The Girl of Ink and Stars - Kiran Millwood Hargrave

Date of Reading: 10/05/2020

Author: Kiran Millwood Hargrave

Publisher: Chicken House

Publication Date: May 5, 2016

Rating: 3.5/5

(This review is part of the #BookReviewBlogChallenge organised by 
Great New Reads
Day 08, Prompt: Star)

About the book:

Winner of the Waterstones Children's Book Prize 2017, and the British Book Awards' Children's Book of the Year 2017

Forbidden to leave her island, Isabella Riosse dreams of the faraway lands her father once mapped.

When her closest friend disappears into the island’s Forgotten Territories, she volunteers to guide the search. As a cartographer’s daughter, she’s equipped with elaborate ink maps and knowledge of the stars and is eager to navigate the island’s forgotten heart.

But the world beyond the walls is a monster-filled wasteland – and beneath the dry rivers and smoking mountains, a legendary fire demon is stirring from its sleep. Soon, following her map, her heart and an ancient myth, Isabella discovers the true end of her journey: to save the island itself.

Review:

      I fell in love with this book the moment I saw that cover. A bad habit probably, but sorry can't help it. A time when boy wizards and demigods rule children's books, it is good to see a thirteen-year-old girl having her own adventures even in the guise of her twin brother. Set in an island steeped in legends and mythical stories, 'The Girl of Ink and Stars' is an ordinary girl's tale of courage and steadfastness.

   Isabelle Riosse is the daughter of a cartographer and is also the best friend of Lupe, the only daughter of the Governor. Due to the dictatorship of her father, Lupe's family is hated by all and consequently, Isabella is her only friend. Lupe's desire to eat dragon fruit on her birthday leads to the death of one of her classmates. Hurt by Isabella's cruel words, she goes in search of the killer determined to prove that not everyone in her family is rotten. A search party is formed and Isabella volunteers to join in order to save her best friend. This is also her chance to map the places outside her village which she was forbidden to visit.

      The island of Joya and its history comes alive through Isabella's eyes and soon we are thrown into a vortex of events involving demonic beasts and hidden tunnels which until then had been thought to be just bedtime stories. With her lucid and clear style, Hargrave brings life and emotions to the intricacies of map-making quite efficiently. I never thought that this vocation can be as exciting as this.

      My sole complaint is regarding the length. The story had the scope of another 'Lord of the Rings', but it is wrapped up too quickly in around two hundred pages. Considering the age group the book is intended for, that could be a wise decision too. Altogether, an enjoyable story that really takes you to the warmth and brightness of stars.

Meet the author:

Kiran Millwood Hargrave is an award-winning poet, playwright, and novelist.

Her books include the bestselling winner of the British Book Awards Children's Book of the Year and the Waterstones Children's Book Prize 2017 The Girl of Ink & Stars, and Costa Book Awards- and Blue Peter Awards-shortlisted The Island at the End of Everything, and The Way Past Winter, Blackwell's Children's Book of the Year 2018.

Her debut YA novel The Deathless Girls was published in 2019 and was shortlisted for the YA Book Prize. Her debut book for adults, The Mercies, debuted as The Times number one bestseller, and at number five in the Sunday Times Bestseller Charts. Writing for the New York Times Book Review, Emily Barton called it 'among the best novels I've read in years'.

How to Stop Time - Matt Haig

Date of Reading: 08/05/2020

Author: Matt Haig

Publisher: Canongate Books

Publication Date: July 6, 2017

Rating: 4/5

(This review is part of the #BookReviewBlogChallenge organised by 

Great New Reads

Day 07, Prompt: Time)

About the book:

"The first rule is that you don't fall in love, ' he said... 'There are other rules too, but that is the main one. No falling in love. No staying in love. No daydreaming of love. If you stick to this you will just about be okay.'"

A love story across the ages - and for the ages - about a man lost in time, the woman who could save him, and the lifetimes it can take to learn how to live

Tom Hazard has a dangerous secret. He may look like an ordinary 41-year-old, but owing to a rare condition, he's been alive for centuries. Tom has lived history--performing with Shakespeare, exploring the high seas with Captain Cook, and sharing cocktails with Fitzgerald. Now, he just wants an ordinary life.

