Being Brazen Books

The December /January book list

2011-11-30T20:11:00.002+02:00

I don't know about you, but I love reading over the holiday season. It's probably one of the only times I get a chance to really dedicate some time to just reading. Here are some cool books you may want to check out this holiday season (click titles to read more):

1. The Hunger Games Triology - by Suzanne Collins
Highly recommend this if you looking for an exciting read. It falls into "Young Adult", but I think its great read for adults too. I'm almost on the third book and I am absolutely loving it. The movie has been made and is set to be released in March 2012 (note: this is not a love story, more of a dark adventure)

2. Summer Sisters - by Judy Blume
This is a great holiday read. It's Judy Blume for adults (aka great chick-lit) . I read it years ago and liked it so much I got a few of my friends to read it too.

3. The Tiger's Wife - by Tea Obreht
I just read about this book recently and it sounds very interesting.

Dark Poppy’s Demise by S.A Partridge

2011-11-03T21:07:00.002+02:00

Reviewed by Bobby

What the books about:
Jenna often feels like those around her don’t “get her”. She is a perfect product of a broken home, with a father who would rather be at work than with his children and a younger brother who she can only just bear to be around. Besides that, she has a best friend who is her polar opposite and is hopelessly in love with a boy who just started dating the school’s It girl. The only place Jenna really feels like she belongs is online, where she goes by the name of Dark_Poppy. Jenna receives a Facebook invitation by a rather gorgeous stranger called Robert Rose who seems to be completely into her. Jenna quickly falls head over heels for this mysterious boy but things go horribly wrong and she learns the hard way that people are not always what they seem, especially not people you met on the internet.

What I thought:
I was transported back to teenagerdom from page one of this book. Jenna is like so many young girls who spend time obsessing over things that seem to matter so much during adolescence and who just want to belong and be loved, I definitely recognised my teenage self in some of her behaviours. She is also the perfect example of what might happen when a child is allowed unsupervised internet access, something which I’m vehemently against. I think this is a must-read for any young adult girl as the lesson that can be learnt from this book is definitely an invaluable one.

The October/November book list

2011-10-09T20:29:00.001+02:00

Here are the 4 books that Ive chosen for my Oct/Nov book list (aka my reading suggestions and books I hope to read) -You can click on the title to read more about book:

1. The Night Circus - by Erin Morgenstern
2. I Don't Know How She Does It - by Allison Pearson
3. The Dovekeepers - by Alice Hoffman
4. One Day - by David Nicholls

Reading is...

2011-09-27T19:16:00.000+02:00

image found via tumblr

Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini

2011-09-08T19:42:00.000+02:00

Reviewed by Bobby

Helen Hamilton has always known that she was different to the rest of the small town, Nantucket teens that surround her but has done her best to hide her strangeness for all her life. But when the Delos family move to town, things begin to change for her. The first time Helen lays eyes on the gorgeous Lucas Delos, she is overcome with the desire to kill him. The three weeping figures Helen sees when any of the Delos family are around do nothing to help her predicament. Once Helen shakes the wrath of the Three Furies she begins to learn about where she comes from and learns that what she always thought was myth and fantasy, is actually very much her reality. Helen also finds herself irrevocably in love with Lucas but quickly discovers why they can never be together…

This book should come with a disclaimer stating that you will be addicted. More often than I’d like, I find myself reading books just for the sake of finishing them and when a book comes along and casts a “can’t-put-it-down” spell, it’s just so wonderful. I adore Josephine Angelini’s beautiful, descriptive writing style and enjoyed the way she’s weaved a modern day story so rich in mythology. The love story (or none love story, whichever way you want to look at it) between Helen and Lucas was butterfly inducing and totally epic. The last page of the book left me utterly disappointed though, when the conflict in the story wasn’t revolved, so I quickly whipped out my laptop to discover that Starcrossed is the first part of a trilogy, which allowed me a sigh of relief (note: unfortunately, it seems like we have to wait until May next year for part two)

Starcrossed fills the hole that Twilight left after Breaking Dawn, the novel, was released and I’m sensing we’ll see a movie coming along soon with a heck of a lot of hype (i.e. screaming teenage girls).

To read is to fly...

2011-09-08T09:32:00.000+02:00

“To read is to fly: it is to soar to a point of vantage which gives a view over wide terrains of history, human variety, ideas, shared experience and the fruits of many inquiries." - A C Grayling

Books I love... by Kelly

2011-08-21T14:39:00.005+02:00

Written by Kelly, from It's a book Thing blog

Follow her on twitter: @QueenKelso

1. A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens

I would hold my breath each time I read this book. The pages would crunch in that overheated classroom as the revolution took over! It wasn’t the love story between Lucie Manette, Sydney Carton and Charles Darnay or the menacing knitting of Madame Defarge. This story had everything from the brilliance of writing from Dickens to characters that I hold dear to my heart. A mighty feat is this read, but one that should and will stay with you forever.

2. Atonement by Ian McEwan

This book will always be the first of many books I read as a bookseller and the one book that ended a bookclub between Tarryn and I in varsity. Ian McEwan has a way of describing scenes so delicately that you the reader see the thin line in which Briony Tallis is about to cross. A story of misunderstanding and blame that sets a ripple effect in motion, impacting and ruining lives, leaving Briony Tallis atoning for one event in her life…

3. Matilda by Roald Dahl

I am Matilda! Matilda is my past and my future as I stalk bookshops and hang around libraries. Dahl’s intricate manner of describing things so disgustingly and Eek-worthy leaves me cringing, even today. Matilda, a book lover, tells us all that no matter the hardships you face books will always be your savior.

4. The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Emmuska Orczy

Set in the revolution is the greatest adventure novel I have ever read. This novel is peppered with mystery, love, beauty, grand masque parties, painted faces and a race against time to save lives. What more could you want when lying in the bath with a bottle of wine…

Please note: "Books I love..." is a new series, where an awesome, book-loving ladies share a few of their favourite books with us.

The August/September book list

2011-08-01T22:08:00.005+02:00

Here are the 4 books that Ive chosen for my August/September book list (aka my reading suggestions) -You can click on the title to read more about book:

1. State of Wonder - by Ann Patchett

2. The Red Garden - by Alice Hoffman

3. Starcrossed - by Josephine Angelini (young adult)

4. This Way Up - by Paige Nick (Local)

Books I love... by Annika

2011-07-15T13:40:00.001+02:00

Written by Annika

from AnysRoad blog

1.The Selected Works of T.S. Spivet by Reif Larsen

This book made me so happy when I read it and I laughed so much people stared at me when I was in a public place. It is part comic book, part family saga with an unlikely hero:

Meet T.S. Spivet - boy cartographer, award nominee, hobo. The story follows him on his journey to accept his award and ultimately to find peace with his silent, stone-faced cowboy father.

The layout is part of what makes this book so special as the square format literally holds the story together. Each chapter is accompanied by maps, graphs and observation by T.S. Notes about the human condition and life as we know it and sometimes just how it is in the eyes of a little boy.

2.Why do you kill? by Juergen Todenhoefer

Reading this broke my heart in a good way. It’s a bit difficult to explain as this book just confirmed for me what I suspected all along.

Juergen Todenhoefer, former German government member turned media mogul, travelled undercover to Iraq to speak with the local resistance. People fighting not only for their freedom from the Americans, but also from Al Qaida in their own country. He tells their story of how this is achieved by the highest standards of humanity and utter respect for the innocent human life.

In a nutshell he is a man who inspired me, telling a sad, true story that gives hope.

