fiction
A Song for Issy Bradley
Carys Bray
Hutchinson
[Borrowed hardcover]
Brilliant ending. This is one of those books where I felt compassion and love for all the characters, but couldn't find myself to like them. The story is excellent and so very sad with many beautiful subplots. The subject of Mormonism was both fascinating and delicately handled. Sometimes the book was written with the forced prose of a first novel, but this was quickly lost in the richness of the characters. And again there was that ending that led me searching for more chapters and scamping to Goodreads to see what other people thought.
Excellent read
4.5/5
Hutchinson
[Borrowed hardcover]
Brilliant ending. This is one of those books where I felt compassion and love for all the characters, but couldn't find myself to like them. The story is excellent and so very sad with many beautiful subplots. The subject of Mormonism was both fascinating and delicately handled. Sometimes the book was written with the forced prose of a first novel, but this was quickly lost in the richness of the characters. And again there was that ending that led me searching for more chapters and scamping to Goodreads to see what other people thought.
Excellent read
4.5/5
Anne of Avonlea
L.M. Montgomery
Xist Classics
[eBook]
Much to girly and boring for me, however I did love and grieve Mathew.
2/5
Xist Classics
[eBook]
Much to girly and boring for me, however I did love and grieve Mathew.
2/5
Anne of Green Gables
L.M. Montgomery
Xist Classics
[eBook]
This was a lovely book, I really delighted in the character of Anne. I am not sure how realistic Anne's orphaned child personality is displayed, but still a lovely book.
3/5
Xist Classics
[eBook]
This was a lovely book, I really delighted in the character of Anne. I am not sure how realistic Anne's orphaned child personality is displayed, but still a lovely book.
3/5
Anne of the Island
L.M. Montgomery
Xist Classics
[eBook]
Fun book, I kind of started to like the town of Kingsport. I also enjoyed Anne's trips home and her interactions with Davy.
3/5
Xist Classics
[eBook]
Fun book, I kind of started to like the town of Kingsport. I also enjoyed Anne's trips home and her interactions with Davy.
3/5
Anne’s House of Dreams
L.M. Montgomery
Xist Classics
[eBook]
This was a fun book, I loved Captain Jim and Leslie. I am also part of 'the race that knows Joesph'.
Xist Classics
[eBook]
This was a fun book, I loved Captain Jim and Leslie. I am also part of 'the race that knows Joesph'.
Birds Without Wings
Louis de Bernières
Vintage Books
[Gifted Paperback]
This is a fantastic beautifully written book that follows life in a small village as the Ottoman Empire fell. Even though it has been a few years since I read this book, I can still see in my minds eye the faces of its people and the contours of its landscapes.
This is simply a stunningly beautiful and well woven story of life and war.
10/5
Vintage Books
[Gifted Paperback]
This is a fantastic beautifully written book that follows life in a small village as the Ottoman Empire fell. Even though it has been a few years since I read this book, I can still see in my minds eye the faces of its people and the contours of its landscapes.
This is simply a stunningly beautiful and well woven story of life and war.
10/5
Chronicles of Avonlea
L.M Montgomery
Kindle Book
3/5
Sweet, dreamy and sometimes sad tales about the people in and near Avonlea. Worth the read if you are a fan of a lover of short story.
Kindle Book
3/5
Sweet, dreamy and sometimes sad tales about the people in and near Avonlea. Worth the read if you are a fan of a lover of short story.
Elizabeth Is Missing
by Emma Healey
Penguin Random House UK
[Borrowed Paperback]
Lovely, sad and insightful book. I really enjoyed this read about an old woman with dementia uncovering her dark and tragic family history. I do feel this story could have been a few chapters shorter.
3/5
Penguin Random House UK
[Borrowed Paperback]
Lovely, sad and insightful book. I really enjoyed this read about an old woman with dementia uncovering her dark and tragic family history. I do feel this story could have been a few chapters shorter.
3/5
Further Chronicles of Avonlea
L.M. Montgomery
Xist Classics
[eBook]
Again lovely little homey short stories. a nice way to finish a series.
Xist Classics
[eBook]
Again lovely little homey short stories. a nice way to finish a series.
I'm Working on a Building
Pip Adam
Victoria University Press
[Kindle ebook]
This was a fantastic little read. It is written backwards, which is both confusing and delightful. Reading this book I felt like I was counselling it, looking for signs of its broken childhood, knowing that in the next-previous chapter some dark secret would be revealed. I was not disappointed.
