15 Must Read Books in 2015

In 2014 I certainly slacked off in the reading stakes. I think I read about 5 books, which isn't normal for me, I am usually devouring a few a month. Well I'm going to change that in 2015!

Here is my 15 Must Read Books for 2015.

1. Outlander Series- I'm up to book five
2. The Rosie Effect
3. The Perks of Being a Wallflower
4. The Fault in Our Stars
5. Gone Girl (I know, I'm behind the times)
6. The Husbands Secret
7. If I Stay
8. Fangirl
9. Eleanor & Park
10. The Goldfinch
11. Paper Towns
12. Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children
13. Party Girl
14. We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves
15. Isla and The Happily Ever After


What books are on your list? 

Mrs Readalot's Book club- Of Mice and Men

So I mentioned the other day that I managed to read a fair bit over the last week or so, another book or rather novella that I consumed was Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck. Now this book was SAD, it follows the life of two men, George and Lennie, during the great depression of the 1930s in California as they travel from ranch to ranch in search of the much needed money they require to start a little place of their own. 

 'Guys like us, that work on ranches, are the loneliest guys in the world. They got no family. They don't belong no place'. George and his large, simple-minded friend Lennie are drifters, following wherever work leads them. Arriving in California's Salinas Valley, they get work on a ranch. If they can just stay out of trouble, George promises Lennie, then one day they might be able to get some land of their own and settle down some place. But kind-hearted, childlike Lennie is a victim of his own strength. Seen by others as a threat, he finds it impossible to control his emotions. And one day not even George will be able to save him from trouble. "Of Mice and Men" is a tragic and moving story of friendship, loneliness and the dispossessed.

And tragic it is! Themes of mental illness, racism and of course tragedy are covered in the book oh so well. This book left me so sad, but it made me think over the whole thing and tie sections together.

It will certainly stay with you long after you read it and have you thinking about it over and over again. Just like any great novel should.

Have you read it?





I am linking up with dear future me for Mrs Readalot's Book Club.

Mrs Readalots Book Club: To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee

As a child I always thought the title of this book was Tequila Mockingbird... don't ask me why, I have no idea! But anyway, I have been slowly working through a list of books I have always wanted to read and To Kill A Mockingbird is one of those books.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this too. It is a wonderful story and one that I think almost anyone would enjoy.

If you are one of the handful of people that have no idea what To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee is about then here is a rundown:

"Shoot all the bluejays you want, if you can hit 'em, but remember it's a sin to kill a mockingbird." A lawyer's advice to his children as he defends the real mockingbird of Harper Lee's classic novel--a black man charged with the rape of a white girl.

Through the young eyes of Scout and Jem Finch, Harper Lee explores with rich humour and unswerving honesty the irrationality of adult attitudes toward race and class in the Deep South of the 1930s. The conscience of a town steeped in prejudice, violence, and hypocrisy is pricked by the stamina and quiet heroism of one man's struggle for justice--but the weight of history will only tolerate so much. One of the best-loved classics of all time,

"To Kill a Mockingbird" has earned many distinctions since its original publication in 1960. It has won the Pulitzer Prize, been translated into more than forty languages, sold more than forty million copies worldwide, and been made into an enormously popular movie. It was also named the best novel of the twentieth century by librarians across the country ("Library Journal").

Honestly, this is a book that I could read many times and probably come away with a different feeling each time, it is happy, it is sad, it is inspiring. If you haven't read it, do you shelf a favour and track a copy down.



I am linking up with dear future me for Mrs Readalot's Book Club.

Mrs Readalots Book Club: Putting Alice Back Together

So it is my turn to host Mrs Readalots Book Club this month and since I haven't had much time to read these past few months I picked a book that I have already read and reviewed on the blog.

The book I choose is Putting Alice Back Together by Carol Marinelli. I loved this book so so much. So much in fact, I abandoned the housework for a few days and read it in pretty much one go.

If you judge this book by its cover you might be a little shocked indeed. I don't know what I would expect the cover to actually look like, but it wouldn't be what the publishers choose...

Putting Alice Back Together has been described as:

Alice is the friend you wish you had. The girl who makes a party more fun, pulls a funny face to make you feel better, drinks wine out of a mug and makes you laugh while you're crying over an ex.

Alice is totally happy, everything is amazing and there is nothing at all to worry about...except, well:

Her job was really great - 10 years ago.
The sexiest guy alive doesn't want her -because he's gay.
Her credit card bills are under her bed - unopened.

But maybe the biggest problem for Alice is that she has a secret. A secret so big she can't tell anyone. How do you keep a secret like that when everything is starting to fall apart? And once it's out there, how do you ever begin to put yourself back together again?

And that really does sum it up perfectly. It is a wonderful novel that sucks you in right from the beginning and doesn't let you go to well after you have turned the last page.

Putting Alice Back Together explores so many issues that are just to 'heavy' for your usual chick lit books. Issues like anxiety and depression and well her problematic relationship with prescription medications and wine...

You will laugh with Alice, you will cry with Alice and you will certainly grieve with Alice as you join her on her journey of self discovery.

What have you been reading lately? I am reading the Birth House which was last months book club book. It only just showed up late last week after a LONG time in transit.



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Please link up your reviews below.

 

Mrs Readalots Book Club: The Help

I recently read 'The Help' by  Kathryn Stockett recently for Mrs Readalots Book Club.

If you haven't heard of The Help before, I am not quite sure what planet you have been living on. Actually I was recently speaking to someone and mentioned I had just finished reading it and they had no idea about the book or the movie! I was shocked.

Well anyway, if you know nothing about the book it follows the lives of three women in Jackson, Mississippi in the 1960s. The thing is though that the three women include one white women fresh out of college and two black maids. It follows their journey as they seek to change the way they are all seen in their community. Without realising it, they start a movement of their own that forever changes a town, and the way women--mothers, daughters, caregivers, friends--view one another.

I loved this book. I found it hard to get into at first, but after the first chapter or so, I devoured it. B actually woke up at 2am one morning and got cranky at me and turned my light off! He had a point, I was cranky that day from lack of sleep. But I just had to finish it!

It will make you laugh, cry and cringe too! Just wait until you hear about the unspeakable act that Minny did to Miss Hilly! Just make sure you aren't eating when you get to that part!


There was one thing I didn't like. And I'll warn you this is a slight spoiler so if you haven't read it and you want to just skip over this part. I was really miffed when Stuart walked away from Skeeter! I mean really miffed. It made me cranky. I don't really know why though, I mean Skeeter still got her happy ending! I just wanted it to include Stuart.


So have you read The Help? Did you like it? Love it? or Hate it?


I am linking up with CactusChatter for Mrs Readalots Book Club pop on over and see what everyone else thinks about the Help.