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265
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| 0735253390
| 9780735253391
| 4.03
| 97,779
| Sep 07, 1996
| Aug 29, 2017
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really liked it
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*https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com Margaret Atwood’s Alias Grace is a novel that provides a recreation of a true event in history, the murder of *https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com Margaret Atwood’s Alias Grace is a novel that provides a recreation of a true event in history, the murder of Thomas Kinnear and his housekeeper/lover Nancy Montgomery. The shocking part about the double murder of these two souls, is that their sixteen year old housekeeper Grace Marks, along with another employee of Thomas Kinnear’s, James McDermott, were charged with the crime. Atwood’s book begs the reader to consider whether or not Grace could commit this crime. There are plenty of grey areas which the reader is able to play an active role in colouring in. In the year 1843, a young housekeeper by the name of Grace Marks is jailed for killing her employer, Thomas Kinnear and his housekeeper/mistress Nancy Montgomery. It almost seems unfathomable that a 16 year old housekeeper could commit such an atrocious crime. With Grace’s conviction comes much doubt. Some people are of the opinion Grace was insane, others hold her completely responsible for the crime, while others believed she may have been manipulated to commit the crime with fellow employee James McDermott. After a stint in mental asylum, Grace is now serving a life sentence for the crimes she has been charged with. Grace appears to have blocked the whole crime from her mind and it is the job of an expert, Doctor Simon Jordan to draw out the truth, in the form of a series of one on one interviews with Grace. Doctor Jordan’s methods are progressive for the time and he experiments with hypnotherapy in an effort to expose the truth once and for all on this crime. It is hoped the Doctor can help Grace gain a pardon, releasing her from the life sentence. When the Doctor comes closer and closer to the truth, what he uncovers is a complex and enthralling case. Can he help draw out the truth and put this crime to rest? I am going to be truthful and admit that I was drawn to this book by the Netflix television series alone. I was intrigued by the series and wanted to discover a little more about this fascinating historical crime, which was what I was hoping to gain from reading the book. The book and the television series do align, I believe Atwood was involved in the screenplay of the series, which is perhaps why it remains true to the book. What the book does offer is a great mix of mediums in presenting this story. Readers of Alias Grace receive a combination of prose styles. These include letters, legal documents, articles, patient notes, poems and Grace’s first hand recount of the events that occurred in her young life, which she relays to Doctor Jordan. In using this style of narration, Atwood keeps the reader on their toes, so that shifting through all the evidence presented becomes an interesting and active experience. I have to admire Atwood’s skill as a storyteller to bring all these aspects of a long lost case together, in the one cohesive tale. Atwood’s historical grounding is remarkable. I enjoyed the experience of being transported to Canada in the 1800’s. I also enjoyed Grace’s thorough recount of her life, which gives the reader a picture of what life was like for those who lived in this era. Atwood charts Grace’s life from the very beginning, starting from her departure from her homeland of Ireland with her family, in search of a better life in Canada. Atwood provides a detailed account on Grace’s traumatic migration by boat to Canada, along with the ill treatment Grace received from her father, through to the places of Grace’s employment and her fateful placement as a servant to Thomas Kinnear. The book also covers Grace’s trial, incarceration and time in the mental asylum. As well as being very moving, there is a great deal of historical accuracy that emanates from the pages of this novel. Atwood matches her well represented historical setting with richly detailed characters. There is Grace Marks, the driving force of the novel, who is deeply intriguing but often appears to be an unreliable narrator. Backing Grace up are a collection of secondary characters that all have firm place in this novel. The most compelling aspect of the characters in this novel is the relationship between Grace and Doctor Simon Jordan. For those who like their novels wrapped up in a neat bow by the end, I would suggest this novel is not for you. This case is overwhelmingly strange and ambiguous. Atwood strives to stick to the facts but in doing so, she does not offers a concrete resolution to Grace’s case. History tells us Grace was pardoned and released, many years after she was first convicted, so perhaps that is your answer. I’m still sitting in the fence with this one and I haven’t made my mind up as to whether Grace truly did commit this crime or what her level of guilt was, if any. I’ll leave it up to you make that judgement if you select this novel to read. I greatly welcome your thoughts on this complex historical case! *Book ‘a’ of the a-z author challenge 2018. ...more |
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Jan 16, 2017
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Jan 16, 2018
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263
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| 0425265099
| 9780425265093
| 3.65
| 937
| Dec 05, 2013
| Oct 07, 2014
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really liked it
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*https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com I’ve been a fan of Kate Furnivall’s work for many years. I became hooked on her writing when I went through a *https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com I’ve been a fan of Kate Furnivall’s work for many years. I became hooked on her writing when I went through a spell of only reading World War II titles, especially those with links to Russia (I blame my favourite book ever, The Bronze Horseman for this). I decided it was time to catch up on Furnivall’s back catalogue after I enjoyed a more recent title, The Liberation. So, I dusted The Far Side of the Sun off my sagging bookshelves. The Far Side of the Sun takes the reader to the Bahamas in the year 1943. Dodie Wyatt has recently moved to this tropical haven, hoping to put her difficult past behind her. Dodie’s quiet life takes a drastic turn when she helps a severely injured man in an alleyway. Linking to Dodie’s story is Ella Stanford’s story, the wife of a wealthy diplomat. Ella’s husband has been posted to the Bahamas to keep a watchful eye on the Governor of the Bahamas, the Duke of Windsor, ensuring that he does not communicate with his Nazi acquaintances. With the Bahamas becoming under increasing threat, Ella and Dodie become embroiled in the danger. A secret Ella holds also threatens to derail her perfect life. Together, Dodie and Ella they fight against the violence and corruption that has infiltrated their city. The Far Side of the Sun is an engrossing story of love, friendship, survival and loyalty. The Far Side of the Sun is a gently paced book that has plenty to offer the reader. It is an intriguing World War II mystery, follows fascinating characters, features a stunning tropical locale, offers plenty of simmering romance and is filled with many moments of danger. Kate Furnivall is well known for her sweeping historical landscapes that always provide the perfect backdrop to her narratives. I was immediately taken in by Furnivall’s choice of setting for this novel. The Far Side of the Sun is set in the picturesque tropical locale of the Bahamas. I haven’t read a book set in the Bahamas before, so I appreciated the original location choice. Furnivall paints her setting with a keen eye. The lush surrounds of the exotic Bahamas come to life through the penmanship of Kate Furnivall. Furnivall’s leading heroines, Dodie and Ella, are full and likeable characters. I soon felt I knew both these women well, through Furnivall’s skilled writing. The back story of each of these leading characters was great to unpack. I liked how Furnivall was able to tie their lives together, despite the differences that existed between these women. Dodie is cast as an outsider, while Ella is the toast of society. It was a great contrast, but is accurately reflective of the class differences present in this city during this period. Furnivall also shows how friendship prevails, in the most unexpected ways, from the relationship between these two leads. Furnivall’s insertion of the Duke of Windsor and Wallis Simpson into the fold, further increased my interest in this novel. In fact, I wanted more scenes involving the Duke, who was appointed to the position of the Governor of the Bahamas from 1940, until he resigned from the post in 1945. I was equally fascinated by Wallis and her place in the Bahamas high society during this time. Furnivall contrasts the glitz and glamour of the life of the royal couple, with the impoverished conditions of this island, which experienced much civil unrest during the time the Windsors resided there. Further interest in this novel was solidified when I discovered the author’s closing note at the end of this novel. Furnivall explains that her narrative is loosely based on the real life unresolved murder of a wealthy figure in the Bahamas in 1943. After learning this interesting piece of information, I just had to do some further research and what I discovered was very interesting indeed. I encourage other readers to do this is you are at all interested in the real life crime that inspired this novel. It is obvious that Furnivall researched this unresolved murder and the community of the Bahamas in the 1940’s extremely well. Through Furnivall, we learn a great deal of period and locale specific detail of the Bahamas. Furnivall also draws our attention to the often neglected dark side of island paradise. She exposes this time of unrest in the tropical city, highlighting the greed, corruption, murder, violence, class divides and gang activity that existed at the time. The Far Side of the Sun is a stunning historical fiction offering, that covered all bases for me. It offered an involving storyline, rich characters, an emotionally moving romance, an exotic backdrop and a very good mystery. I particularly liked how the mystery element of the novel was kept open for as long as possible, with the ends tied up towards the final chapters of the book. I recommend The Far Side of the Sun to fans of historical novels, especially those who appreciate a distinctive historical landscape. If you are yet to discover Kate Furnivall’s work, this book is a great place to start. ...more |
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not set
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Oct 21, 2017
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Jan 10, 2018
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Paperback
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262
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| B073XR2CWG
| 3.99
| 323
| unknown
| Jan 02, 2018
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really liked it
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*https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com 4.5 stars Stella and Margie, Australian novelist Glenna Thomson’s second novel, is a wonderful addition to the *https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com 4.5 stars Stella and Margie, Australian novelist Glenna Thomson’s second novel, is a wonderful addition to the modern Australian fiction genre. It features two unforgettable heroines, a touching friendship that is born out of hardship, all set against a rich Australian country setting. When I observed well known Australian figure Ita Buttrose endorsed the stunning front cover of this book, I knew I was in for a treat. Stella and Margie is the heart warming story of two very different women from contrasting generations. Stella is a busy mother of two and a farmer’s wife, balancing her home duties with her interest in theatre. Margie on the other hand, is an eighty year old woman, who is very much stuck in her ways and is not the easiest person to live with. When Margie has a fall and is sent for a major operation to repair her hip, Stella, Margie’s daughter in law, insists Margie comes to stay with her. With all other care options exhausted, Margie reluctantly returns to her old family farm, which now belongs to her son Ross, his wife Stella and their two daughters. Margie grapples with being the outsider. She was once the matriarch of this thriving farm house. All Margie sees when she comes to stay as a guest in her old home is a lack of care. It riles her and she becomes quite the unwelcome guest. Little by little, Margie begins to realise the only person who truly cares about her well being is the one person she detests, Stella. Eventually, an unlikely union forms between Stella and Margie. This bond signals the revelation of aspirations, secrets and moments of loss which have come to influence these two remarkable women’s lives. In early 2017, I recall being impressed by Glenna Thomason’s debut novel, Blueberry. Thomson has electrified me once again with her second novel and a poignant one at that, Stella and Margie. What I loved most of all about this novel is the unexpected friendship that flourishes between two completely different women. Once again, I was fully immersed in the picturesque and authentic country based setting of Glenna Thomson’s novel. In Stella and Margie, the reader is transported to Maryhill, a rural farm located just outside Benalla, in the north east high country of Victoria. Thomson’s prose setting wise is touched with a vivid quality that promotes the natural beauty of this region. I exalted in the many rich descriptions of the local fauna that can be found in this picturesque part of Australia. All my senses were ignited as Maryhill and the surrounding area was explained by Thomson. A high point in Stella and Margie is everyday the farming sections of the novel, clearly drawn from the author’s own personal experiences living and working on the land. Glenna Thomson’s characterisation seems to be going from strength to strength. In her second novel, Thomson demonstrates her ability to bring her characters before the reader’s eyes, in a very touching form. I was soon able to conjure up a clear image of both leads, Stella and Margie, through Thomson’s expert storytelling abilities. Thomson has a great handle on her leads, as well as supporting characters such as Ross, Chester and younger characters Isabel and Jemima. Through the progression of the novel, Thomson takes us through the current lives, hopes, fears, flaws, mistakes, difficulties and memories of the past that define this appealing character set. Margie was the highlight of the novel in terms of character exploration. From her initial introduction as a stoic and cantankerous woman, Margie eventually lets her guard down to Stella. The interesting result is the revelation of secrets Margie has held close to her chest for so many years, which sheds some light on the person she has become. I felt the overall voyage we undertake with the cast of Stella and Margie is quite a moving and touching one. Relationships and friendships are the focal point of Stella and Margie. Initially, Margie has little thought for Stella, having nothing positive to say. As the novel progresses, Margie comes to the realisation that Stella is her pillar and the one person who genuinely cares for her welfare. I loved the interplay between these characters, it was such a joy to read. There are a number of other themes that come into play in this novel that is explored extremely well by Thomson. From aged care, medical treatment of the elderly, loss of independence, grief, marital issues, parenting, adultery, domestic abuse and family dynamics. However, the overall focus of the book really is on the importance of friendship to life, which is what I garnered from reading of this touching novel. I read this novel in a sitting, one warm summer’s day. I am thankful to the author of Stella and Margie, Glenna Thomson, for opening my eyes to an unconventional female friendship that blossoms between her lead heroines of her second novel. I am confident that Stella and Margie is the kind of story that will stay by my side. Through the book, I was reminded of the importance of the restorative power of friendships and how they know no bounds in terms of age or circumstance. Stella and Margie is another stellar read from Glenna Thomson, an author who is now high on my watch list. *I wish to thank Penguin Books Australia for providing me with a free copy of this book for review purposes. ...more |
