Latest Read

I haven't done a book post for a while and it's probably because I haven't been reading a lot lately. Living in London, one spends a large portion of the day commuting to and from work. I used this time to listen to my iPod and whizzed through loads of books. Now that I am back in Cape Town; driving to work, coming home to two adorable puppies, who need loads of love and attention, the books have fallen by the wayside.

A colleague told me about this book and I absolutely HAD to read it.

This true story follows Lawrence Anthony as he inherits a herd of rogue, violent elephants. He has no choice  but to take them, saving them from death. His game reserve, Thula Thula, becomes their home, as he fights for their survival, their trust, and finally their friendship.

Lawrence with Nana, the Matriarch.    source

Think this would make a brilliant movie, except for the impossibility of having an elephant as the main lead.

LMM

xoxo

Book Giveaway

I recently won this book on Tanya Kovarsky's blog, Rattle and Mum.

I had actually won Paige Nick's first book on her blog, A Million Miles From Normal, and could not wait to sink my teeth into the second. Paige Nick is a blogging extraordinaire, copywriter and columnist for The Sunday Times...her book could never in a million years not be great!

We follow the lives of two contrasting characters. One being Stella, who is newly married and happily plodding along in her controlled bliss, until the day that shatters her existence, family and marriage; and Poppy who is hitch-hiking across America, with nothing but a backpack and a pink hairdo. Paige Nick manages to create moments that are equally hilarious, yet poignantly serious at the same time.

I absolutely loved this book and after just coming back from London, I cherished the many South Africanisms. I am excitedly awaiting the third novel :)

I also got a copy of Julie and Julia, which I had already read, but who can ever get enough of that book?


LMM
xoxo

A Visit From the Goon Squad

This was my final London bookclub read. I am extremely sad to have said goodbye to all the wonderful ladies that I have spent the last year getting to know. We had amazing evenings, filled with intelligent chatter, tipsy gossip and yummy food. The best part of the night would be when we would all discuss the last month of our lives. Each person would chat a bit and then everyone would turn to me and say, "So LMM, what crazy, funny, ridiculous stories can you tell us about your patients?" Ha! Their bookclub will definitely not be the same without my patient anecdotes :)

This brings us onto the topic of final read. What can I say about this book? To be completely honest, I cannot even tell you what it is about. Each chapter jumps to a different time with different characters. I thought it would all come together in the end, like an Oprah "a-ha" light bulb moment, but it didn't. There was shoplifting, a music, coffee with gold flakes, but I cannot for the life of me find the gist of the story. Some characters did reappear, but by then I couldn't remember where they came from.I was confused and kept wondering if I was the only person who was retarded enough not to "get" this critically acclaimed novel. If you have read it, please help me out!

I am now on the prowl for capetonian readers to start my very own bookclub.

LMM

xoxo

Pigeon English

In October it was my turn to choose a book for us to read at bookclub. I decided on Pigeon English by Stephen Kelman. One reason is that I wanted to read all the Man Booker Prize Shortlist books and this was one of them and the second is that it has been compared to "Room" by Emma Donoghue, which I loved.

Harri Opoku has just moved from Ghana, along with his mother and sister, Lydia, to England. They live in a South London housing estate, where gangs and crime are rife. They have left behind a grandmother, their father and baby sister, Agnes, who remain in Ghana, unable to immigrate. Harri often reflects back to the simple life he had in Ghana, which fiercely contrasts to the urban life of the Dell Farm Estate. Here he makes new friends, is faced with a school crush and comes into contact with the Dell Farm Crew, a gang of local ruffians. When a boy from their school is killed in a stabbing, Harri and his friend embark on a murder mystery, which results in a shocking outcome.

I really enjoyed this book, especially the London slang mixed in with local terminology from Ghana. I especially liked the pigeon that looks over Harri and the observations it makes. All in all a good read.

7/10




LMM

xoxo

Jamrach's Menagerie - Carol Birch

As a small project I decided that I wanted to read the 6 books shortlisted for The Man Booker Prize 2011. I already know who has won, but I am going to keep going regardless and then decide which one I liked best. First on the list was Jamrach's Menagerie by Carol Birch.

