The Library Book, by Susan Orlean, is simply wonderful. It made me want to go to my nearest library to sit and contemplate and just breathe in the bookish goodness. It’s ostensibly a non-fiction book about the 1986 fire which destroyed the Los Angeles public library, including over 400,000 books. Orlean weaves her story of […]
Books
Review: Pan’s Labyrinth, by Cornelia Funke & Guillermo del Toro
Pan’s Labyrinth bears an unusual relation to the 2006 film of the same name. It is a film-to-book adaptation rather than vice versa. Best-selling author, Cornelia Funke, has written a novel inspired by Guillermo del Toro’s film. A very dark fairy tale for adults, Pan’s Labyrinth follows the plight of young Ofelia after she and her mother […]
Review: The End of Time, by Gavin Extence
The End of Time is a fabulous modern story about the differences and similarities between people of all races and religions. Told in first person with empathy and humour, it centres on on the story of two teenage Syrian brothers trying to reach the U.K. where they hope to leave the war behind them and […]
Review: The Bride Test, by Helen Hoang
I read The Bride Test, by Helen Hoang, when I was flat on my back with the flu. It was such a fun, heartwarming and easy read. It’s an unusual premise with echoes of familiar stories. If you transported Pride and Prejudice to the modern day, mashed it up with Pretty Woman themes and then […]
Teens, drugs and dementia – Love And Other Battles, by Tess Woods
I picked up Love and Other Battles, by Tess Woods because I’d heard others rave about it, and I’m really glad I did. It’s a wonderfully warm and inspiring story of mothers, daughters and lovers across three generations. It made me laugh and cry and I even learned a thing or two about parenting teenagers. I […]
The French Photographer: female war journalists in World War II
Natasha Lester’s wonderful new novel, The French Photographer, follows the fictional life of Jessica May from 1942 through to the current day. Model turned war photojournalist, Jessica runs up against army men who consider it their job to keep women in their place – behind the front lines. They would prefer she report on food stamps […]
