WONDER

WONDER by P.J. Palacio    (LW)


This is a very touching book about a little boy named Auggie who was born with a terribly deformed face. His mum has home schooled him up until now but this year he is going to school, into fifth grade. The book is very easy to read as it has very short chapters and the whole story is divided into eight parts, each told by a different character. As Auggie reluctantly starts school he has many challenges to face including coping with bullies. Finding 'true' friends isn't easy when you are deformed so much that you make others stare, scream, and run away in fright.


Auggie's sister Via is a tower of strength to him but at times she feels she is brushed over by her parents who are always spending time with Auggie and tending to his needs. She is also going through lots of changes and at times feels left out. As each character tells of their experience and their feelings towards Auggie you are taken on a insightful journey. The overall theme of the story is that we should all try to be kinder to each other. I really enjoyed this book.

THE WRONG BOY

THE WRONG BOY  by Suzy Zail   (LW)


What a fantastic read. Although the story is fiction, some of names, places and events the author has written about are based on fact. The concentration camps were indeed real.


This story tells of Hanna Mendel who wanted more than anything else to be a concert pianist, but she wasn't to know that within days her life would be turned upside down. Forced to live in a ghetto, being rounded up into a cattle train and taken to a concentration camp, then falling in love with a German boy who had saved her life.


At times it was heart wrenching to read what Hanna and her sister went through to survive. This story was written so we will never forget what happened during WWII and how the Jews and others were treated. Everyone should read a story like this to keep their stories alive.


The author Suzy Zail's own father was an Auschwitz camp survivor and she has written another book titled "The Tattooed Flower: A Memoir" which tells of his time in the concentration camps and the Nazi occupation.

THE HOUSE OF SILK

by Anthony Horowitz  (LW Kindle)


The game is afoot! How much fun was this book to step back into the life of Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson. I grew up reading Encyclopaedia Brown and then onto Sherlock Holmes and that started my love of  'mystery murders'. Whether it's Agatha Christie, Poirot, or one of the thousands of detective stories I love them all. 


Little did I realise that Anthony Horowitz had been the screenwriter for Midsomer Murders, Foyles War and Poirot, featured on ABC television, all of which I adore.
This book, however, was a first Holmes novel for Anthony, which took 8 years to write. His research and description of the characters and places were excellent and I could picture each scene just like the original Sir Conan Doyle stories. It was hard to put down this book and as always I wanted to find the clues at the same time as Holmes.


Unlike other Holmes novels I have read, this story is written after the death of Sherlock Holmes, Dr Watson is elderly, and he is recounting a story, which is most sinister and shocking. After he had written it it was held at his solicitor's vaults until 100 yrs had passed. It is one last portrait of the great Sherlock Holmes. I think he pulled it off very well. 

TO CALM MY DREAMS: Surviving Auschwitz

by Kazimierz Tyminski   (LW)


I know..I know... the cover looks scary and I must admit I picked this book up a couple of times before I actually decided to read it. However, it was a great book and very easy to read, having a little larger print, and I was able to read it in one day and really enjoyed it. 


It's the story of Kazimierz, a young Polish Uni student, living in Krakow, recently married, had studied engineering, and had a love for music. Unfortunately for him he was arrested and sent to prison and then onto a concentration camp.


Kazimierz's children translated this book to fulfil his wishes of telling his story of his time in the notorious Auschwitz concentration camp, along with other camps, and how he survived the Holocaust, at all odds. He wanted to make sure the events that happened in these camps during WWII will never be forgotten and that the next generation will learn from the past. 


At times it was his ability to play music that saved him from being killed or tortured and he often wondered how he survived when so many of his friends weren't as fortunate. This is a powerful true story written from camp notes he had made at the time, which Kazimierz hoped would help to rid himself of some of the memories that still haunted him many years later.

MISS PEREGRINE'S HOME FOR PECULIAR CHILDREN

by Ransom Riggs  (LW-not in CCB lib)


What an amazing book. I didn't have any preconceived expectations with this book. I'd seen the cover a few times and passed it by, but something drew me back to it. I was glad I gave in... it was amazing but strange! I downloaded it to my Kindle and thought I'll just flick through a few pages... a couple of hours later I still couldn't put it down. Lucky it was on my Kindle cos I even had to read it late into the nights.

I'm not writing any more about it because it will spoil the experience and besides I've included the book trailer and the making of the book trailer to tantilise you.

 Enjoy it my peculiar friends!

This short film is fascinating look at the abandoned houses and castles that author of Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, Ransom Riggs and his Dutch urban explorer guide found while scouting locations for the book trailer.

