The Dressmakers of Yarrandarrah Prison

 Author: Meredith Jaffe

Read by: Simone Gescheit

ISBN: 9781867535430

Hi Everyone

Unique.

Who would have thought that a group of men, in prison, making a dress, could catch my attention? I guess it is because I like to do my own needlework and the thought of a hand-embroidered dress interested me.  I enjoyed envisioning the dress as it took shape, and what the outcome would be.  Would Debbie wear it, or would her mother stand in the way? Would it be show cased? Or, would it be discarded?

Debbie and her mother were 'next level' annoying! Well, I suppose you could really say the mother was beyond annoying. Just read it!

This is an easy read - or in my case, 'listen to'. The plot is pretty standard, with the odd bit of chaos added in. But you won't be disappointed.  Just let your mind envision the dress and the emotions of every character as the process becomes their story.

Description:

Derek's daughter Debbie is getting married. He's desperate to be there, but he's banged up in Yarrandarrah Correctional Centre for embezzling funds from the golf club, and, thanks to his ex-wife, Lorraine, he hasn't spoken to Debbie in years. He wants to make a grand gesture - to show her how much he loves her. But what?

Inspiration strikes while he's embroidering a cushion at his weekly prison sewing circle - he'll make her a wedding dress.  His fellow stitchers rally around and soon this motley gang of crims is immersed in a joyous whirl of silks, satins and covered bottons.

But as time runs out and tensions rise both inside and outside the prison, the wedding dress project takes on greater significance. With lives at stake, Derek feels his chance to reconcile with Debbie is slipping through his fingers... 

Happy reading

For Private tutoring with Richelle:

Lost Apothecary

 Author: Sarah Penner

ISBN: 978-1-78955-8-975

Hi everyone

I don't know what I expected when I purchased this on my Kindle. I know it was a while ago, so when I opened it, a book of mystery awaited me. 

Nella is mysterious, yes definitely a mysterious character this one. But with all the secrets that she held secure, why did she entrust a 12-year-old into her business? How did this child do the things asked of her?  I have finished this book, and I have many more questions than these!

Then there is Caroline. Oh Caroline...

Her story is pretty normal. Based on the present, we read a story that everyone can follow as we connect with Caroline.  That part of the plot is kind of predictable but so intertwined with the past that it connects well with the plot.  I think Caroline is needed to bring the story together, but it was the past that kept me reading, wondering, and questioning. 

Now, I am not a person who normally wishes a book doesn't finish, but I could have read more. I was left pondering a few additional questions about each character. A perfect way to leave a book.... thinking about additional possibilities.  Even Caroline, I would have liked to know where her future journey took her. 

Description:

Hidden in the depths of eighteenth-century London, a secret apothecary shop caters to an unusual kind of clientele. Women across the city whisper of a mysterious figure named Nella who sells well-disguised poisons to use against the oppressive men in their lives. But the apothecary's fate is jeopardized when her newest patron, a precocious twelve-year-old, makes a fatal mistake, sparking a string of consequences that echo through the centuries.

Meanwhile in present-day London, aspiring historian Caroline Parcewell spends her tenth wedding anniversary alone, running from her own demons. When she stumbles upon a clue to the unsolved apothecary murders that haunted London two hundred years ago, her life collides with the apothecary's in a stunning twist of fate-and not everyone will survive.

Available from:   https://www.amazon.com

Happy reading 

Pride and Prejudice

 Author: Jane Austen

Illustrations: Bil Donovan

ISBN: 9781454947547

Hi Everyone

I have to recommend this edition of Pride and Prejudice, even if it is only for display on your coffee table or bookcase. It sat on my coffee table as a display book for several months before I got to reading it, and it will return there for others to pick up and admire. It is simply the most beautiful edition I have come across. I thank my daughter for finding this copy and gifting it to me.