So Tom moves back to London, his old home, to become a high school history teacher--the perfect job for someone who has witnessed the city's history first hand. Better yet, a captivating French teacher at his school seems fascinated by him. But the Albatross Society, the secretive group which protects people like Tom, has one rule: never fall in love. As painful memories of his past and the erratic behaviour of the Society's watchful leader threaten to derail his new life and romance, the one thing he can't have just happens to be the one thing that might save him. Tom will have to decide once and for all whether to remain stuck in the past or finally begin living in the present.

How to Stop Time is a bighearted, wildly original novel about losing and finding yourself, the inevitability of change, and how with enough time to learn, we just might find happiness. 

Review:

      I usually make a general conception of the book from the blurb itself. So my thoughts went almost like this: A protagonist who ages slowly, trapped in a hideous society finally finds love, now both of them need to make it out and find a cure to live normally. How very wrong I was. 

      First of all, this is no Dan Brown thriller and there are no thugs chasing our lead character (well, except towards the end). Secondly, living a long life, without any superpowers is not only boring but also highly dangerous. Especially if you are born before Shakespeare at an age when witch-hunting was common. To make the matters worse, you may get memory headaches, a result of loneliness and depression. Yup, I will rather stick to my short mortal life.

       Tom Hazard is required to change his life every eight years. That is a compulsory requirement to be a part of the Albatross Society, a community of people who shares his condition. So this time he chooses to be a history teacher in a London school. With each history lesson he imparts, memories surface and we get to know the story of this centuries-old man. Talk about living and breathing history. The narrative pattern reminds me that of 'Slumdog Millionaire', only instead of quiz questions that take you back to the time, here we have history lessons or something else to trigger the past.

      But the biggest question is have the times changed? We are not superstitious anymore and the difference is celebrated everywhere. But how will you react to the existence of a man who is four hundred and thirty-nine years old? It is for us to find out.

      On the whole, this book has been something out of my comfort zone but I completely loved it. Slow-paced with emotions overloaded, this is perfect for work nights. You definitely will feel to take a breather in between to digest everything. The story of a man who lived with many of my literary idols . . . hmph! that was a lot to take in.

Meet the author:

Matt Haig was born in Sheffield, England in1975. He writes books for both adults and children, often blending the worlds of domestic reality and outright fantasy, with a quirky twist. His bestselling novels are translated into 28 languages. The Guardian has described his writing as 'delightfully weird' and the New York Times has called him 'a novelist of great talent' whose writing is 'funny, riveting and heartbreaking'.

His novels for adults are The Last Family in England, narrated by a labrador and optioned for film by Brad Pitt; The Dead Fathers Club (2006), an update of Hamlet featuring an 11-year-old boy; The Possession of Mr Cave (2008), about a man obsessed with his daughter's safety, and The Radleys (2010) which won Channel 4's TV Book Club public vote and was shortlisted for a Galaxy National Book Award (UK). 

World Without End - Ken Follett

Date of Reading: 05/05/2020

Author: Ken Follett

Publisher: Penguin

Year: 2007

Rating: 3/5

(This review is part of the #BookReviewBlogChallenge organised by

Great New Reads

Day 06, Prompt: Any book with 400+ pages)

About the book:

World Without End takes place in the same town of Kingsbridge, two centuries after the townspeople finished building the exquisite Gothic cathedral that was at the heart of The Pillars of the Earth. The cathedral and the priory are again at the centre of a web of love and hate, greed and pride, ambition and revenge, but this sequel stands on its own. This time the men and women of an extraordinary cast of characters find themselves at a crossroads of new ideas—about medicine, commerce, architecture, and justice. In a world where proponents of the old ways fiercely battle those with progressive minds, the intrigue and tension quickly reach a boiling point against the devastating backdrop of the greatest natural disaster ever to strike the human race—the Black Death.

Review:

     Ugh! Finally, I managed to finish it. That was the single most thought I had once I reached the end on my kindle. The novel had been a part of my TBR for a long time and many times over the years I started it and gave up. Part of the problem is with me. I wanted something as good as 'The Pillars of the Earth' but obviously, it is hard to compete with a masterpiece.

