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The Bucket: Memories of an Inattentive Childhood
Book
The Bucket by Allan Ahlberg - the enthralling childhood story one of Britain's best-loved children's...
The Fourth Generation: A Personal Story of Humour and Heartache 1885-1985
Book
There are no exceptions and therefore there are no choices. This book is about the choices people...
BookInspector (124 KP) rated Queenie Malone's Paradise Hotel in Books
Sep 24, 2020
The protagonist in this book was Tilda/Tilly, and she is sharing her life story. The story keeps switching between present and past, Tilly is sharing her life story from when she was little, and Tilda is sharing the events happening now. I really loved this kind of storytelling, the same person, but perspectives completely different and unique. Tilly is absolutely adorable and very grown up for her age. I loved everything about her, she is a funny, playful, smart and very extraordinary little girl. Tilda, on the other hand, was a very strange persona, who sounds very messed up and weird. My least favourite character would be the mother, I honestly didn’t understand the reasoning for what she was doing, it just didn’t make sense to me.
The narrative is carrying two different stories, but they are very entwined with each other. Tilda’s relationship with her mother is very complex, she can’t understand why her mother done some of the things in the past, so when she finds out, it leaves her gobsmacked. It is a very painful and emotional story to read, it shows how misunderstood people and their actions can affect you for the rest of your life. I really loved this constant suspense, I was dying to find out more about Tilly’s mother, and the author was very creatively teasing me all the time. This novel carries a great variety of characters, who are very intriguing, and Tilly’s gift makes the whole book very mysterious.
The writing style of this novel felt like a hug, it feels very comforting, snugly and absorbing. The language is easy to read, but it got me thinking because some things were a little confusing. The one thing that didn’t really leave me happy was chapter length and paragraph size. I know it is silly, but I normally read on my commute, so I prefer shorter chapters and paragraphs, it is easier to follow later on. The ending was very well thought through and rounded the story well, but I think it was very unfair and cruel.
To conclude, it is a very well written novel, filled with difficult relationships, very unique characters and layered plot. I really enjoyed different storylines as well as unexpected turns and twists. I am definitely in love with Ruth Hogan’s writing, and will definitely be going to read her previous novels. So, please, do give this book a go, and I hope you will enjoy it as much as I did.
The narrative is carrying two different stories, but they are very entwined with each other. Tilda’s relationship with her mother is very complex, she can’t understand why her mother done some of the things in the past, so when she finds out, it leaves her gobsmacked. It is a very painful and emotional story to read, it shows how misunderstood people and their actions can affect you for the rest of your life. I really loved this constant suspense, I was dying to find out more about Tilly’s mother, and the author was very creatively teasing me all the time. This novel carries a great variety of characters, who are very intriguing, and Tilly’s gift makes the whole book very mysterious.
The writing style of this novel felt like a hug, it feels very comforting, snugly and absorbing. The language is easy to read, but it got me thinking because some things were a little confusing. The one thing that didn’t really leave me happy was chapter length and paragraph size. I know it is silly, but I normally read on my commute, so I prefer shorter chapters and paragraphs, it is easier to follow later on. The ending was very well thought through and rounded the story well, but I think it was very unfair and cruel.
To conclude, it is a very well written novel, filled with difficult relationships, very unique characters and layered plot. I really enjoyed different storylines as well as unexpected turns and twists. I am definitely in love with Ruth Hogan’s writing, and will definitely be going to read her previous novels. So, please, do give this book a go, and I hope you will enjoy it as much as I did.
Ivana A. | Diary of Difference (1171 KP) rated Sisters in Books
Oct 5, 2020
I am extremely happy and excited to be part of the blog tour for Sisters by Michelle Frances. Thank you to the team at Pan Macmillan - for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review. Check out the other book bloggers that are part of the tour as well:
Synopsis:
Is blood really thicker than water?
