A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson is funny, inspiring and full of history about The Appalachian Trail. If you’re a nature lover, hiker, enjoy hearing about different communities or tales of buddies on the road then give this fun book a read. After reading it you may be inspired to plan your own adventure in the Great Outdoors.
Finished reading Sweet Caress by William Boyd. Initially I was unsure but from the middle onwards I became totally hooked and loved it. It’s a brilliant portrayal of a strong independent woman experiencing major historical events during the 20th century.
Man at the Helm by Nina Stibbe is brilliant, honest, funny and moving too. It tells the hectic tale of a single mother and her 3 kids trying to survive life in a small and horribly judgemental village during the 1970s. It’s wonderfully nostalgic, with plenty of laughs, but also moments of such raw honesty that I cried a few times too. In between its hilarious accounts of daily life it has much to say about independence, feminism and survival. Loved it.
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A Christmas Memory is a short story by Truman Capote published in 1956. It’s a beautiful tale full of evocative almost tangible descriptions. A real sensory treat for the imagination. Truman Capote had such a magical style of narrative that it’s almost like reading poetry in places. Although it’s a short tale it will leave you with food for thought and a lasting impression.
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Just finished reading Stardust by Neil Gaiman. Its beautiful, magical & so funny too. A joy to read and perfect escapism. Thank goodness there are still fairy tales for grownups.
A Long Long Way by Sebastian Barry is brutal, heartbreaking yet has flashes of down to earth humour. At times its almost lyrical in its style of narrative. It’s important to remember the horrors of the first World War and trench life but brace yourself for an honest and traumatic read.
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The Last Runaway by Tracy Chevalier is a beautifully written novel. The plot focuses on the issues of slavery in America during the 1850s and the extraordinary efforts of the Underground Railroad. It highlights the struggles of early American settlers and in particular the lifestyle of Quakers at that time. It’s the first book I’ve read by Tracy Chevalier and I really enjoyed her style of narrative and impressive historical research.
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Allegient by Veronica Roth is the third and final installment in the Divergent trilogy. It’s still a brilliant concept with empowering themes but I was left with very mixed feelings about its change in narrative style and conclusions.
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Kitt Noir 