The second novel

In a quite quick succession, I read both the first and second book by Miranda Dickinson, Fairytale of New York (her first) and Welcome to my world (her second).
Even though it had its bright points, Welcome to my world, didn't quite live up to Fairytale. Some of it has to do with, after having read the back of the book, I had envisioned another story. To me, the characters didn't seem quite real and I never felt for them as I did for Rosie Duncan and the others in Fairytale. A nice twist though was that Rosie Duncan (from the first book) and Harriet Langton (from the second) are actually cousins.
I am still looking forward to read my signed copy of It started with a kiss and follow along Miranda Dickinson v-log for her fourth book, but It started with a kiss, will have to wait for a little while, at least a bit in to the new year.
Josefine

Title. Welcome to my world Author: Miranda Dickinson ISBN: 978-1-84756-166-4

Merry Christmas and a Hapy New Year

I am off to Sweden for a couple of weeks, suitcase full of books I hope to have time to read.
Josefine

Istanbulite Women

After a slow start, introducing the characters of the story with great precision, The Bastard of Istanbul turns out to be quite unexpected from what I first thought.
It is a family saga of women, where we travel in time as well as in space. We get to read about the modern city of Istanbul of today, Turkey in the last years of the Ottoman Empire, the desert of Arizona and the moist San Francisco Bay.
It is a great story in learning about the conflict between Turkey and Armenia, but also about race and nationality in general. They share a common past, but at the same time their memories of that past is as different as different stories.
The author, Elif Shafak is a brave woman, writing about things that is still quite taboo in Turkey. She was put on trial for “denigrating Turkishness” as she put it herself in the acknowledgements at the back of her book. However, the charges were eventually dropped.
I am really looking forward to read her other books.
Josefine

Title: The Bastard of Istanbul Author: Elif Shafak ISBN: 978-0-670-91720-4

Don't cry for me Argentina

Tomás Eloy Martínez book about Santa Evita is a far cry from Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical on the same subject. Martínez book is focusing on the time after Evita's death and the controversy surrounding the embalment of her body, the many copies made of the body and the burial sites.
He is also trying to find the fleeting image of a person that doesn't seem to exist or at least doesn't want to show herself to be written about.
I usually like Martinez books because there is a bit of magic in them, they are works of fiction but also real in a sense. However, even if Santa Evita is an interesting story, it fails to capture me as much as for example The Tango Singer did.
Josefine

Title: Santa Evita Author: Tomás Eloy Martínez ISBN: 978-1-86230-002-x

Sari and Society

The Sari Shop by Rupa Bajwa starts slow and descriptive. You can really feel you're in the market in Armitsar walking into the Sari Shop, seeing the beautiful fabrics in neat piles and bundles, watching the men as they work laying out the colourful and intricate cloths to the female customers.
Then as winter moves into a hot and sticky summer, so does the temperature rise in the story as well and we get more and more involved with the main character Ramachand.
As the monsoon draws closer, so does the end of the story, but it is done in a way that keeps the reader just out of reach of the ending.
When it finally happens, with a crash and boom, just like the monsoon, I can't decide if I am satisfied with the ending or not.
Josefine

Title: The Sari Shop Author: Rupa Bajwa ISBN: 978-0-670-91472-x

Fairytale Début

I know it has been a lot Miranda Dickinson lately, but that is since I found out I would attend her book launch I have been quite giddy about the whole thing and promptly got to the library to borrow her previous books.
I finished Fairytale of New York, her first novel and I must say it was a nice début. It had some flaws that I think will be ironed out in her next books. I am impressed by her extensive knowledge of flowers and how she made the arrangements and bouquets come to life on the pages, you could really see those flowers as the recipients saw them.
However, my favourite part of the book was probably when Rosie Duncan spends Christmas alone, Dickinson managed to get the feeling just right. It wasn't the Bridget Jones “all by myself” alone feeling or a defiant “Î will spend Christmas alone because I am an independant woman and I can.” It was just a simple thing of a person spending a day alone, not lonely. Something very important for someone who often feels the same way. You can be alone without being lonely.

I am looking forward to read her other two books as well and of course looking forward to watch the progress of her fourth book, out in the autumn next year.
Josefine

Title: Fairytale of New York Author: Miranda Dickinson ISBN: 978-1-94756-165-7

In real life

Sometimes when you read a book, you recognise things from it that has happened in real life. When I started to read The case of the missing books by Ian Samson I felt as if it is was right here, right now. The first page of the book, met me with the words Library Closed, ironic it is that is what met me a couple of weeks ago, when the council won in court and closed down six of the communites twelve libraries. Fortunately for Israel Armstrong in the book, there was an alternative for him, he became the librarian for the book mobile, all he had to do first was finding the 15 000 missing books. A much more happy ending then what we are experiencing right now.

