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Tag: Mid Year Freak Out Tag

Mid-Year Freak Out Book Tag – nominated by @AlwTrustInBooks

Posted on 23rd June 2017 By Nicola

Stuart from Always Trust In Books blog has nominated me for the mid-year freak out tag. I love this sort of thing so big thanks […]

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Nicola Smith-book blogger. Reviews and other bookish stuff. Just one person trying to read all the books. No eBooks. IG, FB, TT handle-@shortbookandscribes

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No Context Brits @nocontextbrits ·

6 Sep

Me in the interview: “I love to go the extra mile.”

Me in the job, as soon as the clock hits 5pm:

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Short Book & Scribes @shortbookscribe ·

6 Sep

#BookReview: The Secrets Of Flowers by Sally Page @SallyPageBooks @IndieThinking @HarperCollins #TheSecretOfFlowers #SallyPage via @JoannaLouisePar

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Sherlock & Pages @sherlock_pages ·

6 Sep

Amazon sell well over 800k books a day.

If we were to sell this many books…it would keep our little independent high street bookshop open for approximately (on conservative figures)…50 YEARS

Let’s see if we can do…I don’t know…10k would do

http://Sherlockandpages.com

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Ad/PR product. New review: The Mischief Makers by

Ad/PR product. New review: The Mischief Makers by @therealelisabethgifford. Published by #CorvusBooks today! 🎉
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The Mischief Makers appealed to me as soon as I read the blurb and I thought it was absolutely fantastic. I love a book that fictionalises a real person's life…as long as it is done well, and this book most definitely is.
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It focuses on Daphne du Maurier and covers much of her life from childhood through to her sixties. We witness her move to, and fascination with, Cornwall, her marriage, children and of course, the creation of her collection of enduring books: Rebecca, Frenchman's Creek, Jamaica Inn et al. However, this is not just Daphne's tale. Her family has always been indelibly linked with J.M. Barrie, creator of Peter Pan. Her five boy cousins, the Llewelyn Davies, were the original lost boys, adopted by Barrie when their parents died. Throughout her life, Daphne considers the effect of Barrie's influence on them all.
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The Mischief Makers does focus mainly on Daphne with the Barrie thread running all the way through as well, and the way Elisabeth Gifford has written this book works so well. To be honest, I was completely and utterly mesmerised by the whole thing, drinking in the lives of two authors who I didn't really know very much about at all. There's so much charm in the characters and their families and yet somewhere just beneath the surface something unsettling lurks. Barrie's influence?
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The writing is incredibly appealing and absorbing. Gifford has done a wonderful job at bringing Daphne du Maurier to life and telling her story in this way. The Mischief Makers is exactly my kind of read - the life of a prolific writer, with beautifully described settings, researched and depicted perfectly. I completely adored this book and it's easily one of my favourites of the year.
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Thank you to the publishers for the proof copy. @atlanticbooks.
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#bookreview #TheMischiefMakers #daphnedumaurier #jmbarrie #5starreads #grippingreads #fortheloveofbooks #ilovebooks #historicalfiction #truelifefiction #booklover #bookish #reader #reviewbooks #booksread #reviewer #bookblogger #shortbookandscribes

Ad/PR product. New review: Fledging by Rose Diell.

Ad/PR product. New review: Fledging by Rose Diell. Published by Renard Press and out now.
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What a premise. 'When Lia lays an egg she doesn't know what to do.' In all honesty, I wasn't sure if this book might be a little bit out of my comfort zone but I thought it was a brilliant read.
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Lia is at that age when the pressure is on to decide whether she wants to have children. Her internal clock is ticking away but when the time comes for the alarm to sound she doesn't know if she will spring into action or simply turn over and go back to sleep, carrying on as she always has. It doesn't help that her friends, her mother, her partner, all keep asking her what she wants.
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Fledging begins with Lia birthing an egg and from the very first page this is a compelling and honest look at the big question that women face. She's also dealing with her mother's terminal illness and her partner, David, is working away for months so she's on her own with this existential crisis whilst trying to launch a career in songwriting.
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Rose Diell writes beautifully of Lia's relationships with both her mother and the contents of the egg. The themes explored truly consider choice, the weight of expectation, and motherhood and whether it is simply a woman's role in life to procreate, in a thoroughly convincing way. This unusual and original novella of 172 pages packs a mighty punch, serving up a surreal event within the confines of a normal life. I'll be looking out for more by this talented author.
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Thank you to the publishers for the proof copy of the book.
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#bookreview #Fledging #motherhood #novella #greatreads #fortheloveofbooks #booklover #ilovereading #reader #reviewer #reviewbooks #bookblogger #bookreader #loverofreading #booksread #shortbookandscribes

