2018 Reads #1
Writing book reviews on a monthly basis is far too challenging for my liking. I don't think I've done one since September/October time and I think they add a hidden pressure to try and read more very quickly. Taking some advice from Sarah (if you love reading book reviews Sarah is your gal!) I've decided to write reviews whenever I've read 3 books. I think this will suit me far better and won't mean that I beat myself up if it takes me a month to read just one book.
Today I am sharing with you the first three books I read in 2018.
Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman | ☆☆☆☆
Smart, warm, uplifting, the story of an out-of-the-ordinary heroine whose deadpan weirdness and unconscious wit make for an irresistible journey as she realizes the only way to survive is to open her heart.
This book already has 3 awards to its success and so I was itching to give this one a read at the beginning of the year. Lots of people have been purchasing this recently so I'm glad I have already read it and able to pass my approval of what is a great book. I couldn't put it down and its build-up of short chapters meant I whizzed right through it within a week or so. Eleanor's character really strikes you with her inability to cope with appropriate social skills and has the tendency to say exactly what she's thinking. Her carefully timetabled life enables her to avoid social interactions. Her weekends are filled with frozen pizza, vodka, and phone chats with Mummy. All of this combined means that Eleanor is completely alone.
The story has a turning point when an encounter with a work colleague and a good dead leads her into a variety of new situations that she isn't used to an undertaking. There are hints of childhood trauma embedded into the story that I feel as though Gail has dealt with very considerately. I found the entire book took me through a range of intense emotions but its heartwarming-ness really brings it to life.
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J K Rowling | ☆☆☆☆Tragic revelations, heartwarming surprises, and high-stakes magical adventures await the boy wizard in this funny and poignant third installment of the beloved series.
This is definitely up there as one of my favourite Harry Potter books' in the series. It's the one book that I completely immerse myself into and this time it was no different than the rest. This book we follow Harry in his third year of Hogwarts. it seems as though every year there's another problem on the horizon. A convicted murderer, Siruis Black, has broken out of Azkaban prison and he may be after Harry. Hogwarts is being patrolled by the dementors, the Azkaban guards who are hunting for Sirius. Life at Hogwarts continues to carry on as usual and Harry's third year brings with it new successes at Quidditch, a new Defense of the Dark Arts Teacher (again) and new lessons to challenge him.
I think this is definitely one of my favourite books because so much happens in so little time and I feel as though the plot really starts to develop surrounding Harry
After You by Jojo Moyes | ☆☆☆☆☆
How do you move on after losing the person you loved? How do you build a life worth living?
This book has been sat on my bookshelf for a while and it was about time I found out what happened next to Louisa Clark. I loved reading the first one Me Before You and the new book started exactly where we left off. After the transformative six months spent alongside WIll Traynor, she is struggling with the grief and prospect of moving on. There's an extraordinary accident, a support group, a job that gives her little hope of a future it seems as though Louisa is nowhere near to a light at the end of the tunnel.
What it will lead her to though is the strong, capable Sam Fielding - a paramedic who willl sweep Louisa off her feet and a figure from Will's past will appear out of the blue and force Louisa to take some responsibility. Life after Will Traynor for Lou will mean learning to fall in love again, with all of the risks and worries that will bring. I love exactly what Jojo Moyes has done with Louisa's story and couldn't put it down, it was constantly changing and taking us on a different route.
What have you been reading recently?
If you enjoyed reading this then you may enjoy reading The Last Reads of 2017 and January 2017 Reads on my blog too!