPkga4=" imageanchor="1" style="display: inline !important; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51FYjm81LQL.jpg" height="200" width="130" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Looking for JJ by Anne Cassidy</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Life After Life by Kate Atkinson</span><br />
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<a href="http://dulwichbooksreview.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/9780857867971-a-tale-for-the-time-being-pb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://dulwichbooksreview.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/9780857867971-a-tale-for-the-time-being-pb.jpg" height="200" width="130" /></a></div>
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8toYlv2snP0/ULgAp7yZiLI/AAAAAAAAAJM/HplWCi9RaJU/s1600/game_of_thrones_book_cover.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8toYlv2snP0/ULgAp7yZiLI/AAAAAAAAAJM/HplWCi9RaJU/s1600/game_of_thrones_book_cover.jpeg" height="200" width="123" /></a><a href="http://www.riotcommunications.com/cms/data/images/Covers/The-Son.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://www.riotcommunications.com/cms/data/images/Covers/The-Son.jpg" height="200" width="130" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A Tale for The Time Being by Ruth Ozeki</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The Son by Philipp Meyer</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEgviZC5GukshmV_ekbCF9TBiGmqbt3JvYNFb3LwEip-qxe3wijdEj0zy8Q7Q18XirWNF4cnldXgd-Xl5z9iVi6-82DGYwap6d88AQavd0IRnbyIhKNTu_CM_wo4kj5dY-BFrKLhjvZQYl8sRqw_phzyFpj5pwi_QbT-4kS7gTe5gQ=" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.burnbright.com.au/wp-content/uploads/Graceling_UK.jpg" height="200" width="130" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGTb7l7GZzXCpyc10fR58gJxqoc3DVNTT_oqJ6X1SpQeuPRmzpComunmr8mN_N3qVVfjaHU50SvHefnsDmW7zwYxyyvljRQJqn8OLOf9Ri2mUJrl_6FvrqaHeDnhisn9koY-ULYF8Wywk/s1600/Blue.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="display: inline !important; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGTb7l7GZzXCpyc10fR58gJxqoc3DVNTT_oqJ6X1SpQeuPRmzpComunmr8mN_N3qVVfjaHU50SvHefnsDmW7zwYxyyvljRQJqn8OLOf9Ri2mUJrl_6FvrqaHeDnhisn9koY-ULYF8Wywk/s1600/Blue.jpg" height="200" width="140" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Graceling by Kristin Cashore</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Blue is the Warmest Colour by Julie Maroh</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">~~~</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Interestingly, 8 out of 11 books were written by women and more than half of them are backlist titles. The titles range from YA and fantasy to historical and literary fiction as well as a graphic novel. Only one is a translated/foreign language book which isn't too surprising as I've mostly read English-language novels this year but it's an area I definitely like to explore further. There is only one YA novel and that's mostly because I haven't read many YA books this year. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">One of the books which I loved but didn't make the list was <i>May We Be Forgiven</i>. I loved it when I read it (5 stars and all) but I realised that I had very little of it left with me 6 months later.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">My absolute favourite this year has been <i>The Son</i> by Philipp Meyer. I heard a lot about this book before reading it and I saw the author at the Edinburgh Book Festival talking about it and his writing process. The book literally blew me away by the sheer scope of it. If there is such a thing as perfection in a book, this is it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">For 2014, I'm planning to continue reading in a variety of genres/age groups and I'm also aiming to read more Classics and more foreign language books/translation. I will also continue my Muriel Spark reading challenge!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">That's it for me. What was your favourite book last year and do you have any bookish resolutions for 2014?</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkkw0ROPMSMdE0a0-KalKSdCHxN3Rc9qa15TbWK1XdZ7rwae2Gi_hhwmKhev8PjzjRbPm69jy5vi9ZxsQvCPz5sTZ3Vq-xnXBH1YpqmPo7kIbhDj8zqjzgz2Nkjo62UbH-UL_Z8GlankY/s1600/MurielChallenge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkkw0ROPMSMdE0a0-KalKSdCHxN3Rc9qa15TbWK1XdZ7rwae2Gi_hhwmKhev8PjzjRbPm69jy5vi9ZxsQvCPz5sTZ3Vq-xnXBH1YpqmPo7kIbhDj8zqjzgz2Nkjo62UbH-UL_Z8GlankY/s320/MurielChallenge.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyi40gpZHzRsUWQozOgTV2fqQPfhyedUYAowv642D2sVInbKcyr_imY9IU3ieS1Ap6pwvgHK68jaNA_oI7lRWzcKPP4TWfYma3D2Smn8APwhtPvb9Rrep8ybLQBf1RymycMyoDHev2ui4/s1600/Comf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyi40gpZHzRsUWQozOgTV2fqQPfhyedUYAowv642D2sVInbKcyr_imY9IU3ieS1Ap6pwvgHK68jaNA_oI7lRWzcKPP4TWfYma3D2Smn8APwhtPvb9Rrep8ybLQBf1RymycMyoDHev2ui4/s400/Comf.jpg" width="252" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><u>Summary:</u></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In Muriel Spark's fantastic first novel, the only things that aren't ambiguous are her matchless originality and glittering wit.