What can our Book Club read this autumn?

I have been asked this question a few times this week so here's a few ideas! Hope you find something that appeals to you all! Do let me know how you get on!

Books for a group that just want to get back into reading  / looking for something light and enjoyable:

  


Books for groups that want a good discussion:




Books for a group that enjoy thrillers:



Books for groups who are looking for something a bit different from their "go to" authors:





Reliable tried and tested good suggestions for a book group:



Books for groups looking for a film tie in:




Don't forget to check out my post reviewing the latest Richard & Judy Book Club reads for Autumn 2016 here:http://bibliomaniacuk.blogspot.com/2016/09/richard-judys-autumn-book-club-reads.html

And also an archive post reviewing Book Club suggestions from the Reading Agency: http://bibliomaniacuk.blogspot.com/2016/02/my-review-of-best-book-club-reads.html

And my review of my book club discussing "Our Endless Days" with questions from the author herself!
http://bibliomaniacuk.blogspot.com/2016/07/book-club-our-endless-numbered-days.html

Happy reading!!

To keep up with more recommendations and reviews please follow me on Twitter @katherinesunde3 (bibliomaniacuk) or on Facebook as Katherine Sunderland
You can receive any new posts from me via email by signing up using the box on the right hand side column.

New Colouring Books from Pavilion Books



Beautifully intricate illustrations to transport you to magical lands

While away the hours with some art therapy

8th September 2016, £7.99 paperback

Princesses and Fairies ISBN 9781843653172 Fairy Tales ISBN 9781843653165

To me, colouring in usually conjures images of sitting with my children when they were tiny, either in the ridiculously early hours of the morning or during a very long wet afternoon, trying to stop them shoving crayons in their mouths, choke on felt tip pen lids and ignore the fact that they are definitely not keeping inside the line (*twitch*). The pictures were big, over simplified outlines so the pen always ran out before you'd filled the shape and there was never anything remotely relaxing about it, particularly as none of my children have ever been interested in an activity requiring them to sit still. 

But recently I have been seduced by the gorgeous colouring books which have become a bit of a craze amongst adults and regularly top the bestselling slots in the Non-Fiction charts. 

Why? Is this just another excuse to buy yet more books under the guise that they are not "books"? Or is it just the chance to purchase my own felt tips which will always have their matching lid on properly? (*click*)

To be honest, these are factors, but the main reason is that colouring doesn't demand anything. Everyone can colour. It's a level playing field. You don't need loads of expensive equipment; it is easy to get out and put away, be picked up for five minutes and pushed aside in seconds. It can be done in front of the telly (unless you're watching subtitles!!). It has also been proven to reduce stress, anxiety, depression and create a sense of calm and well being. Who doesn't need that at the end of a long day?

These two books from Pavilion are down right stunning. The images range from intricate, to more stylised; simple objects from a fairy tale to a full page scene depicting some of the most famous stories. "Princesses and Fairies" has a selection of drawings from less well known fairy tales and some Shakespeare stories which I thought was fun. My daughter and I spent a long time wondering which page to start with and both books include pictures that could take one evening, to more detailed images that might take a few nights. It depends on your mood. One thing you can be sure of, these books are as big a threat to your bedtime as a gripping novel......just one more flower, just one more section, just a bit more red here.......Go on, give colouring a go - lose yourself in your own fairy tale world! Perfect for the approaching winter evenings! 







I would highly recommend these beautiful collections. They are some of the most intricate and appealing books I have seen available. 

My huge thanks to Pavilion for the free copies in return for a review. For more information about the books, please see the press release below. 

The craze for adult colouring books is well and truly established and grown-ups are once again enjoying the calming and meditative effects of putting pen to paper.

Pavilion Books is proud to present two new titles featuring a wealth of fantastical and magical images. Fairy Tales and Princesses and Fairies include scenes and characters from all the favourite fairy tales and classic stories: Thumbelina, Sleeping Beauty, Snow White, The Princess and the Pea, Cinderella, The Little Mermaid, Swan Lake, Hansel and Gretel, Little Red Riding Hood, The Nutcracker and more.

Each book offers more than 70 pages to colour in. Budding artists can lose themselves in intricate leaves and flowers, flamboyant costumes, delicate snowflakes, castles, pixies, butterflies and bows. There are hours of quiet concentration and contemplation to be had within these pages.

