The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet by David Mitchell

I was supplied this book by We Love This Book for review, However the review is my un-biased and not influenced by any one else’s  opinion.

A tiny man-made island in the bay of Nagasaki, for two hundred years the sole gateway between Japan and the West. Here, in the dying days of the 18^th Century, a young Dutch clerk arrives to make his fortune. Instead he looses his heart but keeps his integrity.

This is one of those books that on reflection after reading it, when you go to list all of the things you have got out of it, you realise it’s a huge epic. To skate on but a few, we read about “Those Yankee leeches” and we realise that this was the time that the English were trying to get rid of the Dutch occupancy of New York in America. We also learn about the collapse of the Dutch East India company 1799. Mitchell also does a great honour to the culture of the Japanese of that period.

This book fits into so many boxes, it’s a love story, it’s a piece of social history, he covers the Dutch and Japanese trading exploits in much the same way as Dickens covered the social history of English childhood poverty in the 19^th Century. However, due to Mitchells fluid voices of different characters, its not a dusty old history lesson but an escape through a portal just like all other time-travellers.

This read would suit anyone who likes their books with a bit more meat on the bones, something a bit more challenging than a top 10 casual BOGOHP (buy one get one half price) but not quite as heavy as a Dickens, Trollop of any of the great classics.

The Commuting Bookworm 27/06/12

Lemon Sherbet and Dolly Blue The Story of an Accidental Family

Set in a part of Derbyshire (Chesterfield), the home to the Nash family and their corner shop, which served a small mining community. However this is no ordinary family. It’s a story about how three lost children of different generations found love and a home with people who had big hearts. The story starts with her great-grandfather, a fairground boy, given away when his parents left for America in 1865, then how her great aunt, who was rescued from an industrial school in 1909 and finally of her own mother was adopted as a baby in 1930 via the NCAA (National Children Adoption Association) and bought from London to Chesterfield.

The story spans three generations of attitudes regarding adoption and two world wars. Through the delightful story we learn from a social history point of view our changing attitudes to adoption, poverty, and what it is to be of a certain class. We learn about the tales of how the miners lived, the poverty, how they treated their wives and how the families survived. Along the way we get to know about how accepting often already a poor society can be regarding different people such as gypsies, teachers, bakers.  

We also get a snippet of attitudes of people during the Great War from a family perspective, of how families, wives and children coped with the restrictions, loss, injuries and aftermath of the both wars.

The tale itself trots along at the pace of life, at a rate to keep the reader interested but not so fast you think you have missed chunks of time. All characters are accounted for and no threads are left untied which is also nice. As with all families there are a lot of members to put into place, and it is necessary to remember who uncle_ is related to and therefore who auntie _ is married to, however by careful reading and remembering a few names this is not impossible.

There was sufficient depth to the book to make it a really good quality read and although I normally steer away from ‘memoirs’ I thoroughly enjoyed this and would recommend it to anyone who has an interest in this period.

The Commuting Bookworm 13/07/12 on behalf of Newbooks Magazine http://www.newbooksmag.com/

Choc Lit's Ripple in time!

The Silent Touch of Shadows by Christina Courtenay

Melissa Granthem has split from her husband and  the father of her daughter, the promise of ‘to have and to hold forever’ was broken and not by her. Jake Precy, is a widower with a daughter the same age as Melissa’s and the two girls become friends through school once Melissa moves from London, into her ancestral home.

Sibell’s husband was killed in 1459 and she was then forced to move back with her abusive father and brothers until they signed the deal for her re-marriage to a man old enough to be her grandfather. Sir Roger meets Sibell whilst he is on his quest to get his real father to acknowledge his existence and inheritance. Despite the odds, they fall very much in love but will they ever be together?

Through ghosts and love the two worlds merge into the here and now however will Melissa be at peace until it’s resolved once and for all?. Primarily this is a love story, first and foremost and as readers have come to expect from Choc Lit its all credible and the reader knows there is going to be a happy ever after ending. The journey to get there is enjoyable, intriguing and enlightening. 

Christina Courtenay must either study a thesaurus or she goes to bed with one. Some of the vocabulary in this story is wonderfully unique and delicious. Words such as sweeting, melee, guffaw, doppelganger to name just a few. The story is well written and delivered including the end that if it were a chocolate bar would be satisfying and silky all at the same time.

Out from Choc Lit 07^th July 2012, treat yourself to a good read because you deserve it!