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1
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not set
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Dec 29, 2017
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Dec 29, 2017
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Kindle Edition
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258
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| 0758290551
| 9780758290557
| 3.91
| 3,298
| Feb 23, 2016
| Feb 23, 2016
|
really liked it
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*https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com T. Greenwood is an established author of eleven novels to date, although I have not read any of her work until I *https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com T. Greenwood is an established author of eleven novels to date, although I have not read any of her work until I came across her psychological thriller offering, Where I Lost Her. Although T. Greenwood is a new author for me, I plan to explore more of her books after my eyes were kept glued to the pages of Where I Lost Her. New York Couple Tess and Jake are used to success coming their way, through their achievements in their lucrative careers. When they try for a family, their attempts are without success. With infertility and a failed adoption attempt plaguing the couple, any further stress to this delicate relationship is not needed. However, when visiting friends in Vermont, Tess witnesses a young girl run past her and quickly after disappear into the woods. Tess’ alarm bells immediately ring. After calling authorities and involving the local community in the search for the little girl, there appears to be no sign of her. Furthermore, no missing persons reports have been filed that could be linked to the girl. In addition, there are no other witnesses that have come forward to back up Tess’ claims. It does not take long before the police begin to doubt Tess’ sighting. Tess remains confident of her vision of the girl and continues to search for her on her own accord. Where I Lost Her is a novel that slots easily into the popular psychological thriller genre. With plenty of suspense and mystery elements defining this novel, it is a book that immediately got my full attention. Greenwood’s characters are a vital part of this narrative. Tess and Jake are a convincing couple. Although I didn’t take to Jake, I developed a swift liking for Tess. I also felt extremely sorry for her both in her current situation in not being believed and secondly for her inability to have a child. Greenwood is an author who is successfully able to convey the feelings of despair, confusion and helplessness in the face of the situations her characters placed in. The supporting characters in this novel largely come from the authorities sent in to investigate Tess’ claims. I found the attitudes of the police in particular unhelpful and frustrating! The atmosphere Greenwood builds in Where I Lost Her is one of foreboding. The setting is quite dark in general, reflecting the turn of events in the novel. With the action taking place around an expansive dark woodland, the sense of menace and uncertainty is plain to see. The locale of the main events of the novel are set in Vermont, an area I am very unfamiliar with. However, Greenwood’s detailed descriptions of her setting come across very vividly to the reader. All in all, this adds further tension to a novel already covered in a significant shroud of mystery. I liked the use of flashbacks that were included off and on in Where I Lost Her. It gave the reader an insight into Tess and Jake’s complicated background. The scenes based in Guatemala were particular powerful and played a pertinent role in understanding Tess. The flashbacks give the reader clues as to Tess’ state of mind at the time she claims she saw the little girl. Little by little, the reader begins to doubt Tess’ claims and she falls into the unreliable narrator category, which is a key characteristic of books from the psychological thriller genre. Greenwood ramps up the suspense and intrigue throughout this novel. I raced through this novel very quickly and become quite desperate to know how it would all culminate. When I reached the end, I thought Greenwood did a fine job of concluding her novel. I definitely came away feeling like I had been given a satisfying read. T. Greenwood has crafted a believable psychological thriller novel in Where I Lost Her. It is a novel that successfully that goes into the depths of the mind, through Greenwood’s exploration of the leading character of Tess. My pure enjoyment of this novel has convinced me to seek out more of T. Greenwood’s work. A recommended read. ...more |
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1
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not set
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Dec 25, 2017
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Dec 26, 2017
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Paperback
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257
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| 0544920953
| 9780544920958
| 3.49
| 30,479
| Jul 26, 2016
| Jul 26, 2016
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liked it
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*https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com 3.5 stars Over the holiday period I indulged in a couple of non review book reads. One of these was a thriller *https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com 3.5 stars Over the holiday period I indulged in a couple of non review book reads. One of these was a thriller novel, Good as Gone, by Amy Gentry. The book’s premise, the story of a missing girl, who returns home nearly a decade later, caught my attention. Kidnapping stories never fail to capture my interest and Good as Gone was no exception. Although this isn’t a fast paced novel, expect a well plotted suspense novel instead. Gentry’s narrative unfurls the story of a teen on the run, which is fascinating to unpack. It is a novel filled with side stories of Mexican drug rings, sexual exploitation, foster homes and organised religion. While reading this novel, I found my suspicions were constantly on high alert, as a mother and daughter try to re-establish their relationship after years of turmoil and emotional anguish. Good as Gone was a puzzling and intelligent read, which intrigued me from start to finish. If you are a fan of domestic thrillers, I encourage you to put this one on your reading list. ...more |
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Dec 24, 2017
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Dec 26, 2017
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Hardcover
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256
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| 1509839518
| 9781509839513
| 3.66
| 2,396
| unknown
| Dec 27, 2017
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liked it
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* https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com 3.5 stars On an autumn day in 1982, a fifteen year old girl Gabriella goes missing. Thirty years later, * https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com 3.5 stars On an autumn day in 1982, a fifteen year old girl Gabriella goes missing. Thirty years later, Gabriella’s sister Anna comes to terms with her sister’s tragic disappearance and tries to piece together the loose ties from decades before. The Missing Girl is a slow burn style domestic thriller that leans heavily on the psychology between an unusual family and the bonds of sisterhood. Anna Flores adores her older sister Gabriella. When Gabriella goes missing, Anna struggles to cope with the huge loss. In the years that follow, Gabriella’s case is slowly swept under the carpet. Anna deals with the loss of her sister by moving away from the small village where she grew up. Anna makes a new life for herself abroad, removing herself from her family and the painful memories of the loss of her sister. When Anna’s mother passes away thirty years after Gabriella’s disappearance, Anna is forced to return home. Anna is faced with the difficult task of sorting out the family home and their business, a second-hand shop. It is a process the dredges up old memories, unresolved issues and encourages Anna to re-investigate her sister’s disappearance. For a debut novel, The Missing Girl is a fantastic page turner. This isn’t the type of slick thriller that has you relentlessly turning the pages to a fast pace, rather, the urge to find out to truth to Gabriella’s disappearance is the main reason why I stuck with this book. The Missing Girl isn’t just another police procedural novel, ripping apart a missing person’s case, instead, the novel offers readers a complex family drama. The Missing Girl is also a solid mystery novel and a coming of age tale, where a woman must confront her fears from the past. The Missing Girl is told in the form of shifting time periods, moving between 1982, to the present day. This provides the book with an air of tension filled mystery, unravelled layer by layer, which I appreciated very much. Quintana has a firm handle on her past focussed era, the early 1980’s. As I too grew up in this era, it was easy to both visualise the time period and I was able to connect with the Flores sisters. Quintana’s evocation of small village life in the 1980’s, where everyone is aware of one another’s business and the attitudes that define this era, was spot on. I enjoyed this aspect of the novel very much. The Flores family are a complex clan. Quintana puts the spotlight on this strange family and the secrets that they hold in an interesting format. Quintana’s characterisation skills are solid and I thought her presentation of the two sisters was excellent. Likewise, the girl’s parents are also well drawn. The loved ones and outsiders who are all embroiled in one way or another in Gabriella’s disappearance are all slightly off in some sense. Quintana builds the reader suspicions of these characters, so we are not sure who had a part to play in Gabriella’s disappearance. Quintana serves up some questionable suspects or red herrings, who may or may not be involved in Gabriella’s missing person’s case. These include new neighbour at the time Edward Lily, to the unkind Mrs Ellis and her odd daughter Martha. Everyone is cast with a suspicious eye by Quintana and this approach definitely enhances the crime-mystery side to this novel. Part of the appeal of The Missing Girl is the process that Anna Flores goes through, some thirty years later, to make peace with her sister’s disappearance. I consider The Missing Girl more of a solid coming of age family drama, where the now adult Anna must come to grips with events in the past. The final reveal didn’t quite deliver the impact I was expecting, as Quintana invests plenty of her narrative in setting the reader up for the final chapters in this unsolved missing persons case. Nevertheless, I appreciated the psychological based investigation contained in The Missing Girl, which is eloquently written. This book really is the sad tale of a missing teenager, which successfully examines the impact this scenario has on a family, the feelings of guilt and loss associated with a disappearance and the impact on a close-knit community. The Missing Girl is an assured debut from first time novelist Jenny Quintana. Now I have a feel for Quintana’s writing style, I am looking forward to seeing what she releases next. If you enjoy cold case, missing person style novels, this one will capture your interest. *I wish to thank Pan Macmillan for providing me with a free copy of this book for review purposes. ...more |
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Dec 24, 2017
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Dec 26, 2017
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Paperback
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254
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| 9781921901157
| 4.11
| 284
| Dec 20, 2012
| Jan 30, 2013
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liked it
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*https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com Sometimes you just need a fun, sexy, witty and swiftly paced read. Rough Diamond is the debut novel from *https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com Sometimes you just need a fun, sexy, witty and swiftly paced read. Rough Diamond is the debut novel from Australian author Kathryn Ledson that doesn’t take itself too seriously. It features an amiable heroine, Erica Jewell, who finds herself caught up in a vigilante ring, targeting terrorists actively trying to take down Melbourne. Readers who choose this novel to read are in a for a fast paced adventure ride, with Erica and Jack Jones, her handsome accomplice. Rough Diamond is the opening book in a series featuring terrorist busting heroine Erica Jewell. When Erica returns to her home in Melbourne one day, she is shocked to find a mysterious stranger bleeding profusely in her backyard. Erica’s first instinct is to call the authorities and get help for this unfortunate man but he begs her not to do so. Instead, Erica’s encounter with the mysterious man, who goes by the name Jack Jones, leads her to become part of a covert team, who fight terrorism. For this mild mannered and naive PR girl, life becomes a lot more complicated with Jack by her side. Rough Diamond has been sitting on my shelves for a significant length of time. I recall purchasing this book after I saw more than a few favourable reviews on Rough Diamond by other reviewers I followed at the time the book was released back in 2012. Although much time has passed since I first acquired this book, an opportunity to dust this one off the shelves came my way, in the form of a book challenge I am completing with a friend. Rough Diamond was chosen to fulfil the category of ‘a comedy’. Whilst I will say this book is witty, especially in the banter that passes between the leads and the mishaps they find themselves embroiled in, Rough Diamond wasn’t quite the laugh out loud experience I was expecting. I did have some other great qualities, which I will discuss further in my review. Firstly, what I appreciated about Rough Diamond was the original and fresh approach to a novel. I can’t say there is anything quite like an Australia’s Stephanie Plum, Janet Evanovich’s well known heroine out there in the Aussie book world. Erica Jewell is by far our country’s best answer to this style of character. I liked the fact that Ledson has given Australian their own answer to Stephanie Plum in Erica. Kudos to Ledson for coming up with an original series idea and heroine. Erica Jewell is a highly likeable, dare I say even loveable character. I liked her from the outset and I admired her move from PR to terrorist butt kicker! Obviously as she is in quite a dire financial situation through paying her ex husband’s debts. The money this new and dangerous line of work provides is a source of motivation, along with the chance to work alongside handsome Jack, the man who recruits her. It is great to see the change in Erica, from the start of the novel where she is naive and sheltered, to a woman willing to take risks. We learn early on in the piece that both our leads have suffered heartbreak in the romance department. Jack lost his wife and parents in 9/11. While Erica has a deadbeat ex husband that she is still continuing to clear his debts. Understandably, the two are hesitant to embark on a romantic relationship together due to past hurts. This provides Ledson with the leverage to introduce a slow burn style romance. The heat is definitely evident between the two leads but it is never acted upon. There still seems a possibility of love that could spark between these two in future instalments of the series. In the meantime, it is entertaining observing their banter and comebacks to one another, fuelled by unfulfilled physical attraction. In terms of content, Rough Diamond runs along at a fast pace from the beginning. Readers will find themselves entertained for the entire novel. My favourite aspect of this novel was the setting, as it enabled Ledson to insert iconic landmarks and places of Australia. It was great to see the Sydney Opera House and the Melbourne Cup included in the events of the novel. The local flavour worked well to draw me into the novel. I will say this book is action packed, but some of the situations the characters are faced with seemed just a little too far fetched for my own personal taste. However, I can see the broad appeal of this novel and I am sure it will capture the attention of many readers. ...more |
