Change of Heart
by Charlotte Bingham
My thoughts: When I spotted this on the bookshelf in our borrowed flat in Carterton, I was excited, having loved Bingham's The White Marriage. I was disappointed. Written in four parts about a prodigious child violinist, the only part I enjoyed was the second detailing Fleur's life. I found the first part creepy and hard to get in to, the third over-sappy and the final completely baffling, resulting in me feeling like I hardly understood what I had read at all. Interestingly, a similar review online also added they only buy Bingham's books secondhand as you never know what you're going to get - you may love one of her works and despise another. The sentiment rings true here.
(Borrowed from friends in Carterton, New Zealand, May 2020)
627 pages / published 1994 by Doubleday
The Lost Continent
by Bill Bryson
My thoughts: Unfortunately, I was disappointed by this book. Yes, I laughed (loudly) at some points, because Bryson's humour is well-written. But I felt overall that Bryson despised his experience, driving from state to state through towns he hated, feeling each one to be poorer and more miserable than the last. He crossed some 34 states in under two months, spending less than a day in most places, even sometimes skipping major national parks because, well, he just couldn't be bothered. I think going with the expectation of disappointment does not put one in the right mindset to enjoy what makes America truly beautiful. Frankly, if anything, this book makes me want to get in my car and do this road trip - but properly.
(Picked up from the free book shelf at The Marion Hostel, Wellington, New Zealand, January 2020)
293 pages / published 1989 by Martin Secker & Warburg Limited
The Summer Garden
by Paullina Simons
My thoughts: This was a massive book, not only in size but also in scope. Covering years and miles, I adored some parts and despised others. It's the final book of the trilogy that follows the love story of Tatiana and Alexander which began in The Bronze Horseman (review below) and provides a highly detailed look into their life in America after their struggles through the Soviet Union. It's dark, it's hard, it's panic-inducing and it's frustrating yet it's also fresh, pleasant and fulfilling - the success story of the true American dream.
(Purchased at St Vincent de Paul Op Shop in Petone, New Zealand, February 2020)
839 pages / published 2005 by Harper Collins
The White Marriage
by Charlotte Bingham
My thoughts: This book was delicious. Based in darling England just after the Second World War between quaint Rushington of cottages and simplicty and bustling London of wealth and high society, we follow delightful young Sunny as she finds her place and, alongside, you find yourself within it. Besides, any book that references (frequently!) Enid Blyton and her Famous Five series is a winner to me!
(Picked up from the free book shelf at Dave Parker Eco Lodge on Upolu, Samoa, March 2020)
479 pages / published 2006 by Bantam Press
Trip of a Lifetime
by Liz Byrski
My thoughts: A wonderfully realistic insight into family and work life on Australia's sunny east coast. A bit of love, a dabbling of crime, a healthy dosage of family and a leaves-a-sour-taste-in-your-mouth relationship or two - this book made me cry and made me cringe and made me laugh. Refreshing, realistic and honest.
(Picked up from the free book shelf at The Savaiian Hotel on Savai'i, Samoa, March 2020)
343 pages / published 2008 by Pan Macmillan Australia
Seed
by Lisa Heathfield
My thoughts: This book is an equally uncomfortable and enthralling read into life at Seed where Nature guides all actions through Papa S, their idolized leader. This book, written in the simple manner you would expect from a cult-raised 15-year-old, provides an insight into the mentality behind a cult and makes your skin crawl with disgust. It's creepy and intensely insightful all at the same time.
(Picked up from the free book shelf at Olivia's Accommodation in Apia, Samoa, March 2020)
331 pages / published 2015 by Electric Monkey
The Pact
by Jodi Picoult
My thoughts: This book gripped my heart. Jodi Picoult's books are exquisitely researched, succinctly written in a manner that holds you on the edge of your seat and heart-wrenching in their choice of topics. Suicide is a tough one to tackle, especially when trying to understand why, when and how, after the fact. Absolutely brilliant - and one that has heavied my heart for its honesty and for its rawness.
(Picked up from the free book shelf at The Marion Hostel in Wellington, New Zealand, January 2020)
451 pages / published 1998 by William Morrow and Company Inc.
