September through the eyes of a bookwork

The Bridges of Madison County by Robert James Waller

A Man. A Woman. The heat of an Iowa summer. And the brief encounter whose passion will last a lifetime.

My Verdict - It is incredibly rare, in fact I can only think of one other book - To Kill a Mockingbird, that I feel as passionate about a story in both film and book form as I do this beautiful piece of work by Robert James Waller. It is also incredibly rare for me to re-read a book but I have done so with 'The Bridges of Madison County'. OK so I re-read it two decades apart but still! If you have not read this book or seen the film adaptation then what is wrong with you?! Stop what you are doing RIGHT NOW and take a peek at either of them, I guarantee you will not be disappointed. What I love so much about this story, is not just that the writing of it is so beautiful but how Waller gets right into the mind of a middle aged woman. I didn't realise until the end that it is based on a true story which makes this novel even more special. If you only read one novel this year, then please let it be this one you will not be disappointed. 10/10  

The Secret Diary of Adrian Cat by Linda Macfarlane, Stuart Macfarlane

About Adrian: Adrian is no ordinary cat - he has ambitions. Not only does he want to become the most famous cat in the world but he's also determined to create world peace between cats, dogs and mice. Adrian's life is full of complications! In an attempt to win the affections of the power crazed, but beautiful Snowball, he is forced to join a gang run by the most evil cat in town - Killer. But Killer also loves Snowball and he's not going to let Adrian steal her away - not without a fight. On top of all of this Adrian has many adventures; he goes treasure hunting with a pirate parrot, saves the life of a fox and helps his best friend out of all sorts of trouble.

My Verdict - This book is said to appeal if you are nine or ninety-nine and is written (to me) somewhere between The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole and Bridget Jones. Again another Kindle freebie so an easy read and no money lashed out if you don't really enjoy it. This book will appeal to cat lovers everywhere, especially when Adrian talks about being In and Out (of the house) as being the same thing, and don't humans understand that when you are out you want to be in and when you are in you want to be out. Cat owners who's with me on this one! 7/10

Can you recommend anything which can beat my love for The Bridges of Madison County?

August through the eyes of a bookworm

I know, I know, my book reads are lagging behind but this is a little insight into what I have been reading (not so) recently. Enjoy!

 

Five Sisters: A Novel by Leen Elle

The five Sisters Mary, Sara, Nora, Emy and Gail are heading across the ocean on a ship full of sailors. Along the way each one falls in love with a man she never expected, whether a sailor, an artist, a doctor, or an invalid. The sisters embark on a journey to a new home, to Brighton, where Mary's (the eldest) fiancee lives. Having lost both their parents and being left practically destitute, the girls have no money to secure passage on a cruise ship. Fortunately an old school friend of their fathers, Charlie, owns a small ship and offers the sisters free passage on his ship, in exchange for light cooking and housekeeping duties. The girls gloomily embark on the small ship for a 3-month voyage along with Charlie, 16 sailors, and an invalid, changing their lives forever.

My Verdict - This was an easy free Kindle read, something which you could just pick up and put down without losing the plot but it wasn't one which grabbed me. Although it is based on five sisters experience, I felt the book heavily lent towards Gail and her relationship with Nathaniel and the other girls; in particular Nora and Emy appeared to be afterthoughts; this spoiled it a little for me but as I say, an easy read nonetheless. 5/10 

 Anil's Ghost by Michael Ondaatje

Anil's Ghost transports us to Sri Lanka, a country steeped in centuries of tradition, now forced into the late twentieth century by the ravages of the civil war. Into this maelstrom steps Anil Tissera, a young woman born in Sri Lanka, educated in England and America, who returns to Sri Lanka as a forensic anthropologist sent by an international human rights group to investigate the organized murder campaigns engulfing the island. What follows is a story about love, about family, about identity, about the unknown enemy, about the quest to unlock the hidden past - a story propelled by a riveting mystery.

My Verdict - Michael Ondaatje is the author behind 'The English Patient' and although I have seen the film adaptation, I had not read the novel, so this was my first foray into his work. Firstly I have to say this is a beautifully crafted piece of work but and it's a big but, I just did not connect with any of his characters and in fact I found them quite unlikeable. If you like Michael Ondaatje's work and you are interested in Sri Lanka then I would say give this a read. 7/10

The Butterfly Cabinet by Bernie McGill

On a remote estate in the north of Ireland, a little girl dies and the community is quick to condemn her mother, Harriet Ormond. Now, after seventy years, Maddie McGlade, a former nanny at the house, knows that the time has come to reveal her own role in the events of that day. From Maddie's reminiscences and Harriet's long-concealed diaries emerges an unforgettable story of motherhood and betrayal, and of two women, mistress and servant, inextricably connected by an extraordinary secret.

