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Put Your Dreams to the Test: 10 Questions to Help You See It and Seize It by John C. Maxwell








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The Sandalwood Tree by Elle Newmark

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I'm reviewing this book as part of the Transworld reading challenge 2011.

“Death steals everything but our stories”

This is a dual narrative story, both set in turbulent times in India’s history; 1857 – Sepoy Rebellion and the partition in 1947. The story starts in 1947 with Martin and Evie travelling to their new home in India, with their son Billy, where Martin has won a fellowship to document the end of the British rule in India. Evie discovers some letters in the walls of the house they are staying in. The writers of the letters are Felicity and Adela, two English ladies. Felicity was born in India, but is sent to live with Adela’s family in Yorkshire to attend school when she was eight years old, she later moves back to India where scandal follows.


I enjoyed the story set in 1857 more, just found the other storyline slow and hard to get into, but the descriptive narrative from Elle Newmark was brilliant. You can tell she has experienced this herself, you felt you were there in the middle of the vibrant smells and colours.


Would recommend this, is was interesting read but couldn’t give it a higher than 3.5/5, just felt something was missing for me and I couldn’t put my finger on it.


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18th September 2011 E-Book Downloads

1. One Day by David Nicholls - See review below (No Change)
2. Pets in a Pickle by Malcolm Welshman (New Entry)
3. The Basement by Stephen Leather (Up)
4. Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy by John Le Carre (New Entry)
5. A Game of Thrones by George RR Martin (New Entry)
6. Life and Fate by Robert Chandler (New Entry)
7. The Alchemist's Secret by Scott Mariani (New Entry)
8. White Lies and Custard Creams by Susan Alison (New Entry)
9. Three Weeks to Say Goodbye by CJ Box (New Entry)
10. Suicide Run by Michael Connelly (New Entry)

Source: Amazon

18th September 2011 Top Tens for Non Fiction

Paperwork:

1. Dukan Diet by Pierre Dukan (No Change)
2. At Home by Bill Bryson (No Change)
3. An Idiot Abroad by Karl Pilkington (Up)
4. How to be a Woman by Caitlin Moran (Up)
5. The Secret Life of Bletchley Park by S McKay (New Entry)
6. The Hare with Amber Eyes by Edmund De Waal (Up)
7. The Grand Design by Hawking & Mlodinow (Up)
8. In the Midst of Life by Jennifer Worth (Down) 
9. The Fry Chronicles by Stephen Fry (New Entry)
10. Memoirs of a Fruitcake by Chris Evans (No Change)

Hardback:

1. Great British Bake Off by Linda Collister (No Change)
2. Back from the Brink by Alistair Darling (New Entry)
3. Red: My Autobiography by Gary Neville (Down) 
4. Things I Couldn't Tell My Mother by S Johnston (Up)
5. River Cottage Veg Everyday by H Fearnley-Whittingstall (Down)
6. Jamie's 30 Minute Meals by Jamie Oliver (Down)
7. Mud, Sweat and Tears by Bear Grylls (Up)
8. A Short History of England by Simon Jenkins (New Entry)
9. Rick Stein's Spain by Rick Stein (Down)
10. The Good Cook by Simon Hopkinson (Down)

Source: Nielsen Bookscan TCM

18th September 2011 Top Tens Fiction

Paperback:

1. One Day by David Nicholls - See my review below (No Change)
2. Heartstone by C J Sansom (Up)
3. Postcard Killers by James Patterson (Down)
4. Zero Hour by Andy McNab (New Entry)
5. Worth Dying For by Lee Child (Down)
6. A Tiny Bit Marvellous by Dawn French (Down)
7. Stolen by Susan Lewis (New Entry)
8. The Blackhouse by Peter May (New Entry)
9. Empire of Silver by Conn Iggulden (Down)
10. Freedom by Jonathan Franzen (New Entry)

Hardback:



1. The Accident by Linwood Barclay (Up)
2. Flash and Bones by Kathy Reichs (Down)
3. Killing for the Company by Chris Ryan (Up)
4. The Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes (New Entry)
5. Gamble by Felix Francis (Up)
6. The Burning Soul by John Connolly (Down)
7. The Retribution by Val McDermid (Up)
8. A Song of Ice and Fire by George RR Martin (New Entry)
9. Good as Dead by Mark Billingham (Down)
10. Now You See Her by James Patterson (New Entry)

Source: Nielson Bookscan TCM

11th September E-Book Downloads

Top Ten E-Book Downloads:

1. One Day by David Nicholls - See review below (No Change)
2. Three Weeks to Say Goodbye by CJ Box (Up)
3. Always the Baker, Never the Bride by SD Bricker (New Entry)
4. That Summer in Ischia by Penny Feeny (Down)
5. The Cruelest Cut by Rick Reed (New Entry)
6. Into the Darkest Corner by Elizabeth Haynes (Down)
7. Cold Kill by Neil White (Up)
8. Charlotte Figg Takes Over Paradise by J Magnin (New Entry)
9. Witness by Cath Staincliffe (Down)
10. The Basement by Stephen Leather (New Entry)

