Book Review – Page 3 – Clairey Sweetie

Hey Sweeties,

At the beginning of the year in probably at least two posts, I mentioned how I really wanted to push myself to read more in 2016; I want to aim for a book a month. So, with January now over, I am so far on track and in a position to review for you, my first read of 2016: And the Mountains Echoed, by Khalid Hosseini.

For a little bit of context, this is Hosseini’s third novel, his previous two –The Kite Runner, and A Thousand Splendid Suns– were both best sellers and The Kite Runner has been made into a film. I am a huge, huge fan of Khalid Hosseini’s work and I think if you’re someone that has a real interest in Middle Eastern culture, and/or love how a book can unravel relationships with such emotion, you have to give this author a go.

The easiest thing for me to do initially, is repeat the blurb on the back of the book to give you an idea of the story. I would try to explain it in my own words but in all honesty, why bother when someone has already painstakingly already gone to the effort?

Ten-year-old Abdullah would do anything for his younger sister. In a life of poverty and struggle, with no mother to care for them, Pari is the only person who brings Abdullah happiness. For her, he will trade his only pair of shoes to give her a feather for her treasured collection. When their father sets off with Pari across the desert to Kabul in search of work, Abdullah is determined not to be separated from her. Neither brother nor sister know what this fateful journey will bring them.

Without then going on to give the story away, what I will say is that this journey happens early on in the book and the rest of the novel covers the next fifty or so years of the characters afterwards. It’s only when writing this now, am I reminded of the journey –as a reader- you’re taken on and can’t quite believe it’s all taken place within 466 pages. Hosseini’s ability to weave different lives and characters together is quite unbelievable and he does it with such incredible skill. While the story is always moving forward, he slots in moments from the past in the characters’ lives that provide further context and fill in some gaps to their existence and present moment.

Of Hosseini’s three novels, this one didn’t make me cry but that’s not because it isn’t sad, it is, but not so far that it brings you to tears. I love how the author brings together a story that spans across Afghanistan, Paris and America as well as all the individual characters, with their own backgrounds. While the book is beautifully written, it’s not a beautiful read; the story acts as a poignant reminder of how life can take new directions at any moment, and how easily it can pass you by.

That all being said, it’s a wonderful read and like I mentioned earlier, if you have an interest in Middle Eastern and Western cultures, and/or just love getting involved in different characters and their relationships to each other, And the Mountains Echoed would be a good read for you and I definitely recommend you do so.

Has anyone read either or all of Khaled Hosseini’s books?

Until next time x

Ps. Next on my reading list? The Fault in Our Stars by John Green.

Hey Sweeties,

Oh my, so close to 2016 now -are you ready?

I thought I would talk you through some of the books I have read recently but firstly, let’s get something straight, when I say ‘recently’ I don’t literally mean in the last month or so, this post really is a few of my reads over the past year. A resolution for 2016 is to definitely read more books as it’s something that I have not given myself enough time to do this past year and I love nothing more than losing myself in a book. Even my magazine reading has slipped lately, I have a pile of them still wrapped in plastic.

Not That Kind of Girl by Lena Dunham

I’ll be honest, I haven’t really got on board with the Girls (HBO) bandwagon yet; it’s simply not something I have got around to however, Lena Dunham is though very much on my radar and why I was so keen to get a copy of her book and was lucky enough to get it from a colleague last Christmas.

So what do I think? Overall I really enjoyed it and there were many parts in which I sat and giggled to myself as for a few things she was so on point and things I totally knew what she was describing. Also however, the book in places was not comfortable reading and it was sad to read about some of her sexual encounters and her anxiety but for the most part I loved how blunt she was about it all. She tells it like it is and anyone who can do that well has my respect.

If you like her, I would definitely recommend this book. If you don’t, ultimately it would come down to your reading style and tastes as to whether this would be enjoyable for you.

Grayson Perry: Portrait Of The Artist As A Young Girl by Wendy Jones

This book won’t be for everyone but if you love or have an interest in art and like artists and work that is slightly more alternative, Grayson Perry should appeal to you. Famously, Grayson won the 2003 Turner Prize dressed as his alter-ego, Claire but Grayson is otherwise an acclaimed ceramic artist… as well as a transvestite. The book covers his first twenty or so years of childhood through college and his development as an artist. It’s a thoroughly engaging read and I think even if Grayson Perry may not particularly appeal to you, if you still enjoy culture and biographies, this one definitely wouldn’t be a bad shout.

Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert

This is the second time I have read this book and something over the summer made me want to revisit it which I don’t often get with books save for the odd few, but I had a real calling to read this again, partly because I wanted to see if I related to anything different on this second visit.

The book is split up into three parts (Eat – Pray – Love) and each tackles an element of author Elizabeth (Liz) Gilbert’s life that she feels she needs to dedicate time to healing. A recent divorcee, Liz decides to take a year out and travel to three different countries -Italy, India and Bali (Indonesia)- and by doing so learns to find herself again through deep spiritual searching and healing. As a reader, you not only feel her pain, but you go on a journey with her and while Liz is confronting a lot, the book is often humorous and overall thoroughly enjoyable.

Footloose by Kate Cann

Speaking of revisiting books which I seldom do, this is one I have many times over. A bit like To Kill a Mockingbird (which is another book I re-read every couple of years), I discovered Footloose in my teen years and just fell in love with it from the off but to be honest, while it has always been on my shelf, I haven’t read it for a long time. For some reason I felt like a summer read and something to get me in the holiday spirit before going to America and this was it.

First things first, this is a teen novel and I remember reading a review of it in 17 magazine or something similar and bought it before a holiday. It was the first thing I read that actually spoke about relationships and sex from a teen perspective and I could just relate to it. While I have never been on a girls holiday, the book transported me away and I devoured it easily and something this year made me want to go back there. It will definitely be one of those books that I keep forever and possibly let any daughters I have read when old enough.

Desperate in Dubai by Ameera Al Hakawati

This isn’t the sought of book I would usually pick up but as a lover of Eastern Culture and Dubai being somewhere I have wanted to visit for a very long time, I was compelled to give this book a go. Although I read chick lit, I hate really girlie characters and stories where it’s all men and sex, and where the main female character(s) hasn’t got her shit together (and this applies in films also). Desperate in Dubai kind of balanced between being the sought of book that I found irritating and something that from time to time, I couldn’t put down. I really liked how the lives/stories of the four main female characters came together and the end of the book definitely had my heart beating in anticipation of what was about to unfold. What I didn’t like though was the constant need by the author to brand everything (i.e. the IKEA table), I appreciate that it was often done in context but it did quite soon get annoying and I simply didn’t need that level of detail attached to a description of something. But if you do like chick lit and want something that mixes in with Eastern culture then I would definitely give this a read.

The House We Grew Up In by Lisa Jewell

Last Blogmas regular readers will remember that I posted about my favourite books and that I am a huge fan of Lisa Jewell, so you can imagine my delight at getting my hands on her latest novel (at the time, another book has since been released). The way Lisa tells a story and takes you through the individual journeys of her characters is truly incredible and this book has such a depth to it that I urge you to read it for yourself. Essentially it is about a family with four children who grow up and have to address a family tragedy that happened many years before, and how they each have come to terms with it in their own ways. The book also centres around the mum -Lorelli- who as the pages turn and the years pass, sees her lose herself in hoarding. It’s difficult to not give too much away but one of the things I love about Lisa’s writing is that whatever she takes you through during the book, they always end on a positive. My favourite ending of hers was the one in Thirtynothing as I remember just feeling so delighted with a revelation at the end with two of the characters.

When God was a Rabbit by Sarah Winman

I have seen this book floating around my parents house for ages and recently I discovered it’s one of my Mum’s favourite books and thus, it was lent to me to read it for myself.

While I am no longer religious, I am definitely spiritual and I do find comfort in that with many things in my life. Rabbits are also my favourite animal and again, have and still do provide me with great comfort in my life and so the way the rabbit (God) is written and loved within the book by the character, Elly is something I can not only completely relate too, but something I adored in the book.

It’s a gorgeous read and I can now understand why my Mum loves it so much and has re-read it several times. While it’s quite light-hearted, the characters are rich and each bring something wholesome that really shapes the book. For me though, I love the close bond Elly has with her brother Joe and how this never disappears, even as they get older and is also a constant throughout the book. I also really enjoy how quirky some of the characters are and how they each move you in different ways.

I have no doubt you’ll have seen this book all over the place and a part of you has been a little bit intrigued about what it’s about. All I’ll say is give it a go, it won’t disappoint you.

What books have you guys read this year? Anything you can recommend me?

I have a pile of books that have been sat on my shelf for a long time so as I said earlier, 2016 I am going to make it my priority to dedicate more time to reading and less time to looking at a screen.