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1
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not set
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Dec 21, 2017
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Dec 21, 2017
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Paperback
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252
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| 9781925117769
| 4.33
| 6
| unknown
| 2016
|
really liked it
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*https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com Author Nieta Manser, in partnership with illustrator Lauren Merrick, bring children aged 3 to 6 years old a *https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com Author Nieta Manser, in partnership with illustrator Lauren Merrick, bring children aged 3 to 6 years old a charming picture book titled, Echidnas Can’t Cuddle. In this engaging tale, children are provided with an opportunity to learn another side to the spiky echidna, as Erik the echidna shows us the sensitive side to this bush creature. Echidnas Can’t Cuddle is the story of little Erik the echidna. Erik is a sad echidna, with quite the dilemma. His spikes seem to get in the way whenever he wants to cuddle his family and friends. He just doesn’t know what to do with all his spikes! When the frustration of his quills gets the better of him, Erik heads out into the darkness of the bush alone, where he believes he will be better off. However, a big snake, a horde of bush bees and a mighty eagle all try to hurt Erik, with no success. It comes as quite the surprise to this gentle soul! Finally Erik realises that his spikes are important to his life and safety. His spikes offer the perfect protection from danger and make him super special. Erik seals his new found discovery and return home with a kiss for his family and friends, which he learns is just as special as a cuddle! I have a lot of respect for children’s picture books that showcase the natural beauty of our country’s unique flora and fauna. Not only are these kind of books a feast for the eyes, they also offer an accessible way in which to educate children about the importance of protecting Australia’s wildlife. Echidnas Can’t Cuddle works as a text to extend our knowledge and understanding of one of our most treasured bush creatures, the echidna. Told in catchy rhyming verse, Echidnas Can’t Cuddle has a gentle beat, perfect for bedtime story time read aloud opportunities. The style of storytelling author Nieta Manser adopts with her emphasis on rhyme, means this book will be music to the ears of those who read this delightful book. Whilst Echidnas Can’t Cuddle provides the reader with a great environmental lesson on some of Australia’s most beloved animals, this book also manages to combine some important life lessons, relevant to children. These include messages on self confidence, self acceptance, growth, jealousy, difference, fear, friendship and love. It is a book I am certain will offer plenty to discuss with young children. Echidnas Can’t Cuddle allows young readers to feel a connection to their experiences and those offered by the book. The illustrations that accompany the text in Echidnas Can’t Cuddle are captivating. I found myself in awe of the texture and layers used by illustrator Lauren Merrick. The techniques used by Merrick to bring Australia’s landscape, the setting of the novel and the characteristics of the animals featured in this book is quite magnificent. I particularly took a fondness to the beautiful print style features of the stunning plant life contained in the pages of this book. Both my children (aged 5 and 7) and I just loved Echidnas Can’t Cuddle. I know we were all intrigued as to how poor Erik the echidna could work out a way to receive the cuddles and love he craves. The journey to get there, through the quintessential Australian bush setting, was a wonder for all of us, as I am certain it will be with any audience. I am sure once school resumes back again next year I will be sharing this one with my kindergarten students. Echidnas Can’t Cuddle is a wonderful tribute to Australiana. *I wish to thank the publisher, Little Steps Publishing, for providing me with a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. ...more |
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Dec 19, 2017
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Dec 19, 2017
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Paperback
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250
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| B073169PCF
| 4.05
| 292
| unknown
| Jan 01, 2018
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really liked it
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*https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com Who doesn’t love a road trip themed novel? I know I have a weakness for these books, they never seem to fail to *https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com Who doesn’t love a road trip themed novel? I know I have a weakness for these books, they never seem to fail to appeal my sense of adventure and escapism. The Last Days of Us, written by Australian novelist Beck Nicholas, takes the reader on an interstate jaunt with Zoey, her best friend Cass, ex Finn and Finn’s cousins. The group use the last week of summer as an excuse to take a road trip in a kombi, travelling from Adelaide to Melbourne, to see Gray, their favourite musician. The Last Days of Us is a moving coming of age story, coloured with moments of light and dark. Zoey, the main protagonist of The Last Days of Us, lost her brother Dan over six months ago in a tragic car accident. Since the crash, life has been hard for Zoey. We learn that Zoey has engaged in a fair bit of self destructive behaviour since the loss of her brother. This carefree behaviour has directly impacted on her relationships and as a result, Zoey has lost her boyfriend Finn to her best friend Cass. In an attempt to make amends for her actions, Zoey suggests a road trip to mark the end of the summer, to see their favourite performer, Gray. The trip offers Zoey a chance to reconnect with her estranged friend and ex. As she desperately clings onto the hope of reconciliation with Finn, Zoey finds herself drawn to Luc, Finn’s mysterious cousin. With the infectious Jolie by her side, Zoey’s life begins to make a change for the better. I saw a recent recommendation of The Last Days of Us by an author I follow closely on social media, Rachael Johns. I was pleased when a copy of The Last Days of Us came into my possession and after reading this raw coming of age novel, I am keen to explore the back catalogue of Beck Nicholas. The Last Days of Us is a book targeted to the young adult market, with the main protagonist and her band of friends being aged in their late teens. However, I still feel this is a novel that can be appreciated by adult readers. In fact, The Last Days of Us evoked a strong sense of nostalgia for me, as it enabled me to recall the last summer of high school, as I made that difficult transition from a high school student, to a young adult. It was a tough time for me personally, as it is for our leading lady of the novel, Zoey. Although my experience at this age was nowhere near as tragic as Zoey’s, I could still find some semblance with her situation. I appreciated Beck Nicholas’ writing style. The Last Days of Us is well written, very much targeted to the key audience of this novel and has a distinctly Australian flavour. I loved the road trip scenes very much. I lapped up the locations that are familiar to me and I thought Nicholas captured the sense of freedom a road trip ignites very well indeed. There are some dark and tough moments in this novel that Nicholas handles with care. First there is the loss of lead character Zoey’s brother. Nicholas shows us the stages of grief through these sections of the novel and I believe she presents these in a sensitive manner. The book also explores close held secrets, fractured friendships, romance, attraction, hedonism and mental health. These relevant and contemporary issues are offset by poignant moments of self actualisation. Although it was an emotional ride with Zoey and her friends, the road travelled offered some fun times, along with the promise of a bright future ahead for the characters of The Last Days of Us. An extra feature of The Last Days of Us that I feel must be acknowledged, as I thought it was a great touch, are the song lyrics that adorn each chapter beginning of the novel. The lyrics selected come from the performer Gray, who is Zoey’s favourite musician. Gray plays an important role in the novel, as he is the main reason why the group embark upon a road trip from state to state. This extra touch added to the musical flavour of the novel and I found myself looking forward to each new chapter, to read through these meaningful song words. The Last Days of Us is a story of heartbreak, regret, righting past wrongs, making plans for the future and appreciating each day as a gift. This emotional coming of age young adult novel is peppered with a distinctly Australian flavour, which I loved. I enjoyed The Last Days of Us very much and I encourage all readers to add this book to your essential summer holiday reads pile! *I wish to thank the publisher, Harlequin Books Australia, for providing me with a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. ...more |
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not set
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Dec 18, 2017
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Dec 18, 2017
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Kindle Edition
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249
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| 1509836845
| 9781509836840
| 3.22
| 45,119
| Mar 21, 2017
| Mar 09, 2017
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really liked it
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*https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com How can a simple favour of picking up your best friend’s son from school go so terribly wrong? This is the *https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com How can a simple favour of picking up your best friend’s son from school go so terribly wrong? This is the scenario debut novelist Darcey Bell explores in her pulse pounding psychological suspense novel, A Simple Favour. Touted as a Gone Girl/Girl on the Train offshoot, A Simple Favour stands out on its own. A Simple Favour is a dark and twisted psychological suspense tale. This one reeled me in from the very start and it did not release its strong hold over me until the final page was turned. A Simple Favour was a careful read for me, one I had no compulsion to skim as every word seemed vital in solving this puzzling mystery. It is a solid effort for a debut novelist and it does not surprise me that film rights have already been purchased for this slick and compulsive novel. A Simple Favour begins with the blog entries of one of the leading characters in this novel, Stephanie’s life. It gives us a preliminary insight into Stephanie’s world, as well as her intimate thoughts and feelings. The presence of the blog entries is quite strong in this book, it kick starts the early stages of the narrative and appears in other chunks throughout the progression of the novel. It was a good way to set the scene. As a mum and blogger I could relate. In addition to the blog entries as a form of storytelling, A Simple Favour is also told from the perspective of Stephanie, her best friend Emily, and Sean, Emily’s husband. Each of these narrators airs a scent of mistrust and we are ever quite sure which character’s version of the events is the truth. As the book travels along, we learn each of these characters has a background and history they would rather stayed hidden. Stephanie in particular has quite the sordid background. Emily’s back story is utterly disturbing. I grappled with the fact that a person could keep a whole part of their life so hidden from a spouse and best friend. I did guess one of the plot twists involving Emily and her background. Darcey Bell has devised a first time novel that is full of twists, uncertainty and darkness. It’s also how I love my psychological thrillers. It is a little difficult to discuss much more of this novel as I do not wish to spoil the enjoyment of A Simple Favour for prospective readers. I will say the narrative content, the characterisation and the writing style of A Simple Favour worked for me. I liked how the book questioned who we can trust and our intimate relationships. What worked for me with this book was that the catalyst event, where Emily asks Stephanie for a ‘simple favour’, is an occurrence I could easily see happening in my own life. A Simple Favour presents a realistic scenario, full of possibilities. All in all I enjoyed A Simple Favour. It is a jarring psychological suspense novel that has cemented debut novelist Darcey Bell on my list of authors to watch! Don’t miss out on this one! ...more |
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Dec 17, 2017
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Dec 17, 2017
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Hardcover
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247
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| 9781743314586
| 3.50
| 419
| May 01, 2013
| May 01, 2013
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really liked it
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*https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com 4.5 stars A few months ago Australian author Kylie Ladd blew me away with her powerful new release novel, The Way *https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com 4.5 stars A few months ago Australian author Kylie Ladd blew me away with her powerful new release novel, The Way Back. After being moved by this novel, I thought it was high time I explored some of Ladd’s back catalogue. So I dusted Kylie Ladd’s third novel off my bookshelf and delved into the book, which I devoured quite quickly. Into My Arms is the story of a fateful love affair that has far reaching implications for the couple involved. When Skye, a talented artist completes an in residence class with students of a local school, she meets Ben, a teacher at the school. Sparks immediately fly between the two and a passionate love affair ensues. As quickly as this romance begins it is shut down by a shocking revelation. The revelation has far reaching implications for not only Ben and Skye, but for all those close to them. Kylie Ladd explores difficult and confronting territory in her third novel. Into My Arms is a brilliant but confronting read. Initially, it reads like a romance novel but it soon morphs into a hard hitting family drama with psychological elements. While reading this 2013 release, I was reminded of the sheer force of Ladd’s writing, it really is quite incredible. Kylie Ladd is a writer who leaves no stone unturned in the topics she chooses to write about and Into My Arms is no exception. It did not take long for me to take to main character Skye. Although I didn’t always agree with her actions and thought processes it somehow made her more real. Ladd’s characters are well drawn and human, this extends to Skye’s twin brother Arran, Ben’s mother Mary and Hamish. We see the talents and well as the flaws of Ladd’s characters very clearly. I was soon consumed by Skye and Ben’s love story, it was utterly believable. The big twist, which is one I cannot discuss for fear of spoiling the novel for potential readers, completely blew me apart. I felt so very sad for Skye, Ben and all those impacted by this shocking revelation. The odds of this scenario happening were almost off the scale belief wise, but the science behind it all makes it plausible. Nevertheless, the coincidence was truly awful for Ben and Skye. Although the revelation of this terrible situation may shake some readers to their core and make them feel uncomfortable, for me in increased the brevity of the novel. It is worth noting there is a side or sub plot included in Into My Arms that examines family, displacement and belonging. It involves the main character Skye, Ben and their encounter with a young Iranian boy who has just settled in Australia. It is a timely and relevant narrative thread that provides a solid commentary on life in Australia, especially the refugee experience. It does link to the characters of the novel quite well but I do have to confess I was so consumed by Skye and Ben’s story I couldn’t wait to get back to it. By the time I reached the end of their journey, I felt like I had experienced every emotion possible. The ending however, has a redeeming quality after so much despair touched this promising couple. For those who appreciate a thought provoking read that will make you consider how you would react if you were placed in the same shoes as the characters a novel, then Into My Arms would be a great reading choice. For me, it solidified my appreciation for the courage of talented Kylie Ladd, who writes with impressive conviction and insight for the contentious issues that arise in life. ...more |
