Summer Holiday | Reader I Read It

Charlotte Street by Danny Wallace

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Sometimes a book comes along where a reviewer has little else to say apart from those three magic words….just read it.

For Charlotte Street, Wallace’s debut novel, is one of those books which will hold universal appeal, cause enough embarrassment laughing out loud on your public transport of choice and will ultimately tug at the heart strings.

Jason Priestley accidentally is left holding a disposable camera belonging to a girl he helps, with bags as she clambers into a taxi, on Charlotte Street. With little other direction in his life and the idea that maybe this girl could be THE girl, he is encouraged to find her with the help of his best friend, Dev. It is only when the photos are developed that Jason notices he has been captured in one of them; and so the mystery thickens.

As Jason’s life erupts into chaos, from the ex-girlfriend and a drunken evening spent on Facebook, to the career writing dodgy reviews for a London paper, the girl on Charlotte Street resembles one thing he can make happen. All he needs is some detective work and only a bit of stalking, well maybe more stalking than detecting.

This is just a celebration of life as it is of London; so if you are a Londoner, an ex-Londoner or a wannabe Londoner you will love exploring the city with these characters.

Charlotte Street is perfect for anyone who would like to invest a few hours into a good read with belly laughs and a great dollop of realism. So what more can I say other than…just read it.

If you like the look of this then start a collection with some similar great books.

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Rating: 4.3/5 (3 votes cast)

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The Red House by Mark Haddon

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This is the story of estranged siblings Angela and Richard who attempt to bond during a rainy week in Wales. The self catering cottage is booked, the board games packed and waterproofs donned as the two bring their families together in order to make up for the years lost over bitter feuds. Of course the fireworks are going to be set off as soon as they’ve managed to get the key in the door but there are deeper secrets waiting in the wings.

The Red House is lovely portrayal of the British Holiday, cooking on mass, coping with a mixture of personalities, attempting to find any activity suited to all ages and usually in the rain. Haddon creates a realism to this holiday that spans the course of the book making it so easy to connect with.

As a reader you are left with a series of questions and concerns for the family once the week’s holiday is over. Will brother and sister meet again, will Angela recover properly from the miscarriage she suffered so many years ago, will her husband end the affair which is causing him to somewhat neglect his three children? So many questions which are delectably left to the readers imagination

An enjoyable read, a rollercoaster of emotions and a great one to leave behind on the communal bookshelf on your holiday this year.

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The Age of Miracles by Karen Thompson Walker

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The plot: Something of a coming of age story with a twist. Julia is a Californian teenager who goes through all the normal teenage issues of bullying, boys, bickering parents, and friendships gained and lost Yet all this is shadowed by disaster – the world is slowing down. As time shifts, and the days and nights get longer, society slowly fragments and communities divide, in this timeless thriller.

The good bits: The best bit of this book had to be the build up of tension of what was going to happen next. Julia narrates throughout the book and drops clues here and there of what was still to come. Little hints like the last grape she tasted and unaware of the illness that was causing her mother so much pain. As the birds are unable to fly and the mass beaching of whales spoils their beaches there is a sense that this nightmare played out in darkness will never end.

Great talking point: Julia’s dreams and hopes for the future aren’t explored as day to day survival takes priority. Realistically, life goes on as normal, however, at some point Julia must have thought about university, a career and whether she would have a family of her own. This will obviously be a great talking point for book groups.

Worth a mention: This is Karen Thompson Walker’s debut and has been chosen as part of Waterstone’s 11, a collection of debut’s worth adding to your ‘to read’ list.

When should you read it: The perfect holiday read, but take a few more as you’ll get through this one in a day if not hours.

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Rating: 5.0/5 (1 vote cast)

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A Gathering Storm by Rachel Hore

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The plot: There is a family secret in Lucy’s family history that she thinks her father was on the brink of discovering before he died. Eager to find out more, Lucy travels to Cornwall, the home of her Grandmother, Angelina; finding a burnt out mansion and a woman called Beatrice - a family friend. On her daily visits to Beatrice, Lucy is told her family history from her Grandmother’s happy childhood in Cornwall to the devastation World War Two had on her family. It is in Beatrice’s story that Lucy discovers the unexpected.

The good bits: Of which I can happily say are plenty. Beatrice’s tale is a fascinating one; with her move to London putting her right in the middle of the action, the horrifying casualties of war and the desperate attempts for survival. Hore successfully makes you feel you are in the middle World War Two unaware of the outcome like the rest of the characters. As the years drag on, you become more concerned that all those connected in Beatrice and Angelina’s world are not going to come out of it unscathed.

