Ok, I know, I know. This might not be the most obvious choice for May Faves but given Barbara Kingsolver and Geraldine Brooks had already earned a place here this month, I simply could not go past this as one of my favourite books of all time. If you judge a book by how often […]
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May
28
The Lacuna by Barbara Kingsolver – Guest Review by Ms S
posted by Ms K
My nomination for May Faves is The Lacuna, by Barbara Kingsolver. Which I have just, very reluctantly, finished. I dragged it out as long as I thought I could (the copy belongs to a good friend who let me read it before she read it!). The writing is just beautiful. Lucid, smart, delicate, strong, sharp, […]
May
12
A Little Princess – Guest Review by Miss Ellie (aged 11)
posted by Ms A
“In the early morning smog I had him. But in the lovely lunch of my birthday I lost him.” A Little Princess is written by Frances Hodgson Burnett who also wrote The Secret Garden. Frances weaves a story about a rich girl with perfect manners and an extreme love of books. Frances tells this story […]
May
03
The Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks – Guest Review by Ms D
posted by Ms A
Behold, there’s a book that covers everything: rampant disease, death, suicide, murder, torture, grief, greed, lust, sex, sorcery, devil worship, flagellation, crazed mobs, cruel parenting, and that old chestnut: religion. In her first foray into historical fiction, Australian foreign correspondent, Geraldine Brooks (who has witnessed her share of horrific war zones), addresses an ethical dilemma. […]
May
02
Welcome to May – The month of favourites
posted by Ms A
Ms K and I were talking about our favourite books recently. Nothing new there but one thing led to another and we started chatting about our favourite books of all time – the one’s we like to call Oldies but Goodies. We agreed to dig them out for review but we also agreed to invite our readers to […]
April
27
His Other House by Sarah Armstrong
posted by Ms K
I have waited 11 years for Sarah Armstrong’s new book. Her first novel, Salt Rain, was published in 2004 and it was a beauty. It is perched on my bookshelf where it will remain, always surviving my annual book purges (this is a necessity given the amount I own! Sometimes, you just have to clear […]
April
17
An Untamed State by Roxane Gay
posted by Ms A
While Ms K is busy with happy tales, I am deep in nightmares. Literally. Last night I dreamt my husband was kidnapped on a busy street in broad daylight and I woke up thanking Roxane Gay and her book “An Untamed State” You will find this book front and centre in most bookshops right now […]
March
25
The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins
posted by Ms K
I learnt a new word courtesy of this book. Unputdownable. I didn’t make it up – someone else did – one of the book’s reviewers who clearly loved this book as much as I did. To say I was like a rabid dog reading it, is an understatement. I couldn’t stop myself. It’s simply unputdownable. I don’t think I […]
March
18
We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves by Karen Joy Fowler
posted by Ms K
Hard to know if this title is actually about the book or how you will react when reading it. This book comes with a twist you won’t see coming so yes, I was definitely a bit beside myself when the ‘what the?’ moment came mid story. Don’t worry , I won’t spoil what that moment is and you definitely won’t […]
March
12
Elizabeth is Missing by Emma Healey
posted by Ms K
Before you even hit the first line of this book, you need to wade through 2 whole pages of rave reviews from a mass of publications (not to mention the front cover which is laden too). The New York Times, the Observer, Marie Claire, you name them, they reviewed it ….. & surprise, surprise, they loved it! Clearly the […]
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