When I first started reading Pride and Prejudice I wondered if it would be worth continuing. But, I have read many classics now and believe they are worth being given the extra chance. Hence, I continued to grapple with the content and learn the ins and outs of the characters. In doing so I became a part of their community. Of course, being a part of any community you gain friends and tend to keep others as acquaintances, keeping them at arms reach for reasons of your own. 

So who did I become friends with along the way:

Elizabeth Bennet, she was a thinker. Sometimes an over-thinker. I like this about her. Elizabeth watched those around her and found her own opinions about them, based on what she was experiencing. Sometimes she was right and sometimes she was wrong. I admired that when she was wrong, she admitted so. This became apparent with Fitzwilliam Darcy. Elizabeth also kept a lookout for her family and friends, speaking her truth where required, listening, and understanding other people's points of view. I gained respect for Elizabeth as her story unfolded.

Fitzwilliam Darcy, now there is a gentleman. First impressions make him out to be a snobby, judgemental young man, with a lot of growing up to do. He comes across as being of a superior class to those around him, and I (like Elizabeth) had my prejudices built against him in the first chapters. As Elizabeth and I got to know Fitzwilliam Darcy we quickly peeled off the hard layers to find a kind gentleman hidden beneath the layers.  Trust me there is more to Fitzwilliam than first impressions give us.

Jane Bennet is such a sweet character. What you see is what you get. She is simple and the kind of friend every girl should have somewhere in her life.

Lydia Bennet, now there is a work of art! If you want the opposite of Jane and Elizabeth then Lydia is your friend. She was too high maintenance for my liking and I don't know why so much time was taken to keep her happy other than the social outcomes that arose from her shenanigans.

Mr and Mrs Bennet go together like chalk and cheese. Mr Bennet has my vote whereas Mrs Bennet needs some timeout!

George Wickham is off my friend's list, he is pure spoilt.

Mr Collins is too pompous for me and what's with him seeking Lady Catherine de Bourgh's approval so much. If I was engaged to Mr Collins, I would have had more say in the matter unlike Charlotte Lucas (his betrothed) who had little input in anything. He drove me nuts! He needed to keep his pompous nose out of everyone's business.

Mr and Mrs Gardiner, they were divine and a special couple that could join me for dinner anytime.  They were very caring and looked out for their family at every turn. Every book needs a couple like this.

And, Georgiana Darcy, of course, I would be her friend.  Simple and quiet, but ever watchful towards the people entering her brother's life. What a brother and sister should be. I believe taking Gorgiana on as a friend would give you the friend that would show up when messaged, with no strings attached.

As you can clearly see, the characters in Pride and Prejudice form a community not that different from today's world. We live in different eras and the dynamics are different. But have people really changed that much? I'm not looking at the social dynamics of today versus 1813 when this was first published, but rather the characteristics that make us all individuals. The personalities that bring us all together in different ways and those whom we gravitate towards or away from due to such personalities. What personalities do you connect with? And, which personalities drive you crazy?  That is what I found myself thinking most of as I closed the book and placed it back on my coffee table for others to enjoy.

Description:

Pride and Prejudice and its account of the fraught romantic pas de deux between the proud Elizabeth Bennet and the haughty Fitzwilliam Darcy have been a cornerstone of literary letters for more than two centuries. This deluxe edition of Jane Austen's masterpiece future the full-clour art of Bil Donovan, the first appointed artist-in-residence for Christina Dior.

Happy reading

Today's Quote

 

Happy reading

Today's Quote

 

Happy reading

The Nine Lives of Kitty K

Author: Margaret Mills

ISBN: 9780473689230

Hi Everyone

I don't know how many times I went into a Paperplus bookstore and picked up this book before I finally gave in and purchased it.  From my first sighting to the moment I closed the final page, I was captivated by Kitty's story. 

The first life of Kitty was an interesting concept because it was before she was born. The life of her mother and the reasoning behind Kitty being born in New Zealand was a necessity and I am pleased it was included. It helped me to understand her mother and her points of view, along with Kitty's, in comparison to the other characters who originated from New Zealand. Kitty's mother was tough on her but also the foundation of Kitty's strength of character.  

