Sweet Sorrow - I didn't want it to end

Sweet Sorrow, by David Nicholls is a book that seems to have split those willing to leave a review on Amazon. I am happy to report that I am on the side of those who LOVED it! Charlie is nearly 40 and on the verge of marriage, but finds himself thinking about his first love, back in the heady days of when he was 16 years old and failing at school following the break up of his parent's marriage. While living with his depressive, alcohol swigging father, Charlie escapes the house by heading out on his bicycle to a quiet spot and taking refuge in books. One day, while reading alone in a field, he comes across Fran, a self-assured, confident girl who, Charlie is sure, must be the most beautiful person he's ever seen. To try and get her phone number, he joins a drama group who are just starting rehearsals for Romeo and Juliet. His intention is to get her number and then duck out, but instead, he finds himself being drawn into this band of misfits and thespians and falls in love with both Fran and Shakespeare at the same time. This is a beautifully told, funny account of the awkwardness and wonder of first love and how it can stay with you for the rest of your life. It is not overly sweet, but does play with your emotions as you root for Charlie, who needs to find something positive in his otherwise tough life. It's also an exploration of friendship - and finding those life long friends who "get you" and with who you can just be yourself, something every one of us needs.I read the audio edition, which is narrated by Rory Kinnear who was totally brilliant at bring all the characters into fully fleshed out people. At the end of the book, I definitely felt that parting was such Sweet Sorrow indeed. Excellent!

My STAR rating: FIVE.

Length: 416 print pages.

Price I paid: £2.98.

Formats available: print. unabridged audio, ebook.

The Odyssey - certainly was an epic!

Having read a couple of books recently that are reinterpretations of some of the Greek legends (Circe, The Song of Achilles by Madeleine Miller), I thought it was about time that I delved into one of the original inspirations for those works. And so, I found myself reading The Odyssey, by Homer, translated by Emily Wilson, which is probably the first great adventure story in the Western literary tradition. In this modern translation, the first by a woman, we find a very accessible and gripping tale of Odysseus as he tries to find his way home after the Trojan Wars - a feat that takes 10 years - but, for me, more importantly, what's happening with Penelope, his wife who is trying to fend off a cohort of suitors who want to take over the throne of Odysseus. She is convinced Odysseus will return, and so finds ways to put them off, but time is running out for her and her son, Telemachus, whose life is threatened by those seeking power. Meanwhile, Odysseus is island hopping, trying to overcome all the obstacles his arch enemy, the god Poseidon, keeps putting in his way. He is, in effect, a plaything of the gods and they all seem to take much delight in making him suffer, though, to be honest, he does bring some of their spite on himself. He blinds the giant Polyphemus for example, and his crew eat Helios' cattle despite strict instructions not to touch them. He is imprisoned, kept as a love slave, almost drowned (several times) and his entire crew are slaughtered. However, Athena finally takes pity on him and persuades all the gods, except Poseidon, that he has suffered enough and should be permitted to get back home. To this end, she assists him in her own inimitable fashion. But what will he find when he returns ...? I found this story entertaining, though at some points, it felt a little repetitive. There is a long introduction, which, I suppose you could skip, but for me, it's definitely worth reading to get the background, context and place in history for this epic poem. I read the audio edition, narrated by the wonderful Clare Danes who brought what could have become a stodgy tale very much into vibrant life. I can definitely recommend this version, as it is easy to read and understand (which, I believe, is not always the case!) Now, where can I find a book centred on Penelope?

My STAR rating: FOUR.

Length: 592 print pages.

Price I paid: £2.98

Formats available: print, unabridged audio, mp3CD, ebook.

Any Human Heart - An Unusual Life Story

There's no getting away from it, William Boyd, is a classy writer. And in Any Human Heart he demonstrates this once again. Set out in the form of a series of diaries from various periods in the life of one Logan Mountstuart, we follow his progress through the twentieth century. The action starts at public school in England, where the topics of interest and writing style are definitely those of a teenager discovering what life is all about, with a distinct focus on his sexual awakening. We see how losing his father affects him, and how he sets out on a series of jobs, including novelist, and relationships, which leads to his happy marriage and the birth of a child. But the Second World War changes everything. He kind of ends up as a spy (recruited by Ian Fleming), but is incarcerated abroad and when he comes home, it is to the shattering discovery that his wife and child have been killed by a bomb. I felt that Logan never really recovered from this, and he stumbles from one thing to another, usually fuelled by an inordinate amount of alcohol - at one time becoming involved in a subversive political movement (though probably more to earn money than actually believing in the cause!) - and other times he's an art dealer. He travels the world, but finally ends up in France after he inherits a property from a long term friend who he nursed through the last weeks of her life. It's here he seems to find little peace and his story comes to its natural conclusion. At times, Logan is a very unsympathetic character, but totally human in his flaws, hopes and dreams. I may not have always liked him, and he often brought his troubles onto himself, which usually puts me off a book, but the author writes with such aplomb that I kept on wanting to find out more. Would Logan redeem himself, would he find happiness? Maybe. Maybe not. His story is wrapped up in all the key events and people of the 20th Century - we even see him mixing with the Duke of Windsor and the waspish Wallace Simpson, which, unsurprisingly, doesn't end well! Maybe there was a little too much name dropping - could one person really have met all these people and had all of these experiences I wonder - but this is still a very readable exploration of the life of a man living through modern history and well worth anyone's time.

My STAR rating: 4 STARS.

Length: 528 print pages.

Price I paid:Free, borrowed from my husband.

Formats available: print, unabridged audio download, MP3 CD, ebook.

For Your Eyes Only - unexpected!

