Bibliomaniac's Book Shelf: My Week in Books -10th Sept 2017


MY WEEK IN BOOKS! 

10th Sept 2017 

Welcome to my weekly round up all with the latest news from my bookshelves!

IF YOU ONLY HAVE TIME FOR ONE BOOK ...

THE DOLL HOUSE by PHOEBE MORGAN


You never know who’s watching…

Corinne’s life might look perfect on the outside, but after three failed IVF attempts it’s her last chance to have a baby. And when she finds a tiny part of a doll house outside her flat, it feels as if it’s a sign.

But as more pieces begin to turn up, Corinne realises that they are far too familiar. Someone knows about the miniature rocking horse and the little doll with its red velvet dress. Someone has been inside her house…

How does the stranger know so much about her life? How long have they been watching? And what are they waiting for…?

You'll have to wait until the 22nd Sept to read my review of this but The Doll House is published on 14th September and I would highly recommend that you preorder it or pop it on your wish list! Gripping, fast paced and chilling storyline, this is a great psychological thriller for the Autumn. 

OTHER BOOKS I HAVE READ THIS WEEK:

THE BREAK by MARIAN KEYES

Ah, who doesn't love a Marian Keyes? It's been years since I read one of her books and over the summer I felt like having a little rest from crime and thrillers with a novel I knew would make me laugh, brighten my day with lots of colourful characters and also give me a story full of heart. My thanks to the publisher for an advance copy via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

"Amy and Hugh are psyched to share a thrilling new phase of their marriage: a six month sabbatical where they explore separate timelines in order to reconnect in and even more loving and loyal partnership. Yeah, and all you suckers with your linear, monogamous marriages should feel embarrassed. No need to pity Amy. Instead you should envy her." 

Of course, this isn't what Amy actually posts on Facebook when her husband announces he wants to take a six month break from their marriage (and children) and travel the world, but it sums up her sense of humour, fear of judgement from her peer group and confusion about what is happening to her and how she will ever get through it. 

At 400 pages this is a whopper of a book but Keyes' lively, colloquial, humorous and witty prose means it is in no way a chore; in fact the pages fly by as you become caught up in the freneticity of her life, the chaos of her extended family and the emotional situations she finds herself in as she  supports her daughters through their own challenges and life changing moments. 

I'd love to hear this as an audio book - or a film. Amy's comments and internal thoughts are so well captured and you can't help but be drawn to her character. The beginning of the novel allows Amy to reflect on her marriage and chat about her mixed feelings as her husband prepares to leave. 

"He wants to self actualize." 
"Self actualize?" Petra is so scornful that I think I'd better drop that line.

Despite the fact that this is a lighthearted read with plenty to entertain and enjoy, Keyes does raise some interesting themes. Her musings on Amy's marriage, the kind of woman she has become during her marriage to Hugh (no longer self reliant and now just someone defined by her relationship and marital status) and the emotional journey she finds herself travelling along in his absence is thoughtfully developed. There were some great passages about 'personal growth' and general observations about women, mothers and wives. 

In the second half of the book there are some very emotive themes which are handled with equal thoughtfulness, insightfulness and sensitivity. There are also references to topical issues like social media showing Keyes' understanding of the modern day pressures on young women and parents. The relationships between Amy and her daughters is beautifully articulated and again raises issues about single parenting and absent parents. 

You know what you are going to get with a Marian Keyes book and The Break gives you everything you could wish for. It's entertaining, amusing, sharp, insightful and a great read. It is also full of wisdom and shrewd comments about happiness, fulfilment and love. I recommend! 

 Thanks so much to the publisher for an advance copy of the novel via NetGalley. 

The Break is published by Michael Joseph on 7th Sept 2017.


COPY CAT by ALEX LAKE 


*My thanks to the publisher from whom I received this book via NetGalley in return for an unbiased and honest review*

I read After Anna a while ago and really enjoyed the story because the ending caught me out and I thought it was a well executed thriller which laid out all the clues, you just had to be looking in the right place. I couldn't wait to read Copy Cat as I was hoping for the same sort of sinister twist where the danger is much closer than you think. I got it. 

Social Media is currently providing authors with a wealth of ideas of sinister possibilities and threatening situations and Copy Cat opens with a Facebook friend request from someone our protagonist Sarah, has not seen for over a decade. And they are not really a friend, just someone they knew at school. So we have seen this before and our mind might leap to some conclusions about the direction of the novel, but bear with because it's not what you think. And it gets a lot worse. 

This isn't just someone sending you notifications on Facebook and trying to drag up a past you need to forget, this is much, much worse. What if someone has set up a Facebook account in your name, that looks like it's yours and includes photos of things you have just done that day with comments you may have just made even though you took no photos and told no one your thoughts? That's right. Terrifying. 