A Walk in the Woods
by Bill Bryson
My thoughts: Perhaps the finest book about hiking I've ever come across. Written in Bill's well-known humorous tone, with anecdotes and one-liners leaving me with tears of laughter, I felt every painful, longing, exasperating and fulfilling step of the Appalachian Trail that he covers in this book.
(Given to me by my mother whilst in San Francisco, California, USA, January 2020)
274 pages / published 1998 by Broadway Books
Nineteen Minutes
by Jodi Picoult
My thoughts: If for some reason you still need to be convinced that guns should be banned, this book is for you. Even if you already know this, this book is a heart-wrenching reminder of it. A difficult and incredibly well-written book on a highly controversial subject.
(Picked up from the free book shelf at the Auberge de Jeunesse in Nouméa, New Caledonia, September 2019)
503 pages / published 2007 by Atria Books
Vinegar Hill
by A. Manette Ansay
My thoughts: Woah. This was a tough read, not for difficulty of language but for content and subject matter (divorce, religion, abuse, relationships, children, marriage). Ansay writes of complex and harsh truths that make the reader uncomfortable enough to want to know more and understand. Beautifully and carefully written.
(Picked up from the free book shelf at the Bamboo Travellers Hostel in Nadi, Fiji, September 2019)
240 pages / published 1994 by William Morrow and Company, Inc.
Perfect Match
by Jodi Picoult
My thoughts: This is a compelling book to read dealing with a number of intense subject matters. I am consistently impressed by Jodi Picoult's writing and attention to detail. I find I always finish her books wiser and more educated and aware of the difficulties in the world around me. This one centres on sexual assault and the lengths a mother would go to protect her child. A brilliant yet heart-wrenching read.
(Picked up from the free book shelf at the Gold Coast Inn in the Yasawa Islands, Fiji, September 2019)
368 pages / published 2002 by Simon & Schuster
The Memory Garden
by Rachel Hore
My thoughts: The details in this book, based in lovely southwestern England, are pure magic. I delighted in every page, the careful writing weaving pure and beautiful tales, those of both present and past all surrounding an old garden full of mystery and wonder. It has a sense of longing and of belonging. I loved this book.
(Picked up from the free book shelf at the Oarsman's Bay Lodge in the Yasawa Islands, Fiji, September 2019)
419 pages / published 2007 by Simon & Schuster UK
Alice Jones: The Ghost Light
by Sarah Rubin
My thoughts: In this book, led by young sleuth Alice, we delve into the world of theatre and mystery following an intriguing story about a missing diamond necklace. An easy but appealing and enjoyable book that holds on to you throughout the tale.
(Picked up from the free book shelf at the Nabua Lodge in the Yasawa Islands, Fiji, August 2019)
283 pages / published 2017 by Chicken House
One of Us is Lying
by Karen M. McManus
My thoughts: I don't tend to read mysteries or murder novels but on a remote island in Fiji with few other options, I picked this one up and I am glad I did! I got through it in one afternoon, unable to put down the exciting if easy-to-read story of four students who all may or may not be co-conspirators in a fifth student's murder. A satisfying yet unpredictable end; an enjoyable and clearly written read.
(Picked up from the free book shelf at the Nabua Lodge in the Yasawa Islands, Fiji, August 2019)
358 pages / published 2017 by Delacorte Press
44 Scotland Street
by Alexander McCall Smith
My thoughts: This book was a whimsical and lovely read full of many delights. I particularly enjoyed the relationship between Pat and her father, the delicacy of a second gap year (her first having taken her where mine has taken me: New Zealand and Australia), the stories of a gifted childhood and the underlying sense of adventure, honesty and discovery. I perhaps lost a bit the ultimate connection between all of them, aside from their shared address and felt many stories began but yet left unanswered questions (especially in Bertie's case); I will have to continue the series to find the answers!
(Picked up from the free book shelf at the Wayalailai Island Resort in the Yasawa Islands, Fiji, August 2019)
326 pages / published 2005 by Polygon
The Lost Book of the Grail
by Charlie Lovett
My thoughts: An immaculately written book with a careful attention to detail and history. I enjoyed discovering so much about the myths and legends of the Holy Grail, something we all seem to know about but not to really understand. Not a book I would normally read - it's highly religious - but I genuinely appreciated the love of books and of mystery wound through the tale.
