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Book Review: Surprise Me by Sophie Kinsella

By Amazon, Books & Authors, ReviewsNo Comments
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 In Surprise Me by Sophie Kinsella, a routine insurance medical gives Sylvie and Dan some shocking news – that they have at least another 68 years of marriage ahead of them.

So Sylvie comes up with an idea – that they should surprise each other. This idea leads to disastrous consequences, funny scenes and the abandonment of the idea.

But from the outset there’s a mystery that entices the reader to read on. The reader comes up with questions like:

  1. Why does Dan always go tense whenever Sylvie mentions her father?
  2. Why does Sylvie’s mum always go quiet or dismiss Sylvie when she talks about her imaginary friend Lynn?

As well as the mystery, there’s normal life going on. Sylvie & Dan have two young daughters, Dan’s working very hard and there’s lots of change afoot in Sylvie’s job.

Sylvie is an engaging character and the book is written from her first person perspective. However Sylvie does get repetitive to the point of more than mildly annoying for the reader.

Sylvie and Dan’s friend and neighbour Tilda and her son Toby are fascinating characters, the only ones really worth mentioning and a novel telling their stories would be awesome.

What really let this book down was the generic and uninspiring book cover. Who designed and approved this? The background colour is unappealing. Sylvie’s defining feature is her long hair that flows down her back like Rapunzel, yet this isn’t represented by the character on the cover.

Surprise Me is a fun, easy read. However it doesn’t compare to Kinsella’s previous releases – particularly The Shopaholic Series.

Surprise Me is available to buy on Amazon and at all good book shops.

Review soon,

Antony

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Friday 23 February 2018

Book Review: How To Be Human – The Manual by Ruby Wax

By Amazon, Books & Authors, ReviewsNo Comments
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 Ruby Wax’s latest book is called How To Be Human – The Manual. It’s insightful, funny, warm and engaging. A pleasure to read. It’s like somebody is pouring wisdom into your head while you’re having a chat with them.

Each chapter covers a topic and is wittily written by Wax. For each chapter Wax has consulted with Ash Ranpura, a Neuroscientist and Gelong Thubten, a Buddhist Monk.

At the end of each chapter are fascinating transcripts of these discussions. Interspersed throughout How To Be Human Wax shares some of her own mental illness story.

So what exactly does Wax cover in How To Be Human? Pretty much everything. Here is each chapter title:

  • Evolution
  • Thoughts
  • Emotions
  • The Body
  • Compassion
  • Relationships
  • Sex
  • Kids
  • Addiction
  • The Future
  • Mindfulness Exercises
  • Forgiveness

How To Be Human builds on the strong foundations of Wax’s two previously published books: Sane New World – Taming the Mind, which I have reviewed here and A Mindfulness Guide for the Frazzled, which I have reviewed here.

You can also learn more about Wax by reading her autobiography How Do You Want Me?, which I have reviewed here.

How To Be Human is available to buy on Amazon and at all good book shops.

Review soon,

Antony

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Tuesday 20 February 2018

Book Review: Bel Canto by Ann Patchett

By Amazon, Books & Authors, ReviewsNo Comments
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 In an unnamed country, Roxanne Coss a lyric soprano is performing for Mr Hosokawa’s birthday. Mr Hosokawa is a CEO of a large company.

The leaders of the unnamed country hired Roxanne, Mr Hosokawa’s favourite opera singer to sing at his birthday, to lure him to their country like a worm on a fishing hook.

They hope to convince Mr Hosokawa to make much needed investment into their country.

The birthday party is being hosted at the Vice President’s house (a mansion). Many VIPs are present, both from the unnamed country and from across the world.

But the President of the unnamed country gives his apologies, the party is on the night of his favourite soap opera and he simply can’t miss it. This decision to stay home, probably saves his life.

Roxanne sings her last note. The room is stormed by rebels. The rebels were really after taking the President captive for their own political reasons and causes. The rebels are mostly teenagers apart from the older Generals, but all are armed and have been well trained.

The VIPs are in shock. The authorities soon realise what has happened. Then starts a long siege. The rebels make demands daily, the authorities provide food, etc. Author Ann Patchett described her discovery and love of opera while writing the book. This is clearly evident throughout and at times distracted from the storyline.

The plot was reasonable but was limited by the situation. Not a lot happened as the authorities and rebels were in a state of deadlock for most of the book. The ending was believable and a little sad. But the epilogue was extremely disappointing as it was so unbelievable and against what the characters would actually do.

The were a whole host of characters, but Patchett rightly focused on a few key characters. The characters were a pleasure to get to know, drove and sustained the readers interest.

The description clear, concise and flowed freely. Patchett’s writers voice and style was engaging and superb – as with all of her books.

Bel Canto by Ann Patchett was an okay read and is available to buy on Amazon and at all good book shops.

Review soon,

Antony

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Saturday 3 February 2018

Book Review: The Christmasaurus – The Musical Edition by Tom Fletcher

By Amazon, Books & Authors, Music & Radio, ReviewsNo Comments
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 The Christmasaurus is a children’s book that combines two of my favourite things: dinosaurs and Christmas.

In this review, I am reviewing The Musical Edition which includes the fully illustrated (illustrations by Shane Devries) hardback book and The Soundtrack that Fletcher wrote and recorded to accompany the story.

The Soundtrack includes 14 tracks, that currently are only available by buying The Christmasaurus – Musical Edition.

Singers on the soundtrack include: Fletcher, his wife, his sister and even Santa! What’s great about the CD is that the book prompts you when to play each track.

The unique combination of written story and music, really does add to the experience.

You’ll also enjoy playing the CD on its own. Here’s the track list:

  1. It Must Be Christmas Time

2. Dig, Diggedy Dig (The Digging Song)
3. The Christmasaurus
4. Thin Ice
5. Someone More Than Me
6. The Nice List
7. I’ve Been a Good Girl
8. I Believe It Could
9. I Ho, Ho, Hope It’s Santa
10. I Love Creatures
11. Christmas Makes Me Sick
12. Afraid of Heights (my absolute favourite song on the soundtrack!)
13. Don’t Know What It Is
14. If You Believe

Now, back to the book. The characters include: William Trundle (the main character who is wheelchair enabled), Bob Trundle (William’s dad), Santa, Lots of Elves (who speak always in rhyme), Brenda Payne (I nicknamed her Brenda The Bully at the beginning of the book), Brenda’s mum, Hunter and his dog Growler, Stuffy (a toy made by Santa) and of course the one of a kind Christmasaurus.

The plot is imaginative, brilliantly described and magical. It’s a bit predictable for an adult, but young children will be captivated and plead/beg/demand another chapter is read after the last. The illustrations are superb, detailed and provide support to children’s imaginations.

The Christmasaurus is the ideal bedtime story for young children in the run up to Christmas. It is available to buy on Amazon and at all good book shops.

Review soon,

Antony

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I aim for posts on this blog to be informative, educational and entertaining. If you have found this post useful or enjoyable, please consider making a contribution by Paypal:


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Saturday 30 December 2017
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