(Taken from 'The Book Slooth' blog:  http://thebookslooth.blogspot.com.au/2011/12/miss-peregrines-making-of-trailer.html)

GIRL IN TRANSLATION

by Jean Kwok   (LW)

What a heartfelt story of a little girl, Kimberly Chang, and her mother immigrating from Hong Kong to America. The writer made me  feel like I was living side by side with the characters and feeling their triumphs and frustrations.

Now living in a broken down, rat and cochroach infested flat in Brooklyn, they must survive with very little possessions or money. Kimberly's mother knows no English and is forced, by her sister of all people, to work in a factory sweatshop with very little pay for extremely long hours. 

Kimberly must slip into a completely different world that she is used to and go to school, speaking and understanding very little English. Although she was a very talented student in Hong Kong, here she must face many challenges and find acceptance into society if she is to get a good education and save herself and her mother from terrible circumstances.

THE QUEEN'S LADY

by Eve Edwards   (LW)

I fell in love with this book. What a lovely story, set in 1583, a period of time I don't usually care to read about, however I really enjoyed this book, having picked it up because of the beautiful cover. I didn't realise it was #2 about the Lacey's (the other being 'The Countess') but it didn't matter I slipped into it easily. 

Lady Jane is the Marchioness of Rievaulx and begins service to the Queen (Elizabeth) after the death of her husband, who was much older than herself, but who she loved nonetheless. She is caught in a fight over her inheritance between her family and her former husbands sons. She is treated wickedly and is tricked into marrying a Frenchman so her father and brother can receive respect and wealth. She however loves James Lacey but he is not there to help her as he is exploring overseas. Will he come back in time to save her life? 

UNTIL TUESDAY

by Luis Carlos Montalvan   (LW)

This is a true story about a US soldier, suffering from PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder), and how his life was spiraling out of control upon his return to society, dealing with his many injuries and trauma experienced during his time in Afghanistan. That is until he met Tuesday, an assistance dog he was given through 'Wounded Warrior Project and Puppies Behind Bars'.

Montalvan found the army had abandoned him once he had returned home and tried to fit into normal life again. Even his family didn't understand what he was fully going through at first. His life changes dramatically once he receives Tuesday, his assistance dog, and they form a lovely bond which helps him to deal with his condition and stresses. A touching book highlighting the not so easy task soldiers experience when they return to their previous life and how they must cope day to day in a world that is so completely foreign to them now.

THE KITE IDENTITY 3: Everyone Lies

by Harry Edge   (LW)

Even though I hadn't read the first two books in this series I caught on quickly to the story and the characters. I liked this story even though it was aimed at Young Adults. It was fast paced, exciting and full of suspense right until the end.  As the characters travelled from country to country you were kept in touch with what was happening in each place and with each character, which built the suspense. 

Luke believes his father is still alive, although he has been reported to have died in a helicopter crash, and he and his sister are now sole heirs to their father's fortune and company, Kite Industries. Is Luke's Uncle a villain and a murderer? Has he sent an assassin to kill his sister? I tell you there is romance, suspense, murder and deceit in this book. You'll want to read the whole series I'm sure.

EXTREMELY LOUD AND INCREDIBLY CLOSE

by Jonathan Safron Foer  (LW-not in CCB lib)

I must admit I knew nothing about this book and found it rather deep and very unusual. At the time of reading (or letting my Kindle read it to me) I wasn't well so maybe I didn't bond with the story as I usually do. I now know the movie will be released soon so I will watch that to see if it gives me a greater love for the characters.

Oskar is a nine year old boy, who suffers from Autism, and who's father is killed in the 9/11 terrorist attacks. He was let out of school early that day and has a secret he hasn't told anyone. He was the first to come home and hear his father leave 5 phone messages to his family as he was trapped in one of the towers. They were the last words he said.

Oskar, while going through his father's things, discovers a key in an envelope with the word 'Black' written on it. He believes this is a clue and he decides to look up and track down every person named 'Black' in the phone book. This seems like an unbelievable and unrealistic task but he is determined to do it. As he meets several people

A BEAUTIFUL LIE

by Irfan Master   (LW)

This story is set in India during 1947, before partition, when India was divided. Bilal is a young boy forced to care for his dying father who hates the idea of India being torn apart and longs for the traditions of India. Because of the strong love for his father, Bilal, decides to lie to his father and hide him from any information reaching him of the riots and killings going on in his town. This is not an easy thing to hide so he must ask his friends to help him and stop visitors to his father who may tell him the terrible troubles that are surrounding them.

