Wonder - The Book

I won't describe what I look like. Whatever you're thinking, it's probably worse.

Wonder by RJ Palacio. Every now and again a book comes along. It grabs your attention with the cover or the blurb or the first sentence. It grabs your heart on page one with these words: "If I found a magic lamp and I could have one wish, I would wish that I had a normal face that no one ever noticed at all. I would wish that I could walk down the street without people seeing me and then doing that look-away thing." And then it doesn't let go.

It makes you cry. It makes you laugh. It makes you appreciate your dog more. It shows you the meaning of heroism and courage, in such a fun non-patronising way, that you don't even realise it. And it really, really makes you want to be a better person.

You can read it to your 8-year old. You can read it for your own pleasure whether you're 18 or 80.

“... it's not enough to be kind. One should be kinder than needed.” 
― R.J. Palacio, Wonder

Delirium and Matched

Because I so thoroughly enjoyed numerous Young Adult books (The Stars In Our Eyes, Hunger Games, One Day), I decided to go on a YA reading spree.

The novels that really spoke to me were Delirium and Matched. They're superficially similar: both dystopian romances, with curfews, marriages made by the authorities, and heroines who like running. However, Delirium is more complex, written in an almost poetic language, full of symbolism and twists. Not that Matched isn't an excellent read, though perhaps for a younger audience.

(Divergent left me underwhelmed by the writing style, though I did appreciate the originality of the idea.)

Love is All You Need - An Amazing Anthology

Meet 10 women, from different places, backgrounds and times, and each with a different experience of men and romance. Their stories in turn hold the promise of romance, reflect on finding love, or show the lengths we'll go to for the special person in our lives. An anthology of stories which are funny, thought-provoking, and thrilling, with characters you'll empathise with as they discover that ... Love is All You Need.

Click here to see the listing on Amazon.

Top 5 books of 2014

Here are my top 5 books for 2014 so far:

1. Think Like A Freak
2. The Bones Beneath
3. The Invention of Wings
4. Mother Of The Year
5. The Good Luck Of Right Now

And here are the best 5 books I read this year:

1. The 10pm Question
2. High Heat
3. Peas And Queues
4. Good Omens (this was the 18th time I read this book - it never pales)
5. Big Fat Lies