Do not let the order of the chapters detract from Pip Adam's somewhat prophetic voice. My highlight was her chapter about a city recovering from an earthquake. I also really liked and understood the North Korean chapter.
It is a great book for people who like to think and read.
4/5
Victoria University Press
[Kindle ebook]
This was a fantastic little read. It is written backwards, which is both confusing and delightful. Reading this book I felt like I was counselling it, looking for signs of its broken childhood, knowing that in the next-previous chapter some dark secret would be revealed. I was not disappointed.
Do not let the order of the chapters detract from Pip Adam's somewhat prophetic voice. My highlight was her chapter about a city recovering from an earthquake. I also really liked and understood the North Korean chapter.
It is a great book for people who like to think and read.
4/5
Lake Wobegon Days
Garrison Keillor
faber and faber
[gifted second-hand paperback]
Fantastic read. I had been listening to the podcast for years. The book filled in all the gaps for me whilst stringing me along on a sometimes bumpy road of funny stories. It waffled a little in places, but it was still a good read.
4/5
faber and faber
[gifted second-hand paperback]
Fantastic read. I had been listening to the podcast for years. The book filled in all the gaps for me whilst stringing me along on a sometimes bumpy road of funny stories. It waffled a little in places, but it was still a good read.
4/5
Perfect
Rachel Joyce
Black Swan
Gifted Paperback
I read this book because of 'The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry' and was not disappointed with it. Once again Rachael created lovely broken characters wanting to be swallowed by the hearts of compassionate readers. I enjoyed the story, totally didn't see the twist in the second-to-last chapter coming and utterly hated the tidying up in the feel-good final chapter. For me, a person who does not need a happy ending, this book was ruined in the last chapter.
3.5/5
Black Swan
Gifted Paperback
I read this book because of 'The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry' and was not disappointed with it. Once again Rachael created lovely broken characters wanting to be swallowed by the hearts of compassionate readers. I enjoyed the story, totally didn't see the twist in the second-to-last chapter coming and utterly hated the tidying up in the feel-good final chapter. For me, a person who does not need a happy ending, this book was ruined in the last chapter.
3.5/5
Prize of My Heart
Lisa Norato
Bethany House Publishers
[Free eBook]
Started like a first novel with some overly flowery writing and finished like a feel good pull-em-up-by-thy-boot-straps American film. In between was a well crafted page-turning story. I really enjoyed the book. Lisa Norato is probably someone to watch out for.
4/5
Bethany House Publishers
[Free eBook]
Started like a first novel with some overly flowery writing and finished like a feel good pull-em-up-by-thy-boot-straps American film. In between was a well crafted page-turning story. I really enjoyed the book. Lisa Norato is probably someone to watch out for.
4/5
Rainbow Valley
L.M. Montgomery
Xist Classics
[eBook]
Rainbow Valley & Rilla of Ingleside are Lucy Maud Montgomery’s crowning books. The last paragraph alone would rate this book as a 4/5. As Montgomery spun her yarn she played with me. My history was good enough to see the hints of what was coming, but i was not clever enough to put them into the context of our darling weans at Ingleside. Brilliant book, brilliant ending.
Xist Classics
[eBook]
Rainbow Valley & Rilla of Ingleside are Lucy Maud Montgomery’s crowning books. The last paragraph alone would rate this book as a 4/5. As Montgomery spun her yarn she played with me. My history was good enough to see the hints of what was coming, but i was not clever enough to put them into the context of our darling weans at Ingleside. Brilliant book, brilliant ending.
Reach
Laurence Fearnley
Penguin Random House
[Kindle eBook]
After 'the hut builder' I had high expectations on this book and was not disappointed. 'Reach' is a gentle coastal Kiwi story that starts nowhere and finishes nowhere. It is full of emotion, choices and angst as it follows the intertwined lives and choices of an artist, vet and deep sea diver.
Laurence Fearnley's writing is simply stunningly beautiful. On her writing alone I give the book a 4/5. Unfortunately Penguin Random House once again let the side down with their poorly made eBooks. So overall sadly 3.5/5.