      It was good to go back to Kingsbridge watching a new generation making new mistakes. The story follows Follett's signature style. In more than a thousand pages, we witness the constant ups and downs of various characters and sometimes there comes the divine intervention through the plague or through the collapse of a bridge. As always, Follett reminds us of the unpredictability of life; we could never consider ourselves lucky until death, as the wheel of fortune is in constant motion.

      What bothered me is the characters and the overwhelming negative emotions they brought up. Apart from Caris and Gwenda, I didn't really like anyone. And both of them are crippled by their gender. Caris tries to fight it somehow through her position as a Prioress, but Gwenda also has the disadvantage of social class. Her infatuation with Wulfric (nope, I am not going to consider it as true love) is pathetic from the beginning. In a different place and time, she would have made wonders, but here she is satisfied with a handsome husband with nothing between the ears. Of course, Follett makes some amends at the end but that doesn't sway my opinion about Wulfric.

      None of the characters are especially good, but there are many who are evil. How is that possible? Shouldn't there be some balance like in the last novel? Physical abuse, adultery and deaths abound and so if you are not able to stomach some of these, then better keep away. Black death is something we can easily identify with during these times. Curiously, Caris adopts the same method that we selected to fight COVID; complete lockdown. Looks like we haven't come that far from the 1350s. But the good thing is, it shows us we can survive; better days are yet to come.

Meet the author:

Ken Follett is one of the world’s most successful authors. Over 165 million copies of the 31 books he has written have been sold in over 80 countries and in 33 languages.

Born on June 5th, 1949 in Cardiff, Wales, the son of a tax inspector, Ken was educated at state schools and went on to graduate from University College, London, with an Honours degree in Philosophy – later to be made a Fellow of the College in 1995.

He started his career as a reporter, first with his hometown newspaper the South Wales Echo and then with the London Evening News. Subsequently, he worked for a small London publishing house, Everest Books, eventually becoming Deputy Managing Director.

Ken, who loves music almost as much as he loves books, is an enthusiastic bass guitar player in two bands. He lives in Stevenage, Hertfordshire, with his wife Barbara, the former Labour Member of Parliament for Stevenage.

Rebel Queen - Michelle Moran

Author: Michelle Moran

Publisher: Atria Books

Publication Date: March 3, 2015

Rating: 4/5

(This review is part of the #BookReviewBlogChallenge organised by 

Great New Reads

Day 05, Prompt: Rebel)

About the book:

When the British Empire sets its sights on India in the mid-nineteenth century, it expects a quick and easy conquest. India is fractured and divided into kingdoms, each independent and wary of one another, seemingly no match for the might of the English. But when they arrive in the Kingdom of Jhansi, the British army is met with a surprising challenge.

Instead of surrendering, Queen Lakshmi raises two armies - one male and one female - and rides into battle, determined to protect her country and her people. Although her soldiers may not appear at first to be formidable against superior British weaponry and training, Lakshmi refuses to back down from the empire that is determined to take away the land she loves.

Told from the unexpected perspective of Sita - Queen Lakshmi's most favoured companion and most trusted soldier in the all-female army - Rebel Queen shines a light on a time and place rarely explored in historical fiction. In the tradition of her best-selling novel, Nefertiti, and through her strong, independent heroines fighting to make their ways in a male-dominated world, Michelle Moran brings nineteenth-century India to rich, vibrant life.

Review:

      Rani of Jhansi is one of the prominent figures in India's First War of Independence, commonly called Sepoy Mutiny by the British. In a political realm infested with men, she was the only female representative and so, of course, she has become a beacon of gender equality in ancient India. Surely, we learn a lot about her through textbooks, but Michelle Moran produces a different side to this brave, kind queen.

      The novel follows the perspective of Sita, one of the members of her Durga Dal, an elite group of female soldiers dedicated to protect and fight for the Rani. Sita's story gives us a glimpse of what happens outside the castle walls -- her troubled childhood, the almost escape from prostitution, savagery of the British soldiers . . . obviously, there is nothing idyllic about this story. 

     What goes on inside the fort is equally pitiable. A King interested only in the arts, leaving the reigns of administration to his queen (which is a wise decision since Rani Lakshmi is more than capable in this regard). The author also insinuates that the king is gay, a previously unknown fact to me. This affects Rani's position in society since a queen who cannot conceive opens an opportunity to others, including the British.