Until next time x

Just before I went away on holiday I was very fortunate to win a signed copy of Lisa Potter-Dixon’s beauty book, Easy on the Eyes through Hen Heaven on Twitter. This book was very much on my list of must-reads and so you can imagine how delighted I was to win it!

As some of you will remember, last year I got involved with Elle Magazine a few times through their Elle Insider opportunities and I was incredibly fortunate that on two occasions I met Lisa. The first at the launch of the They’re Real Push Up Liner (here), and secondly when Benefit invited a few Insiders along to a secret event to announce the new Roller Lash mascara (here). On both these occasions Lisa was very friendly and it was a pleasure to meet her.

Easy on the Eyes is Lisa’s first beauty book and focuses exclusively on eye makeup looks varying in style, occasion and how much time you have to complete a look, in this case 5, 15 or 30 minutes.

From the off, you really feel Lisa’s personality shine through the pages in both her writing and the general format and layout of the book. The tutorials are also incredibly easy to follow and through some excellent photography and images, shows you what you need and the stages in which to apply them in.

Although of course the majority of makeup is from Benefit, Lisa doesn’t insist that the looks can only be created using those exact products, its stuff that every beauty lover (from the minimal fan to the extreme hoarder) has in their collection.

I can’t remember exactly what the question was that I had to reply to Hen Heaven with on Twitter, but I know that I said something along the lines of that with my wedding next year, getting the right makeup look was for me more important than my dress… and I wasn’t lying! I am definitely thinking I want something fun and a dark smokey-eye and I know that Lisa’s book will be the inspiration for my wedding day makeup. For example, I love this –

Anyway, if I haven’t convinced you that you need this book in your life already then I fail as both a Blogger and a writer, so don’t take my word for it, take Lisa’s!

Until next time x

Hey Sweeties,

So this is how it began: Bought Deliciously Ella, loved it. Got curious and thought it might be worth buying Madeline Shaw’s ‘Get the Glow‘ book, loved it. Thought I might as well complete the collection and buy Davina’s ‘5 Weeks to Sugar-Free‘… so I did. Now I have all three books and I thought it would be a good idea to review and compare them for you, my lovely readers, in one place. So I am (FYI I would grab a cuppa, it’s a long one!).

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Hey Sweeties,

You’ll remember from my post a couple of weeks back (The Fitness Plan) that I had recently purchased Body Beautiful by Lucy Mecklenburgh. I mentioned that although I wouldn’t say that I am a fan of hers, I do admire her success and that she is her own boss creating (and running) two businesses. I also do admire her drive for fitness and healthy living so of all the books of this type out there, I figured hers might be worth a read.

The book is divided into seven chapters: My Journey – Motivate – Nourish – Energize – The Recipes – Transform – A Healthy, Happy New You.

The book I think is a great mixture of Lucy’s story, healthy recipes and exercise plans as well as the right level of motivation to get you up out of your seat and setting out to achieve what Lucy and her team are encouraging readers to do, particularly those that aren’t keen on gyms. As someone that already exercises and eats well or at least, a moderate diet, maybe I am the wrong person to be reviewing the book as to be honest I am not in a postion to need to try out the plans…yet! But, you only have to look at Instagram or Twitter to read and see evidence that Lucy’s advice not only works, people are championing it and openly sharing their love for the book and their new, svelte figures and lifetyles.

For me, I actually really enjoyed reading about Lucy’s life, particularly where she has come from and how she ended up on The Only Way is Essex (TOWIE). She spoke about her life to provide a context to why she has gone down a path of health and fitness and not be like every other celebrity releasing their autobiography before they have actually really done anything. Lucy’s point of view was actually quite refreshing and although she did on occassion tread thinly on making being a size 12 seem fat, she did well to drive home the point about your body being yours and you know when you’re not at your best. A size 12 isn’t fat but on some petite frames such sizes can appear big so she does have a point… sort of.

I have yet to try out some of the recipes supplied in the book, particularly the smoothies which for the most part look delicious, but while we’re still in the midst of winter, this is something I’ll come back to and try out once the weather turns warmer and the evenings lighter and my exercise plan adapts and increases. If it didn’t cost the best part of £500 I would also actually be quite keen to attend one of Lucy’s Booty Camps…

The only thing that actually really irritated me throughout the book was the American use of the letter ‘Z’ in replacement of ‘S’ (hense the above chapter ‘Energize’ instead of energise). Really annoying. But as that is really the only fault I can find and feel the need to mention, I think you can be assured that this book recieves my seal of approval and purchasing it yourself certainly wouldn’t be money wasted.

Until next time x

And the Mountains Echoed | Book Review

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