It is her 11th novel and is a mixture of Robinson Crusoe, Life of Pi and Oliver Twist all rolled into one. The main character, Jaffy Brown, is eight years old. We first meet him when he find's himself in the jaws of a Bengal tiger on the streets of London. He is rescued by the owner, Mr Jamrach, who runs a menagerie. As a reward he offers Jaffy a job, cleaning out cages. This is where Jaffy is first exposed to the wonderous collection of animals that Mr Jamrach owns. From Tasmanian devils, to toucans and even elephants, Jaffy is transported to an exotic life, faraway from his everyday life in East London. Here he meets Tim Linver, who becomes his best friend, his rival and later on a companion through life changing ordeal. Jaffy and Tim are invited to set sail on the Lysander, in search of a rare "dragon" and both decide to partake in this epic adventure. One is then transported to life at sea. From the drunken seamen to the crazy crew, Jaffy finally finds a foothold in life and begins to grow up and mature.

A number of exciting, gruesome, heart breaking and dangerous things happen aboard the Lysander and without giving anything away, it is what made the book for me. I felt like I was reading a children's book, with a moral byline, but still captivating enough to make me reflect on the book, once it was done. This book is something completely different to anything I have ever read and that's what made it such a brilliant read!

8/10



Happy 1st of December...let the Christmas Festivities begin!
LMM

xoxo

P.S I love you

This book covers my worst nightmare. Finding the love of your life and then losing them tragically. I had watched the movie when it first came out, but wanted to see if the book was better.

Holly and Gerry are soul mates, until Gerry is diagnosed with a brain tumour and passes away. Holly is left alone and doesn't quite know how she will carry on living without Gerry. One day she receives a package that Gerry had sent her before his death. Inside are 11 envelopes, one for each month coming up. They each provide her with a quick message and usually with a task that she needs to perform. Some of the tasks seem silly and pointless, but each has a purpose to show Holly that she can forge her own way and survive without Gerry. The book has some great characters, who are there every moment beside Holly; Denise and Sharon, her 2 BFFs, her 5 siblings, and her new friend Daniel.

I enjoyed this book and would definitely like to read more of her work.
7/10


LMM

xoxo

The Elegance of the Hedgehog

"Madame Michel has the elegance of a hedgehog: on the outside, she's covered in quills, a real fortress, but my gut feeling is that on the inside, she has the same simple refinement as the hedgehog: a deceptively indolent little creature, fiercely solitary- and terribly elegant."

    
I have just finished reading this literary gem. I bought it knowing nothing about the book or author. It was originally written in French and sold more than a million copies in France, whilst winning many awards.

The story follows the lives of two people, a 50-something year old concierge of luxury Parisan apartments, Renee Michel and Paloma Josse, a 12-year-old girl, who is planning to commit suicide on her 13th birthday. These two characters meet when a Japanese man moves into one of the apartments and binds them together through his love for music, literature and intellectual conversation.

Initially I was slightly bored with the book, as the characters were unfolding, it seemed nothing was happening, but by the end I was in love with Renee Michel's character and am left longing for more.

7/10

Can you recommend any good reads?

LMM

xoxo

Lolita

This was The Bookclub's choice for August. I had been wanting to read this for a while now, especially since it was on the BBC's Big Read Top 100 book list.

The book was first published in 1959 and I think the fame, or rather notoriety, of the book, lies more in the topic than in the actual written word.

Humbert Humbert is the main character and he becomes obsessed with Dolores (Lolita), a 12 year old girl who lives in the house where he is renting a room. His infatuation becomes so great that he even marries Charlotte (Dolores' mother), in the hope of staying close to his darling Lolita. Charlotte ends up dying in a freak accident and he become Dolores' guardian, travelling all around America with her.

Humbert Humbert is not the most reliable narrator and I often found myself thinking of Lolita as a petulant child, who instigated the whole ordeal. The foreword and afterword shed light onto the intricacy of the novel and the sheer cleverness Vladimir Nabokov's displays with some of his prose.

"Lolita, the light of my life, fire of my loins. My sin, my soul."

I raced through the first half of this book, rapt with anticipation, but was slightly disappointed with how events unravelled. I would definitely recommend this as a good, quick and very interesting read. 7.5/10



LMM

xoxo

A Million Miles From Normal

I have been dying to read this book ever since I won this copy on Paige Nick's blog, A Million Miles from Normal. This was another one of my Croatia reads and I absolutely devoured it in 2 days.