     Sita says she is writing her story, under the persuasion of her English friend, to show that Indian traditions are important too. I don't know how much she was successful in this regard since the picture of India the novel provides is far from favourable. Well, that is something to be expected when a non-Indian tries to represent the country. But in spite of her limitations as a foreigner, Michelle Moran has produced an outstanding historical novel.

Meet the author:

Michelle Moran is the international bestselling author of six historical novels, including Madame Tussaud, which was optioned for a mini-series in 2011. Her books have been translated into more than twenty languages.

A native of southern California, Michelle attended Pomona College, then earned a Masters Degree from the Claremont Graduate University. During her six years as a public high school teacher, she used her summers to travel around the world, and it was her experiences as a volunteer on archaeological digs that inspired her to write historical fiction.

In 2012 Michelle was married in India, inspiring her seventh book, Rebel Queen, which is set in the East. Her hobbies include hiking, travelling, and archaeology. She is also fascinated by archaeogenetics, particularly since her children's heritages are so mixed. But above all these things, Michelle is passionate about reading, and can often be found with her nose in a good book. A frequent traveller, she currently resides with her husband, son, and daughter in the US.

Willow's Wedding Vows - Debbie Viggiano (Promo Post)

Author: Debbie Viggiano

Publisher: Unicorn Publishing

Publication Date: April 28, 2020

(This promo post is part of the blog tour organised by Rachel's Random Resources)

About the book:

Wedding vows have never been this personal…

Willow has been living with marriage-shy Charlie for more years than she cares to remember and is old-fashioned enough to want a wedding band and a loads-of-sex honeymoon before stretchmarks and nipple shields.

So when the once-wary Charlie surprisingly goes down on one knee, Willow doesn’t question why her boyfriend is suddenly so keen to rush her into saying “I do”.

The first clue comes as Willow is zipped into her Cinderella dress, the second as she bobs into the wedding car, and the third as the Roller swings towards its fairy-tale destination… leaving a shell-shocked Willow desperately trying to figure out what to do next.

A bride can do anything she wants on her wedding day, but nobody expected her to do this… 

Meet the author:

Prior to turning her attention to writing, Debbie Viggiano was, for more years than she cares to remember, a legal secretary. She lives with her Italian husband, a rescued puppy from Crete, and a very disgruntled cat. Occasionally her children return home from uni bringing her much joy...apart from their gifts of dirty laundry.

Pachinko - Min Jin Lee

Author: Min Jin Lee

Publisher: Grand Central Publishing

Publication Date: February 7, 2017

Rating: 4/5

(This review is a part of the #BookReviewBlogChallenge organised by Great New Reads
Day 04, Prompt 4: Family)

About the book:

Profoundly moving and gracefully told, PACHINKO follows one Korean family through the generations, beginning in early 1900s Korea with Sunja, the prized daughter of a poor yet proud family, whose unplanned pregnancy threatens to shame them. Betrayed by her wealthy lover, Sunja finds unexpected salvation when a young tubercular minister offers to marry her and bring her to Japan to start a new life.

So begins a sweeping saga of exceptional people in exile from a homeland they never knew and caught in the indifferent arc of history. In Japan, Sunja's family members endure harsh discrimination, catastrophes, and poverty, yet they also encounter great joy as they pursue their passions and rise to meet the challenges this new home presents. Through desperate struggles and hard-won triumphs, they are bound together by deep roots as their family faces enduring questions of faith, family, and identity. 

Review:

      I first came to know about this book when I found it in the Goodreads Choice Awards Nominee list. Plot-wise, it reminded me of Pearl S. Buck's 'Good Earth', another one of my favourites. And I was right. It does bear a lot of similarities. Starting with Hoonie and his wife Yangjin, the novel follows the lives of four generations, in and out of Korea. Trials and tribulations, minor victories and periods of stability follow the family while they try to make a place in Japan.

