Review: One Moment One Morning by Sarah Rayner

The Brighton to London line. The 07:44 train. Carriages packed with commuters. A woman applies her make-up. Another occupies her time observing the people around her. A husband and wife share an affectionate gesture. Further along, a woman flicks through a glossy magazine. Then, abruptly, everything changes: a man has a heart attack, and can't be resuscitated; the train is stopped, an ambulance called. For at least three passengers on the 07:44 on that particular morning, life will never be the same again. Lou witnesses the man's final moments. Anna and Lou share a cab when they realise the train is going nowhere fast. Anna is Karen's best friend. And Karen? Karen's husband is the man who dies. Telling the story of the week following that fateful train journey, One Moment, One Morning is a stunning novel about love and loss, about family and - above all - friendship. A stark reminder that, sometimes, one moment is all it takes, it also reminds us that somehow, and despite everything, life can and does go on.

Review: I got this book on audiobook after being sent a review copy of this authors latest book and wanted a bit of background from this author before I began her latest offering. Wow how have I never read anything by this author before? I loved this book and felt compelled to sit in my car after arriving home just so I could listen to the end of a chapter or disc of this book. I fell in love with the fast paced storyline, the characters with hidden depths and the lovely writing in this truly different novel. 

Although this book begins with a dealt hand deals with grief, hidden secrets and a certain amount of questionable life choices, it really is a heart warming story! As I have already mentioned, this book is extremely fast paced, meaning that you will find yourself compelled to keep tuning it's pages to find out what is going to happen next to each of these characters. It begins with a train journey and then a death and then spirals out from there. The three woman in particular who surround the death in the beginning of the book all have their own issues and problems in their own lives and yet are brought together in this situation and form a strong friendship, tested to its limits by each of their own life situations. 

I really genuinely loved all three of the women in this novel, something which I don't often say. They may have made some mistakes I their lives but the strength they exhibit in this book is truly admirable. I really liked lou, it has to be said. She is level headed and strong, she knows what to do in emergency situations and she selflessly helps Anna and Karen cope with their grief. Ann really comes into her own after the death of Kren's husband. She has a lot going on in her own life, her storyline in particular was extremely well written and made me feel very uncomfortable at times, but these desperate times cause her to question the choices she has made, and make some changes in her own life, all for the better, and all of which I championed. Karen is a pillar of strength for all. Coping with her children and her life when her husband has suddenly died is a massive thing and yet she does so with decency and decorum and still has the time for her friendship with Anna. 

The storyline is extremely well written and I loved the Brighton setting, I could cuter myself there! I loved the ending as well, it was everything I wanted and more. As I've mentioned, some of the parts of the book were hard to deal with and I shed a few tears, but overall this was uplifting and left me feeling satisfied after a very good read. I can't wait to read the next one now! 

Review: The Arcade Year 2 Episode 5 Revelations by Kitty Charles

May sees the return of Vlad to the arcade,much to the distress of the tenants. But he seems different to before. Together with Jason, Joan hatches a plan to ensure Vlad isn't a threat to her arcade ever again. But will everyone agree to play along?

Marilyn can't shake her suspicion that Jason was somehow involved in last month's accident. Should she confront him and risk their shaky relationship further or let sleeping ex-soldiers lie? And is she prepared to hear the truth?

Review: wow, the funniest episode of the arcade yet! Just so ridiculous and silly and yet totally fitting for The Arcade at the same time. This months episode surrounds some very interesting relationships indeed. There are those you'd expect and those that you totally wouldn't expect. We learn a lot more about some of the characters love lives and some of the feelings they harbour. 

There are some really unexpected twists in this novel and we get to know Vlad an awful lot more. We also have some burning questions about Joan answered and hear much more from wedding dress designer Leandro. It's great to be able to get to know these characters even more and I think that this is what having another year of the arcade has enabled readers to be able to do. 

I would love to know which kitty wrote this installment, I have had a guess as there are some elements that are indicative of this particular writers other tales. There are some real aww moments in this serving of arcade delight as I think overall Marilyn is coming into her own in year two, something which I am really pleased to see. Put is very hard to say much more about what happens in this months installment without giving you major spoilers so basically you should just read this now and be prepared as always to gasp, but also to laugh an awful lot! 

The #1 Amazon bestselling serial! Like your favourite soap, The Arcade brings you characters you love to hate – and to love. Each bite-sized episode is perfect for your journey to work, your lunch-break – or a quiet night of escapism. And it’ll leave you wanting more – with a teaser of next month’s storyline! 

Or if you want all twelve of the previous Arcade episodes in one book, why not try 'Where Dreams Come True: A Year in the Arcade' - only on Amazon! 

So what are you waiting for? Time to give into your dreams and sample the delights of Angell’s Arcade. Go on, take a look inside! 

Review: Wonder by RJ Palacio

I won't describe what I look like. Whatever you're thinking, it's probably worse.

