I have been following the official Agatha Christie website on Instagram and Twitter and their #readchristie2019 challenge in which they suggest a different Christie novel to read each month. In … Continue reading The ABC Murders by Agatha Christie
Tag: Books
The Blameless Dead by Gary Haynes
Today I am delighted to be hosting the blog tour for The Blameless Dead by Gary Haynes. This novel is equally incredible and disturbing and without doubt will stay with … Continue reading The Blameless Dead by Gary Haynes
The Bridal Party by J G Murray
Today I am delighted to kick off the blog tour for The Bridal Party by J G Murray. This is one chilling read! WINNER OF THE DEVIANT MINDS CRIME THRILLER PRIZE … Continue reading The Bridal Party by J G Murray
Book Launch – The Night I Met Father Christmas by Ben Miller
It was a damp and mild November evening when the Fallows family headed up to London. Nature is giving a wonderful display of autumnal colour; golden brown, fiery reds and burnt orange underfoot with sticky, mushy leaves wet from the rain earlier in the day. This last week we’ve gained an hour and darker evenings for sparkly lights and magical time to curl up with a good book. Winter is well and truly on its way… and with it comes Christmas. The most wonderful time of the year. Never shy of taking an opportunity to get into the Christmas spirit as early as possible, I was delighted to have been invited to join in celebrating the launch of a bright and sparkling new, Christmas story.
Flash back to summer. The days were long, the sun was shining and people were already beginning to panic about ever seeing rain again. I however, was settling down to read my first Christmas book of the year. The Night I met Father Christmas by Ben Miller.
There are so many wonderful children’s authors bringing books to our young readers that will inspire and encourage a life-long love of reading. So when someone we admire for their other work gives us a novel, I always feel a little apprehensive. I expect it to be good enough to share a place on the shelves of those whose main body of work is children’s fiction. Children’s books are important, they matter. As Meg Ryan said in You Got Mail “When you read a book as a child, it becomes a part of your identity in a way that no other reading in your whole life does.” With so many other distractions it’s important that we can grab their attention with stories that will fill them with wonder and let them love books rather than see them as a chore and bore.
I very much enjoy watching Ben on the screen. We’re big fans of Death in Paradise in our household and grew to love his grumpy, yet brilliant Inspector Richard Poole and even more recently his role as Angus Bough, the ever patient side-kick to Rowen Atkinson’s, Johnny English. So I was excited to hear that he had written a Christmas story and keen for him to have done it well. It’s encouraging to know that Ben is not new to the written word, he has already published two non-fiction titles, It’s Not Rocket Science and The Aliens Are Coming!: The Exciting Science Behind Our Search For Life in the Universe. The Night I Met Father Christmas is his first fictional title and trust me when I say, it is wonderful and very much deserves its place on any child’s (or adult’s) bookshelf.
It was an absolute treat to attend his launch party and Ben Miller is as funny and warm in the flesh as he comes across on the screen. With a room full of people vying for his attention he took the time to sign copies of his book and my own young Ben was thrilled to meet him (as was I). We also chatted and mingled with some lovely people and was finally able to say hello to some familiar faces including children’s author, Philip Ardagh.
The team at Simon and Schuster did Ben proud and the event was lovely. We had the opportunity to meet the wonderfully talented illustrator Daniela Jaglenka Terrazzini, whose stunning illustrations bring the story to life. Simon and Schuster’s design team have produced a stunning book complementing both story and illustrations. It truly is beautiful and will make a wonderful early Christmas present or perhaps be the perfect book to share with your little ones in the run up to the big event itself.
The Night I Met Father Christmas is available to buy now. It is already generating wonderful reviews and much excitement. At the beginning of December I’ll be running a series of festive posts about this delightful book that will culminate with a giveaway on Monday the 3rd as I kick off the blog tour. Do come back and take a look or even better, why not hit the follow button. 🙂
The Museum of Cathy by Anna Stothard
The Museum of Cathy by Anna Stothard Today I would like to throw back to a title published in 2016 by Salt Publishing. It was fantastic and even now, more … Continue reading The Museum of Cathy by Anna Stothard
HQ Fiction Summer Showcase = A whole lotta fantastic books coming our way.
