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This is a book which has been on my to be read pile for a long time. I think I actually purchased it not long after the women who went to bed for a year when it came out in 2012. That is how long I have been waiting to get around to reading it. I see to remember that there was a huge hype about the book when it came out. After reading it I am unsure why this was the case.

This is the first book which I have read of Sue Townsend. For sure after reading his book it has not made me want to go and find all of her back catalogue of books and read them. After doing more research after finishing this book apparently, I am not the only one who feels like this.  The women who went to bed for a year is a book which is not Sue Townsends greatest book. Anyway on with the review.

The Blurb

The day her twins leave home, Eva climbs into bed and stays there. For seventeen years she’s wanted to yell at the world, ‘Stop! I want to get off’. Finally, this is her chance. Her husband Brian, an astronomer having an unsatisfactory affair, is upset. Who will cook his dinner? Eva, he complains, is attention seeking. But word of Eva’s defiance spreads. Legions of fans, believing she is protesting, gather in the street. While Alexander the white van man brings tea, toast and sympathy. And from this odd but comforting place Eva begins to see both herself and the world very, very differently.

My Thoughts

This is a book which I had to read to the end because I thought it had to get a lot better. However, I am sad to report it never did and this was a disappointment for me.  The women who went to bed for a year actually won a 2012 Bollinger Everyman Wodehouse Prize for comedy. I do not see how this happened because for sure I did not find it a funny book at all.

I found that there was a lot of characters who we were introduced to randomly but then we never heard any more about them. There was a lot that could have been built on because this is one trick which I think the author missed. For example, Poppy, Ho’s and Sandy Lake. The only character I felt like we got to know was Alexander and Eva and I liked Alexander. I actually grew not to like Eva because, because she was so totally unrealistic. She was been selfish expecting people to do everything for her.

I actually found this book to be quiet depressing and not in a good way at all. I understand that Eva want a pure while room to find peace but then to block all the light out seemed very strange to me. There were other elements of the women who went to bed for a year which I found very strange as well. For example, I am unsure why nobody stood up to Eva and told her to grow up and get out of the bed. Instead they were bringing her food and water up in bed when they remembered to.

We never actually find out the real reason why she is in bed at all we are just kind of told it is because she has had enough of the world. He husband even moves out of the house when she tells him to it seems like nobody actually wants to upset Eva.

I wanted to know what happened to her children in the end but we never seem to get an answer. Overall, I would not recommend spending your time reading this book there are a lot of books which are a lot better than this one. I struggled to finish it and only did because I do not like not finishing books.

If you have read the women who went to bed for a year what are your thoughts about this book?

Charlotte xx

Ever read a book and then not know what to do with it when you have finished it. You maybe like me and not have a great number of friends who are readers. So swapping and sharing books with them would not really work. I can not keep hold of them because I have close to 200 books on my to be read pile. Giving them to the charity shop would work but it does mean you have to spend money getting new books. It also can be hit and miss if they have books which you fancy reading in stock.  This is where Bookmooch come in.

Bookmooch is a website which allows you to give away old books which you have finished with. While recieving those which you have your eye on to read.  This means no more reading books which you do not want to really read. Those ones which you are only reading because the charity shop had a poor selection and you was unwilling to spend the amount at a bookshop. You may be thinking but if I use bookmooch it means that I get a book off the person who I am sending to and they may not have something I want to read. This is not a problem when you are using bookmoch because you get points for books that you send and you can use them on any book.

For books which you send in the same country as you +1 is received so if you are like me +1 will cost you £2.95 as this is how much second class is usually for books. The same happens if you want to get a book from someone else in the same country  you spend 1 point.

Bookmooch is not limited to the country which you are in at all.  You can mooch from other countries if the user will send to your country. Some people do not like sending abroad which I full understand as postage is more expensive. It is slightly different if you do a international you receive 3 points however, this does mean you can get 3 books from your country. You do not have to spend the points all at once.  I have had my bookmoch account for around 3 years now and have 188 points to spend.  I am saving them until my to be read pile goes down.

With bookmooch you have to accept the mooch which means that the person who has the book may reject. So there is no guarntees you get the book which you want. However, they are thousands of users which means the book is likely to be listed again soon by someone else. I have found that bookmooch moves books fast usually my books are only on there a couple of weeks.  I think the reason behind this is because if you have a book on your wish list and someone add it you do get an email.  You do even get 1/10th of a point for adding books which soon adds up.

Have you used bookmooch?

Charlotte xx

It is rare for me to have a book on preorder now because of the fact that I have a ton of books which are waiting to be read. However, when I read Louise Pentland’s first book Wilde Like Me I went straight on to Amazon and preordered Wilde about the Girl. I need to know what was going to happen to Robin and Layla luckily because I had waited so long to read the first book I did not have as long wait for the second book only a matter of around 6/8 weeks.  I will admit I have pushed this book to the front of the to be read pile when it came because I was that desperate to know more.