Ad/PR product. New review: Lights Out by @louise_b

Ad/PR product. New review: Lights Out by @louise_beech_swanson. To be published by @hodderbooks on 5th September.
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To preserve energy the government declares a state of emergency. From 8pm to 7am every night, the electricity will be shut down. No lights, no heat: people are going to suffer.
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Grace is already afraid of the dark. Her childhood trauma has lasted through to adulthood. When she's working nights at the care home she's fine because they've been allowed to keep power, but on nights when she's at home she is completely and utterly terrified, and that's before somebody comes into her house at night and leaves strange items and cryptic notes.
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It's quite a chilling premise and it comes across initially as a thriller, but as I might have expected with Louise Swanson's writing, it's much more of an emotional read, focusing on feelings, reactions, childhood fears, and the effect of loss of control on a human being. I loved how much of the story seemed to be one thing and then it was something completely opposite, how Swanson's skills as an author gently steered me from feeling ill at ease to being reassured, albeit with a menace on the loose and a hint of the malevolent to keep me on my toes.
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What makes Lights Out even more gripping is that the scenario of the shut down is wholly believable. It's only a couple of years ago that the idea was mooted for the UK, and of course there were the blackouts in the 1970s. Swanson weaves a tale around the shut down of a woman for whom darkness is genuinely the stuff of nightmares. It's inspired and beautifully told, a story of forgiveness, understanding and salvation.
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I really enjoyed Lights Out. I hope there will be more of Swanson's adept and compelling high-concept storytelling.
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#bookreview #LightsOut #grippingreads #fortheloveofbooks #reader #reviewbooks #booksread #ilovebooks #booklover #bookish #readmorebooks #readersofinstagram #bookreader #shortbookandscribes

August Reads 📚 I've had a wonderful reading mon

August Reads
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I've had a wonderful reading month. 11 books, all 4* or 5* including a few non-review books.
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Home Truths by Charity Norman
An immensely gripping drama about the effects of a man's descent into the world of conspiracy theories.

Time's Prisoner by Linda Gillard
An unusual bequest and a centuries-old mystery change Jane's life forever. A great read and an enthralling setting.

After the Fire by Charlotte Rixon
A moving story of a couple whose relationship can never quite get off the ground. Lots of One Day vibes.

The Day Shelley Woodhouse Woke Up by Laura Pearson
A woman comes round from a coma convinced her husband put her there. The story unfolds beautifully and was a true joy to read.

One Day to Fall in Love by Molly James
Desperate to find love, Rena signs up for a dating app that promises she will find love in 24 hours. What she doesn't realise is that it's the same 24 hours over and over. I smiled or laughed all the way through.

Fledging by Rose Diell
An intriguing and thought-provoking story about a woman who lays an egg. This book considers choice, the weight of expectation and motherhood.

The Secrets of Flowers by Sally Page
A beautifully layered story about Emma, trying to navigate her grief. She becomes intrigued by who arranged the flowers on the Titanic. A gentle and moving story.

Five by Five by Claire Wilson
This is a gritty story set in a Scottish prison. Kennedy's job is to monitor the prisoners and the prison officers, but somebody is out to get her. This felt really authentic.

We Are Family by Louise Walters
A character-driven story of Jennifer and Alison, their lifelong friendship and a shock event that threatens it. Warm and uplifting, astute and realistic.

The Book Swap by Tessa Bickers
A gorgeous story of Erin and James who have a shared past but end up making an unexpected connection through books. A brilliant debut and a total triumph.

Lights Out by Louise Swanson (review to come)
The government shuts down the electricity every night due to a shortage and Grace is scared of the dark. A chilling premise, but a compelling emotional story about fears and loss of control.
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What was your favourite August read?