For Your Eyes Only, by Ian Fleming took me completely by surprise. I was totally unaware that this book was a collection of 5 short stories: From A View To A Kill, For Your Eyes Only, Quantum of Solace, Risico and The Hildebrand Rarity. None of the stories whose names you may recognise from the films of the same title bore any resemblance to those films, and some stories didn't even feel like spy stories at all (one was pretty much Bond having after dinner drinks with someone who was relaying a story to him). However, this didn't present me with any problems in terms of enjoying them. In fact, by the end of the book, I felt that Bond had been given a little more humanity than we had seen in his previous outings. Concise and to the point, it might be argued that Fleming was experimenting a little with his hero to see where he might take him, or indeed, trying out a story that worked in short form but couldn't be expanded into a full blow novel. All the usual Bond tropes are there - the violence, the women, the weapons and the food - and a couple of the stories gripped the attention, but others felt a little flat. Short and enjoyable for anyone wanting a quick hit of their favourite "Double O", I can recommend the audio edition narrated by Samuel West, who provided great company!

My STAR rating: THREE.

Length: 272 print pages.

Price I paid: £2.98

Formats available: print, unabridged audiobook, audio CD, ebook.

The Mirror and the Light - the final chapter

Apologies for the quiet time on my blog for the last month, but the world has been a crazy place and some things had to slip! But I'm back with a bang to tell you about The Mirror and the Light, by Hilary Mantel. This is the final part of the Thomas Cromwell trilogy which began with Wolf Hall. The action picks up from where we left off - it's spring 1536 and pretty much as soon as Ann Boleyn is relieved of her head, Henry VIII settles into a happy state with his new wife, Jane Seymour. Thomas still seems to be at the top of his game, and his power keeps on building with his influence over Henry seeming to know no bounds. But nothing ever stays the same for long, and a rebellion in the north of the country, together with a range of traitorous plots abroad and a new threat of invasion start to impose pressure on the one man who is supposed to keep Henry's reign glorious and trouble free. Thomas uses all his guile, but receives little support from men of power in Henry's court, who have always resented this lowborn, son of a blacksmith, his position as Henry's right hand man. When Jane Seymour dies just after giving Henry his long awaited son and heir, things start to sour - first with the unsuccessful contract with Ann of Cleves as Henry's fifth wife, for which Thomas is blamed, and then the failure of completely snuffing out the many plots against Henry. Sniffing blood, the blue blooded vultures start to gather and Thomas tries to protect his family and those close to him as he can see where this is going - well, he's been on the other side of it so often in the past! Thomas Cromwell isn't supposed to be a likeable person, but you can't help but admire him. Hilary Mantel presents us with a man who has ambitions for himself and his country, but who is also deeply loyal and generous to those close to him. He achieved so much from such humble beginnings and managed to survive and thrive despite standing so close to a king whose ever changing whims and temper could mean death for anyone, at anytime. The end was inevitable, and although we all know the outcome, you cannot help but hope that, somehow, Thomas will manage to wangle his way out of his final destiny. But history is history! I have thoroughly enjoyed this trilogy and, despite the huge length of this last book, I was saddened when I reached the last page. I will definitely miss spending time in the company of Thomas Cromwell! I have read all three parts as audio books and each is a tour de force of narration - go on, immerse yourself in Tudor England!

My STAR rating: FIVE.

Length: 912 print pages.

Price I paid: £5.84.

Formats available: print, unabridged audio download, audio CD, ebook

Pax - in the mind of a fox!

Pax by Sara Pennypacker is an interesting concept where there are joint narrators - a boy and a fox. Peter, the boy, saved Pax, the fox, when he was a kit and they have grown up together. But war is coming, and motherless Peter is persuaded by his unsympathetic father to release Pax into the wild, as the father has enlisted and Peter is to be sent to live with his grandfather. Pax doesn't understand why he has been abandoned and hangs around for days waiting for Peter to return, not eating (as he doesn't know how to hunt) and barely drinking. Peter immediately regrets what he has done especially as he realises that Pax will be in the path of the oncoming hostilities. He runs away, determined to rescue Pax and be reunited with his best friend. Both Pax and Peter have difficult and dangerous journeys ahead of them - Pax must learn how to survive in the wild and tap into his innate "foxness"and Peter must overcome injury and distance to find redemption. Beautifully illustrated by the glorious Jon Klassen, this is an emotional book, with two very distinct voices (I especially liked the fox), but with a common purpose. The backdrop of war and its consequences provide a threatening undercurrent of violence and futility, but we never lose hope that the love the two main characters have for each other will win out. This may be aimed at the younger reader, but there is more than enough here for everyone to enjoy - especially if you have ever wondered what it might be like to think like a fox!

My STAR rating: FOUR.

Length: 288 print pages.
Price I paid: free, borrowed from library as an ebook.

Formats available: print, audio CD, audio download, ebook.

To Kill A Mockingbird - Definitely a classic!

I can't quite believe that I hadn't read this book before now, but at long last, Harper Lee's classic novel about race and class in the Deep South of 1930's America has been ticked off my TO DO list. To Kill A Mockingbird is told through the eyes of Scout and Jem, the daughter and son of the local lawyer, Atticus Finch. He is raising his children without their mother, who died when Scout was very young (she's only 6 at the start of the book), and their upbringing is more than ably supported by Calpurnia, their cook/housekeeper who is pretty much the only black person that the children encounter at this point. Brother and sister are clever and curious and wander the neighbourhood with freedom, especially during the summer holidays when their cousin Dill joins them. They are fascinated by the Radley house, where, it is rumoured, one of the family (known by the local children as "Boo") never leaves the home. Despite their fears, they really want to be the first in town to see the infamous Boo. However, when their father takes on the defence of Tom Robinson, a black man charged with the rape of a white woman, the children start to see a town steeped in prejudice, violence and hypocrisy. Atticus is accused by many of favouring black people over white people, which, at that time and in that place, was not acceptable. He is bad mouthed to Scout and Jem, and they struggle to follow his instructions to not react (be prepared for the N word). Of course, despite the evidence Atticus presents to demonstrate that the accusers are lying, Tom Robinson is convicted - there was no chance of a fair trial. The aftermath of Atticus's attempts to save Tom are ugly and the children find themselves embroiled in it. I can totally understand why this book has become a classic. The main characters are engaging, and the reader is caught up in the events alongside them. Scout is a great narrator - she has the wide-eyed innocence of a child, and acts on our behalf in asking those awkward questions about why does this or that happen. Many of the issues highlighted are, depressingly, still relevant today. However, despite the incredibly heavy subject matter, there is humour and lightness to be found. I urge you to read this book, remembering that the language used is reflecting the time it was written, which I found hard to take at times, but push through that and you will be rewarded with a story that will remain with you for a long time.