First of all…
This was my view for the evening on Thursday June 14th 2018. The photograph, taken on my phone, certainly doesn’t do it justice but it gives you an idea. Add to this a constant flow of delicious canapés, Prosecco and a room full of authors all keen to talk about their soon to be published novels and you have a pretty wonderful Thursday evening.
This was of course the Fiction Summer Showcase for HarperCollins imprint, HQ. It is a relatively new imprint within the powerhouse that is HarperCollins and this was their first Showcase. It was wonderful. Not only did everyone have a name badge (saving many an awkward moment) but the room was full of warm, friendly people who were all there because of one common interest – a love of books.
The whole team was lovely and made you feel instantly welcome and at home. It really was a wonderful evening and I returned home not only with a lovely big bag FULL of books but with an unbreakable, Cheshire Cat grin on my face.
HQ – One Place, Many Stories
HQ really do have a wealth of stories coming over the coming months. Something for everyone.
As I walked out of London Bridge Railway Station I was momentarily blown away by my surroundings. This is the first time I had been to this part of London and The Shard looked absolutely stunning reaching up towards the blue, June skies. It actually made me feel dizzy to look up.
After entering The News Building I was whisked up in the lift and emerged onto a floor dedicated to the celebration I was attending this evening. Coats were hung and drinks given. A super start to the evening.
The authors were scattered around the room, along with their books and a themed table that in some way reflected the tale they were telling. A majority had finished copies or proofs whilst others gave just a tantalising glimpse into what is coming later this/early next year.
The House We Called Home by Jenny Oliver
The House where Stella and her sister Amy grew up never changes – the red front door, the breath-taking view over the Cornish coast, her parents in their usual spots on the sofa. Except this summer, things feel a little different…
Stella’s father is nowhere to be seen, yet her mother – in suspiciously new Per Una jeans – is curiously unfazed by his absence, and eager to talk about her mysterious dog-wlaking buddy Mitch.
Amy has returned home with a new boyfriend she can’t stand and a secret to hide, and Stella’s husband Jack has something he wants to get off his chest too. Even Frank Sinatra, the dog, has a guilty air about him. This summer, change is in the air for the Whitethorns….
Warm, funny and gloriously feel-good, this is the perfect summer read for fans of Lucy Diamond and Milly Johnson.
The House We Called Home is due to be published on the 12th of July 2018. It looks a perfect summer read.
*
The Beauty of the Wolf by Wray Delaney
I have to say I was a little star truck upon meeting Wray (the pen name of Sally Gardener – award winning children’s novelist). She has created some wonderful novels/stories for children and so I can’t tell you how thrilled I was to receive a (signed:) proof of her latest novel The Beauty and the Wolf – A timely retelling of Beauty and the Beast, reversing the gender roles of the original fairytale. The proof itself has a stunning purple and gold foil cover and is certainly eye-catching.
In the age of the Faerie Queene, Elizabeth I, a period of ruffles and lace, of wrought velvet and blanched satins, two newborn babies are cursed, one with unimaginable beauty and the other, in its mirror image, a beast. But how could beauty ever be a curse?
Not only will all be blind to Beau’s true self, for all will lust after him but none will have the power to see past such an enchanted face – but the curse shall cause his own father’s death.
Meanwhile the beast, Randa, is locked away in her father’s cellar – lonely and hidden away. She longs for love, but how could anyone ever see past her wings and beak and fierce talons?
Is it possible that these two cursed creatures could be one another’s salvation when all hope is lost?
The Beauty of the Wolf is due to be published on the 21st of February 2019.