      The author takes great care in developing each character and the story traces all their lives with great care. The setting and the time period brings additional incentives as we get to see how the second World War shakes the lives of these immigrants and all of Japan. The feelings of displacement and discrimination that even the fourth generation of the family endures are captured vividly with a sense of pathos.
      What is with the title then? Pachinko is a kind of arcade game which provided a living to many Koreans in Japan. Mosaszu, one of Sunja's sons made his fortune running this business. He makes adjustments in the machines to ensure that none of his customers can really win however well they played. Fate does the same with Sunja's family. 
      On the whole, 'Pachinko' is a book that makes lasting impressions. In nearly five hundred pages, this sweeping family saga breaks your heart open and sews it together many times.

Favourite quotes:

"History has failed us, but no matter" - 6

"Patriotism is just an idea, so is capitalism or communism. But ideas can make men forget their own interests. And the guys in charge will exploit men who believe in ideas too much" - 276

". . . life's going to keep pushing you around but you have to keep playing" - 449

Meet the author:

Min Jin Lee’s Pachinko (Feb 2017) is a national bestseller, a New York Times Editor’s Choice and an American Booksellers Association’s Indie Next Great Reads. Lee’s debut novel Free Food for Millionaires (May 2007) was a No. 1 Book Sense Pick, a New York Times Editor’s Choice, a Wall Street Journal Juggle Book Club selection, and a national bestseller; it was a Top 10 Novels of the Year for The Times of London, NPR’s Fresh Air and USA Today.


Min Jin went to Yale College where she was awarded both the Henry Wright Prize for Nonfiction and the James Ashmun Veech Prize for Fiction. She attended law school at Georgetown University and worked as a lawyer for several years in New York prior to writing full time.

From 2007 to 2011, Min Jin lived in Tokyo where she researched and wrote Pachinko. She lives in New York with her family. 

The First Date - Zara Stoneley (Blog Tour)

Date of Reading: 25/04/2020

Author: Zara Stoneley

Publisher: One More Chapter

Publication Date: April 24, 2020

Source: NetGalley

Rating: 4/5

(This review is part of the blog tour organised by Rachel's Random Resources)

About the book:

Right place.

Right time.

Wrong guy …

After breaking up with her childhood sweetheart, clueless dater Rosie has found herself in a boyfriend-drought. So when she finally swipes right on a guy who seems interested, she can’t wait to meet up IRL.

Until she’s left standing alone. In a bar. Ghosted.

Enter Noah. Confident, funny … and a serial first dater. Offering to give Rosie a crash course in seduction, this could be just what she needs. Until her matchmaker turns out to be the best date she’s ever had – and Rosie wonders if she wants the fake dates to be the real ones after all …

A hilarious, heartwarming romantic comedy about what happens when the wrong guy turns up at the right time, perfect for fans of Sophie Kinsella and Debbie Johnson.

Review:

    Before we begin let us be clear about one thing: there is absolutely nothing new in this book. Nope, not even a minor surprise, the plot is going to go exactly as you thought (if you are thinking like me that is). So why should you read it? For the same reason you pick any HEA novels; so that you can relive it again and again and again. Can we ever get tired of ice cream?

      A fake date trope. You know the drill; a damsel in distress, help from a handsome man on dating tips and ta-da! Feelings get involved. But there is always a hurdle and here it is called Daddy. Rosie is too aware of the disastrous effects of falling in love through her parent's marriage. So a serial first dater like Noah must never be the right person for her. Alright, I will let you figure out the rest.

      I loved the banter and the chemistry between Noah and Rosie and the way they avoid confronting their feelings is too adorable. There are some hilarious scenes, especially the one in the lingerie shop and we also get to meet a Great Dane, named Hugo. I would have loved a double POV, but it is pretty easy to guess what is going through Noah's head. Still, it would have been great to know his side of things. 

     Altogether a brilliant book that makes you laugh, relax and teaches you to make the most of every adverse situation.

Meet the author:

Zara Stoneley is the USA Today bestselling author of The Wedding Date.

Born in a small village in the UK, she wanted to be a female James Herriot, a spy, or an author when she grew up. After many (many) years and many different jobs, her dream of writing a bestseller came true.

She writes about friendship, dreams, love, and happy ever afters, and hopes that her tales make you laugh a lot, cry a little, and occasionally say 'ahhh'.

Zara now lives in a Cheshire village with her family, a lively cockapoo called Harry, and a very bossy (and slightly evil) cat called Saffron.