(Mailed to me as a gift by mother whilst traveling New Zealand, June 2019)
317 pages / published 2017 by Viking Penguin
The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry
by Gabrielle Zevin
My thoughts: This book was a pure delight. I read it in one sitting taking just 2 hours whilst traveling across an island in Indonesia stuffed into the back of a bus and I can honestly say I have never enjoyed a bus ride as immensely as I did this one. Everything about the book offered joy and a fond reminder as to why we read, why we share, why we appreciate the little moments and most importantly, why we love. A tender, dear book.
(Mailed to me as a gift by mother whilst traveling New Zealand, June 2019)
258 pages / published 2014 by Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill
The Jane Austen Book Club
by Karen Joy Fowler
My thoughts: While this book had good intentions and beautifully entwines Jane Austen with the day-to-day lives of six wonderful characters, more than once I found myself lost in the complex web of stories. At times I felt that parts were skimmed over and at other times I read details I found redundant. If you like Jane Austen, you'll like this book simply because it brings her to life in yet another way, but I'm not sure I quite enjoyed the read simply because of the confusion.
(Picked up from the free book shelf at the Albatross Hostel in Kaikoura, New Zealand, June 2019)
257 pages / published 2004 by Penguin Group
The Long Forgotten
by David Whitehouse
My thoughts: A lovely, heartfelt book with a gorgeous use of the English language, this book is a complex tale entwining the stories of a handful of different people each on a journey of understanding, discovery and love. An easy read, this uplifting tale leads to the final conclusion in an unpredictable way.
(Picked up from the free book shelf at the Packer Box Hostel in Nusa Penida, Indonesia, August 2019)
289 pages / published 2018 by Picador
9 Months in Tibet
by Rupert Wolfe Murray
My thoughts: This book is inspirational. Rupert writes about his experiences hitchhiking from Scotland to Tibet in the 80s, pre-internet and pre-cell phones and pre-social media travel crazes. A highly dense book, I was thrilled by every paragraph, feeling as though I was in every country with Rupert every step of the way. He set a goal with this book to "encourage people to overcome their fear of travelling alone by sharing [his] story and explaining how [he] did it." Well, mission accomplished. I'm off to keep exploring the world with a renewed vigour in my step.
(Picked up from the free book shelf at the Albatross Hostel in Kaikoura, New Zealand, June 2019)
368 pages / published 2016 by Scotland Street Press
Those Faraday Girls
by Monica McInerney
My thoughts: While I disregarded this book in the early stages, I quickly found myself unable to put this one down. It's written warmly and smoothly, with unexpected twists and intricate plots that leave you desperate to understand what happens in this jumble of a complex family.
(Picked up from the free book shelf at the Albatross Hostel in Kaikoura, New Zealand, June 2019)
634 pages / published 2007 by Penguin Group
The Bronze Horseman
by Paullina Simons
My thoughts: The Bronze Horseman is an epic book filled with so many fascinating and quite heart-wrenching details about Russia during the Second World War. It shines light on a part of the war I didn't know nearly enough about, down to the smallest yet most important details and moments. There's an intense love story woven in and, while I don't believe that we need a partner to save or complete us, it brings a sense of hope and purpose.
(Picked up from the free book shelf at the Albatross Hostel in Kaikoura, New Zealand, June 2019)
637 pages / published 2000 by Harper Collins
The Secret Life of Bees
by Sue Monk Kidd
My thoughts: The Secret Life of Bees is, in short, profound. Indirectly covering difficult and important topics - love, racism, abuse, death - this book is gripping, fascinating, intense, beautiful and poignant. Seen through the eyes of fourteen-year-old Lily Owens who was raised by a single father, this story twists and turns with hard truths and a powerful lesson in life and in love.