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Caroline Rose is plagued by the tapping of typewriter keys and the strange, detached narration of her every thought and action. She has an unusual problem - she realises she is in a novel. Her fellow characters are also possibly deluded: Laurence, her former lover, finds diamonds in a loaf of bread - could his elderly grandmother really be a smuggler? And Baron Stock, her bookseller friend, believes he is on the trail of England's leading Satanist.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">~~~</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I absolutely loved this book and I'm not sure I'll be able to do it justice with my thoughts. You might actually rather read Ali Smith's words on it [<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/books/2009/jul/18/the-comforters-muriel-spark">here</a>]. (You definitely <i>should </i>read Ali Smith's words on it.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The book follows novelist Caroline Rose as she converts to Catholicism. After coming back from a retreat, she suddenly starts hearing </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">the sound of a typewriter and</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> voices who seem to comment on her thoughts and what is happening in her life. Her boyfriend Laurence is convinced his grandmother is part of a gang smuggling diamonds in the UK and he is investigating the matter.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">There are so many characters in this book and they are all colourful and different. Not just different from each other but different from most characters you read in books. They are all described vividly and we get to see their good and not-so-good actions and thoughts.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I adored Louisa Jepp who proves that one can never be too old to start a gang and smuggle diamonds in bread loaves. It feels that unique characters were hand-picked, thrown together in a small arena and put through various challenges. <span style="font-size: x-small;">And no, this isn't a prequel to <i>The Hunger Games.</i></span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> Though how awesome would a <i>Hunger Games</i> book written by Muriel Spark be? No, really, think about it!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The writing is quite simply exquisite. There is so much personality running through the pages that I can't wait to pick up Muriel Spark's other books. There is wit, irreverence, playfulness, as well as musings on human nature and life. I feel that by seeing the darker traits of the characters, we're given a glimpse into who they <i>really </i>are and we can't help seeing them as flawed human beings. <span style="font-size: xx-small;">Except Mrs. Hogg who is just plain evil *shudders*</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The book is also a metafiction because of the story in the story. Caroline seems to hear the narrator telling the story of her life and the narrator also hears Caroline's remarks on the storytelling. It gives an original twist on an already unique book.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">There are many topics in this book (religion, mental illness, language...) and they are balanced by the deadpan writing and some truly comical scenes. I felt it was such an effective way to talk about such serious topics in this manner as it jolts the reader into paying more attention to what is being said.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">There is A LOT happening in this short book and I still can't believe it was published in the 1950s. I'm really happy I set myself this challenge because Muriel Spark's books are an amazing - and timely - discovery for me. The book has already been a great source of inspiration (for writing and reading) and I can't wait to discover all her other books.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Also head over to the New York Times website where you can read articles about Muriel Spark and reviews of her books [<a href="http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/s/muriel_spark/">here</a>].</span></div>
Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18270606510325274092noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1352172002453207458.post-49451091623030026332013-10-17T15:12:00.000+01:002014-01-07T13:47:03.111+00:00Temeraire - Naomi Novik<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVI5PAdtQ0QZGIo1cZADizRXmvdx9GZ4jP16a67RaizPI77StiOjcC66-_SAfoGGXLREGH7nS30DvKsJjR4PsCtlWGlLJa0lO07_-FB3QXhyphenhyphenuBGofUTmrZLm3D7pwtrRjxZ2ykPPHCYY8/s1600/Temeraire.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVI5PAdtQ0QZGIo1cZADizRXmvdx9GZ4jP16a67RaizPI77StiOjcC66-_SAfoGGXLREGH7nS30DvKsJjR4PsCtlWGlLJa0lO07_-FB3QXhyphenhyphenuBGofUTmrZLm3D7pwtrRjxZ2ykPPHCYY8/s320/Temeraire.jpg" height="320" width="212" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><u>Summary:</u></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Naomi Novik’s stunning series of novels follow the global adventures of Captain William Laurence and his fighting dragon Temeraire as they are thrown together to fight for Britain during the turbulent time of the Napoleonic Wars.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Captain Will Laurence has been at sea since he was just twelve years old; finding a warmer berth in Nelson's navy than any he enjoyed as the youngest, least important son of Lord Allendale. Rising on merit to captain his own vessel, Laurence has earned himself a beautiful fiancée, society's esteem and a golden future. But the war is not going well. It seems Britain can only wait as Napoleon plans to overrun her shores.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">After a skirmish with a French ship, Laurence finds himself in charge of a rare cargo: a dragon egg bound for the Emperor himself. Dragons are much prized: properly trained, they can mount a fearsome attack from the skies. One of Laurence's men must take the beast in hand and join the aviators' cause, thus relinquishing all hope of a normal life.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">But when the newly-hatched dragon ignores the young midshipman Laurence chose as its keeper and decides to imprint itself on the horrified captain instead, Laurence's world falls apart. Gone is his golden future: gone his social standing, and soon his beautiful fiancée, as he is consigned to be the constant companion and trainer of the fighting dragon Temeraire…</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">~~~</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I absolutely loved this book, and its sequel <i>Throne of Jade</i> and I am happily going to continue reading this series. It is a really exciting and original idea to have an alternate reality where the Napoleonic wars are fought with dragons and I was hooked from the start. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The fantasy aspect weaves itself perfectly with the historical period to the point that it doesn't sound weird after a while that dragons fight alongside humans.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The friendship/love between Temeraire and Laurence is a deep bond of respect and admiration. The writing is beautiful and their feelings leap off the pages. <span style="font-size: xx-small;">You also kind of want a dragon for yourself, but maybe that's just me.</span> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It was utterly refreshing to have a main character very concerned with propriety and being a gentleman while having his life completely changed with the arrival of Temeraire. The interactions between the various social groups seen through Laurence's eyes and how the dynamics evolved throughout the book were fascinating to read. Obviously he's not a perfect character and his views are a little traditional but it's interesting to read about his struggle to adjust to his new life.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I also really loved how the dragons were not treated like mere beasts and had an ever evolving intelligence. They can talk and learn languages and choose their rider. Many other books on dragons have this aspect as well but the relationship between dragon and rider here is less exclusive and closed. There is a whole team taking care of a dragon and each person has a job taking care of the dragon <i>and </i>a duty during a battle. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Additionally, even though the book stays close to the cultural aspects of the period for the most part, it also includes some different aspects in the organisation of this alternate society: women can serve in the military because some dragons only accept female riders. There is no princess to be saved in this book and Laurence's very conservative views about women have to evolve. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">There is a lot of action and I particularly enjoyed reading the military combat scenes involving dragons. Aerial combat with dragons is not a simple affair and the depth of detail over each dragon's ability and strengths are amazing. The battle scenes make sense historically which makes this book more of an alternative historical novel than a straightforward fantasy book.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">The writing is very good. The story is told in the third person,
mostly from Laurence's point of view. I found the descriptions of dragons,
places and feelings practically flawless. Even the battle scenes involving
