Kate

Here is my review, hope you don't mind Janet Synopsis from Amazon: Mackenzie Allen Philips' youngest daughter, Missy, has been abducted during a family vacation and evidence that she may have been brutally murdered is found in an abandoned shack deep in the Oregon wilderness. Four years later in the midst of his great sadness, Mack receives a suspicious note, apparently from God, inviting him back to that shack for a weekend. Against his better judgement he arrives at the shack on a wintry afternoon and walks back into his darkest nightmare. What he finds there will change Mack's world forever. In a world where religion seems to grow increasingly irrelevant THE SHACK wrestles with the timeless question, 'Where is God in a world so filled with unspeakable pain?' The answers Mack gets will astound you and perhaps transform you as much as it did him. You'll want everyone you know to read this book! Well, what a brave thing to do, and a very unique way of portraying the Gospel message. This is a deep book, which I think I'm going to have to read again. The story follows Mack, who experiences a horrendous event in his life when his daughter is abducted, presumed murdered. With sadness and guilt all around, Mack struggles through life, wondering about God and His role to play in all this. When Mack heads back to the shack he has a truely amazing experience with God, and he receives many answers from God. Well, I loved it. I was gripped right from the start. I loved how God was portrayed and the way the Christian message is written. I thought there were a lot of unexpected answers to these seemingly impossible questions, such as "where is God in suffering"? But Young addresses these questions and gives very clear answers. I guess the only problem was there is so much to take in, but I am looking forward to reading it again. This book has made me want to enter a deeper relationship with God. I think people will find this book completely unrealistic and not be satisfied with God or the answers Young gives in this book, and that is a shame. I think people need to read this book with an open mind and think about what has been written before forming an opinion on the book. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, what a good read. 10/10 and in response to cosychair, I think the narrative is God speaking and the preaching, as a lot of the book focuses on Mack's struggle to find God, even before the disappearance of Missy. It is all about self discovery and the discovery of God

Diana Souhami - A Woman's Place: The Changing Picture of Women in Britain This is not a long book, only 160 pages, which takes you on a journey through women's history in Britain from the turn of the twentieth century to the 1980s. It is a pictorial history, with many images portraying the changes in women's lifestyle but there is written history too, which is easily accessible and very informative. Souhami is definitely biased; it is clear from her writing she believes women have been mis-treated and are capable of much more than they have been given credit for and if given a chance would maybe prove themselves to be better than men. She covers topics ranging from women in the home, to work, to image/stereotypes. I found this an extremely useful book, with cleverly selected images and writing which is easy and enjoyable to read. 8/10

It was a good book, my review is here. Not the best but an enjoyable read.

Here is my review of the book: Synopsis from Amazon: Friday August 15th, 1997. Two tiny Korean babies are delivered to Baltimore to two families with nothing in common. First there are the Donaldsons, decent Brad and homespun Bitsy and a host of relatives, taking delivery with characteristic American razzmatazz. Then there are the Yazdans, pretty, nervous Ziba and carefully assimilated Sami, with his elegant Iranian-born widowed mother Maryam, receiving their little bundle with wondering discretion. Every year, on the anniversary of

Since joining here in May I've read 70 books and put several down as I wasn't enjoying them - however I was off sick all summer so I had plenty of time to read. So this has been a good year for me I would like to hope next year will be the same in terms of reading but I'm not so sure...

I have just finish Sophie Kinsella's Shopaholic and Sister. Was a quick, easy read. My review is here.

Oooo was it any good?

I finished Shopaholic and Sister. The review is here. It wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be. I read it quickly and even though I wasn't convinced by the story line I did enjoy it

This week I have finished Terry Pratchett's The Colour of Magic and Stef Penney's The Tenderness of Wolves. I am now reading Anne Tyler's Digging to America, Erica James' Tell it To the Skies and Sophie Kinsella's Shopaholic and Sister

I'm reading Shopaholic and Sister at the moment but I'm not finding it very good at the moment, shall I keep going? Does it get better?

