The Forgetting Time - Sharon Guskin

Janie is a single mum struggling with her four year old son Noah.  Noah won't wash, is anti social and keeps asking for to go home, and to see his real mom.  Janie doesn't know how to help him and after reaching out for assistance, she wonders if she will ever be able to help Noah settle.

I really enjoyed heading off to bed at night and picking up this book as I wanted to see where it went and how Noah would get his answers.  A unique and interesting read. 5/5

The Light Between Us - Laura Lynne Jackson

I have a bit of a thing about reading books about Mediums.  I must admit to being a bit of a skeptic, but I am interested in reading what they have to tell us, and I certainly hope my folks are there to greet me when it is my time (and they can bring all the old pussy cats with them).

Similar to most of the other books I have read, Laura Lynne Jackson discovers her abilities at a young age, but it is not till she is an adult does she understand that she has the ability to hear and sense spirits that have passed on.  She uses these messages to help people heal and to let them know that their loved ones are always with them. 4/5

When Breath Becomes Air - Paul Kalanithi

Paul Kalanithi is finally reaching the end of ten years study to become a Neurosurgeon, when he realizes that the symptoms he has been experiencing all indicate some type of cancer.  Diagnosed with lung cancer, he then has to consider  what his options are, does he stay working?  Should he and his wife have a baby, especially as the prognosis is not good.  It does make you catch your breathe - to think how you would feel if it was you.

So at only 36 years, he faces dying and leaving his young family behind, his beautiful young daughter and loving wife.  It was hard not to cry.

I did have tears at the end of this book - maybe not the best book to have chosen to read as my own father was dealing with end stage cancer, but it was strangely beautiful and for me gave me reassurance that we were not alone in dealing with this.  5/5

A Hundred Pieces of Me - Lucy Dillon

Gina Bellamy has had  a difficult couple of years, with a health scare and a failed marriage, she moves to a small place downsizing to the essentials she needs, both in her home and in her life.  New friendships and relationships force her to look at what will make her happy.  A bit of chit lit that we can all understand, the need for cleaning out and moving on.  A bit darker than the usual light ladies story, this one made me smile and I must to admit to enjoying this read while relaxing on holiday.  4/5

Crazy Rich Asians - Kevin Kwan

So I moved house and there was first no time for reading and then no time for blogging.  This one was a great one to start off the New Year with though, it's tale of three rich Chinese Singaporean families made me smile and want to tell everyone I worked with about it.  Super rich stories have to be careful not to verge on the obnoxious by having some likeable characters and plenty of shopping and alcohol made this one a good mix.

Garnethill - Denise Mina

Garnethill - Denise Mina (1998)


Maureen is in a bit of trouble.  After a night on the drink, she comes home  and goes to sleep in the morning, she finds her boyfriend dead with his throat slit.  With a history of mental illness, a drug dealer boyfriend and a couple of dodgy mates, Maureen wonders who could have committed the crime.

I have only recently discovered Denise Mina, and enjoy her gritty Scottish thrillers.  Tight writing with good believable characters make her books easy and enjoyable to read.  3/5

Mariana - Susanna Kearsley

Mariana - Susanna Kearsley (1994)

The Shadowy Horses is one of my favourite books, so as soon as I got the Kindle, I loaded up on Susanna Kearsleys books while they were cheap.  Anyways you know the gist, girl buys cottage that she has admired since she was tiny.  Finds out about local ghosts, keeps seeing handsome man on horse.  Meets wealthy big house owner, owner of the pub, local handyman, psychic aunty.  Keeps going back  and forth in time.

I did enjoy this book, although some of the scenes didn't quite make sense to me, and the book does begin to feel a bit dated.  Especially considering a  thirty year old can buy a several bedroomed cottage by herself.  3/5.

When in Rome - Nicky Pellegrino

When in Rome - Nicky Pellegrino (2012)

Aww isn't it nice when you pick up a nice light novel that you want to devour and hear more of the story?  I felt at home with this book as soon as I started.  Serafina is the oldest of three girls living in a small apartment with their mother, who is a lady of the night in 1950s Rome.

When the girls hear that the great singer Mario Lanza is coming to make a film in Rome, the girls arrive intending to show off the middles sisters singing ability, but an opportunity allows Serafinas life to change.

A great read for a wild and windy weekend.  Great to curl up in bed with 4/5.

The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry - Rachel Joyce

The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry - Rachel Joyce (2012)

Sometimes books hit you in that sweet spot, the one that makes you secretly smile with enjoyment as you read.  With this one, I found myself cheering the lead character on, urging him to finish his journey.

