The Messiah Secret: James Becker

Saint Odd: Dean Koontz

I'll Give You the Sun: Jandy Nelson

This novel lives up to its name in every possible way. I know it's only March but this is already a firm favourite of books being published this year. Leslie Parry brings to life the dark underworld of New York city, from boxing fights in the dockyards, the opium dens of the bored and addicted to the state asylums.

Four main characters push the plot forward, twins Odile and Isabelle Church, heartbroken heroine Alphie and our underestimated hero Sylvan.

Odile and Isabelle have been brought up as performers in their mother's sideshow on Coney Island, The Church of Marvels, drawing tourists in from all over New York to be entertained and impressed by their contortionist, tiger taming and sword swallowing skills. But when a tragedy hits the cast of the spectaculor show, their lives are ripped apart. Isabelle leaves home and only months later does Odile receive a cryptic letter that leads her to believe that her beloved twin is in danger...

Sylvan Threadgill makes his money cleaning up New York's stinking filth, working night shifts and bare knuckle fighting to earn extra cash. One night he hears a newborn baby crying for help and he just can't ignore it...

Alphie found love in the least likely place. She makes a living down in the dockyards fixing the faces of drunks and dragon chasers. She meets Anthony and all her dreams come true as he takes her away from the docks and makes a respectable woman out of her. At least, until her secret is revealed and she is thrown into the lunatic asylum across the river...

I absolutely adored this novel. Beyond the world building of New York in 1895, circus entertainers, seedy establishments and underhand dealings, imprisonment and adventure, Leslie also makes the brave move of tackling some very tricky issues regarding gender identity, homophobia, hysteria, social hierarchies, drug addiction, abandonment and abuse. All of the characters are expertly developed, their voices are believable and above all else, dignified.

Church of Marvels had me enraptured in its smoky haze and I would definitely recommend a visit.

Church of Marvels is released in June.

I picked The Folded Earth up a while ago and its beautiful front cover has been calling out to me ever since. I finally managed to read it last week and thoroughly enjoyed it. It is the sort of book that relishes in the mundane daily activities of ordinary folk. Except the ordinary folk it focuses on are based in the Himalyan mountains and they each have their own characteristics which are both distinctive and admirable. Maya is the protagonist, a teacher and young widow. She arrives in Ranikhet, a hill station in the Himalayas where she grieves for the husband she tragically lost in a mountaineering expedition. Working at the local school and befriending an old aristocrat, Diwan Sahib, Maya seeks solace in her mountainside dwelling and finds there is much to be found on her doorstep.


This story doesn't try to be exciting or bigger than it is. It is a genuine, small story about a group of people that just happen to live in one of the most beautiful places in the world. Anuradha Roy doesn't shy away from depicting poverty or sorrow, but she is surprisingly optimistic and her subtlety ebbs and flows, drawing you into the dark forests and steep ravines of Ranikhet, and the lives of its inhabitants.


I'll admit, not an awful lot happens in this novel, and that is exactly why I liked it so much. I never once felt rushed to get to a conclusion. I allowed the story to seep into my imagination and at the end of a busy day, that is exactly what I want from a book. Reading is a form of escapism, and where better place to escape to than a tiny village, thrumming with life in the Himalyas? This is a gentle read and sometimes that is just what the doctor ordered.

The Summer of the Bear is one of those family-centred stories that will appeal to most people who enjoy making jam and going for walks along the blustery Scottish coast. Although I have yet to do that latter, I still thoroughly engaged with this book and the tight family unit that the story orbits around. Split between Bonn, Germany and the Outer Hebrides of Scotland, the tale tracks the interwoven lives of a family of five. After tragedy strikes them a hard blow you come to understand how they are each dealing with their grief and how important communication is in transient times. My favourite character was little Jamie, the youngest brother he often bares the brunt of his middle sister Alba, who dislikes having a young annoying brother hanging off her coat-tails. Older sister Georgie is sensitive and devoted soul who is torn between discovering love, pleasing her parents and acting as the diplomat, advising Alba to remain respectful to Jamie's curious nature.


The great Bear is obviosly the lynch-pin in this tale and some chapters are completely devoted to the inner thoughts of Bear as he hides out in the caves of the northern most tips of the Scottish Islands. It is Bear's relationship with Jamie that is both endearing and beautifully crafted by Bella Pollen as she seamlessly ties the connection between a child's toy-bear and the real great beast of a Bear that Jamie encounters.


I would highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a story of love, devotion and healing. This book deals with some very sore points for those who have experienced a tragedy, but Bella Pollen writes with such a peaceful pen that the tragedies are never far from being lulled by the Scottish tide.