The rest of the book follows the other eight lives of Kitty K.  Each life being a new season of Kitty's. It really is worth reading as you make the journey through every link in her story. The makings of the woman that we see through to the final days of her story.  I was left several times shocked by outcomes that shaped several of her lives. 

In addition to Kitty's story, the history of New Zealand's gold mining and the foundations of areas like Queenstown were extremely well presented within the storyline. It was cleanly intertwined within each life without taking over from Kitty's story.  A beautifully written piece of historical literature.

Overall, I enjoyed following Kitty through the pages of her life - or nine lives.

Description:

Set in a turbulent period of goldfields’ history, The Nine Lives of Kitty K. paints a vivid picture of pioneer life as told by the sons and daughters of those who lived it and survived the terrible Depression of the 1890s. Kitty Kirk (1855–1930), arguably the toughest woman in Otago history, endured those times, supporting herself as a woman alone. Happiness was followed by tragedy, fame by infamy, and the circle was repeated more than once. Some locals called her a heroine, others called her a harlot. Whichever she was, she became a legend in her own lifetime for her daring deeds that are still remembered and talked about ninety years after her death.

Goodreads

Happy ready 

The Boy from Gorge River

 From New Zealand's Remotest Family to the World Beyond

Author: Chris Long

Hi Everyone

So I took a while to read this but enjoyed the diversity of it. Let's discuss the things I found interesting:

I picked it up to see what Chris Long thought of his life growing up so far away from any towns. I could say, 'far from civilization", but as you read you will quickly find that they were not isolated from people.  I think it is easy to look at these ideas and think of their lives as being isolated just because their housing was. Not the case! There were trampers, hunters, and planes going in and out quite regularly.  Yes, Chris lived a different lifestyle than most other children but I don't think it was as isolated from people as one would think. Chris and his family made many lifelong friendships. In fact, I would go as far to say that maybe they made more lifelong friends than many of us in our frantic quick paced, media-orientated lives.

I was intrigued by the things Chris made. Whitebait stands, fishing rods, things that even some of us adults would struggle to make, out of resources from the land. As for 'Health and Safety', it came down to common sense and learning the hard way. By reading this you soon find that Chris had more mishaps after leaving Gorge River than during his time experimenting as a child.

Another thing that interested me was how Chris interacted once leaving Gorge River and entering school, followed by the big wide world.  This is all covered in Part 2, extremely well.  Chris has gone on to do far more than most of us.  He has been from one corner of the world to the other. He has attempted things that many of us wouldn't think of possible. It is quite an impressive life he has traveled to date.

Want to know more? Then take the time to read Chris Long's side of the story and his adventures at Gorge River - living remotely, homeschooling, and being connected with nature; and the life that he grabbed hold of once he ventured into the quick-paced world beyond.

Description:

The story of how an extraordinary childhood shaped an extraordinary life.

On the West Coast of the South Island, past deep fiords and snow-capped mountains, Chris Long grew up two days' kike from the nearest road. He was born into the country's most isolated family, his parents committed to freedom from capitalist society and connection to the natural world.

In this inspiring memoir, Chris describes a childhood with nature on his doorstep - helping his father catch crayfish and his mother grow vegetables, playing with toys crafted from driftwood and jade, and learning to live in the wild - until, in his teenage years, he began to wonder: could he survive in the wider world?

By the son of the authors of  'A Life on Gorge River' and 'A Wife on Gorge River', 'The Boy from Gorge River' is an enthralling account of chasing adventure while forever staying true to where you come from. 

Happy Reading

Queen of the Tearling

 Author: Erika Johansen

Narrated by: Katherine Kellgren

Hi Everyone

What can I say about this audiobook other than I thoroughly enjoyed every second of it!

The main character could have risked being a young adult generically presented heroine, but she wasn't. She was strong-willed, yes, but she was still a woman who had her own background and was thrust into a different season of life without questioning. She took on her position so well! 

