Five Minutes Peace

BOOK REVIEW: Lopsided by Meredith Norton

I first heard of this breast cancer memoir a while ago and thought it sounded interesting, but I didn't *have* to read it until I spotted a different cover, featuring what was presumably its original title on another site. Once I'd seen that, I couldn't read it fast enough. (Check it out over the cut.) 

Meredith Norton is an American woman living in Paris with her French husband and baby son when she finds that what she though - and what a number of French doctors had told her - was an infected milk duct is actually breast cancer. She flies home to California for treatment and to be closer to her own family and friends. 

BOOK REVIEW: Last Christmas by Julia Williams

I love Christmas time, but after the busy-ness of this last one I need more than a year to recover. But that doesn't stop me enjoying books that are based around Christmas. Or, for that matter, reviewing a book called Last Christmas when it is practically April. Because, it has to be said, you could read this book on a beach at the height of summer, and still enjoy it.

So we're in a village called Hope Christmas where teacher Marianne has moved because of her chap - some property developer. Then we have Gabriel. His wife has gone and he is left bringing up their son on his own. Elsewhere Catherine Tinsall, known online as the Happy Homemaker, is struggling to keep the home, family and marriage together, whereas her husband, Noel, has worries of his own. Hope Christmas could provide a lifeline for all of them.

BOOK REVIEW: The Finishing Touches by Hester Browne

I absolutely love Hester Browne's Little Lady Agency series, so despite being a little disappointed not to be catching up with the Little Lady Agency's Melissa/Honey, I was excited to read about a completely new character in The Finishing Touches.

As a baby, Betsy was found in a Cooper's Marmalade box outside the Tallimore Academy, a venerable London finishing school. Despite being adopted and raised by Frances and Pelham Tallimore, Betsy didn't attend the academy herself and, at 18, moved to Scotland to attend university. Back in London following Frances's death, Betsy is shocked to find the academy close to closure and vows to do everything she can to bring it into the 21st Century. But that's not all. She also wants to finally find out who her real parents were. 

BOOK COVERS: New cover for Sittenfeld's Prep

I haven't actually read Prep, but I'll definitely get around to it soon since it's been highly recommended. It's actually being reissued by a new publisher, following the enormous success of Curtis Sittenfeld's latest novel, American Wife.  

The original cover is the one on the left. The new cover is on the right. I know there's been debate about whether or not it's YA and the new cover looks more "teen" than the original to me. What do you think? And which cover do you prefer? 

MOVIE NEWS: Eat, Pray, Love trailer

I loved the book, but I must admit I found the trailer a tiny bit irritating, though I can't quite put my finger on why. What do you think?

[via Galleycat]

BOOK REVIEW: Foursome by Jane Fallon

I really loved Jane Fallon's first book, Getting Rid of Matthew, but I was a bit underwhelmed by her second, Got You Back. Even so, I was keen to read Foursome, but for the first few chapters, I was worried. 

I worried that the characters weren't convincing, that the plot was a bit obvious and too obviously contrived - I almost felt I could hear her thinking, "So the friend says he's in love with her... and then she needs a really nightmareish colleague..." I tweeted my concerns and lovely Kirsty from Novelicious told me to stick with it, that she loved it. And so I kept reading - it wasn't exactly a hardship, I love Jane Fallon's writing style - and I'm so glad I did, because I ended up loving the book too. 

MARCH BOOK CLUB: Vampire Diaries (and February update)

March's book club pick is Vampire Diaries.

Vampires are everywhere these days, but this book was the original vampire series for teenagers and has recently been made into a very popular American TV programme (shown here on ITV2). The first two books of the series come in this volume, but we're just focusing on book 1 for our March read (although obviously feel free to read as many as you want if you want to keep going).

Those of you who have read Charlaine Harris, Anne Rice and of course Stephanie Meyer will have lots of room for comparison and I'd love to hear your thoughts but this is my first dip into vampiric fiction so I'm very curious to find out how accessible it is for non-fantasy fans like me.

I'm sorry to say February's book club has been postponed - I got very ill (so much so I couldn't concentrate to read - nightmare!) and didn't finish The White Tiger in time. Expect our thoughts about that book after we've discussed The Vampire Diaries at the end of March. Sorry for the delay (and for any confusion you may now be experiencing...).

BOOK COVER: The Home for Broken Hearts

I love Rowan Coleman's books and I really love the cover of her latest book, The Home for Broken Hearts (I love the title too, by the way). It's so fresh and summery and - hurrah - it's a photograph rather than an illustration.  

Not out until August, it's actually listed on Amazon as The Happy Home for Broken Hearts, which I like even more. 

What do you think? 

BOOK REVIEW: Take a Chance on Me by Jill Mansell

Cleo Quinn thinks her new boyfriend Will might be the one... but she's been wrong about men before. Like Johnny LaVenture, childhood nemesis and famous sculptor, who is back in Channing's Hill following his father's death and winding Cleo up just as much as he did when they were kids. Cleo's older sister Abbie is madly in love with her husband Tom, but when he starts behaving oddly she uncovers a secret that blows her happy marriage apart. And then there's radio DJ Ash, who finds that his on-air personality deserts him when he meets the woman of his dreams. 

I've probably said this many times before, but when I worked at Waterstone's Jill Mansell was the author that customers recommended to me the most (closely followed by Maeve Binchy). "You haven't read ANY?" they'd ask, incredulously, and then they'd tell me their favourite and insist I read it. Reading Take a Chance on Me, I can totally see why.