"A Country Road, A Tree" Jo Baker

Jo Baker's "Longbourn" was one of my most favourite reads of 2015 and I have recommended it and bought it for friends ever since so I was thrilled to review her latest book "A Country Road, A Tree".

This is a mesmerising read. The protagonist is an anonymous writer (who Baker reveals in the Author's Note to be Samuel Beckett) and his experiences of living in Paris in the Second World War as he evades the Gestapo, works for the French Resistance, falls in love with a frenchwoman, befriends James Joyce and travels his own literary journey as he struggles to shape and define his own creative voice.

It's clear from Baker's previous novel as well as this one, that she is interested in the characters who "scrape by in the margins of a hostile world." She explains in the Author's Note that she was intrigued by the epiphany Beckett experienced during the war where he realised the kind of writer he would become. This is a fictional version of his story but it realistically conveys his moral choices, his bravery to face the war with his friends rather than return to the neutrality of Ireland and how all these events allowed him to grow as a writer. It is a lyrical and poetic read. The style and pace may take a little getting used to, but do persist and allow yourself to become immersed in a unique and well imagined world.

The novel begins with Part One which is intriguingly called "The End." Our male protagonist is in Ireland looking out to sea, towards Europe, and observes that the "tidal wave is gathering and at any moment now will come the tipping point, the collapse and the rush, the race towards destruction." These half finished phrases float across the page like cadences from a piano symphony and I expect, if I was more well versed in Beckett's own work, they would indeed echo his style. Baker is such an intelligent writer and clearly a master of language and imagery, structure and impact. The book is full of beautiful and stunning descriptions as well as sharp insight. For example, when in Paris the narrator imagines the "queasy idea of England peering across the channel and biting her nails while America stands, arms folded and whistling, pretending not to notice what is going on at all." When working for the Resistance, he handles the information and describes how these small scraps of paper "conjure aeroplanes out of clear skies... bring hell raining down on it...these words could take a hundred lives." It's so gently presented, yet so powerful and effective. The writing really is outstanding.

There is an atmosphere of sadness and defeat in some of the narrator's experiences. He struggles with the consequences and dilemmas of the war as well as that of his writing and purpose. He is haunted by the words of his mother: "What use do you imagine you'd be?" At one point he wonders that "writing is ridiculous...jam one word up against another, shoulder to shoulder...hem them in with punctuation so they can't move an inch....expect something to be communicated, something understood...it's not just pointless it's ethically suspect." Again, the use of personification here is so innovative and impressive and captures so much about the character, writing and literature.

Fortunately the ending sees the protagonist survive his struggle to create a language that will express his experiences and the novel ends with "words form....this is where it begins." I found this an intense and hugely satisfying final sentence. Worthy of a standing ovation.

This is a literary treat. This is for readers who love language, art and the journey of tortured souls. It is a novel that takes some focus and perseverance but this pays off and will leave you in awe of Baker's skill and literary craftsmanship.

Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to review this advanced copy in return for a fair review.

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"Happy People Read Books & Drink Coffee" Agnes Martin-Lugand

Ok, it was obviously the title that attracted me to this book! I mean, which bibliomaniac couldn't resist such a line! I'd like to adopt it as a new mantra for myself!

I found out my daughter and husband were still fooling around in the car when the truck crashed into them. I told myself they were still laughing when they died. I told myself that I should have been with them. And for the past year, I've told myself I should have died with them. ....And I'm still alive. Utterly miserable but still alive. 

This is on the opening page of the novel and I had to reread it three times it so shocked me and had completely caught me unawares.

The protagonist, 32 year old Diane, runs a literary cafe "Happy People" with the enigmatic Felix, her one and only friend who does his best to support her and shake her out of her grief. For the past year, she has kept herself imprisoned in her flat, refusing to dress, eat properly, work, leave the flat or get better. She wallows in her grief and depression. Then, following another outburst of bullying from the frustrated Felix, she decides to heal herself. To leave the suffocation of Paris and recover from her debilitating depression. On a whim, she hires a cottage and travels to the remote village of Mulranny in Ireland. Here she hopes she can "bury" herself.