All media enquiries & artwork requests to

Catherine Ward: catherinewardpr@gmail.com / 07748 620051

PRESS RELEASE

PUBLISHED BY PAVILION BOOKS, 1 GOWER STREET, LONDON WC1E 6HD

**BLOG TOUR** "As I Descended" Robin Talley

Maria Lyon and Lily Boiten are their school’s ultimate power couple—even if no one knows it but them.

Only one thing stands between them and their perfect future: campus superstar Delilah Dufrey.

Delilah runs the school, and if she chose, she could blow up Maria and Lily’s whole world with a pointed look, or a carefully placed word.

But what Delilah doesn’t know is that Lily and Maria are willing to do anything—absolutely anything—to make their dreams come true......



This YA novel transcends so many genres I'm not quite sure how to begin my review! It is a story of love, gay relationships, power plays within a boarding school, murder and madness. It is a tale that is ghostly, magical, fantastical and supernatural. It is chilling, unsettling, gripping and highly original despite the fact that the story line is one of the most famous in literary history! 

Talley's novel is a reimagining of "Macbeth". It is refreshing. It is clever. It is well written; every word chosen as wisely and each piece of punctuation placed as carefully as Shakespeare did with his play. The passages are powerful, the characters are realistic, the dialogue is well constructed and it is a successful contemporary update of a timeless story. 

Some of the key ingredients in "Macbeth" are witchcraft, power, murder and madness. How brilliant to transfer these themes to the setting of a modern day, elite boarding school. It's inspired. It's effective. 

Talley shows huge creative and imaginative skill through her modernisation of the ancient story. The book opens with a Oujia board where the planchette takes on a life of its own as the characters watch, each convinced the other is moving it, as curious messages are spelt out. From here on, the story rapidly gains momentum, propelling you forward as the characters become more and more embroiled in a downward spiral of deadly games. 

There are quite a few main characters to relate to and engage with. All have important roles within the plot and each are effectively developed through strong dialogue, description and narrative. Talley is able to draw characters that will both resonate with and be relatable to her YA audience. They are memorable characters; their emotional fragility well expressed. 

The location and setting of the haunted school create the feel of a gothic horror story and Talley exaggerates this gothic feel by adding ghostly sightings, communications with spirits, dreamlike experiences and a descent into chaos and madness which is palpable and consuming, making the novel a truly spine tingling read. 

I must confess, I have taught "Macbeth" numerous times and it is one of my favourite Shakespeare plays. I really enjoyed seeing what Talley did with it and how she reinterpreted characters, relationships and situations. I really enjoyed her incorporation of direct "borrows" from the original script and how she subtley wove in other key moments from the play to enhance her own very fresh retelling. Her new take on the dialogue, famous key speeches and supernatural aspects of the play are fresh, vivid and inspired. 

I would quote from the text but the passages I highlighted while reading are too long and too numerous. I was unable to whittle down the lines or select any key phrases without taking away some of their beauty and effect. I was particularly impressed with the way Talley's sentence and paragraph structure was able to mimic the internal dialogue of the key characters so well. 

I would recommend this book. It is different from a lot of other things I have read recently and also different from "Lies We Tell Ourselves" (which I rated 4/5). I don't think you need to have read Macbeth - or even like Shakespeare at all -to enjoy it as it definitely works as a stand alone story. 

I think it will really appeal to a YA audience as it is full of complicated relationships, peer group dynamics and dark spirits. It did not feel like a Literature lesson, it felt like watching an episode of something like "Pretty Little Liars" combined with Donna Tartt's "Secret History", a dose of Susan Hill and a dollop of Edgar Allen Poe. Well worth a read. And yes, if I was teaching "Macbeth", this book would also be a compulsory read for all students! 

My thanks to Harper Collins HQ and Net Galley for an ARC of this title in return for a fair and honest review. 

For more recommendations and reviews you can follow me on Twitter @katherinesunde3 (bibliomaniacuk) 

Author bio:
Robin Talley grew up in Roanoke, Virginia, writing terrible teen poetry and riding a desegregation bus to the school across town. Robin lives in Washington, D.C., with her fiancée, plus an antisocial cat and a goofy hound dog. When Robin’s not writing, she’s often planning communication strategies at organizations fighting for equal rights and social justice. You can find her on the web at www.robintalley.com or on Twitter at @robin_talley

Don't forget to follow the rest of the Blog Tour with @HQYoungAdult

Grab a few more moments of summer with these books...