The Firm - John Grisham

Date of Reading: 23/04/2020

Author: John Grisham

Publisher: Dell

Year: 1991

Rating: 4/5

(This review is part of the #BookReviewBlogChallenge organised by Great New Reads

Day 03, Prompt: Golden Classics. Any book published before 1995)

About the book:

When Mitchell McDeere qualified third in his class at Harvard, offers poured in from every law firm in America. Bendini, Lambert and Locke were a small, well-respected firm, but their offer exceeded Mitch's wildest expectations: a fantastic salary, a new home, and the keys to a brand new BMW.

It was his dream job - but it was to become his worst nightmare.

Unravelling a complex trail of secret files, undercover surveillance, and millions of dollars of illegal mob money, Mitch stumbles across a shocking conspiracy and a horrifying truth: nobody has ever left Bendini, Lambert and Locke - and anybody who has ever tried has ended up dead.

Review:

       This is my first John Grisham book. What? Don't give me that look; it was never the right time. Now because of the Book Review Blog Challenge, I finally dusted off this popular book from my TBR. (It might also have to do with the fact that I am currently binge-watching 'Suits'). So, did I join the fan club? Not really, I will need some more books to decide on that.

     I have mixed feelings about this novel. According to one of the rankings I have seen, 'The Firm' is ranked twelfth in all Grisham's novels. I may have to agree with that now. The story was not as thrilling as I thought, partly due to the detached third-person narrative. I was never really worried about Mitch, just had this hunch that he will make it through. But by the time I reached the middle, the novel had me hooked. 

      A firm where no one is allowed to leave, unless in a coffin. It is a typical Godfather situation, aside from the fact that we are against them. That being said, I do really hope that the real FBI is much more capable, what I got here is not a favourable picture. I loved the way the story progressed with Mitch's crooked brain churning out ideas that quite surprised me. On the whole, a quick and easy read even with its massive size.

Meet the author:

Long before his name became synonymous with the modern legal thriller, he was working 60-70 hours a week at a small Southaven, Mississippi law practice, squeezing in time before going to the office and during courtroom recesses to work on his hobby—writing his first novel.

Born on February 8, 1955, in Jonesboro, Arkansas, John Grisham worked as an attorney and Mississippi legislator before becoming a best-selling novelist with works like The Firm, The Pelican Brief and A Time to Kill, all of which were turned into hit films. Grisham has continued to publish an array of titles, such as Bleachers and The Litigators, and has also worked in screenwriting, as seen with the 2003 baseball film Mickey.

The Little Teashop in Tokyo - Julie Caplin

Date of Reading: 22/04/2020

Author: Julie Caplin

Publisher: One More Chapter

Publication Date: June 19, 2020

Source: NetGalley

Rating: 4/5

(This review is part of the #BookReviewBlogChallenge organised by Great New Reads. 

Day 02, Prompt: Travel/Vacation)

About the book:

Grab your passport and escape to the land of dazzling skyscrapers, steaming bowls of comforting noodles, and a page-turning love story that will make you swoon!

For travel blogger Fiona, Japan has always been top of her bucket list so when she wins an all-expenses-paid trip, it looks like her dreams of the Far East are coming true.

Until she arrives in vibrant, neon-drenched Tokyo and comes face-to-face with the man who broke her heart ten years ago, gorgeous photographer Gabe.

Fiona can’t help but remember the heartache of their last meeting but it’s not long before the Japanese art of contentment and a special, traditional tea ceremony work their magic…

Amidst the temples and clouds of soft pink cherry blossoms, Fiona and Gabe start to see life – and each other – differently.

Review: 

      I selected this book for two reasons: one, the main character is a blogger and secondly, this is set in Japan, a country that merges traditions beautifully with technology and modernism. What is more? Fiona is also a passionate photographer, something I too love. Quite understandably, I was more invested in her photography experiments and the beauty and serenity of Japan that unfolded through her eyes than on the romance part.

     Usually, I don't prefer reading travel romances. The story part and the travelling rarely gel together but surprisingly, Julies Caplin has managed that feat incredibly well. There is ample tension to keep you focused and Japan with its tantalising dishes and scenic beauty fits beautifully within the storyline. The cherry blossoms, Mount Fuji, Digital museum and the silent trains . . . yup, Japan is added to my ever-growing bucket list.

