L’ art de la simplicite – how to live more with less by Dominique Loreau

this is the blurb at the back of the book “Living in Japan and inspired by Oriental philosophy, Loreau takes you on a step-by-step journey to a clutter-free home, a calm mind and an energised body” – dear reader, doesn’t that sound wonderful??

 

and yes, this is really a great treat – quite easy to read and with lots of philosophy and lessons included, this is a lovely book to lose yourself in and to make plans with!

I have reviewed “The Japanese Art of Decluttering” on this site before and I must say I do prefer that book to this because it speaks to me differently, but that comment in no way detracts from the usefulness and joy of this handy gem.

again, 3 stars for this book!

Hello, Beautiful! scenes from a life by Hannie Rayson

this is the biography of Hannie Rayson a playwright and screenwriter.

a very interesting read which is a collection of stories of Hannie’s extremely interesting and adventurous life. Written with humour, pathos and love – a great read.

yes, another 3 stars!

The Mandibles by Lionel Shriver

This is the story of the Mandible family and we meet them in 2019 and stay with them until 2047.

It’s a scary, crazy, frightening and fascinating look at life in the not too distant future – or else how our lives might go if the brilliant author, Shriver, has things right.

The novel deals with the elderly, the young, families, economies, discrimination, violence and the life of refugees – it is completely spellbinding and an utterly enjoyable read.

I did find the first 100 pages tough going, but after that it was a real page-turner.

a definite 3 star read

Hot Milk by Deborah Levy

This novel was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize 2016 – the story of a daughter and her relationship with a compromised mother, this book is intriguing, entrancing and thought-provoking.

numerous characters form part of the story with the emotional and physical settings of the novel adding depth to the relationships that are being examined.

a definite 3 star read

The Course of Love by Alain de Botton

The Course of Love is a novel that follows the lives of Rabih and Kirsten as they fall in love, marry, have children and share a life together. It sounds mundane but this story is an honest, playful, funny and sad look at what it takes to be part of a modern relationship.

The author uses a very unusual form of narrative, which takes a little getting used to – it’s almost like a psychology/history comment on what is happening between the characters – but it really adds to the story and the depth of feeling in the novel.

A definite 3 star read!

Work Like Any Other by Virginia Reeves

This is a work of fiction about someone trying to do something good, but which goes horribly wrong. The consequences are dire and many lives are affected by this one big mistake.

I really enjoyed this book because it is so believable. The author gives us a story of dispossession, injustice and redemption together with a look at family life, love and loss.

A very powerful work which is thoroughly engaging.

another 3 star read!

Scattered Pearls by Sohila Zanjani with David Brewster

This is a very engaging work of fiction, based on real life experiences, which looks at three generations of Iranian women and their resilience and personal growth despite domestic abuse, discrimination and violence.

Despite the sadness, there is hope, happiness and love in this story and it is a book of optimism, courage and hope which makes it a  great read, probably more for women than men.

another 3 star read!

Shy – A Memoir by Sian Prior

This is a very interesting book that looks at shyness experienced by the author for most of her life – and also looks at the science of social anxiety.

The author provides an honestly raw look at her life as an excrutiatingly shy person, delving into her childhood, adolescence and adulthood, her relationships and working career.

a thought-provoking biography which is well worth reading.

another 3 star read!

The Shepherd’s Life – A Tale of the Lake District by James Rebanks

This would have to be one of my fave 2016 reads! The author, James Rebanks, writes his biography in a beautifully poetic style that is very powerful and inspiring.

This book is raw, honest and totally captivating.

Rebanks explains his history and that of his family who have farmed the Lake District for a very long time.

The reader gets a wonderful insight into the life of a shepherd, his family, education and love of the land and the animals. The importance of neighbours, resilience and adaptability make for a fantastic read.

Really worth reading – a definite 3 star!

Wild Pork and Watercress by Barry Crump

This great book has been turned into a movie recently – Hunt for the Wilderpeople.

an overweight Maori boy and his grumpy Uncle Hec take to the wilds of NZ to escape the Social Welfare people. The pair live off what they can catch and hunt and form a loving bond that makes you laugh and cry. Their life on the run is one big adventure – a definite page turner. read the book before you see the movie – and enjoy the ending, which I won’t spoil for you here

a 3 star read!