It's the beginning of September and most of us are heading back to school or work, having returned from our summer holidays. But, if you want to try and prolong the feeling of hot, lazy days then here are a few suggestions to help you escape back into the summer for a little longer!



Dreaming of escape from his remote village in the Himalayan foothills, Rabindra entreats the gods to send him an English bride. When a saucy English dance troupe arrives on the run from a Bombay crime boss, Rabindra believes that his prayers have been answered. Except that they have no interest in marrying anyone. As the village begins to unravel in the presence of these scandalous foreigners, surprising secrets emerge from the depths of its past.

I'm just going to come straight out and say it. I thoroughly enjoyed this chaotic, hilarious, colourful and charming book. The prose rattles along at such a rate that it is impossible to take a breath, let alone put it down. Rabindra's narrative flows like a burst pipe, streaming endlessly capturing his enthusiasm, naivety, innocence and simplistic belief in all that is good. It is a comedy, a love story; a novel about family, religion, culture, coming of age and belonging.

I would recommend this book - particularly to fans of "Slumdog Millionaire", "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel", "The White Tiger" and "The Inheritance of Loss". It was rather different from the other books I have been reviewing recently and therefore its freshness and originality more pronounced, but I think many readers will enjoy its gentle, heartwarming story and its boundless energy and humour. 5/5 stars!

Read my full review here: http://bibliomaniacuk.blogspot.com/2016/08/hillstation-robin-mukherjee.html


Quiet and unassuming Carrie Hayes has a nice, steady life with long-term boyfriend Alan. But she’s been keeping a secret hidden for years. A whirlwind marriage to Hollywood superstar Richard Maddox when they were young and foolish and life was full of endless possibilities. Although no longer together when Richard went to fulfil his acting ambitions in America, they’ve never quite got a divorce. And now a chance meeting in the paradise of the glamorous French Riviera is about to change Carrie’s summer, and entire life, for ever . . .

Gentle, comfortably predictable, undemanding, brimming with romance, comedy and a happy ever after ending -this book basically delivers exactly what it promises! It is a light hearted, playful summer holiday read that would fit nicely next to your chilled glass of wine as you recline in your sun lounger and take a break from a few lazy laps in the pool! A good 3.5/5 stars from me.

My full review can be read here http://bibliomaniacuk.blogspot.com/2016/08/escape-to-riviera-jules-wake.html



Monsieur Perdu calls himself a literary apothecary. From his floating bookstore in a barge on the Seine, he prescribes novels for the hardships of life. Using his intuitive feel for the exact book a reader needs, Perdu mends broken hearts and souls. The only person he can't seem to heal through literature is himself; he's still haunted by heartbreak after his great love disappeared. She left him with only a letter, which he has never opened.

My review for this book is very long and detailed so here is a mere snapshot of some of my thoughts:

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.

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.

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. 5/5 stars from me. Available from March 2016. 

The full review can be found at:
http://bibliomaniacuk.blogspot.com/2016/03/my-review-of-little-paris-bookshop-nina.html


What kind of summer is it without a wedding to go to?!

Meet Katy Peacock. She has a fun-filled life as colourful as her name, and you can always rely on her to be the life and soul of any party. And it’s a good job too, given she spends her weekends photographing other people’s weddings. Yet underneath it all, things aren’t so good. Her wedding photography business has fallen on tough times, and she’s had her heart broken more times than she cares to remember. But she’ll get through it, she knows she will. She just needs to avoid best men, bad men, and ushers of any variety......

Although this novel follows a well worn path typical of chick lit rom coms, it still feels fresh and funny. The story is well structured into four parts based around four weddings and this helps move the plot along swiftly and with focus. Katy is a very likeable character; the reader empathises with her as she tries to face her problems alone- juggling a job, a recently bereaved mother, an estranged sister, a best friend and a potential love interest without letting anyone see how desperate she feels or the pressure she finds herself under. There are several different threads of storyline going on which gives the book more depth; twists, revelations and moments of seriousness carefully balanced against the humour and romantic moments. It is a light hearted read, largely humorous and witty, but Katy also has real problems that give the book more gravitas and prevent it from being too frivolous. 3/5 stars from me.