Harold Fry is retired and in his sixties, when one day, he just decides to leave home, and keep walking.  Walking the length of the UK, he decides to north to see an ex colleague who is sick in the hospice.

So many good books lately, and it makes me happy that this was the last book read during the winter.  Roll on spring!

5/5

The Second Empress

The Second Empress - Michelle Moran (2012)

So, with a few days off and cold winter weather,  I managed to get a few books read.   I love Michelle Moran, she is a great historical author, whose writing flows and can take me away straight away to another place and time.

In this movie we get to hear about Austrian Princess Marie-Louise, who at age nineteen is chosen to become the second wife to Emperor Napoleon, who wants to have children.  Taken to Paris, she is now immersed in a new world with an emperor who becomes obsessed with spreading his Empire, causing unrest in France as hundreds of thousands of soldiers are killed.

I did enjoy the book, and was more taken with the Emperesses story,  but was a little distracted by the multiple narrators and by Napoleons letters to his first wife, that were printed throughout the book.

3/5

Empress of the Seven Hills - Kate Quinn

Empress of the Seven Hills - Kate Quinn (2012)

I am sooo glad that I discovered Kate Quinn, her three books of Rome can transport me in an instant to a land of togas and soldiers.  For me, I was a bit distracted as this was my work Kindle read, and I only could read it during my half hour lunch breaks, so it was several weeks of broken reading.

Vix was my favourite of the narrators, and I would have been happy to just have his story told, and I was a little bit distracted by all the voices.  I love me a big strong centurion.

3/5

After Cleo Came Jonah - Helen Brown

After Cleo Came Jonah - Helen Brown (2012)

Helens earlier book was  about how  a little cat called Cleo came into her life, and helped her and her son Rob after the tragic death of her son Sam.  Lots of changes occur in their life, new siblings, new relationships, moving houses and Cleo is their to help them through.

Years later, the family are settled into Melbourne, and Helen and her husband are preparing to empty the nest, when the author is diagnosed with breast cancer, not long after the death of her mother.  With the help of her family, she begins the long recovery after mastectomy surgery,  and is enticed to a local pet shop with her sister after spotting a very cute kitten. 

The little cutie comes home and is named Jonah, and boy is he a character.  I enjoyed this book, its tales of not only a naughty kitten, but of the whole family and I felt drawn into the Brown family adventures.  Reading the book, felt like having a good friend over for a drink, and chatting over the kitchen table.  4/5

The Key - Simon Toyne

The Key - Simon Toyne (2012)

I really liked the first book in this series Sanctus about  a secluded monastery in Turkey that holds a big secret.  Sanctus was a real page turner right til the last page.  The Key though suffered like many second books of having to hold the story, til the dramatic conclusion in the final third part. 

It didn't help that I was only reading this one on my Kindle at work, and had a busy couple of weeks.  The amount of characters too was a bit distracting, and by the end I was wondering if I should have waited and read all three books together.

I'm also not a huge fan of the run around Dan Brown type of intelectual thriller full of car chases and guns, whereas I would rather have more substance and story.  There did seem to be a lot of shadowy figures with guns, so I am now hanging out to see who will actually hold the story together in book three.  3/5

Nocturne - Syrie James

Nocturne - Syrie James (2009)

This was one of the first books I picked up for my Kindle.  It was a short little read that didn't hold too many surprises.  Nicole is travelling across an isolated country road in heavy snow, when her car gets trapped in a snow drift.

Rescued by an intriguing handsome man, she has to spend a few days in his large home, waiting for the roads to be cleared.  Why does he live alone?  Why no food in his house?  What does he do for a living?  It was easy to guess early on, but I enjoyed this simple love story.

3/5

The Hunger Games - Suzanne Collins

The Hunger Games - Suzanne Collins (2008)

I wanted to read the book before I saw the movie, as this was the staple of lunchtime discussions amoungst the twenty year olds at work. So over the weekend, I enjoyed being able to ring my Kindle in the breaks and rushed to finish the book today at lunchtime.

You all know the tale:  two kids from each district are selected every year to compete in a televised contest til one is left alive and is the victor.  The whole story has echo of Roman Gladiators, reality tv and Survivor.  It was nice to have a kick ass female lead, who is strong, athletic, shy and smart -  a good role model for teenage girls.

Anyway,  this middle aged lady enjoyed this teen story and thought it worth of a 4/5.

Thunder Dog - Michael Hingson

Thunder Dog - Michael Hingson (2011)

There are two parts to this memoir.  The escape of Michael Hingson, with his guide dog Roselle from the 78th floor of the world trade centre on 9/11 and Michaels life story.  I found both interesting and learnt a lot about the blind experience.  I didn't really think about blind kids riding around on bikes, and learning to drive like Michael did, although I guess roads were a bit quieter in the years he grew up in, I'd imagine it wouldn't be safe in some neighbourhoods.