My Verdict - The is the debut novel  from Bernie McGill and it reminded me very much of 'The House at Riverton' by Kate Morton but without the pace. Each chapter is written in the first person and they alternate between Maddie in the 1960s and Harriet in the 1890s. I was hoping the story which connected the two women would be a little meatier but it was a nice story which gave the perspective of two women from 'upstairs and downstairs' at the end of the 19th century. If you like Kate Morton and want an easy read along similar lines then you might enjoy this.7/10

 Have you been loving any reads this month?

Blushing Peonies is one!!!

 

So Blushing Peonies has just turned one! Can't believe I've been blogging for a year already. 

October 2012 I took my tentative steps into writing my own blog after many months of reading all the wonderful blogs out there, and I would just like to say thank you to everyone who has stuck by me and continued to support me and Blushing Peonies.

I know posts have been a bit sporadic recently, but I promise normal service will resume shortly! I have lots of things in the pipeline to post about so I really hope you will continue to read my little space on the 'tinterweb'.

So thank you, each and everyone!

Skincare tag

Beautiful products from Australian brand Myrtle & Moss

I'd seen this tag floating around the blogging world but hadn't got around to doing it yet, but then I saw Poppys post and I decided to join in the fun! So here goes:

Describe your skin care routine in 5 words. 

Cleanse, tone, exfoliate, moisturise, expensive!

What's your skin type?

For years I had very dry skin, but that all changed just over six years ago and I now have combination skin. If I had to choose between the two, as much as it drives me mad that my make up can end up sliding off my face by the end of the day and I have to blot, blot, blot; I would take combination skin over dry any day of the week.

What's your favourite skin care product?

Gosh this changes all the time and I don't know if I can just pick one! I would probably say Liz Earle's cleanse and polish for my face. It really does the job. I would like to try the Australian brand Myrtle & Moss though as the ingredients in their body washes looks appealing and you've got to think about taking care of the skin on your body and not just your face!

Top blemish zapper

I don't really have any tips here. I am lucky that I don't often get spots/blemishes *she says sitting here with a huge zit on her cheek*  I can't swear by any products or home remedies. I would just say, keep the area clean, don't pick/fiddle with it! and (unfortunately) bide your time until it's gone.

Face wipes yay or nay?

No no no no no. A huge nay for me. Yes they do a job of removing gunk from your face, but as for cleaning it, not really. I would steer clear my fellow bloggers.

High-end skin care or high-end make-up?

As much as I LOVE high end make up, I would say high end skin care would be my first choice. I think when you are young and your face is that drum tight canvas and money is even tighter and you have to make a monetary choice on one or the other, you are probably going to go for all the desired high end makeup out there, but believe me when you get older you will be glad you splurged your hard earned on high end skincare, because all the high end make up in the world isn't going to sit pretty on a face which looks like a bit of old shoe leather.

What's the most unusual skin care product you've tried?

I did have a serum which had snake venom in it, something about tightening the pores but can't say it appeared any different from any other serum.

You're in a french pharmacy and can only pick up one item - what is it?

I think it would probably be Bioderma. I've not tried it and I have to say I am intrigued by the hype plus it's a lot cheaper in France right, right?

Tell us your top skin care tip

Find what works for you, hype products are sometimes worth their weight in gold but just because it works for one does not mean it'll work for all. Other than that I would say cleanse cleanse cleanse (oh and moisturise!).

So if you've done this tag, please leave me a link in the comments. I'm a nosey so and so and would love to read your answers! If you haven't done the tag, then I tag YOU!

If you were a fly on the wall..........

..........what would you do and where would you go?

It's not something which keeps me awake at night, but I often ponder this question! I would really love to know what you lovelies would do.

I'm not a royalist by any stretch of the imagination, but I've always thought, IF I could be that fly I would love to have a scout around Buckingham Palace. Just how many corgis does the Queen own and are they allowed on the priceless antique furniture in the state rooms and what the heck does she keep in that handbag?!

I've also like to have a nosey around The White House and see what really happens in The Oval Office.

Talking of Buckingham Palace what about Beckingham Palace? Does old Vicky Beckham EVER smile behind closed doors.

The list could probably be endless but enough about me, what about you?

What would you do if you were a fly on the wall?

July through the eyes of a bookworm

In Her Mothers' Shoes by Felicity Price

Three women caught in the adoption triangle - the birth mother, the adoptive mother and the daughter - are about to discover the emotional turmoil of confronting their past, when Kate Stewart traces her birth mother and finds she has a brother and sister who never knew she existed.  Based on three true stories, "In Her Mothers' Shoes" tells of the heartache of having to give up your baby for adoption without even being able to hold her; of the insecurity of adopting; and how, for an adopted child, there will always be a lifelong yearning to belong, to fit in.

