Tag: Book review

Ransom Riggs’ — Miss Peregrine’s home for peculiar children *****

After Jacob’s grandfather’s mysterious death, he and his father travel to a Welsh island. While exploring the island, Jacob accidently stumbles through time where he discovers the peculiar children his grandfather once told him about though at the time, Jacob never believed his stories. Unlike many other books, when Jacob is confronted with evil he doesn’t rely on violence.

This tale is aimed at YA readers, but I was so enchanted by this adventure, that I had to read the second, then the third. However, by the fourth book, the adventures didn’t draw me in the way the first three in the series had.

This is yet another book made into a movie, where the book outshines the movie.

Yoko Ogawa’s—The memory police *****

A novelist lives alone on a remote island since her parents have been removed by the memory police. It is not only people who have disappeared, but objects too—hats, the ferry service to the northern island—things that are also removed from the inhabitants’ memories. Every now and then when she wakes, she senses something else has disappeared.

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Lissa Evans’—Crooked heart *****

You might think this is yet another novel set in England during World War 11 and read no further. But don’t be fooled. This is a tale like no other I’ve read before, full of humour with an odd and dubious list of characters.

Ten-year-old Noel lives with his aging godmother until she dies, when he’s sent as an evacuee outside of London. There he’s paired with Vee, a single mother who is struggling to keep a roof over her head for herself, her helpless mother, and useless son, Donald. Nineteen-year-old Donald has a heart condition and can’t join up, but soon discovers an illegal way to make large sums of cash that he doesn’t share with his mother. Vee keeps failing at schemes to make money until she realizes that Noel isn’t the empty headed child she though he was. This well written novel is full of tongue-in-cheek laughs.

Colleen McCullough’s — The independence of Miss Mary Bennett *****

I remember Mary as the Bennett sister who couldn’t sing, but twenty years on from the end of Austin’s Pride and Prejudice, Mary’s life continues. In her desperation for independence, she investigates the plight of the English poor only to find herself in danger.

I wasn’t expecting this to be an engaging tale, but I should have known better because this Australian author has never disappointed me—a book I couldn’t put down when I needed a light read.