I'm still here!!!!

I've just realised that I haven't posted for a whole week!! I have been so busy, I was determined to be organised for Christmas this year but it really hasn't happened! I only bought wrapping paper and cards last night! No mince pies have been made or cupboards filled with Christmas delights!
I am still reading though but I have to say that Too Close to Home is turning into a bit of a hard slog, I am on chapter twenty three and still waiting to be gripped, really disappointed as I loved No Time for Goodbye by Linwood Barclay. Hopefully there will be more posting going on next week but in the meanwhile I hope that you are all enjoying the run up to Christmas and that you are more organised than me!

Book Review: A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

I really wanted to read something festive and finally read some Dickens, so A Christmas Carol was perfect for both! It was first published on 19th December, 1843 and as we all know it has remained popular with both film and musical adaptations being made of this classic Christmas story. Dickens was inspired by his own childhood experiences and his sympathy for the poor, especially young children.
The story begins on Christmas Eve where we meet one of literature's great characters, Ebenezer Scrooge, a man whose only desire is to make money even though he doesn't seem to gain any pleasure or comfort from it. We learn that it is seven years since Scrooge's business partner, Jacob Marley died, he now runs the business alone with very little care or concern for his few staff.
Returning home for Christmas, Scrooge is confronted by the ghost of Jacob Marley fettered in heavy chains. Marley warns Scrooge that he too will bear these heavy chains in eternity unless he mends his ways. Before disappearing, he tells Scrooge to expect visits from three other spirits.
The Ghost of Christmas Past arrives first and takes Scrooge back to his childhood, which highlights how much he has changed. The Ghost of Christmas Present is next and his visit takes Scrooge to the home of his nephew Fred and also to the home of his employee Bob Cratchit and family. It is clear for Ebenezer Scrooge to see how happy they all are in spite of having hardly any wealth or material possessions. Finally we meet The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come who presents Scrooge with some horrible visions of the future where Scrooge has died but is hardly missed.
The three ghostly visits greatly affect Scrooge and it appears that he has learnt a valuable lesson. He is far more generous with this time and affection with regards to his nephew and he takes more notice of his employee Bob Cratchit and provides care for Bob's crippled son, Tiny Tim.
A Christmas Carol really does capture what Christmas is all about, Dickens makes you take stock of who or what you have in your life and reminds you to be thankful for it. Whether you read the book or watch one of the film versions, the message carried in Dickens' Tale is just perfect for this time of year.

Book Review: The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger

I must be one of the very few people who had not read this book. When it first came out I was really put off by all of the hype surrounding it plus I hate books that jump back and forth which this one obviously would. However, the release of the film caught my interest and I decided to give the book a go. I am so, so glad that I did because I think that The Time Traveler's Wife is simply stunning.
It is the love story of Claire Abshire and Henry DeTamble. They met when Claire was six and Henry thirty-six and then they married when Claire was twenty-two and Henry was thirty. Confusing? The concept took a little bit of getting used to but the idea is that Henry suffers from a genetic condition which causes him to involuntarily travel back and forth in time.
Audrey Niffenegger has created a basic love story with extraordinary circumstances. I loved the realness of Claire and Henry's relationship; Claire admits that she sometimes quite enjoys the time to herself that she gets when Henry disappears, even though it is always a huge relief when he returns. Henry and Claire are beautifully constructed characters and we are told the story from both of their perspectives which adds another dimension to the book.
As the reader, I very quickly accepted Henry and the condition he has. I felt like this was mirrored in the character of Claire, she meets Henry when she is only six years old and so the way he is, is almost normal to her as she has not really known anything different. I did think that when other characters in the book were made aware of Henry's condition they accepted it very quickly. I am not sure in real life if I would believe in something like that without wanting to ask hundreds of questions first.
Audrey Niffenegger explores relationships, love, loss, loyalty, absence and loneliness through her story of Claire and Henry. I could not put this book down and the ending had me in tears mainly because I just did not want the book to finish. I think that this is a beautiful book and I only wish that I had read it sooner. I will not be waiting so long to read the author's new book Her Fearful Symmetry which has been getting rave reviews. I'm not sure now that I have finished the book of The Time Traveler's Wife whether I will watch the film adaptation or not. I'm a little worried that it will be no where near as good as the book. If you, like me are one of the few who haven't read this yet then I urge you to get a copy, I loved it!

Booking Through Thursday: But What About Me?

What’s your favorite part of Booking Through Thursday? Why do you participate (or not)?

Booking Through Thursday is one of the first weekly postings that I came across when I discovered the world of book blogging and I try to take part every week! I think that the questions often make you think a little bit more about the books that you are reading. I love hearing about what other people are reading too and I usually add a couple of books to my wish list after reading people's Booking Through Thursday responses.

The Dog Who Came in from the Cold by Alexander McCall Smith, Chapter 41-57

It has all been happening at Corduroy Mansions, the online novel from Alexander McCall Smith over on the Telegraph's website. I have really enjoyed the recent chapters and will try and fill you in on the latest developments:

• Berthea is very worried about her eccentric brother, Terence, who is planning on signing his house over to the rather dodgy Roger and Claire who want to open a Centre for Cosmological Studies.
• Freddie de la Hay (my favourite character) has been left in the care of Tilly Curtain of MI6 and he is very upset and worried about the fact that Williams appears to have abandoned him. He is even more concerned when Tilly hands him over to Mr Podgornin, their Russian suspect.
• When Mr Podgornin's colleagues find Freddie's transmitting collar, we are left wondering what his fate will be as Mr Podgornin says he has lethal plans for him.
  