Synopsis from Amazon: It is 1867, Canada: as winter tightens its grip on the isolated settlement of Dove River, a man is brutally murdered and a 17-year old boy disappears. Tracks leaving the dead man's cabin head north towards the forest and the tundra beyond. In the wake of such violence, people are drawn to the township - journalists, Hudson's Bay Company men, trappers, traders - but do they want to solve the crime or exploit it? One-by-one the assembled searchers set out from Dove River, pursuing the tracks across a desolate landscape home only to wild animals, madmen and fugitives, variously seeking a murderer, a son, two sisters missing for 17 years, a Native American culture, and a fortune in stolen furs before the snows settle and cover the tracks of the past for good. In an astonishingly assured debut, Stef Penney deftly waves adventure, suspense, revelation and humour into a panoramic historical romance, an exhilarating thriller, a keen murder mystery and ultimately, with the sheer scope and quality of her storytelling, one of the books of the year. I really enjoyed this book, and only have one complaint, which I will deal with now: There were times when I was not convinced I was in 1867, it felt a touch too modern. However, there is so much good stuff that can be send about this book. I did feel like I was there on the journey, struggling through the snow. I loved the characters, all were written so well and I was convinced by them all. They were all memorable and all sparked different emotions in me. My favourite character was probably Parker, I liked how his character developed and the outcome. I think the best bit of the book was the fact there was suspense all the way to the end. The final pages are so exciting! There were several story lines running alongside each other, and two that I don't think were finished but that doesn't spoil the book at all. I liked how all the characters were linked in the story lines and how all the different stories are interwined. The writing style is fairly unique too. Mrs Ross is written in first person, and the rest of the characters are written in third person. I liked this style, it is different but very readable. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. 9/10

I look forward to getting that far into the series! I do plan on reading them in order I think

Synopsis from Amazon: It is fantasy? No - it's a different and more eccentric reality, where the world is flat and moves through space on the back of a giant turtle, Death stalks glumly about his duties, and dragons only exist if you believe in them. And your luggage follows you around on hundreds of little legs... Follow Twoflower the na

I have read it, and I really enjoyed it once I got used to the language. It is definitely my favourite Austen, more engaging with more interesting characters I thought

How come?

What was it about the book which meant you couldn't finish it?

Today I also finished Five Quarters of the Orange by Joanne Harris and really enjoyed it. 9/10

I know there is a thread on Joanne Harris but I am making a separate on as this is a book review, hope that is OK Michelle? Please move it if I'm wrong Synopsis taken from Amazon: Beyond the main street of Les Laveuses runs the Loire, smooth and brown as a sunning snake - but hiding a deadly undertow beneath its moving surface. This is where Framboise, a secretive widow named after a raspberry liqueur, plies her culinary trade at the creperie - and lets memory play strange games. Into this world comes the threat of revelation as Framboise's nephew - a profiteering Parisian - attempts to exploit the growing success of the country recipes she has inherited from her mother, a woman remembered with contempt by the villagers of Les Laveuses. As the spilt blood of a tragic wartime childhood flows again, exposure beckons for Framboise, the widow with an invented past. Joanne Harris has looked behind the drawn shutters of occupied France to illuminate the pain, delight and loss of a life changed for ever by the uncertainties and betrayals of war. What a lovely book. I thoroughly enjoyed it and found it hard to put down. There is so much that can said about it. It is full ofintriguing recipes, which might be worth trying out. Harris looks into many issues, including love, childhood, death, war, secrets, family and mental illness, yet none of it is so daunting it is a hard read. All are dealt with well and sensitively, and add depth to the book. There is action all the way through the book, right up to the last page. The descriptions were so thorough I felt like I was there with Framboise. The narrative does jump around from childhood to middle age and back to childhood again, however this did not bother me at all, I felt it fitted right in with the story. My favourite character has to be Paul, slow Paul who actually is quite a sly dog, I loved him and found myself growing very fond of him. As the book progressed on and we delve more into the recipe book I felt more and more sorry for the Mother, a misunderstood and ill lady. I think Harris wrote her wonderfully. The only complaints I can think of were there were a lot of characters with similar names, and I forgot who was who, and there was also some writing in French and German that I didn't understand which wasn't translated. Apart from that, this is a superb book. 9/10

Thanks I'll remember that

This is shocking, I have not read a Classic since July! I need to set myself a challenge I think, maybe a Classic a month? I read A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens and loved it - that can be my December book!