Penguin Random House
[Kindle eBook]
After 'the hut builder' I had high expectations on this book and was not disappointed. 'Reach' is a gentle coastal Kiwi story that starts nowhere and finishes nowhere. It is full of emotion, choices and angst as it follows the intertwined lives and choices of an artist, vet and deep sea diver.
Laurence Fearnley's writing is simply stunningly beautiful. On her writing alone I give the book a 4/5. Unfortunately Penguin Random House once again let the side down with their poorly made eBooks. So overall sadly 3.5/5.
Rilla of Ingleside
L.M. Montgomery
Xist Classics
[eBook]
This book was just such a chilling and challenging education for me. As with Rainbow Valley Montgomery writes wistfully, but unlike Rainbow Valley, Rilla of Ingleside is deeply melancholic. A great book.
Xist Classics
[eBook]
This book was just such a chilling and challenging education for me. As with Rainbow Valley Montgomery writes wistfully, but unlike Rainbow Valley, Rilla of Ingleside is deeply melancholic. A great book.
The Blue Guitar
John Banville
Penguin
[borrowed paperback]
This was a beautifully written book with way too many words and not enough story. It became a speed read and then later a skim read.
2/5
Penguin
[borrowed paperback]
This was a beautifully written book with way too many words and not enough story. It became a speed read and then later a skim read.
2/5
![\"\"](\"http://www.lunch.lt/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/ping2.png\" "\\"ping2\\"")
![\"\"](\"http://www.lunch.lt/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/ping.png\" "\\"ping\\"")
The Forrests
Emily Perkins
[kindle ebook]
Okay, this was an amazing, mysterious, Blue like Jazz'ish kind of book. I was totally taken into it and loved all of its quirky and sometimes irritating twists and turns. It is a cradle-to-grave story of the lives of a family of American immigrants to New Zealand. I can only presume these lives somewhat depict Kiwi normality. This was a great, fun and addictive book, however it comes with a warning, not all will enjoy its wonderful wordy soap-operay approach.
4/5
[kindle ebook]
Okay, this was an amazing, mysterious, Blue like Jazz'ish kind of book. I was totally taken into it and loved all of its quirky and sometimes irritating twists and turns. It is a cradle-to-grave story of the lives of a family of American immigrants to New Zealand. I can only presume these lives somewhat depict Kiwi normality. This was a great, fun and addictive book, however it comes with a warning, not all will enjoy its wonderful wordy soap-operay approach.
4/5
The Hut Builder
Laurence Fearnley
[kindle ebook]
This is one of my favourites. A well written, beautifully spun story based in New Zealand's rural Canterbury and on the slopes of Mount Cook. I love this story and could not put the book down.
The story covers the life of Boden Black as he discovers nature, poetry and relationships. At times the beauty in the book was so totally awe-inspiring that I could smell the fresh snow on the slopes of Cook.
Definitely the best New Zealand book that I have read to date.
5/5
[kindle ebook]
This is one of my favourites. A well written, beautifully spun story based in New Zealand's rural Canterbury and on the slopes of Mount Cook. I love this story and could not put the book down.
The story covers the life of Boden Black as he discovers nature, poetry and relationships. At times the beauty in the book was so totally awe-inspiring that I could smell the fresh snow on the slopes of Cook.
Definitely the best New Zealand book that I have read to date.
5/5
The Invisible Mile
David Coventry
Victoria University Press
[eBook]
This is a wild and beautiful fictionalised account of a New Zealand and Australian team that rode the 1928 Tour de France. At times the prose are quite stunning and left pictures that I struggled to dislodge from my thinking. There are a lot of drugs, anger and grief in the story and this often left me feeling lost and tripping. A well written book, the end is maybe a little disappointing, but well worth the read.
4/5
Victoria University Press
[eBook]
This is a wild and beautiful fictionalised account of a New Zealand and Australian team that rode the 1928 Tour de France. At times the prose are quite stunning and left pictures that I struggled to dislodge from my thinking. There are a lot of drugs, anger and grief in the story and this often left me feeling lost and tripping. A well written book, the end is maybe a little disappointing, but well worth the read.
4/5
The Luminaries
Eleanor Catton
Victoria University Press
[Kindle ebook]
Excellent book. It seemed that the whole first half of this rather long story, was simply introducing the characters and where they fit in the story; I loved it. By the start of the second half I was totally caught in the tale and could not put the book down. This is simply a beautifully written story that summons all of your senses. It is based in the gold rush of an emerging New Zealand and transverses the many cultures that knits her recent history together.
