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.

Book 13, Day 47: From Notting Hill with Love... Actually

I should really keep on top of this blog when I finish reading a book. I'm in the middle of writing 4 posts from over the last couple of weeks and I'm struggling to remember what I read when and do maths. The day for this is probably wrong, but hey, lesson learnt. For now anyway.

But that's not the point, the point is that I read From Notting Hill with Love... Actually by Ali McNamara. This is the first of a trilogy of which I actually read the second book first. It's illogical and was somewhat confusing at the time, but From Notting Hill to New York... Actually introduced me to the fantastical life of Scarlett. Literally. She lives her life in fantasies, constantly daydreaming about the movies to the point it disrupts her daily life and more importantly her relationships with her family.

That is where From Notting Hill with Love... Actually begins. Scarlett is feeling more detached from her fiancé David and her constant comparisons with film scenes and daydreaming about living her life like a Hollywood film is getting in the way of their relationship. At both her friend and her dad's suggestion, she takes some time away to think about things. House-sitting for a month in Notting Hill gives Scarlett time to breathe and sort her life out. Or so her family thinks. Secretly Scarlett hopes that going away for a while, especially to Notting Hill, will provide her with proof that she can live her life like the movie characters in all of her favourite rom-coms, as well as discovering more about her mysterious mother along the way.

As the title and Scarlett's mission suggest, this novel is full of movie references. Some are understandable, I mean who hasn't once dreamed of being whisked away by [insert name of popular actor here]? However, the story did become rather predictable and unbelievable at times. Even for fiction where the unexpected happens, bumping into Johnny Depp buying chocolate in Paris was a step too far for me. Nonetheless, the book was very enjoyable and some of the characters more than made up for a few disappointments, especially Oscar St James, Scarlett's new gay best friend.

If you want generic chick-lit or a feel-good book with many references to popular culture then this is for you. I like it because I can get whisked away into this fantasy world and it's a good one for reading while soaking in the bath. Having now read the first two books of the trilogy, the final one will definitely be coming up soon.

Book 12, Day 42: The Da Vinci Code

The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown is a book I've always thought I should read. Well, it seemed like I should considering the hype around it. I thought I'd seen the film, which I very much enjoyed, but it turned out to be Angels and Demons instead. Still, when I came across the book in the 'library' on the last day of my holiday I decided I would give it a go. I've never really been into thrillers but I do love a good mystery and with everyone recommending it it seemed like a good idea.

I really am glad I finally got round to reading this book. I was slightly worried that as it is a sequel from Angels and Demons I wouldn't be able to follow it properly, especially considering I don't really remember the film and lately I've come across a lot of books that are nth in a series where you have to have read all of the books to understand anything that's happening. However, I was happy to see that this works as a brilliant standalone novel. I would love to go on to read Angels and Demons and the sequels that follow to see how they all work together as a series, but they're definitely not a prerequisite to reading the Da Vinci Code.

For those who don't know, the Da Vinci Code picks up on symbologist Robert Langdon's life one year after the events of Venice (Angels and Demons). He is called to a murder scene where the victim is laid out like da Vinci's Vitruvian Man and surrounded by cryptic messages. Along with cryptologist Sophie Neveu, Langdon follows and uncovers centuries-old secrets about the Priory of Sion and end up on a quest to discover the Holy Grail.

Before reading this I had a vague concept of what the book was about, but it delved more deeply than I expected into religious history (albeit an alternative version that many people have denounced), and as a result of its complex and intricate plot I was completely enthralled. Add to that some good cryptic messages that you are trying to decode along with the characters and you end up shouting answers out loud in the hopes that the characters will hear you and understand before it's too late. Of course they can't; they're characters in a book. But this is the first book in a long time that's got me physically shouting out loud, and to me that's the sign of a job done well.

Book 11, Day 38: All I Ever Wanted

This is another book I rescued from the hotel's 'library' and like many of my recent reads also falls under the category of chicklit. All I Ever Wanted by Kristan Higgins is Callie's tale (Calliope when she's in trouble) of her lifelong crush on her boss, who seemingly loves her too, until it is revealed that he's in another relationship. Trying to get over her heartbreak, Callie searches for another man, but nobody can quite take her mind away from Mark. That is until the new vet in town arrives.

It may just be that I've read far too many chicklit books lately and need to go for something different, but it took me longer to warm to the characters in this novel than I have done in the past. Callie in particular got on my nerves in the way she constantly went on about her crush on Mark and their relationship, which to be honest I wouldn't consider a proper relationship in the first place. It all felt rather overdone.

That said, as the book progressed I did grow fonder of some of the supporting characters, especially Callie's brother Freddie. I also enjoyed the arc of her parent's rollercoaster of a relationship, perhaps more so than Callie's own. Despite myself, I even began to involve myself emotionally in the story to the point where I did spill a couple of tears.

All in all I would say that this is like any other classic tale of girl loves boy, boy doesn't love girl, girl tries to get over boy, girl falls in love with someone unexpected. Perhaps I would have enjoyed it more if I hadn't already read a few similar books recently, but it didn't quite live up to the standards I now expect.

Book 10, Day 36: The Waitress

I can't believe I'm already a tenth of the way through this challenge and still on target. Just about. This next book I found raiding the "library" at the hotel. It was barely a cupboard, but nevertheless I came out with a couple of good finds, including The Waitress by Melissa Nathan.