There were so many parts of this book that grabbed my attention and took me deeper into the plot. These ranged from character building to world building - all fantastically written into each page. As for the narration... it was, in all honesty, the narrator that gave the story life for me. Her voice matched that of the one in my mind. The dramatization worked perfectly in every scene. The narrator - Katherine Kellgren - owned these characters. She gave them life! 

I will listen to, or read the rest of the series. I want to know what becomes of Kelsea. I want to follow her into the unknown world in between the pages of this trilogy. Yes, it is official, I will have to add these to my library.

Description:

Kelsea Glynn is the sole heir to the throne of Tearling but has been raised in secret after her mother - a monarch as vain as she was foolish - was murdered for ruining her kingdom. For 18 years, the Tearling has been ruled by Kelsea's uncle in the role of Regent however he is but the debauched puppet of the Red Queen, the sorceress-tyrant of neighbouring realm of Mortmesme. On Kelsea's nineteenth birthday, the tattered remnants of her mother's guard - each pledged to defend the queen to the death - arrive to bring this most un-regal young woman out of hiding...
And so begins her journey back to her kingdom's heart, to claim the throne, win the loyalty of her people, overturn her mother's legacy and redeem the Tearling from the forces of corruption and dark magic that are threatening to destroy it. But Kelsea's story is not just about her learning the true nature of her inheritance - it's about a heroine who must learn to acknowledge and live with the realities of coming of age in all its insecurities and attractions, alongside the ethical dilemmas of ruling justly and fairly while simply trying to stay alive...

Happy reading

Anne of Green Gables

 

Hi Everyone

No one is ever too grown up to read Anne of Green Gables. Anne is just adorable! She talks more than me :)

The story is a classic, and I see why. Every page has something special. The language is witty, clever, elegant, and rich. I have read plenty of children's and young reader's books, but this one tops them all. I see history intertwined amongst the literacy, which will enable many talking points if read aloud to young people.  

Overall, I think anyone's reading list is not complete unless this is either added or already read. It is one of the best classic series on the market.  Now that is giving Anne of Green Gables some major credits because I like reading the classics and I have many of them on my favourites list.  I still think this one needs to be one of the top children's literature titles. 

When you find a copy and a spare moment, take the time to journey with Anne of Green Gables. Then we can all have a talk about Anne, literacy, and a bit of history.  I have the whole series to read so I will keep you updated.

Description: 

People are surprised when Marilla and Matthew Cuthbert, both very set in their ways, decide to adopt an orphan boy. But no-one is more astonished than Marilla and Matthew themselves when the boy they are expecting turns out to be a very talkative, very imaginative, very read-headed, very female girl. Anne has arrived at Green Gables. Her adventures, dreams, sorrows and joys are set down here in one of the most popular books ever written.

Happy reading

For private tutoring with Richelle

The Atlas Six

 Author: Olivie Blake

ISBN: 9781529095241

Hi Everyone

Okay. I had big expectations for this novel and I didn't get what I wanted. The concept was good but it went on way more than it needed to.  I felt like I was reading forever, continually finding out a little snippet about the characters. It didn't nearly as far into the plot as it could have. This plot could have really grabbed my attention had it had more action and suspense. I'm giving my honest review here.

Again this was based on my expectations. I did enjoy the book.  I just wanted more than it gave me. I have read so many good books but this one isn't in my top 10. 

Maybe you could read it and then let me know whether I should try reading it again, from a different perspective, at another time of my journey through literature :)

Description: 

Six young magicians are chosen for greatness. But as they study to become the best among rivals, the stakes are higher than they know.

Paperplus.co.nz

The Library of Alexandria has never perished, it has kept the darkest secrets of mankind hidden for thousands of years. Every ten years, the most talented magicians of their generation are given the opportunity to study the ancient knowledge: those who survive the initiation await tremendous wealth, power, and wisdom. But of the six chosen, only five will survive.