The family who rent the cottage to her are friendly and sensitive, caring and respectful. Their son, Edward, who lives in the neighbouring cottage to Diane is not. He appears unkempt, reclusive, solitary, abrupt and rude. There is immediate tension between the two; both accusing the other of self centred behaviour and judgemental accusations, both believing the other to be devoid of feeling or empathy.

Thus begins a tumultuous romance between the two as their paths are thrown together through a series of events that allow them to reveal the truth behind their behaviours. But what happens when a figure from Edward's past returns? And is the relationship Diane really needs to heal? What of her life in Paris? Can she really move forward from her grief and look to the future?

Unfortunately I don't think this book was really for me. I think I was hoping for more about the bookshop (!) and to be honest I did get a little tired of Diane's lingering depression which began to feel a little self indulgent as time went on, as well as a little repetitive. It almost restricted the storyline from moving on and exploring anything else. At times it is difficult to feel much empathy towards the characters as they are not always presented in the most flattering light. The relationship between Edward and Diane reminded me of Kathy and Heathcliff - or perhaps Max from "Rebecca" which was quite interesting but again, a little obvious and a little unfinished - although the author is publishing a sequel so I guess this will be taken up again in her second book.

Essentially this is a romance novel. It is quite short, the characters and plot are not overly developed, it is predictable and follows the rather generic plot line of a woman needing to find herself after suffering a loss without adding anything particularly memorable or different. However, although it wasn't really my kind of book, I think it would appeal greatly to readers of Maeve Binchy, Amanda Prowse, Cecelia Ahern, Marian Keyes and fans of other romance or chick lit books.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in return for a fair and honest review.

"The Doll Master" Joyce Carol Oates

This is a collection of 6 short stories from one of the most renowned contemporary writers of our time. I have recently become a real fan of short stories; finding them a real test of a writer's skill to create an effective plot and believable characters within a limited number of pages. I like the fact that it gives an author an opportunity to explore a snapshot in time or conjure a variety of voices within one volume, displaying the diversity and range of their writing. This volume does not disappoint.

These are dark, haunting stories. They are harrowing and quite relentless in their terror and unnerving subject matter. Oates has not been afraid to take on the personas of figures usually ostracised and condemned by society without being given a voice or a chance to be heard. All the characters are vivid and utterly - disturbingly even - believable and convincing. Within the first few lines I knew I was in the hands of an highly accomplished writer and in for a real treat - if scaring yourself silly can be called a treat!

My favourite story was the titled piece "The Doll Master". To me, anything about dolls is immediately terrifying and this story is certainly still haunting me. It starts with the narrator taking us back to when he was 4 and his cousin Amy aged 3. Amy has a beautiful baby doll called "Emily"which she is possessive about although does repeat the adult expression of "You can hold her. But don't drop her." Even this in itself implies the inevitable harm that will follow. After Amy's sudden death from Leukaemia, the narrator becomes obsessed with her doll which he takes and keeps for himself and this then leads to a fascination of collecting "found dolls."

The narrator is unreliable; twisted, unhinged -outwardly showing self control as a good, reliable student but inside someone unable to tell the difference between reality and delusion. He follows the voice of the "Friend" too willingly and whether this friend is a true person or an imagined delusion is unclear. A few references to the mother's need for medication, the rows between his parents, his father's violent despair of his interest in"girl's toys" and the boys visits to a psychotherapist imply that the reader is not being given the whole picture by the narrator and indeed there is more cause for concern than the explanation that he simply collects "found dolls" which he stores in the abandoned carriage shed.

This was a brilliant story and unputdownable. The best thing about a short story is that it can be read in one sitting and with this one it is the only way to read it! The writing is exquisite and disturbing. The linguistic devices and use of language so sophisticated and effective (worthy of much more study) yet it is an effortless and fluid read. It's amazing that a woman can create a male character of such horror with such conviction.