August (Auggie) Pullman was born with a facial deformity that prevented him from going to a mainstream school—until now. He's about to start 5th grade at Beecher Prep, and if you've ever been the new kid then you know how hard that can be. The thing is Auggie's just an ordinary kid, with an extraordinary face. But can he convince his new classmates that he's just like them, despite appearances?

R. J. Palacio has written a spare, warm, uplifting story that will have readers laughing one minute and wiping away tears the next. With wonderfully realistic family interactions (flawed, but loving), lively school scenes, and short chapters, Wonder is accessible to readers of all levels.

Review: wow, I literally could not stop reading this book, unputdownable is a complete understatement. I actually started reading this with a group of children at school and then I made sure we all had a copy so we could all finish it over the holidays. The short chapters, the mystery behind what August really looks like, the situation with him  and his school had us all completely mesmerised and desperate to carry on reading it. 

Firstly, I loved the character development in this book. It's not just August who grows and learns over the course of the novel. This book is written from several points of view and all the other characters grow and change and I love that about the story. The point of view who we don't hear from is the one belonging to any adult. There are no teacher chapters or parent chapters, this is told entirely from the children's perspective, which I think is brave but brilliant! I particularly enjoyed seeing august's sister Via change over the course of the novel, the kids I was reading with agreed that intiallly she seems passive aggressive but that we do feel sorry for her having to deal with all she deals with, she really blossoms in this novel and the way she deals with her own problems in truly admirable! 

I loved the idea that whatever August has is an entirely new thing, it means that no one has the exact condition he has and so there's no risk of offending people with one of the conditions he has because he is completely unique, and indeed the novel teaches that it is completely ok to be unique, this is strong message throughout the whole book. I loved August sense of humour as well, we know that he sees himself as normal and why should no one else, but we see that he copes with the way he looks and the way he is different from everyone else with humour and courage and yet he can completely empathise with others, despite his being so completely unique! 

There are some very funny bits in this novel, it's not all moral lessons, there is a storyline and humour, action which will leave you breathless, and real life. Anyone starting a new school or a new situation will be able to identify with August and his fears, Via too! This also teaches a powerful lesson about friendship and bullying which is why I decided to read it at school, it is beautifully written too which also comes in handy at school but which adds to the fact that this book is completely addictive. Having just finished this book. I know that this is something I will want to reread again and again! 

As you can see from the beautiful picture in this post, I have the special edition copy of the novel which has some bonus material in the back. This includes some interesting discussion questions, information about the author and some fan reactions to the book and to August. It was well worth the extra money for this edition, and let's face it, the cover is lovely too! 

Review: Last Bus To Coffeevile by J Paul Henderson

once more a purpose in life – to end hers.

When the moment for Gene to take Nancy to her desired death in Coffeeville arrives she is unexpectedly admitted to the secure unit of a nursing home and he is constrained to call upon the help of his two remaining friends: Bob Crenshaw, a man who has been officially dead for forty years, and Jack Guravitch, a disgraced weatherman in the throes of a midlife crisis.

They ‘kidnap’ Nancy and drive to Mississippi in a stolen tour bus once owned by Paul McCartney. Along the way they are joined by a young orphan boy called Eric who is searching for his only surviving family member – an exotic dancer named Susan.

Last Bus to Coffeeville is a funny story about sad things, a chronicle of lives that have jumped the tracks, and a tale of endings and new beginnings.

Review: what a unique and different novel. Totally satisfying and how great is that gorgeous cover, it just pops on my shelf! I began reading this novel and I have to admit, I felt it was a bit slow to begin with, once I really got into it though it was truly entertaining and I could see it unfolding clearly in front of me as if I was watching a quirky indie film! 

The description in this novel means that you are never unsure where you are or what is happening. The scenes where the characters enter a new town are always rich with vivid explainations of exactly what is where, what it sounds like, smells like, feels like and you feel as if you are there with the characters. I think I need to use some of this scene setting as an example when I teach descriptive writing! I have to say that the scenes themselves, the quirky places these characters lived and stayed throughout of the novel were possibly my favourite thing about this book! 

Actually scratch that, my favourite thing about this book was the ending. Don't get me wrong, this is not a Browadway, all singing all dancing ending, but a truly real ending which is completely befitting of the book itself, I she'd quite a few tears towards the end of the story, but I felt completely warmed and uplifted by the time I got there and just really satisfied by the way things unfurled! 

The characters in this book are just that, real characters. This writer was so clever to bring together a group of people in this way. A young boy, a young man and three older people. I don't normally like reading about people very much older than myself, but these characters had such a history, together an separately that I really enjoyed their company for the duration of the novel and didn't mind that they were older. I just really want to see this book as a film because I think it's something that everyone would enjoy and definitely something that stays with you, despite the slow start, this is definitely, something that gains momentum as it rolls towards the finish line, and definitely well worth the read! 

