13th May: In a New York Minute

Written by Claudia Carroll, In a New York Minute is a short story that follows Irishwoman Amy's love life when she moves to New York. Searching for her perfect 'New York Minute', we experience an array of Amy's first dates in Manhattan until she realises that she may have been looking in the wrong place.
After having owned this on my tablet for quite some time now, I decided to finally read it, although I didn't realise just how such short a story it was. As chicklit goes, it was ok, but pretty average. It didn't entirely full me with confidence to entice me into reading more of Carroll's novels.

10th May: A Midsummer Night's Dream

With the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare's death on April 23rd, the BBC held an event to commemorate his work called Shakespeare Live. As much as I would have loved to, I didn't get the opportunity to see this either in person or as it was broadcast. I did, however, lock myself in my room a week later where I  reveled in the greatness of Shakespeare's work in all its forms, as performed by many great names of the industry.
Watching this show reminded me how much I do actually enjoy Shakespeare's work. Until this point I had only ever read a couple of his plays in school where I had to study them, but it's just not the same as enjoying them in your own time. It only seemed natural then to spend some time taking in his plays for myself.
Besides being one of the few works by Shakespeare that I actually own, A Midsummer Night's Dream appealed to me the most because it is such an iconic piece and quite light hearted compared to some of his other works. As I was reading it I was pleasantly surprised that it didn't take too much concentration to understand it. Shakespearean writing isn't always the easiest to get in to. I also really enjoyed the story, it's a great comedy with some fantastically written characters. I think perhaps I'll give my brain a rest before delving into more Shakespeare, but I will definitely return to his works in the future.

Book 18, Day 63: The Wizard of Oz

Train journeys really are good for reading. Like my last book, I had started to read this before, but it took the journey home from London to finish it.

I don't really need to explain the plot of the Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum - everyone's familiar with the story. It is such a classic, iconic film that Dorothy's adventures are engrained into public memory. It was nice though to experience the world in its original form.

Book 17, Day 63: Long Way Home

This is a free e-book I downloaded a while ago and actually started reading a few weeks ago. It just took me a while (and a long train journey) to get into it.

Long Way Home by Neve Cottrell is a holiday romance novel. It follows Alexis as she returns home to Mangrove Island 17 years after leaving her life on the island behind. Having become a hot-shot lawyer now living in London, her life couldn't be more different from the simple, family life the island offers. Yet here she is, home for Christmas. This novel examines Alexis' feelings on her past life on Mangrove Island, her life in London, kept hidden from her family for all these years, and now how life on the island has changed. Or more appropriately, how Alexis has changed.

This was a really heart-warming tale of reconnecting with family after past misunderstandings and tragedy, and I loved the relationships between Alexis and her nephews. It was a little odd for me to read about Christmas on a tropical island because I'm British and such things should be buried in snow, but that's not the point. I was also surprised at how graphic the novel was in some areas, even though I knew it was a romance novel. I guess I'm just not used to it. Even so, I did quite enjoy this book once I got into it.

Book 16, Day 62: The Book of Life

The final installment of Deborah Harkness' All Souls trilogy, the Book of Life concludes Diana Bishop and Matthew Clairmont's quest for the mysterious Book of Life, which is said to contain the secrets of the existence of creatures - witches, vampires and daemons. It's safe to say at this point there will be spoilers for at least the first two books. I strongly recommend therefore, that if you aren't familiar with the All Souls trilogy you should acquaint yourself with it. It really is rather good.

The Book of Life picks up after the devastating events at the end of Shadow of Night. Matthew and Diana have returned from the 16th century, expectant with twins, and must face up to the Congregation's continued threat. However, their threat is not the only one. Matthew's disowned son is on the loose, ravaged with blood rage and creating a trail of devastation across Europe, and has his sights set on Diana and her unborn children as his next target. All the while, Diana must continue her search for the irretrievable Book of Life and its missing pages before anyone else can get to it.

Much as the two books before it, the Book of Life is very complicated with different plot lines that weave together almost as confusingly as Diana's spells. It is therefore difficult to sum up briefly, but without giving too much away I can say that some characters make return appearances that surprise and delight you. The characters are really what tie this story together and make it such a captivating read. Having grown with them over three books and experienced all their highs and lows, by the concluding chapter you really feel a part of the de Clermont family, or rather the Bishop-Clairmont family.

One thing I would have loved more of is to see how different characters' storylines progress, both in the period between Elizabethan England and modern day, and from different perspectives throughout the events of Book of Life. In terms of the plot, I was a little disappointed. After such a long search for the Book and many unanswered questions, it felt like it was a secondary plotline whose resolution posed more questions than it answered. The trilogy works well as it is and I wouldn't want to ruin it by adding another sequel, but I wouldn't say no to a shorter book, perhaps between the second and third novels, that filled some of the missing gaps.

Book 15, Day 58: The Perks of Being a Wallflower

I am a big lover and champion of Young Adult fiction, yet until now I hadn't read the Perks of Being a Wallflower (or even seen the film which surprises me because it has Emma Watson in it). It was one of those novels that I knew I should read and I have friends who say it's their favourite book, but I just never got round to it.

Well, now I've got round to it and I can definitely say it's in my top 10 favourite books. It takes a special book to really move me, and that's what Perks did, by Stephen Chbosky. Told via a series of letters, we gain an insight into Charlie's mind and his experiences navigating high school. Charlie is a freshman, and as a shy, introverted person, he spends his life observing others and not really fitting in. As his life drastically changes through new relationships with family, friends and the frightening prospect that is first dates, Charlie is pushed to the brink of adulthood and all the challenges that brings.

This book resonated very strongly with me. While I've by no means shared the same experiences as Charlie, I've always been an outsider, an observer of life rather than a participator, a wallflower. The unique writing style Chbosky uses really immerses you into Charlie's mindset and you empathise with him on a personal level. Perks is really insightful, not only into the mind of a teenager trying to survive the world of school and friendships, but it also puts a light on mental health, handling the subject delicately.

This is a truly great coming of age story that I think everyone should read. It comes from a place of honesty and truth, from a slightly unconventional viewpoint that really opens your eyes to the world and the different people with different lives that inhabit it.

Book 14, Day 55: The Magic Cottage

After the last book it took me a while to get into anything else. I was never in the mood for whatever I picked up and so struggled to keep up with my reading. However, fuelled by a craving to read something with magic I picked up the Magic Cottage by James Herbert because it's the only vaguely magicky book I own that I haven't already read.

At the time of buying this novel from a charity shop, I was unaware of Herbert's work and the premise of magic lured me in. However, I was soon told that he was a horror writer and that mum wouldn't read his books because they were too scary. That made me nervous, but for the most part I was fine. That was until the last couple of chapters anyway, which rather put me on edge when going to bed the night I finished it.

The Magic Cottage is a gripping novel filled with mystery and the deep nature of dark magic. It is told from Mike's perspective; a musician, who with his partner Midge decides to move to the countryside from the city. A cottage in the New Forest by the name of Gramarye draws Midge's attention and the two move in. However, strange things start to happen that are seemingly explainable but deep down they both know that something more sinister is at work.

A far departure from my usual genre, I wasn't sure what to make of this book, but I did enjoy it for the most part. There were times I was scared to go to sleep out of fear of hearing bats in the attic, but that's just the nature of horror stories and I don't think I'll be reading many more. For what it was, the Magic Cottage was very well written and always carried a tone of foreboding and suspense, but as a general rule of thumb I think I'll stick to lighter fantasy books.