Kate

I have just finished Along For The Ride by Sarah Dessen - I loved it!

Synopsis: A flamboyant and controversial personality of enormous wit and intelligence, Voltaire is one of the most intriguing figures of the eighteenth century Enlightenment. His masterpiece is Candide, a brilliant satire on the theory that 'the world is the best of all possible worlds.' The book traces the picaresque adventures of the guileless Candide, who is forced into the army, flogged, shipwrecked, betrayed, robbed, separated from his beloved Cunegonde, tortured by the Inquisition, etc., all without losing his resilience and will to live. I don't know what to say about this novel, except that is was very strange! The story follows Candide on his journey through life to find love and such life. However, he often finds himself in mischief or witness to some extraordinary stories. None of this puts him off his mission though. This is truly bizarre. I read it as it is on The Rory Gilmore list, and as I sit and reflect on the novel I just don't know what to say. There are elements of this story that will stay with me for a long time - such as the woman with one buttock or the ladies who entertained themselves with monkeys. These things are just odd. I've read other reviews of this book and found that people laughed all the through - I didn't, I was more bemused than anything. I didn't know what to think. For me, this wasn't a book that was about liking the characters. I think I only finished it because I wanted to know what other crazy scenarios Voltaire could think up. This book contains rape, murder, theft, slavery and a whole host of other things. This is not my usual read and thankfully it isn't very long - less than 200 pages. I don't think I enjoyed this book, I finished it just to see what else would come out the woodwork. Only 3/5 for me.

I'd be happy to set this up as a bookring if people would like?

1. Who was your favourite character and why? I didn't have a favourite character I don't think. I found Alice a bit irritating - I thought she was a bit pompous. I found the Queen funny, with her continual "off with their head!" She was just amusing. I was surprised by the fact I quite liked the Cheshire Cat. In the Disney film it freaked me out, but he was quite pleasant in the book. 2. Was there a particular part you enjoyed/disliked more than the rest? I liked the tea party. It is one of the parts that has stayed with me. I was entertained by the idea of the game of crotchet, with live animals. The thought of them escaping did have me chuckling. I didn't like the swimming in the pool of tears though. I found that depressing to read. 3. Was this the first book you've read in this genre/by this author, has it encouraged you to read more? I love children's classics and am hoping to read through the Wordsworth list. Although I only found this book "OK" it hasn't put me off. I prefer the books by Francis Hodgson Bennett to Carroll however I just love this genre. I don't think you can ever be too old for children's books. 4. Were there any parts/ideas you struggled with? Again it is the idea of the pool of tears. That is something not in the film so it took me by surprise and I just didn't like it. Why was it there? It was so odd. And the animals all running away from her...I just found it a bit strange. 5. Overall, was reading the book an enjoyable experience? It was an OK read. I would give it 3/5 I think. I won't be rushing to read it again. It wasn't as eccentric as I was expecting, and like I've said, I had no real favourites but it was a pleasant read, and not very long.

Is it good? I've been trying to read Regency Buck by Georgette Heyer but I'm finding it boring, does it get better?

In the post I received Randolph's One Bedroom by Andrew Oberg and from netGallery I received: - Miss Foster's Folly by Alice Gaines - Hunger by Jackie Morse Kessler - Presumed Dead by Shirley Wells - Betrayed by Claire Robyns - Karma Bites by Stacy Kramer and Valerie Thomas I'm currently listening to The Angel Experiment by James Patterson

I got this as a review book from netGallery, and am really pleased I did! Synopsis: No one at Kayla

Yesterday I finished About A Boy by Nick Hornby and The Oracle of Dating by Allison van Diepen. Both I really enjoyed

I have just finished About A Boy by Nick Hornby and going to carry on reading The Oracle of Dating by Allison van Diepen

About the Book by Author: My book is both a comedy and a tragedy. If you are looking for a lighthearted read, this isn

I'm reading The Oracle of Dating by Allison van Diepen

Is Unseen Academicals good? I can't wait to get to it! I haven't done any fun reading, just journal reading today. I did write my review of The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath too

Synopsis: The Bell Jar tells the story of a gifted young woman's mental breakdown beginning during a summer internship as a junior editor at a magazine in New York City in the early 1950s. The real Plath committed suicide in 1963 and left behind this scathingly sad, honest and perfectly-written book, which remains one of the best-told tales of a woman's descent into insanity. I chose to read this book because it is on the Rory Gilmore Reading List. I wasn't sure what to expect as this is a hard subject to sensitively write about. However, I think Sylvia Plath did a super job. Of course, that might be because she did really commit suicide. The book is about Esther, a girl who moves to New York to work as a junior editor at a magazine. She experiences all sorts in New York, from the realisation that not all men are nice, to extreme food poisoning, by someone set on killing the magazine staff. Her downward spiral starts here, but gets worse when she moves home and can't get a job. She is stuck at home, sharing a bedroom with her always-pleasant mother. It is here that Esther has her breakdown, and tries to kill herself. The result is her ending up in hospital, where she experiences shock-therapy and has to cope with the death of people she knows. This book is enjoyable - if that is the right word. It is unsettling, and will haunt me for a long time I think. There are some images which will be hard to erase, but that does not spoil the book. It is not an easy topic to read but it is well written and I found myself wanting to keep reading more, to find out what happened. Esther was a character I found myself liking, and I didn't like watching her slip down the road of depression and suicide. I really wanted her to be OK. There were aspects of her situation I found myself relating to, and a few years ago I would not have been able to read this book. I wasn't bothered by the other characters - it was all about Esther and what happened to her for me. This is a very sensitive issue and I would approach this book with caution if mental health issues are close to you. That said, in my current mindset I enjoyed this book. 4/5