This is my review of the book, which I loved! Synopsis from Amazon: Ebenezer Scrooge, whose name is now synonymous with greed and parsimony, believes Christmas to be 'humbug'. Refusing to donate any of his fortune to the poor, he comforts himself by saying, 'I don't make merry myself at Christmas, and I can't afford to make idle people merry.' But then the ghost of his old partner, Jacob Marley, returns from the grave to haunt him. Dragging a long and heavy chain, representing his mant sins, Marley sends down the three spirits of Christmas Past, Present and Future to warn scrooge against a similar fate... This is an extremely well known story, and there have been many adaptations of the book, however, I would heartily recommend people read the book. It is a thoroughly enjoyable book, which I loved right from the beginning. Dickens is engaging, and writes in such a descriptive way I felt like I was there with Scrooge on his journey. Dickens looks at family, Christmas, community, poverty, wealth and personality, but in a light-hearted and engaging way. However, a message is conveyed throughout the book - don't be miserable, selfish, rude and tight-fisted towards those in need. My favourite character was probably Fred, Scrooge's nephew. He was full of life, able to stand up to Scrooge, and embraced him as a family member even though Scrooge did not want to be accepted. There is so much that can be said of this book, many issues raised, a whole life looked at and of course Dickens as a writer. I think he tactfully looks at poverty vs. the rich, and makes a point that people with money should be sharing, and that life would be better for those in need, and those in ill-health if charity was given. My favourite period in Scrooge's life was probably when he was a young man, an apprentice, full of life and fun. Had he kept on that road, his life would have been full of family, community and happiness. And as for Dickens, he is wonderful writer and I can find no faults with this book, I loved it. 10/10

Today I finishedA Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. Here is my review: Synopsis from Amazon: Ebenezer Scrooge, whose name is now synonymous with greed and parsimony, believes Christmas to be 'humbug'. Refusing to donate any of his fortune to the poor, he comforts himself by saying, 'I don't make merry myself at Christmas, and I can't afford to make idle people merry.' But then the ghost of his old partner, Jacob Marley, returns from the grave to haunt him. Dragging a long and heavy chain, representing his mant sins, Marley sends down the three spirits of Christmas Past, Present and Future to warn Scrooge against a similar fate... This is an extremely well known story, and there have been many adaptations of the book, however, I would heartily recommend people read the book. It is a thoroughly enjoyable book, which I loved right from the beginning. Dickens is engaging, and writes in such a descriptive way I felt like I was there with Scrooge on his journey. Dickens looks at family, Christmas, community, poverty, wealth and personality, but in a light-hearted and engaging way. However, a message is conveyed throughout the book - don't be miserable, selfish, rude and tight-fisted towards those in need. My favourite character was probably Fred, Scrooge's nephew. He was full of life, able to stand up to Scrooge, and embraced him as a family member even though Scrooge did not want to be accepted. There is so much that can be said of this book, many issues raised, a whole life looked at and of course Dickens as a writer. I think he tactfully looks at poverty vs. the rich, and makes a point that people with money should be sharing, and that life would be better for those in need, and those in ill-health if charity was given. My favourite period in Scrooge's life was probably when he was a young man, an apprentice, full of life and fun. Had he kept on that road, his life would have been full of family, community and happiness. And as for Dickens, he is wonderful writer and I can find no faults with this book, I loved it. 10/10

No I haven't but I do have it at home

I read Deluded by Dawkins? by Andrew Wilson and posted a review in the non-fiction section. Yesterday I started Jodi Picoult's Tenth Circle but have put it down. Picoult is an incredible writer but the problem was the issue - self harm and running away. It was just a bit too close to home for me.