I chose this for my 2018 Reading Challenge as ‘A book by an author of a different ethnicity to you’ because it popped up on Amazon as a book I might like – and I liked Shappi Khorsandi on I’m A Celebrity last year. As good a reason as ever to read a book?!
Here’s the blurb:
“Nina does not have a drinking problem. She likes a drink, sure. But what 17-year-old doesn’t? Nina’s mum isn’t so sure. But she’s busy with her new husband and five year old Katie. And Nina’s almost an adult after all. And if Nina sometimes wakes up with little memory of what happened the night before, then her friends are all too happy to fill in the blanks. Nina’s drunken exploits are the stuff of college legend. But then one dark Sunday morning, even her friends can’t help piece together Saturday night. All Nina feels is a deep sense of shame, that something very bad has happened to her…”
I think I am slightly over target age for this – but it’s really good. Whilst I didn’t drink quite as much as Nina as a teenager – I do remember the hungover shame the next morning in my mid 20s.
I like Nina a lot – and her friends. I feel for her Mum – and wonder how I would cope if that was my daughter. I also secretly really like Alan her step Dad – when the chips are down he is ace.
The book is brilliantly written with a really dry sense of humour – and just so true. Little things like Nina kicking her dresser really hard (but not so hard that her jewellery fell off and got all tangled up). Just very cleverly written.
The descriptions of rehab are also really interesting – and AA meetings / sponsor set up. I can see the massive benefits – and detriments – of sharing with people going through the same or similar addictions.
It also highlights the issues that social media and smart phones bring to teenagers lives. Yet again it made me incredibly grateful that my teenage years were in the 90s before the advent of such things.
A number of the reviewers on Amazon have said that every 15-25 year old should read this. I squirmed a bit at this, as my eldest is 15 and there is quite a lot of sex in the book – but hey, at her age I could probably find you the rude bits in Judy Blume’s ‘Forever’ in a matter of seconds – and she watched bloody Love Island – and this is way more thought provoking than that drivel. However, I’m sure if I recommend it she won’t read it anyway!
I would recommend this to the age range mentioned above – but also to those of us with kids that age – it is really though provoking. I will definitely look for other books by Shappi Khorsandi as I really like her writing style.
When people talk about favourite holiday destinations you expect the Caribbean, the Algarve, maybe the South of France or Italian Lakes, perhaps Florida for a Disney-fest – but I would like to add Zimbabwe to that list.
When we said we had Zimbabwe on our itinerary for our African Adventure this summer, friends vocalised their concerns with the political situation – especially with the violence after elections just days before we were due to travel. We were heading to Victoria Falls, over 900km from Harare, the capital of Zimbabwe and where the majority of the troubles have been, and so were hoping that all would be well.
We flew into Vic Falls and had to wait HOURS to get through immigration – as all visitors have to purchase a visa (in US$, as Zimbabwe no longer has its own currency) and then these are hand written and stuck into individual passports. It was a time consuming process – but eventually worth it.
So here are the Price family’s top tips for a once in a lifetime trip to Zimbabwe:
This was our first destination and it was AMAZING! We were lucky enough to stay in their River House – which sleeps 8 and has it’s own private dining room and kitchen, so you don’t have to go to the communal areas at all. We honestly felt like the only people there – despite there being 18 other suites. Like the whole resort it is right on the banks of the Zambezi with stunning views across to Zambia.
The view from our bedroom
A bath with a view too
Sunrise over the Zambezi
Matetsi at night
The rooms are well appointed – with air con, loads of storage, modern bathrooms, mosquito nets – and stunning views out across the river.
We also had our own private pool. It wasn’t heated – but all of the kids, and the husband, managed a brief dip. It was winter when we were there – but I can imagine in summer it would be a great place to chill and escape the heat.
Some of the wildlife does venture down to the lodge – so you do have to be a bit aware. I have to say I never thought I’d hear my daughter yell ‘Mum, Mum, a monkey has just stolen my gluten free breakfast biscuits’!! The cheeky thing had crept through a gap in the door as the girls were chilling in their room, it had swiped a packet of biscuits, climbed up a tree, perfectly opened the packaging and sat munching the gluten free delights! It was quite a sight.
The gluten free monkey!
On the subject of being gluten free, Matetsi handled this dietary requirement brilliantly – and made some fabulous GF options available. They also coped with a very fussy 8 year old who pretty much ate chicken nuggets and chips for every meal. The rest of us were more adventurous and the food was wonderful. As were the drinks – gin and homemade lemonade being my tipple of choice after Chris, the wonderful butler, rustled one up for me the first day. All of the food and drink was included in the price of the stay.
Lunch with a view
Breakfast time (post game drive)
More food!
Our laundry was washed every day, also included in the holiday cost, which with 6 of us was incredibly useful. The final evening the housekeeper had run us a bath and left a bottle of sparkling wine in an ice bucket next to it, for when we got back from our game drive – now that is perfect service! (I won’t include the photo of us in the bath – do not fear!!)
Candlelit bath with wine #perfect
I managed to have an open air full body massage whilst we were there – there is a separate spa / gym / pool / wine cellar complex – and it was wonderfully relaxing, and needed after being thrown around on game drives!
We have been lucky enough to stay in some amazing places around the world – but Matetsi will hold a special place in all of our hearts forever.
2. Game Drives
Matetsi allocated our Guide, Clever (yes, that really was his name) and Tracker, Mongoose (I don’t think that really was his name – but it was what Clever called him the day we met and it stuck!) the afternoon we arrived. We went straight out on our first game drive and it was fabulous.