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Dec 15, 2017
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Dec 15, 2017
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Paperback
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243
| 
| 0375836942
| 9780375836947
| 3.87
| 20,068
| Oct 05, 1992
| May 09, 2006
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it was amazing
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*https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com So it seems Melina Marchetta’s modern classic, Looking for Alibrandi, which has been studied in high schools *https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com So it seems Melina Marchetta’s modern classic, Looking for Alibrandi, which has been studied in high schools across Australia, has escaped my attention until now. With the exception of the film version that I watched when it was released back in 2000. The opportunity to participate in a read along of this novel with a bookworm friend finally allowed me to discover the work of well-known Australian novelist Melina Marchetta. The vivacious and perceptive narrator of Melina Marchetta’s novel, Looking for Alibrandi, is Josephine Alibrandi. We meet Josephine ‘Josie’ Alibrandi at one of the most pivotal and tumultuous years of her life. Josie is seventeen, sitting her all important HSC where she holds a scholarship at a wealthy Catholic school and has aspirations to become a barrister. Josie’s year is a big one as she negotiates a renewed relationship with her absent father, delves into her first romance, learns a family secret or two and sadly experiences the loss of someone close to her. Looking for Alibrandi highlights the experience of what it is like to be a young woman growing up in Australian in the 1990’s and how it feels to be a third generation immigrant. We can learn a thing or two from this award-winning and popular coming of age piece of YA literature. Looking for Alibrandi is one of those books that I should have read many years ago, but unfortunately didn’t and as I went to high school in the UK, I didn’t get the chance to read this via the school curriculum. I am making up for lost time through participating in a read long experience with a dear friend of mine. I thoroughly appreciated my first experience with Melina Marchetta. The first thing that struck me about Looking for Alibrandi was the main character, 17-year-old Josie Alibrandi’s voice. Gosh, it seemed to come across as loud and clear! The characterisation is quite exemplary. This doesn’t just extend to the lead, but to the supporting character list, from Josie’s protective and devoted mother Christina, stoic Nonna, disconnected father Michael, first love Jacob, partner in arms John Barton, enemy Ivy and Josie’s friend set of Sera and Anna. Each and every one of these characters was perfectly realised, they appeared before my eyes so clearly. For a YA novel, Marchetta tackles some fairly big issues but this is handled with a deft and light hand. From class differences, racism, prejudice, immigration, politics, education, careers and suicide, Marchetta covers a great deal within the one novel. A few of these issues did seem a little outdated, such as Josie’s illegitimacy and the ethnic relations in Josie’s school, as the book was written over twenty years ago. Readers will still find they are able to connect to the themes highlighted in Looking for Alibrandi. As much as this is a superb coming of age tale of a young Australian girl with strong Italian roots, Looking for Alibrandi is a novel that delves into the complex nature of family relationships, head-on. There is the typical mother daughter relationship between Josie and her mother, full of tensions that we come to expect from a teenage girl. There is the fragile relationship between Josie’s mother Christina and her own mother, stemmed from strained family relations. Then there is the father-daughter relationship that sparks between Josie and her father who re-enters her life. Finally, Josie’s relationship between two boys that are the same age as her, but come from very different sides of the tracks, was a shining part of the novel for me and of course the part of the novel that moved me the most. My final word on the brilliance of this groundbreaking YA novel, is the Sydney based setting. There are plenty of flowing and detailed descriptions of Sydney. From Josie’s brilliantly realised home in Glebe, through to some familiar spots in Sydney that I recall from a trip I made to the city many years ago. Marchetta’s prose took me right back there, despite the time that had passed since I was last at this stunning part of Australia. For international readers, Marchetta really showcases the city and seems to capture the real Sydney. All in all, I am so very grateful for the experience of reading Looking for Alibrandi. I am now able to see why this book has received so many accolades both awards wise and the personal endorsements that this beautifully rendered book has received from fellow readers. A must read for both young adults (14+) and adults alike. ...more |
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Dec 13, 2017
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Dec 13, 2017
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Paperback
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242
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| B075W751RV
| 4.27
| 283
| unknown
| Nov 14, 2017
|
really liked it
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*https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com Following immediately on from the events that occurred in its predecessor, The Stationmaster’s Cottage, Jasmine *https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com Following immediately on from the events that occurred in its predecessor, The Stationmaster’s Cottage, Jasmine Sea is book two in the River’s End Romance series. Australian author Phillipa Nefri Clark successfully combines a love story and a suspense filled tale, populated by endearing characters, all set to a stunning seaside location. For Christie Ryan, life is starting to take shape after the split from her controlling ex, Derek. She has now settled into a cottage by the sea, a cottage that she is slowly renovating. Love has also entered Christie’s life again in the form of talented artist Martin Blake and marriage soon looms on the horizon for this couple. When a strange woman appears on Martin’s doorstep, to commission a portrait, the woman’s request for secrecy has Christie rattled. In addition, Christie, Martin and the residents of River’s End are shook up when a series of crimes are committed in their once safe town. Christie’s past comes back to haunt her at the same time, which she must uncomfortably confront, head-on. What a lovely story and welcome experience to revisit the wonderful character set from a book I thoroughly enjoyed earlier this year, The Stationmaster’s Cottage. It is nice to follow straight on from the events that occurred in The Stationmaster’s Cottage. We are treated to an insight into the lives of leads, Christie Ryan and Martin Blake in Jasmine Sea. We are also able to catch up with dear old friends from the last novel, such as Thomas, Martha, Randall the dog. Furthermore, meet some new characters along the way. Phillipa Nefri Clark presents her readers with a full bodied narrative. Jasmine Sea combines a beautiful, romantic and slightly complicated love story, with a strong line of suspense. I enjoyed the suspense and crime scenes very much in this novel, which were well written. There are plenty of secrets to shake up this narrative and to keep your eyes continually glued to the page, for the entire length of this novel. Christie the leading lady of Jasmine Sea, is a superbly drawn character. I liked how Nefri Clark allowed us to see her strengths and vulnerabilities. Christie goes through quite the character journey over the progression of the novel. She is faced with love and relationship issues, as well as some difficult problems from the past that come back to haunt her. Along the way, Christie grows as a person and the final result, after a thrilling build up, was a satisfying indeed. What continued to resonate with me with Phillipa’s writing and her books, is her knack for depicting her setting. I just adored the detailed and vivid descriptions of life at the seaside locale of River’s End. The insertion of the yacht that is gifted to Christie, provides Nefri Clark with the material to include some further wonderful coastal based prose, which I appreciated very much. Jasmine Sea is the perfect sequel to Phillipa Nefri Clark’s first novel, The Stationmaster’s Cottage. It is a book that combines a number of engaging themes and genres, to form one compelling read. I do hope there is more on the horizon, story wise, for Christie, Martin and the residents of River’s End. *With thanks to the author, Phillipa Nefri Clark, for providing me with a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review. ...more |
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not set
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Dec 12, 2017
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Dec 12, 2017
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ebook
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241
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| B076BTQ1YD
| 4.27
| 108
| unknown
| Nov 21, 2017
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really liked it
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*https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com *4.5 stars I was first introduced to Australian author Louise Guy when I read her women’s contemporary fiction *https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com *4.5 stars I was first introduced to Australian author Louise Guy when I read her women’s contemporary fiction novel, Everyday Lies earlier this year. I was delighted when I saw the cover and premise of Guy’s second novel, Fortunate Friends. Again, Guy tackles the life lit genre head on, with a superb offering. Fortunate Friends intersects the lives of three different women, who find themselves bound together by an unexpected money windfall. The impact of this change in fortune is covered in a comprehensive and entertaining way by competent writer, Louise Guy. At the heart of Fortunate Friends are three women, from contrasting backgrounds in life. Thrust together by a lottery win which is divided three ways, together the women find solace in each other’s situations. Bec is a married mother of two, who has recently discovered that her husband has strayed from their marriage. With her background as a lawyer informing her decisions, Bec decides divorce is the one and only option, not reconciliation. Bec also chooses to withhold her lottery win from her husband, which has quite an impact on their lives. The second woman to receive a substantial fortune is Frankie. Poor Frankie is a woman who has always struggled to make ends meet and the good fortune that has come her way seems perfect. However, Frankie struggles to adjust to her change in circumstances. The third and final recipient of the lottery win is Shauna. It does not take long before Shauna realises what a curse her unexpected windfall has caused her. With a lawsuit and money hungry relatives on her case, Shauna wishes life would go back to how it was before the money came along. Louise Guy explores how friendship plays a crucial part in assisting these three women to adjust to their changed lives, in the wake of this lottery win. It was an absolute pleasure to be immersed once again in the writing of talented Australian author Louise Guy. As with her first novel, Everyday Lies, I was soon drawn into the unfolding story of three fortunate women in their thirties that receive the gift of money, through a lottery win. Guy writes about a scenario we have all considered at some point in our lives, especially when times are tough. A lottery win would help to solve all our problems, or does it simply create new issues and headaches to deal with? The approach Guy has to her writing easily allows us to slip into the shoes of her characters and their ensuing situations. Guy’s characters are believable, relatable and fascinating. As a woman in my thirties, the same age as the three lead protagonists in the story, it was very easy for me to garner sympathy for each of these three ladies. In fact, I did feel by the close of the book that I was the fourth friend in this circle of women, assisted by the comfortable mode of storytelling of Louise Guy. Readers will find the pace of Fortunate Friends set at an ideal rate. My attention never waned once through reading this book. Although I consider myself a fast reader, I read this book in just two sittings and in less than 24 hours. I believe this is an indication of how great a story Fortunate Friends truly is. What I liked most about Fortunate Friends was that Guy took an interesting situation and considered all aspects that an unexpected windfall could bring, warts and all. In fact, the pitfalls of a win such as this was covered in the book very well. It made me see that perhaps the reality of this situation does not quite match the dream of having an endless supply of money at our disposal. The most positive aspect to come out of the experience highlighted in Fortunate Friends is the unexpected friendship gains. It was heart-warming to read and helped to restore my faith in society! So it’s another winning read from Louise Guy in her second powerful women’s fiction novel, Fortunate Friends. I’m keen to see what 2018 brings for Louise and I eagerly await her next piece of writing. ...more |
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not set
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Dec 11, 2017
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Dec 11, 2017
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ebook
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240
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| 9781760296766
| 4.28
| 287
| unknown
| Dec 01, 2017
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really liked it
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*https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com Karly Lane, the author of Six Ways to Sunday and many other fabulous titles, is synonymous with rural fiction. *https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com Karly Lane, the author of Six Ways to Sunday and many other fabulous titles, is synonymous with rural fiction. Karly Lane is a great crusader for rural fiction. Lane’s passion for rural communities and writing about small town Australia is evident in all her books and Six Ways to Sunday is no exception. The latest novel from Lane explores the life of a determined young woman who tries to bring about change in a community resistant to change, while at the same time, risking her fresh marriage to a man she is devoted to. As a self confessed fan of rural fiction, I have read many tales of city girls trading life in the big smoke for a chance at love and happiness in the outback. On the outset, Six Ways to Sunday begins a lot like these novels. However, Karly Lane’s talent and authentic insight into life in the bush adds a different spin on a tale that has been told many times over. Six Ways to Sunday is a novel that will pull at your heartstrings and make you think twice about life. It also works to draw our attention to the myriad of issues prevalent in rural communities. It comes complete with a cracker of a final twist and readers will be pleased by the final turn of events that had a great touch of romance. ...more |
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not set
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Dec 11, 2017
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Dec 11, 2017
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Paperback
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239
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| 1787199851
| 9781787199859
| 3.47
| 3,298
| Sep 26, 2017
| Oct 03, 2017
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it was ok
