Tuesday 17 May 2016

What are you reading?

I thought it was time to take stock and do a catch up of all my favourite books that I've been reading recently. Reading is a great passion of mine - I always have a book on the go and always make sure I take time out to read no matter how busy I am. Reading gives me an escape - a little step back from busy life and a venture into another world.  I love all sorts and genres of books, but here are a few that are mostly family stories, mysteries or thrillers with a twist.



The Girl From Nowhere by Dorothy Koomson

Dorothy Koomson is a favourite of mine - I enjoy her writing style as she cleverly unfolds a story. This one explores adoption, childhood and the complicated relationships that can be a consequence of adoption. It's a tiny bit slow to start, as she sets the scene, but then in typical Dorothy Koomson style a few twists and turns make this a really enjoyable read and complete page turner.


 A Single Breath by Lucy Clarke

This is another favourite author of mine, her books are usually set by the sea - when I think of the sea, I can almost hear it and see it. I find sea so relaxing, so a story set by the seaside is always a good start for me. This one is set in Tasmania, a place I've never been to, so that captured me from the beginning too. It's a mystery that Lucy Clarke unfolds with beautiful prose that transports you straight to Tasmania as if you were really there. 



I Am Pilgrim by Terry Hayes

This author is new to me, but if you love a good spy thriller this may be the one for you. It's quite a long book, but it's a real page turner so don't let that put you off it. The book visits some interesting places such as Afghanistan, the Middle East and Italy to name but a few and is full of twists and turns which keep you on your toes throughout.  


Elizabeth is Missing by Emma Healey

I was interested to read this book as it explores the devastating effects of dementia. My mother in law suffered for years with it when she was alive, so for me, it gave me a good insight into how confused and lonely she must have felt. This book also unravels a psychological mystery from the past, but is filled with humour and romance. The author very cleverly writes from the view point of Maud, who suffers from dementia, so it enables you to see and feel what it really must be like to suffer from it. It also gives a families point of view when they live with someone who has dementia. Very insightful as well as a good story. 



The Son - in - Law by Charity Norman

This is a beautifully written book, written from three perspectives - a husband's, a mother-in-laws and a daughter's. It's all about forgiving and learning to let go; about putting the needs of those you love most above your own needs. Again, another page turner as Charity Norman unravels the story from three very different viewpoints until we have the whole picture of the tragedy that has happened to this family.  It's captivating right from the start. 



The Quality of Silence by Rosamund Lupton

Set in North Alaska, a mother and her blind daughter, Ruby, set off to search for Ruby's father who has gone missing, but someone is following them and trying to stop them. I love the setting in this book - the harsh cold Arctic - I always enjoy a setting that transports me to the other side of the world and somewhere completely different. This book is a beautifully written thriller and a real page turner and it also covers very real and important issues such as fracking, wilderness, native people living in their natural habitat and the greed of our more supposedly 'civilised' society.   



Those are just a few of my favourites and favourite authors of the moment.  I'm also reading my way through several series of books, but more on them another time. This week I've just started 'The Bones of You' by Debbie Howells - I shall let you know how I get on with it. So far, so good! 



What are you reading? What can you recommend? I'm always interested in a good book! 

And just to finish off - fancy reading a  memoir? Here's one to try if you haven't already. I was delighted to have my book featured on the PSC Support website. PSC is also a rare and debilitating disease like Pulmonary Hypertension that I suffered from. Often a PSC patient's only hope is that of a liver transplant, so we experience very similar journeys in some ways. Read the review on the PSC website or checkout the reviews on Amazon - over twenty 5 star reviews -  and see what you think.

PSC Support Review: 




Click on the link if you fancy a read of 'Life is for the Living':

Life is for the Living

If you wish to find out more about PSC visit the PSC support website


PSC Support Website