Review: The End of the Ocean

Title: The End of the Ocean

Author: Maja Lunde

Publisher: 1st November 2019 by Simon & Schuster (Australia)

Pages: 352 pages

How I Read It: ARC book

Genre: science fiction, dystopia 

My Rating: 3.5 cups

Synopsis:

From the author of the #1 international bestseller The History of Bees, a captivating new novel about the threat of a worldwide water shortage as seen through the eyes of a father and daughter.

In 2019, seventy-year-old Signe sets out on a hazardous voyage to cross an entire ocean in only a sailboat. She is haunted by the loss of the love of her life, and is driven by a singular and all-consuming mission to make it back to him.

In 2041, David flees with his young daughter, Lou, from a war-torn Southern Europe plagued by drought. They have been separated from their rest of their family and are on a desperate search to reunite with them once again, when they find Signe’s abandoned sailboat in a parched French garden, miles away from the nearest shore.

As David and Lou discover personal effects from Signe’s travels, their journey of survival and hope weaves together with Signe’s, forming a heartbreaking, inspiring story about the power of nature and the human spirit in this second novel from the author of ‘The History of Bees.’

My Thoughts

I was intrigued to read this book as the underlying message is just so relevant and important in today’s world. I was hoping that it would force me and other readers to spend serious thought on the ramifications of our present actions for the future of the planet. Water - something we take for granted, yet still from where I sit in Australia, droughts are all to frequent, in fact, neverending in some parts of the country. What does the future hold?

‘My whole world was water. The ground, the mountains, the pastures were just teeny tiny islands in that which actually was the world and I called my world Earth, but thought that is should actually be named Water.’

So whilst there is a good premise to base a story around, I sadly found the plot was not as strong as the theme. The link between the two timelines is fragile and only loosely drawn towards the end of the book - stronger threads were needed. Likewise actions of the characters from both timelines were questionable and at times, frustrating. 

‘They don’t want to hear, don’t want to see, they are like him, all of them, his entire generation, my generation, they just want better wines, larger vacation cottages, faster Internet connections.’

This book held a great deal of potential but sadly fell a little flat for me. More needed to be made of this strong and important topic - the future of the planet. I wanted to learn more about the fires and displacement camps, for example. Similarly, no ultimate solution is offered and the reader is left wondering if indeed there is anything we can do to prevent the seemingly inevitable. Still, a worthwhile read if only to draw attention to our current global situation and the collective movement concerning climate change.

‘I have been fighting for my entire life, but I have been mostly alone; there are so few of us, it was futile, everything we talked about, everything we said would happen has happened, the heat has already arrived, nobody listened.’

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher and provided through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.

Review: You Don't Know Me

Title: You Don't Know Me

Author: Sara Foster

Publisher: 1st November  2019 by Simon & Schuster (Australia)

Pages: 384 pages
How I Read It: ARC book
Genre: mystery, crime

My Rating: 3.5 cups

Synopsis:

He’s guarding a dark secret, but so is she.

Lizzie Burdett was eighteen when she vanished, and Noah Carruso has never forgotten her. She was his first crush, his unrequited love. She was also his brother’s girlfriend.

Tom Carruso hasn’t been home in over a decade. He left soon after Lizzie disappeared, under a darkening cloud of suspicion, and now he’s back for the inquest into Lizzie’s death – intent on telling his side of the story.

As the inquest looms, Noah meets Alice Pryce on holiday. They fall for each other fast and hard, but Noah can’t bear to tell Alice his deepest fears. And Alice is equally stricken – she carries a terrible secret of her own.

Is the truth worth telling if it will destroy everything?

My Thoughts

‘As he reaches the threshold, the next words pierce him like bullets in the darkness. “I know what happened to Lizzie.”

‘You Don't Know Me’  is another great read from Aussie author Sara Foster. With good pacing and plenty of twists with well timed revelations that will keep you turning the pages. Told from the perspectives of the two leading characters - Noah and Alice - this is an absorbing family drama with a lot of mystery and a little romance thrown in for good measure. 

