Change of Heart

I've recently finished Change of Heart by Jodi Picoult. Normally I'm a half-hearted fan of this author, more of a take it or leave it type read for me. But this one sucked me in right from the very beginning.

Apart from the story line, the other thing I liked about this novel was that each chapter was written by one of the characters. It made for an interesting read and, while not a mind blowing plot it was still entertaining enough to keep me reading and a little thought provoking, especially about the death penalty.

Since I'm being a bit lazy about this review, here's the spiel from the web site:

One day June Nealon was happily anticipating a lifetime of laughter and adventure with her family, and the next, she was staring into a future that was as empty as her heart. Now her life is a waiting game. Waiting for time to heal her wounds, waiting for justice. Waiting for a miracle to happen.

For Shay Bourne, life holds no more surprises. The world has given him nothing, and he has nothing to offer the world. In a heartbeat, though, something happens one day that changes everything for him. Now he has one last chance for salvation, and it lies with June's twelve-year-old daughter, Claire. But between Shay and Claire stretches an ocean of bitter regrets, past crimes and the rage of a mother who has lost her child.

Left me Breathless

Well after slumming around the house today doing nothing but baking, watching TV and reading... I finally finished The Kite Runner. It left me breathless. The story is one of two young Afghanistani boys - one a Pushtan and the other the 'lesser' Hazara. It is a story of their bond across their lifespan. No words could do this justice and anything I could say about it may ruin a wonderful read. Please.....get this book and read it today. I don't cry when I read books anymore but many times throughout the book I was left breathless and with goosebumps - right up until the last page. Truly inspired story.

Happy Reading

Me too!

Thanks for the invite - what a great idea for a blog! I've been reading a lot lately but it's all been pregnancy related - my fave so far being Up the Duff by Kaz Cooke and my least fave being the poo chart from the hospital - what is up with that! Seriously, a chart? With pictures? However, I have been stockpiling books as I come across them in anticipation of moments to myself in between nappies and feeding...please tell me these moments exist! One thing I picked up the other day was the 2006 Pulitzer fiction winner March by Geraldine Brooks, a love story set during the American Civil War - totally not something that would normally grab my attention. American history strikes me as dull and overtelevised. The other was Kate Morton's The Forgotten Garden - I read her first novel The Shifting Fog and thought that was a good involving sort of a read, the kind of thing that sweeps you up and makes you forget reality. That's been my thing the last few months - relationship-oriented things that take me away from the everyday.

Just Because I've Been Invited...

Two of my favourite books (I just wanted to get this in while I was thinking about it) are Patrick Susskind's Perfume and Pigeon (Henry chasing the pigeons reminded me). Patrick Susskind's mind is amazing. Perfume is about a man whose sense of smell was so finely honed he became a perfumier able to recreate almost any scent and after becoming obsessed with a woman he became a murderer. The main character is unlike any other type of man you'll have ever encountered in a book before. Sounds rather dull but believe me it's anything but. Pigeon is about another man with an unhealthy obsession with the pigeons living on the windowsill of his apartment block.

Time to Read

Thanks for the invitation. Today I have not yet had time to read anything but the hand out from the dinosaur play area at the museum and it wasn't much chop so not worth a review. But...right now, during my reading time before bed, I'm reading a book I'm not all that interested in but it's an easy read about lawyers and murder in the usual mass-formulated style. I sometimes pay no attention to the authors of these and right now it slips my mind who it is and I really can't be bothered getting up to take a look. It's not John Grisham though. Best thing about it was it was free!

Here it is....the Inaugural Book Launch

Okay - well not really a book launch.....just a place for us to review the books we've read ... feel free invited authors to play around with the site (can you do that?) or ask me to. We need someway of having a list of books we want to read over on the right? Meegan - maybe I should give you publishing rights - you've got much more of a handle on this blog thing :)