3.The Travel Book by Lonely Planet

I think technically this could be considered a coffee table book, but then again usually coffee table books are not meant to be read. I read in this book all the time. Two pages dedicated to each country there is in the world: pictures, map, things to do, best time to go, etc. Condensed to give an overview in the most beautiful and inspiring way possible. At one point mine was covered in two different coloured post-its from front to back – one colour for countries I have been to, one colour for countries I still want to go (quite a lot more of those unfortunately).

It’s quite big and heavy, but I love it so much that it has moved across oceans already twice with me. If I can’t travel, I will browse to feel away and better. It’s my mini-vacation vacation book.

4. The Brothers Lionheart by Astrid Lindgren

When I was little my cousin’s mother died and I just asked her if she was sad. She said no, because her mother was in Nangijala. Astrid Lindgren created Nangijala, an afterlife and a land in the “campfire and storytelling days”. That’s where the Brother Lionheart meet again after they both have died and where the story really starts. It’s simply the most amazing story of two very unlikely brothers, having adventures and conquering evil against all odds.

I always liked the idea about this kind of afterlife. It also stuck with me since childhood that a story can give someone such comfort and would have such beautiful power to change a grieving child’s world. My Dad gave me a new copy a few years ago and it travels with me; it has become my ‘Alchemist’ and my ‘Little Prince’, explaining the inexplicable things in life.

Please note: "Books I love..." is a new series. Each week an awesome, book-loving lady will share a few of her favourite books with us.

A book is the only place...

2011-07-13T13:49:00.001+02:00

"A book is the only place in which you can examine a fragile thought without breaking it, or explore an explosive idea without fear it will go off in your face. It is one of the few havens remaining where a man's mind can get both provocation and privacy." - Edward P. Morgan

Summer in the City

2011-07-08T11:06:00.003+02:00

Summer in the City - by Candace Bushnell

reviewed by Eeden

What's it about?

'Summer and the City' is a wonderfully written prequel to Sex and the City. In this follow-up book by Candace Bushnell -prior was The Carrie Diaries- we discover how Carrie found her lifelong friends, get into a mature relationship and also test the waters of serious journalism. She joins a writing school named, ‘The New School’ in which she meets new friends, gain confidence and most importantly, find love.
With only a few months in New York, Carrie needs to find a way that prevents her from going to Brown University in the fall. Follow her on a journey through the streets of the Big Apple as she fights her way back into society.

My thoughts:

It was a very girly book, which I can never resist. I found it very easy to relate to and I love that I now know all the details about how the four girls met, etc. It is an easy to read book with loads of excitement and I can't wait for the next one (there simply has to be a next one). I love how the four girls are so grounded and always entertaining. I can honestly say, there was never a dull moment in the book where I want to skip a few pages. The book is set in the summer time and the descriptions are exactly how I'd imagine summer in New York to be. Loved it.

Who should read it?

‘Summer and the City’ is an exciting page turner for all the SATC lovers out there. It is a perfect read for the winter days, under the covers with a cup of coffee.

Author interview: Sally Partridge

2011-07-07T16:28:00.007+02:00

Sally Partridge may still be young - but she has already had three of her young adult fiction novels published, won awards for her writing and was recently named one of the Mail & Guardian’s 200 Young South Africans for 2011. As if thats not enough, she finds time to contribute to various publications and is currently the editor of The Event Newspaper.
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This week I got to ask this talented writer a few questions....

Your latest novel, Dark Poppy's Demise, has just been released in South Africa. Can you tell me a bit about it?

Dark Poppy’s Demise is my third published novel for teen readers. Sixteen year old Jenna Brooks is your average teen trying to get through high school without making too many waves, crushing after the class hunk, and living vicariously through her best friend’s love life. When Jenna meets a guy online she believes her greatest wish has finally come true: to be loved. But anyone who’s read my previous two novels will know that I don’t do happily ever after and terrible things tend to happen to my characters. Long story short: meeting strangers online is a bad idea. Full stop.

How long did it take you to write this book?

This book took an inordinately long time. After I had finished it in third person I then decided to re-write the entire thing in first person. I’d say it took me about six to eight months before I finally let go.

What mainly inspires and influences your writing?

Anything and everything. Here’s a list: Karen Russell’s short stories, Winter, Overcast days, The White Stripes, The smell of second hand books, Chapman’s Peak, The little streets in Noordhoek that abound with gnarled trees, Ivy covered houses, De Waal Drive at twilight, The ocean, Mountain drives, The X-Men cartoon series, Roman Polanski movies, Tom Waits, Abandoned houses, Dub step (don’t ask me why), The TV series 'Skins', Bram Stoker’s Dracula

Are your characters ever based on people you actually know?

I always joke that Principle Crabtree from The Goblet Club was based on my own high school principle who used to make us sing hymns over and over again until he was satisfied but usually I stay clear of basing characters on people I know. That said I can safely say that Jenna in Dark Poppy’s Demise has a little bit of me in her.

Have you already started work on your next novel?

I’m generally busy with at least two projects at any given time, but its not like I slave away day and night writing novels. I have a full time job so what generally happens is I’ll lie in bed jotting down thoughts in a notebook or if I have a spare Saturday I’ll write a few chapters. I do have a completed manuscript waiting in the works so hopefully something will happen with that.

So far all your books have been young adult fiction, would you ever write in another genre?

I never set out to write for the youth. I enjoy writing about young people. They tend to experience life on a much grander scale than the rest of us. (Plus I enjoy doing terrible things to them ala Christopher Pike) I wouldn't want to change.

Who is your favourite author?

I have several authors that I really enjoy. Growing up I devoured anything and everything by K.A. Applegate, Christopher Pike and R.L. Stine. I thoroughly enjoyed the Twilight and Harry Potter series (even though by that stage I was well into my adulthood). I also read a lot of South African fiction.

Do you have any advice for writers who are struggling to finish their first novel?

Just finish it. When you get halfway you’ll probably start to lose interest and write less and less. Push through that. It’ll be worth it at the end when you have a completed manuscript.

Where can people buy your books?

Exclusive Books, Wordsworths, Kalahari, Loot.

Thanks, Sally.

You can follow Sally on Twitter @Sapartridge

and can visit her blog here

Books are the perfect entertainment...

2011-06-22T09:33:00.000+02:00

" Books are the perfect entertainment: no commercials, no batteries, hours of enjoyment for each dollar spent. What I wonder is why everybody doesn’t carry a book around for those inevitable dead spots in life." - Stephen King

Books I love... by Jean

2011-06-20T14:11:00.004+02:00

Written by Jean

from Heartstop blog

1. The life of Pi - by Yann Martel

I can’t believe I was ever reluctant to read this book. It is quite possibly one of the best I’ve read.

Let me start by saying the writing is superb, each image perfectly formed by the literary genius that is Yann Martel. More than that, the story line is magical. We follow the journey of 16-year-old Pi and his zookeeping family as they emigrate from India to Canada. Only they never arrive. Instead, an edge-of-seat adventure begins when the boat sinks, leaving Pi to face nature, to learn what it means to be human, to discover what it means to have faith. A dichotomous relationship is formed with a seasick Tiger named Richard Parker, who stays with Pi throughout the journey. Although mystical, Life of Pi leaves you with insight into things that are very real, forcing you to question your own beliefs and the purpose of it all.

2. One Day - by David Nicholls

It's one of those books that people either love or hate. And I love it. I don't want to give too much away but must say that David Nicholls has created a Modern classic.

One Day is not your average love story, it's no "Love in the Time of Cholera", instead it offers an honest look at the relationship between Emma and Dexter, its key protagonists. The book covers the same day for 20 years, and we watch as the two struggle to understand their feelings for each other. They seem to live in parallel worlds, but Nicholls writes in a way that makes you eagerly await the intersections. The characters are rich and the writing, although at times humorous, has a sad undertone. One Day is about fate, compromise and loneliness. And it's beautiful. Truly beautiful.

