Naturally Random

BOOK REVIEW: Adele Parks-The Other Woman's Shoes

I was trying to read a chapter of this before bed every night, I couldn't put it down!! This was wicked, lovely twists and turns- I had to put my hand over the bottom of a few pages to stop my eyes veering down to see what happened.  I am getting ahead of myself.

Here is the blurb:

The Evergreen sisters are united in envy of each other's love life. Martha and Michael have the perfect home, perfect family and the perfect life until one day, he leaves her. Eliza and Greg rent a one-bedroom flat where they make music and lots of love. Until one day, she leaves him.

Now the Evergreen sisters are united by separation and suddenly they are free to pursue the relationships and life styles they think they always wanted.

Eliza wants the ideal husband and fast. Sensible discourse and dinner parties with a man who doesn't buy groceries at the garage. Martha wants fun and lots of it. Great sex and high excitement courtesy of Jack-the-unpredictable-lad.

So, when both women find exactly what they're looking for, everybody's happy...aren't they? Or does chasing the perfect love only get more complicated when you're wearing another woman's shoes?

I have read a couple of Adele Parks books before- and they have been hot and cold for me- she has a style which I understand. It is a quintessentially British narrative and she has a lot of modern references whether it be geographical (most books set in London) or simple culture. I like to read about things/places that I am familiar with- it makes the story a little more real.

I was really rooting for Martha in this book- and at other times I wanted to slap her. It would be a really good book for a book club as the characters are both deep and shallow at the same time. I suppose it causes you to question what you would do in a given situation if you were put in it. I don't want to give too much away- but it would cause a very heated debate amongst me and my girls! I am sure of that.

This was definately the best book of hers I have read to date. I would thoroughly recommend it.

Verdict: 9.5/10

Don't take my word for it, Judge for yourself!

Jah Bless

Naturally

BOOK REVIEW: Adele Parks-The Other Woman's Shoes

I was trying to read a chapter of this before bed every night, I couldn't put it down!! This was wicked, lovely twists and turns- I had to put my hand over the bottom of a few pages to stop my eyes veering down to see what happened.  I am getting ahead of myself.

Here is the blurb:

The Evergreen sisters are united in envy of each other's love life. Martha and Michael have the perfect home, perfect family and the perfect life until one day, he leaves her. Eliza and Greg rent a one-bedroom flat where they make music and lots of love. Until one day, she leaves him.

Now the Evergreen sisters are united by separation and suddenly they are free to pursue the relationships and life styles they think they always wanted.

Eliza wants the ideal husband and fast. Sensible discourse and dinner parties with a man who doesn't buy groceries at the garage. Martha wants fun and lots of it. Great sex and high excitement courtesy of Jack-the-unpredictable-lad.

So, when both women find exactly what they're looking for, everybody's happy...aren't they? Or does chasing the perfect love only get more complicated when you're wearing another woman's shoes?

I have read a couple of Adele Parks books before- and they have been hot and cold for me- she has a style which I understand. It is a quintessentially British narrative and she has a lot of modern references whether it be geographical (most books set in London) or simple culture. I like to read about things/places that I am familiar with- it makes the story a little more real.

I was really rooting for Martha in this book- and at other times I wanted to slap her. It would be a really good book for a book club as the characters are both deep and shallow at the same time. I suppose it causes you to question what you would do in a given situation if you were put in it. I don't want to give too much away- but it would cause a very heated debate amongst me and my girls! I am sure of that.

This was definately the best book of hers I have read to date. I would thoroughly recommend it.

Verdict: 9.5/10

Don't take my word for it, Judge for yourself!

Jah Bless

Naturally

Book Review: Tess Stimson - The Infidelity Chain

Ella Stuart has worked hard to achieve the perfect work-life balance: a high-flying career as a paediatric doctor, a charming husband, charity fundraiser Jackson Garrett – and in urbane PR consultant William Ashfield, a passionate, worldly lover.

William is equally devoted to Ella, his mistress of eight years, and to his faded, troubled wife, Beth. He knows he could never choose between them; and is eternally grateful he’s never been asked.

When tragedy strikes out of the blue, Ella’s carefully ordered life is abruptly derailed. Struggling to cope as the chaos spirals out of her control, unable to play the accommodating mistress any longer, Ella examines her long relationship with William, and finds it wanting.

But her personal nightmare has repercussions for everyone linked to her. For William, who has to face his own demons and make the toughest decision of his life. For Beth, who is just beginning to emerge from the depression that has stolen the most precious years of motherhood.

And above all for Cate, William and Beth’s seventeen-year-old daughter, whose transition from girlhood to womanhood is suddenly set to be a baptism of fire.

So I must have mentioned somewhere that I like a bit of 'smut'. You can tell by the title this is gonna be a good one right? Well kind of. It started of promisingly- I started around three hours into a 12 hour flight an managed to get half way though before I put it down to watch season 3 of Boston Legal on the old MP4 player (I love Denny Crane)

Anyhooo, there are some nice twists and turns in this story. I am interested how the author tries her best to normalise adultery, almost making those who oppose it seem prudish- I have issues with this- but I read on!!