This time they are joined by Libby Rhodes and Nico de Varona, two gifted physiomagicians from the New York University of Magical Arts who can't stand each other. The telepath Parisa Kamali and the empath Callum Nova, both masters of manipulation. Tristan Caine, the cynical son of a London gangster who can see through any illusion, and Reina Mori, a mysterious nature magician from Japan.

A game of life and death begins between the powerful adepts.

Audible.com.au

Happy Reading

Thoughts... A little poetry

 Hi Everyone

I was feeling like reading a little poetry and came across this little piece.  It is in the public domain, I found it over at https://poets.org/poem/thoughts-0 It was originally published in 1915. If you take a look over at poets.org I am sure you will find a lot more things that you will enjoy.

Happy reading

Lifes Too Short to go ***ing Slow

 Lessons from an epic friendship that went the distance

Author: Susan Lacke

Hi Everyone

I wasn't sure what to expect from the description of this book. I couldn't tell if it was fiction or non-fiction, so had to do a little digging to find out. It turns out that this is a memoir and non-fiction. It also turns out that this is a page-turner that will have you soul-searching.

I plugged into this at an event that I was running. I like to listen to audiobooks while I run, it's relaxing, and I listen rather than think of the distance or the pain 😁. So that morning I looked for a little inspiration and tuned in to Lifes too short to go *** slow. I ran down hills while listening to Susan be told to bike faster, work harder, and that she could be better. I heard her talk of Iron Man challenges and I took every piece of information and ran harder myself. Then the turning point of the book came when Carlos fought his own battles. Susan and Carlos tell their own stories along the journey and the book gives every reader an insight into the value of friends who inspire and push each other to be all they can be, no matter the challenge or pain they have to endure along the way.

Inspirational to say the least.  This book will be listened to more than once by me!

Description:

Susan and Carlos were unlikely friends. She was a young, overweight college professor and a bit of a trainwreck juggling a divorce, a pack-a-day habit, and hiding empty boxes of wine under her bed. He was her boss, an Ironman triathlete, with life figured out. She was a whiner, he was a hard-ass. He had his shit together, she most assuredly did not.

Trash-talking workouts, breakdowns, and a devastating diagnosis this heartwarming story of training buddies reveals a deep and abiding friendship that traversed life, sport, and everything in between. Their journey reveals the inspiring power of sports and friendship to change lives forever.

Amusing and poignant, Life’s Too Short To Go So ***ing Slow is about running and triathlon, growth and heartbreak, and an epic friendship that went the distance.

Goodreads.com

Happy reading

For private tutoring with Richelle

Today's Quote

 

Hi Everyone

Just a little reflection from a book I am reading, The Boy from Gorge River - From New Zealand's remotest family to the world beyond.  Keep looking back in for my review which will be coming soon.

Happy reading

Be Useful Seven Tools for Life - Arnold Schwarzenegger

 Author: Arnold Schwarzenegger

ISBN: 9781529146547

Hi Everyone

When I look at Be Useful Seven Tools for Life - Arnold Schwarzenegger on Goodreads I am told it belongs in the following categories:

• Non-fiction
• Self-help
• Biography
• Memoir
• Philosophy
• Business
• Autobiography

Let's start analysing these and see what I come with.

Memoir and autobiography 

Definitely a yes for belonging in this category. Most of the book centers around Arnold Schwarzenegger and where he has come from, what he has achieved, and who he has become.  I spent my most informative years watching Arnold Schwarzengger on the big screen and our TV screen. Movies like 'The Terminator 'were the most captivating and thought-provoking movies of the generation. The lines he spoke were flicked around in conversations all across the school grounds. Arnold Schwarzenger was one of the best.

So when I picked this up, it was his story I was interested in. I had no idea how much Arnold had done in his lifetime. He is living proof that if you put hard work into what you want to accomplish then you can get the results. It is worth the read just to know all that he has achieved.

