Reading, Relaxing and Reviewing

It’s school holidays here in sunny Queensland which means I am on holiday too. I spent a glorious few days camping on my friend’s property, spending my days reading and relaxing. Here are the fruits of my labours, courtesy of #NetGalley

When the Lights Go Out - Mary Kubica finished 28.9.18

For most of this book I was willing Jessie to just go to sleep already! Her insistence that sleep eluded her annoyed me no end, but as the story unfolded, secrets were revealed and it all began to make sense. The final twist surprised me but left me with an unsatisfactory feeling of being slightly let down. All in all I did enjoy it but it’s not likely one that I will read again. #NetGalley Haunted Hearts - Kimberly Dean 28.9.18 - 30.9.18

I really enjoyed this little spooky mystery. It wasn’t terrifying or even all that mysterious (I figured it out long before the Police Chief did) but it was a pleasant ghostly story about my favorite thing...moving to a haunted house in a small town. Some of the dialogue was a bit cringe-worthy when the intimacy heated up but generally it was a great read. Half-Moon Lake - Leanna Sain 30.9.18 - 3.10.18

Slightly predictable but an enjoyable read nonetheless. I enjoy stories about twins, and inheriting a house in a small town has always been a favorite plot for me so this ticked both of those boxes. No surprises or twists but a solid little story which meandered along to a satisfying conclusion. A Version of the Truth - B P Walter 3.10.18 - 5.10.18

A difficult story to read which begins as an innocent portrayal of a young girl navigating the reality of being the poor girl in a world of privilege at Oxford University. As Sophie and Julianne’s stories begin to intertwine the frightening truth becomes clear, culminating in an agonizing choice for the two of them. Top read!

I’m a Reader

I have always been an avid reader. When I was young I read voraciously – devouring all the books in the school library. My teachers laughed and told me that I would grow up to be a great writer. Instead…I grew up to be an even greater READER! My home is full of bookshelves, some 6 foot, some 4 foot and piles and piles of books on every flat (and not so flat) surface. I have always imagined that my tombstone will read something like “Here lies Julie. She read…A LOT!” For as far back as I can remember there was always a book at my side and, interestingly enough, they have mostly been mysteries and spooky tales, even as a child. I cut my reading teeth on well-loved series like Trixie Belden and the Famous Five, who were always having adventures and getting into scrapes and mischief. How I longed to be part of a gang of sleuths like them. As I grew older I moved on to Nancy Drew and ultimately the mysteries and psychological thrillers that I love to this day. A couple of years ago I sold my set of Trixie Belden novels (34 in all) to a primary school in Melbourne, who were overjoyed to replenish their disintegrating collection when Trixie, Honey and the rest of the group had a resurgence in popularity. It’s nice to know that they continue to bring joy to young readers 30 years after I first bought them. My childhood also began my addiction to ghosts, spooks and ghouls. One book which terrified me, to the point of not sleeping with it in the same room as me, was a collection of ghost stories called Ghosts by Aiden and Nancy Chambers. I loved the creepy, spooky tales during the day but at night that book was banished from my room! These days it doesn’t terrify me and it is still there, lurking in my bookcase. I recently tracked down another old favourite from a second hand bookstore, The Wicked, Wicked Ladies in the Haunted House by Mary Chase was actually my twin sister’s book when we were children, but I loved the creepiness of sisters whose portraits came to life in their haunted home. I now have my own copy to hand down to future grandchildren. It has been a great sadness to me that my daughter is not a natural born reader (and quite incomprehensible to be honest) so my hopes lie with my reading genes being passed on to future generations. 

Review: Our House by Louise Candlish

Imagine coming home to find someone moving into YOUR house. All your things are gone. Your soon to be ex-husband and your children are nowhere to be found. The strangers moving their belongings in to your house tell you that they have just bought your home…But your home was never for sale! This story gave me chills, it unfolded gradually and painfully, and I found myself holding my breath, feeling outraged on Fiona’s behalf. How could this happen? The multiple perspectives annoyed me at first, the constant switching between ‘Word Document’ (Bram), ‘The Victim’ podcast and real time (as poor Fiona came to grips with the horrible reality of what had happened) jumbled my poor head alarmingly. But once I settled into the rhythm of the 3 modes I began to enjoy the different viewpoints. And that ending! I thought I had it all sussed out until then. This is one book which will stay on my phone and I will definitely reread/listen again.