My STAR rating: FIVE

Length: 309 print pages.

Price I paid: Free, picked up from a neighbour during lockdown.

Formats available: print, audio download, ebook.

Adrift - not the book I was supposed to read!

While searching my local e-library for books featured in the August selection of my Literary Diary, the only one available was one called Adrift. So I downloaded it and started to read. This is the real life story of Tami Oldham who, with her fiancé Richard Sharp, set sail from Tahiti on a journey to deliver a boat to San Diego. However, two weeks into the voyage, they encounter Hurricane Raymond, a devastating storm which leaves Tami unconscious. When she wakes up, she sees that the tether keeping Richard on board had snapped. She was injured, in a crippled boat and all alone. We now follow Tami as she goes through forty one days on board - at first wishing she had been swept into the storm with her beloved Richard and slowly making the decision to survive and find land. We see her relationship with Richard told in flashback, from when they first met, to the day he disappears. Adrift, by Tami Oldham Ashcraft is a story of love, loss and determination and it reads very much like a thriller. The first half of the book worked exceedingly well, but as it progressed I started to find it a little repetitive. Nevertheless, it is an amazing story and worth the read ... though why anyone would head out on a journey of that nature during hurricane season totally mystifies me - but then me and boats don't really mix! It was only after I'd read the book that I realised there was another book titled Adrift, which is actually the one that I should have read. Hey ho! One adventure on the high seas is enough for me in one year!

My STAR rating: 3 STARS.

Length: 240 print pages.
Price I paid: free, borrowed from library as an ebook.
Formats available: print, audio download, audio CD, ebook.

Heart Berries - grim

Heart Berries: A Memoir, by Terese Marie Mailhot was from the July selection of suggested books in my literary diary. Again, it was the only one I could get hold of in electronic form from my library. I hadn't heard of it before, but I was looking forward to reading a memoir from a Native American woman - a voice I'd not really heard before. The origins of the book are that following the hospitalization of the author and her subsequent diagnosis of post traumatic stress disorder and bipolar II disorder, she was given a notebook to write down whatever she wanted, as part of her therapy. Heart Berries is the result. I did not find this an easy read. The story of her dysfunctional upbringing to her random relationships with men, self abuse with alcohol and drugs and the removal of one child and the fear of losing another are heart breaking. But also, the way the memoir is written - which felt like a repetitive circular nightmare, where you never were quite sure what was a true memory or something a bit more hazy, I found tough to navigate. Other reviewers found this poetic and powerful. Yes, it is powerful, with some elements hitting you really hard, but poetic, I'm not so sure. It is a book I can admire for its bravery - the author really "puts it all out there, warts and all", and it definitely gives an insight into the struggle of coping with mental illness. However, I found it incredibly depressing and confusing and hard to get to grips with - maybe that's the point! It is, perhaps, one of the most disturbing books I have read and I was grateful for its brevity as I wasn't sure I could take much more. I know many people rave about this book, but it's just not for me!

My STAR rating: TWO.

Length: 160 print pages.
Price I paid: free, borrowed from the library.
Formats available: print, audio CD, ebook.

A Brief History of Time - Mind boggled!

I hadn't meant to read A Brief History of Time, by Stephen Hawking, but it was the only book listed in my literary diary for June that I could get electronically from my library, so I thought, what the heck! Purported to be an introduction written for the "man on the street" to the BIG questions ... Was there a beginning of time ... is the universe infinite ... can you travel back in time? ... this book is definitely not for the faint-hearted. It starts with a review of some of the more well known theories about the world in which we live that have been put forward by the titans of the scientific world, such as Sir Isaac Newton and Albert Einstein. Then we move onto how those theories have been picked up and developed or modified or even contradicted by others, in an effort to help explain the observations man has made that are not explained by the originals. And so we touch on black holes, spiral galaxies, string theory and dark matter. The first couple of chapters I could kind of get my head around, but then things get tougher and tougher. You (or maybe it's just me!) find yourself rereading a passage over and over to try to work out what's going on, but more often than not, it's almost impossible to do so. These are big concepts that are hard to grasp, especially when they introduce aspects that have been put there just to make a theory work ... and then the effort is put into either making observations that will prove or disprove that theory. But that, I suppose is science. Some books are meant to make you think, and this one certainly does, but I wouldn't say I enjoyed it. In fact, I can sum up much of my time when reading this book as follows ...




... yes Goofy, nobody says it better ... Ahurrrh!

My STAR rating: THREE stars (for making my brain work harder than it has for ages!)

Length: 272 print pages.
Price I paid: free, borrowed from library as an ebook.
Formats available: print, audio download, ebook.