*
After the Snow by Susannah Constantine
Susannah Constantine is a well know TV personality and fashion journalist so it was a treat to meet her in the flesh and hear her chatting about her debut novel, After the Snow. The paperback is due to be published in November but it is available in Hardback if you can’t wait that long. I’m really looking forward to this one AND I know there is another on it’s way from Susannah so I’m doubly excited. She was incredibly warm and friendly and it was an absolute pleasure to meet her, Oh and I discovered she doesn’t live too far away from me. 🙂
All eleven-year-old Esme Munroe wants for Christmas is for her mother to be on one of her ‘good’ days – and, secretly, for a velvet riding hat. So when she finds an assortment of wet towels and dirty plates in her stocking, she’s just relieved Father Christmas remembered to stop at The Lodge this year.
But later that day Esme’s mother disappears in the heavy snow. Even more mysteriously, only the Earl of Culcairn seems to know where she might have gone. Torn between protecting her mother and uncovering the secrets tumbling out of Culcairn Castle’s ornate closets, Esme realises that life will never be the same again after the snow…
Susannah Constantine provides a rare glimpse into the secret lives of the scandalous upper classes. Perfect for fans of ‘Downton Abbey’ and ‘The Crown’.
Now, before I move on I just have to share this from the back cover of the book.
And there was Princess Margaret,
soaking in the bath.
A cigarette dangled in one hand and she clutched her
whisky in the other, her face fully made-up, the rest of
her body hidden beneath the surface.
The soft humming of a popular tune could just be
heard floating up out of a side-window.
‘Lexi and Esme,’ called a velvety voice from below,
‘I know you’re up there. I can see the reflection of your
grubby faces in the mirror.’
The Princess took a sip from her crystal tumbler
and stubbed her cigarette out in the soup dish…
After the Snow will be published in paperback on 15th November 2018 but is out now in hardback
*
Mr Doubler Begins Again by Seni Glaister
Now thesis one title that I was keen to see/hear more of and the table display made me even more intrigued. I absolutely love the sound of this novel. The synopsis made me think of A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman and the Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper by Phaedra Patrick. I don’t mean to compare but it gave me the same warm, lovely feeling. Seni was so lovely to chat to and I really can’t wait to get reading.
Mr Doubler lives alone at Mirth Farm, on top of a hill.
Back when she was around, Doubler’s wife was always surrounded by friends. But Doubler is different. The only company he needs are his potato plants and his housekeeper, Mrs Millwood, who visits every day.
So when Mrs Millwood is taken ill, it suits everything – and Doubler begins to worry that he might have lost his way. But could the kindness of strangers be enough to bring him down from the hill?
Mr Doubler Begins Again will be published on the 24th January 2019 (but I have a feeling this will definitely be worth the wait.)
*
I Invited Her In by Adele Parks
We are going to have to wait until the 20th of September for I Invited Her In but the good news is that Adele has a wonderful backlist of titles to read first if you haven’t discovered her yet. I’m really excited about this one. It sounds like a super thriller and one that will have me on the edge of my seat. Adele was an absolute pleasure to meet.
‘I invited her in… and she took everything.’
When Mel hears from a long-lost friend in need of help, she doesn’t hesitate to invite her to stay. Mel and Abi were best friends back in the day, sharing the highs and lows of student life, until Mel’s unplanned pregnancy made her drop out of her studies.
Now, seventeen years later, Mel and Abi’s lives couldn’t be more different. Mel is happily married, having raised her son on her own before meeting her husband, Ben. Now they share gorgeous girls and have a chaotic but happy family home, with three children.
Abi, meanwhile, followed her lover to LA for a glamorous life of parties, celebrity and indulgence. Everything was perfect, until she discovered her partner had been cheating on her. Seventeen years wasted, and nothing to show for it. So what Abi needs now is a true friend to lean on, to share her grief over a glass of wine, and to have some time to heal. And what better place than Mel’s house, with her lovely kids, and supportive husband…
This dark, unsettling tale of the reunion of long-lost friends is a thoroughly gripping exploration of wanting what you can’t have, jealousy and revenge.