This book published in June 2016. The full review can be found here: http://bibliomaniacuk.blogspot.com/2016/06/four-weddings-and-fiasco-catherine.html




Meet Winnie Cox, a white, privileged daughter living a life of luxury on her father's sugar plantation in Guiana, South America. She is about to marry the man of her dreams, George Quint; a black postman from the slums. When Winnie has to travel to seek medical help for her son, George is left behind. Yoyo, Winnie's sister, is fed up with living in her shadow playing second fiddle to her mother's favourite daughter. Full of resentment, Yoyo sets out to seek revenge against Winnie while she is away, laying the grounds for a trap which will have devastating consequences for them all.

This is a story about love, secrets, obsession, social conventions and pressure. There is laughter, happiness, strength and fortitude but there is also grief, helplessness and sadness. It's not a roller coaster ride of a novel, more a meandering along undulating countryside with some hidden and unexpected sharp corners. I liked the atmosphere, tone and pace of the novel and it very much suited the era and characters. And of course, the uplifting message about love - when genuine and truthful - really is able to heal, help and rebuild bridges. 3.5/5 stars from me.

My full review of this book can be found at http://bibliomaniacuk.blogspot.com/2016/07/the-sugar-planters-daughter-sharon-maas.html



The story begins with Joan in 1958 Muscat. Joan, an archaeologist, has fulfilled her lifetime dream to visit the Oman and the Arabian desert. Her brother Dan is stationed in the army there and this is from where they base their visit. Webb subtly implies a slight mystery here as Dan has fallen out with their mother and Joan has no idea why but cannot get him to talk about it. Joan travels with her fiancé Rory although from the outset there are also hints that this relationship is not quite as happy as it appears. They have had a very prolonged engagement and although frequently confessing and showing his love, Rory seems reluctant to set a date for the actual ceremony. Their relationship is also described as one of companionship, of best friends; they are comfortable together in a way established middle aged couples might behave and appear more like siblings. Already the stage is set for a story of revelation and intrigue.

This book is about changing your destiny, confronting the past, self discovery and atonement. It is about retribution and reprisals. It is about siblings, lovers, marriage and women. It is about potential and happiness, distortion and clarity. All set within the extreme, exotic location of Arabia and the desert which changes everyone and everything. As Joan observes, she was moved by its "hugeness..the multitude of it was dizzying" which is an appropriate summing up of how the scenery mirrors her own awakening. 

This book took me a while to get into but once I got stuck in, I became fully immersed in the landscape of the desert which Webb so adeptly describes and the complex emotional journeys of the two female protagonists. This is a saga of a novel for you to become lost in and transported to a different world and a different time. It is well worth a read. 4/5 stars from me. 

Read my full review here http://bibliomaniacuk.blogspot.com/2016/03/my-review-of-english-girl-by-katherine.html




With an equally appealing cover as her previous titles, Jefferies once more sets her book in Asia. This time it's 1952 French Indochina and eighteen year old Nicole, our protagonist, is living as a French colonial in Vietnam's capital, Hanoi. The story follows Nicole over the next few years as she learns about overcoming obstacles in love, politics, family and the cost of making choices; all set against the turbulent backdrop of the threatening conflict between the nationalist Vietminh and the governing French as they fight each other for control in civil unrest which would later become the Vietnam War. 

This is a story of a search for belonging and identity. It is a story of a girl not only caught between political conflict, but between lovers, between her family and between her heritage. It is a story about a girl who is constantly pulled in two different directions; who doesn't really fit into either world but attempts to belong to both. Nicole learns to negotiate her way through this conflict, revealing an inner strength and instinct for survival which she never knew she had. 

This novel is much more of a love story than Jefferies previous titles. I think the romantic element of the story is the most central theme. The novel is about love between couples, fathers and daughters, mothers and daughters and sisters. It is a great exploration of one girl coming to terms with all these things. 4/5 stars from me!

I would highly recommend all Jefferies books as perfect for transporting you to another era and country - perfect escapism but with enough drama and intrigue to make them rewarding reads! Full review can be found here:
http://bibliomaniacuk.blogspot.com/2016/02/my-review-of-silk-merchants-daughter-by.html



No one knows the name of 'the painter' who comes to the asylum in St Remy in the south of France, but they see his wild, red hair and news of his savaged ear soon circulates in the village and comes to the notice of the wife of the asylum's doctor. She feels herself drawn to him and learns that his presence is disturbing - and not just to her either. But back she goes - again and again. Until she is banned, but still she makes her way over the wall, through the garden to talk to this apparently mad and passionate man. And the consequences of her indiscretion, of what van Gogh comes to mean to her, of what it will do to her marriage, her life once she has touched danger and passion will have far reaching effects - both surprisingly catastrophic and tender.

