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The Wren, The Wren
The Wren, The Wren
Anne Enright | 2023 | Contemporary, Fiction & Poetry
9
9.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
This is a beautiful story of 3 generations of women, all affected by the same man: poet Phil McDaragh. They have very different relationships with him. Carmel is his daughter and when he leaves the family, it’s up to Carmel and her sister to care for their mother with terminal cancer. Carmel loves her father, but is conflicted with their abandonment And how what he writes in his poems is at odds with the way he treated them.

Carmel’s daughter Nell, a Trinity College graduate, discovers just how difficult life is without her mothers help when she strikes out on her own. She meets a man who is abusive towards her.

This is a story that highlights multi-generational family trauma, and probably why both Carmel and Nell have such poor relationships with men. Running alongside this, is the love these women have for one another.

I get that not everyone will like this novel, but I’ve read two of Enright’s novels now and really enjoyed both of them. I read this as a part of the Women’s Prize shortlist, and whilst I realise they can’t all win, The Wren, The Wren really did deserve to be on that list.
Recommended.
  
I read this while waiting for an appointment for my daughter and I must tell you that the people around my probably thought I had lost my mind as I found myself laughing out loud a couple of times. I loved how smoothly this retelling went, and the author truly took his time in making this a descriptive read which pulls you into the world of The Frog Prince. Readers of all ages will certainly enjoy this story.

{I requested a copy for reviewing purposes and made no guarantee of a favorable review. The opinions expressed here are unbiased and completely my own.}
  
DB
Deep Blue (Waterfire Saga, #1)
Jennifer Donnelly | 2014 | Fiction & Poetry
10
7.6 (5 Ratings)
Book Rating
I simply loved this book and I found it hard to put it down. I've never really been a mermaid fan but these past few months as I've been discovering new authors I have certainly fallen in love with mer books. This book has just the right amount of drama, action and turmoil and I love that it is cleanly written so that my preteen daughter can read it as well.

I ordered the second book yesterday and I can't wait for it to come in. I loved the story line, the beautiful world building and the characters. It's a must read.
  
The Greatest Showman (2017)
The Greatest Showman (2017)
2017 | Drama, Musical
Acting ,performances (0 more)
Huge jackman playing a younger man (0 more)
A great ball of cheese
I love musicals as much as the next man,this isn't a great musical but it is a good film,stellar performances by all the main cast good toe tapping songs if maybe a little disneyesque in parts ,it maybe let down in small parts by Hugh jackman trying to play a younger P.T. Barnam as a much younger man than jackman's age it felt weird jackman asking his girlfriend's father "can I marry your daughter" but all-in-all it's a good film
  
Deep Down Dead
Deep Down Dead
Steph Broadribb | 2017 | Thriller
7
7.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Fast-paced page turner, but a bit predictable
From the opening scene, this book hits the road running. Lori, a straight-talking bounty hunter, formerly a stripper, is focused solely on her daughter and keeping her safe. Her job is to bring in her former bounty hunter mentor JT, who slowly reveals the truth behind his arrest and the reason for him becoming a fugitive. It definitely depicts the darker side of the Sunshine State.

It's exciting to read but not a literary masterpiece as such and definitely predictable. The plot is light on surprises and depth, but it's an enjoyable page-turner.
  
Mary's Prayer
Mary's Prayer
Faye P. Baker, Cindy Hardin Killavey | 2016 | Fiction & Poetry
6
6.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Mary Prayer is a sweet story about one daughter. It a story about trusting god and overcoming fear. They all learn to need to follow god’s path and he has his only plan for everyone.
 
Eli Glick, starts to find a kitten in the back of the bakery. Mary need to learn to let change happen but to do that you need to let go of your past and see what god plan is. Mary and Eli are weaved together by god and to learn to relax and enjoy life as it.

Will Mary overcome her past and embrace God plan?
  
F1
First 100 Words
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
At this point, my daughter is still too young to actually read. I've been using this book more to get her in the habit of handling books than I have as an actual learning tool.

The pages are sturdier than the other board books she's gotten, so she can actually flip from one page to another on her own, and the pages don't dissolve when she chews on them. Bonus points for that!

I can see that this book would work nicely as a baby dictionary, to teach children to associate words with pictures of everyday things - from colors, to clothes, to animals.
  
Caught in a Cycle
Caught in a Cycle
Amy B. Crowe | 2017 | Children
8
7.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
This children's book has its issues deciding what message it is really trying to give. The main theme is bullying is wrong, but it also gets mixed up with telling lies just makes things worse and while set in a zoo doing less that likely jobs make the whole thing difficult for it to give its message clearly and uncluttered by the extras.
A shame really, my daughter enjoyed it but didn't pick up the full message without some reinforcements.
Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher. and the author for allowing me to read and review a digital copy of this book.
  
This is the book that concerned parent, grandparent or even healthcare professions should have available to them.
This book raises the topic of when children blame themselves for the problems of the parent. This story sees a little panda upset and thinking he is a bad boy to make his mummy so sad, but grandma carefully explains and supports him to understand that sometimes mummies need time to heal and simply be.
A book that both me and my 4-year-old daughter have enjoyed and has raised the difficult conversation with her over why mummy is sometimes sad. Thank you.