Quote - " I'll be back" - Terminator 

And Arnold Schwarzengger keeps coming back with something new for us. Time after time.

Biography

Not really. This is Arnold's story told by Arnold.

Business

If you want inspiration then this is a good read. Don't read this if you want a quick fix though. You will be told to work! Work! Work! You have 24 hours in a day, Arnold Schwarzengger tells us. If you want results then pull up your socks and use them. Stop scrolling and wasting time. You know how you are wasting time... sort it. If you want results then put the time in. Make the time. Get up early. You get the picture.

Quote - "Selling your vision means being open about what you're trying to achieve and telling your story in such a way that it is perceived in the most positive light possible by the people you need or want to get a yes from. Your customers, in other words" - Page 119

Philosophy

Be Useful. Arnold was ingrained with this as a child and has taken it into his adulthood. With good results. As you venture through the book you will see that it ends with the same concept put differently. He calls it -  breaking the mirrors. Helping others is what the book ends with. Take your usefulness out to others near and far. That is the foundation of his philosophy but not nearly the end. 

He starts the book with - Have a clear vision and ends the book with - breaking the mirrors. The whole book is a philosophy book. From having a vision and working hard, to taking it to the world. Every chapter has something to take from it.

I had to start the book again just to highlight and tab the pages. I got 118 pages in and decided this needed to be annotated. It didn't matter who else was going to read this book, I was going to get every little piece of inspiration from every single paragraph. 

Quote - "...everything good, all great change, starts with a clear vision" - Page 4

Self-help

If you are willing to read this book not just by turning the pages but by reading every paragraph and then taking a moment to reflect, you will find this deserves more than a self-help category. We can all read self-help books. They line the shelves of every library and bookstore. There is a market out there making millions from our need to be told what to do. 

In my hand, I have a book that will tell me in Arnold's written word to... Get clear with your vision. Never think small. Work your ass off. Sell, sell sell. Shift gears. Shut your mouth, open your mind. And, break the mirrors.  They are chapters!

If you want inspiration and someone to tell you to do the work, then you know what book to pick up. You will get something from this book.  I don't know what that is for you. But you will get something.

Quote - "Use it or lose it. These words apply to so many areas of life, they should be considered a law of the universe" - Page 216

Description: 

If there is one unavoidable truth in this world, it's that there is no substitute for putting in work.

There is no shortcut or growth hack or magic pill that can get you around the hard work of doing your job well, of winning something you care about, or of making your dreams come true.

People have tried to cut corners and skip steps in this process for as long as hard work has been hard.

Eventually, those people either fall behind or get left in our dust, because working your ass off is the only thing that works 100 percent of the time for \ 100 percent of the things worth achieving.

Happy reading

 

Today's Quote

 Hi Everyone

A little quote from my 'Kitty' (yes that is her name)

Autumn has arrived and we have been snuggling in enjoying the beginning of the season. As the weather changes to a colder air, the books come back out and so does Kitty. 

Happy reading

The Race Against Time

Adventures in Late-Life Running

Author: Richard Askwith

ISBN: 978178729525

Hi Everyone

Every time I go away on holiday, I have to purchase a new book. It is a tradition that cannot be denied. Of course, I am amongst other things a 'runner'. I have been since I was 10 years old and I will be for as long as my body allows. 

This book caught my eye because Richard Askwith was asking the question "Why do some runners seem to be untroubled by age?" I don't know about anyone else, but I am finding that the people around me and the internet have a belief that the older we get the more we should sit on the couch and admit defeat. Take a look at mid-life on any platform and you will find a few that say "go for it" while the rest say things like: don't do cardio you will gain weight; cardio will up your cortisol (well so will sitting around eating the cake that I do instead of running); exercise this much or that much or this little.

NO! I'm done with all this nonsense.

Running and in fact any form of exercise, is the best way for me to de-stress. I wish I had known this about myself years ago as the world around me got busier. I tried to slow down - people told me I should - they were wrong. 