"All Rachel Marcus wants is a cool job, a guy who has all his own teeth and a decent cup of tea. Is that too much to ask?"

Rachel Marcus is a copywriter at an advertising agency in Johannesburg, until she gets fired. She picks up and moves to New York City, where she is hired at a "different" kind of ad agency, that specialises in marketing for sanitary pads and socks. She moves into a shoe-box flat, filled with her very own rodents and bugs. What seems like a disaster is somehow transformed into a compelling series of turn of events.

I sunk my teeth into this book immediately and found it to be much more satisfying than a normal chick-lit read. It reminded me a lot of Lindsey Kelk's "I Heart New York". It is filled with hilarious incidents, magical friendships and of course the obligatory touch of romance. What more could you want?

8/10


Thanks for the giveaway Paige!



LMM

xoxo

Room by Emma Donoghue

"Room" is Emma Donoghue's seventh novel and was long listed for the Man Booker Prize in 2010. Ever since buying this book, I knew it would be a story like no other and indeed, it was.


More than half of the novel is set in Room, not a room, but Room, where Jack shares this tiny existence with his Mother. Jack was born in Room, five years ago, after his Mother was abducted and they have been held captive there ever since. He has never experienced anything other than this 12-foot-square world. The brilliance in the writing comes through in the depiction of his world and things that fill his daily life. For example, one becomes familiar with characters such as Meltedy Spoon, Rug and the joy in Sunday Treat. I read this book in complete awe and admiration for "Ma", who is never too tired, bored or depressed to turn a mundane day into one filled with fun activities and learning experiences. She expertly teaches him about their closed off "world", but spares him the pain of knowing and longing for "The Outside".


Eventually, through the courage that Jack inspires, the two of them manage to escape to "The Outside". Here it is not all joy and sunshine, as they both battle with coming to terms with a new life, in which they are seen as individuals. They instantly become famous and need more than dark glasses and sunscreen to protect them. Jack grapples with spacial awareness and "Ma" with being her own person, whilst she has to deal with their family, her own mental stability, and putting herself first for the first time in her life.


This novel explores the themes of selfless parenthood, torture and the rediscovery of one's soul. An excellent read, which I highly recommend to anyone looking for something slightly different yet inspirational. This has been my best read of 2011! Read it!


LMM

xoxo

Started Early, Took My Dog

I have just finished reading this book, my first delve into Kate Atkinson.

The story follows 3 people's lives. Tracy Waterhouse, retired policewoman, Jackson Brodie, private detective and Tilly, elderly demented actress. The chapters swiftly change from present day to 1975, where an event happened that has shaped the future and left many unanswered questions. The 3 characters are unknowingly all linked and there paths are bound, by fate, to cross.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, although the storyline and style were quite different to my normal reads.

My assessment:  7/10 


LMM

xoxo

Confessions of a GP

For the last week this has been the book that I have kep in my handbag and read on the tube. It has chapters that are only 3 pages long and each chapter tells an amusing story about a different patient or experience.

The book is written by a GP, who also does a few A+E shifts. It is light-hearted and delightfully funny. I found the stories highly entertaining as I have often had similar patients and can totally relate, some of these include; a flirtatious transvestite, a woman who is plagued by pornographic dreams about Tom Jones and many more. This book is a lovely, quick read and can give one better insight into the going-ons of the NHS in England.


Have a good weekend!


LMM

xoxo

When God was a Rabbit

"This is a story about a brother and a sister.

It's a book about childhood and growing up, friendships and families, triumph and tragedy and everything in between.

More than anything, it's a book about love in all its forms."


Sarah Winman's debut novel was my latest monthly bookclub read. The protagonist is Elly and the story spans four decades of her life shared out between Essex, Cornwall and NYC. It is divided into two parts, her childhood and twenty years later as an adult. Colourful characters enhance her daily life: her eccentric family, an aged neighbour, Jenny Penny, who smells of chips and has crazy hair, a Shirley Bassey impersonator and of course the rabbit called God.