dragons appear so realistic that it's as if you're on top of the dragon,
holding on to a leather strap.</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">All in all, I thought it was a deeply original book with an interesting voice and could be a good fit for both fans of fantasy and/or historical fiction.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/2317234/?claim=55c2e3hmkmh">Follow my blog with Bloglovin</a></span></div>
Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18270606510325274092noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1352172002453207458.post-29131731885812560422013-10-16T14:28:00.000+01:002014-03-07T15:25:12.812+00:00Muriel Spark Reading Challenge <span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Hi all,</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I have rather abruptly decided that I wanted to read all (or most) of Muriel Spark's books over the next few years after realising how amazing she was and how shameful it was that I had yet to read one of her books. I, of course, had to make it official with a list <span style="font-size: xx-small;">(I love lists!) </span>and a logo. Muriel Spark is one of Scotland's most talented novelists and I have been missing out on her books so I am really looking forward to this. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Below are the books I intend to read. I don't know if anyone else wants to join me in this endeavour, it can be just for a few books if her complete works look a bit daunting! I'll update this list as and when I read the books.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>FICTION:</b></span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">1957 <strike>The Comforters</strike> [<a href="http://portrait-of-a-woman.blogspot.co.uk/2013/12/the-comforters-muriel-spark.html">My thoughts here</a>]<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">1958 Robinson<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">1959 Memento Mori<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">1960 The Ballad of Peckham Rye<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The Bachelors<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">1961 The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">1963 The Girls of Slender Means<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">1965 The Mandelbaum Gate<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">1968 The Public Image<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">1970 <strike>The Driver's Seat</strike> [<a href="http://portrait-of-a-woman.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/the-drivers-seat-muriel-spark.html">My thoughts here</a>]<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">1971 Not to Disturb<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">1973 The Hothouse by the East River<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">1974 The Abbess of Crewe<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">1976 The Takeover<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">1979 Territorial Rights<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">1981 Loitering with Intent<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">1984 The Only Problem<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">1988 A Far Cry from Kensington<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">1990 Symposium<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">1996 Reality and Dreams<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">2000 Aiding and Abetting</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%;">2004</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%;">The Finishing School</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>OTHER WORKS:</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">1950 Tribute to Wordsworth [edited by Muriel
Spark and Derek Stanford]<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">1951 Child of Light [a study of Mary Shelley]</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">1952 The Fanfarlo and Other Verse<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">1952 Selected Poems of Emily Brontë<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">1953 John Masefield [biography]<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">1953 Emily Brontë: her life and work [by Muriel
Spark and Derek Stanford]<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">1953 My Best Mary [a selection of letters of Mary
Wollstonecraft Shelley, edited by Muriel Spark and Derek Stanford]<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">1954
The Brontë letters<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">1957 Letters of John Henry Newman [edited by
Muriel Spark and Derek Stanford]<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">1958 The Go-away Bird [short stories]<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">1961
Voices at Play [short stories and
