Our usual Monday post is rescheduled. But, good news, I have many cool author interviews coming soon with such exciting authors as Martin Stewart, April G. Tucholke, Darragh McManus, Catherine Doyle, and Elizabeth Rose Murray. 

This is a mixed bag of genres. I love Claire Hennessy’s blog posts, especially her book review posts, so I’ve decided to mimic that format. Enjoy! 

What I Was by Meg Rosoff 

Rosoff can catch you off guard with the truth of a glimmering sword. In this book we are whisked by to the 1962 and involves an unlikely friendship and love story set in a boarding school and in an old cottage by the sea. And it is tremendous. She manages to capture boarding school life of a different era and yet makes it so present and relevant. Much props to Rosoff.

Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life by Anne Lamott

You get a lot of advice on which writing books to read and often you ignore it, but you need to pay more attention. This is a remarkable book. It’s not just about writing but about finding truth in the written word through your life. I have never taken so many notes from a book before, it is beautiful, truthful, and funny.

The Ocean at The End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman

This is a wondrous story with a Once upon a time vibe to it. Apparently Gaiman dug deep into his own childhood and there are some references to it throughout. No matter what Gaiman writes you always believe it. If he said, ‘Here Michelle, take this magic six pence it will help you travel back to the tuck shop in Camp Rockwell of your childhood,’ then you’d believe him. This is written sparely in that very cool juxtaposition that we all know and love so well.

Pause to Rewind by Aimee Alexander

This book was written with a delicate pen with much tenderness and care. It is a story of a mother’s love and striving for a better life.  There are some big issues in this book and this is dealt with much attention to detail. Emotions run deep  in this captivating story about family, love, and belonging. Lovely book for adults looking for a cosy read. Many thanks to the author for the ARC.

The Heat of the Day by Elizabeth Bowen

Well this was unexpected. It is set in London during WW|| and has a clarity and a grief in the writing that adds to the suspense and suspicion of London during this turbulent time. There was such artistry in how the feeling of suspicion, loss, and fear was conveyed that was palpable.

Vendetta by Catherine Doyle

This debut is very exciting; it’s a contemporary Romeo and Juliet with lots of cute guys, high school drama, games, debt, vice, and, of course, a vendetta. There is a large cast of characters but it’s simmered down to two families and one feud. A fantastic debut from Galway based author, looking forward to the next in the series. Many thanks to Chicken House Press for the ARC.

Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

This is a book of two halfs. The first hundred pages or so are set in the contemporary world of high school and family life, from then onwards we slip into the world of another time (loop) with a bunch of very peculiar children. It is such a cool concept and the pictures are divine and the writing is seamless.