Since going away in the summer, I've been on a bit of a roll when it comes to reading. I've managed to get through a few so thought I'd share them on here with you.
Having heard work colleagues rave about "The Goldfinch", I decided to take it with me travelling. They all said that they were hooked on the story of a boy who survives a terrorist bombing that kills his mother, and then struggles with survivors guilt for the rest of his life. Chronicling Theo's life from pre-teen to adulthood, this is an epic exploration of how one unexpected event shaped his life and affected all his future decisions. Drugs, art theft and the criminal underworld are all prominent throughout this 800+ page book; it's not a happy tale.
The first thing to mention about this book is that I started it in mid-July and only finished it at the end of October. Admittedly I did stop reading it for a few weeks, but even so, it's still an unusually long time for me to get through a book. I did like it, I got invested in the characters, particularly Theo, but for me Tart's in-depth description of every scene and emotion became too much. I found myself skipping chunks of text to get to the bit that actually pushed the storyline forward. I was desperate to know what was going to happen to Theo but had to wade through a couple of hundred pages too many to finally reach the end. I would still recommend this book but I'd make sure I let people know that it's definitely not one for those who like a quick read!
I read Giovanna's debut novel "Billy and Me" when it first came out and as soon as I heard she was releasing a second novel, I knew I had to pick it up. I actually got this a while back and planned to take it travelling with me but I couldn't squeeze it into my rucksack! I read this during my hiatus from"The Goldfinch".
Following the lives of three best friends Ben, Robert and Maddy, this is a romantic will she - won't she tale. Written in alternating chapters from Ben and Maddy's perspectives, the story explores the relationship between boys and girls/men and women, and the idea if they can ever really just be friends. The opening chapter sees Maddy preparing to marry Robert, but she reveals that if best man Ben stood up and said something, even at that late stage, she may pull out the wedding.
As the half of the chapters are from Ben's perspective, you naturally take his side and feel more protective towards his feelings than Robert's. The only time you hear Robert''s thoughts directly are in prologues to some of the chapters but these are often only a paragraph long. As the story unfolds, you want to read more and more to see where Maddy's decisions will take her. Giovanna has become one of my favourite authors, she brilliantly captures and puts into words the perfect romance stories - I've just picked up her new short story "Christmas With Billy and Me" and can't wait to read it!
All Because Of You - Melissa Hill
Whilst out and about exploring my local area I came across an Oxfam Books shop and thought I'd pop in to see if anything caught my eye. After spending way too much time in there, I settled on this particular novel - there was something about the cover that drew me in.
Tara Harrington has what seems like the perfect life - she's built up a successful career as a life coach, has a flash new car and a nice home with Glenn. When her younger and somewhat troublesome sister announces she's pregnant and refuses to reveal the identity of the baby's father, things start to unravel. Suspicion starts to fall on Tara's best friend's husband Eric and the perfect life the two of them have built starts being questioned.
Natalie, an ultra glamorous PR girl from London, also seems to have it all. That is, apart from the fact she can't hold onto a boyfriend and find the husband she so desperately craves. Enlisting Tara's help, a friendship blossoms between the two and they discover they have more in common then they ever thought they would.
Hill keeps you guessing until the very end with plot twists and turns that I didn't predict coming. It's definitely worth a read if you're normally a chick-lit lover but looking for something that has that little bit extra to the plot.
