Pamela’s Book Spot

Title: The Happiest Refugee: My Journey from Tragedy to Comedy Author : Ahn Do Published: Allen & Unwin No. Pages: 304 Themes: Refugees, life, family Genre: Autobiography Rating : 4.5 stars Review   The Happiest Refugee is the life story of Australian comedian Ahn Do. It documents his early life in Vietnam, the plight of his family as they travelled by boat to Australia as refugees and their new life in Australia. It is a story that will move you to tears at times but make you laugh out loud at others. Reading about the journey from Vietnam to Australia really brings to light the horrendous and unimaginable trauma that refugees such as Ahn Doe and his family have suffered. It is a tale that certainly made me realise how lucky I am to be born in a country like Australia. I found it heartwarming to read about the genuine and profound gratitude and love for Australia that Ahn and his family show and I was inspired by the generosity and kindness they have shown to...

Title : The Lake of Dreams Author : Kim Edwards Published: No. Pages: 371 Themes: Love, loss, redemption, women's suffrage Genre: Fiction Rating : 3 stars Review   The Lake of Dreams is a story of love, loss and redemption that delves into the darkness of one family’s grief stricken past uncovering a history of lies and secrets. When Lucy returns home to the Lake of Dreams she is quickly entangled in uncovering the story of an unknown distant relative and her quest to solve the mysteries of her family’s past takes her on a journey that ultimately allows her to come to terms with her own grief around the passing of her father when she was a child. This was a good read and quite interesting at times when dealing with the topic of women’s suffrage. The plot is strong and the characters are both well developed and believable. Not amazing, but I definitely enjoyed The Lake of Dreams and it was an easy read. Further reading suggestions : The Memory Keeper’s ...

Title: The Other Hand   (also published as 'Little Bee') Author : Chris Cleave Published:  Sceptre No. Pages:  374 Genre:  Fiction Rating : 4 stars Yesterday I finished reading 'The Other Hand' By Chris Cleave also published as 'Little Bee'. This book was a real eye opener for me in regard to the issues that it dealt with and I really was drawn in to the story very quickly. It was really fast paced and I couldn't put it down, but it certainly wasn't anything like I imagined it would be.  The blurb for this book gave nothing away at all, but it did give the impression (to me anyway) of a heartwarming or ultimately uplifting tale which it certainly is not! It is a great read that has an important social message, but it is confronting and it is heartbreaking. I really think that readers should have been given more information about the topic/issues addressed in this book via the blurb to allow them to make an informed choice as to whether or not t...

Title : The Lacuna  Author : Barbara Kingsolver Published:  Faber and Faber No. Pages:  618 Genre:  Historical Fiction Rating : 4.5 stars WOW - Barbara Kingsolver is fast becoming one of favourite authors! The Lacuna is an awesome read and it certainly lived up to (if not surpassed) my expectations after having read The Poisonwood Bible. The writing, the story, the pace, the characters - all fantastic! If you love reading historical fiction then you will certainly enjoy The Lacuna By Barbara Kingsolver. 

Title : The Radleys Author : Matt Haig Published: Canongate Books No. Pages:  352 Genre:  Paranormal Fiction Rating : 4.5 stars I was surprised at how much I really enjoyed this book! The Radleys are not your typical family. This book is the story of their lives and their struggle to live 'normally' whilst suppressing who and what they truly are. It is a great read! I would definitely recommend 'The Radleys' to anyone who enjoys a good paranormal/suspense fiction read. 

Title : The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry Author : Rachel Joyce Published:  Transworld Publishers No. Pages:  296  Themes:  Life, love Genre:  Fiction Rating : 5 stars I had the audio edition of this book for months before I began to listen to it last week and cannot believe I didn't read it sooner!!  An awesome book - I fell in love with Harold and got caught up in his pilgrimage to the point where I couldn't stop listening. I d efinitely recommend it - great easy read! 

Title : The Snow Child Author : Eowyn Ivey Published: Headline Review 2012 No. Pages: 432 Themes: Life, love, belief Genre: Fiction Rating : 5 stars The Snow Child was one of the most beautifully written and paced stories I have read in a really long time! I was so very surprised by how much I loved it because it wasn’t a novel I had heard anything about prior to picking it up at the bookshop and to be honest, it was the beautiful cover art that initially sucked me in! The Snow Child is based on the Russian fairytale Snegurochka which is about an old man and woman, unable to have a child of their own, who build a snow child that magically comes to life. In Ivey’s novel, the magical is masterfully weaved into the reality of a couple’s struggle through life after the loss of their own child, and you find yourself lost in a story that is ultimately very real and heartwrenching. The descriptive language is simply beautiful and the characters are so well developed that by the...

Title : The Art of Racing in the Rain Author : Garth Stein Published: Harper Collins Publishers Ltd No. Pages: 336 Themes: Love, life, loss Genre: Fiction Rating :   ★★★★☆ The Art of Racing in the Rain is the story of a family’s journey through life told through the eyes of their beloved dog Enzo. Stein’s personification of Enzo throughout this novel brings a beautiful innocence to the telling of a story that is both heartwarming and heartwrenching. Enzo is used to having his owner Denny all to himself, but when he marries Eve, Enzo has to adjust to sharing the time and attention he is accustomed to. As Denny and Eve’s lives unfold, and they welcome their daughter Zoe into the world, Enzo comes to love them all dearly, so when tragedy strikes and all their lives are turned upside down, Enzo’s unconditional love helps them through. At times you will cry, but at others you will catch yourself laughing out loud. I think everybody will enjoy this book, but particula...