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*https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com 2.5 stars I entered a giveaway on Goodreads, hoping to score a copy of The Visitors by Catherine Burns. I didn’t *https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com 2.5 stars I entered a giveaway on Goodreads, hoping to score a copy of The Visitors by Catherine Burns. I didn’t win a copy, but good fortune came my way when I spied a copy of this book at my local library, in the new releases section. I immediately checked it, out came home and quickly delved into the pages of this novel. I was looking forward to reading The Visitors, after the early hype and many favourable reviews I had seen published by the Goodreads community. Initially, I found myself very interested in this story concept and a little creeped by the presence of what I thought were ghostly visitors. The emphasis on what is behind the cellar door induced a spine tingling feeling on more than one occasion. It also kept my mind ticking as theorised about what shocking secret was behind the cellar door. However, the book soon took a different turn and I found that I was disappointed as well as underwhelmed by the ‘visitors’ storyline. It was a shame as the book had so much potential! I won’t be divulging any further plot comments on this out of respect to those who do wish to read this novel. If you like slow burn style psychological thrillers, with an emphasis on character exploration, this dark story of an unpleasant family may of interest. ...more |
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not set
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Dec 08, 2017
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Dec 08, 2017
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Hardcover
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238
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| 147115615X
| 9781471156151
| 4.15
| 2,766
| Aug 24, 2017
| Oct 20, 2017
|
really liked it
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*https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com 4.5 stars I’ve always been curious about bestselling British author Lynda LaPlante’s work. I enjoyed the *https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com 4.5 stars I’ve always been curious about bestselling British author Lynda LaPlante’s work. I enjoyed the television series Prime Suspect, based on LaPlante’s books, starring Helen Mirren but until now, I have not delved into her books. A giveaway win of Good Friday, the latest novel by Lynda LaPlante, provided me with the opportunity to experience my first LaPlante novel and now I am quite smitten! In the year 1976, London is under attack from the IRA. After a relentless bombing campaign in Britain’s capital, a deadly attack at one of London’s underground stations, Convent Garden, sees young detective constable Jane Tennison caught up in the attack. Jane bravely survives the attack and becomes a key witness. Just prior to the explosion, Jane caught a glimpse of the bomber. However, in the aftermath of the attack, Jane struggles to recollect the man. As a result, she becomes a star witness in this high profile case, requiring around the clock police protection. Behind the scenes, the Metropolitan police work relentlessly to try to apprehend the terrorists. In the background, plans for the annual Good Friday police dinner dance continue to take shape, unperturbed by the recent terror attacks. As the dance draws near, security at the location of the dinner dance is stepped up a notch. Jane, an expected attendee of the event, regains her memory of the Covent Garden terrorist attack in the week before the dance. A sense of dread follows this flashback as Jane realises she is now able to recognise the bomber, who is too close for comfort. Jane faces the fight of her life, as she must protect herself from further harm from the IRA unit and convince her superiors that she has a hunch about another imminent attack. My first Lynda LaPlante experience was a welcome one. It is always a bit risky reading a novel that is part of a long running series, featuring a well established lead. I didn’t need to worry about feeling like I had missed the boat on this one, LaPlante put my apprehension aside through her spellbinding new novel. As this is the third novel that focuses on the early career of Jane Tennison, there is plenty of character building that takes place. LaPlante does a superb job of bringing to life the specific period detail relating to her novel. It is obvious she has done her homework on this era, as she writes both informatively and passionately about this era. After reading her setting descriptions, I felt like I had stepped straight out onto the streets of London in the 1970’s. There were plenty of race, class and sex based tensions at hand that LaPlante presents well. Even the fashion choices popular at the time were spot on! This is a book injected with plenty of authentic 1970’s detail. For those not familiar with London’s history in the 1970’s, LaPlante expertly brings this era to life in an accessible way, through her compelling narrative. I confess to possessing very little knowledge of the IRA, only a few titbits of information from my father, who lived in London at this time. LaPlante served to draw my attention to this time, place and events that took place through her novel. It is presented in an entertaining format, giving us an insight into a very modern history of London. LaPlante’s characterisation is a credit to her. I soon took a liking to the lead of this novel and many of Laplante’s backlist novels, the well known Jane Tennison. LaPlante does a fine of backtracking her famous lead and giving the reader an insight into Tennison’s life in the early stages of her career. We get a good sense of her eagerness, fragility, her natural aptitude for her job, her loyalty to her family and the difficulty Jane experiences in balancing her love life with her career. The secondary and supporting characters round up this novel nicely. In terms of the plot itself, it travels at a steady but not rip roaring pace. There are plenty of narrative threads at play in Good Friday and the reader is able to play an active role in piecing all the parts together. The police work was a highlight for me in this novel. I enjoyed reading the sections involving Jane’s work with the ‘Dip Squad’, a section of the police force dedicated to apprehending professional pick pockets. I also found the investigations put into the IRA riveting. It certainly is a pulse pounding race to find the dangerous bomber and help prevent any further deadly attacks from taking place. Good Friday was a more than satisfying ride, aided by LaPlante’s individual writing style that seemed to draw me in. It left me immediately seeking out more titles from LaPlante, featuring the ever enduring detective Jane Tennison. *I wish to thank the publisher, Allen & Unwin, for providing me with a free copy of this book. ...more |
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Dec 06, 2017
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Dec 07, 2017
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| B072M6BNFY
| 4.45
| 153
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| Nov 20, 2017
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really liked it
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*https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com Jackie French, the author of Facing the Flame, is a national treasure. She is an author of an extensive range of *https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com Jackie French, the author of Facing the Flame, is a national treasure. She is an author of an extensive range of books, across a variety of genres. I know her work best through her children’s picture books that I have read both to my children and my kindergarten students. Her latest, Facing the Flame, is the 7th instalment in the popular Matilda saga. Although I have only read one other book in this saga, I firmly believe this book does stand on its own and can easily be read in isolation to the previous books in the series. Facing the Flame takes the reader to the year 1978, in a bush township called Gibber’s Creek. The locals know that with the hot winds and dry land, a bushfire is imminent. Fighting to save the beloved township of Gibber’s Creek and its surrounds are a band of women, each with their own challenges. Lu is an aspiring jockey but her plans of making it to the professional riding circuit have been derailed by her loss of sight. Scarlett is another key figure fighting the flames that have come for Gibber’s Creek. Scarlett is a medical school student, who risks her career and the love of her life to save the life of child in the wake of the bushfires. Then there is Flinty, who is determined to protect that land that means so much to her, using her first hand knowledge and techniques from the generations that came before her. The final pivotal character to round up the proceedings of the story is Jed, a young woman expecting a baby. Jed faces the fight of her life, against the fire and a man from her past, who seems absolutely determined to kill her. Facing the Flame follows these courageous women as they battle to come out on the other side of this deadly fire, which is steadily ripping apart their community. My immediate impression of this novel was that it is one very well researched book and a powerful yarn, clearly drawn from French’s first hand experiences. In fact, I recently read an interview with the author to celebrate the publication of this novel in a popular Australian magazine. I discovered a number of noteworthy facts about the author of Facing the Flame from this article that certainly extended my reading of this novel. I discovered that Facing the Flame is based on French’s personal and own father’s experiences dealing with bushfires. It is clear the land and the bush runs through French’s roots. Facing the Flame is a novel that is unafraid to show the reader the raw truth to the devastation caused by one of our nation’s biggest threats, fire. French is a novelist who has a firm handle on her character list. Facing the Flame features an array of characters, both main and periphery, who all contribute well to this compelling story. It took me awhile to get a firm handle on who was who character wise, but once I had this set the story flowed. As a suggestion, I would have liked a character list in the front of the book to assist me in the early stages of reading this novel. For me personally, I developed an attachment to the character of Jed. Her story was quite incredible! Jed’s story also allows French to incorporate a side theme of suspense. The villain of the story is introduced to the fold through Jed’s narrative and this story thread encouraged me to flick through the pages of Facing the Flame quickly indeed. I also feel I must acknowledge the presence of the bushfire in this novel, it is quite overwhelming. At the close of most chapters in this book, there is a reference to the encroaching fire. It made me feel a strong sense of unease, through French’s vivid prose and at the same time, it gave me an appreciation of the full force of fire, especially in our bush areas. Facing the Flame is a book defined by many moments of stunning prose and realistic dialogue. The pace is steady throughout, with the action building nearer the close of the novel. In terms of setting, French is able to bring the time frame (late 1970’s) to the audience very well indeed. Her main locale, a fictional bush based township named Gibber’s Creek, came alive before my eyes while reading this novel. This indicates the talent and power of French’s writing. Finally, Facing the Flame is a very accessible book that I encourage both adults and younger readers (14+) to take up to read, you will not be disappointed. My final word on Facing the Flame is that I appreciated this novel very much. I felt moved by the intensity of the subject area – bushfires and the endurance, as well as the heroism, displayed by the characters of Gibber’s Creek. Facing the Flame is an inspiring and rousing novel that served to remind me of the powerful inferno force of Mother Nature – bushfire. My reading of Facing the Flame has promoted me to check my sagging book shelves, to see if I can catch up on the previous stories in this addictive historical fiction series over the summer holiday period. *Please note that a free copy of this book was provided to me for review purposes through Beauty and Lace and Harper Collins Books Australia. ...more |
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Dec 05, 2017
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Dec 05, 2017
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| 1760552232
| 9781760552237
| 4.57
| 14
| unknown
| Nov 14, 2017
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*https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com At Hell’s Gate offers readers a chance to revisit the colourful and action packed life of Mike Daly (alias) of *https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com At Hell’s Gate offers readers a chance to revisit the colourful and action packed life of Mike Daly (alias) of Mark Abernethy’s previous release, The Contractor. In The Contractor, readers were introduced to Mike Daly, a quintessential Aussie ‘tradie’ who splits his time between building houses and fulfilling private intelligence contracts. At Hell’s Gate is a scathing and true account of Mike Daly’s life, covering four covert operations. At Hell’s Gate, a told by Australian novelist Mark Abernethy, is a high-octane collection of four separate stories that all cover Mike Daly’s counter terrorism efforts. These four stories have been pulled straight from the first hand experiences of real life action hero Mike Daly. Novelist and journalist Mark Abernethy has worked his storytelling skills on these adventures and transformed them onto the pages of At Hell’s Gate. The stories encompass accelerated and perilous episodes in Mike’s life. They include an all important counter terrorist operation in Singapore, a jaunt in the jungle of Indonesia for bomb creators, a stint in Kabul involving the Taliban and an ocean themed venture involving a lot of guns! It’s a thrill ride when you step into the shoes of Mike Daly, through Mark Abernethy’s expert narration. At the heart of this medley of true stories is ‘big unit’ Mike Daly. In Abernethy’s first effort featuring Mike Daly, The Contractor, I was quite taken aback by just how down to earth Mike Daly comes across on the page – despite living an alter ego as an all important counter terrorism expert. In At Hell’s Gate, we continue to see the how the adrenaline fuelled moments in Daly’s life are offset by his personal life. These lighter moments in the book give the audience a true insight into this remarkable figure. I have to say I enjoyed Mike’s outlook on life, his personal life shenanigans and his interest in home renovations. At Hell’s Gate goes that one step further than its predecessor and delves a little more into the fascinating personal life of a man who lives life on the edge. As with The Contractor, I appreciated Mark Abernethy’s mode of storytelling, which he applies well to his second book based on Mike Daly. Abernethy’s solid background in writing novels for the military and spy thriller genres, has put him in good stead for releasing another gripping set of four entertaining and informative stories. Abernethy’s style of narration is highly visual and he is knowledgeable of the subject areas at hand. There are also moments when he slips into larrikin like humour, showing us just how normal Mike Daly is, despite the almost implausible situations he finds himself in. I felt a slight sense of unease reading a couple of these stories, knowing just how close we are to be touched by dangerous terrorists, bomb enthusiasts, gun wielding bandits and general low life figures of society. At Hell’s Gate is a solid, action packed follow on to Abernethy’s previous release, The Contractor, which also features the hero of these tales, Mike Daly. At Hell’s Gate provides the reader with a unique and dynamic account of four counter terrorism missions. After following Mike Daly’s undertakings in both At Hell’s Gate and The Contractor, I hope I see him make a screen debut, as I believe his experiences would transfer well onto film. *I wish to thank Pan Macmillan Australia for providing me with a free copy of this book for review purposes. ...more |
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Dec 2017
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Dec 01, 2017
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235
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| 1741666449
| 9781741666441
| 3.80
| 2,284
| Aug 01, 2014
| Aug 01, 2014
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really liked it
