By the author of Water for Elephants (and if you haven’t read that yet WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?) – I enjoyed this book (but not as much as Water for Elephants) – I liked the characters – Maddie is dragged across the ocean during wartime in support of Ellis (her husband) who is in search of the Lochness Monster. He and his sidekick were entertaining albeit frustratingly shallow (as the author intended) – Maddie discovers layer upon layer of her “self” while in wartime Scotland and Ellis and Hugh never progress beyond adolescence. The story ticks along nicely and, although the ending is a little neat, it is a grand read.

Nicely paced, good characters, right amount of suspense – ending a little too neat but all in all a good read!

I you liked The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry you will fall in love with Frank. He is a pensioner who got run over by a milk truck and has a home care nurse coming to help him out while he recuperates. He gets a little more than he bargained for as he grapples with aging and loneliness. He is very funny and lovable. His secret to eternal youth? “Don’t get out of bed in the morning”

You must suspend your belief for this one – well worth it though. It is a dark 19th century Victorian English tale of vampires and legends – great characters and good suspense.

I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of this novel. Expected light chick lit but instead found it to be a very funny, insightful and honest look at the big little lies we tell ourselves and the lengths to which we will go to believe them. The novel is set in a little town where a murder is committed and a very engaging host of characters are involved in the drama of discovering what exactly happened. I loved the book!

I know he writes for teens but he is so engaging – again, another wise, witty novel!

David Mitchell is a brilliant writer – characters are wise, witty – if you can suspend your belief a little the plot twists and turns and is plausible in an implausible kind of way. It is magical, suspenseful and imaginative.

Not to sound unoriginal but if you’ve not read Gilead start with that. It is the story of a 77 year old reverend who is writing his life story for his seven year old son – He is wise, witty and at the end of his life. Lila is written from the perspective of the reverend’s wife – her story and how she – a 35 year old – ended up marrying a man twice her age – both wonderful books!

If you didn’t read The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry then start with that – it is the story of Harold who receives a letter from Queenie telling him that she is dying. They’ve not seen each other in over 30 years – Harold inadvertently begins to walk to Queenie who is way too far away to walk to. The love song of Queenie Hennessey is her life story and tells us what exactly happened between her and Harold to create this bond between them. Both books are fabulous – so witty, wise and inspiring!

World War 2- Marie-Laure is blind and makes her way to Saint-Malo with her dad – bringing with them a rare gem from Parisian museum where dad works. Werner is a young German boy who becomes a key player in the German occupation of France because of his extraordinary gift with all things radio related. The parallel stories eventually come together in a suspenseful and very satisfying (although sad) way. No real villains here – no stereotypes – just ordinary people caught up in extraordinary events that test their characters – and isn’t that what great books are like? Terrific read!