The case of the missing books has its bright sides and is even funny at times, but I have a difficult time seeing it as a series but apparently the second book is already out. Perhpas the sequel is for some one who appreciated the character of Israel Amrstrong more than I did.
Josefine

Title: The case of the missing books Author: Ian Samson ISBN: 978-0-00-720699-2

SAVE KENSAL RISE LIBRARY

Book launch

I have now met the lovely Miranda Dickinson and is the proud owner of a signed copy of It started with a kiss. It was at her book-launch at the swanky Grange Hotel at St Paul's that we all received a signed copy of the book, courtesy of Avon. I started the first chapter on the tube home, but wanted to wait with the next as I am still reading her first book Fairytale of New York and don't want to mix the two. But I am really looking forward to this one and as it is a chrismassy book it would be nice to read it in the weeks going up to Christmas.

Also Cally Taylor's new book Home for Christmas is out now another book that goes on my christmas wish list.

Josefine

Title: It started with a kiss Author: Miranda Dickinson ISBN: 978-1-84756-167-1

It Started with a Kiss

On Thursday I am invited to a book launch (ok I entered a competition and was choosen to attend but I still see it as an inviation). It is the launch of Miranda Dickinson's new book It started with a kiss, relased by Avon on November 10.
I am currently reading her first book Fairytale of New York and hope I will finish it before Thursday so that I at least can say I read one of her books.
Josefine

Title: It Started with a Kiss Author: Miranda Dickinson ISBN: 978-1-847561671

The girl in the red coat

The first thing that strikes me is the authenticity of the book as we get the story told to us through the eyes of a very small girl (Roma Ligocka), who don't always understand the significance of what is going on in the world around her. Even though the material is horrific and what we find out about the cruelty of people, it is remarkable easy to read and I find myself captured by the story and it is not long before I have read several chapters in one sitting. Then I stopped myself and went through the rest of the book slowly, to not miss anything in this remarkable story.
Josefine

Title: The girl in the red coat Author: Roma Ligocka ISBN: 978-0-340-81907-3

A book with only a middle

Sometimes it is interesting to read something new and different, one of those books are Dreams of Water by Nada Awar Jarrar. I use to call these kinds of books for a book without a beginning or end only a middle. Not in a negative way, but just because you start in the middle of the book and follow the characters for a little while, before you are dropped off at the bus stop with no ticket to go further. There is still something in the story that keeps you entertained for that period of time, even though you know you will never make it to the end of the story.
I wonder if the author has this in mind as they set out to write the book, or if it just happens that way.
Josefine

Title. Dreams of water Author: Nada Awar Jarrar ISBN: 978-0-00-722196-7

Author events

The coming week I feel like a litterary jet setter, on thursday there is an author event at my local library where British author and journalist Louise Levene is talking about her latest book Ghastly Business. Then on Friday at my university a young undergratuate writer from Nigeria Chibundu Onuzo hailed as one of the freshest, newest voices coming out of Africa, will hold a reading of her book The spider king's daughter, followed by a drinks reception.

I am also enjoying the opening chapters of Fairytale of New York by Miranda Dickinson who I found through Chiclit Review.
A great week for books.
Josefine

Tiger Bay – A Place to Hide

A book with beautiful language throughout is rare in a début novel, but Trezza Azzopardi has succeeded in her book The Hiding Place.

”At one month old, a baby's hand is the tiniest, most perfect thing. It makes a fist, it spreads wide, and when it burns, that soft skin is petrol, those bones are tinder, so small, so easily eaten in a flame.”

With a sentence like that painting the picture of an awful night you cannot help but to read on. Piece by piece the story of the Gauci family unfolds through the eyes of the main character and youngest daughter Dolores (Dol) and her sisters. It's a jigsaw puzzle slowly coming together. Read and explore!
Josefine

Title: The Hiding Place Author: Trezza Azzopardi ISBN: 978-0-330-48041-3

Romance is not dead

Attended an author event the other night. Heidi Rice who writes romance novels for Mills & Boon came to my local library to talk about creating heroes and heroines in a romance novel in preparation for the competition Mills & Boon currently holds. New Voices is a chance for unknown romance writers to write their first chapter of their novel and publish it at Mills & Boon's website for comment and feedback from other readers as well as the chance to get their novel published by Mills & Boon.

I am not a big fan of romance myself and must say that before Monday evening I had not read anything from that genre. However, I do think it is educational to attend lectures of all sorts, after all it is one way of learning the craft of writing and it also gave me some inspiration to challenge myself and put together a first chapter of my own, if nothing else to see if I can do it. I am quite excited about my story actually. It is not ready to be uploaded to the site yet, but I know I have to hurry before the deadline at 5.00 pm on October 10.