Even though I was interested in this book anyway - it looked like promising chicklit - mum assured me I would enjoy it because the author had also written the Nanny, which she really liked. Having never read the Nanny myself, this didn't really mean much to me, but if it is anything like the Waitress, which I'm sure it will be, then it'll have to join my reading list.

Anyway, I digress. The Waitress is classic chicklit in that it tells the story of Katie Simmonds, as useless at relationships as she is at deciding on a career, and as such is making a living as a waitress in the inventively named 'The Café', serving London's commuters. As if Katie's life isn't depressing enough, The Café is taken over by new owners, one of whom she happened to run out on half way through a date and is the last person on Earth she wants to see again, let alone work with.

After all the praise for the Nanny, I can see why people love to read Melissa Nathan's work. She writes with a sharp wit and creates big characters who you can sometimes  hate to love. I also loved that
while this is primarily Katie's story, we got the chance to explore the lives of the other characters, and more importantly, their perspectives of the same situations. It added extra depth and understanding to the novel and I often found myself taking sides in arguments.

If anyone has read Nathan's works before, you will love this book. If you haven't, you should, and you should start with this book.

Book 9, Day 34: My Latest Grievance

My Latest Grievance by Elinor Lipman is another of the books I swapped with mum. Well, I say swapped - she hasn't actually read any of mine yet. Anyway, we both really enjoyed this one.

Frederica Hatch is the daughter of college professors. Psychology and sociology professors to be precise. They are also houseparents at the college halls, which is where they have lived and raised their daughter amongst the freshmen residents her whole life. Having gained somewhat of a celebrity status since birth, Frederica has had a perfect, if unique, childhood. However, she soon discovers that her father, the charming Professor David Hatch, has a secret in the form of a previous marriage to one Laura Lee French. The Laura Lee French who will now reenter the scene as another houseparent on Dewing campus and change everything.

Lipman has strong observation skills and a sharp wit that really bring the 16 year old Frederica to life. With such a unique upbringing she has a rather quirky and astute character that the 16 year old me can admire, if not quite relate to. The characters really draw you into the book and then the plot takes over as shenanigans aplenty arise on Dewing campus, and by the end of the book I felt that I had grown along with the characters.

This was a thoroughly good read and I am now looking forward to looking for more of Lipman's books when I get home.

Book 8, Day 32: Melted Into Air

I've been a fan of Sandi Toksvig since watching her on Call My Bluff as a child, but I never knew that she wrote novels. When I realised then that mum had bought Melted Into Air on holiday, it was my first choice of her books to swap.

Melted into Aschool, a self-proclaimed 'Comedy of Errors in the Umbrian hills' and follows Frances, a theatre producer, as she returns to her birth town of Montecastello in rural Italy both to overcome heartbreak and uncover the mystery surrounding her parents' deaths and her flee from the town when she was only 5. While there she joins an art school with an eclectic mix of students who must put on a play to save the little village where Frances grew up.

I was a little surprised at the direction that this book took. It went deeply into exploring perceptions and the way we see life, both through art and the main character's circumstances. I'm not sure what I expected from Sandi but it wasn't this, although at times you could really hear her voice as a writer come through.  It was a tale that whisked you away into the Umbrian hills and made you want to be a part of the little family built at the art school, where  everyone's distinct personalities shone through, even if some were rather based on stereotypes.

For any fans of comedy, mystery or anyone who wants to be transported to this little Italian village this is a definite must-read.

Book 7, Day 31: Crossroads

I bought Crossroads by Belva Plain at the same time as the last one. They were both on sale and both stories of friendships, jealousy and betrayal. I'm not sure why I thought this was a good theme for summer reading but they were both reasonably light so I guess that helped with luggage weight limits. However, although they share similarities on the surface, these two books could not be more different.

Where If I Were You was light chick lit based around London's social elite and their steamy affairs, Crossroads was set in New England and had a more sombre tone when dealing with jealousy built not out of friendship, but a social divide. This comes between two girls at opposite ends of the social hierarchy: Gwen Wright, adopted daughter of Cassie Wright, CEO of Wright Glassworks whose legacy built the town in which they live, aptly named Wrightstown; and Jewel Fairchild, a secretary at the Glassworks who has had to work hard to maintain a job that will cover the rent of her small apartment.

The blurb of Crossroads tells that this will be a tale of how the girls' lives, different on every level, will intertwinethroughhey marry and Gwen's hard working husband Stan, who works for Jewel's shrewd businessman husband Jeff, makes a shocking discovery within the business. As plots go this was fairly average, but I was disappointed to find that the drama that this entertains didn't come about until the end of the book. The first half of the book seemed to be setting up the relationship between Gwen and Jewel, and we weren't even introduced to their partners until two thirds of the way through. While I understand that the crux of the story has to come at the end, I did feel that the book was too drawn out at the start and the entire plot happened within the last two chapters.

As far as the characters go, I felt that they were well developed but not particularly relatable. Even Gwen's 'odd duck' character, which I should have connected to, felt a little off kilter. In the novel Stan describes her as 'quaint' and that's how I feel about this book. It is well written but feels rather rustic and out of its time in the setting of a small american town and in the sense that the characters never felt their age.