Kate

I started The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson last night, and I am loving it

Synopsis: A captivating new saga set in Liverpool and Ireland, from the bestselling author of DAYS OF HOPE and FAR FROM HOME Angela O'Rourke is six when her parents hand her over to an aunt and uncle in a distant village. It's a common practice for large, hard-up families in 1950s Ireland, but for Angela it means that her mother and father don't love her any more. Still, she's well cared for till she's sixteen, when her uncle starts to take too much of an interest in her. Moving to Liverpool in the early 1960s, she becomes a success in the world of fashion design. The pain of a disastrous love affair sends her home to Ireland just after the death of her aunt: and there, among old papers, Angela makes an astonishing discovery. As she learns the truth about the past, a brighter new future beckons. This is the first Lyn Andrews novel that I have read and I enjoyed it. The book begins in Ireland, where Angela's parents are too poor to keep her. Devote Catholics, they have a lot of children, and another is on the way. Angela's dad is struggling to find work, so they make the decision to send Angela off to live with her Aunt Mary. Her aunt gives her a good life, but Angela misses her family and resents them for sending her away. Life is OK until her Uncle starts drinking. Life becomes unsafe for her. Then her best friend Emer leaves for America - this is the motivation Angela needs to start thinking about leaving. She works hard and is accepted to do nursing at Liverpool. She moves away - to the anger of her uncle, but soon learns that the academic side of nursing is too much for her. By chance she meets Rox and her family. Whilst with them she has the courage to leave nursing and start her own business in fashion design. For a long time she is happy without a man, but then she falls in love. However, her boyfriend is not a nice guy and result is a broken heart. Shortly after this she has to return to Ireland because her aunt is seriously ill. After her aunt dies she discovers papers that had been hidden from her all her life. This startlingly discovery changes her life and her outlook on family. This is a very simple read - the language is not difficult and the story is not complicated. I read the majority of this book in one day. It was interesting, fun and engaging. The characters were believable and most of them I liked! The story is set in the 1960s and I felt that life in this time was depicted well. The poverty and the contrast between people and countries was astonishing but also realistic. This did mean there were heartbreaking moments in this book, like at the beginning when a six year old Angela learns she is being sent to live somewhere else. I liked Angela, although I'm not convinced she would of had such a successful business simply because she was a woman, and in the 1960s it was a male dominated world. However, I liked her determination and her caring heart. She worked hard and was selfless. She understands poverty and when the chance to help out others arises she takes it, helping to pull others out of hardship. My other favourite character was Rox. I loved her shopping obsession! She was cool, chic and stylish, yet had a big heart. When Angela needed her she was there, and helped her through some tough situations. This was a nice read and I enjoyed it. I'm happy to recommend this book to others and I will be looking out for other Lyn Andrews books. The ending was a bit of a disappoint - the cliff hanger, where we wonder what will happen to Angela, I wanted the book to keep going so I could find out how Angela's life would change. That is probably my only complaint with the book. This is simple chick-lit and I would recommend it to those who like a good girly book. 4/5 from me.

This morning I finished Second Chance by Jane Green. I thought it was a good book I'm now doing more dissertation reading: London to Brighton by Michael H. C. Baker - a book about the train line, yipee lol!

I've done mostly dissertation reading today - dull! But I have managed about 60 pages of Second Chance by Jane Green

I've been reading Second Chance by Jane Green. About halfway through and really like it. I've never read her before even though she has written a lot. For those who like Kate Morton I would recommend Rachel Hore - she is a similar writer

Synopsis: I didn't know what to expect when I started this, but in truth: I loved it. John Connolly has played with the idea of fairy tales and children's nightmares - he has taken them and made them into an adventure. The story centres around David, a boy whose life changes when his mother dies. His father re-marries and they move to the country. There David finds himself spending most of his time in the attic surrounded by old books. World War 2 is taking place, and one night, having thought he had heard his mother calling him David goes into the garden, just as a German bomber crash lands. David finds himself transported into another world. Here he faces wolves that have started to morph into men, monsters and Crooked Man. I loved what Connolly did with this. The wolves, or Loups, came out of the story of Little Red Riding Hood, the monster which followed David came from his nightmares and the enchantress in the tower came from Rapunzel. Connolly has taken these childhood fairy tales and made them into violent, adult stories, and battles which David has to face. The worst for me was the Crooked Man, who steals children to expand his life. The descriptions of his actions and his torture chambers were horrific and not for the faint hearted. I wouldn't call this book scary but it is intense and some of the things David and his friends fight are quite chilling. This is quite violent and graphic, but so readable. I didn't want to put this down, I was engrossed. I wanted to know what David would have to battle, what happened to the king and how the story would end. This book was exciting and full of adventure. There was not a dull moment in this book. I loved the characters Connolly created and how they evolved. At first I felt empathy for David, then I was anxious for his welfare, and by the end I was confident in him and happily cheering him on. He matured and became fearless, and I liked how things worked out for him. The men who helped David were courageous and fun to read. I loved the dwarfs the most. They are not like they are in Snow White - and neither is she in this book. All I could do was laugh at the situation and their attitudes - they were very funny! There was nothing to dislike about this book. I can easily give it 5/5. I loved it :-) I did think there was a thread for this but I couldn't find it