Abby and Ellie were never close as children. Now in their thirties, they each harbour deep-rooted resentment for the other - Abby for her sister's looks and her status as their mother's favourite. Ellie meanwhile is envious of Abby's perfect husband and picturesque home, a villa on the sun-soaked Italian island of Elba.
When Abby invites Ellie to stay, both sisters see the break as a chance to relax and put aside their differences. But with their mother Susanna there too, all the simmering tensions of the past quickly rise to the surface. And Ellie suspects that Abby and their mother are keeping a dangerous secret . . .
But after a shocking act, the sisters have only each other to rely on. Vulnerable and scared, trusting each other will be the biggest risk of all . . .
My Thoughts:
Sisters by Michelle Frances was a very enjoyable and exciting ride for me. Not having read her previous books, I started reading without any expectations, hoping to enjoy the story for what it was. Two sisters - trying to improve their relationship, hopefully without their mother interfering.
What I got instead, was so much more! The suspense keeps building up from the very first chapter. The tension between the sisters is really awkward. The relationships between the mother and both daughters is very different and very concerning.
And then everything changes.
We have a surprising plot twists, and from that moment on, we are on a wild adventure. Old secrets will start coming up, things people thought were forgotten in the past. I did not know, and couldn't guess who the real villain is until the very end, and that was quite enjoyable for me! Everyone will tell you stories, everyone will say their own point of view. To you, everyone will seem like a villain and a victim at the same time, and this uncertainty will make you keep turning pages until you find out. Until the end.
I am glad I read Sisters by Michelle Frances. Another amazing suspense now added to my list. I highly recommend it to mystery, thriller and suspense fans, especially the ones that enjoy family drama.
Synopsis:
Is blood really thicker than water?
Abby and Ellie were never close as children. Now in their thirties, they each harbour deep-rooted resentment for the other - Abby for her sister's looks and her status as their mother's favourite. Ellie meanwhile is envious of Abby's perfect husband and picturesque home, a villa on the sun-soaked Italian island of Elba.
When Abby invites Ellie to stay, both sisters see the break as a chance to relax and put aside their differences. But with their mother Susanna there too, all the simmering tensions of the past quickly rise to the surface. And Ellie suspects that Abby and their mother are keeping a dangerous secret . . .
But after a shocking act, the sisters have only each other to rely on. Vulnerable and scared, trusting each other will be the biggest risk of all . . .
My Thoughts:
Sisters by Michelle Frances was a very enjoyable and exciting ride for me. Not having read her previous books, I started reading without any expectations, hoping to enjoy the story for what it was. Two sisters - trying to improve their relationship, hopefully without their mother interfering.
What I got instead, was so much more! The suspense keeps building up from the very first chapter. The tension between the sisters is really awkward. The relationships between the mother and both daughters is very different and very concerning.
And then everything changes.
We have a surprising plot twists, and from that moment on, we are on a wild adventure. Old secrets will start coming up, things people thought were forgotten in the past. I did not know, and couldn't guess who the real villain is until the very end, and that was quite enjoyable for me! Everyone will tell you stories, everyone will say their own point of view. To you, everyone will seem like a villain and a victim at the same time, and this uncertainty will make you keep turning pages until you find out. Until the end.
I am glad I read Sisters by Michelle Frances. Another amazing suspense now added to my list. I highly recommend it to mystery, thriller and suspense fans, especially the ones that enjoy family drama.
Catholic Short Prayers
Utilities and Reference
App
Helping you to pray at all times with these short prayers ready at hand. "Pray without ceasing. In...
A beautiful, thoughtful debut.
Beautifully written, this felt very personal to me - both as written by the author and as the reader. It’s a book about growing up, the relationship between a mother and daughter, fragmented families and trying to fit in.
The chapters jump between the present day as Lucy lives in her deceased grandfather’s (almost derelict) cottage in Donegal, her life in Sunderland as she is growing up, and her time as a student at University in London. Lucy’s life in Sunderland and London seem to be concerned with her striving to fit in to other people’s expectations of her - or what she perceives to be their expectations. Ireland gives her thinking space, where she can learn about herself and put her life in to perspective.