Breathing Lessons - solid story telling with real heart

Breathing Lessons by Anne Tyler centres on the day Maggie Moran, and her husband Ira, go to the funeral of a friend. Nearing fifty, Maggie seems to be something of a romantic, and drifts into remembrances of how she and Ira got together, and how their life has turned out, with their two children, Jesse and Daisy. Maggie is an optimist, and Ira is more practical and their low level bickering during the journey is well observed and totally believable. On the way back, Maggie persuades Ira to take a short detour to the house where their grandchild lives with the estranged wife of their son Jesse. Maggie cannot help but interfere, and feels sure that if she can broker a reconciliation between Jesse and his little family, then everyones lives will be peachy once again. But despite Maggie's best efforts, she cannot solve the problems in other people's relationships, and is in danger of wrecking her own marriage. Ira is exasperated, but cannot help but recognise his wife's good heart, and be reminded about why he fell in love with her in the first place. This is a heartwarming story, beautifully written. The character of Maggie seems frustratingly oblivious to the potential chaos she may be causing with her good intentions, but you cannot help but like her. I'm just glad I don't live with her! Solid story telling that goes deeper than you might expect, exploring themes of ageing and loneliness and wasted opportunities, as well as family ties.

My STAR rating: FOUR.

Length: 336 print pages.
Price I paid: Free, borrowed from my mother.
Formats available: print, audio CD, unabridged audio download, ebook.

The Tales of Beedle the Bard - short but sweet

I read all of the Harry Potter books a few years ago, and even though they aren't high literature, they are incredibly well plotted and engrossing. So, when I saw that The Tales of Beedle the Bard by J.K. Rowling was being offered free of charge via Audible, I thought it would be rude not to accept such a gift! This is a book within a book, so to speak, being referred to by Hermione Grainger in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Purporting to be the favourite bedtime reading for young wizards, it reads like a set of fairy tales, but with witches and wizards as the stars of the show, rather than princes and princesses (if you are looking for a Cinderella-type story, you won't find it in here). There are five tales in all, including The Tale of the Three Brothers, which will already be familiar to Potter fans. I think my personal favourite was The Wizard and the Hopping Pot, where a wizard with a bad attitude gets their comeuppance in increasingly entertaining (for the reader) ways. Each narrative is accompanied by explanatory notes written by none other than Professor Dumbledore, which provides an interesting dimension. This is definitely one for the myriad of Potter fans out there, but it's also a light and entertaining read for anyone who likes fairy tales. If you happen to get the audio edition, each story is read by a different narrator and features some soundscaping too. Very short, but enjoyable.

My STAR rating: THREE.

Length: 144 print pages.
Price I paid: free.
Formats available: print, unabridged audio download, ebook.

Sword of Kings - Uhtred the indestructible!

Sometimes I just can't resist going back to authors and characters that I love. And so, I reached for Sword of Kings, by Bernard Cornwell, the 12th instalment in The Last Kingdom series. Uhtred of Bebbanburg seems quite happy at home, until he hears that King Edward is dying. This means that it is time for him to live up to the oath he made many years before to his former lover, Aethelflaed. He vowed to protect her nephew, Aethelstan, and put him on the throne. However, this means he will have to kill two men who have their own ideas about who should rule when King Edward is gone. And so Uhtred heads south once more with a small band of warriors, and plunges himself into the machinations of 10th Century Anglo Saxon politics. As usual, he encounterss formidable foes, and cannot help but get into incredibly tight scrapes. He almost meets his match and is lucky to escape with his life at one point, but Uhtred, it seems, is indestructible and manages to pull himself together for the final encounter and yes, it's shield wall time again. These novels are always entertaining, and the urge to turn the page is ever present. However, it is all becoming very familiar and, at the age Uhtred must be by now, a little on the unbelievable side. Whilst I have, and always do, enjoy a Bernard Cornwell book, I didn't feel there was much more that could be squeezed out of this character. Luckily, there is just one more book in the series and it will be interesting to see what the fates have in store in that final outing for the legend that is Uhtred.

My STAR rating: FOUR.

Formats available: print, unabridged audio download, audio CD, ebook.
Length: 340 print pages.
Price I paid: free, borrowed from library.

How to Make Art - some interesting ideas

The May list in my Bibliophile Diary was full of books about art and creativity. I couldn't find any of them at my library in lockdown, so I opted for one I could find as a suitable alternative. How to Make Art, by Mel Elliott is a short book is full of ideas for getting your creative juices flowing when it comes to producing art in many different guises. While it's not in depth for any one of those, it does give the reader a quick insight into what the possibilities might be using different methods and techniques to harness your inner creativity. So, if it's collages, colouring, painting, drawing or creating interesting looking letters, this book can hook you back into your childhood where anything seemed possible and it didn't matter if you made a mess. It's a quick read and fairly easy going. Personally I would have preferred more in depth on some aspects, but as a quick guide to a range of techniques, it's a book that could provide a jumping off point for you to tap into your creative side .... and you never know where that might lead!

My STAR rating: THREE.

Length: 128 print pages.
Price I paid: free, borrowed from the library as an ebook.
Formats available: print, ebook.

Lies Sleeping - magical underbelly of London strikes again

Lies Sleeping is the seventh full length book in the Rivers of London series by Ben Aaronovitch. Okay, cards on the table, I am a fan of this series which centres on Detective Constable Peter Grant,  who is an apprentice wizard and member of The Folly, a branch of the Metropolitan Police that investigates all things supernatural happening in London. In this edition, we find Peter (and pretty much everyone in the police force) on the hunt for The Faceless Man - who has now been revealed to be one Martin Chorley. However, this won't be easy as he always seems to have a knack for keeping one step ahead (or indeed, one magic spell ahead) of his pursuers - often due to the intervention of Peter's former friend and colleague, Lesley, who has definitely gone over to the dark side. Murder and mayhem is once again on the streets of the capital and Peter seeks the assistance of the River Gods and Goddesses - but there's always a price to pay for that! He uncovers clues that Chorley's activities have all been leading up to something bigger than anyone could imagine, utilising London's vast history to fuel it. If Chorley pulls it off, it could mean the end for his beloved city, so Peter has to do the unthinkable, and try to make an alliance with the most malevolent spirit of them all, Mr Punch. Full of humour, magic and action, these novels are always enjoyable, although, for me, this one didn't quite have the depth of character that the previous ones displayed. There was so much going on, maybe too much, that the witty asides from Peter that I really look forward to were pretty much absent. Overall, if you are a fan, you will still enjoy this novel, and it certainly hasn't put me off reaching for the next book when the time comes. But if you are a newbie, then this isn't the book to start with, as you may wonder what all the fuss has been about! As always, I read the audio edition narrated by the glorious Kobna Holbrook-Smith, who renders the story with such great skill, that I can't imagine Peter Grant speaking with any other voice!