Source: Amazon

11th September 2011 Top Tens for Non Fiction

Top Tens for Non Fiction Books:

Paperback:

1. Dukan Diet by Pierre Dukan (Up)
2. At Home by Bill Bryson (Down)
3. Booky Wook 2 by Russell Brand (No Change)
4. An Idiot Abroad by Karl Pilkington (Up)
5. How to be a Woman by Caitlin Moran (Down)
6. In the Midst of Life by Jennifer Worth (Up)
7. The Hare with Amber Eyes by Edmund De Waal (Up)
8. The Grand Design by Hawking & Mlodinow (Down)
9. Life and Laughing by Michael McIntyre (No Change)
10. Memoirs of a Fruitcake by Chris Evans (Down)

Hardback:

1. Great British Bake Off by Linda Collister (No Change)
2. Red: My Autobiography by Gary Neville (New Entry) 
3. Jamie's 30-Minute Meals by Jamie Oliver (Up)
4. River Cottage Veg Everyday by H Fearnley-Whittingstall (New Entry)
5. Things I Couldn't Tell My Mother by S Johnston (New Entry)
6. Rick Stein's Spain by Rick Stein (Down)
7. The Good Cook by Simon Hopinson (Down)
8. Mud, Sweat and Tears by Bear Grylls (No Change)
9. Madeleine by Kate McCann (No Change)
10. Rafa: My Story by Nadal & Carlin (Down)

Source: Nielsen Bookscan TCM

11th September 2011 Top Ten for Fiction

This weeks Top Tens for Fiction:

Paperback:

1. One Day by David Nicholls - See my review below (No Change)
2. Postcard Killers by James Patterson (No Change)
3. Worth Dying For by Lee Child (No Change)
4. A Tiny Bit Marvellous by Dawn French (No Change)
5. Heartstone by C J Sansom (New Entry)
6. What the Nanny Saw by Fiona Neill (No Change)
7. Empire of Silver by Conn Iggulden (New Entry)
8. Promises, Promises by Erica James (No Change)
9. The Way We Were by Elizabeth Noble (No Change)
10. Mini Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella (No Change)

Hardback:

1. Flash and Bones by Kathy Reichs (New Entry)
2. The Accident by Linwood Barclay (New Entry)
3. The Burning Soul by John Connolly (New Entry)
4. Killing for the Company by Chris Ryan (New Entry)
5. A Dance with Dragons by George RR Martin (Down)
6. Good as Dead by Mark Billingham (Down)
7. Gamble by Felix Francis (New Entry)
8. The Retribution by Val McDermid (New Entry)
9. Before the Poison by Peter Robinson (Down)
10. The Come-back Girl by Katie Price (Down)

Source: Nielson Bookscan TCM

Shadow by Michael Morpurgo

Shadow by Michael Morpurgo

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Blurb:

A powerful novel from Michael Morpurgo, the nation’s favourite storyteller…

Never have Aman and his mother needed a friend more than when a Springer Spaniel appears – thin and war-ravaged – in the mouth of their Afghan cave. Nursed back to health by Aman, the dog becomes a constant companion, a shadow, and that's what Aman decides to call her. But life in Afghanistan becomes more dangerous by the moment. Eventually, Aman, his mother and Shadow find the courage to embark upon the treacherous journey from war-torn Afghanistan to the safely of a relative's home in Manchester, England.
But how far can Shadow lead them? And in this terrifying new world, is anywhere really safe…?

Author:

Michael Morpurgo was born in 1943; he attended schools in London, Sussex and Canterbury. He went to London University to study English and French. After University he took up a teaching position in a primary school in Kent, it was there he discovered what he really wanted to do. During his writing career he has won numerous awards, including an OBE in 2006.

My Review:

This is the first book I have read by Michael Morpurgo, my 9 year old son got it from the library, and I wasn’t too interested in reading it at first as I didn’t really think it would be my “thing” but the front cover got me hooked. The story is about a young boy from Afghanistan, Aman, who gets befriended by a lost British Army dog called Shadow, who helps him and his mother while they are trying to escape from Afghanistan to England, to be with his Uncle Mir. The story is told from three different viewpoints, but it never gets complicated. The book is aimed at 9 to 11 year olds and is sad in places but never going into too much gruesome detail.

My son and I both enjoyed this book, it didn’t feel like a fiction book and I will definitely be reading more books by Michael Morpurgo his writing style is very clear and uncomplicated.


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Forth-coming Reviews.....

Here is what I'm planning to read and write reviews on in the next couple of weeks:

Shadow by Michael Morpurgo

The Sandalwood Tree by Elle Newmark

Put You Dreams to the Test by John C. Maxwell

Visit From the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan

Waterstone's to Launch E-Reader

Waterstone's is set to launch a digital e-reader to rival Amazon's Kindle next year. The company's managing director, James Daunt, said that he had been inspired by Barnes & Noble's successful Nook device. Waterstone's is currently in the midst of a shake-up after being bought from HMV Group by Russian businessman Alexander Mamut. James Daunt was brought in by the new owner in an attempt to reverse its declining sales. Entering the hardware market would be an ambitious move for Waterstone's and likely involve it partnering with a major electronics company. "Waterstone's e-reader project was "well down the planning line", according to Mr Daunt, and would launch in spring 2012.