Sara investigates the many complicated family and community dynamics after the mysterious disappearance of Lizzie both in the past and throughout the current day inquest. With little love lost between some family members, many an accusatory finger is pointed at a range of suspects as underlying regrets and old rivalries surface. The guilt and anger increase to a rather climactic ending. 

The inclusion of Alice and her story is an aside and may be just a stimulus to resurface the many emotions all involved parties are feeling. It provides a good outlet for the exploration of the emotional toll such incidents can have on individuals.

“Are you listening to me? You can’t change the past, and it sounds like you didn’t have much say about it in the first place. So why are you clinging so hard ...why can’t you let it go?”

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher and provided through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.

Review: Meet Me in Bombay

Title: Meet Me in Bombay

Author: Jenny Ashcroft

Publisher: 26th November 2019 by Hachette

Pages: 370 pages

How I Read It: ARC book

Genre: India, historical fiction, historical romance, world war II

My Rating: 5 cups

Synopsis:

Bombay, 1913

Madeleine Bright is spending New Year's Eve wishing she were somewhere else. Her voyage to India to visit her parents should have been a great adventure, but that was before she had no choice except to stay.

Then at the stroke of midnight Maddy meets Luke Devereaux, and as the year changes so do their lives - forever. Bold and charismatic, Luke opens her eyes to the wonders of Bombay, while Maddy's beauty and vivacity captures his heart. Only her mother disapproves, preferring the devoted Guy Bowen as a match for her daughter.

But while Maddy and Luke are falling in love, the world is falling apart. War is on the horizon, and soon it's a question of when Luke will be called to fight, not if. They'll be continents apart, separated by danger and fear of the unknown, but bound by Luke's promise that they will meet again in Bombay...

MEET ME IN BOMBAY is a story of fierce love set against the exotic and colourful world of colonial Bombay and the tragedy of the First World War.

My Thoughts

Jenny Ashcroft ... thank you! Three for three! I have had the privilege of reading all of Jenny’s books and cannot recommend them highly enough to lovers of historical fiction. Each read has been evocative, transporting the reader to some distant and exotic time and place. This time, British India and Bombay of the early 20th century. 

"Are you waiting for me though, as l am waiting for you?

Are you thinking of me, in this moment?                           

He set down his pen, and sank his aching head in his hands.     

Are you even there at all?"

Meet Me in Bombay is superb historical fiction as Jenny is the master at moulding together place, time and feeling. At the heart of this story is the love of a lifetime between Maddy and Luke but of course, all of this is sadly at the start of 1914. So unfolding over a lifetime is their journey set against the background of war and the backdrop of Bombay.  The bulk of the read is sequential from their initial meeting with small jumps in the timeline to soldiers recovering from amnesia or shell shock, or in many instances, not recovering at all. This is a wonderful story of love and separation that, even though you may know where it is going, you will be compelled to follow along to the inevitable conclusion. 

Once again Jenny has written a tale that ticks all the boxes for me: exquisite writing, complex characters, a beautiful love story in an exotic, tropical setting. Filled to the brim with everything from the brutality of war, to passionate soul connections, to tragedy, heartbreak and finally hope - this is such a compelling read that it will stay with you long after you have turned the final page. 

"I want to sleep. When I sleep, I dream. And my dreams are all I have left of that other world. The one I know I once belonged to, with you.”  

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher Hachette Australia.

Review: Beyond the Horizon

Title: Beyond the Horizon

Author: Ella Carey

Publisher: 15th October 2019 by Lake Union Publishing

Pages: 326 pages
How I Read It: ARC book
Genre: historical fiction, world war II, womens fiction

My Rating: 3.5 cups

Synopsis:

From the author of The House by the Lake comes a powerful novel of friendship during World War II, fighting for the truth, and making peace with the past.

