This novel is all about divorce, friendship and starting over. Pain in bucket loads and emotional upheaval but all intermixed with learning how to get over a divorce and starting over.

The name of the book comes from the ‘divorce group’ which explains that sometimes one’s first marriage is not neccesarily for life and that it is like a starter house.  I know that sounds a bit crude, but in the book it makes sense.

There is a group who for their various reasons go to the ‘divorce recovery group’ and it charts their journey from hurting to healing.

I really enjoyed this book, it was an easy to read book, which I didn’t really want to put down and the ending was happy but not overly sugar coated:-)

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It follows one man’s journey of living the bible literally. He takes us through some of the more obscure commandents of the bible as well as the ones we all know. He shows us the different factions of christianity and how some groups take some parts of the bible literally and not others and the various rituals included in the bible.

I found this a fascinating read as I myself am not a Christian, though I have had my foray into it. I think that everyone should read this book as it opens up ones mind to seeing the faith behind the scenes.

I am also looking forward to reading his first book which is how he reads the entire encyclopedia Britanica!

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Until yesterday when I traipsed off down to the video store in the pouring rain to find myself something to watch. Scouring the shelves, looking for something to jump out at me and say ‘watch me! watch me!’ I found this movie on the very bottom shelf.

After some pondering decided, hell, why not? May aswell give it a go, though I wasn’t particularly keen considering that most movies I have seen which have been based on books that I have enjoyed have just not had the same effect. Words are definitely my pleasure. Movies are  more for mindless entertainment. (That may just be me though…)

Anyway, so I brought it home with me, and had my evening planned on the couch watching it, with a glass of red wine and a fire blazing.

I was pleasantly surprised! This was a lovely movie. I have to be completely honest and say that I can’t compare it to the book as I cant remember all of it, but it was lovely. I think if one had to watch it without having read the book, it would be just as lovely.

The characters were brilliant and the time travelling made sense, though a thought that they should have ‘present time’ in the top corner when it was real time would of been a help, especially in the beginning;-) But apart from that, I enjoyed it.

A beautiful love story which I think will be as timeless as the book. Leaky seams were the result at the end, and as I do remember the book had the same result, I really was not dissapointed.

Have you seen it?

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Though saying that, I didn’t think that this was her best book. I far enjoyed ‘The End of Mr Y’ more aswell as Popco. If you haven’t read either of these, find yourself a copy,they are extremely good.

Basically, the story is about Meg and her life, philosophy, the age of self help books and how we tend to want the ‘perfect’ life which is just fictionalised anyway. More than that of course, but that would give it all away…

I found it unputdownable and enjoyed it. I love her writing and I always find that I am left thinking about the world and people after I have finished one of her books. That to me, is a sign of a very good book.

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Mushy Peas on Toast by Laurian Clemence is not only a book but a blog too. So, if you haven’t read this book, and you think you might, you can head over there to see if you like her style of writing.

I have to say, that I didn’t particularly enjoy this book. I finished it, with some skim reading – I found large parts of it just carried on and on saying the same thing, and to me, that is a lot like boredom.

The idea was great, and maybe it is even based on a real life story, I don’t know, but it was too wishy washy for me.

In a nutshell, the main character, Peas, has broken up with her long term boyfriend and finds herself alone for the first time in years. It is the journey she takes of re finding  herself and learning to love herself as is, without the need for a man in her life to take care of her. The premise for this sounds great, how many of us have found ourselves in that situation and had the wind knocked out of us? But I didn’t enjoy her writing account of it.

For me, it was slightly too self indulgent and sameish.

I have heard from others who have read this book and loved it, saying its the best chick lit book in ages. Hence the reason why I picked it up to read.

Sadly, it did disappoint me.

Have you read it and if so, what did you think?

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I went along today, unfortunately not as alone as I would have liked. Bean came along with me, but I have to admit that she was a delight. In fact, I think she had as much fun as I did. Apart from finding children’s mags for a mere R10 and getting free popcorn, which she proceeded to perch on any available book shelf to eat (and read whatever book was available for her to read) she trotted along next to me, no complaining what soever and didn’t mind me saying ‘ lets have a look here, babs’. I think she will grow up to be an avid reader-have I mentioned that she is beginning to recognise letters? Ah, I can’t wait until she can read! Anyhoo, I am going slightly off track…

The Book Fair was delicious. There were thousands of books, and if anyone had gone in without a budget and decided to shop, they may have ended up broke:-)

This is what I came home with and is waiting patiently for ‘me time’ to get stuck into the bag of goodies.

