Recent Reads

Since my last post, I've managed to make my way through another 3 fantastic books.

Firstly, 'Twelve Years A Slave' by Soloman Northup.

Most of you would have seen the trailer for this on the TV, and it's also been up for a lot of awards.
I was lucky enough to have seen the film first and then decided to read the book. The book goes into so much in-depth detail. We learn much more about the relationships he had, and in particular what he was thinking and feeling. As always, there's usually parts in the book which aren't scripted for the film, which I did feel were absolutely crucial to the story, but there you go.

Secondly, 'The Husband's Secret' by Liane Moriarty.

I was a bit apprehensive about reading this, not sure why but I did none the less. Maybe I'm easy to please but I thought this book was also great. The book is written extremely cleverly (is that a actual word?) and the characters in each chapter all tie together quite nicely (or un-nicely (Again, is that a word?)). Secrets, lies, love are just a few of the themes throughout this book and I was captivated from start to end. The story actually surprised me and I felt like this was a little thriller.


Thirdly, 'Mad About the Boy' by Helen Fielding.

The authors name is instantly recognisable no? Bridget Jones author yet again feeds us another classic. Unfortunately I haven't read the previous books but being an avid Jonsey fan, it wasn't long before I could hear Renee Zellweger and Hugh Grant talking in replacement of the characters Bridget and Daniel Cleaver. We all know what happens in this book, Mark Darcy unfortunately dies (insert the sound of every woman's heartbreak here).

Fourthly, 'The Dating Detox' by Gemma Burgess.

I hadn't heard of author, Burgess or her work. But, having had a little look online and reading fantastic reviews, I gave it a go. I was telling my CD about the book and he was like "Why are you reading about that subject, don't you have a bloke?" to which I replied "It's fictional" and his  extremely confused face then dropped. It didn't take me long until I was literally laughing out loud with this book. I'm surprised how absolutely fixed I was and could not put it down. I was actually quite disappointed when I eventually finished and the realisation hit me that I'd not have to find a good book to live up the writing and story of this one.

Anyway, go out and go and get these books if you fancy a really good read. They're all fantastic.

And The Mountains Echoed - Khaled Hosseini

On Monday, I started a new book on my commute to and from work. Surprisingly, I was quickly able to sink into the book, reading it from my iphone and ignore the rush, pushing and shoving moody commuters I share my journey with for over 2 hours a day.

And The Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini was read in just under a week. It was my plan to only read it during my commutes, but since starting this book on Monday morning, I soon realised that I couldn't put this book down and thus ended up reading it here and there over my weekend.

I've previously read 'The Kite Runner'- now made into a film and 'A Thousand Splendid Suns' , many years ago which was the follow on and I've always loved the way that Hosseini is able to flick from first person to third person, effortlessly and enough to not confuse the reader. His books are beautiful descriptive and I love his depth, enough to allow me to visualise so easily the setting in which he writes.

And the Mountains Echoed

"So, then. You want a story and I will tell you one: Afghanistan, 1952.

Abdullah and his sister Pari live with their father and stepmother in the small village of Shadbagh. Their father, Saboor, is constantly in search of work and they struggle together through poverty and brutal winters.

To Abdullah, Pari - as beautiful and sweet-natured as the fairy after which she was named - is everything. More like a parent than a brother, Abdullah will do anything for her, even trading his only pair of shoes for a feather for her treasured collection. Each night they sleep together in their cot, their heads touching, their limbs tangled.

One day the siblings journey across the desert to Kabul with their father. Pari and Abdullah have no sense of the fate that awaits them there, for the event which unfolds will tear their lives apart; sometimes a finger must be cut to save the hand.

Crossing generations and continents, moving from Kabul, to Paris, to San Francisco, to the Greek island of Tinos, with profound wisdom, depth, insight and compassion, Khaled Hosseini writes about the bonds that define us and shape our lives, the ways in which we help our loved ones in need, how the choices we make resonate through history and how we are often surprised by the people closest to us."

I don't know a whole lot when it comes to books and authors as I usually read books given to me as gifts, or which I spot every now and again, and buy. Usually, I'm drawn to those that people are reading on their commutes as to stand with a book open, reading, which probably means that it's too good to not read whilst you're sandwiched front to back with fellow commuters.