plays]<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">1963 Doctors of Philosophy [play]<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 36.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-indent: -36.0pt;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">1967 'Collected Poems'<br />
'Collected Stories'<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">1982 'Bang-bang You're Dead' [short stories]<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">1982 'Going up to Sotheby's' [poems]<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">1992 'Curriculum Vitae' [autobiography]<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">2001 'Complete Short Stories'<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">2004 </span>'All the Poems'</span></span></div>
Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18270606510325274092noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1352172002453207458.post-85439534647069267562013-07-30T21:30:00.001+01:002013-07-30T21:37:30.316+01:00Summer Reads<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Summer is here (sort of) and that means we can read all the books we haven't managed to read yet this year!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I have a few books I've read and a few which are on my radar so I thought I'd share some of them!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">First is <b><i>A Tale for the Time Being </i>by Ruth Ozeki</b> which has been one of my favourite books this year and has just been</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> longlisted for the Booker</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">. A writer living on an island on the coast of Canada finds a Hello Kitty lunch box with a diary of a teenage girl named Nao, a watch and several letters written in Japanese. This is a fascinating book that will take you to Japan, will enlighten you about awesome Buddhist nuns, will make you think and dream and travel. The book is also about stories. The stories we tell ourselves, the story we read and the stories around us we didn't even know were there. I absolutely loved it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I haven't read <b><i>Life after Life</i> by Kate Atkinson</b> yet but I have heard SO MUCH about it that I really can't wait to settle down with it during a long weekend this summer. I am just fascinated to read the many lives of Ursula Todd and how each life intertwines with world events. Kate Atkinson is such a talented writer and I was completely won over when I heard her talk about this book. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Yes, yes, I was totally late on this bandwagon but <b><i>Gone Girl</i> by Gillian Flynn</b> is absolutely, mind-blowingly AMAZING. If you haven't read it yet, do. If you have read it, well you know what I mean. This book is SO tense and addictive I was an emotional wreck for two weeks. Nick Dunne's wife Amy disappears on the day of their 5th anniversary and the police start to suspect him. More or less everything goes downhill from there. How exciting, right?</span></div>
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<a href="http://blogs.ucl.ac.uk/cfp-blog/files/2013/04/a_game_of_thrones_book_cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://blogs.ucl.ac.uk/cfp-blog/files/2013/04/a_game_of_thrones_book_cover.jpg" width="123" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I'm putting <b><i>A Game of Thrones</i> by George R. R. Martin</b> here but it can be any next book in the series you need to read (I'm waiting for a long weekend to start on the second book!). I think more or less everyone loves the show but the books are so SO amazing, you HAVE to read them. And it's not just the fantasy fans all around the world saying this, it's literally everyone else as well (more or less everyone else in the world). The characters are all amazing (Tyrion and Arya are obviously my fave), the plot is incredible (well, the 1205794310 plots there are through the series) and it's just amazing so go read it at once.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">If any book has to compete plot-wise with <i>Game of Thrones</i>, it kind of has to <b><i>May We Be Forgiven</i> by A. M. Homes</b>. I know, it sounds weird, but I'm reading this at the moment and I have come to the conclusion that A. M. Homes might be, just a little bit, related GRRM. I mean, this book is INSANE (in a really good way, don't get me wrong!!). The characters, the plot, the themes are quite simply brilliant. The book is hilarious and after reading the first 50/100 pages you wonder what on earth the rest of the book can contain if this is only the beginning. It won the Women's Prize for Fiction this year and you have to read it if you haven't. So there. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqgSbSd5vygeJbTi7OgMNoQqUgerLuGVgIERxZs6KdLrC9k9sVkoUG7BZX2_cunUf_sH83tgLGSr8ZCrzpNwmyLQp-rlux9Ww9km7BN4q2gJGeGT15zwIc73DF726xp_jbg8x0mxQxPpk/s320/angelmaker1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqgSbSd5vygeJbTi7OgMNoQqUgerLuGVgIERxZs6KdLrC9k9sVkoUG7BZX2_cunUf_sH83tgLGSr8ZCrzpNwmyLQp-rlux9Ww9km7BN4q2gJGeGT15zwIc73DF726xp_jbg8x0mxQxPpk/s200/angelmaker1.jpg" width="130" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I haven't read <b><i>Angelmarker</i> by Nick Harkaway</b> yet but my better half has been raving about it for months. It was shortlisted for the Arthur C. Clarke Award. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i>Ghana Must Go</i> by Taiye Selasi</b> has been one of my most anticipated books for this year and I can't wait to read it. She was announced as one of Granta's Best of British Young Novelists this year. This is a book about family, how it tears itself apart and how it reunites. I've been told the book will appeal to fans of Zadie Smith (which I am) so I can't wait to read it.</span></div>
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<a href="http://files.list.co.uk/images/2013/04/17/the-humans-lst111127.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://files.list.co.uk/images/2013/04/17/the-humans-lst111127.jpg" width="132" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I read <b><i>The Humans</i> by Matt Haig</b> earlier this year and I loved it. It's witty, moving and utterly heart-warming. Professor Andrew Martin of Cambridge University solves the world's greatest mathematical riddle and then he disappears. When he is found again, he is somewhat different and seems to have to learn again what it is to be human. </span></div>
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<a href="http://www.filmofilia.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Nick-Hornby-WILD-Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://www.filmofilia.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Nick-Hornby-WILD-Cover.jpg" width="146" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I have been hearing about <b><i>Wild</i> by Cheryl Strayed</b> for a while and I've been meaning to read this book ever since. My better half - and everyone else she has given the book to - has been raving about it and I feel this summer I'll finally get around to it! At 26 years old, Cheryl lost everything - her mother, her marriage, etc - so she decided impulsively to walk 1100 miles of the West Coast of America alone with just a backpack. At 26 years old myself, I feel compelled to read Cheryl Strayed's memoir (slightly easier than the hiking, but I have sensitive feet).</span></div>
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<a href="http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1362466425l/16099180.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1362466425l/16099180.jpg" width="131" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">A new <b>C</b></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>urtis Sittenfeld</b> is already an event in itself, so there was no doubt I would want to read </span><i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Sisterland</b></i><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">. I have loved (and at times loved to hate) </span><i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Prep </i><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">and <i>American Wife</i> is still on my list of books to read. But also: twins? Special powers? Curtis Sittenfeld's masterful prose? YES PLEASE!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Anyways - here is my little list, what other books should be on my radar?</span></div>
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Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18270606510325274092noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1352172002453207458.post-59452233355977835342013-07-28T21:36:00.000+01:002013-07-29T14:31:11.962+01:00Blue is the Warmest Color - Julie Maroh<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPLfZ22H2AcZMzY9uxzOLdZSE9Y7jP_zlgUSowyGvqDjc3sTVnI7nwci8GQhyQPIZzk7QZBU9Dce4xmhZL1bGvPlV1cL2gcs-KArFgadHom0b4DpIT9T1ot1P5O4sL6Gh6veHg3GWGo9c/s1600/Blue.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPLfZ22H2AcZMzY9uxzOLdZSE9Y7jP_zlgUSowyGvqDjc3sTVnI7nwci8GQhyQPIZzk7QZBU9Dce4xmhZL1bGvPlV1cL2gcs-KArFgadHom0b4DpIT9T1ot1P5O4sL6Gh6veHg3GWGo9c/s640/Blue.jpg" width="448" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><u>Summary</u></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #181818; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;">In this tender, bittersweet, full-colour graphic novel, a young woman named Clémentine discovers herself and the elusive magic of love when she meets a confident blue-haired girl named Emma: a lesbian love story for the ages that bristles with the energy of youth and rebellion and the eternal light of desire.