Ad/PR product. New review: The Book Swap by Tessa

Ad/PR product. New review: The Book Swap by Tessa Bickers. To be published on 5th September by Hodder & Stoughton.
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I always find books about books pretty hard to resist and as soon as I clocked The Book Swap I was drawn to it. Reader, I loved it.
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The story is told in alternate chapters by Erin and James. They're both having a bit of a tough time with jobs and family life for one reason or another. Having a major clearout, Erin is horrified to realise that she has donated her precious copy of To Kill a Mockingbird to the local community library, one of those little bookshelves that you find out and about, where folks can swap books. Full of her notes on the text and containing a keepsake from her late best friend, Bonnie, Erin desperately wants to get it back. James finds the book and makes his own notes, leaving a new book and a message for the mysterious 'Margins Girl'. So begins a lovely bookish communication between them.
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In classic romance novel style, things don't go to plan and a few convenient, but lovely, twists of fate lead to a rocky road for the pair, especially given their shared past. This is not a light and fluffy romcom as it covers some really serious issues like terminal illness, mental health, bullying and the effects of childhood traumas, but when I say it's a true joy to read I mean it. It's utterly heart-warming and moving, but also an uplifting depiction of the depth of real friendship.
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I really loved the back and forth of the book swaps and how Erin and James got to know each other again through their annotations and questions for each other. All the way through I was rooting for them and I liked both characters very much. They're complicated and flawed as we all are, but ultimately likeable. I must admit to rather a soft spot for James!
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I thought this was a brilliant debut novel by Tessa Bickers. It's plotted beautifully, the writing is emotive and authentic, and the characters are all perfectly drawn and slot together very well. When I got to the end I could really imagine this being dramatised for film or TV. It's a total triumph!
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Thank you to the author for sending me a proof copy. @tessabickerswrites

New review: We Are Family by Louise Walters. Out n

New review: We Are Family by Louise Walters. Out now.
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Jennifer and Alison have been lifelong friends since Jennifer came to Alison's rescue at school. Since then they've had times when they haven't been in as close contact but their friendship has always endured. Alison has a husband and an 18 year old son, and Jennifer has her dog, and both are happy with their individual situations. The book begins with Jennifer learning she is pregnant, rather a shock at almost 49 years old! For Alison, the real shock is still to come and it tests their longstanding connection.
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I really enjoyed the characterisations in this book. It's very much a character-driven story - there aren't many of them and all are well-drawn. I felt I could imagine them in my minds-eye incredibly well: Jennifer, a rather glamorous and attractive late 40-something and Alison more frumpy and staid - opposites attract, they say! I particularly liked Malcolm, Alison's husband, who progressed from being a bit boring to coming out of his shell and standing up for himself.
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We Are Family takes us on a journey through the trials and tribulations of life. In a firm friendship like Jennifer and Alison's, it's often the case that when one is up, the other is down. Most of the time they are able to support each other, but Alison has more of a mountain to climb in this instance. The storyline is inspired, with a thorny moral dilemma at its heart. Whilst I understood Alison's feelings, she's really quite an annoying character compared to the seemingly more blasé Jennifer, but then all is not always what it seems. This book really made me think about how I'd feel in the two women's shoes.
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Ultimately, it's a warm and uplifting read. There's a fair amount of dialogue which keeps up the pace, the inner musings are astute and realistic, and the whole thing is well-written. All in all, We Are Family is a very enjoyable read.
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#bookreview #WeAreFamily #characterdrivenbooks #familynovels #familydramabooks #fortheloveofbooks #bookish #reader #reviewer #bookblogger #ilovereading #booksread #readmorebooks #booksofinstagram #shortbookandscribes