The bad bits: The main disappointment is that you could see the twist in the tale from very early on, however, the winding path of how the characters get there is still an interesting journey to take.

Worth a mention: Rachel Hore has now published five novels one of which, The Place of Secrets, was chosen as part of the Richard and Judy book club.

When should you read it: On a holiday to Cornwall and also when no other book will hold your attention – because this one will. Click on the cover to get your copy now.

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Rating: 5.0/5 (1 vote cast)

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House of the Hanged by Mark Mills

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Transport yourself to the south of France during a hot summer in 1935 with this latest offering from Mark Mills, author of bestselling debut The Savage Garden.

The story follows hero Tom, whose past involvement in the secret service comes back to haunt him leading to an ending so full of twists it makes for fast page turning.

After the dissaperence of his dog, a murder attempt and some suspicious characters at the local hotel, Tom realises that his past is catching up with him. We follow his desperate attempts to keep his secrets hidden from his Goddaughter, Lucy, and guests who have joined him at his seaside home, and as the pressure mounts, the cracks start to show.

Mills’ passion for European History is weaved through the story and we discover how each character is affected by the memories of World War One and the sense of further conflict on the horizon. Although this is a fascinating part of history, at times the facts seem to merge into a history lesson rather than a novel.

Fast paced and with a strong storyline it is a great read, yet with the time invested . I wanted to know more baout Lucy and Tom’s furture. Nevertheless, enjoy the last of the sunny weather with this engrossing story.

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Hill Farm by Miranda France

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Billed as an exciting countryside romp through a typical farming community, Hill Farm, promised to bring a fresh new story for those who love the English countryside.

The story follows the Hayes family. Farmer, Harry Hayes struggles to make a living from his farm while his wife, Isabel, finds comfort with the new farm hand while recovering from a misscarriage. Their three children play on the farm with abandon while their parents are distracted. Their story will end in tragedy

One of the strong points of this book is that France has clearly done her research. Despite the story being set during the 1980′s, many challenges farmers face today and attitudes from society are explored realistically.

The major downside to this book which makes any country dweller groan in dispair is the amount of stereotypes. You have the usual set of characters found in fantasy countryside villages, the Vicar who finds life dull after a stint in an inner city parish, the bitter feuds plauging the older generation of women, a disgruntled farm hand who, of course, is a bit dim. More annoying is this assumption that every jumble sale in villages are to fund the repair of the church roof.

There is a somber feel to this book which results in turning the page being a drag. If you are after a cosy English Countryisde story then try somehting like Mapp & Lucia or for a good balance of drama and spirit, Howards End.

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Mapp & Lucia by Edward Benson

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…a great example of English humour

Who would have thought the quiet seaside town of Tilling in 1930’s Britain would be quite an adventure. Elizabeth Mapp and Emmeline Lucas (Lucia) are far from the quiet sort, seeking to reign supreme socially and respectably over the residents.

Lucia coveys grace, style and intelligence even if, the more dowdy Mapp, is the only one who can see through it. As they both scheme and plot to outdo each other an accidental encounter during a storm leads to a stint at sea on a table top. An unforgettable part of the book and a great climax for all the fighting, but will this finally end the feud? Don’t count on it.

Benson demonstrates his power of weaving a good tale with plots unravelling throughout the book from squabbling over garden produce to sabotaging an art fair.

With the faithful Georgie, who won’t be parted from Lucia’s side, to the gossiping Diva who encourages Mapp’s antics, all the colourful characters of Tilling secretly enjoy watching the competition unfold.

Mapp & Lucia has a quaint English feel about it similar to Woodhouse’s Jeeves and Wooster. Full of humour, it is a joy to read and perfect accompaniment to lazy days in the garden. Before you know it, you’ll be saying ‘au reservoir’ every time you leave a room.

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Rating: 5.0/5 (1 vote cast)

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The Lessons by Naomi Alderman

Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert

Page to Screen / Real Life Characters / Reviews / Summer Holiday / Take an Adventure / Trials and Tribulations

Last month’s Read&Watch was International Bestseller Love Eat Pray by Elizabeth Gilbert. ReaderIReadIt provided the review of the book and FilmRamblings provided the film review. See what we had to say and then share your thoughts in the comments below.