3. Like Water for Chocolate - by Laura Esquivel

Many of you may have read this one because it came out ages ago, but I have recently re-read it and re-fallen in love with it.

A book for all the romantics out there, Like Water for Chocolate will win you over. It’s about all things hedonistic, written like you’re hearing it from an old friend. Each section begins with a Mexican recipe, followed by the happenings on a Mexican ranch. Mama Elena rules the lives of her three daughters, and Tita, her youngest is forbidden to marry the man of her dreams. She begins to cook and transfers all her emotions onto her dishes. This in turn, affects anyone who eats the dishes. This book is totally addictive, and very easy to read. A definite YES if you haven’t read it already.

4. The Year of Magical Thinking - by Joan Didion

This is probably the most ‘serious’ of the lot. But such a wonderful read. Joan Didion writes about the grief of losing her husband, which if you have ever lost someone, will affect you profoundly. She writes intelligently with special consideration placed on style throughout.

I was not fully aware of the grieving process before reading this book. It opens with the death of her husband (John) and begins to rehash the past, their relationship, the birth of their daughter, the little things she took for granted and didn’t. It’s also not as sad as you think, in fact Joan discovers things about their relationship through death that she wouldn’t have in life. It’s worthy of the awards. Beautiful book.

Please note: "Books I love..." is a new series. Each week an awesome, book-loving lady will share a few of her favourite books with us.

St. Lucy’s Home for Girls Raised by Wolves

2011-06-15T09:44:00.000+02:00

St. Lucy’s Home for Girls Raised by Wolves by Karen Russell

reviewed by Sally Partridge (writer)

I have a dedicated shelf of favourite reads that includes among others Susanna Clarke’s Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell, Sarah Lotz’ Pompidou Posse and Markus Zusak’s The Book Thief, but St. Lucy’s Home for Girls Raised by Wolves tops the list and is something I can pick up again and again and again. It’s haunting, and beautifully written and I can’t recommend it highly enough.

To say that someone was raised by wolves implies that they had little or no adult supervision growing up. In the nineties, we called them Latchkey Kids – literally meaning that after school unsupervised kids would have to let themselves in to the house with a spare key when there was no-one home. Being raised by wolves can have a profound effect on a person. You can develop a maturity not present in others your age, or seek parental nurturing elsewhere – in other adults, and more often than not, in older or more dominant children ready to steer you up the wrong path. It can also result in you having to learn some very hard lessons about life, much earlier than you need to.

Karen Russell’s St. Lucy’s Home for Girls Raised by Wolves is an anthology of ten stories about children left to fend for themselves in an imagined fantastical America of an almost childish imagining.

It’s an indulgent, magically escapist read with a shadowy realism that transports the reader into the lives of the unfortunates living between its pages. Each story is deliciously imaginative, but comes with a sting in the tail that often ends the story on a bitter note.

In Ava Wrestles the Alligator, two young girls are left alone in their grandfather’s bayou theme park, Swamplandia! surrounded by alligator infested swamps.. Ava believes in her mentally handicapped sister’s made-up stories wholeheartedly, and it’s this childish naïveté that sees her lose her childhood in the worst way possible.
In Haunting Olivia, two brothers spend their days and nights riding giant sea turtle shells around an island, searching the dark haunted waters for the ghost of their little sister who died whilst under their care. It’s a tragic story of loss, made all the more poignant by the fact that the brothers use the imaginary maps that their sister drew of the island, to try and find her.
In Z.Z’s Sleep Away Camp for Disordered Dreamers we meet Elijah who sees the past in his dreams. It was because of this that his parents sent him to a summer camp for children suffering from dream disorders. There he meets Ogilvy, the only other kid that shares his disorder and falls in love with Emma, the hopeless insomniac.
In The Star-Gazer’s Log of Summer-Time Crime junior astrologist Oliver really wants to be part of the popular crowd. A chance encounter on the beach makes this dream a reality but Oliver soon discovers that being popular can sometimes mean being cruel to others, and breaking the law.
From Children’s Reminiscences of the Western Migration is truly fantastical, yet provides the most chilling insight into the cruel nature of humanity. Set in the wild prospecting age of America, Jacob’s family decide to uproot and follow the wagon trail west to seek out greener pastures. The fantastical comes in the form of Jacob’s father, who is a mythical Minotaur, who as the journey progresses becomes the symbol for every prospector’s misfortune.
In Lady Yeti and the Palace of the Artificial Snows a local ice rink becomes the focus of one boy’s hatred after he discovers that his father (and indeed most of the townspeople) uses the blizzard disco to mask their infidelity. Ice skating monkeys add an air of the impossible to this story of broken homes.
The City of Shells is an Easter Island sort of place framed by eerie giant conch shells. During a school trip to the island best friends Lillith and Laramie look for affection in two different but equally disturbing places. Laramie takes her conquests into the giant shells as a way of getting back at her father while fatherless Lillith discovers a twisted camaraderie with the island’s janitor during a storm.
In Out to Sea we meet Ava from the first story’s grandfather. It is years later, and grandpa Sawtooth is living out the rest of his days on a houseboat in the Out-to-Sea retirement community. He discovers a new lust for life after juvenile delinquent and kleptomaniac Augie has to visit him as part of her court ordered community service.
Accident Brief, Occurrence #00/422 tells the tale of a boy descended from pirates. Tek is a member of the Waitiki Valley Boys Choir that makes the annual pilgrimage to the Aokeora Glacier to sing down an avalanche. He hates the ritual, his stepfather, his choirmaster, and forms an unlikely alliance with Rangi, a self-inflicted mute that hates the world more than he does.
The title story St. Lucy’s Home for Girls Raised by Wolves takes the old adage literally and deals with a nunnery devoted to the education and sophistication of girls born to werewolves. At St Lucy’s, were-children are taught to speak English, wear shoes and mind their manners. It’s a frightening allegory on the loss of childhood, and sums up neatly the theme of the anthology, in a way that will stay with the reader for days after.

The novel was first recommended to me by a friend with an individual taste for off-beat and unconventional literature. But I only picked it up years after, while waiting to meet a friend in a bookstore. As a child raised by wolves myself, I was immediately drawn to the title, and after the first line I was hooked. Russell attacks her theme with an expert grasp of language and a flair for the fantastic. Its small wonder the author was picked as one of Granta’s best young American novelists and New York Magazine’s 25 people to watch under 25.

Get it, and devour it.

The June/July book list

2011-06-06T12:13:00.002+02:00

Here are the 4 books that have made it onto my June/July book list (aka winter reading suggestions) -You can click on the title to read more about book:

1. The Gargoyle by Andrew Davidson (just started this)

2. The Paris Wife by Paula McLain

3. Sex & Stravinsky by Barbara Trapido

4. This is Where I Leave You by Jonathan Tropper

I hope I can read them all, but I will probably only get to 1 or 2. Will you be reading any of these book suggestions?

The man who does not...

2011-06-06T11:46:00.000+02:00

" The man who does not read good books

has no advantage over the man who cannot read them."

- Mark Twain

Image from Glamour.com

Books I love... by Rox

2011-05-31T13:21:00.000+02:00

Written by Rox

from roxbradnick.com

1. Hunter S. Thompson – The Gonzo Papers Anthology

I have loved Hunter. S for many, many years - ever since reading The Rum Diary. So when a friend recently gave me this epic three parter, I was very excited!

The Gonzo Papers Anthology comprises of three collections: The Great Shark Hunt, Generation of Swine and Songs of the Doomed. The good Doctor doles out some epic views, reviews and other such madness, spanning across the 60s, 70s and 80s. For any Hunter S. Thompson fan, this is a must-read!

