Louisa Clarke is vulnerable. She’s survived, only barely. Lou’s survived love, loss, friendship and the judgement that came with her decision to love a man so much, she watched him leave her; physically and mentally. When I read Me Before You, Jojo Moyes heartbreaking novel about a paraplegic and his view of the world, I…
Tag: fiction
Book Review: Everyone Brave is Forgiven by Chris Cleave
Chris Cleave writes of war, relationships, jam making and blackberries with a natural ability to craft language into something so subliminal, this novel about World War II is an ode to the written word. It is my first time reading anything by Cleave. Little Bee and Incendiary are now on my TBR list. Cleave’s words…
Book Review: The Storm Sister ( The Seven Sisters#2) by Lucinda Riley
Lucinda Riley’s Storm Sister swept into my home on a chilly, blustery day and I was immediately immersed. Cup of tea and chocolate in hand, I fell headlong into her exquisite follow-up to The Seven Sisters( Maia’s story). I read the book during my Christmas break, and sort of held on to the review, until…
Interview with Katarina Bivald- Author of The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend
I am thrilled to welcome Katarina Bivald, author of ‘The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend to Meditating Mummy’s Mostly Bookish Blog. This book is such a warm and inviting character filled story, about why we live our lives with a yearning for words. It celebrates a small but strong community in Broken Wheel Iowa, as…
Blog Tour: The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend By Katarina Bivald
Katarina Bivald’s character driven novel about the sheer love of reading, gave me a such a joyful reminder of why I like to live among words, and why books are scattered all over my house, that I sat down with my cup of tea and blanket, as I escaped with a strong curiosity about Sweden…
Advance Book Review: The Seven Sisters book #1 By Lucinda Riley
Lucinda Riley writes so lyrically, she could be composing a piece of music that you listen to, as you stand atop a hill, where the wind gently kisses your skin and transports you to an era that you can only summon and hear in your imagination. She can cast dual roles, juxtaposing past and present…
Book Review – The Art of Unpacking Your Life by Shireen Jilla
Connie is blissfully unaware her life is about to change in the wildly stunning Kalahari. With brilliant sunsets seeping bright color into every nook and cranny, humans and wild life try to co-exist without crossing silent boundaries in this extraordinarily beautiful part of the world. As Connie arrives with her best friends from university, and everyone seems…
The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker – A review
This début novel by Helene Wecker is one you seek when you want an intellectual challenge. When you have questions about existentialism. When you wish for a novel so extraordinary, It falls into your hands on an ordinary sort of day. It is that one book you hope to find in a small mysterious book store,…
Why Sherlock Holmes stirs my mind..
I am obsessed. No, it isn’t Colin Firth. Although I could talk about him if you’d like. I haven’t in a while. This is far worse, I’ve watched it three times already and I am going back to read the books. I am obsessed with Sherlock Holmes. Season three finale was on again last night….