My STAR rating: FOUR.

Length: 416 print pages.
Price I paid: Free (as part of a free trial).
Formats available: print; audio CD; unabridged audio download; ebook.

Crazy Rich Asians - being rich doesn't make you happy

Crazy Rich Asians, by Kevin Kwan was a suggested read from the April section of my Bibliophile Diary, picked because it was the only title from the list that I could get hold of through my ebook library.  It centres on Rachel Chu and her boyfriend Nicholas Young. They live and work in New York and have a happy, normal life. Nick invites Rachel to Singapore for a family wedding, which means she will also get to meet his family for the very first time. Rachel is excited and nervous, but totally unprepared for what's about to hit her. Nick, it turns out, hails from an obscenely wealthy and influential family, and grew up surrounded by palaces, jet planes and anything else a billionaire could possibly want. He had never told Rachel about any of this, so when she arrives in Singapore it comes as a bit of shock. Not only that, but Nick's family are, like almost any other entitled family, determined that Nick should "marry well" ... which means marrying more money. Rachel comes under intense scrutiny and most of Nick's family do not like what they see. The undermining and back stabbing spirals out of control, and as the pressure mounts, Rachel flees from the shallow, controlling bitchiness of Nick's family. Can their love survive? This book will not exactly strain the old brain cells, but is a fairly easy read. The action moves with pace and the characters are plentiful - a little too plentiful for me as it was sometimes hard to keep track of who was who and how they were related. There are some funny moments and if you like acerbic put downs, then you will find plenty to enjoy here. However, I found almost all of the characters vacuous, irritating and totally unbelievable - but this could be because my own background is so far removed from the rarified and incestuous one portrayed in this book that I found it hard to relate to anyone and anything. Even the central romance between Nick and Rachel didn't ring true. If this is what unimaginable wealth does to people, then I'm happy to stay as I am. I did enjoy the cultural references and descriptions of the food however, and Singapore has now become a place I'd like to visit one day.

My STAR rating: THREE.

Length: 527 print pages.
Price I paid: free, borrowed from library as an ebook.
Formats available: print; audio CD; audio download; ebook

The Bell Jar - discomforting

The Bell Jar is Sylvia Plath's only novel and is partially based on her own life. Set in 1953, Esther Greenwood wins an internship on a New York fashion magazine. She thinks that this is the break she has been waiting for and will be her passport to becoming a writer. She endeavours to throw herself into the lifestyle of her colleagues, which revolves around cocktail parties and fashion shows, but she never seems to be fully present wherever she is. She writes furiously, but nobody takes her work seriously. Esther struggles to find meaningful relationships and seems to veer between wanting to be like the people she mixes with, and in the next breath, loathing them. She slowly becomes more detached from reality and sinks into depression, for which the treatment she eventually receives is brutal - ECT (Electroconvulsive Therapy). This book is a study of someone living with a mental illness. While you feel a certain empathy for Esther, she is a tough character to like. I found the novel disjointed and bitty and hard to get to grips with - which added to the feeling of disconnect with the world that the lead character is experiencing. Not a novel that can be enjoyed, but one that can be admired as an attempt to show something of the experience of someone living with depression.

My STAR rating: THREE.

Length: 240 print pages.
Formats: print, audio CD, audio download, ebook.
Price I paid: free, borrowed from library.

The Tenth Circle - not as hellish as it should have been!

It's quite a while since I read a Jodi Picoult story and, having enjoyed them in the past, I was looking forward to diving back in. Daniel is a comic book artist who seems to have it all - a job he loves, a beautiful wife who teaches Dante's Inferno at college, and a daughter, Trixie, who is the apple of his eye. But Daniel has a past, and it's not particularly pretty. Raised in Alaska, he was the only white kid in a native Eskimo village ,where to be different meant merciless teasing. He fought back, becoming to baddest kid around, until he finally escaped. Life was pretty wild until his girlfriend became pregnant and Daniel made a monumental effort to change his ways and become a responsible adult, taking on the role of devoted husband and father. Fast forward 15 years. One evening, Trixie is date raped. On top of this, Daniel discovers that his wife is having an affair. The rage that Daniel has so successfully suppressed comes boiling to the surface once again, and Trixie discovers a side to her father that she has never seen before. When her rapist turns up dead, suspicion falls on both father and daughter, especially when Trixie runs away. Daniel sets out to find her and calls on all his childhood experiences to bring her home. The Tenth Circle didn't quite flow for me in terms of story arc, plus the characters weren't totally believable, or indeed, sympathetic. Usually Jodi Picoult can tap effortlessly into my emotions, but for some reason, this book left me cold. I can't quite put my finger on it, but the inclusion of some of Daniel's comic book work felt, to me, intrusive and unnecessary. Not one of her finest, but it won't stop me reading more Jodi Picoult in the future.

My STAR rating: THREE.

Length: 400 print pages.
Price I paid: free, borrowed from my Mum.
Formats available: print; audio CD; audio download; ebook.

A Grown-Up Guide to Dinosaurs - Fascinating!