2. Haruki Murakami – Kafka on the Shore

I love every single Murakami book I have read (and that’s been a lot!), but of all of those, Kafka on the Shore is my favourite. His stories combine a bit of magic, a bit of innocence, a bit of craziness and most of all, an ethereal aspect that leaves you thinking about the books long after you finish.

Kafka on the Shore is about a boy, a librarian, an old man, a bad man, a young man and a quest for answers and meaning. It’s impossible to explain further without ruining the story – just read it and see for yourself!

3. Charlaine Harris – Dead to the World

I’ve read every single one of the Sookie Stackhouse novels, and I love all of them – dare I say, I even love them more than the True Blood series!

Of all these books, book 4 is my favourite. Plenty of Eric and Sookie moments, loads of action and some delectable twists! True Blood season 4 is about to come out in June, so I can’t say any more than that without ruining it… what I will say is that Eric fans will adore this book for many, many reasons!

4. Paulo Coelho – The Alchemist

Paulo Coelho is one of the most amazing writers ever. I love The Alchemist because it gives me so many lessons and things to remember in life. Much like The Little Prince, this is one of those books you will read over and over again at various points in your life.

On the surface, The Alchemist is about a boy in search of a treasure, who discovers a lot more than he expected to find on his epic quest that takes him to the faraway land of pyramids and desert. It’s so much more than this though… finding meaning and realising what we are searching for in the first place.

Please note: "Books I love..." is a new series. Each week an awesome, book-loving lady will share a few of her favourite books with us.

I often hear people say...

2011-05-23T09:46:00.001+02:00

"I often hear people say that they read to escape reality, but I believe that what they’re really doing is reading to find reason for hope, to find strength. While a bad book leaves readers with a sense of hopelessness and despair, a good novel, through stories of values realized, of wrongs righted, can bring to readers a connection to the wonder of life. A good novel shows how life can and ought to be lived. It not only entertains but energizes and uplifts readers." - Terry Goodkind

Notes From My Kitchen Table

2011-05-10T12:14:00.009+02:00

For my upcoming birthday my lovely mommy bought me a copy of "Notes From My Kitchen Table" by Gwyneth Paltrow (which I picked out). I don't usually buy or use cookbooks - mainly because im what I like to call a "simple cook" & most recipes you can find online anyway - but this one I wanted.

Initially Gwyneth Paltrow's face got me curious about the book, but as soon as I browsed through it, I saw quite a few recipes I wanted to try and I liked how it's not written by an actual chef.

Since my mom has insisted on wrapping it and giving it to me this weekend (which is closer to my actual birthday), I have not had a chance to read the book properly. I am really looking forward to trying some of the recipes soon and sharing them on my main blog.

Here is a bit about this cookbook (via Waterstones.com):
The Academy-Award-winning actress Gwyneth Paltrow is an icon of style and taste around the world. But for her, family comes above everything, and cooking and eating together are the key ingredients of a happy home. Now she has put her passion for food into her first cookbook which is full of 150 fresh, original and practical recipes (both healthy and indulgent) that all the family will love. Both accessible and inspiring, this beautifully illustrated and easy-to-use cookbook is full of lavish photographs, many featuring Gwyneth's family and friends. This is Gwyneth Paltrow as you have never seen her before - a busy working mum who understands the time pressures on all of us as well as the desire to cook delicious and original food. Inspired by precious memories of cooking with her father, it is a truly personal book that celebrates cooking with - and for - the ones you love.

*UPDATE - I have the book at home with me, finally, and I am loving it. Gwyneth favours very interesting ingredients, does not seem to eat red meat (she prefers Turkey, fish & chicken) and even embraces vegan cooking sometimes. I have found a few great recipes that I am dying to try (mainly because the recipes all sound healthy and yum). Check my main blog for recipes.

Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother

2011-05-09T15:47:00.003+02:00

A review by Kelly
(She can also be found here and here)

A bit about the book:

Witty, entertaining and provocative, this is a unique and important memoir that will transform your perspective of parenting forever.

A lot of people wonder how Chinese parents raise such stereotypically successful kids. They wonder what Chinese parents do to produce so many math whizzes and music prodigies, what it’s like inside the family, and whether they could do it too. Well, I can tell them, because I’ve done it…

Amy Chua’s daughters, Sophia and Louisa (Lulu) were polite, interesting and helpful, they had perfect school marks and exceptional musical abilities. The Chinese-parenting model certainly seemed to produce results. But what happens when you do not tolerate disobedience and are confronted by a screaming child who would sooner freeze outside in the cold than be forced to play the piano?

Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother is a story about a mother, two daughters, and two dogs. It was supposed to be a story of how Chinese parents are better at raising kids than Western ones. But instead, it’s about a bitter clash of cultures, a fleeting taste of glory, and how you can be humbled by a thirteen-year-old.

Read an Excerpt from Amy Chau's book over here

My Review:

How great is this book’s cover treatment? Simple, Clean and Bright. It stands out on the shelf and definitely on my list of Things to Read. I am not a mother, nor do I have the urge start learning parenting skills just yet (Yes Dad you can wipe your brow). I picked this book up purely because of its cover (ok and because I was hearing such wonderful things about it), the wonder of this book lies purely in Amy’s writing. She displays her family out for you to see and do with what you please (well make assumptions, pass judgement & marvel at). You can see Amy loves her family with every fiber, bone, piece of skin & nerve of her body and soul. She before you situations of any family, but the catch is that she is telling you how she raised her children the ‘Chinese way’. The Chinese way? Yup! The musical-talent-mathematician-hard-worker-self-disciplined-genius baby maker model of parenting. A no nonsense way to allowing your children to be who they want to and discover their talents.

I have to admit Amy’s methods seem a tad extreme and, in some parts, flawed. I didn’t say it – she did. That is what is so great about this story – everything is a learning curve. Amy did what she, the Chinese mother, could do for her children and accepted the hardships and cuddles that came with it. Hard lessons are learnt in this book; lessons that encourage Western parents to accept only mediocre from their kids because of the fear of damaging them. Amy also points that it sometimes doesn’t work, but only once out of twice.

I loved this book, filled with wit, laughter, tradition, excruciating fights (I am all too familiar with) and family.

The April / May book list

2011-04-06T15:57:00.001+02:00

After much thought here are the books that made my April/May reading list (click title to read more about the book):

1. The Lake of Dreams by Kim Edwards

2. Ape House by Sara Gruen

3. The Peach Keeper by Sarah Addison Allen

4. Weird Sisters by Eleanor Brown

Finished & starting: Sarah Addison Allen

2011-03-31T12:44:00.013+02:00

Since discovering Sarah Addison Allen, a year or two ago, I have been smitten with her style of writing and the way she interweaves the real with the magical (much like my other favourite author, Alice Hoffman does).

Recently I finished The Girl Who Chased The Moon, the third novel by Sarah Addison Allen, and absolutely loved it.
In a nutshell - it's a very sweet tale about a girl who, after her mother passes away, moves to a new town to live with her almost giant-sized grandfather. While on her search to discover more about her mother's past, she befriends a boy with an unusual family secret and a woman who hopes her baking will bring lost loves back to her. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a sweet and whimsical read.

This week I ordered her latest novel, The Peach Keeper, online (note: it will be available in South Africa from April). I really cannot wait to read it and have read nothing but good reviews about it. Heres a tiny bit about the book :
"At 30, Willa Jackson returns to her small Southern hometown, Walls of Water, N.C., in the wake of a failed marriage to her college sweetheart. She's determined now to lead the quiet life she believes her father wants her to have, but is soon derailed by the wealthy and powerful Osgoods, the family that shaped her high school experience." - Barnesandnoble.com

Books are...