I also liked "Soldier" which is the voice of a character in prison. I thought this was interesting as Oates is giving a voice to those evil characters which are unrepresented or often cliched when in novels. She fully immerses the reader in a world of criminals and murderers.

My second favourite story was "Equatorial" which I could imagine as a great TV series or film. Here we meet a woman who is her husband's third wife and lives in fear of being usurped by a younger model. She is frightened of her husband and constantly apologising for herself despite his subtle attempts to continuously place her in difficult, dangerous situations where an "accident" may "innocently" befall her. They travel around the world to exotic locations but she is plagued by illness and weakness and unable to embrace the challenges and adventures in the same way he does. Her character is so well crafted that her fear, paranoia and anxiety are palpable and infectious. The tension increases when she realises that whilst on the cruise ship they are outside the jurisdiction of US law and instead at the fate of the Equatorial legal system which is open to bribes and rarely sees the perpetrator arrested. Surrounded by pills, poisons. accidents, cliff paths, night walks on the ship's deck, she is frequently presented with the opportunity for death or suicide and it is clear to the reader how these situations are being manipulated by the seemingly charming husband. A great story!

These were a good read. They are like Edgar Allen Poe, MR James and Susan Hill. Oates is a truly talented writer and these stories illustrate her imaginative power to get inside the minds of the frightened, the tormented and the down right evil.

My thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to review this book in return for a fair and honest review.

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Children's books: "The Imaginary" & "The Bear & The Piano"

Here is a short review of two books that I saw recommended in the last few days and bought at the opening of our new local bookshop. The first is a picture book for young readers and the second is for "middle grade" readers - probably around 8-11 but could be worth reading aloud to a slightly younger child. Both are different, highly imaginative and beautifully illustrated.


This is a moving and beautiful story; seemingly simple yet full of subtle themes and ideas so anyone between the ages of 0-99 can take something special away after reading it. All of us can experience something magical from this touching picture book.

My four year old enjoyed the story for the story, favouriting the reunion at the end - although more so for the bear's reunion with the old piano than his family and friends! My seven year old liked the fact the story was about a bear not a person playing a piano which she thought made it more interesting and more memorable. She also said it showed that "your family are the most important thing and you should always do what feels right to you." Her favourite picture was the one towards the end - but I don't want to describe it at the risk of spoiling its revelation when you read it yourself! While she was beginning to acknowledge some of the themes in the book, her overriding feedback was about the illustrations and how much she liked looking at them. We both agreed the way the text is organised and displayed with the pictures was really well done. I think this also underlines that there is nothing moralising or patronising about Litchfield's work. He has primarily written a book about a bear and a piano. My nine year old enjoyed the book too despite being a bit too cool for school to really elicit any sustained feedback, but I have caught him listening to us as we reread it and glancing through it when he thinks no one is looking!

The last line is brilliant. I shed a tear! There are so many things you could talk about with children after reading this - perseverance, curiosity, friendship, adventure, talent and music.

But first and foremost it is just a lovely book to look at and a lovely book to read aloud. The words are as musical as the sounds it describes. On some pages the phrases and sentences dance and float across the page like the soft motifs from the symphonies and tunes the bear plays. The lines vary in length and pace, like poetry. Repetition has been used to carefully and skilfully create effect rather than for phonetic benefit. The emphasis is on linguistic charm and to enhance the imagery rather than educate. It is a book that will provoke a gently thoughtful, reflective response. It is a book to read aloud and listen to the words that keep reappearing: wonderful, strange, big, music, bright, world, passion..... Words to excite any child and make them crave adventure and wonder.

Oh do buy it for any young children you know - and any big ones too!



I was a little concerned when I read the opening two pages as we are told about the death of one of the main characters, but the first chapter immediately changes the atmosphere and launches us into the happy, bright and loving world of Amanda. Please do not let this opening put you off sharing with your children as it really doesn't represent the rest of the novel. Although there is an accident and scenes at a hospital, and parts of the story are serious, the novel is also about friendship, adventure, magic and imagination.