Fantastic book.
4.9999/5
Victoria University Press
[Kindle ebook]
Excellent book. It seemed that the whole first half of this rather long story, was simply introducing the characters and where they fit in the story; I loved it. By the start of the second half I was totally caught in the tale and could not put the book down. This is simply a beautifully written story that summons all of your senses. It is based in the gold rush of an emerging New Zealand and transverses the many cultures that knits her recent history together.
Fantastic book.
4.9999/5
The Rehearsal
Eleanor Catton
Victoria University Press
[Borrowed paperback]
I found this book quite hard to get into and the themes a little narrow. The story is mostly focused on a drama student, a saxophone teacher with pupil and the ripple effects of sexual abuse.
Eleanor is a fantastic writer and 'The Rehearsal' is a very good read.
3/5
Victoria University Press
[Borrowed paperback]
I found this book quite hard to get into and the themes a little narrow. The story is mostly focused on a drama student, a saxophone teacher with pupil and the ripple effects of sexual abuse.
Eleanor is a fantastic writer and 'The Rehearsal' is a very good read.
3/5
The Taliban Cricket Club
Timeri N. Murari
Allen & Unwin
[Borrowed paperback]
Nicely written book providing some interesting insight into living under the Afghani Taliban. The plot was incredibly predictable and as a result it was just hard reading. The story seemed to get lost in the mediocre middle between well written and fast moving. Basically it was a boring and pleasant read.
3/5
Allen & Unwin
[Borrowed paperback]
Nicely written book providing some interesting insight into living under the Afghani Taliban. The plot was incredibly predictable and as a result it was just hard reading. The story seemed to get lost in the mediocre middle between well written and fast moving. Basically it was a boring and pleasant read.
3/5
The Transient
Book One of The Castle Trilogy
By Maree Ward-Russell
[eBook (won in a raffle)]
This paranormal teen romance for girls was way out of genre for me, however I did enjoy it and will read the second book in the series. It is basically about a bunch of kids, a castle and some ghosts and was quite a quick read.
The eBook formatting needs some work, but other than that it was a well written and presented book.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST; MAREE IS A FRIEND OF A FRIEND.
3/5
By Maree Ward-Russell
[eBook (won in a raffle)]
This paranormal teen romance for girls was way out of genre for me, however I did enjoy it and will read the second book in the series. It is basically about a bunch of kids, a castle and some ghosts and was quite a quick read.
The eBook formatting needs some work, but other than that it was a well written and presented book.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST; MAREE IS A FRIEND OF A FRIEND.
3/5
The Slap
by Christos Tsiolkas
Atlantic Books
[Gifted paperback]
This was a very worldly book and in my opinion was way too sexually graphic than necessary .
The story of second generation Greek immigrants surviving in contemporary Australia was interesting, however more story and less detail would have suited me better.
Disappointing book 2/5
Atlantic Books
[Gifted paperback]
This was a very worldly book and in my opinion was way too sexually graphic than necessary .
The story of second generation Greek immigrants surviving in contemporary Australia was interesting, however more story and less detail would have suited me better.
Disappointing book 2/5
The Soul Keeper
Book 2 of the Castle Trilogy
M. W. Russell
[eBook (won in a raffle)]
Well again for me, this paranormal romance for teens was way out of genre. Fast reading book about ghosts, teenagers and purgatory. A good fun easy read. I plan on buying book three.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST; MAREE IS A FRIEND OF A FRIEND.
3/5
M. W. Russell
[eBook (won in a raffle)]
Well again for me, this paranormal romance for teens was way out of genre. Fast reading book about ghosts, teenagers and purgatory. A good fun easy read. I plan on buying book three.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST; MAREE IS A FRIEND OF A FRIEND.
3/5
The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry
.Rachel Joyce
Black Swan
[Borrowed paperback]
I miss Harold Fry. We recently walked the length of England together.
Fantastic book, I absolutely loved the gentle, healing and finding-yourself story.
Beautiful book
4.5/5
Black Swan
[Borrowed paperback]
I miss Harold Fry. We recently walked the length of England together.
Fantastic book, I absolutely loved the gentle, healing and finding-yourself story.