Packing up and travelling around the world is for most people the stuff dreams are made of. For Elizabeth Gilbert, after a divorce and a relationship breakdown, she decided to take the chance and attempt to find herself again through her journey. Her year of travelling took her to Italy to Eat, to India to Pray and finally to Bali where she came to love. Many have criticised Gilbert for not experiencing the complete unknown as she had the luxury of an advance for her memoirs, giving her a safety net others aren’t lucky to have. Nevertheless, it is still an interesting journey and worth the read.

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Some of the most intriguing parts of Gilbert’s journey are the characters she meets along the way, most interestingly the people of Bali from the old wise guru and his wife, to the medicine woman, a fellow divorcee and single parent and with a positive outlook on life. Gilbert’s challenge of trying to raise money to help buy them a house is an interesting one, especially when the woman asks for more money in order to buy a hotel. The differences between Western generosity and Eastern poverty is more complex than you think, no matter how good a friend you are.

This will be a book which will divide people’s opinions. Some will love Gilbert others will think her self-loving but it’s important to put into perspective that although she had the money to travel and others go through more trauma than a divorce, she came through a difficult time to achieve her dream. Overall, you will want to skim some bits, savour others but hopefully come out inspired ready to begin your own adventure.

Watch

httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GTePOYVyxgM

Eat Pray Love, starring Julia Roberts, is based on the international bestselling book, Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman’s Search for Everything by Elizabeth Gilbert. The memoirs chronicle Gilbert’s trip to Italy, India and Bali, which she undertakes after a painful divorce in order to find herself and heal. The book was released in 2006 and has sold over five million copies worldwide, so it was only a matter of time before a film version would be released. However, regardless of its success the book received mixed reviews from both critics and readers – would the film suffer a similar fate?

As with many film adaptations Eat Pray Love rarely lives up to the complex story telling of the book. Whilst Gilbert’s writing style invites you in and you are able to connect and appreciate the journey she is undertaking, in the film some of the pivotal scenes lack impact and clear explanation. The sentimentality is also layered rather thickly in parts and with Gilbert’s reasons for leaving her husband coming across as rather vague it has boasted many to scathingly claim that Gilbert is overly self-absorbed and is blind to the privileges of her seemingly perfect life. I will leave it up to you to decide whether that is an accurate description, but as piece of film there are many enjoyable moments and I feel that some of the critics have been overly harsh in there estimation.

Running at over two hours and twenty minutes there are parts when the film does seem to drag and lose momentum, but overall it is still an extremely watchable and entertaining film. It is great seeing Roberts back on the screen and taking centre stage. Embodying many of the qualities of Gilbert she brings all her years of experience to the role and offers a commanding and mature performance. Emotionally connecting with the character she oozes charm and likeability and her winning smile carries the project. Richard Jenkins, who plays Richard, a Texan, who Gilbert meets at the Ashram in India, gives one of the standout supporting performances. Whilst, Javier Bardem, regrettably never really seems to settle in the role as Felipe, the romantic love interest.

The backdrops of Italy, India and Bali add a richness and blazing colour to the film and director Ryan Murphy clearly illustrates the theme of each country; Italy for food, India for prayer and Bali for love. The wonderful vistas are positioned to star alongside Julia Roberts and in some ways they do detract from the real reason why Gilbert is on her journey. But the big weakness with Eat Pray Love is that while the story is about an emotional and spiritual journey, Murphy has made a film that is in essence rather shallow and which is more about the ‘look’ than actual substance. This jars and contradicts the nature of the story creating a film that while is enjoyable is also rather unfulfilling.

Eat Pray Love is one of those films that will no doubt continue to divide audiences. For those who have read and loved the book, the film has lots of appeal and many enjoyable moments. Whilst for those who have not read it but have heard all the negative reviews; I simply say watch the film and make up your own mind. You never know you might be pleasantly surprised, or equally you may heartily agree with all the negative reports.

Leave your comments below to tell us what you thought about the film. If you have a great suggestion for a book and film adaptation for Read&Watch then email: sarah@readerireadit.com

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The MidWeek Pick

Summer Holiday

To celebrate Spain’s well deserved World Cup sucess, this week’s MidWeek Pick is a classic tale set in Spain full of passion and jealousies, fiestas and bull fights. Make your jug of Sangria and enjoy this book in the sun. Click on the cover to find out more about Ernest Hemingway’s novel Fiesta: The Sun Also Rises.