Get outside and run! If you can't (we aren't all born to run) then walk, skip, hop, dance. The options are endless, just find the things that light you up like they did as a child. And stop with all the 'I need to exercise antics"..... call it "Play" like you did as a child. It is all the same thing but if you call it "play" then it is much more enjoyable.

Anyway, this book is full of examples of people continuing to run way beyond the expected:

• Angela Coson, winning another gold at seventy-five
• Charles Allie, running 400m in under a minute on the eve of his seventy-fifth birthday
• Alan Carter, racing to world championship gold at eighty-one

And how about Ilda Keeling, 104 pictured doing press-ups at 104 years of age.

Come on, don't use the I'm too old to start excuse either. Many of the people in this book started running in mid-life.  I tell you this book is inspirational in many ways. I am impressed by the easy-reading language, the photos, and both Richard Askwith's journey and the people he met along the way as he sought to find the answer to his questions.

Description:

Richard Adkwith, a long-term running enthusiast, was sunk in mid-life despair. Plagued by injuries and demoralized by failing strength and speed, he was on the point of giving up for good. first, though, he wanted to solve the mystery: why do some runners seem to be untroubled by age?

The result is a thrilling life-affirming quest, culminating in a transformative adventure at the World Masters Athletics Championships. Colourful, informative and inspiring, The Race Against Time offers a resounding message of hope for any runner who has felt their joy in their sport fading as they grow older.

It is a story of cold science and heartwarming resilience; of champions and also-rans; of sprinting centenarians and forty-something super-athletes barely touched by age. Its heroes are experts and enthusiasts - scientists, coaches, runners - from many countries, each with a different story to tell. What unites them is a belief that you don't have to take growing old lying down.

This is a book for anyone who has ever felt the healing power of running. A moving account of one man's journey from despair to hope, it is also an exhilarating guide, showing how timely adjustments to lifestyle and training can slow the effects of aging, while sheer human spirit can, if you are lucky, keep you running happily and healthily, all the way through life's later decades. 

About the author:

Richard Askwith has been a journalist for over forty years. He has written six previous books, including his modern classic on fell running, 'Feet in the Clouds', which won the Best New Writer category at the British Sports Book Awards and was shortlisted for the William Hill and Boardman Tasker prizes. He is now one of the UK's most celebrated writers on sport. 'Running Free' was short-listed for the Thwaites-Wainwright Prize, and his evocative biography of Emil Zatopek, Today We Die a Little, was shortlisted in the Cross Sports Book Awards. 

Happy reading

The Girl and the Clockwork conspiracy

 Author: Nikki McCormack

Narrated by Grier Cooper

Hi Everyone

I first started to listen to this on Audible and for some reason, I didn't continue with it. I can't remember my reasoning but I obviously wasn't ready for reading/listening to it. 

Well, I came across it in my archives and decided to give it another go. I couldn't remember a reason for not continuing with it, so it couldn't have been that I hated it. I plugged it back in.

And really enjoyed it!

It was a little predictable but in a refreshing way. 

I got extremely annoyed with Lucian's brother, he drove me nuts. Em, I didn't trust at all but was that valid (you will have to read). As for Macak... now he was my favorite character. Everyone else just played their parts as I expected and I enjoyed following their journey.  

I particularly like that this book could be read by all ages. I would consider it to be a young reader novel but having said that, I thoroughly enjoyed it.  I listened while I walked and I listened again while I was domesticated at home. It was narrated just perfectly for listening while I worked/walked. It was the perfect distraction from domesticated chores :)

So yes, I recommend 'The Girl and the Clockwork Conspiracy' for when you don't want a heavy long-winded book. Or when you want to block out the quiet. I think you might just enjoy it like I did.

Description:

Maeko hasn't been long away from the gritty London streets and she's already learning that her new "civilized" life comes with its own challenges. She has to dress proper, eat proper and be a proper lady. She can't even talk to a boy without a chaperone. She's got proper coming out of her ears. If not for her feline companion Macak, she might go mad.