Synopsis: This book will take you on an emotional rollercoaster. It is beautifully written and will keep you reading and entertained right until the end. This is a re-telling of the book of Hosea, from the Bible. Hosea was an Old Testament prophet who God instructed to marry a prostitute. Rivers' story tells of Angel, a prostitute who marries Michael Hosea - a very Godly man. He sees her walking past him and is breath is taken away. She is stunning. He goes to visit her at the brothel, but not to have sex, just to talk to her and rescue her. God has told him to marry her - and he finds a way. But life is not easy. Angel has always suffered at the hands of men and struggles to trust Michael at first. His patience, kindness and love start to break down her defences and she gets scared - so she runs, more than once. People respond to her in different ways. Paul, Michael's brother-in-law hates her and wants to see her leave, yet another family consisting of Elizabeth, Ruthie, Miriam and others love her and don't care about her past. Angel has to learn to love, to trust and to believe in God - not idolise Michael. The story is set in California in the 1800s. I really liked Angel. She had a tough life - her mother was a prostitute, her father was a rich Englishman who wanted nothing to do with his child. Her mother than gets together with a man called Rab, but when she dies Rab is left with a child he can't provide for. He passes her on to Duke, thinking he will look after her. He doesn't - what he does is rape her and send her into prostitiution - at the age of 8. She manages to escape and leave New York for California, but there she is taken under the wing of the Duchess - and back into prostitution. The first good thing to happen to her was Michael, but she was hard inside, she had built many walls to stop herself from getting hurt. I could understand that and longed for her to open up and love Michael. People fought her all the way in this novel, but I loved watching her grow and change and see the good in life. I loved Michael. He had a heart of gold. Although he argued with God, he listened to Him and did His bidding. He never pressurised Angel or abused her. He was sensitive, compassionate and loving. He is the ideal man! There were other characters I liked too, such as Miriam who became Angel's friend and helped her cope with life and Ruthie - who was just very cute. I didn't like Paul - he hated Angel because he used her and he was a hypocrite, however he did want the best for Michael, even if he was misguided. I would of happily had the book end half way through because during that period Angel was happy, and that was how I wanted her to stay. There are so many twists and turns in this book - it is never boring. Angel goes on a long journey with a beautiful outcome. I loved the ending and what she achieved. She changed her life around and her reaction to Duke when he caught her, God's intervention and the outcome were wonderful to read. There were times when I sat smiling as I read this and times when I had tears in my eyes. It is a beautiful and satisfying story. It was not a quick read but every page was worth reading. I can easily give this 5/5

I should finish A Daughter's Journey by Lyn Andrews today - only 40ish pages to go, and I plan to get on with Second Chance by Jane Green. Yesterday I was lucky enough to receive a box of books from my friend. The ones I chose to keep are here.

