Summer and the City - Candice Bushnell

“The heart wants what the heart wants," she says, somewhat cryptically. I purse my lips in disapproval. "You'd think the heart would know better.” - Carrie Bradshaw 


Summer is a magical time in New York City and Carrie is in love with all of it—the crazy characters in her neighbourhood, the vintage-clothing boutiques, the wild parties, and the glamorous man who has swept her off her feet. Best of all, she's finally in a real writing class, taking her first steps toward fulfilling her dream. 

This sequel to The Carrie Diaries brings surprising revelations as Carrie learns to navigate her way around the Big Apple, going from being a country "sparrow"—as Samantha Jones dubs her—to the person she always wanted to be. But as it becomes increasingly difficult to reconcile her past with her future, Carrie realizes that making it in New York is much more complicated than she ever imagined. 

With her signature wit and sparkling humor, Candace Bushnell reveals the irresistible story of how Carrie met Samantha and Miranda, and what turned a small-town girl into one of New York City's most unforgettable icons, Carrie Bradshaw.

All I can say, is that if you loved the Sex and the City TV show, you will love this book. It was full of Candice Bushnell's quirky yet insightful observations on love and modern life just like the series and even though you know ultimately how it is going to end, it still takes you on an hilariously exciting journey through New York to see how Carrie meets her best friends.

Highly recommended for Carrie Bradshaw fans.

Nineteen Eighty Four - George Orwell

If you want a picture of the future, imaging a boot stamping on a human face - forever.

Written in 1948, 1984 was George Orwell's chilling prophecy about the future. And while 1984 has come and gone, Orwell's narrative is timelier than ever. 1984 presents a startling and haunting vision of the world, so powerful that it is completely convincing from start to finish. No one can deny the power of this novel, its hold on the imaginations of multiple generations of readers, or the resiliency of its admonitions a legacy that seems only to grow with the passage of time.

This book is a little more intense than the style of books I usually go for, but after seeing it listed on the "Books you must read before you die" and seeing so many strong reviews for it, I thought it was one I should definitely make time to read.

I had to read A Brave New World in high school and even today I still thoroughly enjoy that book. To me, Nineteen Eighty Four is the next level of extreme when compared to A Brave New World, and although I really enjoyed George Orwells writing style and the overall theme of the book, I think that a lot of the intellectual political notes went over my head.

To fully understand and appreciate this book you need to be able to give it 100% concentration for the whole time you are reading it, and at time I struggled with doing that as I found myself skim-reading over the extreme political jargon (i.e. when Winston was reading The Book).

I did enjoy the book, and while it is one of the most thought-provoking books I have read, I wouldn't read it again, nor recommend it to someone unless they specifically enjoyed this genre of book. 

Fourteen Days Later - Sibel Hodge

Fourteen Days Later is a romantic comedy with a unique infusion of British and Turkish Cypriot culture, written in a similar style to Marian Keyes - it is My Big Fat Greek Wedding meets Bridget Jones. 

When accident-prone Helen Grey finds a thong stuffed into the pocket of her boyfriend's best work trousers, it's time for her to move on. His excuse that he needed to dust the photocopier and just thought that it was a rag sounds like a lame excuse. 

Helen's life is propelled in an unexpected direction after her best friend, Ayshe, sets her a fourteen-day, life-changing challenge. Helen receives a task everyday which she must complete without question. The tasks are designed to build her confidence and boost her self-esteem but all they seem to do is push her closer to Ayshe's brother, Kalem. 

How will Kalem and Helen get together when she's too foolish to realize that she loves him? How can he fall for her when he is too busy falling prey to her mishaps and too in love with his own perfect girlfriend? How will Kalem's Turkish Cypriot family react when they find out? 

Is it really possible to change your life in fourteen days?

This was a great chick lit book and I loved reading it - my only complaint was that it go on for long enough!

The characters were hilarious, the plot flowed along really well, and it made me laugh-out-loud in several sections! It ended kind of abruptly, although I think there is a sequel so it may just continue on from where it left.