I'm not sure quite how to review this book fairly and do it justice! I'm not sure exactly which genre it fits into - it's about families, friendship, memories, adventure.....It's humorous, entertaining, a little scary at times, fantastical, magical and even surreal. It's clever. It's creative. It's immensely imaginative and unique. It will suit children who like Roald Dahl,Alice in Wonderland.

The illustrations are gorgeous and compliment the text so much. I loved the final page where the children disappear off to play. Gravett's illustration shows a black and white back garden with the two children riding on a dinosaur to a new planet - in colour. It is such a simple way to emphasise how children can visualise all sorts from nothing and to them it can be as real as real life.

So Rudger is Amanda's imaginary friend. It's mostly told from his point of view which is a quirky and innovative concept. Following Amanda's accident, her memory of him begins to fade, threatening his survival. He is transported to a different place where the imaginary friends congregate, awaiting their next "imagining". There is a noticeboard with photos of children whose imagination is not strong enough to create their own friend and therefore they need a ready made one to go and present itself. And then, there is the ever present danger of Mr Bunting who hunts imaginaries. Will Rudger find his way back to Amanda? Will she remember him? Can they stop Mr Bunting?

This book is full of lovely quotes and poetic lines. I can't decide which ones to use so think I might have to leave it to you to find your own favourites when you read it! I'm going to read through it again and again. Enjoy the pictures, the characters, the eccentricity of the story, the peculiarity of some of the more fantastical aspects and the celebration of all things imaginary and everyone's imagination. Great book. Extraordinary!

For more recommendations, reviews and bookish chat please follow me on Twitter @katherinesunde3 (bibliomaniacUK) or sign up for email notifications of future posts.

"Little Warrior" Guiseppe Catozzella

This novel is based on the true story of Samia Yusuf Omar, a Somalian athlete who died on April 2nd 2012 aged 21, drowning while trying to reach the ropes tossed out from an Italian vessel as she attempted to get to England and participate in the London Olympic Games. It is an affecting and heart wrenching story about the determination of one spirited woman who never gave up her hopes or dreams despite the suffering and oppression she faced daily, particularly as she began her dehumanising journey as a refugee.

I was attracted to this book as it popped up on my Twitter feed the same day my friend left for Israel to run a charity half marathon - her first big race, her first flight in twenty years and her first trip away from her young family. It just seemed fitting that I should read this following some of the conversations we recently had. I thought the cover was also quite stunning.

The story begins when Samia is 8 years old and Ali, her best friend born only 3 days apart from her and living in the rooms next to her own family, asks her to be his "sister". Their friendship is deep and bound with the loyalty akin to that of a brother and sister. Ali is described as wearing shorts that were worn by all his brothers before ending up on him, he sleeps and lives in one room with the rest of his family and he is a Darod - an enemy of the Abgals to which Samia belongs. She lives in two rooms with her 6 other brothers and sisters and her parents. They have only known war as it began 8 weeks before they were born and as they race through the streets they barely notice the way the walls of buildings are riddled with bullet holes or demolished by bombs.

Ali and Samia are athletes - runners. Samia wants to be a champion and sleeps with a picture of Mo Farah above her bed. They run at night, through the streets where garbage is burned, navigating their way through charred remains and smouldering heaps of ashes, ignoring the curfew. They avoid the beach as this the militia's favourite spot - they can have a straight shot. As the novel begins with the children at such a young age and seen from their point of view, it almost protects the reader from the full impact of the harrowing situation. It's an accepted backdrop to their lives. As Samia says, "It doesn't matter to us. Let them shoot each other in the street, it had nothing to to do with us. War couldn't take away what was important. Him to me and me to him."

However they cannot remain unaffected by the war and one evening they are stopped by the Militia who turn out to be mere boys of 11, "sporting rifles bigger than they were over their shoulders." The Al-Shabaab use children to teach them about holy war and offer in return education; the opportunity to learn Arabic and the laws of the Koran, a bed, three meals a day. Ali and Samia recognise one of the older boys to be someone they know and this affects Ali deeply. He stops running.

