Book after Book

By Emily Barr Published by Headline Synopsis: You wake up in a strange room, with no idea how you got there. You are abroad, in a city you have never visited before. You have no money, no passport, no phone. And there is no sign of your baby. What do you do? How did this book end up in my hands? I borrowed this book from the library and it lived for a few weeks on my nightstand waiting for the right time. Was it a page-turner? Yes, the story gripped my attention from the very opening and made me want to turn the pages at lightning speed. Having read the synopsis, did the book meet my expectations? Yes, and it was just what I needed. Did I like the ending? I did – even though perhaps I would have liked a final confrontation between the two parents. Did the book leave me with unanswered questions? No, it's a perfectly formed story in less than 100 pages. Three words to describe it. Intriguing. Fast-paced. Sad. Do I like the cover? Yes, it definit...

Today, Barcelona and the whole of Catalonia celebrate el dia de la rosa y del llibre by exchanging gifts of… you guessed correctly: books and roses… ‘a rose for love and a book forever’! Forget Valentine’s Day: this is the most romantic celebration of love for bookworms! On this day I present to you hand-made paper roses* and a heart-warming little book by Jojo Moyes : Paris for One . Part of the QuickReads collections, it is a delightful short story about love. Not necessarily romantic love – although that’s a bonus – but love for yourself and your dreams. Meet Nell and Fabien – the former English and yet to come out of her shell, the latter French and in need of rediscovering the proverbial joie de vivre . Follow them through the beautiful Paris, which is here a third main character in its own right, and root for them as they help each other find that je ne sais quoi that makes life more interesting. In less than 100 pages, Jojo Moyes created three-dimensional characters who ...

By Alexander McCall Smith   Synopsis: There are times when ladies must use all their wisdom and good sense to face life's problems and mysteries. With his trademark gift for storytelling, international bestselling author Alexander McCall Smith brings us five tales of love, heartbreak, hope and the cleverness of ladies. How did this book end up in my hands? I borrowed it from the library in view of a short train journey. I don’t read on electronic devices if I can help it and this little book was a perfect fit for my handbag. Was it a page-turner? You know how easy it is to finish a whole punnet of cherries in one go because you just can’t stop? Well, these five short stories are like cherries! Having read the synopsis, did the book meet my expectations? I didn’t even read the synopsis. The name Alexander McCall Smith was all I needed to want to read this book. Did I like the ending? Every short story has the perfect ending. Did the book leave me with unanswered ques...

By Mike Phillips Published by Harper Collins Synopsis: Daniel grew up without a father. His mother told him that his father died the year he was born, and he had no reason to doubt her … until now. Daniel’s getting married next week. He’s got his future all worked out. It’s his past that’s the problem. Daniel never knew his father. All his mother would say was that his dad had been a Nigerian who died the year Daniel was born. He didn’t even know what his dad looked like, until an old neighbour showed him a picture. But the man in photo is still alive…and now Daniel will stop at nothing to find him. This book belongs to the Quick Reads collection, designed to get adults into reading. While I believe that this initiative is worthy of praise, I have found this short novel disappointing. The starting point is good – a young man on the eve of marriage and fatherhood wanting to know more about his past in order to better understand himself. There is nothing wrong with that but ...