My problem with this book is that it just kind of stopped. It needed two more chapters for me just telling me how it worked out. There was a bit of unfinished business. I did enjoy it though.

Verdict 8/10

Don't take my word for it, try it for yourself.

Jah Bless

Naturally

Book Review: Tess Stimson - The Infidelity Chain

Ella Stuart has worked hard to achieve the perfect work-life balance: a high-flying career as a paediatric doctor, a charming husband, charity fundraiser Jackson Garrett – and in urbane PR consultant William Ashfield, a passionate, worldly lover.

William is equally devoted to Ella, his mistress of eight years, and to his faded, troubled wife, Beth. He knows he could never choose between them; and is eternally grateful he’s never been asked.

When tragedy strikes out of the blue, Ella’s carefully ordered life is abruptly derailed. Struggling to cope as the chaos spirals out of her control, unable to play the accommodating mistress any longer, Ella examines her long relationship with William, and finds it wanting.

But her personal nightmare has repercussions for everyone linked to her. For William, who has to face his own demons and make the toughest decision of his life. For Beth, who is just beginning to emerge from the depression that has stolen the most precious years of motherhood.

And above all for Cate, William and Beth’s seventeen-year-old daughter, whose transition from girlhood to womanhood is suddenly set to be a baptism of fire.

So I must have mentioned somewhere that I like a bit of 'smut'. You can tell by the title this is gonna be a good one right? Well kind of. It started of promisingly- I started around three hours into a 12 hour flight an managed to get half way though before I put it down to watch season 3 of Boston Legal on the old MP4 player (I love Denny Crane)

Anyhooo, there are some nice twists and turns in this story. I am interested how the author tries her best to normalise adultery, almost making those who oppose it seem prudish- I have issues with this- but I read on!!

My problem with this book is that it just kind of stopped. It needed two more chapters for me just telling me how it worked out. There was a bit of unfinished business. I did enjoy it though.

Verdict 8/10

Don't take my word for it, try it for yourself.

Jah Bless

Naturally

Book Review: Jung Chang- Wild Swans:- Three Daughters of China

One of the best-selling and best-loved books of recent years, "Wild Swans" is an epic true story of how one family lived and survived through some of China's most unsettling and violent times. The publication of "Wild Swans" in 1991 was a worldwide phenomenon. Not only did it become the best-selling non-fiction book in British publishing history, with sales of well over two million, it was received with unanimous critical acclaim, and was named the winner of the 1992 NCR Book Award and the 1993 British Book of the Year Award. Few books have ever had such an impact on their readers. Through the story of three generations of women - grandmother, mother and daughter - "Wild Swans" tells nothing less than the whole tumultuous history of China's tragic twentieth century, from sword-bearing warlords to Chairman Mao, from the Manchu Empire to the Cultural Revolution. At times terrifying, at times astonishing, always deeply moving, "Wild Swans" is a book in a million, a true story with all the passion and grandeur of a great novel. Jung Chang's introduction brings her own story up to date, describing the effect "Wild Swans" success has had on her life.  (Amazon.co.uk)

This was one of the best books I have ever read, and I got hold of it completely by accident. It was totally out of my comfort zone as at the time I was well into my 'Oprah's book club' phase. (I use the past tense as I read this a few years back now, but as my last two book reviews have been somewhat negative I wanted to demonstrate that it is possible for me to enjoy a book) I knew nothing about China at the time. Seriously my ignorance was embarrassing!

This book made me go and do a little more research, and kind of got me into the genre of biographies with a twist. It scans over a century and three generation's of a family. Don't let the 700+ pages put you off. It is an amazing read. Chang is honest about the good and the bad in her family and her country, I read the entire book in around three days. Its that good.

Verdict:  10/10

Original and candid. Brilliant book.

Don't take my word for it- check it out for yourself

Jah Bless

Naturally

Book Review: Jung Chang- Wild Swans:- Three Daughters of China

One of the best-selling and best-loved books of recent years, "Wild Swans" is an epic true story of how one family lived and survived through some of China's most unsettling and violent times. The publication of "Wild Swans" in 1991 was a worldwide phenomenon. Not only did it become the best-selling non-fiction book in British publishing history, with sales of well over two million, it was received with unanimous critical acclaim, and was named the winner of the 1992 NCR Book Award and the 1993 British Book of the Year Award. Few books have ever had such an impact on their readers. Through the story of three generations of women - grandmother, mother and daughter - "Wild Swans" tells nothing less than the whole tumultuous history of China's tragic twentieth century, from sword-bearing warlords to Chairman Mao, from the Manchu Empire to the Cultural Revolution. At times terrifying, at times astonishing, always deeply moving, "Wild Swans" is a book in a million, a true story with all the passion and grandeur of a great novel. Jung Chang's introduction brings her own story up to date, describing the effect "Wild Swans" success has had on her life.  (Amazon.co.uk)

This was one of the best books I have ever read, and I got hold of it completely by accident. It was totally out of my comfort zone as at the time I was well into my 'Oprah's book club' phase. (I use the past tense as I read this a few years back now, but as my last two book reviews have been somewhat negative I wanted to demonstrate that it is possible for me to enjoy a book) I knew nothing about China at the time. Seriously my ignorance was embarrassing!