      Fiona and Gabe have their own flaws and it took me some time to warm up to Gabe. I don't know which is worse, a man who sleeps around or the one who is under the leash of a manipulative woman. Both are despicable and Gabe belongs to the latter category. Sorry, if I didn't jump in joy on meeting him. But as a wise man once said, people are capable of change and grudgingly though it may be, I am happy that Fiona gave him a chance.

   I cannot conclude this review without mentioning Haruka, the kind but firm Japanese lady who owned the teashop. She is really a fairy godmother in a kimono and her tea ceremony was one of the most interesting part in the novel. Well, we could never really know about a country through a single book, but if you are interested in getting a taste of Japan along with a cute love story, then this is the perfect pick. What more can you wish for during this lockdown period?

Meet the author:

Julie Caplin is addicted to travel and good food. She's on a constant hunt for the perfect gin and is obsessively picky about glasses, tonic and garnishes. Between regular gin tastings, she's been writing her debut novel which is set in just one of the many cities she's explored over the years.

Formerly a PR director, for many years she swanned around Europe taking top food and drink writers on press trips (junkets) sampling the gastronomic delights of various cities in Italy, France, Belgium, Spain, Copenhagen and Switzerland. It was a tough job but someone had to do it. These trips have provided the inspiration and settings for the trilogy, The Little Cafe in Copenhagen, The Little Brooklyn Bakery and The Little Paris Patisserie.

Sister - Kjell Ola Dahl (Blog Tour)

Date of Reading: 06/04/2020

Author: Kjell Ola Dahl

Translator: Don Bartlett

Publisher: Orenda books

Publication Date: February 29, 2020

Rating: 3/5

(This review is part of the blog tour organised by Random Things Tours)

About the book:

The Oslo Detectives are back in another chilling slice of Nordic Noir … Frølich searches for the mysterious sister of a young female asylum seeker, but when people start to die, everything points to an old case and a series of events that someone will do anything to hide…

Suspended from duty, Detective Frølich is working as a private investigator, when his girlfriend’s colleague asks for his help with a female asylum seeker, who the authorities are about to deport. She claims to have a sister in Norway, and fears that returning to her home country will mean instant death.

Frølich quickly discovers the whereabouts of the young woman’s sister, but things become increasingly complex when she denies having a sibling, and Frølich is threatened off the case by the police. As the body count rises, it becomes clear that the answers lie in an old investigation, and the mysterious sister, who is now on the run…

A dark, chilling and up-to-the-minute Nordic Noir thriller, Sister is also a tense and well-plotted murder mystery with a moving tragedy at its heart, cementing Kjell Ola Dahl as one of the greatest crime writers of our generation.

Review:

      This is my first time reading something of the Nordic Noir, the genre of crime fiction largely following the police point of view. Well, the main character here is a former police officer now turned private detective. His business is not exactly booming but all the clients are drawn to him due to his anti-corruption stance. Yes, that is something remarkable about Frølich and his ideals shine throughout even with all the humiliations and the physical assault he is forced to endure.
     Beginning with the search of a lost sister, the story gradually turns into a murder mystery and the links all point to a previous incident. Along with this, the author also gives a glimpse of the corrupted political system of Norway and the condition of immigrants. From the very first page it will have you hooked in the guessing game, which I miserably failed. Hmm . . . not my first time failing to find the culprit.
      The book was not as fast paced as I expected and until the last part, things were going rather peacefully (apart from regular murders, that is). It could be the way of narration, but nothing really seems to shook us while reading, which was new. So if you are in search of some crime narratives this could definitely be a part of the list. Or if you want to read something out of your comfort zone (like me) then this is going to be a new experience.

Meet the author:

One of the fathers of the Nordic Noir genre, Kjell Ola Dahl was born in 1958 in Gjøvik. He made his debut in 1993, and has since published eleven novels, the most prominent of which is a series of police procedurals cum psychological thrillers featuring investigators Gunnarstranda and Frølich. In 2000 he won the Riverton Prize for The Last Fix and he won both the prestigious Brage and Riverton Prizes for The Courier in 2015. His work has been published in 14 countries, and he lives in Oslo.