Synopsis: Katherine and Michael meet at a New Year's Eve party. They're attracted to each other, they grow to love each other. And once they've decided their love is forever, they make love. It's the beginning of an intense and exclusive relationship, with a future all planned. Until Katherine's parents insist that she and Michael put their love to the test with a summer apart..."Forever" is written for an older age group than Judy Blume's other novels for children. It caused a storm of controversy when it was first published because of its explicit sexual content. It was a book ahead of its time - and remains, after thirty years in print, a teenage best-seller. America's No. 1 children's author has written some of the best books of our time about real-life issues - family stress and pressures, what happens when your parents divorce, the problems of growing up and sexual awakening, bereavement - with insight, sensitivity and honesty. The response of readers all around the world continues to make her one of the best-loved writers ever published. Well I can see why this book would have shocked Judy Blume's younger readers! I loved her books when I was 10 and 11, but never came across this one. The one's I remember are full of innocence and fun...this one is full of sex! I think I'm glad I didn't discover it when I was reading her books, I was too young to know about sex and love! This is definitely a novel for older teens, but I think it is a good book for those who are starting to explore life and relationships. The story is mainly about Katherine. She is young and eager to experience life. She meets Michael at a party and they start dating. Soon they believe themselves to be in love and think they will be together forever. When Katherine thinks she is ready they start to have sex. Yet they are both sent away for the summer and during that time Katherine meets someone else who she feels attracted to. It is also whilst she is away that her Grandfather dies. Katherine had a close relationship with him and is devastated. Through the time away, the grief and the infatuation she feels, Katherine matures and has to find out if "forever" with Michael really is "forever". I liked how this was written. Katherine didn't rush into sex and she asked lots of questions to help her make a decision. She also was sensible and used contraception, even going to see a specialist to find out about all the ways to stay safe. Personally I believe in no sex before marriage, but that is not a common view and I think Blume explored all options well. Her writing was wise and informative, as well as a fun read. Sex is not the only thing explored in this book but it is the main idea. Katherine has to learn how to deal with death and grief - something else Blume did delicately and realistically; and Katherine learns about romantic relationships. She is young and hopes her and Michael will stay together forever, but her parents don't want her to tie herself down to the first guy she dates. Blume explores the idea of first love, marriage and forever in a great way, that gives advice and options to teenagers. I liked Katherine. She had a good head on her shoulders. She asked questions, sought advice and didn't rush any big steps in her relationship. She was a realistic teenager who had mood swings and had to learn to grow up. Michael on the other hand I didn't like. I felt he was pushy, and although his feelings for Kathy seemed genuine, his main focus seemed to be sex. While they are both away for the summer he often makes reference to the fact what he is missing most is sex. It just made him a bit sleazy and I felt his intentions were wrong. I liked the authority figures Blume wrote. Kathy's parents and grandparents are wise and honest - but also firm and just want the best for her. They are not scared to over rule her and help her do what is best. I thought they were vital to the story and very good characters. This is a good book for older teenage girls who are thinking about sex and growing up. Blume is open in this book and looks at the act from many different angles and gives some sound advice. It didn't take long for me to read and I can see why this is a teenage classic. There were elements, such as Katherine going forward with the sex and the character of Michael I didn't like, but I don't think that will put others off the book. I give this 3/5.

I agree to both of these!

I loved Sherlock! My hubby and I really enjoyed it - best TV I've seen in a while. I actually found it quite funny

What do you think of it? I really enjoyed it! I'm reading A Daughter's Journey by Lyn Andrews at the moment, so far so good

That film used to always make me cry. I think it was because I liked Josh Hartnett I'm watching Amish: World's Squarest Teenagers

This week I finished: - The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky - Last Chance by Sarah Dessen - The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly

I have just finished The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly. I really enjoyed it

Author's description of the book: “Randolph’s One Bedroom” is a bit like watching TV, I suppose; all the stories revolve around one central character and setting, but are not necessarily related to each other. The book has been described to me as, “Coffee shop stories short enough for one latte” and “Kind of a cross between ‘Seinfeld’ and ‘Twin Peaks’”. I think both of those descriptions are great and wish I had come up with at least one of them. This is a book that consists of 20 short stories, all of which revolve around Randolph. They are random and quirky, but funny! The stories are not all linked in one linear story line, they are just glimpses or episodes in Randolph's life. He works in a coffee shop, so a lot of what occurs take place in that setting, although some of the stories are set in his home. Randolph lives in a place where it is winter for the majority of the year. This means people are trapped indoors and weird things happen as people suffer from cabin fever. I liked Randolph. He seemed like an ordinary bloke that just comes across strange things - such as the Neanderthal man buried by the rubbish bins outside work. He smokes, swears, drinks and dabbles in drugs - but these aren't the main things about him. He is a funny guy - he has wit and he isn't afraid to say what he thinks, even if it is inappropriate. My favourite character wasn't Randolph however. As the majority of the book is set in the coffee shop there are other regular characters. My favourite was Dave - the new assistant manager who got his position by sleeping with his superior. He is not all there, a bit odd, struggles under pressure and is nosey. He was so funny to read. His actions and words just made me laugh, and I can see why Oberg enjoyed writing him the most. The other character I loved was the Pastor. If he didn't get his way or didn't like something he damned everyone to hell. He just made me laugh! I don't think I have a favourite story, I liked them all. The crazy lady who lived upstairs was funny, as were most of the scenes in the coffee shop. Anything that involved Dave was great - especially when the shop was being robbed and even then he couldn't do what was being asked of him! This book is not long, and neither are the stories. They are funny and enjoyable. I didn't like the swearing or the pot smoking but other than that this is a great book. I read it in one day - I just couldn't put it down. This comedy fiction at its best and I recommend it to everyone. 4/5