I Invited Her In by Adele Parks will be published on the 20th of September 2018.
*
The Path To The Sea by Liz Fenwick
Oh my, it was such a pleasure to meet and chat with Liz. We talked about Cornwall and the joys of research and glorious houses full of stories waiting to be told. And she had the most delicious fudge too. We still have to wait a while for this one as it’s not published until April 2019 but it is definitely one for my reading pile.
The Trewin women all had their secrets but Joan, the matriarch, is keeping hers until her deathbed.
On a summer’s night in 1965, at a party in her glorious cliff-top home in Cornwall, she made a choice…her country or love. The morning after, a body was found at the foot of the cliff path.
But a little girl saw what happened that night. Not only did she witness the awful events played out on the cliff path, she lied and made it worse. And now, decades later, the past is catching up with the Trewin women, as a deathbed confession puts Nicola on the trail of a mystery which has remained undisturbed for fifty year, offering a chance to unpick the past…
No cover for this one as of yet I’m afraid as it’s THAT new.
The Path To The Sea by Liz Fenwick
*
The Plus One by Sophia Money-Coutts
This looks great fun, light and pure escapism. Perfect for a summer read. I can imagine myself relaxing on a warm, summers day and escaping into this one.
Sophie was incredibly warm and friendly. I think she had fun with this and is looking to make her readers smile. When she signed my copy she said ‘I so hope this makes you laugh!’ and oh my goodness do we need books that do that these days. :). Can’t wait!
The Plus One [n] informal ‘a person who accompanies an invited person to a social function or a reminder of being single, alone and absolutely plus none.’
Polly Spencer is fine. She’s single, turning thirty and only managed to have sex twice last year (both times with a Swedish banker called Fred). but seriously, she’s fine. Even if she’s still stuck at ‘Posh!’ magazine writing about royal babies and the chances of finding a plus one to her best friend’s summer wedding are looking worryingly slim.
But it’s a New Year, a new leaf and all that. Polly’s determined that over the next 365 days she’ll remember to shave her legs, drink less wine and generally get her s**t together. Her latest piece is on the infamous Jasper, Marquess of Milton, undoubtedly neither a plus one nor ‘the one’. She’s heard the stories, there’s no way she’ll succumb to his charms…
The Plus One by Sophia Money-Coutts will be published on the 9th of August 2018.
*
How to Keep a Secret by Sarah Morgan
This one was just published on the 14th of June. The table was wonderfully decorated with a miniature beach scene – a perfect holiday read and with more to come from Sarah later this year with The Christmas Sisters in November and One Summer in Paris in April 2019. Lots to look forward to from Sarah.
Matriarch Nancy knows she hasn’t been the best mother but how can she ever tell her daughters the reason why? Lauren and Jenna are as close as two sisters can be and they made a pact years ago to keep a devastating secret from their mother – but is it time to come clean?
Lauren’s teenage daughter Mackenzie masks her own pain by keeping her mother at a distance. Her mother, aunt and grandmother keep trying to reach her but will it take a stranger to show her the true meaning of family?
When life changes in an instant, the Stewart women are thrown together for a simmer and suddenly they must relearn how to be a family. And while unravelling their secrets might be their biggest challenge, it could also be their finest moment.
A story about family, being brave and opening up to new love, ‘How to Keep a Secret’ is a feel-good and emotional novel that will keep you hooked until the final page.
How to Keep a Secret by Sarah Morgan was published on the 14th of June 2018.
*
This was the first Showcase from the HQ team and it was a wonderful evening. The setting and location was perfect and the team warm and welcoming. It can be quite daunting walking into a room full of people but I never felt out of place and always felt welcome. I had met some wonderful people on this sunny evening in London and I came home with a bag full of books. It has created one problem though – I really don’t know what to read first. What I can say is that I’m looking forward to reading each and every one. I look forward to sharing my thoughts on them with you too.