In the past people used tools like spears, guns, weapons and physical strength to destroy someone. Now they use Facebook, twitter, text messages and email. As the eerie, anonymous voice that appears every now and again slotted in between the chapters of Sarah's storyline, explains: the tools have changed but the end game is the same. Destruction. And the more intelligent, cunning, premeditated the perpetrator is, the more danger you face. 

From here on in, things get worse for Sarah. Her friends start receiving emails, texts, messages and updates from her that she knows she didn't send. Messages that land her in trouble and start to destroy every bit of her family's life - and no one believes that she didn't send them. 

I settled into this story straight away. I liked the tone, the narrative voice, the sinister and creepy voice which I couldn't identify and could not guess their true identity which made the ending doubly dramatic and shocking. There's a sense of foreboding and atmosphere of threat throughout the whole novel and it is a great psychological thriller. I enjoyed it! 

Copy Cat was published by Harper Collins on the 5th September 2017.

BLOG TOURS

MARIA IN THE MOON by LOUISE BEECH 

Maria in the Moon

One of my favourites of 2017 this is the story of Catherine who volunteers on the Flood Line Crisis phone lines following the floods in Hull. While working with the victims of the flood, Catherine is also haunted by nightmares and the fact that she has missing memories from her childhood. As the truth gradually reveals itself, Catherine has to confront her past, her family and all she thought she knew. A powerful story and beautifully written. You can read my review & book club questions here.

DEATH WISH by LINDA HUBER


Always a fan of Linda Huber I was delighted to be involved in the Blog Tour for her latest novel Death Wish. It is a thriller which explores families and the impact and consequences of the behaviour of parents as well as exploring some challenging issues about death, illness and grief. 
You can read my review here.

DEATH IN DULWICH by ALICE CASTLE


A great read  - a traditional murder mystery set in contemporary London with a great cast of characters and a very likeable protagonist. Recommend! You can read my review here.

WRITING DIVERSE CHARACTERS by LUCY V HAY


This is a non fiction book which is essential for any author or screenwriter providing invaluable tips, ideas and suggestions for writing diverse characters. You can read my review on the Blog Tour here.

Quite a busy week for the beginning of September but I hope there are a few books here that catch your eye! Hope you've all had a great week and have found lots to read! You can always let me know what you've been reading in the comments below!

AND, FINALLY, IN OTHER BOOKISH NEWS.....

I have another very exciting announcement! This week I started a new job - I am now working at No Exit Press part time!


This is my first ever job in publishing but it has been a dream since I was a teenager and began my love affair with books. I am thrilled to have the opportunity to work with such a lovely team of people and can't wait to get fully involved with all their current authors and new titles. 

I am still going to be reading, reviewing and blogging as Bibliomaniac and reading, reviewing blogging and supporting authors, publishers and fellow bloggers as usual but some of you may now be meeting me in a slightly different capacity as well!

An enormous thanks to all the authors, publishers, bloggers and anyone who has liked, tweeted, shared or enjoyed my reviews since I started in January 2016. I am over the moon that it has lead to such an incredible opportunity which I am very excited about! 


And with this as my weekend reading, I'm sure I'm going to love every minute of my new adventure! 



For more recommendations and reviews follow me on Twitter @KatherineSunde3 or via my blog bibliomaniacuk.blogspot.co.uk or website bibliomaniacuk.co.uk

Comments

  1. Many congratulations on your new job Katherine. Exciting times ahead for you

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  2. I cannot think of anyone more deserving Katherine. Your love and dedication to our bookish world is just amazing. Congrats Katherine. So happy that your dreams are coming true. xx

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    1. This is such a lovely thing for you to say - thanks so much for all your support and kind words! I love all you do too to share the book love and my towering TBR pile is largely full of your recommendations!! xx

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  3. Congratulations, a dream come true! Wishing you the very best.

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  4. Huge congratulations on your new job. You'll be brilliant!

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    1. Aw thanks Linda - and thanks for following me from the start, always being so supportive and for all the tips and suggestions. Your blog has always inspired me and you've really helped me find my way in the blogging world! Thank you. And thanks for still making me buy more books that I can read each week with your fab reviews and interviews!

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  5. Congratulations, Katherine, on your new adventure.

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  6. The event I came to at the Harpenden Arms with Chris Whitaker, Alex Caan and Simon Booker was one of the best organised and most enthusiastic I've been invited to. Can't think of a single reason why No Exit Press will ever come to think of this appointment as anything but a stroke of genius. Congratulations on this well deserved success, K x

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    1. Graham this is exceptionally kind of you to say- thank you so much for your support and for being one of the first authors whose book I ever reviewed!! This is such a lovely comment from you and hope we can arrange another event for your book 3 soon!!

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