Yesterday I finished: - Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers - Randolph's One Bedroom by Andrew Oberg

Synopsis: Friends - and enemies - reunited! They say your school days are the best days of your life and Tracey Mortimer would agree. Sixteen years ago she ruled! She was the most popular girl in school, had her own gang and was dating the cutest guy in her year. Now she's 32, stuck in a dull marriage that's only tolerable because her philandering builder husband is rarely at home. And though Tracey loves her two kids, a daily diet of alphabetti spaghetti and the Tweenies, isn't exactly thrilling...Then Tracey spots an ad from a TV company wanting to make a reality-style show on a perfect school reunion. She jumps at the chance to relive the 'good old days'. Only some of Tracey's classmates don't remember their schooldays as fondly...Suzanne Sharp is more interested in revenge than a reunion. Tracey made her teenage years a misery and what better way to lay the past to rest than to get payback on national television. Especially as there are a few old school secrets that Tracey probably wouldn't want broadcast on national TV, not least of which is Tracey's affair with her old form tutor... This is the second Kate Harrison novel I have completed, and I really enjoyed it. I read it in a day as I was eager to know what was going to happen. The protagonist, Tracey, is looking for more enjoyment in her life. Stuck at home with two small children and a husband who is often away, and often playing away from home. When a chance to get on TV and host a class reunion comes up Tracey jumps at the chance. Her memory of school is different from others - she remembers being popular and cool, whilst others, like Suzanne Sharp remember her as a bully, and Gary remembers having his heart broken by her when he discovers that she has an affair with her form tutor. This is an interesting book in that I didn't favour any of the characters, but I liked the story and kept reading for that reason. It was a book I couldn't put down - what a great storyline! It makes me wonder how people I went to school with remember our time there. Mind you - I was just a normal girl with a close group of friends, I wasn't bullied in secondary school and I wasn't the most popular. Tracey however, seemed to be both popular and the bully. I was interested to see how her memories differed from others. Gary didn't want to see her and Suzanne wanted revenge. Watching the story unfold was great! It was like watching reality TV! I felt a bit sorry for Tracey when things started to crumble, but I wasn't too gutted for her because she wasn't the best character. I found it fascinating reading how different people think they are received, and how they actually are. Tracey bugged me if I'm going to be honest. When she realised how she treated people she seemed to find excuses. She blamed her friend Melanie - if she hadn't hung around with her Tracey would have been nice. I didn't know what to make of Suzanne. She was lovely with the children but I wanted to tell her to "get over it". She was holding onto a grudge that I thought she should let go of. I didn't like Dave, Tracey's husband. He cheated on his wife and didn't really like his children. I got angry reading his character - he was just a horrible man. Although I didn't have a favourite character, I did have feelings towards to the characters and engaged with them, which makes for a good read. The ending was not a whole surprising but I liked how Harrison played out the reunion. It seemed realistic enough - with people remembering events and people in different ways. It was a fascinating read and an interesting look at society. There were some parts of the story that could have been focused on more, such as Tracey and her form tutor, and I think Harrison took the easy route there. Overall, however, this was a good read. This is fun chick-lit and I enjoyed it. I would give it 4/5 and will be reading more of her books in the future.

I would recommend The Tenderness of Wolves by Stef Penney - very good book set in Canada in the winter in 1867

Synopsis: It

I've finished the present for my grandparents - it is their 60th wedding anniversary next month:

Synopsis: Lena has lived her whole life near the beach

I'm reading The Mermaid's Mirror by L. K. Madigan at the moment. So far so good

I really enjoyed this book too. I was surprised how similar the film is to the book as well (except the ending). It was great This week I have finished: - Maximum Ride Book 1: The Angel Experiment by James Patterson - Sarah Dessen: Along For The Ride Both I loved!