That you HQ for inviting me to your Summer Showcase. I had a fabulous time.
John Sutherland – A Liz Robinson Author of the Month.
Liz Robinson knows a good book when she reads one and this month she has picked John Sutherland, as the author who has stood out and grabbed her attention. Over to Liz…
My April book of the month is a biography, a rather special, searingly honest insight into policing, ‘Blue A Memoir’ by John Sutherland.
A candid, objective, cooly passionate, and often unsettling account of policing from a police officer. John Sutherland joined the Met in 1992 aged 22, we see snapshots of his life as an officer, as he progresses up the career ladder, as he deals with all the horrors and glory a life in blue has to offer. From the very first page my attention was sucked in whole, I come from a family of blue, married blue, and spent 20 years as a member of police support staff. Even then, I was on the edge of understanding, I didn’t ever have to run towards danger, tell someone a loved one had died, sit with death, experience the bitter lows, the jubilant highs of being a police officer, yet John Sutherland takes you there.
As we read, we step in and out of a series of events that have all added up to create this man. It isn’t a glittery or gory descriptive feast, but it doesn’t have to be, he simply and clearly gives you a connection, and an understanding that under that uniform is flesh and blood and feelings. One thing is abundantly clear, this man loves his job. He feels the continued effort is worth it and yet it very nearly broke him. It is truly captivating; whether you nod, smile wryly and wish he could have been your boss, or feel the shock and admiration as you learn what our police are exposed to day after day. ‘Blue: A Memoir’ is a worthwhile and fascinating read, I really do recommend it with my heart and soul.
Note: John has written an epilogue to his story, which has been included in the paperback of ‘Blue A Memoir’. He speaks with his normal good sense, and he has the remarkable ability to put into words the thoughts and feelings so many officers struggle to properly articulate. He speaks from the heart, and his words made me cry. I wish him every success in his future, and whatever path he decides to explore. I’m quite sure to the many who know him, follow him on twitter and read his blog, he will forever remain a true inspiration.
Liz in conversation with John Sutherland 
Liz – ‘You’ve been incredibly honest in ‘Blue A Memoir’, prior to the publication did you have any concerns about feedback?’
John – ‘There were definitely one or two moments before Blue came out when I wondered how on earth people were going to respond – and when the prospect of publication felt more than a little overwhelming. I guess that, in writing a memoir, you are giving something of yourself away – without having any control over the myriad ways in which people might read and react to it.But, almost without exception, the response has been amazing.’
Liz – ‘At what point did you realise ‘Blue’ was truly speaking to, and touching peoples hearts and minds?’
John – ‘My dad died a couple of years before ‘Blue’ was published. But he read a very early draft of something that, in parts at least, resembled ‘Blue’ – and he loved it. I always said it would have been worth writing it just for that. As I continued to write, I began to show extracts to friends and family and they were incredibly encouraging. But it wasn’t until I found Laura, my brilliant literary agent, that I began to appreciate the extent to which there might be an audience beyond those closest to me. My words and stories became a book published by the wonderful Weidenfeld & Nicolson – and complete strangers picked it up and started to read.’
Liz – ‘What has been the most interesting piece of feedback you’ve had from both police and public about ‘Blue’?’
John – ‘There are two recurring pieces of feedback that I’ve had about ‘Blue’. Police officers (both serving and retired) have written and spoken to me to say that my story might have been their story – and they wanted to thank me for telling it. That has meant more to me than I can say. Members of the public have written to say that the book has given them a glimpse into a world that was previously unknown to them – and that it has left them with a renewed sense of gratitude and appreciation for the men and women who stand on the thin blue line.’
Liz – ‘What was the most difficult and enjoyable part of the writing process?’
