Good humour that doesn’t try to be funny but absolutely is is hard to come by. In that department though, Trouble is a Friend of Mine delivered well. Intertwined with mystery, it made for a very entertaining read.
A MAD, WICKED FOLLY by Sharon Biggs Waller
I absolutely adored A Mad, Wicked Folly. It is hands down the favourite book of mine thus far this year. The Victorian setting of Trouville, France, followed predominantly by London was glorious. There was such a great mix between history and fiction, I felt like I could see myself as an observer right there by Vicky’s side; at the same time, immersing myself in stunning storytelling. Victoria Darling could be such an impossible main character — rather naïve, really — and yet I found myself caring a great deal for her plight.
SALTWATER MOONS by Julie Gittus
Saltwater Moons is a very contemplative novel, full of heartache from the beginning right through to the end. What I liked about it is how true to life it is. I think that’s difficult to pull off. As much as realistic fiction carries the label realistic, it’s more about being believable because so many things happen in life that are unbelievable, yet in fiction, readers struggle to suspend their disbelief when such events take place in books.
RED by Alison Cherry
Taken at face value, I’d have rated this book 3 out of 5 stars instead of 4. The prose is alright. It conveys the story well but doesn’t bring a lot of depth to the characters. I did however find the premise brilliant and ludicrous at the same time. Such blatant discrimination fuelled by appearances…
THE PARADOX OF VERTICAL FLIGHT by Emil Ostrovski
There is something terrifying yet absolutely comforting about coming across a character that seems to be of equal mind to mine. Or maybe it’s the author’s thoughts that might as well have been pulled out of my very own mind. Not that I could have written this tale but the voice! That voice was like…