I can’t adequately express how much I loved this. It’s beautifully, poetically written, and it is so emotional. It made me think of my own relationship with my mother, how close we were when I was a child, and how I grew away. The resilience of women is so well described in this book.
I will most definitely look out for more from Jessica Andrews, and I’ll be recommending this book to everyone!
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy of this wonderful book.
The chapters jump between the present day as Lucy lives in her deceased grandfather’s (almost derelict) cottage in Donegal, her life in Sunderland as she is growing up, and her time as a student at University in London. Lucy’s life in Sunderland and London seem to be concerned with her striving to fit in to other people’s expectations of her - or what she perceives to be their expectations. Ireland gives her thinking space, where she can learn about herself and put her life in to perspective.
I can’t adequately express how much I loved this. It’s beautifully, poetically written, and it is so emotional. It made me think of my own relationship with my mother, how close we were when I was a child, and how I grew away. The resilience of women is so well described in this book.
I will most definitely look out for more from Jessica Andrews, and I’ll be recommending this book to everyone!
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy of this wonderful book.
Billie Wichkan (118 KP) rated The Family Lie in Books
May 22, 2019
You whispered goodnight to your daughter. You didnt know that would be your last goodbye.
You wake up in the middle of the night.
Your five-year-old daughter is gone.
Your husband is nowhere to be seen.
Your family think he took her.
The police believe hes guilty.
But he wouldnt do that, would he?
Hes a loving father. A loving husband. Isnt he?
This book is about a mother, Anna, who will do anything to get her five year old daughter back. I really liked how the author portrayed Anna. All this mother wanted was to get her daughter back and would stop at nothing to do this. In the end she had to be brave and face her demons of the past to do this.
I also liked that there were so many twists and turns throughout the whole book. You never knew what surprise was coming next. This book had me guessing up til the end.
I thought I had it figured out but boy was I wrong, and I'm glad I was. Great book!
Recommend Reading!
Thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book.
You wake up in the middle of the night.
Your five-year-old daughter is gone.
Your husband is nowhere to be seen.
Your family think he took her.
The police believe hes guilty.
But he wouldnt do that, would he?
Hes a loving father. A loving husband. Isnt he?
This book is about a mother, Anna, who will do anything to get her five year old daughter back. I really liked how the author portrayed Anna. All this mother wanted was to get her daughter back and would stop at nothing to do this. In the end she had to be brave and face her demons of the past to do this.
I also liked that there were so many twists and turns throughout the whole book. You never knew what surprise was coming next. This book had me guessing up til the end.
I thought I had it figured out but boy was I wrong, and I'm glad I was. Great book!
Recommend Reading!
Thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book.
ClareR (5996 KP) rated The Great Alone in Books
Feb 6, 2018
This was my second Kristin Hannah book, and it is set in very different circumstances to the last one (the last one was The Nightingale, set during World War 2). This is set during the 1970s in Alaska, in the back of beyond.
This is a story of survival: Leni and her mother survive the violence of Leni's Vietnam War vet father (who is suffering from PTSD after being held as a prisoner by the enemy). Cora, Leni's mother, will not leave him, saying that she loves him and needs him, and repeatedly pays the price. Leni loves Alaska and her boyfriend Matthew, but tragic circumstances take her away from both for a number of years. Many years later, under different circumstances, she is able to return.
I think I really like Kristin Hannah books. The way she describes the surroundings in Alaska: the wildness, the beauty, the unpredictability. I've read a couple of books recently set in the cold, snowy arctic circle, and this only made me want to actually see it myself even more!
I know I'm only two books in to my Kristin Hannah experience, but I can't say as there is anything about either of them that I didn't like. I'll be hunting down more!