Samia does not. She continues, even more determined to become an athlete, and after a while Ali returns and becomes her coach. Following a further devastating turn of events involving both Ali and Samia's fathers, there is a meeting held at Samia's house. They discuss peace and hope while "outside there was a war." "Promise me," says Samia's father, "that you, an Abgal and you a Darod, will live forever in peace. War is only a result of hatred that makes people blind and content only with blood. We are all Somoli brothers regardless of tribe and clans." Samia vows to become a little warrior; running for peace and to lead Somali women to liberation.

The novel moves forward, several years at a time. The Al-Shabaab gain more power. Life becomes more impossible, particularly for women. Music is barred, cinema closed, men are not allowed to wear shorts and have to shave their heads. Women are not allowed to do anything and had to wear black burkas. "Hopes and freedom had been wiped out in the blink of an eye."

But Samia won't be beaten. She talks to her photo of Mo Farah. She wants to hope. She wants to win. Her first big race offers her freedom and an irresistible euphoria which feeds her desire to succeed even further. Her participation in a competition and the necessary travel it involved becomes symbolic. The running is her freedom. She wins. She is the fastest woman in her country. "I would win the Olympics," she decides, "I would lead the resurgence of Muslim women."

There is some lovely imagery and language used to describe Samia's passion and drive at this point in her story. Words such as champion, glittering, dazzling, celebration and pride scatter the pages. She receives letters from Muslim women and realises she is becoming a legend for thousands of women and their hopes and dreams.

Following her sister's recent journey to Europe by boat, Samia sets out to join her. This is a very traumatic part of the story due to the risks, danger, horrifying reality of people trafficking and the suffering endured. It is made bearable by Samia's inspirational ability to still feel hope and her determination to live. It is a dramatic section; moving, urgent, poignant and tragic.

If you liked "The Kite Runner" and "The Other Hand" you will want to read this book. It is an important story even though it is a hard one to read. Much more so as it is a true story. The closing lines of the novel are powerful.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in return for a fair and honest review.

For further recommendations, reviews and bookish chat follow me on Twitter @katherinesunde3 (bibliomaniacUK) or sign up to receive email notifications.

"Eligible" by Curtis Sittenfeld

I was desperate to get my hands on an advanced copy of this book as having read and enjoyed "The American Wife" (as part of a Book Group read which worked really well) and "Sisterland", Sittenfeld is now an author for whom I keep a look out. After finishing this, I have ordered "Prep", her debut novel, to catch up with the rest of her back catalogue.

This is a clever, affectionate retelling of Austen's "Pride and Prejudice." I have read a few of "The Austen Project" novels and haven't really enjoyed them but Sittenfeld's contribution is a real success; her witty and entertaining reimagining of the classic tale is thoroughly enjoyable.

Sittenfeld has deftly adapted the story to suit a contemporary setting and relocates the family to Cincinnati. She adapts one of the most famous and most quoted opening sentences of our time, the need for Mrs Bennet to get her five daughters married, by adding the pressure of ticking biological clocks and the different definitions of family and motherhood in our society. As Mrs Bennet informs us, "It is not as easy for a woman in her forties to give birth as the media have you believe...Phyllis and Bob's daughter ...ended up with little Ying from Shanghai." It is great to see Sittenfeld retains all of Mrs Bennet's cringing prejudice! Her obsession with society is cunningly represented by her heavy involvement with local charities and such pressing duties such as producing napkins with the charity's insignia - jobs you can't possibly "pass off in mid stream" however serious your husband's recent heart surgery has been! I loved Mrs Bennet's observation that the only reason Liz's friend Charlotte remains unmarried is because she needs to go on a diet whereas her own daughters possessed "no discernible physical or personal flaws and therefore there were no clear means of remediation." One thing I think other authors have struggled with when attempting to update a classic novel is how to manage the themes of social etiquette, structure and class which dominate and underpin these stories but are quite alien from our more fluid society. In "Eligible" this is achieved with real skill and Sittenfeld has effectively replaced the concerns of single women in the 19th century with those of the new millennium.