Throughout the dark encounters, trials of friendship and different forms of love, her one constant, is her brother, Joe. He has experienced every moment of ectasy and every day of sorrow with her, keeping her untold secret and understanding why she is the way she is.

This isn't a book I would normally choose to read, but I am thrilled that I had the chance to delve into the story that is Elly. I was slightly disappointed with the number of unexplained things, but I suppose those were there for the reader to decide for themselves. All in all a good read and something slightly different.



LMM

xoxo

The Long Song by Andrea Levy

Andrea Levy's latest book, The Long Song won the Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction 2011 and was shortlisted for The Man Booker Prize 2010.

Set in Jamaica on a sugarcane plantation in the early 1800s, when slavery was rife, this story is narrated by July. She was born to slave Kitty after a harrowing rape by the plantation's overseer. She tells her story as an elderly woman, encouraged by her publisher son, Thomas.

July's life has been set in stone. She is to be a farm slave, as her Mother and Grandmother have been, until one fateful day, Caroline Mortimer, snatches her away to become a house slave, a lady's maid. She is now renamed "Marguerite" and her life is forever changed. The story follows a course of love, betrayal, loyality and isolation. On the 31st of July 1938, slavery is abolished and July's future suddenly changes course.

I don't want to give away too much, but it really is a wonderful read and without sounding too morbid, I really do find stories about slavery fascinating.

Hope you get to read this one...it's a keeper!

LMM

xoxo

Julie and Julia

I finished this book a few weeks ago and absolutely loved it. It is the true story of how Julie Powell decides to cook her way through Julia Child's cookbook in one year, whilst blogging about it.

"Government drone by day, renegade foodie by night. Too old for theatre, too young for children, and too bitter for anything else, Julie Powell was looking for a challenge. And in the Julie/Julia project she found it. Risking her marriage, her job, and her cats' well-being, she has signed on for a deranged assignment.
365 days. 536 recipes. One girl and a crappy outer borough kitchen.
How far will it go? We can only wait. And wait. And wait...
The Julie/Julia Project. Coming soon to a computer terminal near you."

~~ Julia Powell
Sunday, August 25, 2002

Julie Powell and her gimlet making husband live in New York. She has a rather dull desk job and decides to take on this great task in order to add more meaning and lustre to her life. Not being able to cook properly and doing it in the mouldy shamble, that is their flat, makes for a highly amusing read. Her wit and sharp passages give one a Sex in The City feel, all the while retaining the wholesomeness of the food.


I would definitely recommend this book.....with a few snacks on hand.



LMM


xoxo

Happy Friday!

My day has just been made!!!!!

I won a book on Paige Nick's gorgeous blog. I am so thrilled and excited, as I wanted to read this book anyway. It is her first novel, A Million Miles From Normal.

Hope something exciting happens to you today!

For my last winning...click here

LMM

xoxo

Latest Reads

I have been devouring books the last few weeks. Here are 2 books that I recently read.......

This is a beautiful book that follows the story of two characters, Dexter and Emma, through the exact day, over twenty years. They first meet in 1988 at University and have a drunken fling and we see how their relationship evolves as we peek into their lives on the 15th of June each year. Initially their relationship is purely platonic and as they travel together, share hardships and face failures, we see how things take shape each year.

Dexter is the guy who you love to hate. Arrogant, selfish, devilishly handsome, but too preoccupied with his own reflection to give anything the time of day. Emma is the typical girl next door. She works hard, is selfless and completely unaware of how beautiful she actually is.

Without giving too much away, it is the perfect story of the imperfect lovestory and I relished every page.

This was my Bookclub's read for the month. I had heard a lot about this book and was eager to see what it was all about. Being Haruki Murakami's most famous book, a dysfunctional love story set in the 1960s in Tokyo. The main character, Watanabe, falls in love with Naoko. Naoko is a troubled soul and after one night shared together, the rest of their brief encounters are at an asylum, where she is a patient. Watanabe becomes a lover and friend to many other strange characters, Nagasawa, Midori and Reiko.

To be honest, I found this book a bit odd and didn't appreciate the sexual events that occurred. It was all a bit strange and I felt like I should have been on some form of drug to fully "get" it.


Here are some of my other reads:

A Week in December
The White Woman on the Green Bicycle
My Books Page




LMM

xoxo