A Grown-Up Guide to Dinosaurs, by Ellie Sans and Clare Chadburn is a fascinating podcast series for anyone who has a passing interest in dinosaurs. Much of what we know about these almost mythical beasts will have been gained from our childhood, but over the last 20 years, paleontologists have made amazing discoveries using cutting edge research that might just blow your mind! New types of dinosaurs have been discovered, from small cat-sized ones to enormous ones covered in feathers - yes, I said feathers! Filled with interviews from a range of experts, the narrative is woven together by Professor Ben Garrod, whose enthusiasm and wonder about this subject is truly infectious. As the series progresses, we learn more about how these creatures looked, lived and evolved, and we seem to be learning together. He even debunks some misconceptions ... if you thought Jurassic Park gave you the lo-down on the fearsome velociraptor, think again! And if you thought dinosaurs were long-gone, then, my friend, you are in for a big surprise ... you remember when I said some had feathers ... yes, those things tweeting outside your window - dinosaurs are still among us! I heartily recommend this to everyone, and the only reason it didn't get 5 stars was that I wanted more!

My STAR rating: FOUR.

Length: 2 hours 50 minutes.
Price I paid: FREE.
Formats available: audio download, audio CD, ebook.

The Beekeeper of Aleppo - Moving

The Beekeeper of Aleppo by Christy Leferti is the incredibly moving story of a man and his wife escaping from war-torn Syria to seek asylum in the United Kingdom. Told in a series of flashbacks, it has an almost dreamlike quality as we find out how Nuri (the beekeeper) and his wife Afra (an artist) lived a life full of joy and happiness in Aleppo, before the war tore their family apart. When a bomb kills their son and leaves Afra blind, they finally heed the call from Nuri's cousin, Mustafa, to leave the city and follow him to the UK. The journey they make is a hazardous one and full of horrific scenes as they cross the sea, reach a refugee camp, end up in an unsafe park where people are treated like cattle waiting for market, and deal with a people smuggler who is only out for what he can get. They are journeying both in the physical and mental sense - bottling up their grief and anger, and you can sense the madness that seems to be coming for them both, but especially Nuri. There is very little beauty in this tale and it is sometimes a challenge to keep on reading as it brings the life of a refugee into sharp focus - one minute everything is ticking along in your life as usual, the next, your world is completely turned upside down. The full gamut of human traits are on display - from kindness, cruelty and everything in-between. I did find the switching between different times and countries a little confusing initially, but once I realised what was going on, I found it an impelling read. Personally, I would have liked to have heard more from Afra, who was quietly stoical most of the time, but perhaps that's what the fragile Nuri needed - someone to anchor him back to reality. Maybe the current Covid-19 crisis across the world will help us all to appreciate the plight of asylum seekers and refugees striving to find a light in the darkness that has, through no fault of their own, overtaken their once tranquil lives. I read the audio edition, narrated by the wonderful Art Malik.

My STAR rating: FOUR.

Length: 384 print pages.
Price I paid: £3.00.
Formats available: print, audio download, audio CD, ebook.

Boy Meets Boy - young romance

In Boy Meets Boy, by David Levithan (a title suggested by the February 2020 list of books featured in my Bibliophile Diary), we meet Paul, a gay teenager who lives in a progressive town where your personal sexual leanings are, on the whole, not an issue. Paul seems destined to be unlucky in love, and spends his time supporting the minefield of his friends love lives instead. But then Noah arrives on the scene and Paul is totally smitten. After a bit of hit and miss, the feeling appears to be mutual, but, as you would expect, the course of love never runs smoothly and when an ex of Paul's appears on the scene to muddy the water, the budding shoots of this new love look likely to be pruned into oblivion. In the meantime, Paul's circle of friends all have their own issues, from Tony who is hiding who he is from his parents, best friend Joni who has hooked up with a controlling thug, and Infinite Darlene, the football hero at school who is also a drag queen! There's a lot going on, but at it's heart it really is a love story. Entertaining, but a little on the sweet side, this is a book for those looking to take a trip exploring the agony and ecstasy of young love.

My STAR rating: FOUR.

Length: 240 print pages.
Price I paid: Free, borrowed from library as an ebook.
Formats available: print, MP3CD, ebook.

Things in Jars - Compelling

Set in Victorian London, Things in Jars tells the tale of Bridie Devine, a brilliant female detective who is on the hunt for a missing child. Bridie is not feeling her confident best in the wake of a previous child abduction case where she (and the police) failed to rescue the victims in time. So it is with some trepidation that she sets her sights on finding Christabel, the daughter of a well-to-do family, who has been kept away from prying eyes her whole life. The evidence starts to point to Christabel being a most unusual child - a merrow (a creature not a million miles away from a mermaid). This leads Bridie to wonder whether she has been taken by those wishing to dissect her for scientific purposes, or perhaps display her for profit in a circus. Over the course of the investigation, we hear about Bridie's own past, which is far from normal, and revel in her relationship with Ruby, who is the ghost of a boxer, recently deceased. Full of vivid descriptions of the murkier side of London and the people who inhabit it, together with a fair dose of folklore and the supernatural make Things In Jars a very entertaining story.  In addition, you cannot help but root for what feels like a burgeoning romance between Bridie and Ruby - then again, with Bridie's individual taste for unusual concoctions to smoke in her pipe, how much of this is real and how much imagined is left to the reader to decide. Like any good detective novel, there are twists, turns, red herrings and some great "baddies".  There's also plenty of humour and fun dialogue. Personally, I feel a couple of sections about the merrow folklore dragged a little, but apart from that, I thoroughly enjoyed it, especially the excellent narration of Jacqueline Miller, who brought vim and vigour to all the characters. This is the second book I have read by Jess Kidd (I read Himself last year), and she is definitely an author I will be seeking out for future tomes.

My STAR rating: FOUR.

Length: 416 print pages.
Price I paid: FREE, as part of 30-day free trial on Audible.
Formats available: print, audio download, audio CD, ebook.