This is a story of survival: Leni and her mother survive the violence of Leni's Vietnam War vet father (who is suffering from PTSD after being held as a prisoner by the enemy). Cora, Leni's mother, will not leave him, saying that she loves him and needs him, and repeatedly pays the price. Leni loves Alaska and her boyfriend Matthew, but tragic circumstances take her away from both for a number of years. Many years later, under different circumstances, she is able to return.
I think I really like Kristin Hannah books. The way she describes the surroundings in Alaska: the wildness, the beauty, the unpredictability. I've read a couple of books recently set in the cold, snowy arctic circle, and this only made me want to actually see it myself even more!
I know I'm only two books in to my Kristin Hannah experience, but I can't say as there is anything about either of them that I didn't like. I'll be hunting down more!
Lindsay (1779 KP) rated Almost Perfect in Books
Feb 15, 2018 (Updated Apr 9, 2019)
Almost Perfect got to me. I just loved the story behind it. It's about a boy named Benny and an older woman named Bess. Benny is having trouble with emotions, especially when dealing with his mother. Benny wants a dog, but his mother is too busy with her life. We meet several different folks.
Benny meets Bess for the first time when he discovers her dogs. Benny meets Susie and McCreery, Bess's poodle. Benny wants McCreery for himself. Bess sees this fascination with McCreery. Benny runs off. Bess wants to win the Westminster Dog show and no one
There are some amazing twists and turns in this book. At one point, Benny finds out that McCreery is gone. And is determined to find McCreery. There are other characters I liked in this book. David and Dr. Kate meet through Benny. Benny meets a new girl as well.
Benny now has the possibility of choosing a puppy and calls him Breaker. Bess and Benny are now Co-Owners. Can Benny handle a puppy and deal with all the hard work it takes for a show dog? To find out you will need to read "Almost Perfect." There are surprises to this story.
Benny meets Bess for the first time when he discovers her dogs. Benny meets Susie and McCreery, Bess's poodle. Benny wants McCreery for himself. Bess sees this fascination with McCreery. Benny runs off. Bess wants to win the Westminster Dog show and no one
There are some amazing twists and turns in this book. At one point, Benny finds out that McCreery is gone. And is determined to find McCreery. There are other characters I liked in this book. David and Dr. Kate meet through Benny. Benny meets a new girl as well.
Benny now has the possibility of choosing a puppy and calls him Breaker. Bess and Benny are now Co-Owners. Can Benny handle a puppy and deal with all the hard work it takes for a show dog? To find out you will need to read "Almost Perfect." There are surprises to this story.
Lindsay (1779 KP) rated A Sound Among the Trees in Books
Feb 15, 2018
The young bride that moves into her husband's first wife home is first scared that there a ghost in the house. She not understand what it was doing to the people inside the home or what the people inside the house was doing to the family.
A mystery unfolds itself though Marielle. Caroline come home to help explain what was going on and what was happening Carson and her mother. Her mother does not know what going but think the house is stuck. Things start to clear up about Susannah Page in letters when Caroline less her in on what the truth is and what is happening.
I do not want to give away how it ends or any of the secret the books has to offer. Though I will tell you it tell you about the part of the Civil War and the Battle of Fredericksburg. It tell about romance and in love. But I will let you decide If you want to pick it up and want to read. Just because I like to read about Civil War a bit does not mean you would not to so you may decide that you want so I will let you decide for yourself. Now if I were asked I recommend this book for sure.
A mystery unfolds itself though Marielle. Caroline come home to help explain what was going on and what was happening Carson and her mother. Her mother does not know what going but think the house is stuck. Things start to clear up about Susannah Page in letters when Caroline less her in on what the truth is and what is happening.
I do not want to give away how it ends or any of the secret the books has to offer. Though I will tell you it tell you about the part of the Civil War and the Battle of Fredericksburg. It tell about romance and in love. But I will let you decide If you want to pick it up and want to read. Just because I like to read about Civil War a bit does not mean you would not to so you may decide that you want so I will let you decide for yourself. Now if I were asked I recommend this book for sure.