John – ‘I started writing as part of my recovery from serious illness. It became increasingly cathartic – and I found that I really loved doing it. I have always loved reading stories. I discovered that I loved telling them too. Because much of the subject matter is quite raw, there were days when I had to step back from it to give myself a break. Once or twice, a few weeks went by before I got back to it. But it was always there waiting.
Liz – ‘Did you develop any writing habits?’
John – ‘To begin with I simply used a notebook and pen. I sat quietly and allowed myself to remember, before starting to write – for as long or short as the inspiration and energy were there. Eventually I graduated to computer and keyboard – and my favourite place to type is sitting at our kitchen table, under the natural light pouring in through the glass roof. Puffin – the 2 year old family spaniel – sits at my feet as I type.’
Liz – ‘Are you an avid reader? Which books beckon to you from bookshelves?’
John – ‘I love books. I always have done. I have to be careful what I read these days – one of the long term hangovers of my illness is an inability to deal with trauma and violence. But that still leaves plenty that’s wonderful.
Favourite books include:
• ‘First Light’ by Geoffrey Wellum: the breathtaking memoir of a Battle of Britain spitfire pilot.
• ‘Seabiscuit” by Laura Hillenbrand: the remarkable true story of three men and a racehorse.
• ‘The Shawshank Redemption’ by Stephen King: a short story about love and hope.
• ‘The Measure of a Man’ by Martin Luther King: powerful observations on the meaning of life.
But if I had to choose one book (or series of books), it would be ‘The Chronicles of Narnia’ by C.S.Lewis. I read them as a child and was captivated. I read them as an adult and was overwhelmed. I read them aloud to my wife when I first tried to win her heart. I’ve read them to each of our children in turn. And the magic remains. The deeper magic.’
Liz – ‘Has the book world been a surprise to you?’
John – ‘I bumbled into the world of books without a clue in the world! I really had no idea what expect – it all just felt like an adventure to me. And people have been wonderful.’
Liz – ‘Are you planning any more books?’
John – ‘I would love to write another book. I’ve got a handful of ideas, but I haven’t quite picked up my pen yet. There’s a family holiday to come first!’
John is appearing at the Chiddingstone Literary Festival
on Sunday 6th May at 2:45pm.
http://www.chiddingstonecastle.org.uk/literary-festival-adult-day/
‘Blue’ was published in paperback by Weidenfeld & Nicolson on the 19th of April 2018.
Follow John on Twitter by clicking here.
Find out more about John Sutherland by visiting his blog here.
Keeper by Johana Gustawsson
The next in the award-winning Roy and Castells series.
Whitechapel, 1888: London is bowed under Jack the Ripper’s reign of terror.
London 2015: actress Julianne Bell is abducted in a case similar to the terrible Tower Hamlets nurders of some ten years earlier, and harking back to the Ripper killings of a century before.
Falkenberg, Sweden, 2015: a woman’s body is found mutilated in a forest, her wounds identical to those of the Tower Hamlets victims. With the man arrested or the Tower Hamlets crimes already locked up, do the new killings mean he has a dangerous accomplice, or is a copy-cat serial killer on the loose?
Profiler Emily Roy and true-crime writer Alexis Castells again find themselves drawn into an intriguing case, with personal links that turn their world upside down…
Oh my goodness I enjoyed this, KEEPER is brilliantly written. Although I read a lot I’m not a fast reader, I generally like to take my time with a story, savour the words and allow myself to become immersed in the story. KEEPER however didn’t allow me that luxury. It pulled me in right from the start and I literally couldn’t put it down. Short chapters that create quite a punch carried me on whilst crying a constant ‘just one more’ like a child at the park bargaining for another turn on the slide.