Beautiful book
4.5/5
The Virgin Blue
Tracy Chevalier
Penguin
[Found paperback]
After a shaky start I really got into this book. I especially liked the historical stuff and thought it was particularly well written. Unfortunately this dire story concluded with disfunction being tied up in happy little red Hollywood ribbons. The last chapter destroyed the book for me, however I will keep an eye out for this author and definitely read her books again.
3/5
Penguin
[Found paperback]
After a shaky start I really got into this book. I especially liked the historical stuff and thought it was particularly well written. Unfortunately this dire story concluded with disfunction being tied up in happy little red Hollywood ribbons. The last chapter destroyed the book for me, however I will keep an eye out for this author and definitely read her books again.
3/5
Triumph Of The Spider Monkey
Joyce Carol Oates
Black Sparrow Press
[Gifted Book]
This book was both a bleak and beautiful jaunt through the deranged mind of a psychopathic serial killer. I didn't enjoy it.
The story is beautifully crafted and well worth the read.
I recommend this to anyone who is not afraid to read a good book.
3.5/5
Black Sparrow Press
[Gifted Book]
This book was both a bleak and beautiful jaunt through the deranged mind of a psychopathic serial killer. I didn't enjoy it.
The story is beautifully crafted and well worth the read.
I recommend this to anyone who is not afraid to read a good book.
3.5/5
Uncle Tom's Cabin
Colour Illustrated, Formatted for E-Readers
Harriet Beecher Stowe
HMDS printing press
[kindle ebook]
Fantastic bravely written book. The story is set in about early 1850's USA and is based on the lives of slaves and specifically three runaways. In short it is one long fascinating intellectual argument against slavery. The story is beautifully written with many wonderful lovely characters and a sometimes gripping plot. I highly recommend this book.
As far as the illustrations go, I have a kindle eReader that cannot show colour pictures. The pictures were in black and white and far too small to really see. Harriet Beecher Stowe's writing is good enough to not need illustrations.
4/5
Harriet Beecher Stowe
HMDS printing press
[kindle ebook]
Fantastic bravely written book. The story is set in about early 1850's USA and is based on the lives of slaves and specifically three runaways. In short it is one long fascinating intellectual argument against slavery. The story is beautifully written with many wonderful lovely characters and a sometimes gripping plot. I highly recommend this book.
As far as the illustrations go, I have a kindle eReader that cannot show colour pictures. The pictures were in black and white and far too small to really see. Harriet Beecher Stowe's writing is good enough to not need illustrations.
4/5
Wake
Anna Hope
Black Swan
[Borrowed paperback]
I really enjoyed this read about the lead-up to the Remembrance Day of 1920.
The story was very well written, kept me turning the pages and left me pondering the characters well after I had finished the book.
For me, some of the words were a little clunky and sometimes the book felt like a writing school project.
Overall it was a very good book and I will most probably read her next book.
4/5
Black Swan
[Borrowed paperback]
I really enjoyed this read about the lead-up to the Remembrance Day of 1920.
The story was very well written, kept me turning the pages and left me pondering the characters well after I had finished the book.
For me, some of the words were a little clunky and sometimes the book felt like a writing school project.
Overall it was a very good book and I will most probably read her next book.
4/5
Wake
by Elizabeth Knox
Victoria University Press
[Kindle eBook]
This book haunted me, it was fantastic. Elizabeth Knox has spun her tale with both depth and maturity. 'Wake' a story about an invisible monster and the human psyche was out-of-genre for me, but I loved it. I highly recommend this book.
4.5/5
Victoria University Press
[Kindle eBook]
This book haunted me, it was fantastic. Elizabeth Knox has spun her tale with both depth and maturity. 'Wake' a story about an invisible monster and the human psyche was out-of-genre for me, but I loved it. I highly recommend this book.
4.5/5
Where The Rākohu Bone Sings
By Tina Makereti
Vintage
[Kindle eBook]
Beautiful, beautiful sad, deep and and moving book. This story delicately explores issues of identity for our hybrid Moriori, Māori and Pākehā cultures. It is a lovely almost-coming-of-age tale that rewrote parts of my 1980's education.
Fantastic book.
5/5
Vintage
[Kindle eBook]
Beautiful, beautiful sad, deep and and moving book. This story delicately explores issues of identity for our hybrid Moriori, Māori and Pākehā cultures. It is a lovely almost-coming-of-age tale that rewrote parts of my 1980's education.
Fantastic book.
5/5