Van Gogh is not the main character in this story but instead it is the power of his art, his quiet counsel, his presence. This is a mesmerising tale. Well crafted. Beautifully executed. Memorable. I would highly recommend this poignant and entrancing novel. 4/5 stars. 

You can see my full and more detailed review here: http://bibliomaniacuk.blogspot.com/2016/04/let-me-tell-you-about-man-i-knew-susan.html

I could go on, and I could recommend more, but I think these books are all set in sunny locations and tell stories about love, relationships and journeys. Perfect for holding on to that feeling of summer romance, summer adventures and the chance to rediscover something about yourself while you step away from the everyday. Enjoy! 

For more recommendations and to see more of my reviews follow me on Twitter @katherinesunde3 (bibliomaniacuk) 

Loosely based "Back to School" themed reads for grown ups!

It's back to school time so I thought I'd write a post about some of the books I've read this summer that cover some of the themes related to school (some more tenuous than others!). Hope you find something to pop into your satchel and slip inside the cover of whatever it is you're supposed to be reading at your desk (who would do that - certainly I never did... *blushes profusely and looks sheepishly at floor*).



Meet Patrick Owen as he wearily faces the daily challenges of teaching in a school in London. He's proud to admit that he's not punched anyone yet. Yet. But what happens when a man whose button has been pressed just once too often makes a snap judgement and his whole life begins to unravel.....

This is a gritty read. Its portrayal of teaching in a London school is brutal, as is the frightening reality of gang culture and its impact on teenagers. I'm not sure how I would categorise the genre of this book as essentially it is a story of crime, intimidation, bullying, murder and gangs. It is compelling and there is plenty of tension so it could be defined as a thriller or crime thriller. However, for me, what really stood out wasn't the plot, but Read's writing. His descriptions of characters, teenagers, teaching, schools and the community in which he based the novel, were so vivid, intelligent, insightful and humorous I could have read volumes of it. I found the emotions, decisions and dilemmas of his protagonist Patrick the most engaging and well written passages. 

Patrick Owen is an ordinary man but a very memorable character. Read's writing is very clever; it conveys an atmosphere of depression, dead-end hopelessness, apathy and quite a bleak picture of society through eloquent, striking, powerful images. It's intense but distinct and will leave a huge impression on the reader. It is a literary read with an original blend of menacing yet engrossing characters and imagery. I imagine this book to be a bit like a film captured in black and white, grainy shots that are cut together with deliberately abrupt editing, seemingly improvised and unscripted. 

It's well worth a read and I am definitely going to look out for any further novels from this writer. It's an impressive debut. Bold. Original. Controversial. Maybe not for everyone as Patrick is not always an easy character to relate to, but ultimately Read's writing is a treat. 4/5 stars from me!

My full review can be found herehttp://bibliomaniacuk.blogspot.com/2016/08/the-art-teacher-paul-read.html

Available on kindle from Sept 1st 2016




Not really school based, this book is about a boy, a father and autism. I have read a few books about parents with children who have autism very recently ("Love Anthony" by Lisa Genova, "Harmony" by Carolyn Parkhurst) and I've included this book here as I think all these novels make us think about how each child is unique, learns differently, interprets the world differently and needs supporting differently. As our children re-enter the classroom, it's a good time to make some resolutions about how we are going to support them all this academic year. Here are my thoughts about "A Boy Made of Blocks".

This is a tender novel, inspired by Stuart's own relationship with his son who has autism, about a father trying to rebuild his complicated relationship with his son and how they begin to bond over the computer game of Minecraft. It's an emotional read with moments of sadness, frustration and anger but yet full of humour, warmth and love. It reads very much like a Nick Hornby or David Nicholls book; accessible, fluid, easy and engaging- a good light read.

What is really engaging about this book is the down to earth tone of narrative and the very "up front" and honest voice of Alex. He is a very likeable character; he is ordinary, he is fallible, he mishandles things, he makes mistakes. He is a parent trying to do his best. This book is an emotional journey for him but it is written with a gentle warmth. It is not moralistic or patronising. Although a very valuable and interesting account of autism, it is as much about parenting, marriage and facing responsibilities and a great read for anyone with children. It didn't feel like a novel "about autism", it felt like watching Hugh Grant in an amiable Saturday afternoon movie. 4/5 stars from me!