At the height of World War II, Eva Scott’s dream comes true. Accepted into the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP), she leaves balmy California and the man she loves for grueling training in Texas, ultimately landing at formidable Camp Davis in North Carolina.

Vastly outnumbered by men and amidst contempt, discrimination, and sabotage, Eva and her closest friends, the unconventional Nina and straightlaced Helena, remain loyal to their mission and to each other. They stay focused on the horizon, determined to prove themselves capable women pilots. Until a fatal mission sends Eva’s dream crashing to earth . . .

Now, decades later, is it possible to discover the truth about the night that changed her life? Is there any hope she’ll recover all that she’s lost? When Eva finds herself embroiled in the fight to get military recognition for the WASP, she’s forced to confront the past, and to make a decision that could forever change her future.

Thrilling and inspiring, Beyond the Horizon is a portrait of love, friendship, and valor in a time of war—and a tribute to the brave women who risked their lives for their country.

My Thoughts

“Ferrying planes around might seem glamorous and exciting, but believe me, the excitement will wear thin once the reality of military training hits.”

I have thoroughly enjoyed Ella Carey’s previous novels (found HERE) and looked forward to her latest story which recalls the heartbreaking story of the Women's Airforce Service Pilots(WASP) program during WWII. A definite must read for historical fiction fans. 

I was intrigued by the whole premise as the WASP program was not something that I was familiar with. The way Ella has also structured the novel demonstrates that the recognition these women were owed was still an outstanding and ongoing issue. Written both during the war period of 1944 and then later at the Hearing of 1977,  it is a dual timeline that works well. The snippets given from the Hearing are just enough to both highlight the battle for recognition and lead into the next passage from the supporting storyline of the war period, providing an in depth view of the events.

Although the story is a little slow in parts laden with many flying details, you cannot help but appreciate the accuracy and detail regarding the untold story of these courageous and selfless women whose valiant efforts and sacrifices provided essential support to the war effort. I believe the author captures well the difficult journey these women endured from their flight training, to the rampant sexism of the time, to the logistical difficulties and the heartbreak of losing fellow pilots. 

Fans of unique historical fiction are bound to appreciate this tale as it provides a realistic portrayal of both the facts and fallout of this program for WWII. Were they to be accepted as part of the official military campaign or were they just supportive civilians?

Are you telling the committee that you honestly believe your contribution to the war effort was equal to any man’s in the war and so you were worthy of a full military release?

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher and provided through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.

Review: Love Letters from Montmartre

Title: Love Letters from Montmartre

Author: Nicolas Barreau

Publisher: 26th November 2019 by Hachette

Pages: 250 pages

How I Read It: ARC book

Genre: contemporary

My Rating: 3.5 cups

Synopsis:

Julien Azouly, the famous French writer of beautiful romance novels, has stopped believing in love. When his beloved wife, Hélène, dies at the age of thirty-three, leaving him alone to raise their young son, Arthur, he is so devastated that he loses faith in the happier side of life—and along with that his ability to write.

But Hélène was clever. Before her death, she made her husband promise to write her thirty-three letters, one for each year of her life. Six months after the funeral, Julien finds himself standing in the most famous cemetery in Paris, the painful first letter in his hand. Little does he know that something strange—and wonderful—is about to happen.

An ode to love, Paris, and joie de vivre, Love Letters from Montmartre brings the reader down narrow streets, past the cozy red bistro on Rue Gabrielle, and all the way to Montmartre cemetery with its beautiful stone angels, where we will discover the truth we all hope to find: that love is real, that miracles can happen and that—most of all—it’s never too late to rediscover your dreams. Empathetic and wise, this is the deeply profound yet very human story of a man who finds love just when he thinks all is lost.

My Thoughts

‘Maman told me that you have to trust in life itself and that, in the end, everything will make sense. But when it comes to your death, my darling, I still can’t see any sense at all.’  

How would it feel to lose the love of your life as you are just beginning your journey together? The author here presents a truly telling tale of the utter devastation felt by the main character, Julien. When his wife died, leaving him to care for his young son, we are witness to the complete grief and helplessness he feels.