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*https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com From time to time I like to read a book from my signed collection shelf. These are books that are on my ‘keeps’ *https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com From time to time I like to read a book from my signed collection shelf. These are books that are on my ‘keeps’ shelf. The Golden Age is a book that has been sitting on my special ‘keeps’ book cabinet since I met the author Joan London back at a Stories on Stage author in 2015. I recall enjoying the author event given by Joan, to mark the release of her much anticipated third book, The Golden Age. What struck me most about the author talk and the book itself was the extent of research and historical detail London included in her book. It hardly comes as a surprise to me that since its release in 2014, The Golden Age has received a whole host of literary awards and it has been shortlisted for many more. This novel is set in my home state of Western Australian, during the 1950’s and it was simply a joy to read. London perfectly captures the nostalgia of Perth during this era. London’s examination into the effects of polio and the narrative focus on a convalescent home for victims of polio based in Perth was historically fascinating. A moving tribute to times past, I endorse The Golden Age completely. ...more |
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Nov 30, 2017
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Dec 01, 2017
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| 1250087279
| 9781250087270
| 4.23
| 18,008
| Oct 03, 2017
| Oct 03, 2017
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really liked it
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*https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com 4.5 stars From the pages of history in North Carolina, during the war years and the turbulent times after, comes *https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com 4.5 stars From the pages of history in North Carolina, during the war years and the turbulent times after, comes a new tale from bestselling author Diane Chamberlain. The Stolen Marriage is an emotionally arresting novel of lies, betrayal, loss, discrimination, love and life. Twenty three year old nursing student Tess DeMello is the starring figure in Diane Chamberlain’s latest release, The Stolen Marriage. Tess is a young woman who has a perfect life all planned out. Once she completes her training to become a registered nurse, she plans to marry Vincent, a young man she has been promised to since childhood. Her plans are derailed when Vincent, a physician, finds a work posting that will take him away from Tess for a number of weeks. A spur of the moment trip with her good friend Gina to Washington DC, sees the two girls left unchaperoned. They are wined and dined by two gentlemen and at the close of the evening, Tess lets her inhibitions go with disastrous results. Her dalliance with Henry Craft is enough for Tess to have to make the heartbreaking decision to break off her engagement with Vincent. She then makes the tough move from her home in Baltimore, to Hickory, in North Carolina. In Hickory, a town with strained race relations and suffering from the impact of the war, Tess finds hostility. Her new husband Henry, although kind to her, seems to be withholding much from her and she cannot get close to him. Feeling increasingly ensnared in an unfulfilling marriage, Tess realises she has made a huge mistake. When polio makes its strong presence felt in Hickory, it offers Tess a scapegoat. She can finally feel meaning in her life again, as her nursing skills at put to the test. As Tess becomes more involved in helping the victims of polio in Hickory, Henry withdraws even further from his wife. Tess is determined to get to the bottom of Henry’s secrets, in order to save her life from further ruin. I am a new fan to the work of Diane Chamberlain, the popular author of twenty five novels. The opportunity to read a historical fiction title, which is one of my favourite genres, was a welcome one and my experience reading The Stolen Marriage was very good. So good, that I plan to make some room in my schedule to read some books from Chamberlain’s twenty five novel strong back catalogue. My interest in this novel was soon piqued by the historical backdrop to this book. Although I have read many books based on the World II era, rarely have they been set in the US. The Stolen Marriage was very interesting, it is a book that shines a light on the American experience of the war years and the era immediately after. Chamberlain’s novel zones in on what life was like specifically in two locations, Baltimore and North Carolina. In Baltimore, we learn about Tess’ heritage as a young Italian girl. When the action moves to the small town of Hickory, in North Carolina, we get a solid impression of the issues and tensions that were rife in this location at this point in time. The historical backdrop allows Chamberlain to explore race relations, prejudice, class differences, marriage laws and the focal subject of the novel, the rise in polio. The inclusion of all these very interesting issues, highlights the extent of research Chamberlain has undertaken. Tess DeMello, the leading lady of Chamberlain’s novel, was an agreeable protagonist. I was immediately drawn to Tess and I admired her, especially the heartbreaking choices and situations she was faced with. She is also a determined young woman, who defied her husband to fulfil her dreams to practice nursing. When Tess finally gets the chance to put her skills into practice, she seems to take flight and this was a pleasure to read. Tess is also very human and the mistakes she makes and learns from makes her all the more authentic. The leading men in this novel, Vincent and Henry, have much to add to the novel interest wise and I enjoyed the storylines they were involved in. Henry’s story in particular was a great source of intrigue. My guess as to what Henry was hiding was way off the mark, but it certainly added a late extra twist to this full bodied narrative. There are some supporting characters featured in The Stolen Marriage that I liked very much, such as Tess’ maid Hattie, friend and confidant Gina, as well as Reverend Sam. The Reverend’s involvement with Tess allows Chamberlain to sneak in an extra paranormal based side story thread, which was interesting to follow. There were characters I disliked very much as well. These included Henry’s mother Ruth, sister Lucy, Henry’s admirer Violet and the judgemental townsfolk of Hickory. Despite my dislike for these characters, they played a key part in the interesting proceedings of The Stolen Marriage. The Stolen Marriage concludes on a much anticipated happier note, after all the secrets, tragedy, death, grief, difficult choices and missed opportunities. Love and retribution after a hard life lived conquers, as the lead of the novel, Tess, finally makes it to the other side with a brighter future ahead of her. I did appreciate that the author of The Stolen Marriage, revisited the characters years after the main events of the novel, to reveal a little about their changed lives. I was just as pleased to see the inclusion of an author’s notes section, which provides some extra information on the historical grounding for this novel. From the last pages of this book, we learn how this story was inspired by true events, in a real town and the research Chamberlain undertook to bringing this story to life was all encompassing. I have no qualms in highly recommending The Stolen Marriage, it really was a very good read and marks a great introduction to the work of Diane Chamberlain. *I wish to thank Pan Macmillan for providing me with a free copy of this book for review purposes. ...more |
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Nov 29, 2017
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Nov 29, 2017
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259
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| 006256269X
| 9780062562692
| 4.16
| 6,288
| Oct 03, 2017
| Oct 03, 2017
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really liked it
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*https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com I have read a handful of epistolary novels over the years and it was a pure joy to read Last Christmas In Paris, *https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com I have read a handful of epistolary novels over the years and it was a pure joy to read Last Christmas In Paris, an exceptionally well executed novel that employs this structure. The authors of Last Christmas In Paris, renowned historical fiction writers Hazel Gaynor and Heather Webb, are now the best of friends, after they collaborated to compose this unforgettable tale of love, in the face of the Great War. These two authors have nailed the characters and voices of the protagonists of this novel so well. There is a seamless quality to this book, so it is hard to believe it was devised by two different pens (more detail on this collaboration can be found at the back of the book). Paris holds a special place in my heart, I adore Christmas themed books and I always lap up novels about the Great War. I couldn’t ask for a better combination for a novel! I had an early indication I was going to love this book and love it I did. Although there wasn’t a huge focus on Christmas, which I had hoped for based on the title and premise, but I was still taken aback by the beauty of this book. ...more |
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Dec 27, 2017
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Nov 24, 2017
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ebook
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230
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| B076KX2H91
| 4.14
| 155
| unknown
| Nov 23, 2017
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it was amazing
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* https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com The Good Sister by Maggie Christensen is the author’s first foray into the world of historical fiction. * https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com The Good Sister by Maggie Christensen is the author’s first foray into the world of historical fiction. Christensen does this genre justice with her solid contribution. The Good Sister is a beautiful Scottish based wartime saga that fuses the past with the present, through two unforgettable women, who are both named Isobel. In the days leading up to World War II, Isobel MacDonald is busy falling in love with her very own Clark Gable lookalike, Bob Smith. When the war looms over Isobel’s home in Scotland, it derails her plans for the future. Missed opportunities, regrets and a huge misunderstanding defines Isobel’s life. It is a mistake that determines Isobel’s unfulfilled pathway to love and marriage. Isobel’s niece, also named Isobel, or Bel as she prefers to be addressed, was born in Scotland. Bel spent her childhood, as well as formative years being raised by her mother and aunt Isobel, following the death of her father in a tragic accident. Bel has since left her native home, forging a new life for herself in Sydney. When her dear aunt takes a turn for the worst health wise, she calls on her only surviving relative, Bel, to help her settle her affairs. At the same time, old aunt Isobel has an ulterior motive to inviting her niece to return home to Scotland. Isobel wants to put old memories to rest, while securing her niece’s happiness, with the help of her solicitor. The Good Sister draws two generations together, through an unforgettable series of events that happened decades ago. The Good Sister marks the third book I have read from Australian fiction novelist Maggie Christensen. I really enjoyed Maggie’s previous two novels, Madeline House and Champagne for Breakfast, both were fantastic mature based women’s fiction novels. After devouring The Good Sister in a sitting, I can now easily attest to Maggie’s latest novel being her best yet. My attachment to The Good Sister initially comes from the wonderfully presented setting. Maggie has decided to cross the globe with her latest novel and ground her new book predominately in Scotland, which I believe is her native home. Australia does still feature in The Good Sister, only it plays a much smaller role. Maggie’s presentation of her setting is authentic and vivid. I felt a closeness to the main location of the novel in particular, as my own mother was born and raised in Scotland in the 1950’s. This personal connection definitely enhanced my reading of the setting, the characters and their experiences. The Good Sister features a historically accurate setting. It is accompanied by precise use of period language, Scottish culture and social customs, which were spot on. Where Christensen also excels is in her re-creation of wartime Scotland. I have read a lot of material on World War II, but I feel I know very little about the Scottish experience of the war. Thankfully, Christensen filled in this gap in my knowledge by her enlightening and comprehensive account of life during the war, especially on those left on the home front. I loved the character list in The Good Sister immensely. Isobel MacDonald, the lead protagonist, is likeable from the outset. I was soon invested in her heartbreaking ordeal in love and life. Supporting Isobel is the other main lead in this novel, Isobel’s 60 year old niece Bel, from Australia. Bel is also a very agreeable leading lady. Bel’s background was interesting to unpack and her accompanying love story will definitely appeal to those who enjoy a mature relationship story filled with romance. Rounding off the character set in The Good Sister is Isobel’s sister and Bel’s mother Nan, who features in the past segments of this novel. There is also Isobel’s friend Eileen, sister Kate and love interests, Bob and John. In the present day, Isobel’s solicitor has a crucial role in the book’s turn of events. Christensen takes care to ensure that each of her characters both in the past and present have a vital part to play in the unfolding tale. The Good Sister is a dual time frame style narrative, which is my favourite type of novel. Christensen employs the use of this form of storytelling well. I loved the use of Isobel’s diaries, which were used by her niece Bel in the present day to uncover the hidden past of their family’s secrets. I found myself equally drawn to both the past and present storylines, which is testament to Christensen’s skill as a writer. I will admit to racing through the present day events, in order to get back to Isobel’s story in the past, it was quite the addictive read. I liked the way Christensen tracked Isobel’s story from prior to the outbreak of the war, through to the wartime itself, then to the post war period and she followed her story to the 1980’s. Not only did this comprehensive narrative help me feel more invested in the story, I felt a strong attachment to the lead as a direct result. The ending, when it came, was touching and befitting of this emotional family saga. Not only did the final moments of The Good Sister reconcile the past with the present very well, it highlighted the emigrant experience extremely well. Christensen marries Bel’s feelings towards the country of her birth Scotland, to her second home in Australia, perfectly. It will be sure to draw much semblance with many readers. I endorse The Good Sister whole heartedly, it is a great piece of historical fiction, which will appeal to fans of the genre. *I wish to thank the author, Maggie Christensen, for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. ...more |
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Nov 22, 2017
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Nov 23, 2017
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Kindle Edition
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228
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| 0007119313
| 9780007119318
| 4.17
| 319,600
| 1934
| Jun 04, 2007
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it was amazing