Our Tragic Universe – Scarlett Thomas.

I have been an avid fan of hers ever since I discovered her years ago with Popco. Brilliant writer, expect a review soon!

Comfort by Tina Bester. My fingers are itching to use these recipes. They look delectable. I unfortunately did not get to see her yesterday at the Book Fair due to baking orders but I did get a glance at Jodie Piccoult and heard some of her interview.

More Milly Molly Mandy by Joyce Lankester Drisley. Anotherof my childhood favourites which I just could not resist.

How to catch a star by Oliver Jeffers. This is one of Bean’s favourites and so I had to purchase it for her, of course.

They had thousands more, which honestly I could have stocked at least a whole book shelf but I held back, it is only the beginning of the month…

There were also magazines on sale for R10 so I managed to find a couple of foodie mags and am rather tempted to go back again for more. But I will reign myself in and stick to my budget, no matter how hard it may be. Will power!

Have you found anything good to read lately?

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I can’t wait! Last year I went along with The Man and Bean in tow and I had an awful time, I had to rush past stands full of books, stands full of pamphlets, stands full of all things bookish because The Man was grumpy. This year, I am going alone. I am planning an all day event, to browse, to peruse, to gain my full enjoyment of having an entire afternoon dedicated to looking at books.

In the chefs kitchen, Tina Bester will be there at 3pm on Saturday 31st July, and in case any of you are wondering who she is, she is the author of  Bake. The most delicious book on baking that one could ask for,and she has a fairly new book out called ‘Comfort’, which I am itching to get my hands on.

Amongst many other authors that I haven’t heard of, I know, bad me! Jodie Picoult will be at the fair doing Book signings. As well as staying at the Mount Nelson Hotel, you can purchase tickets at R165 for a high tea together with Jodie on the 1st August for 10.30am.

Me, I just want to look at books!

For all the info you need head on over here :

http://www.capetownbookfair.com/

and if that doesn’t tempt you, if you use your book shop loyalty card, you can get 50% off the entry price!

See you there?!

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If  you are still interested, please fill in the Parcel Partner submission form at the top of the page by the 29 July 2010 and we can get cracking on those early Christmas presents!

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What an absolutely heartbreaking novel. I have to admit that I had to leave it halfway for a while, it was just a bit too much to deal with all in one sitting (in between I read The Angina Monologues and Sapho’s Leap – review to be up soon) but last night I finished it.

And if you are also one of the last to not have read it, or not even have an inkling as to what it is about, read on:

The story is about friendship. Courage. Guilt. War. Compassion. Lies. It has a heady mix of realism and if you are anything like me, it will be hard reading at times. Set in Afghanistan it relates the time both pre and post-soviet invasion and  how the lives of individuals carry on. How the country has changed and the violence that pervades but still there is goodness hidden under the shadows. The story is about familial ties. Inhumanity. Love. Forgiveness. The characters in this novel are bound together in cultural identity, spanning from the 70’s to the 90’s and how the weaving of family and of blood is never truly gone.

Amir is an upper class Pashtun and his constant play mate is Hassan, the son of his fathers long time  Hazara servant. The story tells us of how decisions made in a morally testing friendship can have repercussions a longer way down the line than one thinks. That personal character can always be challenged and that it is up to the individual to make a change.

It depicts with honesty the feelings of Amir as we follow him through his life, the pervading sense of guilt and internal struggle but then the justice which inevitably takes place.

It is a sad, breathtaking, heartbreaking yet heartwarming novel. That in amidst the violence and unease, there can exist kindness and joy.

A joy as simple as kite flying.

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The story tells us of the lives of three female doctors finding love, courage and compassion as they do their residency at a rural hospital.

Pampered, spoilt Rachel struggles to establish her independence and learns to love across the cultural divide. Conservative, beautiful Seema struggles to end a relationship that has become increasingly abusive. And street-savvy Nomsa finally learns to accept a past she has spent a lifetime denying.

I really enjoyed this book, as much as I did her first one and it shows the state of rural hospitals in the ‘third world’ How AIDS is still a ’silent death’ and how with compassion much can be overcome.

I urge you to read this book, if only for the ’seeing’ what it is like in hospitals. I know I would not be able to be a doctor, but have huge respect for those that are and the work that they do.

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