29.6.09

The Gift by Cecila Ahern


I missed this book when it came out at Christmas but finally got round to finishing it at the weekend. Although The Gift is set in the Christmas period, I still really enjoyed reading it over a sunny June weekend!

Basically the story revolves around the question of:
If you could wish for one gift this Christmas, what would it be?

Cecilia Ahern presents us with the character of Lou Suffern, he is a young, successful man with a wife and two kids who nearly always needs but fails to be in two places at the same time. One morning he meets Gabe who is homeless and begging outside of Lou's office building; he is intrigued by this man who looks remarkably similar to himself and so he finds him a job in the company's mail room. Lou starts to find Gabe's presence a little odd, how does he manage to be in two places at the same time? Christmas gets closer and Gabe seems to be interfering in Lou's life even more, trying to teach him the true value of time. Towards the end of the book Lou has begun to realise what is really important in life but then he has to learn the harshest lesson of all.

Once again Cecilia Ahern presents you with a slightly fairy-tale like story that is completely believable and absorbing. The book held my interest from the very beginning and there were many twists and turns that I would never have predicted. Lou Suffern is a fantastic character, you get a real feel for the scarily fast speed that he is living his life at and the many responsibilities that he is trying to juggle. Gabe is the true fairy-tale character of the story, we do not know who he is or where he has come from, yet his impact on the story is huge.
I would have liked to have read this book at Christmas but it was still lovely to read at this time of year. I felt that Cecilia Ahern really captured that time of year, with the hustle and bustle of Christmas shopping, the cold weather and the many social commitments that we all make. The book had a really lovely message that is relevant all year round, not just during the festive period. We do take people for granted sometimes and need a little nudge to take a step back and look at the bigger picture.
If you are a Cecilia Ahern fan like me then I am sure you will really enjoy this book and if you haven't read any of her books then here is a good place to start. I can highly recommend reading a book set in December during this heatwave, all the talk of snow and biting winds cooled me right down!

26.6.09

Beyond Black by Hilary Mantel


Beyond Black was recommended to me by the lovely Kim at Still Reading and I'm so glad that she did as I have really enjoyed this book. I'll give you the blurb:

Alison Hart, a medium by trade, tours the dormitory towns of London's orbital road with her flint-hearted sidekick Colette, passing on messages from dead ancestors. But behind her plump, smiling persona is a desperate woman: the next life holds terrors that she must conceal from her clients, and her own waking hours are plagued by the spirits of men from her past. They infiltrate her house, her body and her soul, and the more she tries to be rid of them, the stronger and nastier they become...


I loved the character of Alison Hart; she is completely believable unlike some of the more sinister characters in this book. Through the taped interviews with Colette we gain an insight into her truly awful childhood with her prostitute mother in Aldershot. The reader is often left to make up their own mind about the events of Alison's childhood as the facts are not always explicit; in some ways this makes it worse as your imagination is allowed to wander. Alison's sidekick is Colette; in some ways she is an extremely sad figure who has been unlucky in love and life but also you can see her drive and ambition as she attempts to reinvigorate and nurture Alison's career. Morris, Alison's spiritual companion is a really vile creation. He is a lecherous, foul mouthed old man who taunts Alison at all hours of the day and night.
I really enjoyed this book and I loved how Hilary Mantel took quite an ordinary topic and created such a fantastic story and characters. The book is very dialogue led and Mantel pulls this off really well, I often felt like I was sitting there observing the conversation between Alison and Colette or Alison and her clients. I felt that Mantel really captured the oppressive nature of Alison's life; she never has any peace, the spirits plague her at all hours and this highlights just how important and vital Colette's friendship is to her.
This is the first Hilary Mantel book that I have ever read and I will definitely be seeking out her other ones. She is an extremely intelligent writer; she is telling an incredibly sad story but manages to do so with brilliant wit and her observations of human behavior are spot on.

25.6.09

Booking Through Thursday: Hot!

Now that summer is here (in the northern hemisphere, anyway), what is the most “Summery” book you can think of? The one that captures the essence of summer for you?