A lot of the book was about facing up and overcoming challenges that we all face.  The right to be educated and to be given fair treatment as an employee, most of which sighted people take for granted. 

It was nice that this book was written ten years after 9/11 as a witness to the event which changed the way we see the world.

3/5

Lone Wolf - Jodi Picoult

Lone Wolf - Jodi Picoult (2012)

I was looking at a few reviews of Jodi Picoults books on Goodreads, and was surprised at the backlash of lots of people who haven't enjoyed her books.  I understand they're not for everybody, but I was suprised at the amount of venom injected in some reviews.

I must admit to loving The Pact and The Plain Truth, but then she kind of fell out of flavour with me.  I do like the family part of the story, but the lawyer/court part sort of drags on and I could do without it, as the stronger part of the story is always about the main characters reacting with each other.

In Lone Wolf,  a father and daughter are involved in a road traffic accidents that results in the father Luke Warren with a head injury and in an extended coma.  Cara Warren, is 17 and looked after her father for six years, but has been injured herself in the accident, resulting in surgery and pain relief.  Hearing of the accident,  her estranged brother, Edward returns from where he is teaching in Thailand to help look after the family.    After doctors describe the poor prognosis for their father,  they find it difficult to agree on how they precede with their care.

In the back of the story, we hear about the lives of wolves as Luke Warren has spent the past few decades living in the wild with a wolf family and looking after a pack in captive care.  He learns their ways and becomes accepted by the wolves, but is away from his own family much of the time, and is not sure anymore where he fits.  I liked this storyline, and did wonder why the family did not refer to it more often.  If your father was a man who lived outside, loved the wild - he would hate to be trapped in a hospital bed - he would want to be free.

I liked the story, but I like hospital tales and feel like this is a discussion more families should have.  Should talk about what they would want to happen to them, what they would want their family to do in similar circumstances.  4/5

MWF Seeking BFF - Rachel Bertsche

MWF Seeking BFF - Rachel Bertsche (2011)

At first I thought this book was a bit American look at me story, but once I got through the beginning chapters I began to enjoy the journey.  Rachel is newly married and moves with her husband from New York to Chicago.  Once there, she finds herself without a best friend, someone she can just ring and ask out at short notice.  So she gives herself a year and goes on a friend hunt.

Trying to use any opportunity to make friends, she decides to search many avenues to finding new girlfriends, which comes across much like dating and finding a man.  I thought it was a bit silly, but speaking to some girls at work in similar circumstances, I think many people find it hard as they get older to make new friends.  We all have lots of acquaintances, but it is so much harder to find a friend that you want to share secrets with, or can rely on in a crisis.

So for that I think it is worth a 4/5.

11.22.63 - Stephen King

11.22.63 - Stephen King (2012)

It has probably been a good decade and a half since I picked up a Stephen King novel.  I'm not a big fan of the brick book either, as I hate wading through long drawn out stories with page after page describing the landscapes or boring conversations.  But, I left my prejudices at the door and decided to embark on this new book after reading a few reviews.

Jake is an ordinary high school teacher who gets the opportunity to travel back in time to 1958.  Based with knowledge given to him by a friend who discovered the portal to the past, and research from the current time, he becomes focused on stopping Lee Harvey Oswald killing President Kennedy.

On the way he meets a wide variety of characters, and in this brick of a story, sometimes there is too much time spent on some of them.  I found some areas of the book drawn out and too many pages spent describing  people and places, and then other areas rushed over.  Sooo many pages to read to get to the end, and then the last chapters that deliver the real punch of the story are short and quick.

Still I did rush to pick up my Kindle and keep reading and I did feel sucked into the story.  For that it is worth a 4/5.

The House at Seas End - Elly Griffiths

The House at Seas End - Elly Griffiths (2011)

I read this one out of order, as I had to order it on the Kindle, as there was a long waiting list at the library.  I was in a hurry, had to read it now, now, now. 

Six bodies are found buried under a cliff, and Harry and Ruth are determined to find out if they are murdered German soldiers, and their association with the deaths of many pensioners in the village.

I was enjoying the story, but then Ruth found herself alone with one of the villans - my pet hate in any such novel.  Please, please, please don't let the main character be kidnapped/tortured/beaten up by the baddies - it seems to me so Famous Five and feels a lazy way to tie up the lose ends of a thriller.  Grrrrr!!

Still worth a 3/5 - and am now waiting for the next Dr Ruth book.