I read a lot over summer; I was rarely seen without a book. I regularly had to beg a lift from W to pick up something else to read. I managed to get through virtually a whole bookcase of books I hadn’t read, ones I’d been saving to read for the last four years.
Over summer I stuck to actual, physical books. My Kindle was hugely neglected, I even lost it at one point, but it meant I was able to get through the vast amount of books accumulated since I started university. I read anything and everything. Chic-lit. Crime. Psychological thrillers. Murder mysteries. Historical novels. Teen novels. You name it, if it was on my bookcase, it got read. Here’s just some of the highlights….
Behind Closed Doors (B.A Paris). One of the best thriller books I’ve read, infinitely better than Gone Girl in my opinion. The first time I read this I literally had no clue where the book was going for a good half of it, and even in the last chapter I was still guessing the final ended. The writing is excellent, the storyline complex but so believable. A must read.
Me Before You, and
After You (Jojo Moyes).
The books to read in 2016 it would seem! I definitely enjoyed Me Before You, it’s on the verge of being more chic-litty than I would usually go for, but it was definitely gritty enough to keep me gripped – and of course I cried towards the end! However I absolute HATED After You. I found the story hugely ‘fake’ and the writing seemed as though the book was rushed out. That said, I’d never thoroughly enjoyed a Jojo Moyes until Me Before You, so maybe her writing style just isn’t for me. Oh, and the film was good too, though I preferred the book. The film made me cry was too much.
The Beachcomber (Josephine Cox). One of the older books I read, this is a romantic novel cross murder mystery set in, I believe, the fifties. I find romantic novels from this era so lovely to read, it’s all about the relationship without any smut! Difficult to say much about this one without giving it all away, but if you like romance with a bit of ‘grit’ then this is worth picking up.
Coming Home (Rosamunde Pilcher). Ah, this is one of my all-time favorite books. I have this in hardback and at around 800 pages it’s not exactly a comfortable one to sit and read. That said, the story is so, so lovely. Set in wartime Britain, down in Cornwall, it follows the life of a girl called Judith as she grows into a young woman. It’s not got an overly strong storyline, but rather each character has their own plots. It’s a book I can really lose myself in on a rainy day.
An Absolute Scandal (Penny Vincenzi). I treated this a little like prep for worth, perhaps not the best idea! It’s based on Lloyd’s of London collapsing and when I read it a few years ago I loved it. Now, having worked in insurance, it irritates me slightly as it’s inaccurate. Guess I’ve spoilt this book for myself!
The Girl From Nowhere (Dorothy Koomson). I love love LOVE Dorothy Koomson’s books, in fact a good amount of them would feature in my ‘favouritest ever book list’ if I were to write one. I’ve felt some of her later reads were a little flat but I really enjoyed this one. A couple of plot turns, interesting characters and something a bit different from her usual storylines.
Reading an actual book, as opposed to a Kindle, was at first a delight. I loved the more physical feel, it felt as though it slowed my reading pace down and I really appreciated the book. Then it became annoying. Trying to fit a book into my bag although with everything else was both tight and resulted in a sore shoulder. Not having anything to read immediately having finished a book. The wrist ache from trying to read in bed. Now fully reunited with my Kindle (though with it being four years old, it seems to need replacing sooner rather than later) I’m still reading at a ferocious pace. I’m making the most of my commute before I start studying and revising on the tube!
Are you a reader? What books do you recommend?
