Let's buy some books

It's time. To buy the books for Book Club. Or maybe not? But - you tell me - when is it a BAD time to  buy some books?

Here are my latest recommendations from what I've read recently. I've included a brief overview here, but if you click the cover, you'll link to my review, which is a little longer. Then come back here to finish the list.

Jack and Grace Angel look perfect from the outside. He's a lawyer, defending women affected by domestic violence. She's given up her career, married him for the happy ever after. Her sister has Down's Syndrome, and they both look out for her.

Behind Closed Doors by BA Paris is enticing. Once you know what is really going on, you will race through this thrilling, horrific journey until its inevitable conclusion.

And then you'll tell your friends to read it too. All of them.

It's that good.

After You by Jojo Moyes

This is the long-awaited sequel to Me Before You (2012), which, if you read it, took your breath away. Maybe even more than that. It's now a movie, which I plan to watch in the not-too-distant future.

Although the title is a bit of a spoiler for the first book, the author waited a good long time to write a sequel. We meet Louisa Clark, a little reminiscent of the original - down and out in London, no life, no direction and not very happy, unsurprisingly.

It's almost impossible to write this review without any spoilers for either book, so let me focus on the characters.

Lou is relatable. She comes over to your house, slouching, probably. You serve her tea (or wine), and she starts to talk, reluctantly. As you listen, you realise that her problems make yours more bearable. As she speaks, she knows the way forward, and as it comes to both of you, the revelation that life is very worth the living, even when it's shitty.

Of course, when you get invited back, you also meet her mother - a late bloomer - finding herself in her fifties, Lou's grumpy "I should be the heroine" sister, their long-suffering and insufferable father, and grandpa, who lightens things up with his version of crazy. The in-laws also entertain, as do the support group - all battling through the wild ride of life in varying states of messed-up.

Me Before You is a hard act to follow. Jojo Moyes did so with aplomb. A little slow at times, this book, served with a cup of tea (or wine) will lift your spirits and restore your hope, if not in the "happy ever after", then in the "it'll get a little better".

4 stars

ISBN:9780670026609

By the same author...

It's a Beautiful Day

Day after day after day after day is beautiful. So amazing that we forget to acknowledge how gorgeous. We don't even go outside and look around. If someone reminds us, we glance out of the window, compare the blueness of the sky to yesterday and say "I suppose".

Yet the beauty all around us is there, every day. It doesn't stop being because we don't look and really see.

That's one of the reasons I love to run outside. If I'm really feeling inspired I'll take my phone and even snap a few pics. There are always so many opportunities.

Here's one from two weeks ago.

The Fairest

It's been a beautiful week.

I had a birthday, and was totally spoilt. Surprised, shocked and then blown away with amazement at the generosity of friends, family and especially my nearest and dearest.

And that makes me feel totally and utterly showered in love and grace - undeserving, yet grateful and humbled.

Those who know me well understand how words can move me. So it was that they let their minds and pens and fingers on keyboards be completely inspired. In my direction. What a treat. I am still feasting on all the wonderful images in my mind  - the smiles, the tears of love and joy that entered my world. They float like a cloud around me, and  I feel like Snow White in the forest, when the enchanted animals come close. I know her delight at a squirrel eating from her hand, and want to inhale that white rose scent so hard that it becomes a part of me forever.

I realise how lucky I am.

It got me thinking about worship. The fragrance of those special times spent with God. Outside in the mountains, at the seashore, and in a sun streamed building, hands raised with some of His people, the air filled with voices, emotion and the closeness, the tenderness, the presence.

I wish I could stream some of that to you now. Instead, I'll share a hymn that captures just a little bit. It's Amy Grant's rendition of Fairest Lord Jesus. I love everything about this hymn - the words, the melody, and especially the lovely harmonies - both vocal and in this guitar arrangement. It's gorgeous.

I hope it brightens your day. And that you find a Snow White moment too.

