30.7.09

Book Review: Thinking of you by Jill Mansell


I don't like to write negative reviews but I really didn't enjoy this book. I'm not sure if maybe I had too much on my mind but I felt like it was a real chore to get to the end.
This is the first book that I have read by Jill Mansell and I am going to try not to let it put me off as I have read so many good reviews of her books and it could be that this one just wasn't right for me.
The idea of the book is that Ginny Holland's daughter, Jem, has gone off to university and Ginny needs to revamp her own life. So she gets a new job as a waitress with the gorgeous Finn as her new boss; starts a relationship with the charming Perry Kennedy and tries not to worry about Jem too much.
Unfortunately, I found the whole book to be a little predictable and therefore I found it hard to believe in. I did enjoy the characters that Jill Mansell created though and I think this is what kept me reading to the end.
Has anyone read any other Jill Mansell books that they can recommend as I would like to give them another go?

Decisions, Decisions, Decisions!!

Well I am off on my honeymoon very soon and I need to get my book choices down to four (maybe 5, but Mr S said definitely no more than 5!). The books I have to choose from are below so please let me know if you have read any of them or if you have heard anything good/bad? I also have The Seance by John Harwood on its way in the post, Simon's excellent review of this led to it finding its way into my shopping basket so that is also one to choose from!
I thought I would include a picture of Alfie as he has not appeared for a while and he is a year old next month. You will have to excuse the fact that he looks like a tramp, he is having his haircut next week so he should be able to see from beneath all that fur once again!!

Booking Through Thursday: Recent Funny


What’s the funniest book you’ve read recently?

I couldn't decide between two so I shall tell you about both! The first one was Alan Carr's autobiography, this had me laughing out loud several times.

The second one was Running in Heels by Anna Maxted; as I said in my review, this book is extremely poignant but the author manages to slip in a few laugh out loud moments along the way. I think it's great when an author can make you laugh, I'm sure it's really not an easy thing to do!

28.7.09

Thank you very much!!

The lovely Kirsty over at Novelicious has nominated me for a lovely Heartfelt award, if you haven't checked out Kirsty's blog then go and have a look as it is really lovely!

Do you reach for a cup of cocoa or tea when you're relaxing, seeking comfort, sharing a plate of cookies with family and friends? You know that feeling you get when you drink a yummy cup of cocoa, tea or a hot toddy? That is what the Heartfelt award is all about: feeling warm inside!
The Rules:

  1. Put the logo on your blog/post.
  2. Nominate up to 9 blogs which make you feel comfy or warm inside.
  3. Be sure to link to your nominees within the post.
  4. Let them know about the award by commenting on their blog.
  5. Remember to link to the person from whom you received your award.
I would like to nominate the following blogs for this award:

Chicklit Reviews & News
Bookalicious
Still Reading
Cupcakes & Peonies
Melody's Reading Corner

24.7.09

Am I Sexist in my reading choices?

I am a little worried that I may be being a little sexist in what I read and up until now I had not realised! I began a book by Mike Gayle the other day which I was really looking forward to but I just could not get on with it being from a male perspective. Don't get me wrong, I think that Mike Gayle is a brilliant author and I was lucky enough to meet him years back when he gave a talk at my school. However, I just could not identify with the male character in his story, so after a few chapters I gave up. As I was placing the book on my bookcase and choosing another one I sat down and scanned through all of my books and was shocked to discover that about 99% of them were written by women. It has made me wonder over the past few days whether I just prefer female authors or if I need to try more male authors and gradually get used to seeing the story from a male perspective. What do you think? Have you noticed that you read more female than male authors or vice versa?

23.7.09

Booking Through Thursday: Preferences


Which do you prefer? (Quick answers–we’ll do more detail at some later date)

Reading something frivolous? Or something serious?
I really can't pick, I like a good mix of both!
Paperbacks? Or hardcovers?
Paperbacks, Hardcovers are too heavy to read in the bath!!
Fiction or Non Fiction?
Definitely fiction.
Poetry? Or Prose?
Prose but I do really enjoy reading poetry.
Biographies? Or Autobiographies?
Hmmm I would probably have to say biographies as most of the people I am interested in reading about are no longer with us!
History? Or Historical Fiction?
Historical fiction
Series? Or Stand-alones?
I mainly read stand alones but it's nice to find a good series of books too.
Classics? Or best-sellers?
Classics, they're usually best-sellers too!
Lurid, fruity prose? Or straight-forward, basic prose?
Again I think you often need a bit of both!
Plots? Or Stream-of-Consciousness?
Plots
Long books? Or Short?
Long, something to really get your teeth into!
Illustrated? Or Non-illustrated?
Non-illustrated probably
Borrowed? Or Owned?
Owned in case I really love it as I wouldn't want to give it back!
New? Or Used?
New, I buy a lot of second hand books but it's always exciting buying a brand new sparkly one!