His wife, Helene, cleverly made a last request that Julien promise to write one letter to her for each of her 33 years. Struggling to fulfill this last request, Julien finally begins and ultimately finds the whole process somewhat therapeutic. The letters are placed in a secret compartment of an angel statue found at his wife’s grave site located in the Montmartre cemetery in Paris. 

‘Where are these letters leading me, Hélène? Are they even leading me anywhere? Or are they simply a nice pastime, a kind of self-gratification for a man who has lost his wife and can’t stop feeling sorry for himself and thus clings to the last little trace of hope? Clings to a dead woman who is lost forever? What kind of pointless game is that? But what am I saying?! No, my love, forgive me! None of my letters to you are pointless.’

One day the letters vanish and he sees this as a sign. Thus proceeds the moving tale of both his quest to understand what is going on and also the mystery to see who is indeed responsible. Is it a sign from his wife or a gesture by another kind being to engage with Julien and bring him back to the land of the living?

This is a heartfelt story as you feel the plight of Julien trying to recover from his loss and the kind people around him who never give up in their attempt to draw him back into a life worth living. 

‘You once told me that writing the letters would possibly help me - and you were right, my clever wife. When I write these letters to you, I feel distracted. They knit my life back together, open a new perspective, keep me going. And the prospect of finding an answer at the grave naturally heightens these feelings all the more.’

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher Hachette Australia.

Review: The Girl Who Reads on the Métro

Title: The Girl Who Reads on the Métro

Author: Christine Féret-Fleury

Publisher: 29th October 2019 by Pan Macmillan Australia

Pages: 192 pages
How I Read It: ARC book
Genre: fiction, contemporary, France

My Rating: 2.5 cups

Synopsis:

In the vein of Amelie and The Little Paris Bookshop, a modern fairytale about a French woman whose life is turned upside down when she meets a reclusive bookseller and his young daughter.

Juliette leads a perfectly ordinary life in Paris, working a slow office job, dating a string of not-quite-right men, and fighting off melancholy. The only bright spots in her day are her metro rides across the city and the stories she dreams up about the strangers reading books across from her: the old lady, the math student, the amateur ornithologist, the woman in love, the girl who always tears up at page 247.

One morning, avoiding the office for as long as she can, Juliette finds herself on a new block, in front of a rusty gate wedged open with a book. Unable to resist, Juliette walks through, into the bizarre and enchanting lives of Soliman and his young daughter, Zaide. Before she realizes entirely what is happening, Juliette agrees to become a passeur, Soliman's name for the booksellers he hires to take stacks of used books out of his store and into the world, using their imagination and intuition to match books with readers. Suddenly, Juliette's daydreaming becomes her reality, and when Soliman asks her to move in to their store to take care of Zaide while he goes away, she has to decide if she is ready to throw herself headfirst into this new life.

Big-hearted, funny, and gloriously zany, The Girl Who Reads on the Metro is a delayed coming-of-age story about a young woman who dares to change her life, and a celebration of the power of books to unite us all.

My Thoughts

‘She had always loved the smell of books, especially when she bought them second-hand. New books had different smells too, depending on the paper and glue used, but they said nothing of the hands that had held them, the houses that had been their home; they had no story of their own yet, separate from the one they told–a parallel story, hazy, secret.’

The Girl Who Reads On The Metro is aimed at fans of The Little Paris Bookshop and aimed at all book lovers. The whole passuers was fabulous - giving out books to strangers or leaving them in particular places - I loved this bookish ploy, especially with how the story ends with the minivan. Books can help you through life.

The author does an exemplary job at presenting contemporary issues, such as the recent terrorist attacks in France, and the impact this has on people wanting to hide away from the world and live rather in books. It would have been good if the author had expanded on this and really developed both plot and characters on their journey - more emotion was needed with less time spent in superfluous moments or conversations. 

