Category Archives: Uncategorized

My blog celebrates its first anniversary on 4th December. I thought it was a good opportunity to reflect on its success – or lack of it. I created this blog for me, as a record of the books I’ve read and to develop my book reviewing skills. I wasn’t looking to find lots of followersContinue reading “Looking Back – and a Promise”

Dominicana by Angie Cruz This book featured on the Women’s Prize for Fiction and is about a 15 year old girl from the Dominican Republic. The author says she based the story on her mother’s life and what happened to her. When her mother heard she wanted to tell her story she didn’t believe anyoneContinue reading “Young Women, Young Mothers”

The Curator by M W Craven This is the third book in Mike Craven’s Washington Poe series. In this book there are a series of brutal murders, with fingers cut from the victims and left in various places. Poe and Tilly have to find and identify the victims, and then find the murderer – withContinue reading “Special Houses”

Black Summer by M W Craven Mike Craven is a local author who sets his books in Cumbria. I find it particularly exciting to read about places I know well, although Mike’s books are exciting enough in their own right. This is the second book in the series featuring Washington Poe, who lives in Shepherd’sContinue reading “Fathers Who Kill”

The Dilemma by B A Paris I came across this book after listening to the “Writer’s Routine” podcast and an interview with the author. I like the idea of the book being set in a 24 hour period and it was interesting to listen to how the author managed to do this. The 24 hourContinue reading “World’s Apart”

Platform 7 by Louise Doughty This book was recommended by someone from book club. I admire her taste so took the opportunity of reading this book through the library’s online service, Borrowbox. The narrator of this story, Lisa, is a ghost. She committed suicide by throwing herself in front of a train, so her ghostContinue reading “Bad Relationships”

Looking for Eliza by Leaf Arbuthnot I got a pre-published copy of this book from Radio Cumbria’s “The Arty Show” host, Helen – who made us promise to review it on the show. Helen invite Leaf to the show too and we had the pleasure of talking to her. Its nerve wracking speaking to anContinue reading “Radio Cumbria Reads & Young Authors”

The Mirror and the Light by Hilary Mantel This is the final instalment of Mantel’s novels about the life of Thomas Cromwell. The book starts and ends with an execution – beginning with execution of Anne Boleyn and ending with Cromwell’s own. It covers Henry’s marriages to Jane Seymour and Anne of Cleves, and finallyContinue reading “Learning from History”

The Dirty Streets of Heaven by Tad Williams I found this book after reading an article by George R R Martin, who recommended this author as the best fantasy writer he had come across. I had to try it for myself. This is the first in a trilogy – not set in a fictional worldContinue reading “Heaven – and downstairs”

Fool Me Once by Harlan Coben This is the story of Maya, an ex army special ops pilot. She leaves the army following a serious helicopter accident and is trying to adapt to life on the outside. One day she sees the image of her husband on the nanny cam which is terrifying and shockingContinue reading “Twists and Turns”