I loved the idea Bilal had of taking 'memory photos' of life around him to remember his life. Snapshots like a camera would take. Bilal also found that once he had lied he had to keep telling lies to cover up the original lie, and he also found that lies became easier the more you told.

I didn't find this book particularly gripping but it did give an insight into life in India during this time and  the tension that existed during the lead up to partition and the loss of friendships once people were dispersed to other parts of India to survive.

BROKEN MEMORY

by Elisabeth Combres   (LW)

This is an easy read, with short chapters, aimed at the younger reader but don't let that put you off. It packed a punch that's for sure. Although fiction, this story was based on real life stories and historical events during the Rwanda genocide, and the trauma the Tutsi people faced during this horrific event in 1994.

Emma is a 5 yr old Tutsi girl who hides in her house while she hears her mother being killed close by. She escapes and finds a Hutu women she befriends who looks after her and hides her from rebel soldiers for many years. Emma is devastated that she cannot remember her mother's face but can remember her last words 'You must not die'.

There are many heart breaking stories during this terrible time in history which left hundreds of thousands of people, especially children, misplaced, traumatised and memories that will torment them for many years, sometimes forever. The struggle to learn to heal memories and to trust again is necessary for survival.

A touching story told very simply... may we never forget the horror!

REMARKABLE CREATURES

by Tracy Chevalier   (LW)


This book is different and had quite a different story line than I expected. It's the story of a wonderful friendship between two remarkable women, Mary Anning and Elizabeth Philpot, who were drawn together through their love of collecting fossils. Although the story is fiction is was based on the actual life of these two women,living in Lyme Regis during the 1820's. Mary, who was struck by lightning as a baby, had a real connection with nature and the sea. She would collect curios (fossils) from the beach and sell them in her father's shop to tourists who passed by. 


Mary certainly had an eye for detecting fossils and discovered some of the first pre-dinosaur  fossils in England, including the ichthyosaur and the plesiosaur.  However, this was a man's world and she didn't get any recognition for her discoveries or a scientist until later on in years.


Although 'fossils' to me seems like a slightly boring subject the story was a wonderful blend of scientific fact, myths, customs, romance along with a story of friendship thrown in. It challenged the thinking of the time of evolution and where fossils fit into the scheme of God's creation.


I did enjoy this book as I did with another of Tracy's books I recently read 'The Girl with the Pearl Earring'.

LES DARCY

by Peter Fitzsimons   (LW)

This is a wonderful biography of an Australian boxing icon named Les Darcy. I must admit I hadn't heard of him prior to reading this book, but after mentioning this book to friends, it seems that most had heard of him. He was a wonderful young man who was a natural boxer but also a descent fellow and hard worker, and loved by nearly everyone who met him. He worked hard to provide for his family. With a family of 10 children, one handicapped and a father who was usually drunk, Les tried to lessen the burden for his loved mum. He was strong and handsome with a charming smile. Deeply religious, this stemming from his rich Irish Catholic ancestory, he never missed going to Sunday Mass and was very close to his local priest.

Les earned his icon status by working his way up the rung of the boxing community fighting the biggest and meanest they could throw at him and became a lightweight and heavyweight champion. He wanted to set his family up with a nice home and enough money to keep them well and tried desperately to travel to the USA to compete with their champion boxers and win some big bucks. Unfortunately, the war had started and men were signing up to go to Galipoli and fight with the Allies. He was still underage and needed his mother to sign a conscent form but she refused. This led some members of the community to send him white feathers in the mail and call him a coward for not going with their sons to fight. 

Les just wanted a couple more fights to prove himself and earn his money then he was prepared to enlist. The government refused a passport for Les on three separate occasions which frustrated him and he eventually, with the help of a friend, stowed away on a ship going to America. They all knew of him there and soon fell in love with him and soon there were matches schedule, however time after time he was refused permission to fight due to his ex-manager in Australia who had connections high in the government.

SUMMER HOLIDAY READING

Yay... the hols are here and I've got plenty of time to catch up on some reading. There are so many great books I want to read there never seems to be enough time to read them all. 

Here's some reviews so far....

Let us know what you've been reading and we can post them for everyone to see.

UGLIES

by Scott Westerfeld

Wow! This story was a great concept and left you thinking how shallow we have become. This is the first book in a trilogy and I'm looking forward to reading the next 'Pretties'.