22.7.09

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows


I went to see Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince at the weekend and really enjoyed it, they are such well made films. I had re-read all of the Harry Potter books last year except the last one so I decided to finish my challenge by re-reading Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. I have really enjoyed re-reading the books, I'm sure I am similar to many fans that race through the book when it first comes out in order to find out what happens next rather than taking the time to enjoy it fully. I remember feeling a bit disappointed with the final book on my inital read but when I finished it this time I think that I fully appreciated just how good it was. J.K. Rowling ties up all the loose ends to provide the reader with an exciting and fantastic ending to a story that has captured the imagination of millions worldwide.
The seventh books sees Voldermort finally gaining control of The Ministry of Magic. Harry is still recovering from the death of Dumbledore yet he, Ron and Hermione have to separate themselves from all of their loved ones in order to find and destroy Voldermort's final three Horcruxes. They find and destroy one of the Horcruxes before having a meeting with Xenophilius Lovegood, Luna's father. He recounts to them the tale of The Deathly Hallows, three sacred objects, the resurrection stone which has the power to bring people back to life; the Elder Wand which is unbeatable and the Invisibility Cloak which Harry already has in his possession. The three friends realise that Voldermort is after The Elder Wand without realising what it truly is so they know that continuing their quest to find the Horcruxes is still more important then trying to get the wand themselves. The book ends with a large battle at Hogwarts as Harry tries to find and destroy the final two Horcruxes one of which is Voldermort's snake. It is an extremely exciting part of the book with all of the important characters coming together again in order to help Harry. I'm not going to give the last part away as there may be some that still haven't read it. J.K. Rowling keeps the story going to the very end with unexpected surprises appearing even in the final chapter.
If you have not read any of the Harry Potter books then I would urge you to give them a go, the magical world that J.K. Rowling has created is too wonderful to miss out on. If, like me, you have read them as they have been published and sped through them then I would recommend re-reading them and reminding yourself what made you count down the months until you would be able to read the next installment.

20.7.09

The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton


I read Kate Morton's other book The House at Riverton last year and whilst I enjoyed it, I didn't love it so I was a bit anxious about reading her new book The Forgotten Garden. However, I shouldn't have worried as I thought that it was brilliant, it is definitely in my top five favourite reads of the year so far!
I'm sorry to be lazy and give you the blurb again but it would be too easy to give away the little twists and turns in this book and they are undeniably the best bits!
1913- On the eve of the First World War a little girl is found abandoned after a gruelling ocean voyage from England to Australia. All she can remember of the journey is that a mysterious woman she calls the Authoress had promised to look after her. But the Authoress has vanished without a trace.
1975- Now an old lady, Nell travels to England to discover the truth about her parentage. Her quest leads her to Cornwall, and to a beautiful estate called Blackhurst Manor, which had been owned by the Mountrachet family. What has prompted Nell's journey after all these years?
2005- On Nell's death her grandaughter, Cassandra, comes into a surprise inheritance. Cliff Cottage, in the grounds of Blackhurst Manor, is notorious amongst the locals for the secrets it holds- secrets about the doomed Mountrachet family. But it is at Cliff Cottage, abandoned for years, and in its forgotten garden, that Cassandra will uncover the truth about the family and why the young Nell was abandoned all those decades before.


So as you can see there are three strands to the story, all with their own discoveries and secrets. Kate Morton weaves the three strands together brilliantly, we learn more about Nell's past but we are constantly given new questions and mysteries to solve and this is what keeps you turning the pages. Gardens are key to the story in this and Kate Morton's last book. The Forgotten Garden at Blackhurst Manor holds the answers that Cassandra is looking for, she just needs to know where to look exactly. I think a garden is a really intersting symbol, they promote new life and new beginings but if left uncared for then they become overgrown and therefore cover up the past and any secrets held within.
I really enoyed all the characters that Morton created, you feel that none of them are meerly filling space, they all have something important to contribute to the story. It is the story that I loved, it was entirely believable and you can feel the sheer frustration of the characters of Nell and Cassandra in particular as they try to uncover the past that their ancestors went to great lengths to cover up. If you have read The House at Riverton and enjoyed it then you would love this as it is so much better. If you haven't read anything by Kate Morton but love a good mystery with love, intrigue and a country estate and all that that brings then you should definitely give The Forgotten Garden a try.