This book is available from 1st Sept 2016 on Kindle and in Hardback. 

Read my review in full here: http://bibliomaniacuk.blogspot.com/2016/07/a-boy-made-of-blocks-keith-stuart.html

Josh and Ben are nine years old and best friends, until a single, careless act in the school playground destroys the lives of both families – and wrenches their small Manhattan school apart. As both mothers Maddie and Joanna try to find out what really happened between the boys, they discover the truth is far more complicated and painful than either of them could have ever realised… with lasting repercussions for both families.

I did enjoy this book. It was quite compulsive but that could have been because I was waiting for the twists and compounding dramatic events which is promised from the blurb. Not that this isn't delivered - in fact towards the end it is really quite harrowing. I literally did cover my hand with my mouth in distress at one particular sentence. I honestly felt very moved by the final climatic denouement. 

Hewitt weaves quite a tangled web where the relationships between the characters are confused and complicated. Both women are affected by previous issues and experiences which clouds their perspective and rationality. As well as themes of parenting, supervision and guilt, there is a lot about motherhood, pregnancy, love, relationships and marriage. This is not a book for the emotionally fragile! 

I loved the premise of the novel. I thought it was a really clever situation to explore and as a mother of school aged children (and a lunch time supervisor!) it really did make me go cold at particular moments. It is a bit like "The Slap" but much more accessible with a much more redeeming cast of characters. To me, it also felt a little like Jodi Picoult in the sense that Hewitt has picked a highly emotive topic and really looks at the ensuing dilemmas from a range of perspectives. It is thought provoking. 

I did read it quickly; I did find Hewitt's style and language very enjoyable and easy to read. She structures her story very successfully, throwing a cliffhanger or new piece of information in just when you think you have figured everything out. There are some great twists and plenty of suspense. 3/5 stars from me.

My full review can be found at 

https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/7714610-katherine




A stark but uplifting story of bullying and redemption, for anyone who's ever been a weirdo. A story of abuse and survival, of falling down and of starting again, and of one woman's battle to learn to love herself for who she is, The Lonely Life of Biddy Weir is Lesley Allen’s startlingly honest debut novel, perfect for fans of Rowan Coleman and Julie Cohen.

"The Lonely Life of Biddy Weir" is not an easy book to read at times. We first meet Biddy, aged 30, making a telephone call to a chat show running a phone in about bullying. The opening description is full of bird imagery - a theme which permeates the entire novel- and not only effectively captures Biddy's trepidation and emotion at this moment in the narrative, but is also used to illustrate her fragile yet unique and naively innocent personality as the book continues.

It takes a little while to adapt to Allen's narrative style. She is a master of language and description but at first this is disguised through the simple, childlike manner of writing. However, this understated, innocent voice effectively reflects and mimics not only Biddy's character but I think also reduces some of the impact of the events of which we read. By keeping a more childlike perspective on events it helps to not overwhelm the reader or make it sensationalised or sentimental. It remains raw, real and authentic. It's been a while since I've become so entranced by characters that I feel my pulse rate increase as I read about them and find myself muttering responses under my breath as I see them acting out their role in the novel. I really lived and breathed this story.

This book is special. It tackles a depressing topic but through it has created a character of stunning uniqueness. You will be enthralled. It is a captivating read and Allen's prose is impressive. This is her debut and I can't wait to read more of her writing - she is clearly talented and full of imagination and talent.

All I can say is read it. And may this book be dedicated to all Biddy Weirs. May all of them overcome their demons, survive and learn to live again.

Without a doubt, 5/5 stars from me and one of my most favourite reads of 2016. This book was published on Kindle and in paperback from April 2016.

You can read my full review here http://bibliomaniacuk.blogspot.com/2016/04/the-lonely-life-of-biddy-weir-lesley.html


I have included this novel as it is a coming of age story that includes passages about his childhood and school days as we join Jacques on his journey.

"Jacques" is Tanya Ravenswater’s beautiful and touching coming-of-age novel of loss, longing, falling in love and finding a place to call home. And, most importantly, of the power of the relationships that help us along the way. Jacques is a young French boy who finds himself orphaned and torn away from everything he knows. Forced to move to England to live with his guardian – the pompous and distant Oliver – Jacques finds himself in a strange country and a strange world.

