10. The help

The help is actually one of my favourite books of all time! The version that I've been reading has a small quote from USA TODAY which reads 

'...it's characters jump of the page and into your heart.' That is so inexplicably true. The sign of a good book for me is if your heart is throbbing, eyes are brimming and mouth slightly ajar. It was AMAZING and an absolute definite read! I loved it so so so much! 

  The racial segregation in America and the Great Depression are topics that thoroughly interest me. It has always been quite fascinating to look at the ways of human nature where prejudice can easily ruin lives. The idea behind it is just fantastic!

My favourite character is Minny. I really love how her character is so strong on the outside and so mellow and down to earth inside. She really cares for everyone she comes across but is afraid to admit it which is the beauty of her personality; the way that her modesty prevails throughout the novel. 

I have nothing but high praise for Kathryn Stockett and this remarkable read. I am ever so glad that I've taken the time this summer to read it! 

9. The Gift - Mia Dolan

So I've read nine books now - the latest being this; The Gift. 

It's such an uplifting tale for someone like me. As a christian it gave me much hope for the afterlife and the multiple mysteries of our world that we have no hope of ever knowing. Who better to question than a ghost? 

I really can't stress how good this book is and, if like me you are very very scared of death, it fills you with desire and gladness of being a part of this Earth.

5. The Secret Life of Bees - Sue Mink Kidd (45 to go!)

This novel is exceptionally beautiful and crafted with such love that it is most definitely a 'must-read'. The tale is of Lily Owens and Rosaleen (her nanny) in their quest to find out who their mother really was. Stumbling upon a honey farm and three bee-keeping sisters Lily finds out more than she expected. 

It is a story of faith which is what makes it so special. As a Christian, I particularly loved the focus on Mary (and a rather special Mary she is too) instead of the common religious figure; Jesus. It made you think more of our communal mother and how she can nurture our souls just a much as our real mothers. 

The ever running theme of honey in the novel makes you hunger for sweetness and further highlights the 'Queen Bee' ethic of women. August, May and June (the bee keeping sisters) are the cogs of maintaining the hive and they welcome all - including Lily - into their honeycomb.

A truly enjoyable book that I would happily read over. 

4. Marshmallows for Breakfast - Dorothy Koomson (46 to go!)

Now, usually when I see a blurb like the one I saw on this book, I am wholly intrigued only to be completely let down. Let me explain...
The back of this novel told of multiple tragedies and secrets letting on for it to be a very interesting tale but it was this blurb that spoiled the book for me. Don't get me wrong - I couldn't put it down - it's just that the back told me almost EVERYTHING that happened until about page 340 where there was only 100 pages left that were 'mysterious'. This ruined it a lot for me. In addition, I thought that Kendra's secret was played out for too long. I do understand how it was made to seem as though it was hard for her to admit the secret but it left me formulating ideas about what it could be, only to have them continually solidified throughout the book so the actual revelation wasn't so 'WOW'.
That said, I really loved the narration style of the book. I was easy to follow and packed with similes (which I love). Therefore it was very interesting and it was nice to have the 1st person narration take you to the forefront of battle scenes and intimacy. Overall a generally pleasing and realistic read.

3. The Perks of Being a Wallflower - Stephen Chbosky (47 to go!)

The Perks of Being a Wallflower could be summed up with the use of just one word: cute. Critically acclaimed and a clear favourite with teenage readers and young adults alike, the book is a very enjoyable and easy read. The epistolary novel (written in a series of letters) is quirky and satirical offering a naive and innocent narration of the events of college life and growing up in general. The intimacy of the novel is what really makes it for me. Everything seems so heartfelt and it is as though Charlie is in desperation for help, in any given situation, so the whole story is like an appeal.

The story is not a gory horror or a graphic crime thriller, it's just nice. A nice novel and a tale of personal experiences and fears that, at this period in time, are communal. As students head of or college or university and leave other people behind, The Perks of Being a Wallflower lets you know that you're not alone.

