BOOK NERD NEWS

01

Black Out and All Clear

by Connie Willis

What was originally intended to be the final book in the time travel trilogy which began with The Doomsday Book and continued with To Say Nothing of the Dog morphed into two books while being written and they are amazing!

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Set during WWII in the London Blitz these books tell the tale of time travelling university students who study History by living it. They become trapped in the past and must find their way to each other and to an alternate drop site in order to leave before their carefully studied information on where and when the bombs will fall runs out.

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These books had me on the edge on my seat both times I have read them. Even knowing how it all turns out I had tingles and palpatations during the incredibly descriptive blitz moments. I have recommended this series to many family and friends and they have all enjoyed it.

 

02

Midnight is a Lonely Place

by Barbara Erskine

My first foray into the Barbara Erskine world and what a ride! I adored the idea of renting a lonely cottage by the marshes to finish writing a book - wouldn't we all - and the spine tingling ghost story just added to the attraction for me. It is still my favourite BE book and I have re-read my tattered copy countless times.

 

03

Little Shop of Happy Ever After

by Jenny Colgan

I have always dreamed of owning a mobile book shop. I have researched vans to convert myself and so this book jumped out at me and begged me to read it. It felt almost like the story of the life I should have lived. I adore Scotland so the setting was perfect too.

 

04

The Bride of Lowther Fell

by Margaret Forster

A very old favourite and again, a ghost story, I'm sensing a pattern here. The idea of setting out and beginning again in an area totally new and living off of my talent is another of my dreams (I draw pets and this book is about a potter). Throw in a Miss Havesham-like character and my interest was piqued. The loneliness is particularly well portrayed in this story, of a woman trying to make it alone and being responsible for her newly-orphaned nephew at the same time as coping with the strange occurances in her new home.

 

05

The Sanctus Trilogy

by Simon Toyne

I came across this trilogy by winning "The Key" which is the second in the series. Of course, being me, I had to buy the other two before I could contemplate reading my win and I am glad I did.  All three books are fast-paced, action packed, thought provoking and entirely enjoyable. The religion aspect put me off to begin with but the mystery enveloped me and I couldn't put them down.

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06

Ladder of Years

by Anne Tyler

Who hasn't wanted to walk out of their own boring life at some point? Just to walk away and start again somewhere completely new and different. That's the basis of this amazing book. Part of me felt sorry for her family but a bigger part applauded her nerve.

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07

Flowers Won't Fax

by Sarah Harrison

Another book which runs parallel to my own life. A dog portrait artist (what I do) and a dog named Portia (the name of my old dog). Sadly, there the similarity ends but it was enough to make this one of my all time favourite books. The story is actually about two women in love with the same man, and then he dies...leaving the wife to discover that she was, in fact, the other woman before she became the wife. Intriguing yes?