2011-03-22T11:16:00.001+02:00

"Books are the quietest and most constant of friends;

they are the most accessible and wisest of counselors,

and the most patient of teachers." - Charles W. Eliot

Review: Murder is as easy as clockwork

2011-03-07T15:47:00.005+02:00

A review by Sally Partridge (writer)

Margie Orford's Like Clockwork is a gritty crime novel set in the Cape Town most tourists don't get to see: the underground.

A serial killer is murdering young girls and arranging their bodies publicly in grotesque poses meant to shock. The police call on the expertise of part-time profiler and journalist Dr Clare Hart, but she's already way ahead of them, and is about to crack the lid on a human trafficking ring that could be the answer to the whole mystery.

The book is structured like a cat and mouse chase, with Clare and her on-again-off-again squeeze Captain Riedwaan Faizal racing after a killer before he murders someone else. There's a also a juicy back story between the pair that's hinted at throughout the novel, as well as Clare's own mysterious past that is inextricably linked to the case. Ms Orford is a terrible tease. These tasty titbits are designed to make the reader reach for the next in the series to find out more.

The book delivers a glimpse into the inner workings of the local sex trade which is nothing like the glitzy billboards you see on national roads. Even the V&A Waterfront is shown to have a shady side, and whether its fact or fiction is anyone’s guess. It also offers a unique insight on the challenges faced by the South African police force on a daily basis which I’m sure will challenge many preconceptions.

Like Clockwork is definitely recommended as a holiday guilty-pleasure read, especially if you're in Cape Town and want to read more about the places you're seeing, whether a murder took place there or not.

Five reasons to read Margie Orford

1. She's South Africa's queen of crime
Margie Orford is something of a legend. She's a Cape Town local cum crime writer extraordinaire with international book deals coming out of her ears. She's also fabulous, never attending a function without dressing the part.

2. It’s not overly gratuitous
Any fan of crime novels will know that serial killers do some nasty things to their female victims. Stieg Larsson’s The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is testament to this fact. Orford's murders are just as violent, but they're not as grisly as the more established crime novels out there, which read like they’re extensions of the movie Saw.

3. Its like a tour of Cape Town
Like Clockwork is set in Cape Town and if you look past all the crime scenes and gangsters, there's some lovely descriptions of the Mother City. Look out for the V&A Waterfront, Sea Point Promenade and even Century City.

4. Because chicks rule
Dr Clare Hart is an awesome. She's a tough-as-nails hardened journalist and criminal profiler, but she's also sexy. She keeps her body toned with morning runs and never hesitates to show it off when the rugged Riedwaan is around.

5. It's the first of three
If you hate that depressed slump that comes after finishing a good book, fear not. Like Clockwork is only the first in a series of crime novels featuring Dr Clare Hart. When you're done with this one, get straight into Blood Rose and then Daddy's Girl.

The February / March book list

2011-02-01T14:40:00.001+02:00

Here are the books that made the feb/March book list....

1. The Great Gatsby by F.Scott Fitzgerald

2. A Visit From the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan

3. The Good Daughters by Joyce Maynard

4. Room by Emma Donoghue

* click on book title for more info

One must always be careful of books...

2011-01-20T11:24:00.001+02:00

"One must always be careful of books,” said Tessa,

“and what is inside them,
for words have the power to change us."

- Cassandra Clare (Clockwork Angel)

Finished and starting...

2011-01-11T13:51:00.001+02:00

This holiday I finished reading The Brave by Nicholas Evans. Like all of Evans books before, I really enjoyed it and found it hard to put down. The book contained great characters and vivid imagery.

Right now I am about to start reading The Memory of Running by Ron McLarty. It sounds very interesting. Here is a bit about the book (taken from the authors website):

"Meet Smithson "Smithy" Ide, an overweight, friendless, chain-smoking, forty-three-year-old drunk who works as a quality control inspector at a toy-action-figure factory in Rhode Island. By all accounts, especially Smithy's own, he's a loser. Then, within one week, Smithy's beloved parents are killed in a car crash, and Smithy learns that his emotionally troubled, long-lost sister, Bethany, has turned up in a morgue in Los Angeles. Unmoored by the loss of his entire family-Smithy had always hoped Bethany might return-he rolls down the driveway of his parents' house on his old Raleigh bicycle into an epic journey that will take him clear across the country."

What book are you finishing or starting right now?

My favourite book of 2010

2011-01-03T10:27:00.003+02:00

I read quite a few really good books last year, but the book that wins the title of "my favourite book of 2010" has to be Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen. If you have not read it, I highly recommend you do :)

What was your favourite book of 2010?

A note: this book has actually just been made into a film and will be out this year.

The December/January book list

2010-12-06T17:33:00.003+02:00

I am going to try read at least 2 of these over the festive season. Will you be joining me in reading any these books in Dec/Jan?

1. The Ladies of Grace Adieu by Susanna Clarke

2. The Distant Hours by Kate Morton

3. The Brave by Nicholas Evans

4. The Zombie Survival Guide by Max Brooks

5. Summer Sisters by Judy Blume

6. Playing with the Grown-ups by Sophie Dahl

Click on book titles for more information.

Happy reading!

The Dec/Jan book list coming soon...

2010-12-03T16:27:00.002+02:00

Darlings, I realise I am late putting up the December / January book list (my apologies). The new book list will be up next week :)

Book review: Cutting for Stone

2010-11-22T10:49:00.000+02:00

Cutting for Stone By Abraham Verghese

reviewed by JHB Princess

I loved this book. I have no idea how exactly to start this review except to say - I loved it! It was the kind of book which left me bookless for a good few weeks after I’d read it, in book mourning really*.

The story is set in Ethiopia around the 1950’s, at a mission hospital called Missing (actually Mission, but the name was confused by one of the locals and became Missing), and centers around Marion and Shiva Stone. The story is told by Marion, and starts before they were born, with their mother as a young woman and her voyage to Ethiopia.

Although complex and full of many different relationships, between the boys, their parents, the dead and other characters, the one underlining question remains - who is the boy’s father and how did they come to be.

Naturally there’s a little love triangle, a few moments which may leave you close to tears, a little suspense and a slight twist or two.

Abraham Verghese’s fantastic use of the English language as well as the gorgeous way he describes Ethiopia, human emotions, the complex and diverse relationships truly has one bonding with the characters and not wanting the book to end!

I highly recommend this book.

*The reluctance to start a new book, in fear it just won’t match up to the last.

Second hand books are wild books...

2010-11-15T13:18:00.001+02:00

"Second hand books are wild books, homeless books; they have come together in vast flocks of variegated feather, and have a charm which the domesticated volumes of the library lack"

- Virginia Woolf

Recent book buys

2010-11-08T12:46:00.002+02:00

Recently I bought myself these two books (I hope to read them both over the December holidays):

1. The Brave by Nicholas Evans - Nicholas Evans is definitely in my top 10 favourite authors. I have read all of his previous books and loved them. This is his latest book. I can't wait to read it. Here's a bit about the book (from Amazon): "Alternating past and present, Evans expertly juggles his twin narratives until they come shatteringly together as father and son yield to the combined weight of the secrets they hide. Combining elements of the prep school drama, the Hollywood novel, the western, and the war story, Evans (The Horse Whisperer) skillfully mixes genres to create a real crowd-pleaser."

2. Playing with the Grown-ups by Sophie Dahl - I actually chose this book more for it's pretty cover, than the fact that I was curious to read a book by Roald Dahl's, ex-supermodel, granddaughter. After buying it I read about the book and it sounds delightful. Heres a bit about the book (from Bloomsbury.com): "To Kitty, growing up at Hay House, surrounded by bluebell woods and doting relations, is heaven. But for her mother, the restless Marina, a silver-eyed beauty who paints and weeps with alacrity, Hay cannot provide the novelty or excitement she so craves.Swami-ji, Marina’s guru, sees her future in New York, and so the family is scooped up and relocated, leaving Kitty exiled in a colourless boarding school. Reprieve comes in the form of the guru’s summons to the ashram, but then, just as Kitty is approaching enlightenment, they are off again, leaving everything behind to come back to an England that is fast and unfamiliar. And Kitty, turning fourteen, must choose: whether to play dangerous games with the grown-ups or to finally put herself first."