16.7.09

Dot Scribbles Suggests

I am really looking forward to these two books being published! Very different but they will both be added to the pile! What do you think, have you heard anything about them?

Curse of the Spellmans by Lisa Lutz, published by Simon & Schuster on August 6th, 2009.

When private investigator Izzy Spellman is arrested for the fourth time in three months, she writes it off as an occupational hazard. She's been keeping surveillance on her new next-door neighbour (suspects name: John Brown), convinced he's up to no good- even if Spellman Investigations Management (Izzy's parents) disagree. When the displeased management refuse to bail her out, it's Morty, Izzy's octogenarian lawyer, who comes to her rescue. But before he can build a defence, he has to know the facts. Over weak coffee and pastrami sandwiches, Izzy unveils the whole truth and nothing but the truth- as only she, a licensed 30-year-old professional, can.


Friends Like Us by Caitlin Davies, published by Simon & Schuster on September 3rd, 2009

1989. At the end of an idyllic summer holiday, four teenage girls swear to be 'blood sisters', sticking with one and other through thick and thin, sharing their secrets, come what may.
2005. The four friends' lives have followed very different paths. Single mother-of-two Loreen is struggling to make ends meet, endlessly searching for love via the Internet. Just back from California, Karen can finally introduce her friends to her long-term lover. Bel has embarked on a controversial new career as a paparazzi, anxious to make her way in a tough man's world. And Ashley has not been in touch. Just why is she keeping so quiet about her new boyfriend?
Despite their pledge, all four women have been keeping secrets from one another. Secrets that finally burst into the open- with surprising and shocking results.

Booking Through Thursday: TBR

I missed BTT last week but here's my answer to this weeks question:

Do you keep all your unread books together, like books in a waiting room? Or are they scattered throughout your shelves, mingling like party-goers waiting for the host to come along?

I am very particular about this, all of my TBR books are kept separately on the top shelf of my favourite bookcase. I like to see what I have to choose from and as this bookcase is at the top of my stairs, I tend to pass it several times a day, so this gives me plenty of time to choose which book will be next. I think that if I didn't put all of my TBR books in one place then I would forget what I had bought and then they would just be replaced by even more! What about you?

14.7.09

Review: Agatha Rasin and the Haunted House by M.C. Beaton


I discovered the Agatha Raisin series a few years ago when I went on a cruise and read everything too quickly so had to raid the ship's library! They were such a great discovery, Agatha Raisin is a brilliant character and I love finding out about all of the trouble that she has been getting into! This is the fourteenth book in the series:
Reports of a haunted house soon have Agatha snooping round, but it turns out the victim is a universally disliked old biddy and someone is playing a practical joke. And then the old lady is murdered- but for Agatha, solving a crime is much more fun than hunting a ghost! Very soon she's up to her usual tricks, involving the villagers, local police, and, of course her handsome new neighbour...
M.C. Beaton has created another fantastic mystery in the Cotswolds and Agatha Raisin once again is there to save the day. I love her character, on the outside she is incredibly feisty and forward but the reader also gets to hear all the insecurities and worries that she carries round with her; making her a very believable and likable character. Her eye has been caught by her handsome new neighbour Paul Chatterton; he has a wife in Spain but is extremely flirtatious with Agatha so trouble soon ensues. Familiar characters from the series pop up in this book, there's Mrs Bloxby the vicar's wife, Bill Wong the policeman trying to keep Agatha out of trouble and Sir Charles Fraith, Agatha's part-time partner in crime. Beaton keeps you guessing to the very end about the death of the old lady and there are many red herrings along the way.
These books are a good, quick read, they keep you interested all the way through and the characters are so lovely that I always feel like I have spent the day with old friends whenever I read any of these! M.C. Beaton has a brilliant website so go and have a look and see if the Agatha Raisin mysteries interest you!

13.7.09

Wedding Readings!!