The Commuting Bookworm 26/06/12

And So The Margaret James Trilogy Begins

The Silver Locket by Margaret James

This is the first book in the trilogy that follows the Denham family. It starts in 1914 and we meet the young head strong, wonderfully defiant Rose Courtenay who is not willing to confirm to her families Victorian wishes. Therefore rather than being married to her parent’s choice of suitor she runs away and becomes a nurse. Whilst working in France during the war, she meets Lieutenant Alex Denham who reminds me of a Lion Bar of chocolate. He has many layers and textures, some chewy, some soft, but over all very solid.

In Choc Lit true fashion, we are encapsulated into the story and characters, so that they become so vivid, bright and alive, we care about them and what happens to them. This novel has so many depths and layers, it’s a love story with muscles. The research is comprehensive and therefore every reader will learn something, they did not previously know about that time in our history.

One of the nicest feelings about getting to the last few chapters, is not only finding out how it all ends, but knowing that you have another two books to read afterwards, you do not feel like you are saying good bye to the characters. You know you are going to be able to catch up with them in  The Golden Chain and The Penny Bangle. 

In conclusion a lovely, romantic novel that every woman who loves chocolate will adore.

The Commuting Bookworm 12/06/12



No Wonder it was short listed for The Melissa Nathan Award For Comedy Romance

An Autumn Crush by Milly Johnson

Juliet is looking for a flat mate and Coco her friend is helping her look and interview possible flatmates. Floz arrives late because she had to take a hedgehog to the vets!  Juliet has a twin brother who has a best friend called Steve who is into wrestling and dreams of making it big in America. Coco is gay, and looking for the man of his dreams. In short they have all suffered heartbreak, they are all very individual personalities. It does not sound like it but you have some great ingredients for a fabulously funny, romantic, heart warmingly, Tragic, uplifting story.

Coupled with secrets, misunderstandings and pre-conceived ideas, a bully, an alcoholic, a death, the eternal optimism of Juliet, the love of Steve and the strong friendship they all build leads us through a wonderful tale to a happy ending.

I loved this book, it was easy to read, not pretentious and it is true to life with some great one liners. With many of the situations, it is easy to see one in the same fixes, because of the same actions. There is no real nasty violence, no swearing and nothing dark or sinister about this story. If anyone is feeling a bit down, they should read this book, not for any other reason, than its great, its happy, its funny, its romantic without being slushy.

Its one of those rare books that could be read and enjoyed again and again. It has made me interested in reading Milly Johnson’s back catalogue.



I would give this a rating of 5/5 for both a personal read and also as a reading group read as there is loads to get your teeth into in discussions and you really would be laughing all over again! 



http://www.melissanathan.com/Award/







 

A Commuting Bookworms Life: Independent Publisher Choc Lit scores again

A Commuting Bookworms Life: Independent Publisher Choc Lit scores again: Run Rabbit Run by Kate Johnson: Choc-Lit Sophie Green is an ex-spy. An MI5 officer has been shot dead with her gun, her fingerprints ...

Independent Publisher Choc Lit scores again

Run Rabbit Run by Kate Johnson: Choc-Lit

Sophie Green is an ex-spy. An MI5 officer has been shot dead with her gun, her fingerprints are all over his office, but she swears she is innocent. Her boyfriend Luke Sharpe is tall, tanned, sexy and does not do commitment, he is a MI6 spook, or was until his girlfriend Sophie kills, again.

Jack de Valera, English by birth, but lives as a bounty hunter in the US, until he is framed for the murder of a Supreme High court judge, Irene Shepherd, he is on the run, all the way into Sophie’s arms quite literally whilst she is camping in France, he steels her gun, ties her up, They connect dots and then they go on the run together.

This novel is a great read; it’s a cross between Chic Lit, Spooks and carry on spying. Its not to be taken too seriously but Johnson has done her research and treats her readers with respect. She pulls the strands in, with some great curve balls throw in to send you down the garden path.

There are however gaps, some could probably be plugged by reading her Sophie Green back catalogue, others like how does Sophie fly from JFK to London and then back again but keeping her gun? These need to be resolved or ignored in the readers mind.

Run Rabbit Run is Chic Lit with muscles, and therefore I would highly recommend it for a nice easy read, either whilst commuting, holidaying or just whilst soaking in the bath to relax. You will not be disappointed. 

The Commuting Bookworm 29/03/12