Book Review - A Girl Walks Into A Bar - Helena S Paige

Remember my story about almost missing the plane to Durban for the Liverpool game when I picked up this book. I must be honest, I did not know what I was getting into.

This story line is simple, it starts with a girl walking into a bar and her friend stands her up. Her night, has many various options and only by the time I was in the third option, did I realise that the "girl" was me! I was making all the choices and then the rest of the stories took on a new light.

The book is simple but intelligent and more so fun!

Another lucky gem I picked up based on the cover!

The biggest question is... if your girlfriend ditches you and you're already out - what would you do??

Book Review : Never Google Heartbreak by Emma Garcia

A few weeks ago  I shared an extract with you from the book I was reading, Never Google Heartbreak. After I tweeted about my post I got a response from the author which completely made my day! By the way, thank you Emma!!! This is my book from September - I have no idea why it has taken so long to get it out here.

 

I don't want to go into the details of the book because I think every girl, especially a single girl, should read it.

The thing is the main character, Viv Summers, is so relatable, whether you are like her or one of your girlfriends are like her. She says things which you may have said in a break up or even worse, she does things in which you have seen or experienced.

Don't get me wrong, Viv is endearing and you do find yourself rooting for her but you also find yourself hating her choices (and at times her lack of making a choice).

While this is definitely a fictional novel, the characters are all people I could identify in my life.  

Rob, the man who inflicts the heartbreak on Viv is an asshole. At no point in this read will you side with him and when Viv finally starts to see him for who he is you will be cheering her on.

The only character I wasn't convinced about is Max, the best friend with potential to be so much more. I don't think men are as open as that - even the cute artistic Irish ones!

I really enjoyed this book and although it got a bit long I was not left dissappointed at the end.

So this Summer while you're at the beach, this will be the perfect chicklit to accompany you! Emma, takes the usual formula of a Chick Lit but adds in some refreshing sides.

Do you like ChickLit? If so, what books could you reccommend? I'd love to get some suggestions!

 

Book Review : Nights in Rodanthe by Nicholas Sparks

As I have previously said, I have been trying to read one book a month for this year and I did actually finish a book for August 2013 but I just did not blog about.

I started reading Nights in Rodanthe, while in Europe but finished it early in September.

I had watched the movie many years ago, when it released on circuit but I still wanted to read the book and I was once agin reminded that Nicholas Sparks is an incredibly beautiful writer. His writing and his ability to convey so much love through words is inspiring.

For those that have never read the book or watched the movie, it's about a woman and a man who meet in Rodanthe, both in interesting stages of their lives and how one storm could change the very core of who they both were.

This is a rare occassion where the book and movie do actually match well, so do yourself a favour and read or watch it. It will also assist you to see that there is very rarely a true end to monotomy if you're willing to take a risk... oh and a few hours, can change your life.

Have you read this book? Or watched the movie? What did you think? More importantly, will you read it after reading this?

Book Review: Something Blue by Emily Giffin

I know I am late with my July 2013 book review but this is a product review and a book review in one, does that get me off the hook?

I purchased the e-Book from Amazon for Something Blue at the beginning of July 2013 and I must admit, I was soooooo excited. I LOVED Something Borrowed (to many of my friends' dismay) I actually enjoyed Rachel and Dex and really wondered if I was capable of liking Darcy in this novel.

So I won't go into specifics about the plot other than what the blur says... Darcy, now pregnant from Marcus, goes through some stuff which makes her want to leave Manhattan (Gasp!) and go to London. She goes to see Ethan, her and Rachel's childhood friend and I found it difficult at first to like Darcy but I must admit as the story progressed, I found myself standing on the sidelines shouting for her to get what she wants.

I also like that the book made reference to South Africa (Whoop Whoop!) and a "Natalie" ... isn't that just perfect?

I would recommend this book for anyone who is looking for a chic lit. Nothing to stress you out, you will be angry and happy and cry but all in all you will enjoy the no effort factor, if that's what you're looking for.

Also, this was my first e-Book, and I must be honest I found it O-K but I much prefer my books however until I have my own place with a library I might not have a choice as to what I read or not.

Have you read this book before? Have you read any of Emily Giffin's novels? What do you think I should read next? Do you prefer e-Books to paperback novels?

June Book Review : The Alchemist

I am happy to report that I have managed to get somewhat back on track by finishing Paulo Coelho's "The Alchemist" within this month. I must be honest with you I thought I would have finished the book much quicker due to the length of the novel but looks can be deceiving and I really had to work to finish the book.

Don't get me wrong, it's not that the book is difficult to read but I do think you need to be prepared for the mental task. As I mentioned in my previous post the Alchemist was not the sort of book I was intending on reading this month and there was little to no light-heartedness which was my intention for the June book.

The plot of the book is that a boy, although I have no idea how old he is, has a dream - a literal sleeping dream - about him going in search of treasure. The book takes you through his journey and his emotional growth.

While I will not give you a run down of the book and spoil the surprise for you, I will admit that this is a book that all people should read. The themes throughout it can teach any person, young or old, that you can only benefit in forging your own path in life. 

Yes, it is difficult to make decisions but in retrospect, your hardest decisions have more than likely shaped you to be the person you are and if you have in fact chosen to not make a decision, that in itself is a decision.  Everything that we do, every step that we take leads us to where we need to be, at the right time. We have to take responsibility for the decisions we make, even if our options are unattractive - we should pursue our destiny.

While we may continue on a path in life that our parents or teachers or spiritual leaders have taken us to... it is essentially our own mind (or soul) that shapes us to be who we were meant to be.

I found an article which you should read if you have time to expand the themes I have mentioned.

Have you read this book? If you have, tell me what you thought about it? I'm intrigued to hear different people's opinions.

April/ May book review : Sing you home by Jodi Picoult

I've made a rule that after each Jodi Picoult book I read I'll read 2/3 frivolous  easy reads but after this book I'm going to go about 6 books before another book.

Firstly I have to say that I am a huge fan of Jodi Picoult and her novels always push the boundary of what I think may be an easy answer or not. In fact for those that read her books will be well aware that she usually has you guessing the whole way through and therefore you are so hooked you can't seem to put the book down but in this novel, I felt similarly to my previous book review which forms part of my 2013 resolutions to read one book a month  on from Notting Hill to New York actually, in that the storyline was pulled further - unnecessarily.

In this book, the main characters are Zoe and Max who start the book as married, trying to have a baby but encountering numerous  problems. Eventually they split  up and both seem to hit rock bottom and then each character finds strength from other relationships.

When they remember that they had three fertilized eggs still available for insemination a court battle ensues as to who should take custody of the eggs/pre-born children... 

Along the way there are a number of surprises but essentially I feel that the actual crux of the story, being the court case was rushed.

This novel illustrates a lot about preconceived notions from ministers to alcoholism to homosexuality and the question that I had to deal with is simply - what is your tolerance level? The beauty of Picoult's novels is that each chapter is usually told from a different character's point of view which is usually how your confusion comes in because you don't know which side is the one you're supporting!

Nevertheless this was a good read but definitely one of my favorites. I really enjoyed the references made by Zoe who is a music therapist as to how music can change your mood, day or life and how it can connect people. In fact I'm trying to read 12 new books this year but this book took me 2 and half months which is ridiculously long! So I'm going to have to read two books this month to make up for lost time *sigh*

If you're a first time reader if Jodi Picoult I do not recommend you read this as your first try as its likely to put you off her style which is in fact quite beautiful. Try The pact or 19 Minutes ... They are among my favorites!   

Maybe you should wait for the movie, I hear Ellen Degeneres is making the book a movie...