So whilst the concept and  potential was there - that being the power of books to transform people - I cannot help but feel it was lost in a story that did not correlate well enough. Some characters fell rather flat for me and the story somewhat disjointed. 

I do love a book about books and although this short story and easy to read,  it lacked depth and was a little too slow at times for me. I appreciate that the lead character truly believed that you could find yourself in books and help people through life. I just wished more from this book. 

‘ ... he at least made no pretence of leading a ‘normal’ life. He had chosen to hide away in a fortress built of books, fragments of which he regularly sent out into the world, like sending messages in bottles across the sea, offerings and gestures of affection destined for kindred spirits, those who, outside the walls, were confronted with real life.’

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher and provided through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.

Review: Last Christmas: Memories of Christmases Past and Hopes of Future Ones

Title: Last Christmas: Memories of Christmases Past and Hopes of Future Ones

Author: Greg Wise, Emma Thompson

Publisher: 29th October 2019 by Hachette Australia

Pages: 235 pages

How I Read It: ARC book

Genre: holiday, Christmas, social issues, nonfiction

My Rating: 4.5 cups

Synopsis:

When you think back to Christmases past, what made it magical? Looking towards the future, what would your perfect Christmas be? What would you change? What should we all change?

The perfect holiday book, featuring the remembrances of Meryl Streep, Emilia Clarke, Olivia Colman, Caitlin Moran, and more, to coincide with the upcoming movie LAST CHRISTMAS, starring Emma Thompson, Emilia Clarke and Henry Golding.

This is a beautiful, funny and soulful collection of personal essays about the meaning of Christmas, written by an exceptional body of voices from the boulevards of Hollywood to the soup kitchens of Covent Garden.

Stepping away from the holiday shopping, the midtown Manhattan window decorations, and the gingerbread cookies and hot cocoa, this gem of a book is introduced and curated by Emma Thompson and Greg Wise and celebrates the importance of kindness and generosity, acceptance and tolerance - and shows us that these values are not just for Christmas, but for every day of the year.

25¢ from every book sold will be donated to Crisis and The Refugee Council! 

My Thoughts

"But there must be something more to all this than just marketing and merchandise. For all the differences of our time which pull people apart, something about Christmas now seems to bring us together. As one of the most sacred days in the Christian calendar seeps into other cultures’ diaries as a special date, it calls on us to consider just what makes it so powerful for so many around the world.”

A Christmas book of a different flavour,  an honest collection of essays from an array of people writing on the theme of Christmas - not the fluffy, commercial stuff but rather, husband and wife duo have zoned in on people to capture the essence of this celebration and what we humans are really seeking at this festive time of year. All up, the result is most thought provoking read with some real gems to be discovered within its pages. 

"I don’t know. I know I often wish more would happen to show warmth to others. And I wont claim I’m an angel myself in that regard - it’s so easy to lose track of your own good intentions when Christmas is bearing down on you. But I do think we’re forgetting what Christmas is. And there are still wonderful selfless people who do all those wonderful things.How do we make it a thing that we ALL naturally do at Christmas? And every other week in between?”

There are stories that are funny, some desperately sad and the majority filled with meaning - something for everyone to be sure. Actors, politicians, charity workers, homeless - just some of the line up who contribute to this collection on what Christmas means to them. This book ties in with the film currently in cinema and revolves around the theme of tolerance and acceptance. Proceeds of this book will go to two of the charities mentioned throughout. So whether you wish to hear from the famous Meryl Streep or Emilia Clarke, or rather the lesser known political refugees or volunteers, I found it to be a real window into people's mindset at this hectic time of year and it cuts to the core of the essence of this occasion. 

“I want to go back in time, sit with my mother and father and my brother and sister, give my silly conceited young self a sharp slap and tell him how lucky he is. But perhaps the best way to do that is to help remind the world that many of our brothers and sisters are holding each other fast in strange lands, dreaming of the chance to sit in a place they can call home.”

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher Hachette Australia.