Ad/PR product. New review: The Secrets of Flowers

Ad/PR product. New review: The Secrets of Flowers by Sally Page. Publishing 29th August by Harper Collins. My thanks to the publisher for the proof and to Sally for the beautiful painting of chocolate cosmos which is shown in the second photo along with its chapter heading.
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The Secrets of Flowers is Emma's story. Her husband died a year ago and she's, understandably, struggling to cope. She takes a role as a florist in a local garden centre run by Betty and Les, and when Les gives a history talk about the Titanic, Emma finds herself drawn to wondering who arranged the flowers on the 'unsinkable' ship. Surely a liner of that size and reputation must have had its own florist.
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The story is told alternately in chapters from Emma's point of view and also that of a young girl named Violet. Emma becomes almost obsessed with finding out more about the flowers on the ship and she can't put a photograph of a (perhaps) familiar face out of her mind. Violet's sections are short and I would have quite liked to know more about her, but what there was worked really well and added enough to make Violet an interesting character in her own right, whilst adding to Emma's research.
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This is a beautifully layered story. It's as much about Emma and how she deals with the traumas in her life as anything else. I loved Betty and Les and how they took Emma under their wing. I also really enjoyed Emma's research and the wealth of knowledge provided by the interesting characters she meets whilst carrying it out. In addition, the author's love of flowers shines through and gives a really nice feel to the storyline, especially as each chapter is named after a flower that has some relevance to the chapter's contents.
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The Secrets of Flowers is a really lovely read and it's constructed incredibly well. It's contemporary but with a historical thread, it has wonderfully warm characters and I found the plot to be gentle and moving. It's a delightful tale of loss and grief, friendship and healing, and flowers.
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#bookreview #TheSecretsOfFlowers #lovelyreads #Titanic #flowers #fortheloveofbooks #booklover #bookphotography #reviewbooks #booksread #reader #shortbookandscribes

Ad/PR product. New review: Five by Five by Claire

Ad/PR product. New review: Five by Five by Claire Wilson. To be published by Michael Joseph on 29th August.
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When a novel is billed as being anything like Line of Duty I'm in, and Five by Five piqued my interest even further because it's set in a Scottish prison. Kennedy Allardyce works at HMP Forth Valley as an Intelligence Analyst. This means she monitors not only the prisoners for dodgy activities, but also the prison officers. Unfortunately, in the course of her work she has made a dangerous enemy of someone nicknamed Scout and she's also falling for the beautiful but inscrutable officer Molly. Kennedy doesn't know who she can trust.
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I found Five by Five to be thoroughly gripping throughout. It was refreshing to read a crime thriller based in a prison and from the view of somebody whose role it is to try and prevent corruption - Kennedy may be fighting a losing battle there but she does her best. I thought the tug-of-war between her feelings for Molly and her growing distrust of her came across really well. Some of the prison scenes genuinely chilled me to the bone. They felt authentic, as did all of prison life, both for those incarcerated and those working there. The plot is incredibly tense and fast-paced and I flew through the whole book.
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I did feel a bit let down by the ending though. I'm hoping there's a sequel on the way but even so, I do think the finale was too abrupt and open-ended, and I found it confusing as I don't know if I'd missed something or if it just wasn't there. Other than that, I thought this was a fantastic debut and I'll definitely read another book by Claire Wilson (sequel or not).
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Thank you to the publishers for the proof copy of the book.
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#bookreview #prisonfiction #crimebooks #crimebooksofinstagram #crimethriller #fortheloveofbooks #booklover #ilovefiction #grittyreads #grippingreads #bookish #review #reviewbooks #reviewer #booksread #reader #bookblogger #shortbookandscribes

Ad/PR product. New review: One Day to Fall in Love

Ad/PR product. New review: One Day to Fall in Love by Molly James. Published by Quercus and out now.
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It's not very often I applaud at the end of a book but I closed One Day to Fall in Love and did a little clap. This book is an absolute masterpiece!
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It's set in Torquay where Rena lives, working at the Princess Theatre and pining for her friend, Dylan, who she'd really like to be more than a friend. In desperation she signs up for a dating app that promises to find her love in 24 hours but what she didn't bargain for was that she would have to relive the same 24 hours until she found her love. Alongside her best friend, Nat, Rena has all kinds of experiences as she tries to find her soulmate.
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My goodness, this is an amazing book. I expected to like it, having enjoyed Molly James's previous book, Skip to the End, and also her books as Belinda Jones, but One Day to Fall in Love knocked everything else out of the park for me. It's so joyful, and if I wasn't guffawing out loud I had a huge smile on my face. Rena has some really funny dates and some gorgeous interactions with her dad, all set against the lovely backdrop of Torquay, a place the author clearly loves.
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The storyline is really cleverly done and plotted superbly. It can't have been easy to keep all the balls in the air but it works brilliantly. I loved the characters too, all so warm and likeable. Light-hearted, hilarious and fun, I truly adored every single page of this wonderful book.
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Thank you to the publishers for the review copy of the book.
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#bookreview #OneDayToFallInLove #funnybooks #lovestory #fivestarreads #fortheloveofbooks #ilovefiction #booklove #bookloversofinstagram #bookish #reader #booksread #reviewbooks #reviewer #bookblogger #bookphotography #lovebooks #holidayreads #shortbookandscribes