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*https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com A rare trip to the movies for my husband and I, without our children, resulted in a spur of the moment decision *https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com A rare trip to the movies for my husband and I, without our children, resulted in a spur of the moment decision to watch Murder on the Orient Express. This recent movie adaptation directed by and starring Kenneth Branagh, was a most pleasurable experience. After being thoroughly mesmerised by the film adaptation of Murder on the Orient Express, I felt compelled to read the book. I devoured this book and I can safely say Murder on the Orient Express is my favourite Agatha Christie novel, to date. First published in 1934, Murder on the Orient Express features Agatha Christie’s Belgian detective, Hercule Poirot. Hercule Poirot finds himself on a train journey that abruptly comes to a standstill, due to a snowdrift. As this luxury train, full of passengers awaits help, a deadly discovery is made. A passenger, a wealthy American magnate, has been found deceased in his cabin. What is striking about this case is that the dead man is covered in a frenzy of knife wounds. With the door and the cabin locked, it can only mean one thing, there is a killer loose on the train. It is up to seasoned detective Hercule Poirot to identify and help apprehend the murderer, before it’s too late and they take the opportunity to kill again. Murder on the Orient Express has been touted as ‘undoubtedly one of Agatha Christie’s greatest mystery novels’. Although I don’t have a large collection to compare this novel against, having only read a handful of Christie’s novels, there is something about this book that spoke to me. Murder on the Orient Express screams classic mystery novel. I am sure many of the mystery novelists of today could learn a thing or two from the queen of crime mystery novels. So why am I singing the praises of this novel? Well, a number of factors. First up, I found the plot interesting, involving and downright puzzling. It was a great move by Christie to cast everyone on that fateful train as a suspect. The mystery element of this book is presented very well, it had me guessing and second guessing, thanks to Christie’s red herrings and plot diversions. The character set is something else, they are a real mixed bunch. It is quite a big cast, but each of these well rendered characters contributes to the unfolding events of the novel. I didn’t really take to the character of detective Hercule Poirot in the previous books I have read by Agatha Christie, featuring this well know character. However, Murder on the Orient Express allowed me to see Poirot in a different light. I developed quite an affection for this lead. I came to love his little quirks and musings as the novel progressed. I can now see why Poirot has remained an enduring feature of Christie’s novels for so long. I also liked the particular case presented in this novel, as it challenged the core morals of the lead. For me, the wow factor in this novel (and in the film version) was the setting. This is a novel that I can truly say I was able to sit back and thoroughly enjoy the ride. It was such an adventure stepping on board this luxury train from days gone by. I imagined myself embarking on a glamorous and eventful journey across Europe. I loved the snow filled and cold atmosphere depicted by Christie. I also felt the strong sense of confinement created by Christie on board this train. It was intense and superbly portrayed. Murder on the Orient Express is a book that I believe confirms Agatha Christie’s place as a crackerjack of the classic crime mystery genre. With the presence of plenty of feature elements that make this novel tick, from a full bodied character list, a spectacular locale, a stifling atmosphere and a complex crime at its heart, Murder on the Orient Express was an absolute pleasure to read. This book is Agatha Christie at her best. ...more |
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not set
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Nov 20, 2017
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Nov 20, 2017
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Paperback
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226
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| 077833046X
| 9780778330462
| 3.95
| 1,837
| Aug 22, 2017
| Aug 22, 2017
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really liked it
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https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com To vaccinate or not to vaccinate your children? For some parents the decision to vaccinate is not so easy. With https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com To vaccinate or not to vaccinate your children? For some parents the decision to vaccinate is not so easy. With claims of autism and other side effects associated with the vaccine floating around, some parents choose not to vaccinate their children. For the main characters in Melissa Hill’s novel Keep You Safe, Kate and Madeleine, both have chosen not to vaccinate their children. Kate’s is for a valid medical complication reason, while Madeleine’s is based on an informed choice she and her husband made. Either way, the decision this set of parents made in the past, has implications for the future health of their daughters. Vaccination is a divisive and emotive topic, which Irish novelist Melissa Hill explores in a well-rounded manner, through her latest release, Keep You Safe. Parenting is a tough gig, where so many choices, both minor and major, play a part in the day-to-day struggles of raising children. For single mother Kate, the decision on whether or not to vaccinate her young daughter Rosie was ultimately decided for her. Rosie is one of a handful of members of the population who cannot receive the MMR vaccine, due to a medical condition. Kate must hope and pray that her daughter is kept out of harm’s way disease wise. Madeleine on the other hand, is a successful mummy blogger who made an informed choice with her husband Tom to refuse the recommendation of a vaccine for their young daughter Clara. Staying firm with their choice, they too only hope that Clara does not contract the diseases the vaccine sets out to prevent. Clara and Rosie attend the same school and class in a small Irish town. When they both get very sick, it has far reaching implications for all involved. Irish novelist Melissa Hill’s latest novel, Keep You Safe was our book club pick for this month. Keep You Safe is the first book I have read by the popular author Melissa Hill. Keep You Safe provided plenty of fodder for discussion over the preconceptions, societal expectations, angst and pivotal facts surrounding the vaccination debate for our book club. After reading an online newspaper article about this novel and an accompanying interview with the author, I found it interesting that the impetus for the creation of this novel was Hill’s own experiences in deciding to vaccinate her own daughter some years ago. Hill admits that she was troubled by reports that the MMR vaccine was linked to autism, a link that has since been debunked. Despite this, Hill acknowledges the negative responses parents often receive when they choose not to vaccinate their children. There is no denying this is an emotive issue with plenty of associated grey areas. Hill provides the reader with a representative case of both sides of the vaccination debate, courtesy of the experiences of her characters. I came out of my reading of this novel feeling much more informed and aware of the issues of vaccination and measles. Hill strives to provide an objective view of the issues revolving around vaccination. I know personally I was not aware of the fact until I read Keep You Safe that the decision not to vaccinate your child can be taken off a small percentage of the population’s hands if the vaccine causes other medical problems, which is the case with young Rosie. It truly is heartbreaking and Keep You Safe is written in such a way that the reader is able to put themselves in the shoes of the main protagonists, Kate and Madeleine and consider how they would react to the situation in which these two mums are faced with. The format of novel also provides the reader with enough background information to begin to form a valid opinion of the main divisive subject. This includes blog posts, social media tweets, texts, emails, notes, parent forums, newspaper articles, evening news reports and court reports. All these narrative sources provide a comprehensive picture of this emotionally wrought case. Kate and Madeleine, the main characters of Keep You Safe are realistic, well depicted and come across as convincing on the page. Initially, I found it much harder to like Madeleine, the mummy blogger and mother who sends her sick daughter to school. She definitely earned my ire as a parent! But then I saw Madeleine was just human and made a choice all parents face. Ultimately, Madeleine makes a mistake and she pays dearly for this error in judgement. However, I eventually grew to forgive Madeleine and I even felt sorry for her as the book progressed. By the close of the novel I had made my peace with her. Kate on the other hand was a character that I felt a sense of immediate sympathy. The loss of her husband to sudden adult death syndrome (I’ve never heard of this before) and the tough life she leads gained my respect. It was heart wrenching to read the scenes involving Rosie’s contraction of the measles virus, I’m not sure how I would have coped in similar situation. Kate is a selfless and devoted woman, who I developed a strong bond with through reading Keep You Safe. Kate and Madeleine are supported by a cast of secondary characters who all have a part to play in the unfolding story, from close friend Lucy, to Kate’s hardworking lawyer Declan and Madeleine’s husband Tom. These characters provide plenty of drama, speculation, twists and turns in the book to keep you locked into the novel’s proceedings. Keep You Safe is a thoroughly researched novel that is written in an accessible way. It also works to highlight the pros and cons of the controversial anti vaccination debate very well. Hill’s style reminds me of Jodi Picoult and I am sure this narrative approach will appeal to many readers. I am recommending Keep You Safe to book clubs in particular, as it contains plenty of material to discuss, most likely inciting a hearty discussion of the main issues at hand. ...more |
Notes are private!
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none
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1
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not set
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Nov 19, 2017
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Nov 19, 2017
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Hardcover
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223
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| B00WCPKMI6
| 3.29
| 7
| Apr 18, 2015
| Apr 18, 2015
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liked it
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None
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Notes are private!
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none
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1
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not set
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Nov 13, 2017
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Nov 12, 2017
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Kindle Edition
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221
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| 1509838058
| 9781509838059
| 3.98
| 1,727
| unknown
| Dec 20, 2017
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really liked it
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*https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com The festive season is fast approaching and that means there are some fantastic Christmas themed books about to *https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com The festive season is fast approaching and that means there are some fantastic Christmas themed books about to be released to help us get into the Christmas spirit. Karen Swan is an author who is well known for her Christmas themed novels and she returns this year with a brand new release, The Christmas Secret. The remote island of Islay is the festive backdrop to Karen Swan’s latest novel, The Christmas Secret. When career woman Alex Hyde answers the desperate call a few weeks out from Christmas from a whisky distillery in Scotland regarding their wild CEO Lochlan Farqhuar, she feels compelled to help the fledging company. Alex is the person company’s turn to in times of crisis. Alex is able to offer strategies, support and wise business decisions when times are tough. Alex thinks this case will be a walk in the park but she is soon proven wrong. She quickly discovers Lochlan, the maverick CEO and perhaps the source Kentallen Distilleries troubles, is difficult to tame, let alone pin down to close her business deal. With a deadline to contend with and the Christmas period fast approaching, Alex must summon all the strength she can to save herself and Kentallen from ruin. Memories from the past, buried secrets, trust and loyalty all form part of Alex’s journey to restore Kentallen and its CEO to an equilibrium. Alex’s time in Islay is an unforgettable one, which will force her to make big choices and connections she never thought she would be faced with at this remote location. There is nothing better than settling down to a festive themed read in the weeks building up to Christmas. Karen Swan’s backlist features some fantastic yuletide themed reads that I have enjoyed very much in the past. This latest release from Karen Swan, titled The Christmas Secret, is another fabulous addition to the Karen Swan collection and it is novel that demonstrates her strength in delivering a compelling Christmas based yarn. The Christmas Secret is based around a fascinating main plot. It centres on a high powered young business woman, Alex Hyde, who has quite an interesting job. Alex is called in by companies to help rescue them from potential disaster. She is an executive coach, leading the way in ensuring companies make the best decisions possible to keep their business running to an optimal level. We soon learn through following the character of Alex that this is not an easy job but Alex seems to relish being at the top of her game – her waiting list is expansive. It initially surprised me that Alex chose to skip her long waiting list and slot Kentallen Distilleries into her schedule so close to the Christmas period but she was obviously drawn to the company and its partners as much as I was! There is a beautiful sub plot that plays out in The Christmas Secret. At the opening of some, not all of the chapters in the novel, we are provided with letters and recollections pertaining to a real life shipping disaster that occurred off the remote island of Islay in 1918. I loved these sections of the narrative and found myself looking forward to and even flicking ahead of the book to find out when the next 1918 section would be included. I appreciated that Karen Swan left the significance and resolution to this sub narrative until the close of the book. This was a great plot to encourage me to stay with the book until the bitter end! Swan’s setting choice of The Christmas Secret is very appealing. It really ensures this book is the ideal holiday read. Even living in Australia, I was able to visualise the cold, remote and mysterious island of Islay thanks to Swan’s prose. Likewise, the local inhabitants and supporting characters in the book compliment the setting and all came across as authentic. I loved my chance to get a little slice of the Scottish locale of Islay, I could taste the shortbread and could easily imagine myself enjoying a wee dram of whisky! There is no doubt that Karen Swan has embarked upon a significant amount of research to develop her main storyline for The Christmas Secret. With a distillery at the centre of the action in the novel, Swan’s descriptions of the whisky business was enlightening. It is always an added bonus when an author is able to insert a level of fun education into their novels and The Christmas Secret’s focus on whisky made for a colourful read. Swan’s character list is a fine aspect of this novel. Alex, the book’s title protagonist, has some great qualities. She offers a mix between strong and vulnerable and she also has a great back story, which I enjoyed uncovering through the progression of the book. Alex is paired well against leading renegade and the complicated Lochlan. I really liked the interplay between these two opposites. The road they travelled together was an interesting one and the final conclusion was well worth the wait, that’s for sure! The Christmas Secret is a delectable novel that you will want to devour over the festive period. I suggest a dram a whisky as the perfect accompaniment to this novel. With a tension filled narrative, loveable characters, a unique Scottish setting and an extra war time storyline added for good measure makes The Christmas Secret a staple read this Christmas! *I wish to thank Pan Macmillan for providing me with a free copy of this book for review purposes. ...more |
Notes are private!