The relationship between Mr and Mrs Bennet is also captured well. Mr Bennet is appropriately bored and exasperated by his daughters and their lack of independence, responding to Mrs Bennet's anxiousness that they may never be grandparents with "plenty of men don't want children, I'm still not sure that I do." And later, when questioned by his consultant whether he is in any pain, he replies "only that caused by my children." His dry, sardonic humour is so familiar and recognisable it could have been penned by Austen herself! He was definitely my favourite character.

The sibling rivalry is also authentic; Lydia is unkind and prickly, Mary begins work on her third degree, stoically bearing the constant taunting from Lydia and Kitty. Lydia and Kitty drift unsuccessfully from various jobs in designer shops and various flat shares that still require complete reliance on their father's financial backing and frequently end under rather dramatic circumstances. They spend their leisure time at the gym honing their fitness and prioritise any investment in their appearance. At nearly 40, yoga teacher Jane, quiet and more naive, is desperate to become pregnant whether with a partner or through an artificial procedure. There is a sense that all the girls are not truly fulfilling their potential and have been cosseted by their parents, privileged education and upbringing. The family is endearingly chaotic - as Liz says, "hatefully charming!" They are colourful, vivid and amusing. They are very comfortably and believably established in their modern, American reimagining!

Liz, a writer for a popular woman's magazine with an apartment in New York, is more thoughtful and objective in her views of her sisters - remaining her father's favourite and privy to his confidences. Liz is not always likeable; she can be aloof, self righteous and has a slightly caustic tongue but actually this is very candid portrayal of her personality and Austen would approve! Liz has to overcome her prejudice, which is as much at fault as Darcy's, and also her pride which has created so much tension and drama within the plot. I like that she is called "Liz" as I thought this made her a little more serious and created a sense that she was more mature than her energetic and obnoxious youngest siblings. She is appropriately embarrassed by them and reflects, "her sisters' vulgarity was not a surprise....Kitty and Lydia were always themselves and she found this appalling and admirable..."

Fitzwilliam Darcy is an equally fantastic reimagining. During his first interaction with Liz she remarks: "So he had gone to Harvard Medical School, so he was a neurosurgeon, neither fact gave him cart blanche to be rude." Sittenfeld captures his personality perfectly with humour and originality. His relationship with Liz is well executed and their misunderstandings handled with light humour and heeding to all the rules of a successful romantic comedy.

I enjoyed trying to anticipate how Sittenfeld was going to handle the most famous events and conversations from the original novel and found myself smiling with respect and admiration for her ingenious imagination. Mr Bennet's financial situation collapses due to their lack of health insurance and a sudden flurry of huge medical bills following his heart surgery. Jane is not confined to the Bingley's with a cold but instead bound to a hospital bed in the ER department under the service of Doctors Darcy and Bingley themselves. Sittenfeld has transposed events so well with very fitting and appropriate updates. The transgender storyline is also very contemporary and Darcy and Liz's physical relationship also reflects modern lifestyle and attitudes to relationships and sex. The role of the reality TV show "Eligible" and it's impact on the characters and the story line works really well and again, reflects the interests and conversations of the younger generation as well as the role of celebrity and media in the modern world. If "Hello" magazine and "Through the Keyhole" had existed in Austen's day, they would definitely have visited the Bingley's and Darcy's -and Mrs Bennet would have been able to scour the pages of "Heat" magazine to gleam information regarding the marital status of all the eligible men in town!

This novel is not contrived. You do not need any knowledge of Austen or "Pride and Prejudice" to enjoy this read. It is a hugely enjoyable light, chick lit read. If Austen was writing today, it is exactly what she would be writing and she would be sharing the best seller shelves with the likes of Liane Moriarty, Sophie Kinsella, Cecelia Ahern and Marian Keyes.