It is a slow, measured read. It is about character, relationships, coming of age and love. Despite being so contemporary and set in the late 1980s, it had the feel of a more classical novel, maybe even a little like Dickens or a darker Laurie Lee, but certainly reminiscent of Forster and L P Hartley.

I liked Ravenswater's description. Her evocation of place and atmosphere was always so effective and always managed to effortlessly imply more about the character or events. For example, when Jacques talks about his new school he describes the "dark runners of its corridors, blackboards scored with monotonous lines.... I reduced myself to a scarcely noticeable grey dot."

This is a very original read. It is one of those books which you read with ease and surprising speed but then find yourself contemplating for days after. Ravenswater's ability to capture the male voice of Jacques with such conviction and authenticity is highly impressive and it is hard to accept this is a debut novel. 3/5 stars from me!

My full and detailed review can be found here http://bibliomaniacuk.blogspot.com/2016/08/jacques-tanya-ravenswater.html




A poignant story about dealing with grief through the magic of reading and friendship.

The story is about 10 year old Calypso whose mum has died a few years ago and her father, who is clearly emotionally struggling to cope with his grief, throws himself into writing his own book ("A History of the Lemon") leaving everything else to Calypso. As a passionate reader, she retreats into her own world of books and fiction. When she meets new girl Mae at school, the girls' shared love of reading and writing stories draws them together and shows Calypso a way to understand her world, feelings and family.

There is much about the power of books and stories in this novel. Cotterill is clearly a passionate bibliomaniac and the references to other novels and the way the girls' enthuse about reading and talk about the fictional characters as if they are real, enhances Cotterill's own fictional characters, plot and atmosphere. The power of writing to heal (both adults and children), to say what can't be said aloud or face to face, to process, to confront and see clearly, is incredibly powerful. A strong case for the use writing therapy within mental health if ever there was one. I could not tear my eyes away from these passages, even when I had to feel around me for my discarded, already sodden, tissue. 

I'm interested in how many children's books tackle the issue of grief, loneliness, solitude and mental illness at the moment. This is certainly a book which could be used to support children with difficult emotional lives. It would be a great read for any young adult as books are always a useful tool for empathy, curiosity and the start of a tricky conversation. There is a certain safety in exploring difficult feelings and ideas through the pages of fiction. But I would end by saying that above all this is a novel about a beautiful young girl and her empowering journey of self discovery. It is a book of warmth, friendship, love, hope and inner strength! I'll leave you with a final quote from Calypso:

"the strongest people are the ones who love others and let themselves be loved back. If you have inner strength but no one to love, what is it for?" 

Nothing but 5/5 stars for this book! Definitely one of my favourites in 2016. Published in May 2016. 

Read my much longer, much more effusive review here: http://bibliomaniacuk.blogspot.com/2016/05/a-library-of-lemons-jo-cotterill-ya.html

There are so many more I could include here but these are all recently published and hopefully there is something new here for you to discover! Happy reading and I wish you all a positive, exciting and enjoyable start to the new term, wherever and at whatever stage of your journey this September finds you! 

For more reviews and recommendations please follow me on Twitter @katherinesunde3 (bibliomaniacuk) 

"Harmony" Carolyn Parkhurst

Iris is your "typically developing" child, your yardstick for normalcy. You take her for haircuts without worrying she'll scream the moment anyone touches her ears. ....Essentially from the moment she was born, Tilly has always been Tilly. She met most of her milestones and had all her shots, and there's never been a moment you can pinpoint as the instant she went off the developmental rails. 

Autism isn't exactly what Tilly has....labels oversimplify but they also serve a purpose. "She's on the autistic spectrum" gets you understood; but when you say PDD-NOS, all you get are blank stares. 

Alexandra and Josh Hammond have two daughters, Tilly and Iris. Tilly is clever but has behavioural issues that have seen her expelled from every school she's attended. As she hits adolescence her increasing anarchic behaviour gets worse and Alexandra, in desperation, turns to Scott Bean, self styled parenting guru, for help. 

They move to Harmony, Bean's "family camp" for "troubled children" in New Hampshire. No phones are allowed and car keys are confiscated; there is a creeping menace that Camp Harmony may not be the healing retreat that the family is seeking. Then a catastrophic event changes their lives forever. 

This is a very well written book told through the alternating viewpoints of Alexandra and Iris which offers different perspectives about the family's dynamics and the everyday effect Tilly has on their lives.

