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patchworkbunny's Reviews (2.12k)
Both a cautionary tale of the destructive nature of drug use and a look at the fascination we have with history. It's certainly still very relevant today, especially with the interest people have in discovering their roots or local history. A hard book to categorise but would appeal to fans of the timeslip novel (eg. Kate Mosse).
You know what you're getting with Jill Mansell, easily readable, West Country romance, even if it's a bit predictable. At first I found the two main female characters a little immature for their age but I soon got drawn into the village romances.
The writing is basic but the story is touching. The descriptions of life as a Marine in Afghanistan feel very true - monotonous laced with moments of danger. However I didn't find the military aspects held my interest and found myself putting the book down a lot.
Mercy goes back to her roots, learns about her father and about her coyote side... all whilst on honeymoon. Plus there's something sinister in the river that can't be ignored and that walking stick returns for some more action. An improvement on the previous book, sad that I'll now have to wait for the next.
Whilst I was reading this book, someone asked me if it was a love story and I replied 'I doubt it'. Well it turned out I was mistaken because enduring love is at the very centre of the story. There are two distinct voices in the narration, so at no point was I unsure about whose story I was reading. I did prefer the narrator's prose more than Marianne's. I felt her stories rambled a bit and felt they were more like legends. However I did enjoy them more as they started to intertwine with the narrator's story and the central concept of an eternal soul.
And for all those pedants out there, Marianne does correct the narrator on the proper definition of gargoyle.
And for all those pedants out there, Marianne does correct the narrator on the proper definition of gargoyle.
Best read as part of the Cassie Palmer series, this book details what's going on with Mircea's family during the action of Curse The Dawn. It starts off a bit clumsily as it's trying to quickly brief the reader of the world that most readers will already know about. I liked the back-story of the family and there's a lot of tie-ins with the other series. The character of Claire was a bit woolly but overall an enjoyable break from Cassie's narration.
Reading The Eyre Affair is like slipping on a comfy jumper, made just for book lovers. It's set in an alternative past where the Crimean War never ended and literature is revered enough to get its own branch of law enforcement. It's full of 'in-jokes' and word play that kept me smiling throughout. I think a basic knowledge of Jane Eyre is required to get the most out of it, even if you just read a plot summary first.
I think these books are more suited to the younger end of the young adult spectrum. I felt Secret Vampire was a bit sappy but quite enjoyed Daughters of Darkness. Enchantress (otherwise known as Spellbinder) came somewhere between the two. A full review of the three books is on my blog.
I found Aibileen's narration difficult to get into, so I'm glad the book switches between narrators. Overall, a moving and sometimes amusing read about relationships and kindness in difficult circumstances. Some fantastic characters too, Celia probably being my favourite.
Victoria Cosford is an Australian food writer who also teaches Italian cookery classes. Amore and Amaretti is a memoir of her time spent in Tuscany. As someone who loves food and has enjoyed visiting Florence, I thought this would be right up my street...
The cover screams chick-lit at me which is rather misleading. Whilst the book starts of with a Florentine romance, I feel you'd be disappointed if that's what you're wanting. The relationship comes across as slightly impersonal and a little cheesy at times, in part due to Victoria's use of words like “effulgent” to describe her love interest. If ever a word should be retired from the English language, I think that should be top of the list. Bear in mind that it is a foodie memoir and not fiction and you'll start with the right expectations. If you can get past the author's descriptions of her on/off boyfriend, Gianfranco, you'll get to the good stuff, the descriptions of food. If you don't enjoy reading about food and don't want to know about a stranger's love life, there's not much left to recommend this book.
If you've visited Florence or the Tuscan countryside, this book may bring back some fond memories or it could be a nice read before you visit to introduce you to the local cuisine and atmosphere.
There are recipes dotted around the book too, standard Tuscan cuisine including one for that fantastic rabbit sauce they tend serve with pappardelle. Confusingly, they often appear in the middle of passages when they'd be better placed at the start or end of each section.
I think the book improves nearer the end when the rose tinted glasses come off.
The cover screams chick-lit at me which is rather misleading. Whilst the book starts of with a Florentine romance, I feel you'd be disappointed if that's what you're wanting. The relationship comes across as slightly impersonal and a little cheesy at times, in part due to Victoria's use of words like “effulgent” to describe her love interest. If ever a word should be retired from the English language, I think that should be top of the list. Bear in mind that it is a foodie memoir and not fiction and you'll start with the right expectations. If you can get past the author's descriptions of her on/off boyfriend, Gianfranco, you'll get to the good stuff, the descriptions of food. If you don't enjoy reading about food and don't want to know about a stranger's love life, there's not much left to recommend this book.
If you've visited Florence or the Tuscan countryside, this book may bring back some fond memories or it could be a nice read before you visit to introduce you to the local cuisine and atmosphere.
There are recipes dotted around the book too, standard Tuscan cuisine including one for that fantastic rabbit sauce they tend serve with pappardelle. Confusingly, they often appear in the middle of passages when they'd be better placed at the start or end of each section.
I think the book improves nearer the end when the rose tinted glasses come off.