• Rupert and Gloria have been meddling again and they get caught snooping round Berthea's flat by Errol Greatorex who is staying there whilst helping the yeti to finish his memoirs.
• Gloria wants to know more about Ratty Mason- a school friend of Rupert's who they see at dinner and who Rupert is very reluctant to talk about.
• Meanwhile Barbara is on a little trip with the perfect Hugh to meet his parents Sorley and Stephanie. They seem perfect like their perfect son and perfect home but Barbara is starting to wonder if it is all just a little bit fake?
• Finally Dee receives a letter from Richard Eadston, the venture capitalist, he has agreed to invest for a 25% share of her Sudoku Remedy business. Dee needs some money to set it up so she jumps at her assistant Martin's offer to become a business partner in exchange for his investment of £5,000.

They may be small chapters but a lot is happening at Corduroy Mansions, I have so many questions at the moment:

• Will William manage to save Freddie?
• Will Barbara be able to stop Terence from signing over their childhood home?
• Who is this Ratty Mason figure from Rupert's past?
• Are Hugh and his family as perfect as they seem?
• Is the yeti real or is Errol Greatorex simply mad?

Obviously I am most concerned about the fate of Freddie de la Hay, I hope that William and Tilly are able to save the day.
What do you think so far? Any favourite characters? To read along every day or to find out more about The Dog Who Came in from the Cold by Alexander McCall Smith then just click here.

Book Review: The Other Hand by Chris Cleave

This book has been popping up on loads of blogs and I was intrigued but only managed to get hold of a copy a few weeks ago. I am going to do as I am told and not give the story away so here's the blurb:

We don't want to tell you what happens in this book. It is a truly special story and we don't want to spoil it.

Nevertheless you need to know enough to buy it so we will just say this:

This is the story of two women.

Their lives collide one fateful day, and one of them has to make a terrible choice.

Two years later, they meet again
-the story starts here...

Once you have read it, you'll want to tell your friends about it. When you do, please don't tell them what happens either.
The magic is in how it unfolds.

Some people have been extremely irritated by this blurb and the letter from the editor at the start of the book which announces how amazing it is. I, however, was not irritated as this book is amazing. If The Other Hand had come with a standard blurb then I know that I would not have picked it up and then I would have missed out on what I think is one of the best books that I have read this year.
The book is totally character driven by Little Bee and Sarah, two women of different ages and devastatingly different circumstances. I fell in love with both of these characters, Chris Cleave gives us such an insight into their lives that it does not take long to feel like you know them inside out.
There are so many harrowing scenes in this book and on more than one occasion I was reading with tears streaming down my cheeks. But there is so much wit and humour too, it really does carry the story and gives a profound sense of hope.
It is such a fantastic and I think, important book. I could not put it down and it only took me a couple of days to read it. Since then I have not stopped thinking about The Other Hand and I know it's annoying not to know more but I urge you to give it a go.
I wonder if any of you who have already read it are like me in that you would not have picked it up had you known the subject matter? It's quite a risky marketing strategy isn't it?

Book Review: The Brightest Star in the Sky by Marian Keyes

As any regular visitors to my blog will know, I was just a little bit excited about reading the new Marian Keyes book. I have taken my time with The Brightest Star in the Sky and really enjoyed it. There's a fair few characters so I'll give you a little overview of the inhabitants of 66 Star Street, the address in Dublin where this tale takes place:

In the top floor flat lives music exec Katie. She spends her days fighting off has-been rock stars and wondering how much cheesecake you'd need to eat yourself to death.
Below her, a pair of muscular Poles share with a streetwise cabbie named Lydia, who has a sharp tongue, an even sharper brain but some unexpected soft spots.
On the first floor is Fionn- a gardener who prefers the company of parsnips to people. But he looks like a fairy-tale prince and when he's offered his own television show, he's suddenly thrust into the limelight.
And at the bottom of the house live Maeve and Matt, who are Very Much In Love and who stave off despair by doing random acts of kindness.
But a mysterious visitor has just landed at 66 Star Street and big changes are on the way. Old secrets are working their way to the surface, bringing love, tragedy and unexpected optimism. And life will be different for everyone...

So as you can see there are quite a few characters to follow but Marian Keyes manages to link them perfectly. I don't usually like books with lots of characters to keep track of but I didn't feel confused at any point as they all feature consistently throughout. I have always enjoyed the characters that Keyes creates and this lot did not disappoint. By having 66 Star Street as a central point, Keyes is able to bring a varied bunch of people together in a very believable manner. I think that my favourite character was the feisty Lydia, hard as nails but with a heart of gold.
Many people felt that Marian Keyes' last book, This Charming Man, was a little serious compared to her other writing. I think it did have a darker side but that it was dealt with in a very Marian Keyes manner. The Brightest Star in the Sky also explores some pretty heavy issues and there are many poignant moments within the book. However, Keyes' wit and humour is still present throughout and personally I think that it is this humour which allows her to explore darker subjects in such a sensitive way.
The mysterious visitor to Star Street is not revealed until the very last page and I was guessing right up until the very end. I loved the use of the mysterious visitor though as it allowed the reader to get to the very core of the characters whilst adding an air of mystery that kept me turning the pages.
I may be a little biased in this review as I am such a fan of Marian Keyes but I do think that this is one of her best. As with all her books, you get a brilliant story with some fantastic characters but there is real depth to the book too. The Brightest Star in the Sky left me with a profound feeling of hope, hope that if we surround ourselves with the people who love and care for us then we can face anything that life throws at us,