I seem to be experiencing a severe case of ‘missing reading mojo’.
How should I embark on getting it back?
I’ve gone from devouring a book in a couple of days, to not having devoured one since the beginning of December. Nothing seems to grab my attention and keep me captivated.
I’ve tried chick-lit, murder mystery, christian, psychological thriller, humour, self-help and even a classic.
Nada, niks.
Suggestions anyone?
Posted by timeout
This review was submitted by my eldest daughter (12) who is a complete bookworm and has already made her way through the Inheart Trilogy as well as the Eragon Trilogy.
‘Imagine you could talk to dragons ……’
This book is about a young girl, aged 11, called Quenelda. She is the daughter of the Earl Rufus De Winter, Commander of the Stealth Dragon Services (SDS). Quenelda has been riding dragons since she was 3 and her dream is to join the SDS and fight alongside her father in the war against the hobgoblins.
This is a story about danger, tragedy, hope and making sacrifices for others.
It is a truly remarkable book and anyone who enjoys losing themselves in a fantasy novel will love this book.
Thanks Daniella, for your review!
So, the Exclusive Books Summer Sale is on this week! I am so excited, I have a voucher or two to spend and what better place than at the sale…
The preview for fanatics members is on the 27 January and for the rest of the public, the 28th January. I dont think Im going to make the preview due to Pilate’s, but Il def be there first thing on Thursday morning. Ooh, cant wait, I even have it book marked in my calendar. Cant possibly forget such an important occasion, now can I?
Will you be going? If so, do let me know what bargains you picked up, you can be assured I will let you know what my loot contains.
Gorgeous Reading Tuesday to you all!
Another review from Laura – thanks again!
“They are now putting perfectly nice wine into screw-top bottles and my life is transformed”– Eleanor
This is why I loved this book – because they appreciate the value of screw-top wine bottles.
And for the understanding in this;
“What is it about motherhood that could put marriage in the shade? What is it about oneself that made one still not want motherhood to be the only identifying mark? What was it about money that seemed – seductively – to promise a taunting vision of freedom even within the confines of these relationships” – Karen.
This is a simple tale about friendships – unlikely friendships. It involves two single mothers and as any single mother knows, your friends are usually found in the most unlikely of places because, I think, as a single mother you have to cling to whoever holds their hand out.
An older woman decides to befriend two young single moms, Lindsey and Paula and their children. They meet on Friday nights. They don’t do anything special – it is not a book club or a dinner club – they just meet and chat and enjoy being with each other.
The little circles widens to include two more ladies, Blaise, a career women and Karen a married mother of 2 little girls. And lets not forget Lindsey’s wayward sister who lives from day to day in a world of her own.
Their Friday Nights become a comfort, a safe place to go. Their friendships deepen and strengthen. But then a man arrives onto the seen and the dynamic is forever changed. Their friendships and loyalties to each other are tested.
This is a great easy read. It deals with the challenges of being married as well as the difficulties of being a single mother. There is a love story or two. There is story of a sisters love.
More than that though there is a very real story about life that Joanna Trollope writes about with insight only gained through experience.
A lovely book that I thoroughly enjoyed.
I am so excited and pleased to see that there is another South African Book Blog, Being Brazen Books, which I would love you to go over and visit here. Welcome!
She is attempting to up her reading and in order to inspire herself, she has started this blog. Which I think is awesome! There is reading list which is up for 2 months and a new one is put up on the 27 March, which means there is hopefully ample time to get some reading in. Even with the busyness of daily life.
These are the books she has chosen for the next couple of months:
Have you ever discovered an author that just tickles your fancy and your funny bone all at the same time? And once you have discovered that author do you remember how you discovered them?
Well,this is how I feel about Jasper Fforde! I discovered him through a friend of mine who also has an eclectic taste in books and wow, what a gift she gave me by doing that. I have read all of his books and have been waiting patiently for January 2010 to arrive in order to purchase his new book – Shades of Grey- which sounds like just the thing I need in my reading collection. Along with all of his others of course!