New review: The Day Shelley Woodhouse Woke Up by L

New review: The Day Shelley Woodhouse Woke Up by Laura Pearson.
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Having read and loved The Last List of Mabel Beaumont earlier this year, I was looking forward to a new Laura Pearson book but at the same time I wondered if anything could be as good as Mabel (the answer is yes!).
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The Day Shelley Woodhouse Woke Up is another triumph from a talented author, and it's just as good, but quite different, to Mabel. The story begins with Shelley coming round from a coma. She's in hospital and although confused, she knows that her husband's actions led to the coma. As the book progresses Shelley delves deep into her mind and realises that there are things she can't quite remember, but which start to slowly come back to her. In Now and Then chapters we follow Shelley's recovery whilst also learning what led to her current predicament.
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I won't say any more as I enjoyed how the story unfolded with some gentle surprises along the way, but what I can say is that this is a beautifully told, emotional tale of a woman's life. It encompasses difficult issues, particularly domestic abuse, and considers whether we repeat what we experience in childhood, despite our best intentions to avoid doing so. Although there are these thorny subjects, the story ultimately felt positive and uplifting, and a true joy to read.
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The characterisations are spot on. Shelley is a brilliant creation, a protagonist I felt a lot of compassion for. I loved most of the other characters too, with a couple of notable exceptions. The writing is beautifully executed and I found this book hard to put down. It's paced well, it made me smile and it gave me a massive lump in my throat. The Day Shelley Woodhouse Woke Up is superb in every way.
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#bookreview #TheDayShelleyWoodhouseWokeUp #booksread #upliftingreads #contemporaryfiction #fortheloveofbooks #reviewer #bookblogger #ilovefiction #ilovebooks #booklover #booksofinstagram #bookishcontent #bookphotography #loverofreading #shortbookandscribes

Ad/PR product. New review: After the Fire by Charl

Ad/PR product. New review: After the Fire by Charlotte Dixon. Published by Aria and out now.
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After the Fire follows Beth and Nick over the course of fifteen years. From their very first meeting at university there is a strong connection between them, but a tragic fire in their accommodation block tears them apart before they even get started. Although they remain friends, anything more always seems to be just out of reach somehow. They live their separate lives with careers and other relationships, meeting up through the years, and the story shows the trajectory their lives take and how what happened ripples down, continually taking its toll on them.
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Charlotte Rixon's first book, The One That Got Away, had a similar theme, that of two people who had an unbreakable bond but who seemed destined to be apart. It's a theme that she excels at and one that I find particularly appealing. There are definite One Day vibes going on in this book, with the story being told from both perspectives over a varying number of years from the fire.
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I found After the Fire to be a compelling and moving story. It considers the effects of survivor's guilt and mental health, loss, the price of success, domestic abuse and of course, love. One of my favourite tropes is 'love against the odds' and I was hoping that Beth and Nick's love would triumph against all the odds. Rixon is a fantastic writer, creating characters that I cared about and who felt real. I enjoyed this book very much.
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Thank you to the publishers for the review copy of the book.
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#bookreview #AfterTheFire #contemporaryfiction #lovestory #fortheloveofbooks #ilovereading #fictionlover #bookish #reviewer #reviewbooks #booksread #reader #bookblogger #booksofinstagram #shortbookandscribes