The Dress - Sophie Nicholls

Meet Ella and her mother Fabbia Moreno who arrive in York, one cold January day, to set up their vintage dress shop. 

The flamboyant Fabbia wants to sell beautiful dresses to nice people and move on from her difficult past. Ella just wants to fit in. But not everyone is on their side. 

Will Fabbia overcome the prejudices she encounters? What's the dark secret she's hiding? And do the silk linings and concealed seams of her dresses contain real spells or is this all just 'everyday magic'? 

Among the leopard-print shoes, tea-gowns and costume jewellery in Fabbia's shop are many different stories - and the story of one particular dress. 

I bough this book for 99c on the kindle store and it was the perfect book to read while on holidays.

If i had been reading it in my normal everyday life I would have like to see it go a bit more in depth in to their stories, but for a holiday it was easy to read.

I really enjoyed the stories from the "Old Country" and thought they were woven in well throughout the story and used to help the writer make her point.

The only slight criticism I would provide would be that it didn't read like it was set in 2010, at least my school life wasn't like that, although perhaps schools in England are different to Australia.

Overall it was a nice, easy, book that I would happily recommend for a light-hearted, quick read.

The Collectibles - James Kaufman

In his award winning debut novel, James J. Kaufman delivers a gripping and unforgettable story of two strong men from separate worlds - one touched by tragedy, the other by greed - brought together with unexpected results. In chronicling how their lives and those they touch are dramatically changed by their encounter, Kaufman reveals the power of relationships, the nature of love, and ultimately the meaning of life. The Collectibles has won the 2011 Nautilus Silver Award for Best First Book (Fiction) and was given the 2011 Nautilus Small Press Honor. It has also won the Silver Bill Fisher Award for Best First Book in the 2011 Benjamin Franklin Awards competition.

This book was only 99c for the Kindle version, and had over 180 reviews giving it a total of 4.5 stars, so I was excited to read it.

I was left disappointed. I honestly don't know how so many people rated it so highly.

I found the story empty with a lot of pointless detail that didn't flow smoothly.

I kept waiting for something exciting to happen, or some major twist but it never showed up.

The only positive thing I can say about this book is that the story had a good moral to it - that you should always be helpful to others around you.

I definitely don't recommend reading this book unless you have absolutely nothing else at your disposal to read.

The Art of Racing in the Rain - Garth Stein

“Gestures are all that I have; sometimes they must be grand in nature. And while I occasionally step over the line and into the world of the melodramatic, it is what I must do in order to communicate clearly and effectively”  - Enzo

Enzo knows he is different from other dogs: a philosopher with a nearly human soul (and an obsession with opposable thumbs), he has educated himself by watching television extensively, and by listening very closely to the words of his master, Denny Swift, an up-and-coming race car driver. Through Denny, Enzo has gained tremendous insight into the human condition, and he sees that life, like racing, isn't simply about going fast. Using the techniques needed on the race track, one can successfully navigate all of life's ordeals. 

On the eve of his death, Enzo takes stock of his life, recalling all that he and his family have been through. In the end, despite what he sees as his own limitations, Enzo comes through heroically to preserve the Swift family, holding in his heart the dream that Denny will become a racing champion with Zoë at his side. 

A heart-wrenching but deeply funny and ultimately uplifting story of family, love, loyalty, and hope, The Art of Racing in the Rain is a beautifully crafted and captivating look at the wonders and absurdities of human life...as only a dog could tell it.

I love, love, LOVED this book - I could not fault it! So much so that I absolutely devoured it in 2 days and I didn't want it to end. 

It was funny, clever, moving, emotional, heart-warming and was told in such a creative way through the eyes of a dog! Enzo the Labrador is the ultimate fly on the wall and is privy to many conversations as his intelligence and ability to understand is underestimated. Through his very educated perspective of the world he tells of the lives of his family and takes us through the good times and the battles.

It made me laugh out aloud and even cry on public transport on the way to/from work and is now definitely on my all-time favourites list as one I will remember for a long time. 

Everyone deserves a faithful companion like Enzo!