If you get chance to read this book, or if you pass by it in a bookstore, it's definitely worth a read. Definitely one to add to ruthay's reads.

'Enna Burning' - Shannon Hale

So back in May 2013, I dedicated a whole page to my new project which was 'A book a week'.

I did great!... Up until my second week in. I read 'The Goose Girl' by Shannon Hale which was a lovely book to read. You can see the review here.

I've finally had a little more time to finish the follow on book called 'Enna Burning'. As said in a previous post, I've been busy with my new job and moving to London with Dan that I simply have been short of time.

I personally found the introduction to this really slow and I found myself putting it down a few times because I was getting a little bored. I stuck it out though and about a third of the way into the book, it really began to pick up and I started to get into it. It was quite interesting how this book changes to the character Enna, as though she is telling the story when it the last book, 'The Goose Girl', this was written about her from the narrative of a character called Isi. Isi is still a character in this book so it's nice to see a flip, but still know their history as characters and friends.

By 3/4 of the way in, I literally couldn't put the book down and chapter after chapter flew by. I was captivated in the intensity of what was happening to the characters. Much like 'The Goose Girl', the story quickened towards the end and I found that the book ended too soon and everything I thought would happen, happened. I guess this is a little disappointing. I would have preferred if the author, Shannon would have made the beginning a little quicker so I could go on and enjoy the rest of the book and feel as though it lasted a little longer!

But still, Shannon's writing is so clever and descriptive. I don't want to repeat myself and say what I said in the last review of her book. It will be interesting to read her other books and she is she still uses the same writing style and the same subject of pretty much, mystical fairy tale type stories. If anyone is after an easy read, this is no doubt a great book. If you don't like strange names- stay away! Those who read my last review on 'The Goose Girl' would know what I meant!

Haha, thanks for reading again. I'll update again in a week or so.

Thanks!

R

'The Goose Girl' -Shannon Hale

This week I read 'The Goose Girl' by Shannon Hale.


'The Goose Girl is a fantasy novel by Shannon Hale based on the Brothers Grimm fairy tale of the same title.'


(I had no idea about this!) I think if I had known, I could have possibly written more about her originality and the difference between the two.


'At the age of sixteen Crown Princess Ani is told she must leave everything she knows, to marry someone else she has never met. It will create a powerful alliance. But fate has much worse in store for her. Ani must use every ounce of cunning and determination to defend what is rightfully hers, from those who want to take it from her.'


The first thing that stuck me about this book was its beautiful detail. I read the synopsis on the back of the book and assumed it would be a little fairytale about a Princess who was not understood and oh my, has such a hard time being a Princess, but I was actually surprised. (I did make a note myself that I wouldn't give any of the vital bits in the story away and ruin it for anyone who wants to read it, so don't worry!) The detail that author, Shannon Hale goes into let me feel the bitterness of winter on the back of my neck. I could feel the sun on my hair and the wind on my neck, like it did with the character, Ani.


When I started reading the first chapter or two, I was actually put off by the names and I'm so glad they were shortened. Anidori-Kiladra Talianna Isilee was Ani throughout but I was still left with, Falada, Terne, Conrad, Ungalod, Geric and not to mention the name of her own Kingdom-  Kildentree. Whilst all of that is nice, I couldn't help but skip and glaze over their names. I recognised them as I read them without actually reading them (if you know what I mean). I guess it's better than using normal boring names since this is a fictional story so I guess anything goes.


About half-way through I was wondering when some action was going to happen, as I read on and read on I was thinking that the pages towards the end of the book where getting shorter and shorter and I was wondering if the story would end how I wanted it to because there seemed little pages left for all the things that had yet to happen in the story. Luckily for me, the things I wanted to happen, did happen but all a bit too quickly for my liking. I expected it to be a bit more dragged out but before I knew it, the story was moving on and I felt a little disappointed that the story had moved on so fast.


Ani seems like she's so out of place with the royal family she shares her life with. Eventually, she finds where she belongs and although this book is fiction, there's a little under lying meaning of truth that perhaps anyone who is lost, will find themselves. It's a story of love, it's a story of loss.


I think anyone looking for an easy read would enjoy this book. The way it's written is beautiful and I literally couldn't put it down. I'm a fast reader so for me, the book ended all too quickly but I'd definitely read it again.