Alexandra's chapters are cleverly written in the second person and I found the use of "You" a very direct way to force the reader to engage with her character and develop empathy towards her situation. Is it not difficult to feel for her as she struggles to deal with Tilly - who although the family adore her and recognise the gifts and talents she has, is an exceptionally trying child to parent. Irrational, unpredictable, never sure what might upset her, frustration that she can't manage simple tasks and the embarrassment at her sudden interjections or announcements in conversations are recounted with honesty. Some of the situations and Tilly's use of colourful vocabulary are entertaining and humorous; this assures the reader of the affection and love Alexandra has for Tilly but also underlines how inappropriate Tilly's behaviour is in public.

"Don't assume anything: if you tell her not to pick up her food with her fingers, she may lean forward and put her mouth directly on the plate. ....Don't let your own anxiety about her behaviour get in the way of giving her what she needs."

Alexandra's love for Tilly is undeniable. Her anxiety and concern for her daughter is heart rendering. She feels guilt that she is somehow responsible and has dedicated herself to trying to do the right thing for Tilly. Parkhurst's writing in these sections is not sentimental or over indulgent. It is succinct, blunt, down to earth. I particularly enjoyed Alexandra's wry comments about imagined posts on FaceBook  that reflected the pressure -or dare I say shame- of being a parent of a child with antisocial behaviour.

Iris's narrative is told in first person and Parkhurst has created another distinctive voice - different from her mother's but as convincing and well rounded. Iris can recognise the way Tilly's mind works differently:

"It's like the rest of us have our brains cooped up in a little box, and we're always bumping into the walls whenever we try to think about anything too big......Tilly never hits those walls. It's like she flies right through."

But she also aware of the issues the family deal with and is well practised in coping with potentially tricky situations. The moment when she realises the consequences of being the "normal" child in the family is poignant:

"I'm totally average and it's disappointing to know that "Neurotypical" is the way my mom describes me to people when she doesn't know I'm listening."

Iris is an intelligent, mature, emotionally balanced child. When they move to Camp Harmony it is she who seems to have the more advanced understanding of the other "troubled" children there rather than the charismatic Scott Bean. For example, following a particularly dramatic moment when one of Scott's planned activity (involving fire....) goes wrong, the focus is automatically on Scott - not the fire or the "troubled" child. Iris is "the only one who thinks to put my arms around Hayden and give him a hug as he cries and yells for the bright, pretty thing that Scott gave him and then took away."

Parkhurst leaves the reader to consider the exact danger of Camp Harmony and Scott Bean. Bean is a persuasive person who prays on parents at their most vulnerable. The extract from his Parenting Blog is full of rhetorical tricks, playing on modern parent's guilt and neurosis about things like technology and the deadly invisible dangers of plastics etc in a calculated and premeditated manner. His final threatening statement that "These kinds are coal-mine canaries, and we can't even see how hard they're struggling to stay upright on their perches" would push any sensible parent into his arms. Let alone a couple who are at their wits end.


"In another world you make it work. .....[imagine that] on the night Scott Bean comes to speak at a library not far from your house, Iris is sent home from school with a stomach bug, Josh is out of town and you don't want to hire a sitter. .....Later when you hear his name on the news you shake your head and think, "What a wacko"....You would never get mixed up in anything like that.....But, instead, this is where you are. Sitting with your husband in the last shambles of the day."

I enjoyed this book. It comes highly recommended by Jodi Picoult which is a solid indication about what kind of story it is and who it will appeal to. Helen Ellis is also a fan and I can imagine it will be well received by anyone who wants an accessible, down to earth, well written story about a family under pressure and what happens when they take a risk to save themselves. There is no "sugarcoating" as another reviewer also comments, but the prose is compassionate, endearing and satisfyingly compelling.

Harmony is published by Sceptre on 8th Sept 2016 in Hardback.

Carolyn Pankhurst was born in New Hampshire and grew up in Boston. She is the New York Times best-selling author of "Lorelei's Secret", "Lost and Found" and "The Nobodies Album". She has a son with Aspergers and drew a lot of her inspiration for "Harmony" from her personal experience. She now lives in Washington DC with her husband and their two children.

My thanks to Bookbridgr and Sceptre for the advanced copy in return for a fair and honest review.

For more recommendations and reviews please follow me on Twitter @katherinesunde3 (bibliomaniacuk)