I have spent the last few weeks scouring books and the Internet for a suitable reading for our wedding which will be read by my future brother-in-law. I have to say that it has not been easy, there's so many out there to choose from! However, we did find one so I thought that I would share it with you, I think it really sums up what marriage is all about:

Marriage Joins Two People in the Circle of Its Love by Edmund O'Neill

Marriage is a commitment to life, to the best that two people can find and bring out in each other. It offers opportunities for sharing and growth that no other human relationship can equal; a joining that is promised for a lifetime. Within the circle of its love, marriage encompasses all of life's most important relationships. A wife and a husband are each other's best friend, confidant, lover, teacher, listener and critic. There may come times when one partner is heartbroken or ailing, and the love of the other may resemble the tender caring of a parent for a child. Marriage deepens and enriches every facet of life. Happiness is fuller; memories are fresher; commitment is stronger; even anger is felt more strongly, and passes away more quickly. Marriage understands and forgives the mistakes life is unable to avoid. It encourages and nurtures new life, new experiences and new ways of expressing love through the seasons of life. When two people pledge to love and care for each other in marriage, they create a spirit unique to themselves, which binds them closer than any spoken or written words. Marriage is a promise, a potential, made in the hearts of two people who love, which takes a lifetime to fulfill.

12.7.09

The Lost Daughter by Diane Chamberlain


Sorry that it has been a wee bit quiet on Dot Scribbles recently but I've not been too well, so there has been lots of sleeping during the day rather than blogging! I'm back now though and I have just finished The Lost Daughter by Diane Chamberlain which was fantastic. I had noticed it on quite a few other blogs and managed to swap a copy with someone, it's definitely worth a read.

Would you live a lie to keep your child?
In 1977, pregnant Genevieve Russell disappeared. Twenty years later, her remains are discovered and Timothy Gleason is charged with murder. But there is no sign of the unborn child.
CeeCee Wilkes knows how Genevieve died - because she was there. She also knows what happened to .missing infant, because two decades ago CeeCee made the devastating choice to raise the baby as her own.
Now Timothy Gleason is facing the death penalty, and CeeCee has another choice to make. Tell the truth and destroy her family. Or let an innocent man die to protect a lifetime of lies.


I have read many reviews that have compared this book to those of Jodi Picoult's, I have to say that I think this is better. I always feel that the characters are a little bit distant in Picoult's books but Diane Chamberlain's characters are completely believable and vivid. The action in the book starts immediately as we observe Corinne Bailey's reaction to her mother, CeeCee Wilke's confession about her involvement in the kidnapping of Genevieve Russell. The reader is then taken back to when the devastating events occurred and we begin to build up a picture of the type of person CeeCee Wilkes was at that time and what led her to make the momentous decisions that she did. The scenes described between the young CeeCee and Genevieve are devastating and you can feel the panic and guilt experienced by CeeCee which then permeates throughout the rest of the story.
There is a lot of action in this book but the main purpose is to explore how we deal with the consequences of our actions. Diane Chamberlain explores this by showing how CeeCee Wilkes tried to live her life and bring up the child that she had kidnapped in a loving and stable environment. You gain a real sense though that since that fateful day, CeeCee Wilkes has never been at peace, she has constantly been looking over her shoulder and this is an awful way to live a life. The character of CeeCee Wilkes obviously changes during the book and there were many occasions that I really did not like her but when you see her having to make the decision at the end of the book you see what a completely remarkable person she is.
The very first page of the book obviously gives away the ending and this is quite a long book. So what keeps you reading? For me there were so many things that I wanted to know. What happened to Timothy Gleason? How did CeeCee Wilkes survive? Why did she confess to her actions? How will her 'daughter' react to the knowledge that her whole life has been a lie?
The Lost Daughter in many ways is a simple thriller yet I felt that it was a little bit more than that. As a reader, you are really forced to ask yourself so many questions as you wander how you would react in those situations. Diane Chamberlain takes a really exciting story and uses it to look at some of the most basic aspects of human nature.

6.7.09

Dot Scribbles Suggests...

I am always coming across new books that I would like to read and I have decided to start sharing them here with you on Dot Scribbles! These are the four that have caught my eye recently and they're all out this month so not too long to wait!

The Wake by Jeremy Page, published by Penguin on 30 July 2009

A field, a perfect morning, a family destroyed in a single moment.

Every night before he cuts the engine and lets the boat drift, Guy writes the diary of the man he should have been- of a husband with his wife and their young daughter; of a new family that may not have been perfect, but who were, at least, together. And every morning, as he's rocked in his berth by the waves all around, he wakes to the memory of that fateful day and the knowledge that things can never be the same.

Embarking on a moving and eventful journey from the calm estuaries of East Anglia to the southern states of America and the storm-filled waters of the North Sea, Guy meets Marta and her daughter Rhona who are on a life-affirming journey of their own...