I’ve always been a big fan of crime thrillers and murder mystery. From an early age I’ve had a love of the old fashioned Agatha Christie novels (and TV adaptations) and Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes. I love trying to figure out who the guilty party is. Johana Gustawsson brings the crime novel right up to date with her incredibly sharp, suspenseful writing. KEEPER features a host of intriguing (and rather damaged) characters who all contribute to the story in their own (at times rather disturbing) ways. There are so many twists and turns that I honestly found the ending a complete surprise. Just when you think you’ve begun to understand the who, why and when, it takes you in a totally different direction. This doesn’t mean it’s unwieldy and difficult to follow – in fact quite the opposite. The writing is excellent and by the time I turned the last page I felt that the story had come to an excellent conclusion and all my questions had been answered.
Johana weaves her story from the late nineteenth century with the reign of terror held by Jack the Ripper through to 2015 when the brilliant Roy and Castells attempt to crack the case of a modern day serial killer who is incredibly sadistic and dangerous. Johana Gustawsson is a French writer and I have to say the translation by Maxim Jakubowski is faultless. He has expertly maintained the tempo, atmosphere and brilliance of Johana’s writing. Not a word is wasted. At times shocking, this was an incredible thriller I heartily recommend and that will certainly have me checking the back seat of my car for quite some time to come.
I haven’t read BLOCK 46 yet but I will most definitely be adding it to my list AND I can’t wait to see what comes next in the brilliant Roy and Castell series.
KEEPER will be published in paperback by Orenda Books on the 30th of April 2018.
Find out more about Johana Gustawsson here.
The Psychology of Time Travel by Kate Mascarenhas
I thoroughly enjoyed reading a sampler of this time travelling thriller; it kept me guessing throughout and left me on a knife edge wondering how it will end. 1967: Four … Continue reading The Psychology of Time Travel by Kate Mascarenhas
Today Will Be Different by Maria Semple
Published in hardback 2016 with the paperback version following in 2017, I was delighted to review this novel for Lovereading. I’d now love to share my thoughts with you .
A smart and sassy take on a 21st century mum making her way in the world, trying not to cause too much damage but also hoping that maybe, just maybe she may be able to find the contentment within herself that she so badly craves.
For one day we enter the life of Eleanor and she’s determined that today will be different and if nothing else she’s determined to leave the world a better place than she found it. Then her day takes an unexpected turn as the past creeps into her present. Suddenly there are questions demanding to be answered. Why is her husband on a ‘vacation’ she knows nothing about? Where is he disappearing to each day? How will she explain to Timby about the sister she never talks about? And what will happen to The Flood Girls? Long since consigned to the back of the closet.
Maria Semple’s fresh, unique voice is full of humour and yet also captures the same complexities we all experience trying to find our place in the world. Through this novel we have a snapshot of Eleanor’s life, her fears, her pain and the thing that makes it complete in so many ways. We also experience the crazy thoughts that often flit in and out of her head. Thoughts we can all relate to and the unexplained conclusions we leap to and in turn the consequences they have on our happiness. Semple expertly weaves past experiences into Eleanor’s day as we see her trying to track down her husband whilst also being confronted by a sister that she no longer acknowledges.
Today Will Be Different shares the hope that we can learn to be more accepting of who we are and allow ourselves to be happier. Semple’s writing style is sharp and one that you may either love or hate but it’s bold and distinctive and personally I loved it.
Synopsis
Eleanor Flood knows she’s a mess. But today will be different. Today she will shower and put on real clothes. She will attend her yoga class after dropping her son, Timby, off at school. She’ll see an old friend for lunch. She won’t swear. She will initiate sex with her husband, Joe. But before she can put her modest plan into action – life happens.
For today is the day Timby has decided to pretend to be ill to weasel his way into his mother’s company. It’s also the day surgeon Joe has chosen to tell his receptionist – but not Eleanor – that he’s on vacation. And just when it seems that things can’t go more awry, a former colleague produces a relic from the past – a graphic memoir with pages telling of family secrets long buried and a sister to whom Eleanor never speaks.
Today Will Be Different is pubished by W&N an imprint of Orion Publishing Co
Tales Before Bedtime 