Thursday, September 29, 2011

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

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

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

Saturday, September 17, 2011

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

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

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

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

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

Friday, September 2, 2011

Confession of a late shopper

I read parts of Checkouta 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