The Secret History of Hollywood: Hunting Witches With Walt Disney - goodbye to glamour!

So, is a podcast a book? Well, in my opinion, if it has a narrative arc over x number of episodes, then I see it as the modern equivalent of what good old Mr Dickens used to do when he wrote and released his books, chapter by chapter. So, this is why The Secret History of Hollywood: Hunting Witches With Walt Disney, by Adam Roche is here on my blog. This short series delves into the paranoia that overtook the USA with regard to the "threat" of Communism. Starting in the mid 1930s, there was a move by a good proportion of people in Hollywood towards a Communist sensibility, fuelled in part by some of the atrocious working conditions within the studio system. Those who stood up for their rights started to be accused of being a Communist by the people who had all the power (yes Mr Walt Disney, I'm looking at you!). Enter the House of Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) who then began a witch hunt to find and deal with anyone displaying Communist leanings. As friends turned on friends, this had a devastating effect on the lives and careers of actors and writers alike and the glamour of the film industry was replaced by fear and retribution. Over the course of some 20 years, this dark chapter of "red" hysteria left its indelible mark on all who were touched by it, and some never recovered. This is an enjoyable and informative work, with a soundscape behind the narration as well as clips of audio from the time which made it a compelling listen. Certainly an entertaining way to spend a few hours if you were on a journey, or maybe gardening!

My STAR rating: THREE.

Length: 2 hours 50 minutes.
Price I paid: Free from Audible.
Formats available: audio only.

Phoenix Squadron - technical overload!

Phoenix Squadron, by Rowland White is the true story of how a squadron of Buccaneer fighter bombers set off on an unprecedented long-range mission to combat the threat of invasion to British Honduras. This tiny outpost on the other side of the Atlantic, had been a source of tension in the region for some time, but things came to a head towards the end of 1971 and early 1972, when US-trained Guatemalan paratroops began building their numbers on the border for what looked like a serious attempt to claim British Honduras for themselves. The only possible deterrent Britain could offer was HMS Ark Royal, its once dominant aircraft carrier that was, at the time, on the verge of being scrapped. And so began a high-speed dash across 1,500 miles of ocean to get them to a point where they could launch two Buccaneers that would fly over Honduras and show everyone in the region that Honduras was protected. The launch point was on the very edge of what was possible and involved inflight refuelling, both there and back. If the rendezvous points were missed or delayed in any way, the bombers would not have made it back. Full of incredible detail about the people involved, as well as the planes and ships involved, this is a testament to the skill, bravery and sheer bloody mindedness of an elite squadron who, in January 1972, were tasked with the impossible ... or so it seemed. I admire the research and work that has gone into this book, with much of the content taken from first hand accounts, and I also applaud the tenacity of the squadron who pulled this mission off. However, partly due to the technical nature of the detail, I found myself getting bogged down at times and a little confused by the number of people involved, particularly in the first half of the book. However, once the mission got underway and the tension began to rise, I became much more engaged. So, for me, a book of two halves. If you really like the technical stuff, I can heartily recommend this book to you.

My STAR rating: THREE.

Length: 524 print pages.
Price I paid: FREE, borrowed from my brother-in-law.
Formats available: Print, ebook.

Giovanni's Room - deflating

Giovanni's Room, by James Baldwin is a book chosen from the February suggested reading list in my Literary Diary. The theme for this month has been love, and I picked this title as it is reported to be an American Classic. David, the narrator, is an American living in 1950s Paris who, after his girlfriend Hella goes to Spain to think things through, comes across a charismatic barman in a gay bar. David is captivated by the handsome Giovanni and, despite trying to deny it to himself, falls completely in love with him. It's almost like David feels free of the burden of trying to hide who he really is for the first time, and his eyes are opened to the possibilities of living with a man (which he could not do back in the USA at that time). Money is tight, David is relying on his father to send him money, and Giovanni's job relies heavily on tips. David moves into Giovanni's tiny room and, at first, this seems heavenly, but Giovanni's love is so intense that David finds it hard to cope with. It's almost too much, too soon. He is still conflicted about who he is and fears the reality beyond the fantasy imbued by the first bloom of love. He keeps saying that they will be together only until his girlfriend returns, almost as if he is preparing an escape route. Finally, when Hella does return, he goes back to her, saying nothing of his time with Giovanni. Desperate to become the person he thinks he should be, he asks her to marry him, and they start planning to move back to America. But Giovanni takes this rejection very hard and spirals into malaise. In this vulnerable state, he falls victim to his old boss from the bar who has designs upon him, and in the course of their interaction, Giovanni murders him. There is a lot to admire about this book, particularly considering the period of time in which it is written.  However, for me, the main characters didn't quite ring true. Everything felt superficial and the inner conflict of David, which is central to the book, didn't go deep enough. I wasn't even sure that I particularly liked either David or Giovanni, so I wasn't really rooting for them. I also found the ending unsatisfactory - but I suppose it could be argued that love and life can be like that! This is a much admired work and, understanding more about the author and the time of writing, I get that. But the story didn't quite resonate for me in the way I had hoped.

My STAR rating: THREE.

Length: 160 print pages.
Price I paid: FREE, borrowed from library as an ebook.
Formats available: Print, MP3CD, ebook.

A Rare Book of Cunning Device - short, but sweet

A Rare Book of Cunning Device by Ben Aaronovitch is part of the Rivers of London series. It's a short story/novella, exclusive to Audible. Short, but sweet at only 30 minutes long, I used it as a filler to keep me going until I can obtain the next book in the series. When things start moving for no apparent reason in the basement of the British Library, PC Peter Grant is called in to investigate. The original suspect is a poltergeist, but Peter soon quashes that idea ... but there is, indeed something unexplained going on. He calls in his colleague, Postmartin, as well as Toby the dog - not just to annoy the chief librarian but to use his super senses for all things magical. As the night unfolds, the cause of the disturbance is discovered and it's not what you might expect. Light of touch and full of the usual humour, this is an entertaining offshoot to the series that will help you while away half an hour. Definitely one for fans of the series or, if you are an Audible member, why not download it for free and try it on for size ... you never know, you might be drawn into the world of magic and mayhem that is the Rivers of London series. Wonderfully narrated, as ever, by Kobna Holbrook-Smith.