Set in the future, where your whole world changes when you become 16, Tally is waiting for the day that she will no longer be an 'Ugly' but will have an operation to become 'pretty'. This involves becoming symmetrical, being sculptured, skin sanded, implants and basically cloned to be like a Barbie Doll. Once this operation has been done you then get to live in New Pretty Town where life involves having constant parties and fun, and this is what Tally is waiting for, where she will be united with her good friend Peris.

Tally has a rebellious nature and is always doing 'tricks' on her hoverboard to annoy authorities however when she meets Shay her life goes in a new direction. Shay does not want to become 'pretty' and wants Tally to come with her and escape to the 'Smoke' where you don't have to worry about being perfect and living in a perfect world.

Circumstances arise and Tally has to choose if she will spy on her new friends to save her life and fulfill her dream of becoming 'pretty' or stay an 'ugly' for the rest of her life. The author has created such a wonderful futuristic world which I felt I was living in and I felt close to each of the characters. Clever concepts and great imagination.

THE ROSIE BLACK CHRONICLES

EQUINOX  -  BOOK 2   by Lara Morgan

It's a pity I hadn't read Book 1 first as it would have given me the overview of what was happening, but it didn't take long to get my head around the Sci Fi jargon and characters, so I could be emersed into this trilogy.

It is action packed from the very first chapter. Rosie is a brave teenager living in a futuristic world. After losing her mother and friend in book 1 to a terrible disease, her father is now in hospital with the same disease, along with many others, and this sequel tells of her plan to find a cure and for revenge to bring down the Helios.

Reilly, who is in charge of operations, goes missing,  but before he does he places an implant in her brain to give her the clues to find him if he ever has to flee. The implant however malfunctions and causes Rosie to be in terrible pain and she's only getting distorted messages. As Rosie is once again on the run from the Helios, the implant becomes life threatening, but she must persevere with the help of her friends Pip, Dalton and Cassie to find Reilly and find out what the Helios are building that will effect millions of people.

Along with this fast paced action Rosie has to deal with her feelings between her and Pip, and her new relationship with Dalton. Can Dalton be trusted and will they be able to find a cure for this fatal disease? All will be revealed.

Look forward to book 3.

THE WINNER

THE WINNER   by David Baldacci   (STAFF)   (LWH)


This was my first Baldacci book but my hubby is hooked and has read quite a few.

When LuAnn Tyler is asked to be part of a crooked lottery scheme, she refuses, even though it would mean millions of dollars. But when she is framed for murder, the frightened single mother is forced to participate. Ten years later she has become a wealthy woman determined to live a normal life. But it will take more than money to escape the attention of the FBI who may want her for murder, and the dangerous man from her past who wants to kill her--if she doesn't stop him first.

I must admit it did have me hooked and I will probably read a few more Baldacci's... there's a few to choose from, he's such a prolific writer.

THE LITTLE COFFEE SHOP OF KABUL

THE LITTLE COFFEE SHOP OF KABUL

by Deborah Rodriguez   (LWH)

This was a fabulous read. A group of five very different women (Sunny, Yazmina,  Candace, Isabel and Halajan, brought together through different circumstances and become friends, meeting together in a little coffee shop in Afghanistan, one of the most dangerous places on earth.  They form a unique bond and find they have much more in common than they thought, and are much stronger than they think, and through their actions set about changing things in their community in Kabul.

The story is based on the author's experiences and people she met while living in Afghanistan as a hair dresser. It is an eye opener to what women face living in Afghanistan and how terrible they are treated and punished for things that we would consider normal life.

Read more about how she came to write this book and how living in Afghanistan and returning to America has changed her life and much more on her website.

http://www.debbierodriguez.com/kabul.php

LOLA'S SECRET

LOLA'S SECRET   by Monica McInerney   (LWH)

Another lovely story by Monica. Her books are so easy to read and as always wonderful characters to draw you into her fictional story. This book carries on from 'The ABC Sisters' five years after Anna has died and life has gone on, as it must, but family have dealt with her death differently and continue to deal with the loss of a mother, daughter and grand daughter. 

Lola's up to her old tricks matchmaking and this time planning a secret Christmas party at the Motel in the Clare Valley, while her family have all gone on their own holiday.  She has invited guests from far and wide for a free holiday and Christmas dinner and is excited about her secret, if she can carry it out on her own. However, circumstances change in everyone's life to threaten her gathering and rearrange plans for them all. 

There is never a dull moment in Lola's life, a lively 80+ yr old, who is constantly having to sort out problems between family members. She is witty and charming and a lot of fun. This book is full of drama within relationships and family and thought provoking at the same time. It's good fun!

P.S.  I really love the beautiful covers on all of Monica's books