And if you do like reading romance or just want to have a go on the genre, there is a free e-book to be downloaded or you can get a paper version sent home for you.

Josefine

A book of contrasts

Less than twenty pages into Goodnight Mr. Tom I am in love. The book is masterly built and you are thrown between strong feelings. The contrast between the kindness of Mr. Tom Oakely and the cruelty Willie had to endure at home, it breaks my heart to read it. Another contrast is the setting, the country is at war and you can always feel it in the background, at the same time though it is such a warm and fuzzy story. Lastly, as the relationship develops between Will and Mr. Tom comes the contrast of throwing the mother in to the picture again.
It was one of the best books I have read this year.
Josefine

Title: Goodnight Mr. Tom Author: Michelle Magorian ISBN: 978-0-141-96452-2

Chick lit recomendations

According to Amazon's and friends recommendation's I should really like Jill Mansell's books and after reading an interview with her on Miranda Dickson's blog, I was happy to find Mansell book Two's Company on the "newly returned" shelf at my local library.

It is a well written book in the sense of seeing the characters and their surroundings. However at 11CD's long for a chicklit novel, it was too long. Too many plots, too much drama (I felt like I was listening to one of those long running soap operas).

Without telling too much, I must also say that the ending did not convince me or maybe I am just to cynical and stubborn to believe in it.

I haven't totally given up on Mansell I will probbaly try another of her books that seems really promising (To the moon and back).

Josefine

Title: Two's Company Author: Jill Mansell ISBN: 978-0-7531-4649-1

Master Georgie

Vision six photogrpahs in front of you, from a certain time, say Enlgand in the mid 19th century. Vision a story woven arund these photographs and you have Master Georgie by Beryl Bainbridge. It is a lovely story, one of the best I have read in a long time. It weaves its way slowly from England, across the sea to Galipoli, Scutari and ends outside Sebastopol in the midst of the Crimean War.

The book is short and can be easily finished in a day or two, so if you don't have the time to start that thick heavy book, pick up Master Georgie instead. Enjoy!

Josefine

Title: Master Georgie Author: Beryl Bainbridge ISBN: 978-0-7156-2831-3

How many times can you capsize a boat?

I have enjoyed reading Chris Stewart's adventures on a farm in Spain (Driving over Lemons and A parrot in the pepper tree), so was quite exciting to hear that he had also written about his adventures at sea. Three ways to capzise a boat – an optimist afloat describes his adventures in the Mediterranean as a skipper, learning to sail at first. Then moving on to a trip in the North Atlantic, destination New Foundland. He is filled with adventures and spirits and hearing it straight from the man himself on the audio book, gives it the extra zest.
Josefine

Title: Three ways to capsize a boat – an optimist afloat Author: Chris Stewart ISBN: 978-1-4084-4316-3

Confession of a late shopper

I read parts of Checkout – a life at the tills by Anna Sam with a smile on my face, having some experience in customer service, I recognised many of the events.

Then I came to the Late Shopper Customer and I have to confess, in my younger years, my sister and I made a point of every Sunday, pay a visit to the store at ten to nine (it closed at nine), dash in, head for the sweets, then dash back out and home to the nine o'clock start of the regular TV movie of the week. They must have set the clocks after us. To our defence, we never lounged around in the aisles, we always knew what we wanted, but it must have been so annoying seeing us every week doing the same thing. Sorry Checkout girls, we were young and didn't know better.
Josefine

Title: Checkout - life at the tills Author: Anna Sam ISBN: 978-1-906040-93-2

Back again

It has been a long break but now I feel I have the time again to write something meaningful about the books I read. I will mostly concentrate on the English language books, so it is easier for you to find them as well. As always, get them at your local library. Use it! It needs your support.

First out is a love story straight from the Tower of London.

Who knew there could be so much unrequisted love at the Tower of London. An albatross that mate for life, the keeper of the meangeree who thought he mated for life, The Rev. Septimus Drew, the Ravenmaster, Valerie Jennings at the Tube's Office of Lost Property and Julia Stuart weave the stories together skillfully.
The subplot at the Lost Property Office at the Tube might contest for her second book, as the stories are as engaging and funny as the mainstory. It wouldn't surprise me if half the things Stuart writes about actually got lost on the Tube for real.
Josefine

The scene of the book, seen across the Thames.

Photo source: Niclas Ejebjörk

Name: Balthazar Jones and the Tower of London Zoo. Author: Julia Stuart. ISBN: 978-0-00-734523-6