THE SELLOUT // PAUL BEATTY

How many times have I promised that this review will be arriving soon...well drumroll please: it is finally here!

WHY MEN LOVE BITCHES // SHERRY ARGOV & BAKU MAGASINE

Sometimes you need to read something that isn't winning literacy praise for its use of similes or deep symbolism but instead you need to read something that is rather tongue in cheek and was given to you because the title would make me laugh.

HIS BLOODY PROJECT // GRAEME MACRAE BURNET

This book is made up of supposedly real life documents relating to the case of Roderick Macrae, a murder Graeme Macrae Burnet apparently came across when he was researching his family history.

Roderick's own account of the what happened takes up the first half of the novel and then is followed by witness statements, a mental examination by a leading authority on criminal insanity, and then reports of the trial itself.  The events are set in the Scottish Highlands late 1860s-1870s. in a remote crofting community, the main character is a seventeen year old who has by his own admission committed a triple murder, and the question is whether he was insane and therefore not able to be hanged for his crimes.  

THOUGHTS & GIRL AT WAR BY SARA NOVIĆ

Blogging is something that seems to come in fits and bursts with me.  It is something that I wish I was more consistent with but at the moment that seems futile.  The more I try and lay down plans and  targets with publishing posts and the such like, the more overwhelming I find it and the more sporadic the posting becomes.

Go figure...*eye roll*

And this has happened again and the longer the break became the more pressure I felt for the next post to be ultimately amazing and more editorial.  But at the end of the day that is not how my blog is and although I love reading those blogs and they make me feel so inspired that is not my bag over here and that is ok.

So I am back basically with a book review because I love reading and I hope some of you do to.  

HAUL // BOOKS

Reading has always been a passions of mine.  As a young child I always had my nose in a book and that has not changed.  However recently I have found reading is something that seems to ebb and flow in my life and over recent years it seems to have ebbed more than it has flowed with sleep taking precedence.  The life of being a parent to two small children: permanent exhaustion.

ROGUE LAWYER // JOHN GRISHAM

I love John Grisham books so couldn't resist picking up his latest one to add to my reading list.

John Grisham writes books that predominantly involve the law in some way, and that is what first attracted me to read his books.  I studied law, what can I say I am a law geek and proud of it.  

KIND OF CRUEL // SOPHIE HANNAH

The book starts off with insomnia and then before you know it there is a murder investigation and a mystery to solve.  I don't really want to write much more about the plot because i don't want to give anything away or spoil it for those who think they might want to give it a go.

THE TRUTH ABOUT THE HARRY QUEBERT AFFAIR // JOEL DICKER

After a successful first novel, Marcus Goldman is now facing a serious case of writer's block and the deadline for his second block is looming ever closer.  He turns to Harry, his mentor and old professor, for help and from there a whole set of events begin to unravel beginning when a body of a teenage girl is found in his mentor's back yard and the summer of 1975 becomes crucial.

THE SECRETS OF HAPPINESS // LUCY DIAMOND

The plot focuses around the relationship between two stepsisters Becca and Rachel. How their preconceptions of each other are questioned along with the plans laid out for their own lives. 

CALM // MICHAEL ACTON SMITH

I really need some calm in my life, with my kids and just everything else this book seemed the answer to my prayers.

THE MARBLE COLLECTOR // CECELIA AHERN

I seem top go in phases with reading.  There are times when I cannot stop reading, cramming it into every spare moment, and then there are times when I cannot concentrate for the life of me on anything I am reading, meaning I have to re-read the first chapter a million times.

I was in the latter scenario but really wanted to break this funk, luckily for me my Mum passed me The Marble Collector by Cecelia Ahern.

This is a story about a father and a daughter and how a marble collection causes the revelation of a lifelong secret. 

It is really easy to read and jumps between the perspectives of the father and the daughter. It highlights how memories can bring things together and how assumptions can be so wrong. 

This book was just what I needed to read as it wasn't hard going but quite light and harmless, leaving me a resonating thought that over time things change and are not always what they seem: there is always time to make changes.

THE WASP FACTORY // IAIN BANKS

I was watching one of my favourite YouTubers (sunbeamsjess) and she was mentioning the books that she had bought and The Wasp Factory by Iain Banks was mentioned.  It peaked my interest and so I decided I had to read it.  

It is a hard book to explain: it is from the view point of Frank, a sixteen year old boy who lives with his Dad in the upmost north of Scotland.  It is a first person narrative of his past and present.  

I really enjoyed it and at times found it to be quite chilling but definitely gripping.  It isn't the longest book so I managed to read it really quickly which I always take as a good sign.  I also think it is a modern classic and I know it features on quite a few English university degree programmes.  

I should warn you though it is quite violent and Frank isn't the nicest character, in some ways he is very hard to warm to, but don't let this put you off, I think it is definitely a book worth trying.

THE BURIED GIANT // KAZUO ISHIGURO

I read this book mainly due to the author as Kazuo Ishiguro wrote Never Let Me Go.  I wanted to read his new book as I knew it was very different in style.

I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed reading this and read it really quickly for me.  I have two little girls so reading normally takes a back seat but with this one I couldn't help but pick it up in any spare moment.

It is the story of a husband and wife, Axl and Beatrice, as they decide to go on a journey to find their son.  On their way they come into contact with others who have their own agendas and also there is the question of the mist and the effect it has on everything.

It is beautifully written and highlights the complexities of a relationship between two loved ones and the way that in a relationship that lasts for so long things are forgiven and forgotten.

It is a little hard to get into at the beginning but I would say persevere and it will be well worth it.  Put it on your holiday book list you won't regret it.