I'm hoping to get to this next week:)

Feel free to send books my way

I finished The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle today, and started and finished Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll

Today I finished The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, which is my first written by Conan Doyle. I really enjoyed it

I'm listening to Alice in Wonderland, have 1 n 1/2 hours to go

Synopsis: Magical Cornwall, a lost garden, a love story from long ago... Lamorna Cove - a tiny bay in Cornwall, picturesque, unspoilt. A hundred years ago it was the haunt of a colony of artists. Today, Mel Pentreath hopes it is a place where she can escape the pain of her mother's death and a broken love affair, and gradually put her life back together. Renting a cottage in the enchanting but overgrown grounds of Merryn Hall, Mel embraces her new surroundings and offers to help her landlord, Patrick Winterton, restore the garden. Soon she is daring to believe her life can be rebuilt. Then Patrick finds some old paintings in an attic, and as he and Mel investigate the identity of the artist, they are drawn into an extraordinary tale of illicit passion and thwarted ambition from a century ago, a tale that resonates in their own lives. But how long can Mel's idyll last before reality breaks in and everything is threatened? Shifting imperceptibly from one generation to another, The Memory Garden vividly evokes the lives of two women, born a century apart, but who face the same challenges to their happiness and survival. I loved this novel ♥ This is the first Rachel Hore novel that I have read, and I am so glad I bought this book. I have already leant it out to others and reserved another book at the library by Hore. This is a beautiful novel set in rural Cornwall, full of history, love, secrets and flowers. The book follows Mel as she hides away in a secluded cottage under the pretence of writing a book about local artists, but really mending her broken heart. The man she has rented the cottage from, Patrick, is also suffering from a break-up, once where she won't go away. They strike up a friendship over the garden, pulling it up and discovering new secrets of the old house Patrick lives in. Mel investigates the life of this mysterious artist, and in the process re-builds her own life. This is just a stunning book that I can't rate highly enough. While reading this I was reminded of both The Forgotten Garden and The Secret Garden. This book is a cross between the two, and as I loved both of them, this did not let me down. It is a simple story line: girl moves to Cornwall, discovers an old secret about a love affair, and falls in love herself, but I think the simplicity of the book is one of the things that makes it special. Along with the descriptions of both the bay where artists painted and the grounds and gardens of Merryn Hall, this was just beautiful. This book did jump back to the past so we could learn about this secret artist - Polly, a maid, and her love affair. I enjoyed these sections - seeing how life can change for one girl, and what love can do to you. The history seemed accurate enough and I liked how the reader was given a glimpse into the time when the house was at its most majestic and that the reader was allowed to get to know Polly and the events surrounding her life. There were some fantastic characters in the book, to go along with the great storyline and wonderful descriptions. I liked both Mel and Polly. I found myself empathising with them and wanting to know what was going to happen. I loved the people in the quiet town of Lamorna Cove that Mel meets. They were believable characters and people I would like to know! My favourite character was probably John the head gardener when Polly was at Merryn Hall though. Although we didn't see a lot of him, he was strong and silent and as the novel unfolds his good nature comes through and he plays a very important role in what happens to Merryn Hall and its residents. This was not a fast read, but very enjoyable. Like I said, I have been recommending this novel and lending my copy out because I really enjoyed it. It was a great read and for those who like woman's books and historical novels, this is well worth reading. Top marks from me, I can't recommend it enough. 5/5

I'm reading The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes at the moment and I plan to listen to Alice in Wonderland this afternoon

Yeah I'm likely to look up a word if I don't know it

Synopsis: Estrella deMadrigal thought she knew herself: daughter, granddaughter, sister, dearest friend, beloved. She is Star in the Night Sky, Truth in the Darkness. But truth is rare and precious in this cruel and unforgiving century in Spain, when Jews who refused conversion to Christianity risked everything - love, life, family, faith. Then: A startling discovery shakes Estrella's world to the core. And yet, it is something small and sweet that sets it aflame. A kiss. A kiss from someone she is forbidden to love. As a new girl emerges from the cocoon of secrets in which she has been shrouded, passion burns and friendship crumbles - and betrayal unleashes a monstrous evil from the very deepest part of the earth. Estrella crosses over to a place she never thought she could be; she is someone she never could have imagined. Remember the story she is about to tell you. This is a short, young-adult book. I read it in one sitting and it was an OK read. Estrella is an ordinary girl in the 1500s, until she falls in love. The problem is that the person she has fallen for is her best friend, and next door neighbour's cousin. And she is in love with him too. What to do? She tries to resist but eventually she gives in to her feelings - leading to the destruction of all she has known. This book is set in an era where if you are not a Christian you face horrendous injustice and racism. Jews and Muslims hide or convert to Christianity but that is not enough. Estrella and many others are about to have their lives shaken due to this segregation. This theme shapes the whole book and Hoffman is brave with what she writes. Not everyone survives, many lives are ruined; the message is loud and clear - it is not right. This is a good read and has some likeable characters. Estrella is one. I couldn't help but feel sorry for her and what she suffered. However, she was determined and had a survivor's nature and she fought anything that was thrown at her. She looked out for others and was just an honest girl who fell in love. I think Hoffman wrote realistic characters - such as the friend who suffered jealousy and the Grandma whose life fell apart when her husband was taken. This was a quick read. The book is split into four sections, each following Estrella. This is an easy read but it has an important theme. It was an OK read 3/5

Yeah I do, I saw your tweet to her. I liked it!

My advice would be do nothing else! Hehe!

Well, it is July now, and I'm up to three books: 1. Debbie Macomber: 50 Harbour Street 2. Melanie Ray: The Great Destruction 3. Terry Pratchett: Going Postal