Sittenfeld captures Austen's irony, wit and humour uncannily well. Despite giving the appearance of a light popular fiction read, this actually shows a real affinity, insight and deep understanding of Austen's work, concerns and characterisations. The chapters are incredibly short and some are mere segments - like snatched conversations and glimpses - which helps keep the story focussed and well paced, giving the "classic-phobe"reader a sense that this is the edited highlights of the original story when in fact it isn't. It also keeps the varying sub plots and story lines clear and easy to follow. Sittenfeld is good at selecting which characters are staying centre stage and which can be kept more in the sidelines. It is rather different from her previous novels and shows her versatility and talent as a writer.

It would make a great film! The characters are all so vividly portrayed that I'm sure any actor would relish the chance to play them and the plot would easily compete against the other Romantic Comedies currently on screen. It would introduce a whole new audience to Austen without them even realising! However, I will leave you with Mrs Bennet's closing reflections which neatly epitomise so much of the both her and the novel:

"I've never been a TV watcher," Mrs Bennet said and, whether or not anyone else believed her, it was abundantly clear that she believed herself, she spoke with confidence and pleasure. She said, "I've always preferred a good book." 

I would highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys Chick Lit, Popular Fiction and Jane Austen.

Thanks so much to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in return for a fair review. It was a real pleasure to review this book.


In the year 2000, in the closest election in American history, Alice Blackwell's husband becomes president of the United States. Their time in the White House proves to be heady, tumultuous, and controversial. But it is Alice's own story - that of a kind, bookish, only child born in the 1940s Midwest who comes to inhabit a life of dizzying wealth and power - that is itself remarkable. In Alice Blackwell, Curtis Sittenfeld has created her most dynamic and complex heroine yet. American Wife is not a novel about politics. It is a gorgeously written novel that weaves race, class, fate and wealth into a brilliant tapestry. It is a novel in which the unexpected becomes inevitable, and the pleasures and pain of intimacy and love are laid bare. (Goodreads)



From an early age, Kate and her identical twin sister, Violet, knew that they were unlike everyone else. Kate and Vi were born with peculiar “senses”—innate psychic abilities concerning future events and other people’s secrets. Though Vi embraced her visions, Kate did her best to hide them. Funny, haunting, and thought-provoking, Sisterland is a beautifully written novel of the obligation we have toward others, and the responsibility we take for ourselves. With her deep empathy, keen wisdom, and unerring talent for finding the extraordinary moments in our everyday lives, Curtis Sittenfeld is one of the most exceptional voices in literary fiction today. (Goodreads)

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My Review of "The Little Paris Bookshop" Nina George

Monsieur Perdu is a "Literary Apothecary". He has a boat with "a low slung belly, a galley, 2 sleeping berths, a bathroom and 8000 books. A world apart from our world. And an arrested adventure." From here he sells books (to anyone under the age of 14, he sells them by weight - making a loss but "we need a future generation who aren't too shy to speak their minds"). He is a literary pharmacist who writes prescriptions for the lovesick. He treats all the emotions for which there no other remedy exists - he wants to treat feelings that are "not recognised as afflictions and are never diagnosed by doctors.... the feelings that wash over you when another summer nears its end or when you recognise you haven't your whole life left to find out where you belong....birthday blues....nostalgia for your childhood...." Books, he upholds, are the "only remedy for the countless, undefined afflictions of the soul." How beautiful! As his new neighbour Catherine concurs, had she had the chance she would have been a pirate and would have "solved all the world's mysteries through reading." I am also a strong believer in the power of books to heal and comfort us all!

But Perdu is able to heal everyone except himself. He has lived heartbroken and grieving for the lost of his love, Manon who disappeared from his life 21 years ago. Then a new neighbour inspires him to go in search for the one book that he believes will cure him and together with Max, a young author, and a cast of colourful and entertaining characters they collect on the way, they unmoor the floating bookshop and set off on a journey in search of the past, their loves and the lives that they have lost in a hope to be cured.

This book was an absolutely gorgeously pleasant surprise! I picked it up randomly in Waterstones as it was part of a "buy one get one free" offer - I was shopping with children and had no time to make a choice - I just knew I wasn't going to walk away from a book deal, and I grabbed the nearest title that was shelved in the shops top ten recommendations. When I got home I thought the cover made it look like a rather "fluffy, Chick lit" kind of read and I shoved it on my "to read" pile ready for a day when I needed something light and perhaps more saccharine following an overdose of crime and thriller fiction. Thank goodness that day came sooner rather than later!