My STAR rating: FOUR.

Length: 30 minutes.
Price I paid: FREE.
Formats available: Audio download.

Nicholas Nickleby - epic, but entertaining!

Nicholas Nickleby is a young man who, at the age of 19, has just lost his father and, together with his mother and Kate, his sister, find themselves in need of financial assistance. They seek help from his Uncle Ralph, an unpleasant, miserly London businessman who has no feelings for his new "family". He packs Nicholas off to Yorkshire to tutor in a terrible school run by a tyrannical headmaster called Squeers. Meanwhile, Kate has to find work to make ends meet and support her mother, and Ralph takes the opportunity to use his niece in order to amuse some of his clients who have less than honourable intentions. Meanwhile, Nicholas befriends the much bullied Smike and rebels against Squeers, fleeing the school and taking his new friend with him. They end up joining a theatrical group for a while before finally heading back to London, where he finds work and falls in love (from afar). Ralph's hate for Nicholas grows and grows and the stage is set for much drama, tragedy, comedy and romance - not necessarily in that order. There are, as usual with Mr Dickens, a huge number of characters, which can get a little overwhelming at times, but they each play their part in bringing together a story that rolls along and where you are cheering for the goodies, and booing the baddies. Epic it may be, but Nicholas Nickleby, by Charles Dickens is a great example of his work. It's full of vitality and heart, and is peppered with statements on the state of society at the time of writing (some of which, sadly, still hold true for today). I chose to read an audio edition, narrated by the fabulous Kobna Holbrook-Smith, who really brought the work to life, especially in some of the off-topic passages which Dickens seems to delight in adding - it may just be me, but I sometimes find these sections a little tedious and don't always bring a lot to the story.

My STAR rating: FOUR.

Formats available: print; unabridged audio download; audio CD; ebook.
Length: 800 print pages.
Price I paid: free offer from Audible (if a member).

The Little Book of Hygge - comforting

I have heard about the Danish phenomenon of "hygge" for many years (thank you Sandi Toksvig), but haven't delved too closely into it. So, when The Little Book of Hygge (subtitled The Danish Way To Live Well), by Meik Viking appeared on the January list in my Bibliophile Diary, I decided to select it. Written by the CEO of the Happiness Research Institute in Copenhagen, this book tries to describe what hygge is all about and why we might all benefit from incorporating its elements into our lives. I mean, if it's good enough for the Danes, who are one of the happiest nations in the world, then surely it's worth taking notice of? Hygge is a feeling, a cosiness or comfortable state of being, usually in the company of good friends or family. It's about letting yourself be soothed and relaxed, and at ease with your surroundings. Things to help you reach this state are candles (plenty of them), an open fire, a comfy sofa, a warm drink and maybe a stew (the making of and the eating of), or maybe sitting in a cushioned nook under a snuggly blanket, reading your favourite book. Filled with lovely photographs and illustrations, plus the odd recipe, this is a gentle meander into the hearts and minds of the Danish people. It definitely slowed me down while reading it. Not a taxing read and, at times, a little repetitive (candles, yes, we get it) this is still an antidote for the dark days of winter, and perhaps, with the state of the world today, maybe we could all use a bit more hygge!

My STAR rating: THREE.

Length: 288 print pages.
Formats available: print; audio download; ebook.
Price I paid: free from library as an ebook.

War of the Wolf - smashed it!

Partly due to a nasty virus that laid me low over the Christmas period, I felt in need of some TLC and treated myself to one of my favourite authors ... Bernard Cornwell, and so I reached out for the 11th instalment in The Last Kingdom series. War of the Wolf sees Lord Uhtred, now having reached the grand age of 60, looking forward to enjoying life after winning back his ancestral home at Bebbanberg. But with enemies on all sides - some old and some new - the chances of a quiet time with the family are very slim indeed. When Uhtred is called to come to the aid of the beseiged Lord Aethelstan, he has no choice but to stick to his old oath of protecting him - but when he discovers that Aethelstan wasn't in any real danger, it becomes clear that this was a mere ruse to get him away from Bebbanberg and out into the open. And as if the politics of the Saxons who surround the ailing King Edward aren't enough, Uhtred has a new Viking foe to face, led by a formidable leader who has already killed his beloved daughter. Uhtred may have lost some of his strength and speed, but it is always dangerous to underestimate someone whose cunning and courage have never waned. This is a cracking story and I raced through it at a great rate of knots. Yes, after the 11th outing for Uhtred, the story arc may feel a little familiar, but that's almost part of the charm. When you can't face anything too heavy, and you need a bit of escapism, it's a comfort to know that there's an author out there who never fails to deliver ... as long as you don't mind a bit of gore!

My STAR rating: FOUR.

Formats available: print; unabridged audio download; audio CD; ebook.
Length: 352 print pages.
Price I paid: free, borrowed from library.

How is it already 2020?

Happy New Year to one and all.

I, for one, am glad to see the back of 2019 which was not my (or indeed the world's) best year by a long chalk. My challenge over the last 12 months was to reduce the pile of unread books that have been sitting on shelves and under beds for some time, and while I have got through a few, there are still several year's worth of stories still waiting for me. So, this year, I will continue to work my way through them, but also, as an additional challenge, I'll select a book from the lists compiled at the start of each month in my new Bibliophile Diary (thank you hubby). I am hoping that this will open up new topics and authors that I may not otherwise have discovered.

So, here we go ...