E-Book Downloads

Top Ten E-Book Downloads:

1. One Day by David Nicholls - See review below
2. That Summer in Ischia by Penny Feeny
3. Into the Darkest Corner by Elizabeth Haynes
4. Three Weeks to Say Goodbye by CJ Box
5. Witness by Cath Staincliffe
6. Medical Error by Richard Mabry
7. Chosen by Paula Bradley
8. Cold Kill by Neil White
9. The Bones of Avalon by Phil Rickman
10. Letters to My Mother by Rebecca Heath

Source: Amazon

Top Tens

Top Tens for Non Fiction Books:

Paperback:

1. At Home by Bill Bryson
2. Dukan Diet by Pierre Dukan
3. Booky Wook 2 by Russell Brand
4. How to be a Woman by Caitlin Moran
5. An Idiot Abroad by Karl Pilkington
6. The Grand Design by Hawking & Mlodinow
7. In the Midst of Laughter by Jennifer Worth
8. Life and Laughing by Michael McIntyre
9. Memoirs of a Fruitcake by Chris Evans
10. The Hare with Amber Eyes by Edmund De Waal

Hardback:

1. Great British Bake Off by Linda Collister
2. A Stolen Life by Jaycee Lee Dugard
3. The Good Cooke by Simon Hopinson
4. Rick Stein's Spain by Rick Stein
5. Jamie's 30-Minute Meals by Jamie Oliver
6. Rafa: My Story by Nadal & Carlin
7. The End: Hitler's Germany by Ian Kewshaw
8. Mud, Sweat and Tears by Bear Grylls
9. Madeleine by Kate McCann
10. Top 100 Meals in Minutes by Annabel Karmel

Source: Nielsen Bookscan TCM

Top Tens

This weeks Top Tens for Fiction:

Paperback:

1. One Day by David Nicholls - See my review below
2. Postcard Killers by James Patterson
3. Worth Dying For by Lee Child
4. A Tiny Bit Marvellous by Dawn French
5. Lasting Damage by Sophie Hannah
6. What the Nanny Saw by Fiona Neill
7. Promises, Promises by Erica James
8. The Way We Were by Elizabeth Noble
9. Mini Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella
10. Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow by C Carroll

Hardback:

1. Before the Poison by Peter Robinson
2. Good as Dead by Mark Billingham
3. A Dance with Dragons by George RR Martin
4. The Come-back Girl by Katie Price
5. The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh
6. Now You See Her by James Patterson
7. The Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes
8. The Silent Girl by Tess Gerritsen
9. Fallen by Karin Slaughter
10. Happy Birthday by Danielle Steel

Source: Nielson Bookscan TCM





One Day by David Nicholls

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


The Blurb:
‘I can imagine you at forty,’ she said, a hint of malice in her voice. ‘I can picture it right now.’
He smiled without opening his eyes. ‘Go on then.’
15th July 1988. Emma Morley and Dexter Mayhew meet for the first time on the night of their graduation. Tomorrow they must go their separate ways.
So where will they be on this one day next year? And the year after that? And every year which follows?
One Day is a funny/sad love story spanning twenty years, a book about growing up – how we change, how we stay the same.

David Nicholls is a British author, before One Day I had never heard of him before, he has also written Starter for Ten in 2003 and The Understudy in 2005. He originally wanted to pursue a career as an actor, after training in New York. He worked sporadically for an 8 year period before he got into writing for television and film. He is currently working on his fourth novel and lives with his family in North London.

A funny novel about two friends, the story is told on the same day, 15th July every year for two decades. Emma Morley is from Yorkshire from a working class family, lacking in some confidence and then there is Dexter Mayhew who is overly confident, comes from a very privileged background with his family home in the Cotswolds.

The concept is great, they first meet in 1988 on the last day at university in Edinburgh, where they spend the night together then you follow their friendship on the same day each year. Sometimes the friendship is great they are both getting what they want from the relationship and other times it’s not so great. After the first night they both go their separate ways but still keeping in contact, Emma gets a job in a Mexican restaurant and Dexter goes travelling. I felt for Emma she had work hard at everything, her jobs and their friendship, where on the other hand Dexter seemed to have it easy, lots of one night stands, not needing to work and falling into a career as a television presenter.

For me the book worked on every level, I loved the concept and I felt like I was catching up with old friends, I loved both Emma and Dexter and the chemistry of their relationship. The writing style reminded me of Tony Parsons, genuine dilemmas. I sometimes felt parts were too “wordy” and felt you could miss parts out and not miss any of the story, but overall a great book which I would highly recommend.



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One Day

Review coming for One Day by David Nicholls, watch this space.