My Verdict - I loved this. Having first hand experience of this situation, it had a real resonance for me. The book is broken into three parts, so you read from the birth mothers perspective, the adoptive mother and finally the adoptee. Some points were real tearjerkers. Although it is fiction, it is based on true stories so you find yourself imagining the real people behind the story. If you have ever wanted to read about the true experiences of the adoption process then give this a whirl. 8/10  

Another Man's Treasure by S.W. Hubbard

On a snowy Christmas Eve, a beautiful young mother goes out to buy a few last minute gifts and never returns.......thirty years later, her daughter picks up her trail. As the owner of an estate sale business, Audrey Nealon knows a lot about art, antiques, and the unlikely places old people hide their treasures. But the shabby home of an elderly widow holds alarming surprises: street drugs in the silverware drawer, a trunkful of jewels in the attic, and the distinctive ring Audrey's mother was wearing the night she disappeared. Believing the truth will bring her peace, Audrey relentlessly pursues clues to her family's troubled history. But each fact Audrey uncovers drags her further away from the love she craves, and puts her on a collision course with people more determined, more ambitious, and more dangerous than she can fantom. Ultimately, some truths are too awful to bear, and too terrible to share.

My Verdict - This book had me guessing left right and centre and I was never right! I'm usually pretty good at working out 'who dunnit' before the conclusion, but I didn't get it with this. If you like a bit of action and grit, with the odd dollop of romance, then this shouldn't disappoint. 8/10

Prophecy by Peter James

Non Omnis Moriar - I shall not altogether die. A young boy watches his mother die. Drunk students play with a Ouija board in a damp cellar. A sadistic man dies in agony. Can bricks and mortar retain imprints of the emotions experienced within them? Frannie is delighted when a chance meeting leads to a romance. The fact that the relationship is marred by gruesome tragedies, she dismisses as an unsettling coincidence. But eventually she can no longer ignore the fact that she is the only thing linking these horrible events. Is it a murderous practical joke? or worse...?

My Verdict - I picked this little gem up in Asda for a quid so I was pleasantly surprised. I love books which have some darkness and a bit of the occult about them, something which makes you think. Had a few twists and turns which I didn't see coming and had me on the edge of my seat a few times. Definitely worth the £1 I paid for it! 7/10

So this months reads sure made up for the disappointments of June! Have you been loving any reads this month? 

June through the eyes of a bookworm

Alexandria by John Kaden

Centuries after the collapse of civilization, in a quiet village at the heart of the redwood forest, a tyrannical cult is plotting a massacre. The adults are murdered and the children are stolen away in cages while their homes burn around them. They are taken to the Nezran Temple and taught to be like their captors. The rewards, they are told, will be endless. Two childhood sweethearts, Jack and Lia, must make a vital decision...Should they struggle to fit in...or fight to escape? A chance encounter with a mysterious stranger sets them on an unexpected course. What follows is a wild adventure down the ruins of the old California coast, through wasteland and woodland, as they go searching for the legendary Alexandria. Join them in this dark, apocalyptic saga that sets the rusted gears of history turning again.

My Verdict - such a shame as this book looked like it had much promise to it but for me it just failed to deliver. The story although not badly written was patchy in its plot. Just as I thought it was gearing up to really wow the reader, it just kind of glossed over what I would call major aspects of the story. Sorry to say I was pretty disappointed 4/10

In Loco Parentis by Nigel Bird

Joe Campion is the kind of teacher that any child would want for their class. He's also the kind of teacher that lots of mothers want to have. And some of them do. When he becomes aware of the neglect and abuse suffered by a pupil in his care and witnesses an explosion of rage from the music teacher in the school, he decides the systems in place to deal with such instances aren't fit for purpose. His impulsive nature, dedication to his pupils and his love of women lead him into a chain of events that would cause even the most consummate professional to unravel.

My Verdict - well I thought this was really gonna show a teacher who would go the extra mile to protect a child in his care, instead reading it, I was faced with a psychologically disturbed, drug taking, murdering individual who couldn't keep it in his pants, a little more than unravelling went on here. I wouldn't say Joe Campion is the kind of teacher that I would want teaching my children! At times I felt this book really drifted from reality and I did find myself at times saying out loud "OH COME ON!!!" The second book this month I was disappointed with 4/10

So all in all I was let down with my choices for the month of June, so cheer me up and tell me what has been on your bookshelf this month?