This book made me go and do a little more research, and kind of got me into the genre of biographies with a twist. It scans over a century and three generation's of a family. Don't let the 700+ pages put you off. It is an amazing read. Chang is honest about the good and the bad in her family and her country, I read the entire book in around three days. Its that good.

Verdict:  10/10

Original and candid. Brilliant book.

Don't take my word for it- check it out for yourself

Jah Bless

Naturally

Book Review: Cupcake Brown: A Piece of Cake

It took me ages to complete this book. I am not entirely sure why. Everytime I got the opportunity to read it- on a bus or train or in my hols, I always just thought of something better to do. It was very hard to read in places, and although it was meant to be uplifting, that's not what I got from it.  It is interesting that I have seen many people reading this book in the last few weeks, student's at school and a few family members. Her story will no doubt be turned into a film, but for me, it was just another sad story.

Product Description

Book Review: Cupcake Brown: A Piece of Cake

It took me ages to complete this book. I am not entirely sure why. Everytime I got the opportunity to read it- on a bus or train or in my hols, I always just thought of something better to do. It was very hard to read in places, and although it was meant to be uplifting, that's not what I got from it.  It is interesting that I have seen many people reading this book in the last few weeks, student's at school and a few family members. Her story will no doubt be turned into a film, but for me, it was just another sad story.

Product Description

Book Review: Mike Gayle- The Life & Soul of the Party

As mentioned before I am a teacher by trade so I read all the time- but not for pleasure. I rarely get the time except during the holidays to read what I like. It takes me ages to find a book- I check reviews and read blurbs till my vision is blurred - money is tight, cannot be wasting it on any old drivvle!

Depending on my mood I can read either chick lit- or a serious drama. This time around  felt like a good story that took me away from the pile of marking I should be doing! Thought it a little odd that this was written by a dude- but thought I would support a brother and all that!

The story is as follows:

Meet Melissa and Paul: Five years after they split up he's still looking for love in all the wrong places while she wants the one thing she can't have: Paul.

Meet Chris and Vicky: They're so in tune they even brush their teeth in time with each other. So what is Chris doing risking it all for a meaningless affair?

Meet Cooper and Laura: He wants to settle down, she wants to take a grown-up gap year but can their relationship really survive a year apart?

Set across a year of leaving dos, birthday parties and anniversary celebrations The Life and Soul of the Party is a warm, funny and moving tale celebrating love, life and those special moments we've all spent in the kitchen at parties.

And that is exactly what it was!! based around several parties and gatherings- it was 'Friends' but the British version without all the laughs. Characters were all very well thought out and they all had good solid histories. By midway through I kind of guessed where this was going, but I read on anyway as I have issues with not completing tasks. It was 'nice' ( bland, basic) did not set me alight or inspire me to buy another one of his books, although I have been told that his is not his best work.

All in all it did distract me from my marking- but was it worth it? naaaaaaa. I have read much worse, but it was not brilliant.

VERDICT: 5/10

Try it for yourself (bag a bargain though, or get it from the library)

Jah Bless

Naturally

Book Review: Mike Gayle- The Life & Soul of the Party

As mentioned before I am a teacher by trade so I read all the time- but not for pleasure. I rarely get the time except during the holidays to read what I like. It takes me ages to find a book- I check reviews and read blurbs till my vision is blurred - money is tight, cannot be wasting it on any old drivvle!

Depending on my mood I can read either chick lit- or a serious drama. This time around  felt like a good story that took me away from the pile of marking I should be doing! Thought it a little odd that this was written by a dude- but thought I would support a brother and all that!

The story is as follows:

Meet Melissa and Paul: Five years after they split up he's still looking for love in all the wrong places while she wants the one thing she can't have: Paul.

Meet Chris and Vicky: They're so in tune they even brush their teeth in time with each other. So what is Chris doing risking it all for a meaningless affair?

Meet Cooper and Laura: He wants to settle down, she wants to take a grown-up gap year but can their relationship really survive a year apart?

Set across a year of leaving dos, birthday parties and anniversary celebrations The Life and Soul of the Party is a warm, funny and moving tale celebrating love, life and those special moments we've all spent in the kitchen at parties.

And that is exactly what it was!! based around several parties and gatherings- it was 'Friends' but the British version without all the laughs. Characters were all very well thought out and they all had good solid histories. By midway through I kind of guessed where this was going, but I read on anyway as I have issues with not completing tasks. It was 'nice' ( bland, basic) did not set me alight or inspire me to buy another one of his books, although I have been told that his is not his best work.

All in all it did distract me from my marking- but was it worth it? naaaaaaa. I have read much worse, but it was not brilliant.

VERDICT: 5/10

Try it for yourself (bag a bargain though, or get it from the library)

Jah Bless

Naturally