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #181818; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;">First published in French by Belgium's Glénat, the book has won several awards, including the Audience Prize at the Angoulême International Comics Festival, Europe's largest.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #181818; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;">Julie Maroh</span><span style="color: #181818; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;"> is an author and illustrator originally from northern France.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I have to say that this has become one of my favourite graphic novels of all time. The story whole-heartedly encapsulates attraction, first love and identity. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The book is a diary of Clémentine's life from the early years of her adolescence all through her life and it is an amazing coming of age story. </span>The<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> illustrations serve the story in such a way that you see Clémentine's feelings bubbling up on the page. The use of colour as well as the emphasis put on perspective makes you see things through Clémentine's eyes, allowing you to watch her life unravel (and also ravel - <span style="font-size: xx-small;">which really should be a word</span>), from her point of view.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsxpdJ24s6Gap8zb28T0pTIXBBuYJJX6mxGEfm1D9RdC29O_UQZSrL3CBXV-QZKKhDLegbXRPI7u_wq-MjsHd5CNGtwIWO_FhRKxmvqe5-VfRB9iVetJW5UKr_-DVk7iNiqk6YOfBcg4U/s1600/le-bleu-est-une-couleur-chaude-planche.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsxpdJ24s6Gap8zb28T0pTIXBBuYJJX6mxGEfm1D9RdC29O_UQZSrL3CBXV-QZKKhDLegbXRPI7u_wq-MjsHd5CNGtwIWO_FhRKxmvqe5-VfRB9iVetJW5UKr_-DVk7iNiqk6YOfBcg4U/s640/le-bleu-est-une-couleur-chaude-planche.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Everything seems pretty good for Clémentine at first but when she meets Emma, her world turns upside down. She has to deal with her feelings and the fact that they don't seem to have any sort of relation to what her brain tells her she should feel. Clémentine has never been attracted to a girl before and she has some issues when dealing with it at first. I do think this is one of the best "coming out" type of stories (though I do dislike the term) because it shows you in words and images the effect such a realisation has on a person. It's as if you've lived all your life with an image of you, of life, of things, of <i>every</i>thing and all of a sudden your life and this image, this certainty you've had all your life don't match up. And you find yourself having to choose between your heart and your mind and it is sometimes the hardest thing you will have to go through because either way you go, you could feel you are betraying yourself. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKstShMWkz8UlWVOIxv0F-8At-1Hg7TpMD7tqGIm5tPWyjyNmWrflsTdo2QrtZ6nafEtVw5ewbeWckAwv96Rn0IcnmqBAt3jvg-8HGNzM1rnMy6vo8xMYZVROBb-wUySYdAnayVeZiy_I/s1600/20101213PHOWWW000932.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKstShMWkz8UlWVOIxv0F-8At-1Hg7TpMD7tqGIm5tPWyjyNmWrflsTdo2QrtZ6nafEtVw5ewbeWckAwv96Rn0IcnmqBAt3jvg-8HGNzM1rnMy6vo8xMYZVROBb-wUySYdAnayVeZiy_I/s640/20101213PHOWWW000932.jpg" width="459" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I don't really want to say more about the book because I read it without knowing much and I cried big fat ugly tears from the first pages and I felt I was right there with Clémentine while she was going through these moments. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNn4SBiIhWIE9K189SqycPhTG1Q1H2U4BIwC3q-FjqM22LNpJB-o6oLw6H6ToWFq4Rb3DtRUsKJ_vhim55-rtCuGFFkPBpjdr8AuEaTksn4q20iyQ4XOB5c6vgUZ0kF1tlnkOssZ11Dow/s1600/planches.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNn4SBiIhWIE9K189SqycPhTG1Q1H2U4BIwC3q-FjqM22LNpJB-o6oLw6H6ToWFq4Rb3DtRUsKJ_vhim55-rtCuGFFkPBpjdr8AuEaTksn4q20iyQ4XOB5c6vgUZ0kF1tlnkOssZ11Dow/s640/planches.jpg" width="449" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I've read it in French but the English version is out in September this year from <a href="http://www.arsenalpulp.com/home.php">Arsenal Pulp Press</a> and the film based on the opening chapters of the book has found a UK distributor (<a href="http://www.curzoncinemas.com/">Curzon</a>) so it should be in UK indie cinemas soon. The film has been praised by the critics and won the Palme d'Or at the Festival de Cannes but has received quite a lot of criticism over the shooting conditions and the fact that the director didn't thank the author, Julie Maroh, in his acceptance speech. Julie Maroh <a href="http://www.juliemaroh.com/2013/05/27/le-bleu-dadele/">has written a blog post</a> about the film and has pointed out the lack of realism of the love scenes as well as her issues with the film in general, so do give the graphic novel a chance whether you like the film or not.</span></div>
Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18270606510325274092noreply@blogger.com1