New review: Time's Prisoner by Linda Gillard ✨ T

New review: Time's Prisoner by Linda Gillard
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Time's Prisoner begins with Jane Summers, author of a once popular but now out of favour historical fiction series, receiving two unusual bequests from somebody she has never met (but there's some history between them, nevertheless). She has been left the tenancy of Wyngrave Hall and, if she accepts it, a mystery to be solved. Deciding to accept the bequests, she moves in with three other women who have links with the hall and makes new and lasting friendships with them.
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As I've previously found with Linda Gillard's books, it's very difficult to summarise this book without going into too much detail, but it's fair to say that Jane gets a little more than she bargained for with the other bequest and the mystery turns out to be something quite unexpected and other-worldly. This thread is constructed so well that I didn't need to suspend belief - it just worked, testament to the quality of the writing.
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Gillard always writes insightful stories which delve deep into the innermost feelings of the characters. Jane becomes very involved with her new home and in particular develops strong emotions about some of the former residents. This leads her to meet Jesper, an art restorer who I understand will appear in the planned sequel to Time's Prisoner (which I'm looking forward to very much).
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There are some real lump in the throat moments and as I read on I became more and more invested in the outcome of the mystery and whether Jane would solve it. I really enjoyed the way that storyline was weaved into the present day events. This is not a dual timeline story but one where the past has echoed down, leaving disquiet and unfinished business in its wake.
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Time's Prisoner has it all. Its characters and plot are equally strong, and Wyngrave Hall and the centuries of family life and secrets contained within its walls make for an enthralling setting. Once I'd got stuck in I found it very difficult to put down. A wonderful read!
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#bookreview #TimesPrisoner #ghoststory #fictionlover #fortheloveofbooks #booklover #ilovereading #reader #booksread #bookblogger #reviewer #bookish #lovelyreads #shortbookandscribes

Ad/PR product. New review: Home Truths by Charity

Ad/PR product. New review: Home Truths by Charity Norman. Published by Allen &Unwin and out now.
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Home Truths is my first book by Charity Norman and I'm wondering why that is as I enjoyed it so much.
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The book begins with Livia on trial for attempted murder. We're then taken back to everything that led up to the trial: her family life, the death of her husband Scott's brother, Nicky, which was the catalyst for it all, and then Scott's descent into the world of conspiracy theories to try to make sense of Nicky's tragic death.
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Home Truths is plotted to perfection. In essence it is a family drama, with the story being told in the first person by Livia, Scott, and their daughter, Heidi. Norman brings into play the Covid pandemic which inevitably rattles Scott even more. We witness the devastating effect of Nicky's death on the family and the consequences of Scott's beliefs. The author manages to throw in a whiplash moment which I didn't see coming at all, and some plot points that didn't seem all that significant suddenly took on new meanings.
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All this means that Home Truths is an immensely gripping read. The pace never let up and I enjoyed the everyday family life elements just as much as the parts that were more psychological thriller-like in their execution. Exhilarating, sad and fascinating, Home Truths is a brilliant read.
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Thank you to the publishers for the proof copy.
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#bookreview #HomeTruths #psychologicalfiction #psychologicalthriller #familydramabooks #fortheloveofbooks #reviewbooks #booksread #bookreader #lovefiction #ilovebooks #reader #bookblogger #reviewer #booksofinstagram #shortbookandscribes

#internationalcatday🐱 #internationalcatday #c

#internationalcatday🐱
#internationalcatday
#catsofinstagram

When to DNF... As mentioned in my post yesterday,

When to DNF...

As mentioned in my post yesterday, I didn't read as much in July as I hoped but I did DNF three other books.

I'm interested in how long you give a book before you DNF it. A lot of people say fifty pages and I guess that is long enough to find out if you like the writing style and if the plot is starting to draw you in. Personally I always feel I have to slog on until about the halfway point, at which point I either slog on for the other half because I don't want to waste the time already spent or throw my hands up in despair at the thought of having to read the same amount again and so DNF it. This does mean I sometimes waste far too much time on books I'm not enjoying.

How long do you give a book before you DNF?
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#bookishcontent #bookish #ilovereading #reader #reviewer #bookblogger #fortheloveofbooks #books #shortbookandscribes

July Reads ✨ It's hard to believe we're at the e

July Reads
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It's hard to believe we're at the end of July already and two weeks into the summer holidays too. I haven't had the most fruitful month's reading with only five full length books read, but I have also spent quite a bit of time on three DNFs.
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Anyway, onto the ones I did finish:

🔸Gallows Wood by Louisa Scarr

A brilliant first outing for PC Lucy Halliday and her search dog, Moss. When police procedurals are executed this well I love them, especially when there's a Line of Duty feel to it too.