What book/s have you bought recently?

The October / November book list

2010-09-29T14:43:00.003+02:00

Here are the 4 books that made the Oct/Nov book list:

1. The Imperfectionists by Tom Rachman

2. The Story Sisters by Alice Hoffman

3. Zoo City by Lauren Beukes

4. The Girl Who Chased The Moon by Sarah Addison Allen

Note: to see all the past book lists click HERE

My greatest wish...

2010-09-29T14:43:00.000+02:00

"My greatest wish - other than salvation - was to have a book. A long book with a never-ending story. One I could read again and again, with new eyes and a fresh understanding each time." - Yann Martel (from " Life of Pi")

I'm about to start reading..

2010-09-28T18:57:00.000+02:00

"Alice Hoffman's new novel, The Story Sisters, charts the lives of three sisters–Elv, Claire, and Meg. Each has a fate she must meet alone: one on a country road, one in the streets of Paris, and one in the corridors of her own imagination. Inhabiting their world are a charismatic man who cannot tell the truth, a neighbor who is not who he appears to be, a clumsy boy in Paris who falls in love and stays there, a detective who finds his heart’s desire, and a demon who will not let go." - Amazon

Today I bought myself this novel. I am really looking forward to reading this book and since Alice Hoffman has been one of my favourite authors for over 10 years, I really don't think that I will be dissapointed by it.

What are you reading right now?

I wanted to tell...

2010-09-21T11:51:00.002+02:00

"I wanted to tell the book thief many things, about beauty and brutality. But what could I tell her about those things that she didn’t already know? I wanted to explain that I am constantly overestimating and underestimating the human race-that rarely do I ever simply estimate it. I wanted to ask her how the same thing could be so ugly and so glorious, and its words and stories so damning and brilliant."

- from "The Book Thief" by Markus Zusak

Clothbound Classics

2010-09-13T16:03:00.003+02:00

Alice's adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carrol

Emma by Jane Austen

Little Woman by Louisa May Alcott

Great Expectations by Charles Dickens

Don't you just love clothbound, hard cover books? I know i do. Penguin has a fabulous selection of clothbound classics. Go HERE to see full selection.

Clever book bag

2010-09-01T18:38:00.004+02:00

Look its a book...no its a bag...
(

Apparently this clever, canvas book bag was sent to Anthropologie’s (a top US store) top customers in 2008 as a Holiday gift and thank you. Its very cool.

Books are delightful society...

2010-09-01T18:14:00.000+02:00

"Books are delightful society.

If you go into a room and find it full of books

- even without taking them from the shelves

they seem to speak to you, to bid you welcome."

-William Ewart Gladstone

Ive been reading...

2010-08-13T13:32:00.002+02:00

I recently finished Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen and I loved it. I enjoyed it from beginning to end and can't wait to watch the film version next year. I would highly recommend this book to anyone looking for an interesting, superbly written read.

* Note: Sara Gruen's new book, Ape House, is coming out next month in USA.

I have just started reading Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert. Ive been wanting to read this book for over a year or two , but when so many people started to read it (and talk to me about it) and there was so much hype about it - I decided to read it at another stage of my life or not at all (i don't know why, its just how i felt at the time). Anyways, so here I am starting to read it on the week that the Eat, Pray, Love film is released in US cinemas (and no, I wont see the film until I finish the book). I have not read very much yet, but so far I am really enjoying it (i finally get why everyone has been raving about it). I absolutely adore Gilbert's style of writing. I will keep you posted on what I think of the book.

What are you reading right now? do share...

Read the best books first...

2010-08-04T09:34:00.000+02:00

"Read the best books first

or you may not have a chance to read them at all".

- Henry David Thoreau

The August / September book list

2010-07-27T14:37:00.001+02:00

After much thought, here are the the 6 books that made the August / September book list (note: I chose a few that are, or will be, movies):

1. Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen (yes, it has been on one my book lists before, but because I am busy reading it and loving it - I thought i'd put it on again)

2. Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert

3. The Death and Life of Charlie St Cloud by Ben Sherwood

4. The Help by Katheryn Stockett

5. The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton

6. The Magicians Assistant by Ann Patchett

Click on above book names to read more.

Books are a hardbound drug...

2010-07-23T09:14:00.001+02:00

"Books are a hardbound drug
with no danger of an overdose.

I am a happy victim of books."- Karl Lagerfeld

Do tell...

2010-07-07T09:49:00.002+02:00

I am currently between books and have started to wonder which book I feel like reading next. Top of my list right now is Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen ( I did put it on my first book club list on here, but never got around to reading it)

What are you reading right now? do tell...

The hardest way of learning...

2010-07-05T09:04:00.000+02:00

"The hardest way of learning is that of easy reading; but a great book that comes from a great thinker is a ship of thought, deep freighted with truth and beauty." - Pablo Neruda

Current non-fiction book wants

2010-06-16T11:00:00.000+02:00

Here are the 4 books I would really like to read at the moment:

1. Affluenza by Oliver James

This book sounds very interesting and I think most people suffer from some form of this very contagious epidemic.

"There is currently an epidemic of “affluenza” throughout the world — an obsessive, envious keeping-up-with-the-Joneses mentality that has resulted in huge increases in depression and anxiety among millions. Over a nine-month period, author and psychologist Oliver James travelled around the world to try and find out why." - from Amazon

2. Gorgeously Green by Sophie Uliano
I want to be more "green", but I think I need some reading material to help me think further than just buying organic food, recycling and turning off my lights- I think this book may help me with that .

"In Gorgeously Green, Sophie offers a simple eight-step program that is an easy and fun way to begin living an earth-friendly life. Each chapter covers topics from beauty to fitness, shopping to your kitchen—even your transportation. Whether it's finding the right lipstick, making dinner, buying gifts, or picking out a hot new outfit, finally, there is a book that tackles your daily eco-challenges with a take-charge plan. Just consider Sophie your go-to girl with all the eco-solutions."

3. This is Your Brain On Music by Daniel J Levitin

I will admit, this book does sound like "heavy" reading to me - but it does sound very interesting too. I think The Boyf might enjoy reading this one.

"A fascinating exploration of the relationship between music and the mind—and the role of melodies in shaping our lives. Whether you load your iPod with Bach or Bono, music has a significant role in your life—even if you never realized it. Why does music evoke such powerful moods? The answers are at last be- coming clear, thanks to revolutionary neuroscience and the emerging field of evolutionary psychology." - Goodreads.com

4. The Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollan

I also am becoming increasingly more aware of what I buy at the grocery store and what I put in my body. I think this book will be very enlightening (plus Ive read alot of good things about it).

"To Pollan, the omnivore's dilemma is twofold: what we choose to eat ("What should we have for dinner?" he asks in the opening sentence of his book) and how we let that food be produced. His book is an eater's manifesto, and he touches on a vast array of subjects, from food fads and taboos to our avoidance of not only our food's animality, but also our own. Along the way, he is alert to his own emotions and thoughts, to see how they affect what he does and what he eats, to learn more and to explain what he knows. His approach is steeped in honesty and self-awareness. His cause is just, his thinking is clear, and his writing is compelling." - The Washington Post

Whats on your "book wants" list at the moment?