This was one of the most talked about books on The TV Book Club list and I can vouch for it being one of the most refreshing summer reads. Don't get me wrong, this book isn't for everyone, but I munched through it so quickly that by the time I had stopped to think if it was for me I was finishing the last page and wishing the book was longer. This is the ultimate coming-of-age and going-past-age story. Filled with angst, love, depression, murder, suicide and of course punk-rock music, this novel encapsulates a time in the not so distant American past when the American Dream was just about tangible. Of course it does have quite a few characters that are so smarmy you really love to hate them and there are a couple that you wish would just get a grip, but over all they are such a ridiculous bunch of goofy people that you can't help but empathise with them.

My favourite chapter is told through a series of Power-point slides. Jennifer Egan is now in my top favourite list of authors for this chapter alone. Using a series of diagrams she adds a new, younger and arguably wiser voice to the book and it is fascinating how much insight you can gain into a character's family through a series of diagrams. I won't spoil it for you because it really is a fantastically original book, but I will say that I think I have spotted the odd goon at a few gigs I've been too and boy do they look like an interesting group of rockers... A 8/10 for the dark humour and subtle poignancy that deals so well with self-adjustment and growing pains.

1. An independent young woman
2. A mysterious young man
3. An unlimited supply of black and white material
4. An array of cats, candles, twigs and/or branches
5. A complicated pre-destined agreement
6. A house that both welcomes and confuses
7. A circus train
8. A brave young boy
9. Courageous flame-haired twins
10. A whole load of make-believe
11. An assortment of jars of various sizes
12. And one man who can make time tick

One whisk is also advised, although you should ask an adult for assistance and always put the lid on to prevent any magic escaping.

This my friends, is a list of the assorted wonders that you will find within the realms of Erin Morgenstern's fantastical new fairytale, The Night Circus. Summoning up characters from the 19th Century, Erin welcomes you to Le Cirque des Rêves. You will need good walking shoes and a torch to find your way back home. This travelling circus is only open at night, so if you want to visit it is advised you catch a kip at work or have an afternoon snooze. I thoroughly enjoyed my time with the circus and can be seen cavorting in red scarves as the autumn leaves start to fall.

PS. Look out for the fortune-teller, she really is quite good!

I read Night Road before going on holiday and I have to say I wasn't expecting much from it. I hadn't come across Kristin Hannah before and I hadn't really seen any publicity for this novel. I was really surprised to find that a day later I had finished the book and was ready to read it all over again.

Kristin admits to being a 'helicopter mom' hovering over her own son as he grew up and being on hand to assist him in any decisions he had to make; be it his choice of jumper to which university to apply to. With this in mind she builds her story around a wealthy couple Jude and Miles Farraday who are blessed with twins, Mia and Zach. Seeing their children grow up as polar opposites - Mia shy and geeky, Zach sporty, handsome and popular - Jude is relieved when Mia makes a new friend on her first day of High School, Lexi who brings the timid Mia out of her shell.

The story of Lexi, Mia and Zach is both exhilarating and  heartbreaking. It defines teenage pressures and challenges parenting methods adopted by so many loving parents. Jude and Miles have clearly been created from Kristin's own experience with her son and the relationships that they forge with Lexi is a subtle balance between gratitude and caution. A teenage tragedy which can effects many families each year, hits the Farradays and it is Kristin's portrayal of the breakdown of the tight family unit that really tugs at the heart strings.

I think Night Road is really under-rated and its simplistic nature is its best quality. Anyone can relate to this story in some way or another and this is what makes it a classic story.  I give it a 7/10 for its nonconfrontational tone and its ability to remain composed whilst still depicting grief as a healing process.

Sounds gross right? Well it pretty much is - it is also marvellous and stuffed full with villainy. This story is told by 5 different people, aristocrats Marcella and Minguillo Fasan, medical assistant doctor Santo, Peruvian nun Lor Soreto and manservant Gianni. Michelle Lovric stitches her book together with these five strands and by doing so she sculptures a 3D story that can be approached by every angle. Only releasing information in  teasing snippets, she leaves the reader willing her to reveal more.

Marcella is a our damsel in distress whilst her brother, Minguillo attempts to bury the key and keep her dead to world. Enter Doctor Santo, a knight in shining armour who dwells in poverty and falls for our damsel. Can love overcome everything, or is Minguillo Fasan too powerful and deceitful? Selling his sister to an asylum and then a convent, Minguillo thinks he is set to inherit his father's estate...but Marcella has a few friends, and they've got a few plans of their own...