🔸This Motherless Land by Nikki May

Fabulous story of cousins Funke and Liv, one Nigerian and one British. I loved the contrasting cultures and traditions, and how the plot followed the girls over twenty years.

🔸Message Deleted by K.L. Slater

A domestic noir/psychological thriller about Saffy, whose friend sends her three frantic messages which are swiftly deleted. Nice and twisty but could have been faster-paced for me.

🔸Ordinary Time by Cathy Rentzenbrink

A character-driven story of a reluctant vicar's wife who meets a man she feels a real kinship with. Small parish life is portrayed perfectly, as is human nature with all its foibles.

🔸The Stirrings by Catherine Taylor

A good memoir about the author's early years in Sheffield in the 70s and 80s against a backdrop of the Yorkshire Ripper terrorising the women of Yorkshire, miners' strikes and the threat of nuclear war.

🔸Important Artefacts….. by Leanne Shapton

A unique story of a relationship told through the pages of the auction catalogue selling the couple's artefacts. Not much depth but certainly original.
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I'd love to know what your favourite read was in July.
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#JulyReads #July2024Reads #JulyReads2024 #monthlywrapup #booksread #fortheloveofbooks #bookstack #policeprocedural #contemporaryfiction #crimeseries #crimefiction #memoir #Sheffield #shortbookandscribes

New review: Important Artifacts and Personal Prope

New review: Important Artifacts and Personal Property from the Collection of Lenore Doolan and Harold Morris: Including Books, Street Fashion and Jewelry by Leanne Shapton
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This book was mentioned by someone on social media (I can't remember who or where) and my interest was immediately piqued. The book is styled as an auction catalogue from a fictional auctioneers, Strachan & Quinn, and it lists items for sale from the collection of Lenore Doolan and Harold Morris. These are everyday items: clothing, books, letters, postcards etc, basically everything from their life together as a couple. It doesn't sound like much of a read so far, does it? But by providing photographs and listing details for each item, Leanne Shapton tells the story of a relationship from beginning to end.
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The items themselves are sometimes fascinating, sometimes everyday, sometimes nothing special, but as a whole they provide a clear view of a relationship that worked for a time but ultimately was doomed to fail. I think it's a very clever way to document a love story. It is fictional but I feel like Lenore and Harold are real people, are in fact a food writer and photographer.
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This book is unique and original and must have taken ages to construct. I dipped in and out of it and so read it over a few days. It lacks some of the depth I really want in a book but it's certainly memorable for its innovative concept.
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This book was published by Bloomsbury in 2009 and I purchased my own copy.
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#bookreview #unusualbooks #fortheloveofbooks #bookloversofinstagram #bookish #booksread #reader #reviewer #bookblogger #readersofinstagram #readreadread #bookreader #books #shortbookandscribes

Ad/PR product. New review: This Motherless Land by

Ad/PR product. New review: This Motherless Land by Nikki May. Published by Doubleday and out now.
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This Motherless Land is the story of two girls, Funke and Liv. Funke is Nigerian and Liv is British and when Funke's beautiful family is torn apart in a tragic accident she is sent to England to live with her mother's estranged family. Liv is Funke's cousin and they become great friends, but Liv's upbringing with her unkind and greedy mother leads to some actions that have far-reaching effects for both of the girls.
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The story begins in 1978 and follows Funke and Liv over the following twenty years. I loved every bit of this brilliant and heart-warming story. Both main characters totally captured my heart. Funke is very easy to like as she has a kind nature, and Liv is more of an up and down character, self-destructive at times but ultimately she redeems herself.
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This book is a retelling of Mansfield Park by Jane Austen but if, like me, you are not really that familiar with that book then don't worry as you don't need to be. However, it's easy to see where the inspiration comes from with a large country house, toxic relatives, a delightful heroine in need of rescue, faded grandeur and greed all playing their part in the tale. Where This Motherless Land really stands out is the Nigerian aspect, the culture, the traditions, and the juxtaposition between all of that and the typical British stiff upper lip and upper class superiority. I enjoyed both settings very much and thought the author portrayed them really well, perhaps because she is Anglo-Nigerian herself and so is able to depict the good and bad parts of both authentically.
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I loved Nikki May's debut, Wahala, and I loved This Motherless Land just as much (maybe more!) with its brilliantly-drawn characters, settings that transported me there and a plot that drew me in, made me smile and broke my heart. What a fabulous read!
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Thank you to the publishers for the fabulous proof package.
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#bookreview #ThisMotherlessLand #5starreads #booklover #fortheloveofbooks #ilovebooks #booksread #reader #reviewer #bookishcontent #bookblogger #books #booksofinstagram #bookreader #shortbookandscribes