(Picked up from the free book shelf at the Albatross Hostel in Kaikoura, New Zealand, April 2019)
274 pages / published 2002 by Headline Book Publishing
The Girl Who Saved the King of Sweden
by Jonas Jonasson
My thoughts: This book was a fantastically witty and highly detailed recounting of some of the most bizarre events that the mind could conjure as they played out throughout the joint history of Sweden and South Africa (and some bits of China sprinkled in) in relation to the life of one very extraordinary woman, Nombeko Mayeki. I found the humour to be the perfect amount, following characters who were so unapologetically themselves.
(Picked up from the free book shelf at Albatross Hostel in Kaikoura, New Zealand, April 2019)
419 pages / published 2014 by Harper Collins
Plain Truth
by Jodi Picoult
My thoughts: A gripping narrative that details the highly complex and mostly unknown day-to-day life of the Amish and how an unthinkable crime disrupts everything they know. A very well-researched book in which you never know what's coming next.
(Picked up from the free book shelf at the Albatross Hostel in Kaikoura, New Zealand, March 2019)
504 pages / published 2000 by Allen & Unwin
The Elephant Keepers' Children
by Peter Høeg
My thoughts: A brilliantly witty novel that keeps you in fits of giggles while unraveling a highly complicated tale chasing policemen, terrorists, religious fanatics and all sorts of other fascinatingly believable characters around Denmark.
(Picked up from a free book exchange in Punakaiki, New Zealand, February 2019)
390 pages / published 2013 by Vintage Books
Riders
by Jilly Cooper
My thoughts: A long and gripping novel that details almost a decade of romance, horses and the drama between the top athletes in the field of Great Britain's horse-jumping team leading up to the Los Angeles Olympics. Sex, horses and drama - what else could you want? Perhaps some clarity to make it a bit easier to follow the intensely complicated tale...
(Picked up at a free book exchange at the end of the Queen Charlotte Track in Anakiwa, New Zealand, February 2019)
919 pages / published 1985
Open House
by Jill Mansell
My thoughts: A whimsical love story with all the qualities of a family rivalry turned on its head by the young heir and heiress' attraction to each other thanks to brilliant brains, wit and dashingly good looks. An easy read with a satisfying, if predictable, ending.
(Picked up at the YHA Hostel free book shelf in Canberra, Australia, January 2019)
448 pages / published 1995 by Headline
The Bookman's Tale
by Charlie Lovett
My thoughts: A riveting book delving into the history and truth of William Shakespeare and his plays. While sometimes confusing to keep up with all the different eras in his writing, this book is a wonderful analysis of the truth of Shakespeare with an almost too-good-to-be-true romance wound in.
(Lent to me by my mother, January 2019)
368 pages / published 2014 by Penguin Random House
First Impressions
by Charlie Lovett
My thoughts: A beautifully written love story that unites the old and new with Jane Austen's witty writing and passion for friendship and words. Some characters could have been further developed but a wholly wonderful tale.
(Lent to me by my mother, November 2018)
308 pages / published 2014 by Viking
A Night to Remember
by Walter Lord
My thoughts: A fantastic, gripping account of the night the Titanic sank - every moment recrafted and the tales of the survivors and those lost with the ship woven to such precision, it feels like you're on board.
(Purchased at Powell's Books in Portland, Oregon, USA, August 2018)
209 pages / published 1955 by Holt Paperbacks
Heading Out to Wonderful
by Robert Goolrick
My thoughts: A dark, draws-you-in, can't-put-it-down sort of read. Thoroughly deep characters with tales that tug on your heart in ways you didn't know it could.
(Purchased at Bookshop Santa Cruz, California, USA, July 2018)
304 pages / published 2012 by Algonquin Books
How to Survive the Titanic or the Sinking of J. Bruce Ismay
by Frances Wilson
My thoughts: One of the best accounts of the Titanic I have yet read, with gripping details and a fascinating description of the aftermath which is not so widely covered.
(Borrowed from Vancouver Public Library, Canada, July 2018)
329 pages / published 2011 by Bloomsbury Publishing
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows
My thoughts: A compelling and truly lovely book written entirely in letters between characters. More than anything, this book makes you want to give up everything for an idyllic island life among friends.
(Saved from the dump pile in my apartment block in Vancouver, Canada, May 2018)
274 pages / published 2008 by Dial Press Trade Paperbacks
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