2. My Sister's Keeper - Jodi Picoult (48 to go!)

I don't think I have enough words in my vocabulary that can praise this novel enough. I could say that it is thoroughly engaging or bloody fantastic but no such exclamation would justify the emotion and feeling from such a talented author.
 My favourite novel was The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini but this wonderous novel has managed to top that, almost - dare I say it - effortlessly. It was an absolute tear-jerker and the spark of a raging tumult inside. I fought for every one of the Fitzgeralds; from Kate who suffers from Leukemia to Jesse who just craves a little attention.
  It is so difficult not to find yourself bound to the confinements of Kate's hospital bed and the tight walls of the Courtroom.

Such a wonderful magic has come from the fingertips of this fantastic author, with 'My Sister's Keeper' topping, in my opinion, all other books of hers! It is such a book that I wouldn't refrain from offering anyone (so long as I had a spare copy that was mine that I could always keep safe.)

My favourite character is Brian; Kate and Anna's father. As much as I've tried, I can't imagine the book without him. The ever-loving and ration pacifist was precisely what the novel needed to prevent it from becoming a bitchy gender fight and turned it into a tender, family turmoil.

What I love about the novel most, is the structuring of the chapters. They aren't labelled one, two, three ... (as none of Picoult's books seems to be) but are labelled with each character telling their story at any given lapse. This twist allows for every emotion to be felt and gives a well-rounded approach to the topic. Such a quality, and good execution of it, is not something that you see very often, which makes for the piece to be a work of extraordinary determination and hard-practice.

This is nothing short of remarkable and instigates a deep pang of guilt for the families that you may be fortunate enough to have, the decisions that you may be fortunate enough to make and the lives we may be fortunate enough to lead.

1. Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen (49 to go!)

First review of the summer :D

‘Pride and Prejudice’ was very much a novel of deep enjoyment. Written by Jane Austen in Old English the story yields upon the classic fancies of women and, though, only focused marriage and the trials of mistaken love, it is fully engaging and complete with satirical spirit. What, perhaps, may cause a dislike is the length of certain paragraphs coupled with the difficulty of deciphering the content. Such an example may be; ‘…because it required an explanation that would rob him of his borrowed feathers…’ The surface of such clauses may, however, be used to the advantage of the reader. The ambiguities allow for a personal reaction to the piece and a unique recreation of the story for each individual; such is an experience that many more modern novels fail upon. 
  The characters are much to be loved. Such a contrast of colours in the Bennet and Bingley abode as well as later characters introduced, proves that at least one character is bound to prevail. For me this is Lydia. Though far removed from the centre of the novel until later on, her deceptive and unruly outbreak shows something of a contrast of the norm and her inconceivable behaviour gives a proper and thorough look at social standards and expectations. It shows such an oppression of the spirit of women and the self-vanity of many of the other characters. Each, in their own ways, has an opinion of Lydia and much of what is remarked concerns the eligibility of the other members of families and, indeed, the neighbouring towns.
  Many of what is witnessed in the book is juxtaposed with the modernity of our world whereby promiscuity is nothing, it seems, to be ashamed of. This contrast may throw some readers into believing the novel to be ‘petty’ and created on little substance, however, allowing oneself to enter into such a prim world gives better understanding and makes Austen’s work far easier to read and to relate. In modern terms, we can see the model of family of the Austen era to still resemble the 21 Century one. As individuals, we can see secrets and the close knit relationships that often come between the siblings of a family as well as the encouragement of parents in realising that for their advancement in the world, their children must get the best. In such a respect, relating to a character is relatively easy for the formation of individuals is much unchanged. 
  ‘Pride and Prejudice’ is a timeless classic that enthuses fantasy amongst the generations of today – a much needed alternative and cessation from the everyday stresses and reality. Taking you to a quiet English town is Jane Austen …