The June / July book list

2010-05-31T16:41:00.001+02:00

After much thought, here are the six books that made the June/ July book list:

If you keen to join in, just try read one (or more) of the above books by the end of July. Do keep me posted on what you reading and please send in reviews if you want to ;)

1. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows

2. The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein

3. The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets Nest by Stieg Larsson (The third book in the trilogy - other 2 in previous book lists)

4. The Swan Thieves by Elizabeth Kostova

5. Julia's Chocolates by Cathy Lamb

6. Much to your Chagrin by Suzanne Guillette

Words are like...

2010-05-04T11:02:00.000+02:00

"words are like nets - we hope they'll cover what we mean, but we know they can't possibly hold that much joy, or grief, or wonder." — Jodi Picoult (Change of Heart)

Book review: The Alchemist

2010-04-28T21:36:00.000+02:00

The Alchemist by Paulo Coehlo

Reviewed by Rox

After hearing so much about The Alchemist, I was expecting something very different. I expected a long, intense and involved book, with endless pages and sophisticated prose. What I finally realised once I was a few pages in however, is that the real power of The Alchemist is its pure simplicity... it doesn't need to be anything more than what it is, and that is a story for anyone who has ever had a dream.

The Alchemist follows the journey of Santiago, a shepherd boy from Spain. After having a mysterious dream, Santiago begins an epic trip across the sea to Egypt in search of a treasure beneath the pyramids. Along the way, he learns the secret of the Language of the World, and discovers how to listen to his heart.

Hope, dreams, courage and faith are just some of the key themes that this book delivers... in a sense it has a similar message to The Little Prince, and as a fable it is more than the simple story of a boy in search of a treasure - it is also a reminder about following our paths, our hearts and hopes, and finding our destiny in life, whatever it may be.

It is no wonder that The Alchemist is one of the most translated book in the world - regardless of language, country or religion, this is one book that everyone should read in their life!

New Stephenie Meyer book (novella)

2010-04-22T12:58:00.001+02:00

"Fans of The Twilight Saga will be enthralled by this riveting story of Bree Tanner, a character first introduced in Eclipse, and the darker side of the newborn vampire world she inhabits. In another irresistible combination of danger, mystery, and romance, Stephenie Meyer tells the devastating story of Bree and the newborn army as they prepare to close in on Bella Swan and the Cullens, following their encounter to its unforgettable conclusion." - Amazon.com

"The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner" is being released on 5 June 2010. I am rather excited to get my hands on a copy of this book. I love a good teen novel and I am a big fan of the Twilight book series, so I am pretty sure I will enjoy this book :)

Are you going to read this book?

Book review: The Elegance of the Hedgehog

2010-04-15T09:02:00.001+02:00

The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery

Reviewed by Liesbeth

There are some books you read, where you just think, yes, that’s exactly how it is for me, that’s exactly what life is like. The Elegance of the Hedgehog is one of those books, and this is a testament to not only the author Muriel Barbery, but also to Alison Anderson who translated the book so perfectly from its original French.

For me the best parts of the book were those that described the friendship between the heroine and her closest friend. At one stage, they meet for tea, and Barbery writes: “We sit and converse a while longer, in the calm space of an old friendship.” I just love that phrase. The calm space of an old friendship is often where I am at my happiest, knowing I can be 100% myself with my dearest old friends. Barbery really knows how to capture these little life moments without being clichéd or dull.

The Elegance of the Hedgehog to me was kind of like a big sister book – it challenges you to think, but it rewards you for it as well. Some chapters dabble in philosophy, and they ask you to think in new ways, or get your head around what might at first seem like a tricky concept. But if you persevere it really is worth it.

These philosophical chapters are interspersed with intriguing plot development and charming quirky characters who really make the book come alive, and at times made me laugh out loud. Overall it is a lovely warm book, that makes you laugh and think in equal measures. It deserves to be read on sunny Saturday mornings at a Parisian style coffee shop.

The April / May book list

2010-03-28T13:43:00.001+02:00

After much thought, here are the six books that made the April/May book list:

If you keen to play along , just try read one (or more) of the above books before June. Do keep me posted on what you reading and please send in reviews if you want to. Hope you like the list...

1. Moxyland by Lauren Beukes

2. The Irresistible Henry House by Lisa Grunwald

3. The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield

4. The Wednesday Sisters by Meg Waite Clayton

5. The Girl Who Played With Fire (book 2) by Stieg Larsson

6. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

* click on book name to get more details on book

Do tell...

2010-03-11T09:48:00.002+02:00

What book are you currently reading?

Book review: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

2010-03-09T13:58:00.006+02:00

"The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" by Stieg Larsson.

Written by Cat

I really enjoy a good crime novel and love intrigue and drama in a story (off course my addiction to CSI speaks of the same love). This book is exceptionally brilliant within it's genre.

The plot is interesting in the hidden layers of motives and actions keeps it filled with tension throughout the book. I would have never guessed the final outcome and the plot eventually almost becomes two separate mysteries rolled into one storyline.

At times the book is very graphic about sex and violence - after all the story line leads to such type of material, but never unjustified. It is also interesting to gain an insight in the Swedish way of life and society as well as short descriptions of the lifestyle that never bores you.

I feel that the strongest element to the book is not the excellent story line, but the great characterization. Each and every character, even very minor ones, are drawn full rounded with enough information to let your imagination fill out the person, without becoming long winded and overly descriptive. The main characters deploy themselves to you as the book progresses and grow to involve you to form your opinion regarding them. They are rich and developing and hold your attention right to the end.

I will certainly recommend this book to anyone that is not an overly sensitive reader. I can not wait to read the second book in the series.

If you...

2010-02-26T12:52:00.001+02:00

"If you only read the books that everyone else is reading,

you can only think what everyone else is thinking."

- Haruki Murakami

Book review: A Year on Ladybug Farm

2010-02-17T12:43:00.004+02:00

A Year on Ladybug Farm by Donna Ball

Review by Walking on Sunshine

3 women + 1 mansion + 1 year = an incredibly sweet story about finding out that change is always a good thing.

Lindsay, Cici and Bridget are women who have raised families, cared for their husbands and worked for the majority of their adult lives. But now their husbands are gone (either deceased or have run off with other women), their children are grown and these three best friends have decided that purchasing a run-down mansion together is the solution to all their problems. As the friends view the house, which they name “Ladybug Farm” they anticipate making a profit in one years time, a profit which they hope will allow them to live a life filled with worry free problems and ultimate happiness surrounded by one another. But as we all know, keeping your eye on the prize can be difficult when you run into problem after problem.

When I first started reading Donna Ball’s “A Year on Ladybug Farm”, I thought it was a little too sugar coated, meaning there were lots of “I love you” and “I couldn’t do anything without you” moments, but as the plot thickened so did the characters and I grew to care for each of them separately. I found the novel to have a lot of similarities with Frances Mayes’ novel, “Under the Tuscan Sun”, which was a great novel (and a great movie). Lindsay, Cici and Bridget were charming, sweet and always had each other’s best interest in mind. The story grew into a charming novel about rediscovering who you are and what your friends really mean to you.

I’d highly recommend this book to people who have an afternoon of nothing planned, but this book and a cup of coffee.

* to submit your own review click HERE

A strong woman...

2010-02-12T13:53:00.002+02:00

"I believe a strong woman may be stronger than a man,

particularly if she happens to have love in her heart.

I guess a loving woman is indestructible."

- John Steinbeck (from book "East of Eden")

Other peoples love letters

2010-02-08T14:05:00.006+02:00

"Other peoples love letters" by Bill Shapiro sounds and looks like a very interesting book. Personally, I find the love letters (happy or sad) of other people so very intriguing and beautiful - So, when i stumbled upon this book I thought I should share it.