Blurb

After the year from hell, she’s pulled herself up and out of the Emptiness, her love life is ticking along nicely, single motherhood is actually quite fun and she is ready for whatever life throws at her. When a thrilling opportunity at work arises, Robin is more than excited to step up and show everyone, including herself, what she’s made of.

But her best friend Lacey is increasingly broken-hearted about struggling to conceive, and her daughter Lyla is starting to come out with some horrible attitudes she’s learning from someone at school. Is Auntie Kath hiding loneliness under her bubbly, loving veneer? And can Robin definitely trust the people she must depend on in her fab new role?

But Robin has her girls. And her girls have got her. Together they can handle any crisis. Can’t they?

Life is about to throw quite the curve ball at Robin Wilde, and she’ll need to make some pretty brave choices if she’s going to stop everything she cares about falling apart . . .

My Thoughts

One thing which I find complete different about the Wilde about series of books is that there is a lot of strong dominate women who feature heavily in the book. There is a few male characters but they do not dominate the book at all and the women all seem to have each others backs and seem to be very determined to even make the best of a bad situation. There are a number of bad situations which occur through out Wilde Like A Girl , some of them if you are a little bit like me may have you on the verge of tears.

Within this book there is important issues raised within the book which a number of stories which I have read have failed to speak about. The first is loneliness this is something which I think the majority of adults can suffer from at one time of their life. It it for sure is something which needs to be taken more serious as it can be a huge problem and we all needs to spot the signs so is Auntie Kath lonely in this book or not. There is also elements of infertility which again is an issue to many people this teamed with the miscarriage which could be triggering to some readers are all issues which as a result of been included in this book may get spoken about more in day to day life.

I think to be honest I enjoyed the second book more than the original one, there is still the ups and downs because nothing can be smooth sailing for poor Robin. In this book I for sure felt like I connected more to Robin and her family and they almost came like best friends to me. For sure, I will admit I was disappointing when I finished the book I am hoping there is going to be a third book because I know for one I am not ready to say good bye to Robin, her family and friends.

Overall

If this is not a book which you have read what are you waiting for it had a number of laugh out loud moments, tears and all kinds of other emotions. It is a book which I managed to polish off in just under a week so this shows to me how much I was invested in the book. I had to know what was going to happen next, if you are going on holiday or want a cosy book to read while the weather is changing get your hands on wilde about the girl you will not be disappointed.

Have you read wilde about the girl if so what did you think?

Charlotte x

Recently I read a book again I hope to be able to read more now I have finished studying for a while. I want to be able to read for pleasure again because I will have a lot more fun. The first book which I choose to read is one which has been on my to-read pile for a while is When I fall in Love by Miranda Dickinson. This is an author who I have read in the past I think it was Fairytale Of New York so I knew I wanted to be able to read more from her in the future.

The Blurb

What happens when your happy ever after is suddenly and painfully taken away from you? Elsie Maynard has a whole new life she never expected to have.

From inadvertently founding a choir like no other with former 80s rock star Woody Jensen, to daring to date again, Elsie steps out into an unknown future – a future that could include gorgeous designer Olly Hogarth, a man who seems intent on winning her heart. Overcoming problems, challenges and the occasional frustration – namely overconfident Torin Stewart who seems to be everywhere – Elsie believes she is making the most of her life.

But then a heartfelt request brings her to Paris – and the last item on a very important List. Can Elsie take the final step and lay her past to rest? Join Elsie as she battles to start again, with the help of a disastrous, newly-formed singing group and her father and sister armed with dating hopefuls.

My Thoughts

I just loved this book so much, It tugged at my heartstrings so much and left me in floods of tears by the end, I loved the flow of writing and how Miranda gets you sucked in the book so much as though you feel like you’ve known the characters all your life. It was a fantastic read and with all the mix of characters they all just mixed nicely together and you never get confused with which character is who. It was that good that I wanted to stop what I wa\s doing any read this book at any chance I got.

I would say Elsie Maynard would have to be my favourite character indeed, she came across as such a lovely woman who is clearly had a tough eighteen months of losing her husband to Cancer and then having to rebuild her life which is what her husband Lucas’ wishes were. I felt at times I just needed to give her a big hug and make everything okay. It was great to see a chick lit not just have all the good times or the man have left the man character due to cheating or something.

This book had a number of funny parts which made me want to sing the songs along with the choir and giggle out loud. I loved all the flavours of ice cream from Cher’s Sundae & Cher business, she did make some weird ones like Horseradish (Ewww!) but then also some rather gorgeous tempting ones too hehe!(Donuts oh yum yum). It does make me wonder how they made so much money maybe it was the novelty of the shop.

I liked that at the end of the story, Miranda included ‘The List’ that Elsie and Lucas created together, it was cute but also funny to imagine some of the things being done on the list.

Conclusion

If you want an easy read this for sure is the book for you this is one which you want to get your hands on.  This is one which will have you gripped and not want to put it down for sure. This is not your typical chick lit so why not give this book a chance.

Have you read this book? If so what did you think?

Charlotte xx