 I found myself galloping through the book much quicker than I had Grace William Says It Loud - I suspect this is because the text is much more flirtatious and diverts your attention to a detached history - whereas Grace Williams was a bit harder to digest as it was so horrific.

Similar to Louise Erdrich's Love Medicine the circular structure of the narrative lends itself to the fickle reader as passages are short and sharp, startling and seductive. Lovric's writing effortlessly switches voices keeping both the story and the reader connected as you move through the Venetian canals and board a ship to the exotic mountains of Peru.

This is a great commuter book, the chapters are in bite-size chunks so you've got time to chomp on a few chapters before you need to hop off the train.

I'm giving this book a 8/10, it is repulsively seductive and unnaturally charming. You might want to take a closer look at those leather-binded books on your shelf though...

The Man in the Moon by William Joyce looks to be one of the most exciting children's books I have seen in a while. It has yet to be released in Canada (and I presume America) so it might take a while to get over here but as soon as it does I will definitely be snapping it up! Publishers Simon & Schuster released a few sneaky excerpts on their Facebook feed today and I was completely mesmerised by the illustrations. Have a flick through here and see what you think. It looks pretty pricey but I'm sure it will, for many children, be a book that is treasured for many years.

Another book that has grabbed my attention is FArTHER by Grahame Baker-Smith, published by Templar. The artwork is just magical as Grahame marries photographic collages and illustration. I'm hoping to get his book later this week so I will let you all know what I think of the storyline as soon as I can! For now though have a look at some of these gorgeous pictures from the very talented
Mr Grahame Baker-Smith  .

Being an unusually hot week in London, I decided it was too hot to carry a book, so leapt back into the cooling Kindle lagoon. Not only was I pleasantly surprised that after reading three of her books, I still enjoyed Trisha's 'chick lit' but I also found it a slight relief, as the other books I am reading recently seem to be of a darker nature.

Time and time again I have found myself drawn back to Trisha's cosy countryside characters, with their romances and the odd historical lesson or Shakespearian reference thrown in for good measure. It lets you drift and doesn't demand a great deal of concentration or commitment. You can pop back to Sticklepond village any-time you like and find familiar faces in both The Falling Star and The Green Man pub. I love how Trisha's characters subtly overlap so that names ring bells as though they are somehow a past neighbour or an old friend. An even better aspect to this is of course by reading on the Kindle you a free to search previous books, so if like me it irritates you when you can't place a name or remember who is who, you can simply type it in and voila! The lovely Kindle tells you exactly where you read it first and where else it is likely to crop up. Unfortunately the downside to this is that you occasionally come across spoilers as it does drag up all the places the word appears so you can find yourself reading ahead of your current place.

In this book you meet Chloe Lyons who runs a chocolate business, her aunty and granddad are pagans and her ex-lover / rock star has now become the village vicar. She has raised her little brother (now an 18 year old Goth) as her mum has ditched her for a life of partying. Old flames of course return  but can love be rekindled? Can Paganism and Christianity see eye to eye or is there going to be trouble in rural Sticklepond? This is funny romance packed with countryside comforts. What more could you possibly need from a 'laze with a glass of wine' book?

This is once again a feel-good book from Trisha Ashley and I feel thoroughly refreshed from my swim in the Kindle Lagoon!

Reviewing a book by Terry Pratchett is like walking into a garden centre and telling the head gardener that roses are really quite wonderful. It doesn't really need to be done. Everything he writes is literally (and I use this word in the most literal sense) magical. So for that reason this review is purely self-indulgent as it gives me a chance to reflect on what I liked most about a book that has kept my commute lively.

For starters this book is aimed at young adults, which doesn't make it that much different from his other books only that perhaps Tiffany Aching is a bit younger than some of Terry Pratchett's other characters. The action is crammed in like pickles in a jar and truth be told I did snort on a few occasions. Yes, folks it really is that funny and it is such a relief to find a book that doesn't take itself too seriously.

As for the Nac Mac Feegles which gave a stonkingly good performance throughout the magical tale, I would like to see a book dedicated entirely to them and their way of life. If you have yet to meet the Nac Mac Feegles, fear not for they are a friendly folk, that is if you are not accidently digging up the mound under which they live in the mountains. Hearty drinkers and raucous fighters, these tough guys make the story what it is - a story of companionship, loyalty, love and above all MAGIC.



I would recommend this to anyone looking to keep a certain someone entertained through what looks to be a few very rainy weeks of summer.