I would have to say To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. The friendship that forms between Jem, Scout and Dill over the first summer that they meet reminds me of the Summers that I used to spend playing outside with my friends. I love this book, going to pop it on my summer reading pile right now!

17.6.09

If I Stay by Gayle Forman


I was lucky enough to win this book in the competition held by dovegreyreader, I loved her review of it so I was really looking forward to being able to read it myself. The book revolves around 17 year old Mia, she has a loving family; great friends and a boyfriend who she truly loves. Mia has decisions to make about her future; she is a talented cellist and there is the possibility that she will have won a place to study at Julliard in New York, leaving her life in Oregon behind. However, Mia's choices are vastly compromised by a cold February morning and a snowy road; she is left having to face an even harder decision all on her own.
I don't want to give the story away in my review but I do want to stress that I thought that this book was amazing. I literally couldn't put it down, I read it in one ago as I was totally absorbed into the story and the characters. I think that it is possibly one of the best young adult books that I have ever read; so many sensitive subjects are explored to their very limits. I loved how Gayle Forman painted the picture of Mia's relationship with her parents and also her boyfriend Adam. By building this up gradually the reader is left knowing how hard it is for Mia to make her decision at the end of the book. Ultimately this is a tale of love and loss; it really does make you take a step back and realise just how lucky we all are and how many things we take for granted every single day.
This review in no way does this book justice; there is so much that I would like to talk about further but I think that I would end up giving the story away. Gayle Forman has a wonderful website which probably describes the book in a much better way then I have; I thought If I Stay was a wonderful book though and I'm still thinking about it days after finishing the last page.

16.6.09

Me Meme

Thought I would give this meme a go today as I am really tired due to Alfie waking us up at 2.30am barking, Mr S and I thought maybe we were being burgled but no, a coat had simply fallen off the back door and Alfie thought that we would definitely need to be made aware of this in the early hours of the morning!


THREE NAMES YOU GO BY:
1. Dot
2. Little One (Not sure where this came from as I am quite a normal size!)
3. I only seem to have two- maybe I need a new nickname!

THREE SCREEN NAMES YOU HAVE HAD:
1. dot2dot
2. noseydot
3. dotscribbles

THREE PHYSICAL THINGS YOU LIKE ABOUT YOURSELF:
1. My eyelashes
2. I quite like my hair now that Mr S found me a decent hairdresser!
3. My wrists- not sure why but I always notice the size of peoples wrists!

THREE PHYSICAL THINGS YOU DON’T LIKE ABOUT YOURSELF:
1. My hips, they had better come in handy for child birth otherwise I will be even more annoyed!
2. My third toe on my right foot which pops out when it is cold and makes it really painful and embarrassing to walk.
3. I don't really like my chin.

THREE PARTS OF YOUR HERITAGE:
1. British
2. Pakistan
3. Hmmmmm I think there are only two parts, unless my parents failed to tell me something else.

THREE THINGS THAT SCARE YOU:
1. Letting people down.
2. The BNP.
3. Sponge (not the cake variety)

THREE OF YOUR EVERYDAY ESSENTIALS:
1. Tea (At least 10 cups a day, 2 of which have to be Earl Grey)
2. Telephone so that I can work and chat to my lovely sister.
3. A book, I always feel like the day has been wasted if I have not read something.

THREE THINGS YOU ARE WEARING NOW:
1. A very bright and summery, yellow top.
2. Flip flops, this is my footwear of choice, also probably the reason that I have a dodgy toe!
3. Skinny jeans (although I would not technically describe myself as skinny due to the aforementioned hips and the biscut eating problem)

THREE OF YOUR FAVORITE BANDS OR MUSICAL ARTISTS:
1. Girls Aloud
2. Van Morrison
3. Sam Bradley, he doesn't have an album out yet but his songs give me goosebumps, you can listen to his stuff on myspace.