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Books That Should Be in Your Beach Bag 3/6/14

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish. This feature was created because they are particularly fond of lists over there at The Broke and the Bookish. I'd love to share my lists with other bookish folks and would LOVE to see your top ten lists!

There are so many great books being released this summer that it's so hard to choose just 10 that you should take in your beach bag. I've tried to include a mixture of genre and a reasons for having them in that beach bag. So here goes...

1. last bus to Coffeeville by J Paul Henderson. This book will have you laughing out loud, it's not something that will take you just one poolside session to read and it has the most satisfying ending I've read in a long time! 

2. The Unfinished Symphony of You and Me-it's Lucy Robinson-how could you not?

3. Written in the Stars, the latest novel by Ali Harris. Such a lovely writer, this is sure to be something you won't be able to leave behind! 

4. The Little Beach Street Bakery by Jenny Colgan. This is a just for if you're having a beach holiday in this country, it reminds you just how beautiful the British coastline can be! 

5. The Accident by C. L. Taylor. This is one you won't be able to out down so perfect for a long lay in the sun, or even that long filth there-just amazing! 

6. Thirteen Weddinfs by Paige Toon. Sure to be a Summer blockbuster! 

7. The French for Always by Fiona Valpy. This novel has so much sunshine to sort you out even if it's not shining where you are! 

8. Sunlounger 2 by various authors. If you're looking for stories you can dip in and out of them this is perfect and all stories set in far off lands, so if you beach bag is only going as far as your back garden you'll be sorted! 

9. Two Weddings and a Baby. The queen of Christmas novels does a summer one? This is just a must-read! 

10. The Time of Our Lives by Jane Costello. This is the story of a nit are holiday that should've been the perfect girly trip. If you think your holiday mishaps are bad, wait til you read this summer sensation!

So there you have it, these beauties must go onto your E reader or into your beach bag right now, I insist upon it! 

Happy reading! 

Re-reading Forever by Judy Blume...

So my rereading for May month didn't go terrible well but I did sit down and reread one of my favourite books of all time from cover to cover, all in one go. This begged me to ask the question, is rereading something you loved such a good idea? I have to admit I didn't love this quite as much the second time around, but then my reading needs to be put into context...

This first time I read forever, it was the summer between primary school and secondary school. I was working my way through everything Judy Blume had ever written, having fallen in love with one of her audiobooks that I'd got from the library. I loved reading books about American teenagers seemingly living a better life than me over the pond and so I was loving the idea of reading about kids like me growing up. Now I have to admit when I got to this one, I didn't actually read it twice, so shocked was I at the ideas of having this much openness in a novel.

This book was my first experience of sex in a novel, not just the mention of it, but the character actually doing it. This was my first intiroduction to teenage love opened out and explored fully. This was the first time I had ever come a cross the idea of someone naming their genitals! I remember the revelation I felt at the time and how much I enjoyed an author being so honest with me as a reader. 

This books also allowed me to access a range of other novels, mostly written by Judy Blume that summer, but made me fall in love with reading again, having been forced to read some truly terrible books as reading books during my last year at primary school (these terrible books are still around now!) and so that is why it was such a special book for me. 

Rereading it wasn't quite the same experience. I am now 18 years older than I was then. I've experience falling in an out of love and I've seen how the kids live in Ameritech, it definitely has it's pros and cons. I've since read many many adult novels which deal with love and sex in a whole different way. I don't think reading the book again has spoiled it for me because the context I originally read it it was perfect at the time for being filled with the wonder that I was filled with, but now it all seems a bit silly, the fuss that I made over it. 

I actually don't like Kathryn as much as a character, or Michael for that matter, but I can see how important they were and how important it was that their story was told! I still hold this book incredibly close to my heart, but I'm not sure that rereading it was the best idea when it was such a favourite book of mine from childhood. 

What do you think? Is rereading an old fabourite always a good thing? Or do you think some of the magic needs to be preserved?

May I reread that wrap up...

Ok so another themed month, another failure on my part. I thought given that I was taking part in a readthon this month, I would have a problem with my rereading list. The trouble I had was that so many other awesome new books came my way that I simply couldn't resist. It's also been a really busy month for me in terms of social events and school life, that's my excuses and I'm sticking to them!

So I only reread one book this month and that was forever by Judy Blume, not even a long book, but I'm posting about my rereading experience next month so keep an eye out for that one. 

I am still intending on rereading The Fault in Our Stars (my gorgeous collectors edition!) before the film comes out, so I'll need to do that in the next week or so. 

Here's a list of the books I did read. I don't think I did too badly considering the fact that I was super busy... 

In addition to this I read two episodes of the fabulous Arcade by Kitty Charles and I am part way through about three other books, over halfway through two of them so I'm pretty proud of what I've read! 

I'll keep you updated as to when I've reread TFIOS as I know I've already reviewed the novel on this blog already, perhaps a movie review is in order because we are all super excited about that right?

What did you read in May?