My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante. Review

I had heard mention of this book a lot before I actually got my hands on a copy . It kept coming on to my radar like it was trying to get my attention so one day I finally gave in and ordered it from my library to see what all the fuss was about. I really wish it had not taken me so long to get around to reading this,  but I am so glad that I did . 

The story primarily is about two girls and the beginning of the book is present day with the rest of the book explaining how it all began with these two very different girls. 

Elena and Lila are the two main characters and they live on the outskirts of Naples in Italy . There really could not be a more scenic setting for a story!

These two have an unlikely friendship that seems to be constantly prickly and filled with irksome problems but somehow these two girls feel bonded to each other . 

Amid warring families and concerns about their future these girls grow up in this small village where everyone knows everyone's else's buisness and time seems to go at a slower pace here.

This is a book to take your time over and it is well worth getting to know these characters well as there is more books in this series . I highly recommend . 

Goodreads :

 http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/44085.Elena_Ferrante

Between Sisters by Cathy Kelly . Review

The setting of this story is Dublin and it tells the tale of two sisters who are being brought up by their grandmother after their mothers abandons them. Cassie and Coco are incredibly close to each other and to their grandmother Pearl who took such good care of them , but now they are adults there are struggling with problems in their own lives . Cassie has a shaky marriage and trouble with in law's from hell,  and Coco has a lost love she never got over . Both struggle with fear of being abandoned as adults so they push people away that they love the most . The story shows us that the fears we have as children stay with us unless we deal with them . Lovely characters and a great plot. A most read for all Cathy Kelly fans , she does not disappoint !

I received this book for review from the lovely people over at Lovereading.co.uk . 

This book is going to be published October 2016 and will be available from Lovereading and all other good bookstores then .

Below please find a link to this book on the Lovereading Website:

https://www.lovereading.co.uk/book/15065/Between-Sisters-by-Cathy-Kelly.html

Doctor Sleep by Stephen King . Review

I loved "The Shining" , so I put of reading Doctor Sleep for a long time because I feared that in some way it would ruin the whole experience that was "The Shining" . Let's face it that book was more then just a book, it was an experience . It's one of those books that upon hearing it's name you instantly remember the characters and the setting and how you felt and where you were when you read it.

So that being said ... going back into Danny's world I was excited and apprehensive . Now that I read it I loved it! Some of our favourite characters from the first book are back I was glad to see. Some  I was less glad to see . The book covers a lot of years in Danny's life so we get to see what a traumatic incident can do to a child who then grows to adulthood. Danny is as likeable as always , flaws and all , in fact they make him all the more endearing as it makes him more relatable . Danny's gifts stay with him into adulthood and they are still proving useful in more ways then he ever thought they would . I would say this book has two main characters , Danny and Abra - Abra is a young girl with exceptional abilities who reaches out to Danny and the story gradually become a tale of good versus evil . 

Would I recommend this ? Oh Yes, indeed I would ! :0) 

 Goodreads

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16130549-doctor-sleep

Reading This Weekend

Well guys I am late getting this post up ,but better late then never . I hope you all had a terrific week. Mine was hit and miss and I have the swollen eyes to prove it! But anyway here are the lovely books I am finishing up this weekend . I am going from one book to the next and back round again as I am loving them all. I love when that happens ! Reviews this week guys! 

Fillet Of Murder by Linda Reilly . I won this on a blog competition . Yay!

Between Sisters by Cathy Kelly published by Orion Books.

 My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante

Reading This Weekend

Well guys , how are you all ? Survived the week in one piece I hope ... This week some library books I requested arrived for me and there was a new book added to my basket in the bookshop too , plus some books taken out of the online library! Here are some of the lovely goodies I will be digging into this weekend and hoping to finish over the weekend and through next week.

The Queen Of The Tearling by Erika Johansen.

Outlander by Diana Gabaldon . I am about 200 pages into this one .... I am really enjoying it , Claire and Jamie... Wow !

Ebook from library

Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell. I have seen some great reviews on this book. It's about time I found out some more....

Murder on the Íle Sordou by M.L 

longworth 

Another ebook from the library

Doll baby by Laura Lane McNeal

My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante. I am about 30 pages in this book already and I am hooked!!!! 

Journey To Munich by Jacqueline Winspear

Those Who Leave And Those Who Stay by Elena Ferrante

A Death In The Dales by France's Brody ( I love this series and can't wait to start this ) 

 

Murder On A Summer's Day by France's Brody. Review

When Maharajah Narayan goes missing with a woman off ill repute while visiting England , Kate Shakelton is called upon to assist The East India company in locating  him. Kate is a charming character who is smart and funny and the perfect person for this job as she has a keen eye for a mystery and has a reputation of always "catching her man" . The plot of this story is a very interesting one, a missing person from royal descent who suddenly vanishes on holiday amid rumours he is about to marry someone completely unsuitable, gripping reading! 

The characters here are intriguing and the story is full of twists and turns and just when you think you know what's going ... Ha!!! No you don't! 

I really enjoyed the historical aspects of the story , England and India have had a colourful past together and I think the way it was weaved into the story was terrific  . 

This is a cozy mystery to keep you guessing set in England with main character Kate Shakelton . This is book 5 in this series. If you like a strong female lead character then this is the book for you !

Below please find a link to Frances's website :

http://www.francesbrody.com/

The View From The Cheap Seats by Neil Gaiman . Review

Neil Gaiman could probably read a phone book and I would sit there and listen so enchanting is his voice , but this non fiction book is a true gem for all Neil Gaiman fans .

In this book Neil talks about comics , his fellow author friends , favourite books and characters , different genres ,his wife Amanda, and many other wonderful things giving us an insightful look into this wonderful authors mind. 

Neil's way of telling you anything is an intimate one, you feel like you are a dear friend sharing a cup of tea as he is telling you all about the things that interest and excite him ...there are lots.yay!

I found myself googling things as I listened to his book as he is a fountain of information . You get the feeling he has lived many lives . That's a good thing! He is quirky , wise and 100% fabulous. Go read this now!

I recommend this to all Neil Gaiman fans as well as anyone interested in the lives of authors . 

Goodreads

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24331386-the-view-from-the-cheap-seats