THREE OF YOUR FAVORITE SONGS RIGHT NOW:
1. Too Far Gone by Sam Bradley
2. Candy by Paolo Nutini
3. Water and a Flame by Daniel Merriweather and Adele

THREE THINGS YOU WANT IN A RELATIONSHIP:
1. Love
2. Friendship
3. Respect

TWO TRUTHS AND A LIE, IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER:
1. I'm allergic to pinenuts
2. I have an amazing singing voice- like an angel
3. It took me four attempts to pass my driving test

THREE PHYSICAL THINGS ABOUT THE PREFERRED SEX THAT APPEAL TO YOU:
1. Proper manly hands
2. Dark Hair
3. Blue eyes

THREE OF YOUR FAVORITE HOBBIES:
1. Reading
2. Cooking but not baking!
3. Writing and daydreaming, these often go hand in hand.

THREE THINGS YOU WANT TO DO REALLY BADLY RIGHT NOW:
1. Go and get a cup of tea
2. Sit in the sunshine
3. Have a biscuit or two!

THREE CAREERS YOU’RE CONSIDERING/YOU’VE CONSIDERED:
1. Teacher- this was pretty much a disaster!
2. Writer
3. Private Detective.

THREE PLACES YOU WANT TO GO ON VACATION:
1. New York
2. Japan
3. Africa (I know I would need to narrow this down slightly!)

THREE NAMES YOU LIKE:
1. Lucy
2. Isobel
3. Edward

THREE THINGS YOU WANT TO DO BEFORE YOU DIE:
1. Write a book
2. Have children
3. Learn to play the piano

THREE WAYS THAT YOU ARE STEREOTYPICALLY A GIRL:
1. I have major PMT once a month!
2. I do like the colour pink
3. I have a really high-pitched voice- I think I may have cracked glass before!

THREE WAYS THAT YOU ARE STEREOTYPICALLY A BOY:
1. I am quite good at DIY
2. I like blue things
3. I like drinking beer

15.6.09

A Crowded Marriage by Catherine Alliott


I've never really taken the time to pick up a Catherine Alliott book for some reason, however this one found it's way into my basket and I'm extremely glad that it did. The story revolves round Imogen Cameron, her husband Alex and their son Rufus. The Camerons are experiencing financial troubles so they have to leave their house and life in London and accept Eleanor Latimer's offer of a rent-free cottage on her large country estate. The problem is that Eleanor is Alex's glamorous ex and Imogen already has her suspicions.
So they relocate to the country and settle into Shepherd's Cottage which comes complete with sheep, chickens and cows that Imogen is expected to look after. Life becomes very busy, Rufus has to be settled into a new school; Imogen has many encounters with the bossy but handsome vet and Alex and Eleanor seem to be spending far too much time together. Although Imogen had not welcomed the move to the country she does find that she is able to re-invigorate her painting career and begins to think that she could become very happy in the country. There are many twists and turns in the story as the situation finally comes to a head. I did not expect the ending at all which was a nice surprise really as books in this genre can sometimes be a little predictable.
A Crowded Marriage made me laugh out loud on several occasions and I think that Catherine Alliot creates extremely witty dialogue between her lovely characters. I will definitely be reading another Catherine Alliot book, I just hope the rest are as good as this one!

12.6.09

Sanctuary by Nora Roberts


This is the first Nora Roberts book that I have read; I kept on coming across her books so I decided to give one a go. I'm going to cheat a little and give you the blurb as this is a thriller and it would be far too easy to give the story away:

Photographer Jo Ellen Hathaway thought she'd escaped the house called Sanctuary long ago. She'd spent her loneliest years there, after the sudden, unexplained disappearance of her mother. But now someone is sending her pictures: strange, candid close-ups, culminating in the most shocking portrait of all- a photo of her mother, dead.

She decides she must return to Sanctuary to face her past. While her presence stirs up old family resentments, Jo finds solace with architect Nathan Delaney - who is also battling his own demons. But a sinister presence is still watching the Hathaway family with interest. It seems Sanctuary may be the most dangerous place of all...

