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Sunday, March 10, 2024

The Hidden Life of Cecily Larson

If you don't know the work of Ellen Baker yet, you're in for a treat. "The Hidden Life of Cecily Larson" uses the author's signature prose to paint a powerful tale of love across four generations. Call it a family saga, call it historical fiction, as long as you also call it your next read.

There's so much to love about this book! The words, the world, the warmth. This book might make you cry, it might make you sigh with nostalgia, it might even make you rush out to buy circus tickets - but one thing it'll definitely make you do is think deeply about the world as it was in the 1930s and as it is today. 



Blurb:
In 1924, four-year-old Cecily Larson’s mother reluctantly drops her off at an orphanage in Chicago, promising to be back once she’s made enough money to support both Cecily and herself. But she never returns, and shortly after high-spirited Cecily turns seven, she is sold to a traveling circus to perform as the “little sister” to glamorous bareback rider Isabelle DuMonde. With Isabelle and the rest of the circus, Cecily finally feels she’s found the family she craves. But as the years go by, the cracks in her little world begin to show. And when teenage Cecily meets and falls in love with a young roustabout named Lucky, she finds her life thrown onto an entirely unexpected—and dangerous—course.

In 2015, Cecily is now 94 and living a quiet life in Minnesota, with her daughter, granddaughter, and great-grandson. But when her family decides to surprise her with an at-home DNA test, the unexpected results not only bring to light the tragic love story that Cecily has kept hidden for decades but also throw into question everything about the family she’s raised and claimed as her own for nearly seventy years. Cecily and everyone in her life must now decide who they really are and what family—and forgiveness—really mean.



Sunday, January 21, 2024

Cassandra Complex / Cassandra in Reverse by Holly Smale

These are the things I didn't know before I started writing this blog:

  1. "Cassandra Complex" and "Cassandra in Reverse" by Holly Smale are the same book. I was hoping it was a series, but nope.
  2. Holly Smale, the author of said Cassandra books, is not the authour of "The Rosie Project" trilogy - that's Graeme Simsion. My mistake, but a fortuitous one.
  3. "Cassandra Complex" is a Reese's Book Club Pick.

These are the things I already knew:
  1. "Cassandra Complex" is a bloody good book.
  2. Yeah, the protagonist is on the spectrum.
  3. It's about time travel.
  4. Everyone should read it.



Eye of the Needle by Ken Follett

"Eye of the Needle" by Ken Follett is one of the best spy thrillers I've ever read. It's right up the with 
The Day of the Jackal" by Frederick Forsyth - which, okay, stricktly speaking doesn't feature spies. What's interesting in both these books is that the plot hinges on events that have already happened, and yet the books manage to keep you biting your nails through the night as you read "just one more chapter".

I almost didn't read "Eye of the Needle" on principle, because I actively avoid World War Two fiction, having been exposed to it way too much as a child. I'm glad I bent on this one - it's exceptionally well written.



Christmas Presents by Lisa Unger

I love Lisa Unger's fiction, and her novella "Christmas Presents" was no exception. I read it just before Christmas (apologies I'm only blogging it now, but it's been a wonderful and busy holiday season), and can I just say to my favourite authors out there that writing an annual Christmas novella is an excellent idea....

This one has a podcaster, a cold case, and beautiful Christmas presents that may or may not be from a serial killer. Christmas fiction the way I like it! (And yes, along the same line of thought, "Die Hard" is a Christmas movie.)



A Stroke of the Pen by Terry Pratchett

"A Stroke of the Pen" by Terry Pratchett is a collection of his early stories published under a pen name in various newspapers and magazines. They are full of magic trees and dragons, and while the style may not be as polished as in "Night Watch", the author's voice is definitely him.

Speaking of voices, what makes the audio book extra special is that the stories are read by people like David Tennant, Nigel Planer, Stephen Briggs, AND Rhianna Pratchett.

The foreword is - of course -  by Neil Gaiman. 

This is more of a cult book, so if you've never heard of Terry Pratchett, start with... hmmm - "Going postal"? "Mort"? "Hogfather"? "Guards Guards"? "Good Omens"? - and circle back to this one once you're a fan.



Leaving Time by Jodi Picoult

"Leaving Time" by Jodi Picoult is a novel about mourning, memories, mothers and - yes - elephants. Beautifully written and meticulously researched, it will stay with you long after you've turned the last page.

Is it sad in parts? Yes. 

Is it uplifting? Yes.

Is it enjoyable? Immensely.