Heres an exerpt from Kalahari:
No one could cheat the Colourman and the colour test. What you got was what you were, forever. Your life, career and social standing decided right there and then, and all worrisome life-uncertainties eradicated forever. You knew who you were, what you would do, where you would go, and what was expected of you. In return, you simply accepted your rung upon the Chromatic ladder, and assiduously followed the Rulebook. Your life was mapped. And all in the time it takes to bake a tray of scones …Eddie Russett lives comfortably in a world where fortune, career and ultimate destiny are rigidly dictated by the colours you can see. Until he falls in love with a Grey named Jane, and starts to question every aspect of the Rulebook. Why are spoons illegal? And what actually happens to all those people who are sent to the Emerald City to Reboot?
So, imagine my surprise and excitement, when I found this blog, with the rather enticing name of ‘strange and random happenstance’ with this giveaway! So, if you fancy trying your luck (though if you do win, you have to let me read it…;-)) or if you just feel like holding fingers and toes that I win it, please head on over and check it out.
If none of that makes you want to read the book, check out this photo of Jasper Fforde himself, its enough to make a woman go weak at the knees, and may tempt you enough to give his books a go!
Those of you who know me (IRL) will know that Marian Keyes is, without a doubt, my all-time favourite/go to/best author.
Now many of you reading this will poo poo this statement – after all, how can The Queen of Chick-Lit qualify as best author? Because, although she writes chick-lit, she delves into subjects that many of us have never had any experience with. Drug addiction, divorce, depression, emigration and losing a loved one to name but a few. She handles these topics with such tenderness and insight, yet at the same time will never fail in bringing a good old chuckle, never mind smile to oneself, when you identify with her writing.
So today, when I heard the news, I was so immediately saddened. Apparently Marian is suffering from severe depression, and at this stage just does not see the light at the end of the tunnel. She has sprialled so low that she has no will to do anything.
If you’ve ever suffered, even mildly, from depression, you will have an acute understanding of what she is going through. To be where she is now is a place I would not want my enemy to be.
Pop over to her website to read her newsletter to her readers.
And perhaps leave a word or two of upliftment for her.
Thanks to random.org we have winners for our ‘A legal Alien’!
and
Candi
If you could both send me a postal address for where the books need to go, I will get them winging to you as soon as possible. Congratulations to you both, I hope this gets the week off to a great start and you enjoy the book.
This review was submitted by Laura – thank you!
“This book may, so far, be my best Marian Keyes book yet and I have read a lot of her books.
The story is told in the voices of the 4 main characters. Grace – a headstrong journalist who knows what she wants. Marnie – Grace’s flaky, insecure twin sister. Lola – a purple haired stylist who is trying to deal with the news her boyfriend is marrying someone else. Alicia – the elusive women who is marrying Lola’s boyfriend.
These four women are unknowingly tied together by one man – a man who has literally left marks on all their lives that will stay with them all for a lifetime.
This book touched me deeply and I was unable to get out of bed for an entire day (true story) because I had to know what happened. I identified with each of these four women. Graces determination, Marnie’s insecurity and Alicia’s utter dedication to a man she believed she loved. But it was Lola who I felt was, in so many ways, telling my story. Without going into too much detail about what happened to her – I felt her pain at reliving a past she had believed was good. I felt her shame at realising she had let herself down. I felt her triumph when she realised she had moved on. I felt these as if they were my own – because I have felt her exact same shame and triumph.
This is a story about physical abuse. Keyes deals with it subtly yet the message is so very powerful and with every strike you almost want to cower from the pain. It is a story about addictions and how they destroy not only the lives of the one addicted but all those around them. It is a story about love and how when it is real it will conquer all. It is a story about family and the ties that bind siblings. It is a story about friendship and deep unmoving loyalty of true friends.
It was for a hard read. It brought to the service issues I thought I had long past dealt with. It was a good read because I realised I had dealt with the issues but would never truly forget.
There are some things impossible to forget.
Thanks to Laura for a review on what sounds like an awesome little book!
This little book (and it is literally little) is not about to even be considered for any literary awards – it is just a nice little book to have on your book shelf.
It is written in the voice of 10 year old Oscar who is in hospital with a terminal disease. Each day he writes God a letter about what has happened that day. Despite his age, Oscar knows what is happening and he knows he doesn’t have a lot of time so he decides to cram as much as he can into each day.
He has his first kiss and gets married all in 48 hours.
The Pink Lady is Rose. She is an old lady who volunteers at the hospital and she visits Oscar each day and provides him the with comfort and security his family are unable to.
It is a simple little book with a simple message – make the most of your life but the way it is told makes it a sad little story.
For a quick read I would definitely recommend this little book!