Ode to my favorite literary romances
In honor of Valentines day, I wanted to celebrate some of my favorite literary pairings. Now er, romantic pairings that are syrupy, and border on the syrupy, are not my cup of tea. Although, if you hand me some really dark chocolate, I would succumb to the cocoa bean rather than read syrup. Either that,…
Book Review: Bridget Jones – Mad about the Boy by Helen Fielding
I watched Bridget Jones – The Edge of Reason last night. I could watch it many times over, a bit like Pride and Prejudice, that one. I needed to see that proposal one more time, particularly since things/dynamics have changed in this new book. That last kiss – one that gave us hope of things…
Book Review : Me Before You by Jojo Moyes
I had a sense of déjà vu when I opened Me Before You. It is inexplicable. I felt such a keen connection with the characters and yet, that connection was strange for I knew nothing about the author. I knew not to expect an epic finale, one of those mind altering, shivers down your spine…
Book Review:The House at the End of Hope Street By Menna van Praag
With her intriguingly beautiful name, Menna van Praag invited me in. She opened the door to The House at the End of Hope Street. “at night the house looks like a Victorian orphanage housing a hundred despairing souls, but when the clouds part and it is lit by moonlight, the house appears enchanted. As…
Book Review: The Casual Vacancy By J.K. Rowling
J.D. Salinger said ” What really knocks me out is a book that, when you’re all done reading it, you wish the author that wrote it was a terrific friend of yours and you would call him up whenever you felt like it. That doesn’t happen much though”… My first thought – well, I had…
Book Review: Blood of Flowers By Anita Amirrezvani
When I met the heroine of this story, She had spark and spunk. She was unique and intelligent. Her passion and talent for the art of carpet making left an indelible impression on me. Turquoise will forever be magnificent. This particular hue in the story is a version of the color she learned to make…
Book Review: Searching For Captain Wentworth By Jane Odiwe
It’s no secret I love Jane Austen. I began to read her books at a very young age. Pride and Prejudice was my first. I developed a relationship with Lizzie Bennet almost immediately – I think every young girl did. I identified with her- out of the box but within the realm of what…
Book Review: Night Circus By Erin Morgenstern
My dear friend Mumsy, from http://www.ramblingsfromamum.wordpress.com has just alerted me to the fact that this post has disappeared. Amid panic( it is one of my favorite books and I loved reviewing it) I managed to re-publish it. I apologize if some of you receive the post a second time. It dazzles every visitor, it strikes…
Book Review: The Girl On The Cliff By Lucinda Riley
Aurora never left me. From the moment she stood on the cliff, her tiny figure in a wisp of thin material, I knew there was an element of magic in the story. Aurora, is of course the name of the Princess in Sleeping Beauty. In The Girl On The Cliff, however, there is less Disney…
Book Review: A Stopover in Venice By Kathryn Walker
Venice is ripe with mystery and sensuality. In this book, her colors are breathtaking, her aura serene. Kathryn Walker’s prose is exquisite as she paints a hint of romance, mixed in with the discovery of 16th century art and treasured pieces of renaissance. The cover, title and synopsis tempted me straight away because I find…
Book Review:The Sandalwood Tree By Elle Newmark
I was mesmerized. I didn’t want this book to end. I wanted to write my own letters and hide them in a box so I could place them somewhere special. I felt a quiet sense of pride when I was done, although it had nothing whatsoever to do with me. I have grown up with…
Book Review: The Piano Teacher By Janice Y.K. Lee
I don’t know why, but I have always had a strong penchant for books published by Penguin. It stems from a childhood filled with Penguin Classics – at least that’s what I think. Or maybe it’s just that I find the tiny orange logo with the white penguin inside it, irresistible – a bit mad, I know….
Book Review : A Discovery Of Witches By Deborah Harkness
This book caused a tiny bit of excitement when I laid my hands on it, almost as if its suggested magical properties affected my decision to read it. The story is a mix of fantasy, history and advanced alchemy. The plots, (yes, there are about three, or maybe It’s one big plot) are so compelling…
Girl With The Pearl Earring – By Tracy Chevalier
My long-standing reluctance to read ‘Girl With the Pearl Earring’ before all other Chevalier books, stemmed from not having adequate time to really enjoy the book and then watch the film right after – um, yes, that would be the film with Colin Firth in it. It all had to happen precisely for me and…
Pope Joan By Donna WoolFolk Cross
A friend gave me ‘Pope Joan’ and said: “don’t feel like you have to read it, if you don’t like it,” but it is really really good. My eyes generally light up at a recommendation like that and I always try to read every book I am given, so I sat down two weeks ago…
Book Review: A Cup Of Friendship By Deborah Rodriguez
It is fairly obvious when you read any of Deborah Rodriguez’s books that she has deep feelings for Afghanistan. She writes so eloquently, and with so much emotion that you can’t help being involved in her story immediately. After I read ‘Kabul Beauty School,’ I knew I would love anything by Rodriguez. When ‘ A…
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