Today is World Book Day, and there are many people who sadly do not have books to read or know how to read. I have always loved books, and reading is highly important because it enables learning and enjoyment. Books have the power to transport and educate. I know that not everyone is able to read for other reasons, so I have included some an audio book, and many of the books listed are also available as audio books. I've always loved to read but did not get to read as often as I would have liked until last year. Reading has largely replaced holidays, events, galleries, museums, restaurants, walks, and socialising for me while we are in lockdown. The below selection are books that I have enjoyed over the past couple of months, though it does not include everything I have read as sometimes a certain book just does not speak to me.
"Exit" by Belinda Bauer
Penguin Random House UK Audio, published 21 January, 2021
Felix is a member of a group called the Exiters whose primary purpose is to allow people struggling with life to end it all, but he makes a terrible mistake and accidentally assists the wrong man. However, it comes to light that some sinister play appears to be involved. The book is witty, enabling the characters of Felix and the police involved in the case to be instantly likeable and very human while tackling a difficult crime. My only negative point is that I feel that the cover does not fit the book. The cover feels too "serious" for such a light-hearted and fun journey.
My review: 10/10
"April Lady" by Georgette Heyer
Penguin Random House Cornerstone, published 2 June, 2002 (audio book published 4 February, 2021)
This is a Georgian drama novel that reminds me of traditional social standing classical stories. Nell's relationship with her wealthy husband is strained due to her brother's borrowing, and she struggles to pay for her clothing and feeling that her husband may believe she married to better her position. Meanwhile, her husband's young sister falls in love with an unsuitable match and threatens to run away. A lack of direct communications causes the havoc, but it's a nice journey into the drama of Georgian life.
My review: 8/10
"Eudora Honeysett is Quite Well, Thank You" by Annie Lyons
HarperCollins, published 17 September, 2020
Eudora is a lady of a certain age who is not enjoying her life, and the story does reveal glimpses of her life in her younger years to help understand her character and life. When a new family move next door, Eudora is forced into a new purpose with the guidance of an innocent and wise little girl named Rose. Rose helps (or forces) a reluctant Eudora to make friends and to start to begin to enjoy her life.
My review: 10/10
"The Hatmakers" by Tamzin Merchant
Puffin, published 7 January, 2021
This delightful children's book focuses on the hatmakers who create hats with magical spells for the king and inhabitants of the kingdom. Each skillset in maker families (gloves, boots, watches, etc.) uses special magical powers, and few of these families now remain. Cordelia is the daughter of the hatmaker, and her father goes missing in his ship on a journey to find magical ingredients for hats. Cordelia suspects that something is fishy, so she embarks on a journey to find the truth, despite her aunt and uncle's wishes and despite fall-out from other maker families. I believe that this is the first book in a series, and the whole world created could produce many more stories. I feel that this story has all of the ingrednients to make a great movie or series.
My review: 9/10
"Piranesi" by Susanna Clarke
Bloomsbury, published 15 September, 2020
I listened to the audio book for this novel, which I would best describe as a fantasy with elements of crime. The book focuses on a main character who is trapped in an abandoned ruin filled with different statues. The character, dubbed Piranesi by another person that sometimes visits the same rooms, explores the ruins and starts to piece together notes discovered. It's written beautifully, and I thought that the audio book made the story come to life.
My review: 9/10
"The Boy, The Mole, The Fox & The Horse" by Charlie Mackesy
Ebury (Audiobook), published 12 November, 2020
The story is about a boy who has an adventure with a mole, fox, and a horse. It is a highly visual book to enlighten the senses and to adjust ways of thinking. Kindness, hope, friendship, and understanding our vulnerabilities and internal conflicts is what the book explores through sensory dialog and imagery.
My review: 6/10
"The Runaway Girls" by Jacqueline Wilson
Puffin (Audiobook), published 18 March, 2021
Lucy lives with her well-to-do father, new mother and baby, and a new nurse in Victorian London. After her mother's death, her old nurse was asked to leave when the new mother settled in. Lucy befriends Kitty, a girl of a similar age who grew up in the country and on the streets. Both girls find themselves having to survive on London's streets and risk people who try to exploit them. This is a children's book, but it is equally enjoyable as an adult, and the characters are brought to life through audio.
My review: 9/10
"Forest 404" by Timothy X Atack
Penguin Random House (Audiobook), published 21 January, 2021
This BBC science fiction thriller comes to life with Pearl Mackie, Pippa Haywood, and Tanya Moodie. Mackie, who starred as a companion in "Doctor Who", plays the main character, Pan, in a world in the future when nature has been wiped. Data warehouses have consumed resources at a cost. This nine-part audio story follows Pan across her journey after becoming obsessed with sounds from nature in the time that humans once lived on Earth and in a time when Earth supported life. Each episode comes with a podcast and a nature soundscape. The podcasts focuses on environmental concerns and nature as introduced as subjects of each of the episodes. The editing, sound, and acting really makes this an enjoyable experience.
My review: 8/10
"Kawaii Kitties" by Olive Young
Quarto Publishing Group, released 6 April, 2021
The word "kawaii" means "cute", and it is the term given to a typical Japanese form of characterisation that has been particularly popular for the past several years. Learn how to draw a selection of cats in different poses in this unique illustrative style.
My review: 8/10
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