I have to admit that it took me a while to get into this book and I'm not really sure why as the action starts immediately. The story was really good and once I was engrossed I thought that the pace of the book was excellent. There are quite a few characters in this book but the author does not skimp on details, we get a good picture of each one. Nora Roberts builds the tension up throughout the story and keeps you guessing to the very end. I haven't read a thriller like this for a long time; Roberts describes what she writes as Romantic suspense which is spot on really. I'm sorry that this review is not very detailed but it would be too easy to spoil for anyone. If you like the occasional thriller though, then I would give Nora Roberts a go; she has written many books so there is a good selection to choose from.

11.6.09

Booking Through Thursday: Niche

There are certain types of books that I more or less assume all readers read. (Novels, for example.)

But then there are books that only YOU read. Instructional manuals for fly-fishing. How-to books for spinning yarn. How to cook the perfect souffle. Rebuilding car engines in three easy steps. Dog training for dummies. Rewiring your house without electrocuting yourself. Tips on how to build a NASCAR course in your backyard. Stuff like that.

What niche books do YOU read?

I had to really think about this one as I rarely read non-fiction books. After having a look around my house I would say that the main type of niche book I read is recipe/cookery books; I love cooking and I have about 20 recipe books in my kitchen which I probably do refer to most weeks. The only other type I could think of is books about writing, I have only one of these as it came highly recommended. I used to think that if you need a book to tell you how to write then you probably aren't cut out for writing anyway. However this book Wannabe a Writer by Jane Wenham-Jones is brilliant, it has loads of information about how the publishing industry works and a guide to what to do with your manuscript once you have finished it. Also it has many inspiring words and stories to spur you on when you feel that you couldn't possibly write another word!

That's about it really, I'm a bit lazy other than that, if I need some niche information then I tend to look for it on the Internet, what about you?

10.6.09

Recent Acquisitions

Sorry that it has been a bit quiet at Scribbles this week, I was away at the weekend and this week I have been trying to get a little bit more organised for the wedding which isn't far away at all! Anyway I thought that I would let you know which books are currently hovering at the top of my TBR pile:

  • A Spring Affair by Milly Johnson- this sounds like a really good, light read. All of the reviews have said that it is very difficult to put down so I may have to wait until I have a whole day free!
  • The Gift by Cecelia Ahern- I have borrowed this off my lovely sister and it is the only Cecelia Ahern book that I haven't read. I love the fairytale element to her books so I'm looking forward to this one.
  • Beyond Black by Hilary Mantel- this was recommended to me by the lovely Kim over at Still Reading. Kim said that it was a little bit scary which I do like every now and again so I shall let you all know what I think.
  • Running in Heels by Anna Maxted- I swapped this with somebody as I had heard many good reviews, I might save this one for the Summer.
  • Night Train to Lisbon by Pascal Mercier- my lovely sister bought me this and I am having to stop myself from starting it straight away as it sounds so good. I am going to try and use all my willpower to save it for my honeymoon reading pile!

5.6.09

Secrets by Freya North


I was really excited when I heard that Freya North had a new book out and I finally got round to reading Secrets a couple of days ago. I really like the very pink front cover, it's completely different from Freya's other covers but I think it's better!
I love Freya North's books so I may be a little biased but I was completely absorbed from the very first page. Joe is our male protagonist, he has a beautiful house in Saltburn; a high flying career and nothing to tie him down. He advertises for a house sitter and along comes Tess who kind of takes the job before he has had the chance to offer it. So Joe lets Tess into his home without questioning where she has come from and why she has so little belongings or references. There is something about her that captivates him even when she is being infuriatingly sensitive and soon he begins to miss her more than the house when he has to go away.
As the title suggests, this book contains a lot of secrets which I don't want to give away in my review as it's not fair to spoil it for anyone. Freya North, once again has created beautiful characters whose lives she lets you into. I loved how we see the thoughts of both Joe and Tess about the same situation and as a reader you are willing them to realise what each other is thinking and feeling.
I think that Freya North has really explored the different types of secrets and the reason that we keep them from each other. Ultimately she shows how finding someone who you love and trust enough to share your secrets with is one of the greatest gifts that a relationship can offer. If you are a Freya North fan then you will probably not need any encouragement to read this but if not then go and take a look at her website, all her other books are just as good.

