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Like Water for Chocolate – Laura Esquivel

 January 22, 2013 - Author: nadine

Like Water for ChocolateLike Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Tita De La Garza’s fate is sealed: As the youngest daughter in her family, her destiny is to remain a spinster and take care of her mother until she dies. When Pedro asks for her hand in marriage, Tita’s mother turns him down, and will not listen to reason. As a compromise, Pedro marries Rosara, Tita’s sister. He thinks that if he does this he will at least be able to stay close to Tita.

While I struggled to appreciate the love story that this book is about (I wanted to kill Pedro for being an idiot – which is probably what I was supposed to want to do) the rest of the book was gloriously delicious. Laura Esquivel takes passion in it’s rawest form and presents it to you as simple fact. With no explanations she tells you to believe that a house can be flooded with tears of agony, and that grief, bitterness and ecstasy can be tasted in food. The whole book is written with such pure innocence, it lacks completely in pretension and is an absolute joy to read.



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No Comments - Categories: 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die, Whimsical Reads

A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian ~ Marina Lewyka

 January 14, 2013 - Author: nadine

A Short History of Tractors in UkrainianA Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian by Marina Lewycka

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

A Short history of Tractors in Ukrainian follows the story of an 84 year old man who marries a 37 year old woman. Narrated by Nadia, the old man’s daughter, the story unfolds through a mountain of family drama – both past and present.

I could turn this review into a long rant about the things it brought up in my head – but honestly it’s a stretch! Where it took me in my head is surely not where it will take you. It’s a good read though. Quirky, fun and thoughtful. I did definitely enjoy it!

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No Comments - Categories: 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die, Contemporary Fiction

Veronika Decides to Die ~ Paulo Coehlo

 January 9, 2013 - Author: nadine

Veronika Decides to DieVeronika Decides to Die by Paulo Coelho

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I don’t think you’re supposed to relate to books about asylums and suicide. And honestly as I started reading this book I got a bit worried and thought to myself – oh hell you’re supposed to relate to the end part of the book surely! Not this part.

Veronika isn’t depressed. Or necessarily unhappy. Nothing traumatic has ever happened to her. And yet she has known for a long time that she will one day kill herself. Her attempt is thwarted though, and she ends up in an asylum for her efforts. When she regains consciousness she is told that she has done irreparable damage to her heart and will not live for more than a few days.

I’m not sure if I can quite communicate my love for Paulo Coehlo. I say this as if I have read all of his books, which I assure you I haven’t, but there truly is something special about this man. The innocence with which he writes is just so overwhelmingly powerful. I imagine him to be a man who just quietly observes the state of the world, and on occasion chooses to translate those observations on paper with perfect precision and heart. If only I could write with such surety. This is how it is, he says, and he offers no excuses for it.

Definitely a must read.

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2 Comments - Categories: 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die, Contemporary Fiction

Life of Pi – Yann Martel

 January 4, 2013 - Author: nadine

Life of PiLife of Pi by Yann Martel

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

It’s not often that a book you’ve been dying to read for ages lives up to your expectations completely. I don’t know what it was about the idea of a book about a kid and a tiger stuck together in a lifeboat that I find completely fascinating, but the storyline certainly didn’t disappoint.

Pi gets stranded on a life boat with a tiger after the ship headed for Canada carrying his family and a bunch of zoo animals sinks. The story follows his trials and survival efforts in the most incredibly thought-provoking detail. Thankfully growing up in a zoo has made him more capable of surviving than most. I must warn you though that it is definitely not suitable for the squeamish or vegetarian readers. I should come with a disclaimer! There are quite a few scenes that make you shudder in response.

Martel tells this tale with superb ease and finesse. It’s a magical and gripping story that promises to have you drinking in every detail.

Very eager to check out the movie this week!