This book is both creepy and disturbing and that's exactly what it is intended to be. Through a swift and light-hearted narrative the novel captures the reader by drawing you in to the mind of a seemingly friendly and fun girl.

However, the water does not remain calm, so to speak, as soon you are dragged under by a strong current which takes a dark turn leaving you  repulsed, confused and compelled to continue reading...

This is a tragedy like no other, the protagonist is blinkered from the real-life dangers surrounding her suburban bubble. Only the outsider (now insider as you adjust to her internal monologue) can see that she is in a destructive relationship that has the power to corrupt her fragile life and mind. This is not a book for the faint-hearted. I was swept up by it but then again I won't be returning to this dark ravine.

Last Thursday I was treated to a night at the theatre. We went to see Chicken Soup with Barley the rejuvenated 1950's play by Arnold Wesker. Focusing on a Jewish family and spanning 20 years from 1936 to 1956, this extraordinary play blurs the lines between realism and idealism. Sarah Kahn is an East End Jewish mother, fighting to protect her family from the Mosley's fascists marching outside her flat. Sarah is a staunch supporter of Communist ideals and whilst her family might be on her side, their beliefs don't appear to have the same sticking power. Or at least, they have grey areas, whereas she only sees in black and white.
Twenty years on and Sarah is still fighting the battle, whilst others have drifted to the suburbs, she is still attending meetings, and making her voice heard. Samantha Spiro gave an excellent performance as the politically driven mother of two, however for me, it was Danny Webb, who plays her husband Harry Kahn, that really stole the show.

Whilst Samantha performed monologues to the sold-out audience, it was Danny that I was watching. Throughout the 20 year span, Harry Kahn encounters two strokes. To begin with, I was not really aware of his stage presence as Sarah held my attention as she proclaimed her commitment to the Communist party. However, as the silences became more weighted, and Harry's posture became more afflicted, I became absorbed by his every move. His speech deteriorated and his physical presence was painful to watch, which made it all the more powerful. Not only was it tragic to watch a man slide into a decline, but it added to my appreciation for Sarah as she carried on with her duties and tried to hold her ever-disjointed family together.

A brilliant performance by both leads -  made even better by being in such an intimate theatre. Although words are obviously important to a play, sometimes silences can hold even more weight. It is at these times when you can really appreciate the power of a frown or a smile, and being that much closer to the actors made all the difference.

Well this was the second book I read from the TV Book Club list and I have to say I was more than a tad disappointed. Bear in mind that I am a ginormous fan of Gothic literature and vampires pretty much float my boat. But recently I feel there's been a smidgen more than overkill (excuse the pun) on this genre.

 The Radleys is great if it is the first book about vampires you have ever read. If, however, you grew up worried that Buffy and Angel might never be together, or found yourself lured into the Stephanie Meyer/ L.J Smith debate, torn between pale and sparkly or pale and dishy, then this might not be the book for you.

 It's been done before folks, and no doubt it will be done again.

I loved Being Human  on BBC3 and this felt like Matt Haig had watched it and then moved it from Bristol to yet another suburb. I struggled to find the humour and having a family of abstinent vampires is surely just a rewrite of the popular veggie Cullen family.

I think perhaps I was the wrong audience for this book. I was a tough cookie to please and unfortunately this book did not so much as float my boat as leave me grounded on a fairly nondescript sandbank.

I'm giving it a 5/10 for trying to compete in a vampire infested market.

Just to be clear the 1/8 means it is the first of the 8 books that I have read out of the pile sent by the lovely people at the TV Book Club, I don't think it's the first they have discussed.


I am so glad I started with this book, it's that lovely chunky size which means you can really chew on it for days. Set in Provence, France, Deborah Lawrenson's sensual tale is one of a love shrouded in mystery. Eve and Dom buy a derelict farmhouse in the lavender sea of Provence and take their time sinking into their surroundings and relish their isolation from the hustling modern world.


However, as with all old properties in novels, this farmhouse has a story that it slowly begins to unveil and a resident it has yet to disclose. 


Lawrenson elegantly captures the sights, sounds and smells of the richly perfumed Provence and draws her readers into a rural history tainted by misunderstandings. I can see why the Book Club selected The Lantern for their summer read, I could almost feel the sun beating out of the pages and luckily enough, the lavender in our front garden aided the sweet fragrances that Lawrenson so accurately describes. 


These books are going to be rated, a rarity for me so here goes. I give it a well deserved 7/10. You can read it wherever you choose, a lush field, a cool poolside or a stuffy train carriage. It really doesn't matter where you are, you'll all be drawn into the same beautiful French landscape. Oui! Oui!