Ad/PR product. New review: Message Deleted by K.L.

Ad/PR product. New review: Message Deleted by K.L. Slater. Published by Penguin Michael Joseph and out now.
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I felt in the mood for a thriller and thought Message Deleted had a great premise. Saffy receives three messages in quick succession from her best friend, Leona.

Can't speak.

Don't text or call.

Pls just come.

As quickly as they are received they are deleted but Saffy knows what she saw. She hotfoots it round to Leona's house but something about her and her husband, Ash, just doesn't seem right and even more so when they are later reported missing along with Leona's daughter, Rosie.
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This all happens at the beginning of the book and there are plenty of ups and downs to come for Saffy and her sister, Poppy. For me, it could have done with going quite a bit faster in the first third to a half of the book to try and keep the pace up. I didn't always feel like I wanted to pick it up but I also knew I wanted to keep reading. The writing is very good but the pacing wasn't quite enough to grab me by the collar and thrust me into the action in the manner I was hoping for.
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There were a few plot twists that I didn't expect and I was kept guessing as to what had happened to Leona and her family. I think this book is a combination of a psychological thriller and a domestic noir. There's quite a chunk of the narrative based around something that happened to Poppy and how Saffy dealt with it, which definitely falls into the domestic sphere.
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Whilst I think it would have benefitted from being a bit shorter and pacier, I did enjoy this book and it kept me interested and intrigued enough to want to read to the end.
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Thank you to the publishers for the fabulous slipcase proof copy.
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#bookreview #psychologicalfiction #psychologicalthriller #domesticthriller #domesticnoir #thrillerfiction #thrillerbooks #fortheloveofbooks #booklover #bookish #reader #reviewer #bookblogger #booksread #ilovebooks #thrillersofinstagram #shortbookandscribes

Ad/PR product. New review: Ordinary Time by Cathy

Ad/PR product. New review: Ordinary Time by Cathy Rentzenbrink. Published by @phoenix_bks and out now.
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Ordinary Time is the story of Ann, vicar's wife, mother, sister - this is how she is defined but it's stifling her. Her husband, Tim, thinks more of God than of his own son, let alone his wife, pushing both aside for often trivial pastoral matters. The family have newly arrived in Cornwall for Tim to take up residence as the vicar - another move, another new school, same old stale marriage.
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Cathy Rentzenbrink portrays small parish life perfectly, one in which the vicar and his family are almost public property. Barbara and Doreen think nothing of simply popping their head around the back door, and the dining room of the vicarage is full of jumble that Tim doesn't even notice, let alone think is a problem.
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This is an intensely character driven novel, with human nature and all its foibles observed to great effect. Rentzenbrink writes with dry humour but it's also a moving tale of childhoods marred by great tragedy and how the trauma of dealing with it can trickle down through the rest of your life.
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When Ann meets Jamie, a man who she feels not only attraction for, but a kinship with, it drives her to reflect on what's important to her. I thought this thread was beautifully written with both yearning and possibility (and impossibility too).
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Ordinary Time is a story of a marriage, a family, a loss and a love. It's a quiet novel but one which delves deep into feelings and emotions. I particularly appreciated the honesty in Ann's narrative and how she let rip internally all that she didn't feel able to say aloud. It's a fabulous novel. I enjoy this author's perceptive and funny writing so much.
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Thank you to the publishers for the proof copy of the book.
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#bookreview #OrdinaryTime #characterdrivenbooks #fortheloveofbooks #bookishlove #bookish #reader #reviewer #bookblogger #booksread #ilovebooks #booklover #booksofinstagram #shortbookandscribes

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