4.6.09

Booking Through Thursday: 15 Books


This can be a quick one. Don't take too long to think about it. Fifteen books you've read that will always stick with you. First fifteen you can recall in no more than 15 minutes.

1. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
2. Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier
3. After You'd Gone by Maggie O'Farrell
4. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
5. The Secret History by Donna Tart
6. The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
7. Dracula by Bram Stoker
8. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
9. Anne Frank's Diary
10. King Lear by William Shakespeare
11. I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith
12. Matilda by Roald Dahl
13. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
14. Twilight by Stephenie Meyer
15. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

3.6.09

The Vampyre: The Secret History of Lord Byron by Tom Holland


This book was fantastic! It caught my eye at the library, I think this is one of the reasons that I love libraries, you often come across books that you probably wouldn't take the time to look at in a shop. I am very interested in Gothic fiction and I like a good vampire tale too. I recognised Tom Holland's name from the numerous history books that Mr S has of his. Add into all of this the figure of Lord Byron and I was completely intrigued. Here is the blurb as it summarises it much better than I can:

What was the deadly secret that haunted the writings of Lord Byron, that most briliant and notorious of romantic poets? Tom Holland, in this dazzlingly crafted blend of fact and fiction, offers a truly terrifying answer. Impeccably researched, vividly imagined, The Vampyre is gothic fiction at its most atmospheric, allusive and thought provoking. As Byron himself pointed out: truth is strnager than fiction.


Basically the idea is that Lord Byron was a vampire and Tom Holland tells the story of how it came about and how this explains many of the mytseries surrounding this great poet, especially the way he behaved towards others. As the blurb says, the book is impeccably researched and incredibly well written; without these elements the story could have seemed ridiculous but Tom Holland's book is far from that. The book is interspersed with quotes from Byron's works and memoirs plus some from his closest friends and allies; these are used to back up the idea of Byron as a member of the undead and they do so very well:

I have written my memoirs- but omitted all the really consequential and important parts- from deference to the dead- to the living- ansd to those who must be both'
Lord Byron, Detatched Thoughts


Bram Stoker's Dracula is probably my favourite work of gothic fiction and Tom Holland's tale was on the same level for me in terms of the terror and atmosphere created. Byron is a truly fascinating character and the idea of him being a vampire makes him even more compelling. The book captures you from the very start and I really could not put it down. There are many scenes of gore and evil but they are written so well and are integral to the story. This book seems extremely far-fetched at face-value but I would urge people to try it as the story was fantastic and the quality of writing superb.

1.6.09

Wedding Season by Katie Fforde


I discovered Katie Fforde's books only last year and I have enjoyed all that I have read so far. With my own wedding fast approaching, I thought I would give Wedding Season a go.
Sarah Stratford is a wedding planner with a secret, she doesn't believe in love, her skills are tested to the limit when she has to organise the celebrity wedding of the year plus her little sister's tiny budget wedding, all on the same day. Luckily she is able to enlist the help of two new friends; Elsa is a dress designer who prefers to stay out of the limelight and Bron is a hairdresser, among many things, who is embarking on a new and exciting life. So from sourcing the perfect venue, making a fairytale dress and constructing an impossible wedding cake, these three definitely have their hands full. As with all of Katie Fforde's books, there is always time for a little bit of romance! The suave and extremely handsome Hugo has his work cut out persuading Sarah to take some of her barriers down; Elsa drops her wall-flower status to go on a date with Laurence and Bron is getting extremely frustrated with her neighbour, James who does not seem to realise that she exists! With two weddings to organise and an extremely tight schedule, the reader is left wondering if these three lovely characters will ever find true love?
I really enjoyed Wedding Season, Katie Fforde always delivers a good story with believable characters and the perfect sprinkling of romance. The book is very funny in parts but also captures all the stress and anxiety involved in organising a wedding. I think it is a perfect summer read, especially for anyone getting married or going to a wedding this year!

My review is also up at Chick Lit Reviews & News, they have a great interview with Katie Fforde too which is worth a look!

All change here!

I have made the decision to stop doing written reviews on here for a little while. I shall keep this page open but for the time being I sha...