The Secret Life of Evie Hamilton by Catherine Alliott published by Penguin on 9th July, 2009

I'm really excited about this book having only just read my first Catherine Alliott book, here's the idea behind this one:

Evie Hamilton has a secret. One she doesn't even know about. Yet...
She's blissfully unaware that her charmed and happy life is about to be turned upside down. And it all begins one sunny, Oxford morning when a letter- a ticking time bomb- lands on Evie's immaculate doormat. Something she never anticipated threatens to sabotage all that she holds dear. It's time for her to reappraise everything in her carefully arranged universe.
Is Evie string enough to fight for what she loves? What will be left and what will change forever? And can her world really be as fragile as her best china?

When Good Friends Go Bad by Ellie Campbell, published by Arrow on 30th July 2009.

All through school tomboy Jen, snobby Georgina, hippy Meg and gentle Rowan were inseparable. But when a childish prank turned bad their friendship was torn apart.
Twelve years later Rowan organised a reunion dinner and all did not go well. Rowan never appeared; Georgina's shocking secret was revealed; Meg behaved outrageously; and Jen finally decided it was time to move on. And that's just what she did for the following ten years...
Until now, when in the midst of her divorce Jen receives a desperate call from Meg. On a personal mission to track down Rowan, Meg manages to convince Georgina and Jen to put aside their differences and help her. But none of them even begin to imagine the extent to which their loyalties will be tested as their past finally catches up with them.


Temples of Delight by Barbara Trapido, published by Bloomsbury on 20th July, 2009.

Jem is a joyful mystery to Alice. She is something to give thanks for. And when she disappears from Alice's life, as suddenly as she entered it, a whirl of glamour, subversion and literary references, Alice is left bereft. But then she meets Giovanni, presumptuous and hectoring, passionate and beautiful, who leads her back to her childhood friend and the mystery and chaos still surrounding her. Alice find herself being seduced all over again...

I love the front cover for this book and I think that the character of Giovanni sounds extremely interesting!! Have you heard anything about any of these books?

5.7.09

Running in Heels by Anna Maxted


I have been meaning to read this Anna Maxted book for years and finally bought a copy and finished it this weekend! We follow the character of Nat, who begins the story by saying:
To say that Babs is my closest friend is rather like saying that Einstein was good at sums. And if you've ever had a best friend, you'll know what I mean. Babs and I had such a beautiful relationship, no man could better it. And then she met Simon.
So Babs has got married and moved out of the flat that she shares with Nat into her new life with Simon. Nat does not take this too well at all. She seems to have a problem in seeing reality, whether that be about her new boyfriend, her career, her best friend's marriage or what she sees when she looks into the mirror. I really enjoyed Anna Maxted's style of writing, she is extremely witty yet also offers the reader many poignant moments throughout the story. One of the main subjects in this book took me completely by surprise and I don't want to spoil it for anyone who hasn't read it. I will say though that an extremely difficult subject is dealt with brilliantly, it is very clear that the author put a lot of time and effort into researching this area.
The characters in this book are very well created, I loved Nat's mother and found her completely believable. However, I could not take to the character of Babs at all, even when she was trying to help Nat, I couldn't warm to her. You can't like everyone though can you?
It didn't take me long at all to read this book as the character of Nat totally drew me in and I was willing her to get her life back on track right up to the last page. I know that this book is pretty old but if any of you, like me, have not got round to reading it then I would urge you to get a copy as I thought it was excellent.

2.7.09

Booking Through Thursday: Celebrities?


Do you read celebrity memoirs? Which ones have you read or do you want to read? Which nonexistent celebrity memoirs would you like to see?

I occasionally read celebrity memoirs but they are not my favourite type of book! Probably the most high-brow celebrity memoir I have read is Living History by Hilary Clinton. I'm sure some people would not class her as a celebrity but this book was truly fascinating. You get a real feel for how the White House works behind the scenes and she is extremely honest about how she handled her husband's now infamous affair.

The other celebrity memoirs I have read recently are a little more trashy! I was bought the Girls Aloud memoir, Dreams that Glitter for my birthday and I love them so I really enjoyed reading about how they have been so successful.
I also read Alan Carr's autobiography a couple of weeks ago and that was excellent as well, it had me laughing out loud several times. I have to be really interested in the person in order to read someones memoirs, it's quite a personal choice of book in that way.

(sorry about the italics but Blogger is clearly having a bit of a funny today!)

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...