      

My Oxford Year - Julia Whelan

Date of Reading: 19/04/2020

Author: Julia Whelan

Publisher: William Morrow

Publication Date: April 24, 2018

Rating: 5/5

(This review is part of the #BookReviewBlogChallenge organised by Great New Reads. 

Day 01, Prompt: Dreams & Ambitions)

About the book:

Set amidst the breathtaking beauty of Oxford, this sparkling debut novel tells the unforgettable story about a determined young woman eager to make her mark in the world and the handsome man who introduces her to an incredible love that will irrevocably alter her future—perfect for fans of JoJo Moyes and Nicholas Sparks.

American Ella Durran has had the same plan for her life since she was thirteen: Study at Oxford. At 24, she’s finally made it to England on a Rhodes Scholarship when she’s offered an unbelievable position in a rising political star’s presidential campaign. With the promise that she’ll work remotely and return to DC at the end of her Oxford year, she’s free to enjoy her Once in a Lifetime Experience. That is until a smart-mouthed local who is too quick with his tongue and his car ruins her shirt and her first day.

When Ella discovers that her English literature course will be taught by none other than that same local, Jamie Davenport, she thinks for the first time that Oxford might not be all she’s envisioned. But a late-night drink reveals a connection she wasn’t anticipating finding and what begins as a casual fling soon develops into something much more when Ella learns Jamie has a life-changing secret.

Immediately, Ella is faced with a seemingly impossible decision: turn her back on the man she’s falling in love with to follow her political dreams or be there for him during a trial neither are truly prepared for. As the end of her year in Oxford rapidly approaches, Ella must decide if the dreams she’s always wanted are the same ones she’s now yearning for.

Review:

       Whatever that I thought about this book, that is not this. Well, I don't even remember what I expected. So careless of me, not to be alerted by the warning in the blurb, the book being for the fans of Nicholas Sparks. Then I would not have been overwhelmed by this roller coaster of emotions. Yes, that is what this book is; it will floor you and leave you tongue tied. Remarkably and incredibly.

      From the age of thirteen, Ella Durran had dreamed of studying at Oxford, the City of Dreaming Spires. Now at the age of twenty four with her Rhodes scholarship, she is fulfilling her dream. Her background is politics, but she chooses English literature for her masters, the literature from 1830 to 1914 to be precise. And she finds herself with a group of students who live and breathe literature. Sure, it brings back some memories since I too did my masters in English Lit.

       The poems that started each chapter, literary jokes, essays and discussions . . . this was like slipping back into a familiar world. Poetry may not be my forte, but I love Tennyson and all the allusions to his life just made this story a lot sweeter. But this is not a mere academic story, this is the story of a dream that didn't go as planned. Then again, "if you are not surprised by life, what is the bloody point?"

       The surprise comes in the form of a teaching assistant; a gorgeous, funny teaching assistant, burdened with a life altering secret. There begins a tale of woe, sending Ella in a quest for her own identity. It is heartbreaking, enlightening and hopeful. Ah! I need more tissues. Five stars . . . without any doubt.

Favourite quotes:

"Everyone else looks very British about it, like this is where fun comes to die" - 43

"Open the bottle. Open every damn bottle you can, while you can. Then let me go. In love. That's what you can do" - 259

"But death without the process of dying is an abomination. It takes nine months to create life; it feels unnatural, a sin against nature, that the reverse shouldn't also have it time. Time to let go of the known as we take hold of the unknown." - 287

"It turns out, the act of making a choice, of choosing a path, doesn't mean the other path disappears. It just means that it will forever run parallel to the one you're on. It means you have to live with knowing what you gave up". - 291

". . . that being called upon to do something because you're good at it is not the same thing as having a calling" - 293

"The hardest thing is love, with no expiration date, no qualifiers, no safety net. Love that demands acceptance of all the things I cannot change. Love that doesn't follow a plan." - 296

Meet the author:

Julia Whelan is a screenwriter, life-long actor, and award-winning audio book narrator. She graduated with a degree in English and Creative Writing from Middlebury College and Oxford University. While in England, her flirtation with tea blossomed into a full-blown love affair, culminating in her eventual certification as a tea master. When not writing her own books, you can find her reading other people’s out loud into a microphone.