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Embrace your storm

                     
It is well

Ten of the Best #70

So much to write about and read  this week, I don't know how we slept at night. Oh, you didn’t, much? Me neither. The week that was a history maker, a page turner, the new psychological thriller with the twist you won't see coming hat everyone is talking about... And that's just here in SA. No trumps.

I liked Bruce’s list on Monday, and Monday will also be remembered as the day that Shaun Abrahams dropped all charges against Pravin Gordhan. Wednesday, however, was the day of the week, the tipping point, the turning circle, the proverbial straw. Of course it was. Wednesday was a very good day.

Click Zapiro for some more news.

Friday Books - After You

It's Friday and I have a weekend of parties and social occasions. Damn! When will I read?

Friday also means we get to link up with other bloggers and share our favourite things - books.

BookBeginnings, hosted by Rose City Reader and Friday56, hosted by Freda's Voice, are where you'll find them, and the rules are easy - share the beginning and p56.

My Book this week is:

Isn't that a pretty cover? I have the one on the left from book club this month.

Not really a "hook you in from the start" beginning, as I don't even recall who the man is, now that I'm halfway through. But this is the sequel to Jojo's "Me before You", which is now a movie, and was very popular, so maybe the beginning doesn't really matter?

The Insect Farm by Stuart Prebble

Jonathan and Roger Maguire are brothers. They lead fairly normal lives, with Roger, the elder, being mentally challenged.

Roger builds an insect farm. He purchases varieties of insects, and observes their behaviour. Jonathan, our narrator, attends an out of town university, together with his girlfriend Harriet. The boys are obsessed, Roger with his insect farm, and Jonathan with beautiful flautist Harriet.

Described as a psychological thriller, the pace of this is somewhat gentle. More eerie than terrifying, and more lurking evil than in-your-face axe murderer. I found that made it all the more disturbing.

The plot unfolds cleverly to a satisfying conclusion, and you will want to reread the prologue, as I did.

A taut, well-written debut, I couldn't put it down.

4 stars

ISBN:9781846883545

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Stay with me

Good morning. Sun's up. Time to run.

And I just have to share that last week was a good one - we ran every day. And by ran, I mean that we (mostly) ran the longer part to our coffee stop, and then walked the short way back. Good stuff.

And whilst you're probably picturing "run" as a hair-blown-back, beautifully graceful, bounding through the tree-lined streets moment, let me assure you that it's not. A better picture would be hair bouncing, legs shuffling, try not to get hit by a taxi, while your friend grabs you by the flailing arm (thanks M) so that you stay upright moment. That's how we roll, people.

Aren't you proud? I am. And this week, we're doing it again. 

So the song, as we bound off into the sun, is Stay With Me by Rubber Duc. Because "when you're down and you feel funny; only you can make the sun even more sunny, if you stay with me. Stay with me."

I love the clip, because it's got one of my favourite places to run on it - the East Coast of sunny SA. I love to run as the sun rises over that beautiful ocean. 

Such a catchy tune.

Now get running, if you wanna stay with me this week (and you do). And watch out for those taxis.

Last week - Shout out

More running moments.....

Ten of the Best #69

Morning crazy peeps that make my life worth living. Thanks for all the wonderful posts on your timelines that I didn't have time to read during the week. 

I stayed up late to get through them all, and here they are - starting our weekend the right way. Grab your coffee, and come right back. It's been a week.

Richard Poplak summarizes our week in SA for us. So does Zapiro, in the cartoon. Click Zapiro to get to Poplak.

Here are the 6 quotes from Pravin’s Presidential Podium, because who has ever listened to a medium-term budget speech in full? Methinks this will be forever remembered as the wounded buffalo moment. Bravo Pravin. 

Friday Books - the Insect Farm

I am so glad it's Friday. 

It means we get to link up with these wonderful Blogs and share our favourite things - Books.

BookBeginnings, hosted by Rose City Reader, and The Friday 56 - hosted by Freda’s Voice are where you'll find them. Both involve sharing excerpts from a current book - the beginning and - you guessed it - page 56.

The Insect Farm by Stuart Prebble