Lowly’s Book Blog

It has been a while since I finished this book, but I can still remember the sadness I felt when I realised the story was over. Some books are so good you want them to go on forever.

El and her family have had a serious lifestyle change, and not necessarily voluntarily. Father is gone, and the reader doesn’t find out how or why until nearly the end of the book. As a result money is tight. So gone is the big house, the private school, and all her old friends. The book begins when El enters the local secondary college for the first time. Culture shock!

But a smile from the school hottie, Eric, is enough to convince her that this new school will be OK. Sure he already has a girlfriend, but that can change can’t it? Meanwhile this strange guy Gaston keeps watching her.  And then Gaston gets put in her group for the geography project!

This book is real chick lit. Friendships, love interests, and family angst abound. It is also a coming-of-age tale as El starts to sort out her priorities in life. And the final couple of chapters are shattering.

I had real problems deciding whether to put this as upper or lower secondary. I wouldn’t promote it to year 7, but 8 or 9 would love it.

Many years ago, while multiple copies of a book by another author, Sonya Hartnett served me in a bookstore. As she processed my payment, she commented that her books never managed to sell as well. At the time, I had just started a book by her, and said so. I don’t think she believed me. But I love her writing, even though much of it seems beyond me at times.

This book is no different. On the surface it is a simple fable about love and the meaning of life. However, all the time I was reading it, I knew I was missing the point. Over the next few months I will hear others discuss this work. It wouldn’t surprise me if this was also listed on the CBC short list. I will dig out reviews and if I can find the time, read the book again to find what I missed.

So, on the surface, Maddie is an old lady who lives alone with her dog. Around her house she has all kinds of memoribilia of her life. One day a young boy arrives to visit, and over tea and eventually dinner, she tells him the story of her life.

Maddie was always looking for something different from life. She wanted life to be magical and mystical like in fairy tales. She was a only child, misunderstood by her peers, but very self-sufficient. She always had her dolls as friends, and even the local nargun offered sage advice. After she finished school her father took her on the traditional ‘Grand Tour’ like many other wealthy young people at the end of the 19th century. But when she returned to the mandatory matchmaking, she found possible beaux boring. That is until she meets Feather while walking on the beach.

This book reminded me so much of The Boy in Striped Pyjamas another fable written for adults. And even at times Hartnett’s The Silver Donkey. It was a tale told simply enough for any child. However, the richness of the story lies in the symbolism. This book wants to be studied not read.

Monica Bloom is the latest offering by Nick Earls to his adoring reading public. Once again he has produced a book that will be enjoyed equally by his adult fans as well as his many readers still at school.

Matt Sherman is in his final year at school, and at the start of the year it seems that everything will simply continue as it always has. His father is state manager of a mining company, his mother spends her time as the supportive wife, providing dinners for visiting bigwigs and Nick just goes to school and stays out of trouble. But then the twins who live next door introduce him to their cousin from Dublin.

The next thing you know Matt’s father is on the news, his mother is looking for work and Matt is in love with the mysterious girl he has only met 5 times. How Nick Earls gets from A to B is simple, charming, and for those of us who are over 25, nostalgic.

When I finished this book and set it aside, my first thought was ‘What a wonderful read’. The language is simple, the characters are engaging and the plot appears simple with many layers of complexity hidden below the surface. I almost wish I had time to read it again.

I have been promoting chick lit to the girls at school all week, so when the school holidays began and I was selecting my first book to read, I just had to read some chick lit for myself. This Danielle Steel title had been sitting on my bookshelf for months, so it was time to read it and get rid of it.

And I got exactly what I expected. A formula romance novel that can be churned out by the dozens. Girl is nearing middle age, biological clock is running out. She works a 50 hour week and has little time for anything but the weekend companion that has been around for 4 years. Then the girl meets an older man, a father figure, who gives her wise advice. In spite of herself she takes the advice and ends up falling in love, having a child and married (in that order).

And this book has weddings galore. In the single year that passes between the covers, three generations of the family meet Mr Right and say I Do. The grand house referred to in the title ends up as the location for all three weddings.

About three quarters of the way through the book as the first wedding passed, I started looking for the typical twist to the emotions. Was Mr Right going to get cold feet? Perhaps the Ex would return and she would be torn between her two true loves. But no, everything stayed sweet and predictable right to the end.

It is unusual today for a book to remain warm, life affirming and positive from cover to cover. The reader is never challenged to think in this book. But sometimes everyone needs to read some brain mush. And this is definitely a book for the beach.

Another great read from one of my favourite authors. It is wonderful when an author can continually surprise you with the variety of ideas and themes in his many books.Love Cuts is about love, the good, the bad, the awkward, the embarrassment and everything else about this most powerful of human emotions. The story focuses on two sisters and all the relationships around them. Separated parents, step-family, friendship like sisters, babies are included as well as each girls love interest.What I really liked about the books was that fact that none of the ‘loves’ was perfect. One male character was frightened of this new feeling that allowed someone else so much power over him. The parents love for children is sometimes impatient, sometimes smothering. One of the sisters has been hurt by love, and as a result she is angrily lashing out at everyone. Love makes everyone do silly things, which are often regretted later. Love cuts, love hurts, but yet love can also heal.The title and cover of this book may label it as girlie, but don’t be put off. This is a book for every young adult, male and female.