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none
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1
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not set
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Nov 12, 2017
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Nov 12, 2017
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Paperback
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219
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| 1785652788
| 9781785652783
| 3.23
| 356
| unknown
| May 16, 2017
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it was ok
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None
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Notes are private!
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none
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1
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not set
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Nov 11, 2017
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Nov 11, 2017
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Paperback
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218
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| 1741661331
| 9781741661330
| 4.14
| 467
| 2005
| 2006
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really liked it
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*https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com 4.5 stars As a West Australian girl born and bred, the construction of the NSW based, Snowy Mountains scheme to *https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com 4.5 stars As a West Australian girl born and bred, the construction of the NSW based, Snowy Mountains scheme to bring hydroelectricity to the region from the late 1940’s, through to the early 1970’s, seems to have escaped my attention. One of Australia’s best known storytellers, Judy Nunn, ensures that this pivotal engineering project is not lost in the history books. Following the devastating effects of World War II, many refugees decided they needed a new future abroad, leading them to seek opportunities offered by countries such as Australia. From all corners of the globe, these displaced people came to the land down under, answering the call for labour, after Australia suffered a skills shortage following the war. One of Australia’s largest construction and engineering projects that commenced soon after the war was the Snowy Mountains based hydro electric scheme. Work on the construction of the various tunnels, pipelines and aqueducts was dangerous, back breaking but fundamental to Australia. Heritage is a grand narrative and a true testament to the colourful cultures that came together to produce this amazing engineering feat. Heritage is the ninth novel I have read by an author I admire, Judy Nunn. The tried and tested formula of Nunn’s historically based Australian fiction sagas just seems to work every time. I am always astounded by the extent of research and detail Nunn puts into each of her novels. Heritage, which was published back in 2005, is no exception. It just seems a shame I waited this long to read Heritage! I feel quite embarrassed that as an Australian, I did not know anything about the Snowy Mountains scheme until I read Nunn’s book. However, through the experience of reading Heritage, I was able to develop an appreciation for the many years of hard work that went into the construction of this engineering enigma. As with many of Nunn’s books, I always feel the urge to visit the site of the focus of her novels and Heritage was a book that ensured that I placed the Snowy Mountains region as a must see site. Combined within this accessible history of Australia’s largest construction scheme, Heritage is the story of a small collection of characters that come from varying areas of the globe to Cooma, the main site of the hydro scheme. Nunn’s exploration of her core characters, such as Lucky, Pietro and Ruth, provides the reader with an insight into the cosmopolitan nature of the Cooma site during the years of the scheme. Nunn’s characters all have interesting, complex and varying personal histories. She is able to give a good cross section of experiences of post World War II life, from Italy, to Israel and Germany. Each of these experiences is individualised and is drawn from the myriad of real life migrant stories to come out of the construction of the scheme. Perhaps the story that struck a chord with me the most was the Holocaust aspects and one of the main players of the novel, Ruth’s experiences. Nunn handles these aspects of the novel with historical insight and a sense of sentimentality that moved me almost to tears. All these stories compounded well, with the exception of a few coincidences. Heritage is novel that is grand in scale and purpose. I believe Nunn succeeds in bringing the reader a historically grounded book that intertwines the fascinating and colourful personal stories of the pioneering engineers of the hydro electric scheme. Heritage also offers a solid portrait of the post World War II period in Australia, with many of these feelings expressed in the novel felt across the world. Heritage is another winner from top Australian storyteller, Judy Nunn. ...more |
Notes are private!
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none
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1
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not set
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Nov 10, 2017
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Nov 11, 2017
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Paperback
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217
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| 9781785761935
| 3.60
| 2,603
| unknown
| Jun 16, 2016
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really liked it
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*https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com Deborah O’Connor’s debut psychological thriller, My Husband’s Son, covers fairly familiar territory, the missing *https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com Deborah O’Connor’s debut psychological thriller, My Husband’s Son, covers fairly familiar territory, the missing person’s case of a young boy, who may still be alive. O’Connor pulls apart this case and cleverly intertwines the story of a mother who tragically lost her daughter to a murderer, who is married to the father of the missing boy in this novel. It all sounds a little confusing and sombre, but this is one mesmerising crime thriller novel. Heidi and Jason are a couple united by a tragic history. Heidi lost her daughter six years ago when she was tragically killed by a depraved murderer. A year on from this terrible crime, Jason’s young son Barney disappears without a trace. It is unclear as to whether Barney is still alive, or he has met foul play. Heidi and Jason connect at a support network conference for parents of children like themselves, victims of crimes against children. Heidi and Jason’s lives are shaken up yet again when Heidi believes she has seen a boy that looks exactly like Jason’s son, Barney. Jason is not convinced whatsoever, he is sick to death of the false hopes and the dead-end leads he has followed since Barney went disappeared. Heidi is determined to prove this boy really is Barney to Jason and her actions have dangerous consequences. But the question looms, is Jason withholding something important pertaining to Barney’s disappearance and why won’t believe his wife’s claims? There is plenty of tragedy throughout My Husband’s Son and O’Connor introduces us to the awful experiences that have touched couple Heidi and Jason early on in the book. The exact circumstances of Heidi’s daughter’s death is not divulged until well into the book’s proceedings and for me this aspect was the prime motivator in reading this novel. Likewise, O’Connor lets the reader know from the very beginning that Barney was a young boy when he was taken from his father and mother five years ago. The exact circumstances of that fateful day is carefully teased out carefully by O’Connor in her ensuing narrative. As there are two crimes in this novel, sadly involving two innocent children, so it also feels like you get a double narrative with My Husband’s Son. O’Connor’s main characters are intriguing and we are never quite sure throughout the entire novel if they can be trusted. I immediately felt a pang of sorrow for Heidi, I couldn’t imagine how awful it would be to lose a child under the circumstances in which she lost her daughter. She is definitely a determined woman that’s for sure, with an inquisitive nature that gets her into trouble. I wasn’t too sure how I felt about the decisions Heidi made in the novel and her actions seemed to go way off kilter as the book progressed. She almost seemed to be completely possessed by the need to prove the young boy she sighted was in fact Barney. Jason, the other lead character in this novel, is again a man that I felt immediate empathy for very early on in the novel. The loss of his son, the lack of firm answers and all the false hopes he has received in the years Barney has been missing seemed to hit him hard. I almost didn’t bat an eyelid when he refused to believe or investigate Heidi’s claims of seeing a boy that resembled Barney. However, as the book travelled on, I grew less and less sure of Jason and feelings of mistrust began to surround this character. When Jason’s first wife and Barney’s mother comes into the story I questioned her role in Barney’s disappearance. O’Connor certainly worked to ensure that we as the reader felt sceptic of the characters and the circumstances presented in the novel. When I reached the conclusion of the novel I was quite surprised to say the least at the final turn of events. It really seemed to get under my skin! Overall, I felt My Husband’s Son was a very solid debut from a first time novelist. It was well paced, had an intriguing narrative, served up plenty of plot diversions and featured a cast of damaged individuals, who the reader is never sure if they can trust. I’m looking forward to seeing what Deborah O’Connor issues us with next. I’m sure it will be another thrill ride. ...more |
Notes are private!
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none
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1
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not set
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Nov 07, 2017
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Nov 11, 2017
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ebook
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my rating |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
265
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| 4.03
|
really liked it
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Jan 16, 2017
|
Jan 16, 2018
| |||||
263
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| 3.65
|
really liked it
|
Oct 21, 2017
|
Jan 10, 2018
| |||||
262
|
| 3.99
|
really liked it
|
Dec 29, 2017
|
Dec 29, 2017
| |||||
258
|
| 3.91
|
really liked it
|
Dec 25, 2017
|
Dec 26, 2017
| |||||
257
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| 3.49
|
liked it
|
Dec 24, 2017
|
Dec 26, 2017
| |||||
256
|
| 3.66
|
liked it
|
Dec 24, 2017
|
Dec 26, 2017
| |||||
254
|
| 4.11
|
liked it
|
Dec 21, 2017
|
Dec 21, 2017
| |||||
252
|
| 4.33
|
really liked it
|
Dec 19, 2017
|
Dec 19, 2017
| |||||
250
|
| 4.05
|
really liked it
|
Dec 18, 2017
|
Dec 18, 2017
| |||||
249
|
| 3.22
|
really liked it
|
Dec 17, 2017
|
Dec 17, 2017
| |||||
247
|
| 3.50
|
really liked it
|
Dec 15, 2017
|
Dec 15, 2017
| |||||
243
|
| 3.87
|
it was amazing
|
Dec 13, 2017
|
Dec 13, 2017
| |||||
242
|
| 4.27
|
really liked it
|
Dec 12, 2017
|
Dec 12, 2017
| |||||
241
|
| 4.27
|
really liked it
|
Dec 11, 2017
|
Dec 11, 2017
| |||||
240
|
| 4.28
|
really liked it
|
Dec 11, 2017
|
Dec 11, 2017
| |||||
239
|
| 3.47
|
it was ok
|
Dec 08, 2017
|
Dec 08, 2017
| |||||
238
|
| 4.15
|
really liked it
|
Dec 06, 2017
|
Dec 07, 2017
| |||||
237
|
| 4.45
|
really liked it
|
Dec 05, 2017
|
Dec 05, 2017
| |||||
236
|
| 4.57
|
Dec 2017
|
Dec 01, 2017
| ||||||
235
|
| 3.80
|
really liked it
|
Nov 30, 2017
|
Dec 01, 2017
| |||||
234
|
| 4.23
|
really liked it
|
Nov 29, 2017
|
Nov 29, 2017
| |||||
259
|
| 4.16
|
really liked it
|
Dec 27, 2017
|
Nov 24, 2017
| |||||
230
|
| 4.14
|
it was amazing
|
Nov 22, 2017
|
Nov 23, 2017
| |||||
228
|
| 4.17
|
it was amazing
|
Nov 20, 2017
|
Nov 20, 2017
| |||||
226
|
| 3.95
|
really liked it
|
Nov 19, 2017
|
Nov 19, 2017
| |||||
223
|
| 3.29
|
liked it
|
Nov 13, 2017
|
Nov 12, 2017
| |||||
221
|
| 3.98
|
really liked it
|
Nov 12, 2017
|
Nov 12, 2017
| |||||
219
|
| 3.23
|
it was ok
|
Nov 11, 2017
|
Nov 11, 2017
| |||||
218
|
| 4.14
|
really liked it
|
Nov 10, 2017
|
Nov 11, 2017
| |||||
217
|
| 3.60
|
really liked it
|
Nov 07, 2017
|
Nov 11, 2017
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