January
and February have been good months for reading. I started the year
having books that were either birthday presents, Christmas presents
or bought with vouchers. In February I had another foot operation so
had extra reading time while I sat with my foot up.
I
started the year reading A Fear of Flying by Erica
Jong. This was a present and it looked really interesting.
The main character, Isadora, is married to a psychoanalyst but is
clearly discontent with her world. She goes off on her own across
Europe while trying to decide whether to stay with her husband or a
man she is having a fling with. The book explores sexuality and
feminism in a really interesting way but I did find the main
character really annoying and selfish. She whines a lot and frequently mentions what she considers are the issues with being Jewish and a feminist. She is what I would
describe as an “I want” woman; her needs MUST come before others.
I have never been a feminist so this was a good book to read as I
like to look at things from a different perspective. I really wanted
to love this book because the person who gave it to me as a present
really liked it; sadly it just wasn't for me and it put me off
radical feminists even more. ★★
The
Librarian by Sally Vickers was a fabulous
read. It is set in 1950’s Britain, based around a library in a
market town and has some fantastic characters. It really highlights
small town prejudices but also shows that children are much more
accepting than adults. I loved the mix of characters and working out
what makes them tick, but particularly loved the relationship between
the characters and books. Their attitudes to reading and books in
general was fascinating. Definitely worth reading. ★★★★
I
am always happy to read a book by Mike Gayle and The
Man I Think I know did not disappoint. This book shows the
depth of male bonding, the way you can change your life for the
better and how helping someone else can be very rewarding. I loved
the James Dewitt character who only really wants his normal life back
and the equally likable Danny Allen who has almost given up on life
or making an effort. A series of unlikely events means that the
characters cross paths many years after attending the same school.
James needs help and, as it turns out, Danny is rather good at being
helpful. Their journey is funny, poignant and heartwarming while
touching on the important issues in life. Mike Gayle’s insightful
look at life should be in your to read pile right now. ★★★★★
My
next book is beautiful inside and out. Whiskey in a
Teacup by Reese Witherspoon is a totally
fabulous look at little slices of the American South. This mixture of
nostalgia, recipes, decor, fashion, accessories and advice comes with
a twinkle and a smile from actress, mother, businesswoman and
prolific reader, Reese Witherspoon. I read this from cover to cover
and would recommend it to any woman who is interested in that vintage
mixed with contemporary lifestyle and that mix of femininity with a
dash of feisty that all woman need and I aspire to. Reese Witherspoon
shows us how growing up in the South inspired and shaped her life. I
will be dipping in and out of this book because it’s just that sort
of book. Another definite recommendation from me. ★★★★
Another
brilliant present I got at Christmas was my first read in
February. The Killing by David Hewson is
an engrossing read. A clever, twisting plot and brilliant characters
makes this book the sort of book you do not want to put down.
Throwing politics into a rape and murder case brings up many
potential suspects. There are secrets being covered up, family
members unsure of their own relatives and a tenacious police
detective determined to break the case before she moves on to a new
job. This story is about the breaking point of Detective Sarah Lund
and how far she will go; about the murder of a nineteen year old
girl and about the corruption in politics and how far people
will go for power. Another five star recommendation from
me. ★★★★★
The
Golden Thread by Kassia St Clair is a really
interesting look at fabric through history. Though not as
aesthetically pleasing as The Secret Lives of Colour, The Golden
Thread gives you so many fascinating facts about fabric, how it was
made, where it fitted in historically and how it changed history.
This book makes you think about the fabric we use in our everyday
lives and what it represents. Definitely a good read for people
interested in the fine detail of history or fabric in general. I
would recommend this book but Secret Lives of Colour by Kassia St
Clair is still my favourite so far. ★★★★★
Dress
Memory by Lorelei Vashti is a wonderful
book about a decade in a woman’s life through the dresses that
meant the most to her. It tells the fabulous story of Lorelei’s
twenties and connects her memories to each dress that is evocative of
that time. Lorelei has a fabulous collection of vintage dresses that
go with her through life as a student, band member, editor and writer
in various countries and during her romantic and platonic
relationships. This book highlights the highs and lows of a young
woman’s life but most of all, it shows that life is for living and
you should live it in style. I would recommend this one too. ★★★★★
The
other books I read in January and February 2019 are:
Lance by Vladimir Nabokov ★★
Uncommon
Type by Tom Hanks ★★★★★
Obsidian
Butterfly by Laurel K Hamilton ★★★★
Keep
You Close by Lucy Whitehouse ★★★★
Frog
Music by Emma Donoghue ★★★
The
Girl Who Wasn’t There by Ferdinand Von
Schirach ★★★★★
Capital by John
Lancaster ★★★★★
I
am now adding a star ★★★★★ rating
to the books I have read. 5 stars is the top number of stars.
