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Have you ever noticed how the good things start with the letter S? Sex, scuba diving, sleep, single malt and Saturdays. This blog is all about the good things in life, of course. As a writer, however, I blog mostly about books.
If you don't know the work of Ellen Baker yet, you're in for a treat. "The Hidden Life of Cecily Larson" uses the author's signature prose to paint a powerful tale of love across four generations. Call it a family saga, call it historical fiction, as long as you also call it your next read.
There's so much to love about this book! The words, the world, the warmth. This book might make you cry, it might make you sigh with nostalgia, it might even make you rush out to buy circus tickets - but one thing it'll definitely make you do is think deeply about the world as it was in the 1930s and as it is today.
These are the things I didn't know before I started writing this blog:
"Eye of the Needle" by Ken Follett is one of the best spy thrillers I've ever read. It's right up the with
The Day of the Jackal" by Frederick Forsyth - which, okay, stricktly speaking doesn't feature spies. What's interesting in both these books is that the plot hinges on events that have already happened, and yet the books manage to keep you biting your nails through the night as you read "just one more chapter".
I almost didn't read "Eye of the Needle" on principle, because I actively avoid World War Two fiction, having been exposed to it way too much as a child. I'm glad I bent on this one - it's exceptionally well written.
I love Lisa Unger's fiction, and her novella "Christmas Presents" was no exception. I read it just before Christmas (apologies I'm only blogging it now, but it's been a wonderful and busy holiday season), and can I just say to my favourite authors out there that writing an annual Christmas novella is an excellent idea....
This one has a podcaster, a cold case, and beautiful Christmas presents that may or may not be from a serial killer. Christmas fiction the way I like it! (And yes, along the same line of thought, "Die Hard" is a Christmas movie.)
"A Stroke of the Pen" by Terry Pratchett is a collection of his early stories published under a pen name in various newspapers and magazines. They are full of magic trees and dragons, and while the style may not be as polished as in "Night Watch", the author's voice is definitely him.
Speaking of voices, what makes the audio book extra special is that the stories are read by people like David Tennant, Nigel Planer, Stephen Briggs, AND Rhianna Pratchett.
The foreword is - of course - by Neil Gaiman.
This is more of a cult book, so if you've never heard of Terry Pratchett, start with... hmmm - "Going postal"? "Mort"? "Hogfather"? "Guards Guards"? "Good Omens"? - and circle back to this one once you're a fan.
"Leaving Time" by Jodi Picoult is a novel about mourning, memories, mothers and - yes - elephants. Beautifully written and meticulously researched, it will stay with you long after you've turned the last page.
Is it sad in parts? Yes.
Is it uplifting? Yes.
Is it enjoyable? Immensely.