Reading Is A Discount Ticket To Everywhere....

"Reading is a discount ticket to Everywhere" - Mary Schmich



Books I Read This Week.

Here is another review of some books I read this week. No, 50 Shades of Grey this week but its on my "to do" list ;)

Becoming Jane Eyre by Sheila Kohler - My love of the Bronte Clan continues this week with this fictional biographical of Charlotte Bronte. It mostly told by Charlotte's point of view but there is a little of Emily and Anne too. It is a much smaller book than Taste Of Sorrow and less intense. It starts in 1846 with Charlotte at her sick Father's bedside writing the first chapters of Jane Eyre. The story continues recounting the life's of the Bronte Family from the sisters dealing with there alcoholic brother Branwell to the challenges of trying to get there books published. I got straight into the book from the first page, I really enjoyed the first few chapters as Charlotte recalls her love affair with her "professor" and how she incorporates this experience into Jane Eyre. I did get the feeling of sisterly rivalry when Jane Eyre was published with good reviews and felt for the other sisters when there books didn't do as well, especially poor Emily whose Wuthering Heights got the worst reviews. However the last part of the book for me is lacking it loses focus and for me it felt as if the ending was rushed. I also didn't like the covers of this book as there is two different ones they don't do any justice for the book and the cover for the one I read looks more "Jane Austin" then Jane Eyre! It has however inspired me to re-read Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights.

The Glassblower of Murano by Marina Fiorato - This book is about present day Leonora, who when her marriage falls apart moves to Venice to find out about her family history and reconnect with her ancestor Corradino. This book goes back and forth from present day to the 17th century. In 17th century we learn about Corradino Manin who was a maestro glassblower. Glassblowing at the time was more precious that gold and the art form was hidden and kept secret. The secrets where ferociously guarded my The Council Of Ten. Corradino to protect his daughter sells his secerts to King Louis of France. Present day it tells the story of Corradino descendant Nora/Leonora who's life had fallen apart after her husband leaves her for an older woman. She decides to leave London for Venice and take up glassblowing for herself. Along the way she falls in love with Venice and with handsome Alessandro. The two story's intertwine as she finds out more about Corradino's strange "death". I found it a little hard to get into at first, and for the first couple of chapters the modern part of the story was easier to ready. It really gave you the feel of Venice and it has made me want to visit Venice again...like now!! However I still wasn't sure about Leonora and Alessandro at the end, it was the only part of the plot which I thought was lacking. It was a really good read and it was my favourite of the four.

Monday To Friday Man by Alice Peterson - Gilly Brown has been jilted two weeks before her wedding and at 34 her sister in law has her wrote of as a spinster! Alone in London with just her dog Ruskin for company she is finding it hard to pay her bills her friend suggest a lodger a Monday to Friday man. Along comes Jack Baker a top TV producer, soon Gilly find herself caught up with fancy party's, glamour and fine dinning. Only Gilly's dog walking friend Guy isn't convinced that Jack is all he pretends to be. What attracted me to this book was the cover I thought it was really pretty! It's basically a chick-lit but what makes its that little bit special is its narration and like The Girls Guide To Homemaking last week it has a great back story from divorce, disability, love, marriage, and loneliness. There is good flashbacks to Gilly's childhood, where we learn of her broken home life and her disabled little sister. It was pretty obvious from the first few chapters what has going to happen with Gilly's love life. Its not a mind blowing read or something that's going to stay with you forever but its good for what it is, and I enjoyed sitting on the sofa with a cup of tea reading it.

Between the Sheets by Colette Caddle - Dana De Lancey is a romance novelist think Mills & Boon, but all is not well in her own love life. When her husband Guy leaves her, her world falls apart. Her estranged brother Ed turns up out of the blue and it makes her relive some painful memories. I just couldn't get into this book and found it a struggle to finish it. It did however make me appreciate my loving communicate hubby.

Onto the next four books for next week!! Have you read any of these books? If so what did you think of them?

Book Lovers Never Go To Bed Alone

Book lovers never go to bed alone.  ~Author Unknown

My parents gave me a great gift when I was younger. The gift of reading and ever since I was little I have been a book worm! I love how you could be sitting at a wet bus stop open a book and your back in the 1940's or 18th century Italy or in a far away land. I love reading and am always telling my hubby he should read more! I read about 4/6 books a week so I thought I would share some of the books I read with you.

Some books I read over the past couple of days.

Taste Of Sorrow by Jude Morgan - This is a kind of fictional biography of The Bronte family. I found this book a slow burner it was great once I got into the mindset of the Bronte close dark family. The first 30 pages of so were hard I put the book down and took it up again about five times, but when I finally go into the book I was transported back to the Gothic wild moors of the Bronte clan. It is written in present tense so you really feel you are growing up with the Bronte family. The famous Charlotte, Emily and Anne are there, but so are the little know sisters Maria and Elizabeth, and brother Branwell. At the end of the book I felt I knew them all a little better. I always adored Emily because she wrote my favourite book ever, but I now also have so much more respect for Anne. It is a great read.

A Noble Assassin by Christie Dickason - This is another fictional biography this time of Lucy Russell Countess of Bedford. She was one of the Queen's favourites and had it all riches, fame, power and a lover. Now she is out of favour with the court and has been banished from court along with her husband. She is now trying to help her friend Elizabeth Stuart Queen of Bohemia to come home to England so hopefully she can regain favour in court.

I started this book and I really liked the first half of this book. How Lucy recalls how she raced to be the first to met the new Queen and King from Scotland. How she won the favour of the Queen and became a darling of court. How she fell in love with poet John Donne and became friends with little princess Elizabeth Stuart, but for me it began to drag into the second part of the book. As Lucy trys to bring Elizabeth back from Bohemia and home to England. As plot goes on and more and more characters are introduced I became bored with the plot and found I didn't really care what happened to our heroine and was glad when I read the final page (and believe me that does happen to me alot!) In short I had high hopes for this book but it left me cold.

The Girls Guide To Homemaking by Amy Brantley - This book is about Juliet she is on a misson to make her dream come true and her dream is to have a home with her boyfriend Simon. She thinks her dream has come through when she finally gets Simon to agree to getting a place of there own. Her dream turns into a nightmare when she finds out Simon has been sleeping with her close friend. Heartbroken and depressed she finds her Grandmother's 1950's homemaking manuals and she discovers craft and homemaking are back in style.

I didn't think I would like this book....but it was my favourite of the four. I loved the quotes from actual homemaking manuals at the start of each chapter. It is basically a chiclit but it done so well and with all the desire to make a loving home. The character of Juliet is so sweet you can't help but feel sorry for her. Her family issues are fleshed out really well and you can really see why she wants a staple home life. I couldn't put this book down and read it cover to cover in one night. Sometimes in life you want a nice light read and I would recommend this book for a curl up by the fire on a rainy day book!

The Other Side Of Paradise by Margaret Mayhew - This book is set in 1941 in Singapore. While Britain is in the grip of war Susan Roper is living the high life in Singapore and the war feels far way. The only problems she has is picking what clothes to wear and if she wants to go to that boring party her neighbours are having, but when Singapore falls she is force to grow up quickly.

This is another slow starter and I did think of putting it down and not taking it back up, but once I got into it I read it in two days. The character of Susan is so spoiled at the start of the book that I found it hard to like her. The second half of the book is where it picks up for me. The hardship and horror of war really make her character grown up quickly in the book. I did enjoy it and it's one of those books where everything comes together at the final chapter.

I will be back down to the library tomorrow to pick up some more books...might even fold to pressure and read 50 Shades Of Grey!!! If you have read any good books let me know =)