Title : The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie Author : Alan Bradley Published: Orion Books, Great Britain No. Pages: 358 Genre: Fiction, Mystery Rating : 4.5 stars Review The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie is the first book of the Flavia de Luce Mystery Series by Alan Bradley. The novel is centred around the incredibly intelligent and witty heroine Flavia de Luce, who is determined to solve the mystery of a stranger’s death in the cucumber patch of her home, Buckshaw, in 1950’s England. This was such an enjoyable, easy read and I instantly loved the character of Flavia which means that I know I am going to enjoy the remainder of the series! Despite Flavia’s obvious intelligence, Alan Bradley also captures the innocence, curiosity and cheek of her 11 year old mind so beautifully that although you are reading a mystery, you find yourself grinning and even laughing as she grapples with the evidence that she uncovers in her own roundabout way. I am really glad I finally ...

The Language of Flowers, by Vanessa Diffenbaugh was a fantastic read! I enjoyed the storyline immensely and found the reference to flower meanings really intriguing and was surprised to find a copy of Victoria's flower dictionary at the back of the book! Initially I thought it was a bit lacking in depth, but as the story about Victoria's childhood and her relationship with her long term carer Elizabeth emerged I found myself completely invested in it and connected to the characters as though they were real people. The concept of a novel about love, family and redemption is not uncommon, but Diffenbaugh's unique approach to this theme in the Language of Flowers was beautiful. When a book moves me to tears, as this one did, I know that it was a great book! I think most people would enjoy this novel.

Please take the time to buy and read a copy of Sebastian Terry's 100 Things, as you will not regret it and you will be helping the amazing Camp Quality cause! Not only is the book so amazingly well written and easy to read, it is utterly captivating. The story of Sebastian Terry's 100 Things adventure will make you laugh, gasp, cry and even cringe at times, but mostly it is just so inspiring. The message that Sebastian is trying to get out there is so much deeper than 'make a list of crazy things to do' - it is about living life as the universe intended you to live it. Story after story illustrates how everything can fall into place if you have the courage to just let it happen. I recommend this book to anyone and everyone and I am so glad that I had the opportunity to experience Sebastian Terry's amazing 100 Things journey documented in this book. If you would like any more information, check out his website by clicking here and make your own 100 Things list!

McCarthy’s writing in The Road is amazing. The novel tracks a father and son as they travel along a road, trying to survive in a desolate world after an unnamed apocalyptic event, but this is not what captivates the reader. Despite their despair and seemingly hopeless plight, McCarthy is able to tell a story of hope, of strength and of love. There is so much more to this novel than the bleak, depressing struggle that is the setting. It is heart wrenching.

Set in early nineteenth century England, Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens is the tale of a poor orphans struggle to free himself from the clutch of criminals in London’s dark underworld. I particularly enjoyed Dickens’ witty and satiric comments on the society of the time. The characters were vividly portrayed and starkly contrasted; from the evil Fagin right through to angelic Oliver. Fagin’s downfall and Dickens description of the hours before his demise had me glued to each page…..I could not put the book down and I loved the way the novel ended….everything just came together beautifully. This was my first Dickens novel and it will definitely not be my last!!

This was not what I was expecting at all, but it was so good! I couldn't put it down and ended up reading it in one sitting. Slaughterhouse 5 is a deeply moving story about the bombing of Dresden with an important message told from the remnants of Billy Pilgrim's tortured mind that can seem absurd, but which really makes it all the more poignant. Definitely worth reading!

The Time Traveler’s Wife, By Audrey Niffenegger was a book that I had not initially intended reading, but became curious about due to the conversations others were having. I had mixed opinions about this book at first because I really struggled to become invested in the plot and characters for the first half, but then absolutely loved the second half so I am glad I persevered! Overall, a beautiful love story with a unique time travel/sci-fi twist which will ultimately tug at your heart. 

WOW! Please read this book if you have not already. It is so beautifully written and tells such a touching story. I cried, but mostly this book makes you smile and even laugh. The characters are beautiful and the way they live as a community and care for each other will touch your soul. I find myself wishing to be in Guernsey amongst such amazing, kind and spirited people. I recommended it for our first book club read last year and everyone loved it! Definitely a favourite.

The Mysteries of Udolpho is a fantastic book for lovers of a great gothic romance. Austen's reference to The Mysteries of Udolpho in Northanger Abbey was intriguing and led me to Radcliffe's work. Her writing is full of beautiful landscape descriptions and her character development in the first half of the novel captivates you. It is a long novel, but it keeps you in suspense until the very end and takes you on a rollercoaster ride throughout the last 100 -150 pages! The romance, gothic castles, horror, intrigue and mystery are everything you could wish for in a novel of this genre. It is a really great read and I recommend it to all.

The Book Thief B y Markus Zusak was a wonderfully pleasant surprise for me because it was not what I expected at all. This is the story of a young girl growing up in Germany under Hitler’s reign but the story is actually narrated by “Death”. I really thought the personification of Death was going to be morbid and dark, but Zusak gives Death a deeply moving, compassionate and humane voice which is captivating. The characters are beautifully developed and the story will stay with you forever. I definitely recommend this book.