Here is a description of it (from amazon.com):

"Fevered notes scribbled on napkins after first dates. Titillating text messages. It's-not-you-it's-me relationship-enders. In Other People’s Love Letters, Bill Shapiro has searched America’s attics, closets, and cigar boxes and found actual letters–unflinchingly honest missives full of lust, provocation, guilt, and vulnerability–written only for a lover’s eyes. Modern love, of course, is not all bliss, and in these pages you’ll find the full range of a relationship, with its whispered promises as well as its heartache. But what at first appears to be a deliciously voyeuristic peek into other people’s most passionate moments, will ultimately reawaken your own desires and tenderness…because when you read these letters, you’ll find the heart you’re looking into is actually your own."

Choosing books

2010-02-05T13:00:00.003+02:00

I'm rather picky when it comes to choosing books to read.

Here is how I usually choose a book to read.....

* I try stay away from anything political, depressing, scary or disturbing (because if i want to fill my head with negativity & politics i'll just read the news).

* I often go for fiction novels that contain a dash of romance and/or a touch of magic (or a bit of the supernatural) in them. I think reading is suppose to to be a kind of "escape" from reality.

Note: Occassionally I do notice an autobiography or biography about a person I deeply admire and then I have to read it (but this doesn't happen too often)

* Sometimes I am swayed by book covers (i know, i know, never judge a book by its cover...blah blah blah) but don't you think sometimes a good cover can change the way you look at some books?

* I stick to authors that I know and love. I always read everything I can find by authors I love. Only problem is that sometimes I read faster than they can write books (how selfish of them *winks*)

* I should also admit that I like to read what I wish I had written or what I feel is closest to my own writing style .

* oh and of course...another great way to pick a book to read is to start a book blog where you have to make a book list every 2 months - really helps me find some new books to try *winks*

How do you pick your books to read?

What type of books do you like to read?

Book review: Alice in Wonderland

2010-02-02T11:50:00.004+02:00

Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll

review by Prixie
>

If there is not a soul familiar with this story, then they were probably stuck in the bowels of Hades.

Much to my surprise, the Walt Disney movie version remained very true to this classic story. It is such an outright quirky yet delightful tale, it makes you wonder if the author was under any sort of, er, influence. I mean caterpillars that smoke the sheesha, Alice arguing with herself, cards painting white roses red and a Queen of Hearts with a sadistic penchant to say "Off with their heads!" Really, it makes you want to crawl into Carroll’s mind to be a bystander!

Overall, this classic comes highly recommended for anyone at any age. Now I cannot wait for the Tim Burton interpretation of the book into a movie. And I am sure many of you cannot wait to see Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatter too!

What I will be reading in Feb/March

2010-02-01T15:14:00.009+02:00

From the book club list I have decided to read "The Lost Book of Salem" (aka the Physick book of deliverence Dane). I chose this book mainly because I already own it and have not read it yet.

The other book I will be reading over Feb & March is "The Maeve Binchy Writers Club". Though I am not really a huge fan of Binchys novels, I am definitely impressed with her success - So when I noticed that she had written a book of advice for aspiring writers I had to buy one.

I will be sure to let you know how both books are.

So, what are you reading? Do tell.....

My favourite author

2010-01-27T17:48:00.000+02:00

Alice Hoffman is undeniably my favourite author. I adore her writing style and the way she mixes supernatural and real life elements in a wonderful, believable way.

I read my first Hoffman book many years ago, after I discovered a copy of "Practical Magic" in a second hand bookstore. The book (which was made into a film, starring Sandra Bullock & Nicole Kidman) was truly beautiful and romantic.

Now, I am lucky enough to own a first edition, signed, hardcover version of "Practical Magic" (thanks to an old friend) and it is my favourite book (and the book I used in this blogs header picture)

Here's a few of her books I can highly recommend: The River King, Practical Magic, Here on Earth and Seventh Heaven.

Who is your favourite author?

Some things...

2010-01-27T14:20:00.003+02:00

"Some things don't last forever, but some things do.

Like a good song, or a good book,

or a good memory you can take out

and unfold in your darkest times,

pressing down on the corners and peering in close,

hoping you still recognize the person you see there."

— Sarah Dessen

What will you be reading?

2010-01-25T14:43:00.005+02:00

So, which book will you be reading for Feb/March?

Will you be reading something off the Feb/March book list (click HERE to see list)?

Time to read

2010-01-22T12:00:00.005+02:00

Recently I've felt like I don't have enough to read - but I guess this is mainly due to the fact that Iv'e allowed reading to drop down to the bottom of my priorities list (naughty) and I tend to procrastinate alot.

This year one of my personal goals is to read more (which is one of the reasons I started this blog).

Here are a few tips on how to find more time to read:

* Go to bed a bit later. Spend fifteen minutes before bed reading a chapter or two of your favorite book. You may lose a little bit of sleep, but you'll get a chance to do some extra reading.
* Multi-task your reading. Carry a book with you so you can read whenever there's an opportunity, such as: in the doctor's waiting room, lunch times at the office.
* Turn off the TV. Most people watch hours and hours of TV each week. Turn off a sitcom to get thirty minutes of commercial-free reading.
* "Read" your books in the car. Instead of reading traditional books, consider audio books. You can listen to them in the car, so they're ideal for people with a long commute to work.

- above tips from E-how

The hardest thing...

2010-01-20T12:30:00.007+02:00

Quote from: The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd.

(I really loved this book.)

Current book wants

2010-01-19T13:04:00.008+02:00

Two books I'd really love on my bookshelf at the moment are:

1. Amys Bread by Amy Schreber - because I am totally addicted to bready things and this book has tons of wonderful bready recipes from New York's favourite bakery. yum.
2. The Anti 9 to 5 Guide by Michelle Goodman - because its a "practical guide for young women who are ready to abandon their cubicles and carve out their own dreams"...need I say more? (thanks for recommendation, Mish Mish)

What book/s do you currently want on your bookshelf?

The Feb/March book list

2010-01-18T12:00:00.010+02:00

After much thought, here are the six books that made the Feb/March book list:

1. A Year on Ladybug Farm by Donna Ball

2. The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane (also known as "The Lost Book of Salem" - in UK & SA) by Katherine Howe

3. Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
4. The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery

5. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson

6. Twenty Chickens for a Saddle by Robyn Scott

;

Im not sure which one I'm going to start reading at the end of this month...still thinking.

NOTES: The next list will go up by about the 27th March. Please see guidelines if you have forgotten how this will all work.

Happy reading!

Guidelines

2010-01-18T10:27:00.005+02:00

THE BEING BRAZEN BOOK CLUB GUIDELINES:

First off, I should mention that this is not your typical book club...we don't all have to read the same books and there is no set meeting date or any obligation to write a review.

Here is what I will be doing and what you can do:

* Every TWO months I will pick a list of books (4 to 6) - I will consider recommendations for books from anyone.
* Then, you can pick one or a couple to read from the book list
* you have TWO months to finish it/them - if you want to read along (Sometimes im a distracted reader, so i need plenty of time)* Then you may submit a review of what you read, if you want to, and I may post it (if there are a few reviews about the same book, I will probably only use one)
* IF you don't like any of the books on the list - thats cool - I dont mind hearing about anything you reading (so feel free to send a review in about any book you may have read).;

Want to write a review?

2010-01-18T09:34:00.014+02:00

If you want to send me a book review, please send it to: beingbrazen@gmail.com

When sending a book review, please....

* do not forget to include title and author of book

* attach a JPEG Image of book cover (no bigger than 100KB)

* try not to write super, essay-long reviews

* Check for spelling mistakes (it will save me doing it)

* Please include your name AND a link to your twitter/blog or website

Thanks.

I look forward to reading your review :)