RECENT READS #1

The end of uni and a recent holiday has meant there has been a dramatic increase in reading round these parts! My inner bookworm is finally letting loose and I couldn't be happier about its return (I am pretty sure I've not been this into reading since first year... Crazy!)

I'm sure many of you are as into getting good book recommendations as I am, so this baby is for you (and do please share any loves you have below too!)

SNOW FALLING ON CEDARS - DAVID GUTERSON - ++++ 

I found myself on a major whodunnit kick after Serial and actual read this guy way back in December. It is however so beautifully written that I couldn't leave it out of this post; set in an island community off the US Pacific coast, this follows a murder trial that brings up a huge array of issues that threaten to divide the tiny population. It's a tale of love and prejudice, masterfully handled and gripping to the very end.

THE BEES - LALINE PAULL - +++++

I bought this fella after hearing about it in Lilly's excellent review and I absolutely loved it. It has been a long time since I've read a book that quickly, but The Bees is so addictive that I found myself chomping through it in a couple of days and then fighting the urge to pick it up and re-read it. If you like Margaret Atwood or anything with a dystopian feel, I reckon you'll be surprised by how much you enjoy this. A fabulous and gorgeously rendered book.

THE GREAT GATSBY - F. SCOTT FITZGERALD - ++++

Was I the last person ever to read this? Yes. Did I break my own personal rule and read it after watching the film? Also yes. I did nonetheless hugely enjoy this, finding its style original, cliché free and totally devoid of the pacing issues that so riddle its cinematic counterpart. (Why they turned a 100-page book into 4 hours of star-studded boredom remains beyond me.) For those who haven't watched the "film" - lucky you - this is a tale that is less about the plot but more its richly imagined characters. It's a short but brilliant book.

MRS DALLOWAY - VIRGINIA WOOLF - +++

I really wanted to love this one... but alas, I did not quite fall for it. It's an intense, introspective read, following not only upper-class protagonist Clarissa Dalloway, but those around her, flitting between the viewpoints of each character to narrate the course of one day in central London. Like Gatsby, this is less about an active plot and more about Woolf's brooding and immersive writing style. While I'm glad I read it, I'm in no hurry to read it again.

THE HOUSE AT RIVERTON - KATE MORTON - ++++

The third in my unintentional series of 1920s centric reads, this story is the retrospective of Grace Bradley, a former lady's maid who has been keeping some very dark secrets for a very long time. The adult Grace looks back on her past, and we meet the three children of the grand house at Riverton, who intrigue the young maid and slowly bring her into their world. Despite its size, this is a quick read, leaving you just as intrigued and spellbound by the events as Grace was at the time. I really loved this (and it seems to float round charity shops a lot, so keep your eyes peeled!)

What have you been reading lately? I would love to know and please share any favourites you think I'd enjoy!

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Books I Read This Month

...that you may want to read too!

Guys, I've been reading. For pleasure. Not something that has happened on a regular basis over the last three years, I am ashamed to admit; uni seems to have a magic gift for eating up all my fun reading time. A big shout out has to go out to my girl Ellie for lending me such sweet reads this September; it's been a great month for bedtime stories, I'm telling you!

Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro 
I've already written a mini review on this book here as it's one of those novels that left me desperate to talk to someone about it... As you'll see from that post, it wasn't my cup of tea, for very good reason; but it's still a powerful read.

The Princess Bride by William Goldman
I don't often bust a chuckle when reading books, but this did have me beaming and even giggling away while reading on the bus to work. I definitely think I would have loved this even more as a teen, but I still felt it was a hugely enjoyable read and a nice healthy antidote to traditional adventure tales.

Chocolat by Joanne Harris
This novel is as delicious as you would hope, given its title. The language of this one was what had me hooked: "literary feast" is a term that has never been more relevant, let me tell you. It's also good to see that style did not triumph over substance, as this book is as more-ish as its namesake, with every page tempting you into the next. I loved it; I can't wait to buy my own copy and read it again in a few months.

Calling Me Home by Julie Kiebler
This is one of those stories that I wish I had written. Simple but powerful stuff, I felt it handled lots of issues really well; and I loved the relationship between the two narrators.

Please do let me know if you've read any of these - and if you have any recommendations!

Thoughts on Never Let Me Go

Have you read Kazuo Ishiguro's Never Let Me Go?

If you haven't and don't want spoilers, don't read this post, get out there and enjoy your day!

If you have read it and want to hear my thoughts, do feel free to stick around.

This is one of those books that split me down the middle; I was completely gripped and compelled to read on, but found that I wasn't besotted with the narrator or the characters; it has stayed with me and had some great twists to the plot, but it's not a book I'm in a hurry to read again or force upon others.

Not every story should be a fairy tale, and not all novels should have happy endings. I do however feel that books ought to leave us with a feeling we have been given something, or even wanting more, rather than feeling we've been cheated or taken for a ride.

Having written that sentence, I see now that it's likely that my reaction was an intentional one, constructed to echo the emotions of Kathy at the end of the story; but I still feel Never Let Me Go 
had all the ingredients of a great book but somehow didn't make good on them.

In all honesty, I recommend Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale over this one.

If anyone out there has read this book, what was your take on it? Have I missed the point, and did you feel satisfied with its conclusion? I am all ears!