Matthew Corbin is a boy who is afraid of germs. He is afraid to go out. He is afraid to eat meals that are not sterile. He is afraid of anyone coming into his room. He is afraid of attending school. Instead he watches the world from his bedroom window which looks out onto his neighbourhood close which all have their little routines which Matthew notes down to keep his mind in order. And everything ticks along until Mr Charles from next door has his grandchildren to stay and the youngest one goes missing. Everyone is under suspicion and is suspicious. And Matthew was the last one to see him before he disappeared. Matthew has many obstacles to over come as he tries to investigate what happened and he has to enlist the help of Melody from across the road. This book was beautiful and I did shed a few tears. Not only does it explore the many hidden depths of mental health but it also tells the story of bravery, courage and having the confidence to do the things that scare you the most. I highly recommend this book and it solidifies Lisa Thompson’s status as a truly great writer who tackles issues that others would leave alone with empathy and sensitivity with a soft touch of humour. Support a local bookshop and order your copy here For more information on Lisa Thompson check out her website here
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Everyone knows about the amazing author Jane Austen but how much do you know about her family and her background. This witty and light offering by Lucy Worsley ticks all the boxes: balls (tick), dresses (tick), potential proposals (tick), mystery and intrigue (tick) and so much more. The book paints the tale of cousins Fanny and Anna and the societies need to find a husband as soon as possible. Fanny is the oldest of nine so the pressure is on to find a decent match. But she also follows the advice of her spinster Aunt Jane who is against the trend and asks the girls to be a heroine. This book has it all and I highly recommend it to those who love a good period drama, empire line dresses and the need to find love and a purpose in life. First of all I have to say I was a MASSIVE fan of All the things a bright girl can do so expected the same calibre of writing – and I wasn’t disappointed. Set at the first Christmas after the Great War when soldiers were returning home after being battel-scared by their years in service, life in the village is adjusting to a new normal. For Margot, who is home from Durham where she is learning to be a typist, she doesn’t really know what it is to be normal. Her sweetheart, Harry was missing in action during the war but by some miracle he returned. But with his return Margot has to make a decision as to whether she should let him know a secret that she has kept from him for over two years. This book beautifully conveys what life must have been like in the post First World War years with a shadow of the nearly forgotten Victorian ways with an essence of Victorian sensibilities. Women had a very specific role which needed to be done in a very specific order: your trained, went courting, got married and have a family. The order must not be changed otherwise dishonour would befall your whole family. And for Margot she struggles through this Christmas period addressing the order of life and, as she moves from childhood to adulthood, she finds that the careful balance of her emotions and her relationship with her vicarage family could so easily be thrown into turmoil. This book addresses so many issues which were taboo in the period but Nicholls handles them with sensitivity and grace which leaves the reader with a ray of hope and calm. I would heartily recommend reading this book – particularly if you have already read books about the First World War. There are not many books that address the aftermath and the strange new world that emerged in the Post Wartime era. Age recommendation 14+
Reviewing a book half way through reading it is admittedly an unusual way of going about it, however the nature of Jay Kristoff’s Nevernight series makes reviewing the second in the series a pleasure that could not wait. Godsgrave, Harper Voyager, won the Aurealis award in 2017 following his success with the first in the trilogy, Nevernight in 2016. These awards for best Australian fantasy will hopefully propel Mr Kristoff to further international recognition, while the prolific nature of his writing means you will never be short of a read. The Nevernight books follow a young assassin on her quest for vengeance – so far so normal in the fantasy world. A long trodden road from Tabir’s current Ember in the ashes series to Hobb’s The Farseer Trilogy. However, where Kristoff really excels is the use of humour embedded in, predominantly, the foot notes. Told as a story – an often exasperating trope as you know the main protagonist must survive the story before you start, Kristoff uses an unknown auditor as the teller. This allows more outrageous interjections than would usually be allowed. The use of this narrator also allows secondary world building without slowing down the main thrust of the story and as they are not associated with the main character’s, although I do have a guess as to who they are, the side note need not be in character with a brooding protagonist who if narrating would have had to shift personalities significantly to fit. Be warned however the books are not just humorous, there is a very dark side to the descriptions of death and sex, suitable for older teenagers and adults but not appropriate for younger readers. There are very interesting themes on the morality of certain actions, linking damage to ones self with the use of certain skills. The most obvious example of this is the skin weaver, trading her beauty for the ability in creating it in others. However as the books have progressed Kristoff has also managed to show this in the actions and reactions of other characters, altered by their choices. In fact the only character that is currently unaffected by the actions of the story seems to be an entity of unknown origin called Mr Kindly and Krissoff manages to use his unchanging nature as a counterpoint to the shifting of others, highlighting how they are effected by events. As long as the saga continues in this vein I look forward to the rest of the book and the concluding part. I can only hope Jay Kristoff returns to Itreya again. Across the divide has been a breath of fresh air. I will be honest that I had not read a book by Anne Booth before but I will now be actively seeking her out to see what other offerings she has! Olivia is sent to live with her Dad on the island of Lindisfarne after her Mum ends up getting arrested during a pacifist protest before her school half term. Things are even worse as issues kick off at school meaning that her friendship group is falling apart and Olivia can’t decide what side she is on. This is a story about friends, friendship, peace, courage and what it means to have your own beliefs. I loved the whole concept and plot of the book (and now really want to go to Lindesfarne and see what Olivia has seen). I want to walk with Stan (Olivia's Dads gorgeous red setter dog) all over again and pick apart the issues which are big and powerful but are handled with such maturity and depth that this book will have you thinking about it long after you put it down. |
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