Miss Read

As a country dweller, Miss Read writes with a great love of nature, flowers plants and birds. She brings to life so vividly The Cotswold Villages of Fairacre and Thrush Green in the ongoing saga of the lives of the people who live there.

To pick up a Miss Read book is like coming in from the cold to a lovely glowing fire and a warm drink.

Joan

Manx Litfest - Thurs 26th - Sun 29th September 2013

Keep the dates free for this year's Manx Litfest, and don't miss the chance to get together with top writers and book lovers - right here on the Isle of Man. Litfest got off to a cracking start in 2012, and with Andrew Taylor already announced for this year's line-up, there will be an exciting programme of events to look forward to. Keep up to date with all the news at Manx Litfest and find out more about becoming a friend of Manx Litfest here: manxlitfest@gmail.com

Manx Litfest Reading Club

Join the Manx Litfest Reading Club and explore some of the books and writers that will be featured in September. The first writer is the award winning Andrew Taylor, renowned for his intriguing mix of crime and  history. Find out more and share your views with other readers here Manx Litfest Blog

The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey

The writing in this book is magical, especially in its description of the Alaskan Wilderness in the 1920s. Jack and Mabel look to escape from society and hurtful reminders of their childlessness, and stake everything they own on a homestead in Alaska. But they had no idea how hard the life was going to be. They’re both right on the edge when they are befriended by some neighbours. Shortly afterwards, a mysterious feral child appears, and they lose their hearts to her, and to their life in Alaska. This novel is based on a Russian Fairy Tale, and you’re never really sure what may be real. A very different book that stays with you long after you've finished reading.

A Gathering Light by Jennifer Donnelly

A beautifully written debut novel about a young woman named Mattie living in two worlds. There’s her home in New York State, where Mattie is torn between caring for her younger sisters after the death of their mother, and following her dreams to go to College in New York City and become a writer. Her father seems a harsh task master, but he’s working himself to the bone to hold the family together, and living with grief and guilt following his wife’s death. Mattie’s other life is at The Glenmore Hotel, where she works for some extra money. A young guest, Grace Brown, is drowned, and Mattie has been given her letters. The letters reveal a girl Mattie relates to, and prompts difficult decisions. Mattie’s keen observations echo ‘To Kill A Mockingbird’ in many ways, and the letters are from a true murder case in New York State.

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

The Fault in Our Stars is John Green’s fourth novel and debuted at #1 on The New York Times Best Seller list for Children's Chapter Books and remained in that spot for seven consecutive weeks! I am not surprised because this is without a doubt one of my favourite books I’ve ever read, however I think it was in the wrong category because this subject is a tad too intense for children.

In a nutshell: the book is written from point of view of Hazel and follows her friendship and romance with Augustus, but a pretty important factor of their relationship is that they met at a cancer support group... I’m sure by that you can tell that this book isn’t going to be completely happy. However, it’s done in such a way that cleverly brings humour to a not too funny subject. I really don’t want to say anything more to spoil it for you but it is definitely worth a read if you like to laugh one minute and cry the next.

Quinn

Stranded by Emily Barr

If no one knows you're missing, how can you be found? Bruised from the breakdown of her marriage, Esther Lomax needs to get away, and Malaysia's unspoilt shores seem the perfect place. But a day's boat trip takes a desperate turn when Esther and six other holidaymakers are taken to a desert island and their guide does not return. The group have no way of getting back to the mainland and know nothing about each other. As the days pass, tensions erupt, secrets emerge and time increasingly runs out, Esther must ask herself the ultimate question: will she leave the island alive? A page-turning psychological thriller which kept this reader gripped right to the end.
Cath

Blood Sisters – Barbara & Stephanie Keating

During their childhood years set in the Kenya Highlands of the 1950s, three girls from vastly different backgrounds become blood sisters, promising that nothing will ever destroy the bond between them.

Set just after the Mao-mao and as Kenya gained independence, it focuses mainly on the characters of the three girls, delivering romance, betrayal, and murder. The descriptions of Kenya are amazing.

A Durable Fire and In Borrowed Light : The sequels to the Langari trilogy are equally enthralling.
Evelyn