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No Comments - Categories: *Favourites*, 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die, Adventure

The Baggage Handler ~ Colin Browne

 August 8, 2012 - Author: nadine

The Baggage HandlerThe Baggage Handler by Colin Browne

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

It’s scary when you have a book written by a friend on your bookshelf. To be honest – my pile of books written by people I know is getting bigger and I very seldom tend to it as I am a pure coward. Even if you don’t know that friend very well, there definitely exists a bit of tension between yourself and this book that you feel kind of obligated to. I know in some worlds a five star rating for a friend is a given – and I do not disagree with this because I believe that completely unbridled and biased support for a friend is absolutely wonderful and it has its place in holding up the receiver of that support – but I sort of feel unable to offer that kind of support in the book world because it is a world so close to my heart. If you were to create a video game or knit a scarf I might unashamedly brand you flawless – here I cannot do so without feeling like my integrity is being severely compromised. Now… it very unlikely that I will ever give a friend (or an acquaintance)a terrible review because for the most part I am not a soul-destroying art demon. What I do try to do is pull out the things that worked for me and focus on those. I also try to judge work for itself and not for what my particular tastes might be, which is not always very easy because I have such specific taste. For instance, I find YA fiction especially hard to judge because I don’t think I relate to run-of-the-mill teenagers very well at all. In fact when I read these books I kind of tend to think of my step daughter and go “will she like this in a few years time?” and go from there. Anyway – the point is that I try to judge a book for what it is and where it fits in as far as the literary world is concerned and then I go from there. But for this book? This book I just gave it five stars because I enjoyed reading it very much. It is 100% *MY* genre for one (can we call it “blokelit”? I love blokelit!)When I give a book 5 stars it is simply because the book has my *it* requirement. I never know when I am going to find my *it* requirement and I have found it so seldom lately but this one just had *it* for me. Keep writing Colin Browne my dear friend. You will be up there with Tony Parsons and Nick Hornby and Mike Gayle in no time. I am so glad I finally got around to nodding along with your book :)



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No Comments - Categories: Contemporary Fiction

Little Library Mouse ~ Stephanie Lisa Tara

 August 7, 2012 - Author: nadine

Little Library MouseLittle Library Mouse by Stephanie Lisa Tara

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

A sweet little story poem about reading. I love the illustrations too and I must admit that I often buy books just because I think the illustrations are pretty. I have now started downloading children’s books onto my ipad because I am hoping that my son might prefer them to real books. Sadly I can’t get the kid to show any interest in the gorgeous books in his bedroom! But maybe he’ll like them if he can turn the pages by swiping his finger over the touch screen!



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No Comments - Categories: Children's Books

Open Heart (Farsighted #2) ~ Emlyn Chand

 August 6, 2012 - Author: nadine

Open Heart (Farsighted, #2)Open Heart by Emlyn Chand

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Gosh I don’t know where to begin! I usually start by mentioning that I never read YA books and therefore never feel particularly qualified to offer an opinion on them, but considering the amount of YA books that I have read in the last six months I think it is safe to assume that this is no longer true.

I read Farsighted #1 last year and liked it just fine…but you know what I love about THIS particular book? I just can’t stop thinking “Damn Ms Chand – you’ve outdone yourself!” Simmi’s character is so well-rounded (and no I don’t mean fat!), so acutely observant and so brutally honest that you cannot help but applaud Emlyn Chand’s efforts. There is no shying away from tough subjects like bulemia or betrayal – it all just hangs out. And I think the best part is that all the insecurity is presented in such a way that instead of relating to it you recognize it. I don’t know how else to put it. Simmi does things and thinks things that make you go “oh you silly little girl stop being so hard on yourself!” but then you have to admit that you – another silly little girl! – like to be just as hard on yourself.

I know Simmi has gotten a lot of flak from others for her weaknesses, but I truly do love her. It’s so refreshing to be presented with a non-perfect character who isn’t prancing around in her blonde ambitious glory trying to convince you that she is too thin…

Thanks Emlyn! Looking forward to the next one :)



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No Comments - Categories: Paranormal, YA

Hallowed ~ Cynthia Hand

 August 2, 2012 - Author: nadine

Hallowed (Unearthly, #2)Hallowed by Cynthia Hand

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Ok I must immediately say that I love that both books completely surprised me at the end (and in the middle….lol!) There”s not much else to say really. I liked these books. I love that they’re about God and Angels without being preachy or religious or pushing any sort of agenda. I love that the main character is someone who you can look up to and who is emotional without being pathetic and strong without being cold. I would happily allow my daughter to read this series without worrying about her being influenced in any sort of negative way. I am just bummed that the third isn’t out yet because I would like to get to the end of the story now…



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No Comments - Categories: Paranormal, YA

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