I sat in my favourite spot in my local cafe in a quickly snatched break between work commitments and started reading without much expectation..... As they say you should never, ever, ever judge a book by its cover!

I was immediately mesmerised by the beautiful, poetic and lyrical writing. George's phrases are so pertinent and the pages are littered with apt and thoughtful observations. By page 4, I was entranced by the solitary Monsieur Perdu who can't open the door to the room "in which all his love, his dreams and his past had been buried"; who reflects that "memories are like wolves. You can't lock them away and hope they leave you alone." I was also intrigued by this sad man who seemed full of pain and sorrow.

The book is also full of wry humour and deft characterisations. George is able to expertly reveal personalities through brief yet revealing dialogue, for example like when one of the women informs Perdu that  his new neighbour "Madam Catherine Le P-you-know-who" is the "soon to be ex wife of Le Dirty Swine" it cleverly establishes their busy bodying nature and Perdu's lack of interest in society and gossip. Like the author, Perdu is a shrew judge of character - necessary for his job - and refuses to sell people books which will not cure them of their aliments. He chooses an alternative novel for one of his customers advising her to "surrender to the treasures of books instead of entering into pointless relationships with men." Books keep "stupidity at bay. And vain hopes. And vain men." As he reflects to himself, booksellers don't look after books; they look after people.

"A book is both medic and medicine at once. It makes a diagnosis as well as offering therapy. Putting the right novels to the appropriate aliments that's how I sell books. Books are more than doctors - loving lifelong companions.... they wrap you in a warm towels when you've got the autumn blues..."

Any book lover will enjoy indulging themselves in a novel which celebrates the world of stories and the power of reading. I absolutely loved the concept of a Literary Apothecary - it is inspired and George uses it in such an imaginative way to explore themes of love, loss, grief, fear and life. Perdu's interview technique with his clients is fascinating. He sees people as books; are they the main character? A secondary character? What is their motive? Are they editing themselves out of their story as their job / children / husband begin to consume their whole text? He listens to their voice rather than the answers they give. He looks beyond their words and hears the cadence in their voice as he establishes what it is that truly bothers them. Perdu is so initiative and so caring. He is so much more than just a bookseller. He has helped all the inhabitants of the town build their own libraries, uniquely conceived to match their hopes, dreams and aspirations. He has set up a book club for the local widows whom no longer receive visits from their families to prevent them from "withering away in front of their tv sets." Yes indeed. Books aren't just a barcode, a retail price, a story but "a freedom on wings of paper"...... or as Catherine remarks, "A novel is like a garden where the reader must spend time in order to bloom."

The relationship between Catherine and Perdu is very moving and poignant. Their love is described with elegant and charming language. Together and apart they both have a journey of self discovery to complete and they help each other to face their fears, acknowledge their pasts, come to terms with their losses and move forward in life.

The metaphors and contemplations about love are enchanting. It is compared to a house where "neglected rooms can become treacherous and foul" and there is a very entertaining conversation about if we had to buy beautiful words then the rich would call the shots by buying all the important ones and the poor would have to communicate via games of charades; "I love you" would cost the most and "twice as much if used insincerely."

This book is thoughtful and needs to be savoured. Perdu illustrates the importance of listening and at the end, the realisation that books do have limitations- we have to live the important things - you have to experience your own book.

At the end George includes an "Emergency Literary Pharmacy" prescribing an "easily digestible dose of 5-50 pages at a time." I definitely would encourage you to follow this prescription!

This book would appeal to fans of Sarah Winman, Claire Fuller, Joanna Harris, Barney Norris and Graham Swift.

I highly recommend this novel. It is an easy read but a beautifully crafted one full of entrancing imagery and observations. Readers will care about the characters who are all appealing and engaging.

"Reading is an endless journey; a long, indeed never ending journey that makes one more temperate as well as more loving and kind."

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