Her one hope for some freedom and excitement comes when the moody detective, Em, asks her to be an apprentice. But that apprenticeship comes with a price. She must agree to spy on Macak's owner, Lucian, the wealthy businessman and inventor whose life she saved.

Everything changes when Lucian's brother dies in an explosion while visiting Lucian's home in the heart of London. The Literati--a powerful group vying for political control of London--say it was murder and Maeko is on their suspect list. With Macak at her side, she must turn once more to her allies, Chaff and Ash. They will have to brave city streets torn by rebellion and conspiracy to find the truth.

Goodreads.com

Happy reading

For Private tutoring with Richelle

Todays Quote

 Hi Everyone

I love this!  I just have to share it.  I'm reading  Be Useful - Seven Tools for Life and on page 63 this took over my whole mind. I pondered this for at least 10 minutes before picking the book up again. Then I had to put my book down again just to share this thought with you.

My review of Be Useful - Seven Tools for Life will be coming your way soon.

Happy reading

Worthy of Repeating

 

Happy reading

Someone We Know

 Author: Shari Lapena

ISBN: 9780525557654

Hi Everyone

A simple read this time.  

I can't say I loved it but 'Someone We Know' was a pleasure to read or in my case - listen to. It is one those - who did it - novels that will have you flicking your suspicions from one character to the next. Very well done. it did keep me listening and making my own viewpoints as I read along. 

But for me, I found it kind of predictable too much. 

The opening introduction made me wonder if I could keep reading or if it was going to be a little too much for me. The rest of the book was a standard kind of read that you would pick up and read on a quiet afternoon or weekend. 

Description:

Maybe you don't know your neighbors as well as you thought you did . . .

"This is a very difficult letter to write. I hope you will not hate us too much. . . My son broke into your home recently while you were out."

In a quiet, leafy suburb in upstate New York, a teenager has been sneaking into houses--and into the owners' computers as well--learning their secrets, and maybe sharing some of them, too.

Who is he, and what might he have uncovered? After two anonymous letters are received, whispers start to circulate, and suspicion mounts. And when a woman down the street is found murdered, the tension reaches the breaking point. Who killed her? Who knows more than they're telling? And how far will all these very nice people go to protect their own secrets?

In this neighborhood, it's not just the husbands and wives who play games. Here, everyone in the family has something to hide . . .

You never really know what people are capable of.

From: Goodreads

Happy Reading

Today's Quote

 

Happy reading

The Book That Wouldn't Burn

 Author: Mark Lawrence

ISBN: 9-780008-456726

Hi Everyone

I picked this book up Paperplus (our local bookstore). My daughter took it from my hands and stated it was now one of my Christmas presents. 

It turned out to be one of my best Christmas presents!

The twists and turns; the time travel beyond anything I have read; the connections that I didn't expect; and the things I just simply didn't see coming. What more can I say about this book to make you find a copy. I have already looked into the date and calendar noted it, for the release of the second book in this trilogy. 

I was drawn in by the unique imagination of this author. The plot hooked me in and sent me on a rollercoaster through a city, a library, and the lives of Evar and Livira.  I am very impressed by the plot of this one.

So what are you waiting for? Go find a copy and start delving into the trilogy. Take the journey with me, Evar and Livira, and see where it takes us

Description:

A boy has lived his whole life trapped within a vast library, older than empires and larger than cities.

A girl has spent hers in a tiny settlement out on the Dust where nightmares stalk and no one goes.

The world has never even noticed them. That's about to change.

Their stories spiral around each other, across worlds and time. This is a tale of truth and lies and hearts, and the blurring of one into another. A journey on which knowledge erodes certainty, and on which, though the pen may be mightier than the sword, blood will be spilled and cities burned.

Description from: The Book That Wouldn’t Burn by Mark Lawrence | Goodreads

Happy reading

For private tutoring