Our transport for drives
Within minutes of leaving our house we’d seen loads of elephants at a water container. Then we saw impala, zebras, kudus and lots more – along with an amazing sunset. And this was just day one.
Gorgeous elephant
Mongoose spotting a leopard’s kill
We were up early for our game drive the next morning and it was cold. Proper bone chilling cold – which we hadn’t prepared for at all (the other mornings we layered up in ALL OF THE CLOTHES we had!) When we got in the vehicle there were blankets and HOT WATER BOTTLES – which was incredibly welcome. We were delighted to see lions that morning- which is not a given – and it made the bone shaking coldness worthwhile. We were also helped by Mongoose setting up a drinks station where we could have rangers coffee (coffee with a huge shot of Amarula in it!!) to warm up.
Wrapping up warm
Morning coffee
A majestic lion
The lions off hunting for the day
As well as game drives, Clever and Mongoose took us fishing on the Zambezi! I am not renowned for my love of the water – but Mongoose having set up the drinks and snacks on the boat before we arrived definitely helped. As the 15 year old so eloquently put it – ‘Mum’s only in it for the wine’!!
Ready for the snacks
A sunbathing croodile
Sibling assistance with fishing
They were very patient
A herd of elephants on the riverbank
On one drive Clever collected some elephant poo, reconstituted it by soaking it in some water – and then drank the water! This is seemingly a common thing for local people to do for its health giving properties! Mr and Master Price both partook. I didn’t (and informed Mr Price he had to clean his teeth before he could even think about a kiss that day!)
Drinking elephant poo
Like father, like son
All of the drives were amazing – and we saw different things every time.
A zebra crossing
Mongoose’s sundowners
Price family safari selfie
The boy on lookout
You do get a bit blase a few days in – with ‘oh look, more impala’ as if you’re talking about sheep when driving through Wales or such like, but to then see elephants walking across the plains as the sun sets – takes your breath away.
Sunset over the Zambezi
Sunset over the plains with the elephants walking home
3. Elephant Interaction
We moved on from Matetsi to The Elephant Camp – about half an hour away, and closer to Victoria Falls itself. We were lucky enough to have the 4 suites in West Camp to ourselves (there are 12 further suites over in the main camp).
It wasn’t quite up to Matetsi accommodation wise (but I’m not sure anything would have been!) but we were staying in tents (admittedly tents with a lounge area with sofas, and a full on en suite) but I’m taking it as a camping trip!! (I’m renowned for my love of camping about as much as my love of boats!!)
Every tent should have a living area with sofas and a minibar!
The main attraction about staying here was the chance to interact with the elephants who live on the camp. In the 1980s Zimbabwe culled lots of elephants – this resulted in many orphans, and the Elephant Camp took them in. They have continued to take in orphaned and injured elephants ever since. The elephants can roam around the park in the day – but at night are stabled. They are used to interacting with humans and so visitors can go and see them and feed them. Having seen lots of elephants in the wild in the preceeding few days – it was wonderful to get up so close to them. All of us enjoyed feeding them – and when one coughed all over the 15 year old, it was very amusing for the rest of us!
The Price family
Feeding the elephants
After an elephant coughed!!
4. Sylvester the Cheetah
The other amazing thing that The Elephant Camp had to offer was the chance to interact with their resident Cheetah – Sylvester. He was orphaned as a cub (his mother and the rest of his litter killed by a lion) and so has been brought up by the rangers. He therefore lacks the hunting instinct to be let back into the wild.
Older children are allowed to take Sylvester for a walk – but because our youngest kids are only 8 and 6 that wasn’t an option, but we could still do the interaction.
It was amazing to see such a majestic creature up close. The photos were incredible (although it does look like our 13 year old is trying to be all ‘gangsta’ rather than a public schoolboy from Worcestershire…….)
Price family cheetah selfie (although it would make a good album cover!)
5. Victoria Falls
My parents visited the Falls at a similar time of year a few years ago, from the Zambian side – and there wasn’t much water, and they could actually walk onto the river bed – so we didn’t have high hopes for water flow. However, it was perfect! There was enough water to be truly spectacular – but we could see quite a lot without getting completely soaked (although we did by the end!)
We started off with a walk with our guide who had collected us from the Elephant Camp. He was really informative telling us about the geography and history. Interestingly whilst there is a statue of Livingstone at the Zimbabwean side of the falls, he didn’t actually set foot on that side, having ‘discovered’ them from the Zambia!
Rainbow corner
Spectacular falls
The boys getting a bit wet
We walked along going to many different view points – which got progressively wetter as we went along! We walked all the way down to the bridge across the gorge that connects Zimbabwe and Zambia (built in England and shipped across many years ago. It reminded me of Ironbridge in Shropshire)
After that we went to the Lookout Cafe for lunch. The food was fab, as was the wine, and the view over the gorge quite spectacular!
From there we were picked up and taken to do ‘The Flight of Angels‘ – a 13 minute helicopter tour over Victoria Falls. The 15 year old and 8 year old refused to fly – but the 13 year old and 6 year old did (there is no lower age limit). The four of us had an amazing time – bucket list stuff. It gave a real insight into the geography seeing it from the air. And I managed not to throw up – which is unusual for me!! It was spectacular.
She was a bit nervous
Thankfully she had TC Ted for company!
The whole thing really was a once in a lifetime trip – and one we would thoroughly recommend to anyone considering a safari. We didn’t see any political trouble at all – and aside from a slightly ear flapping elephant, and being within striking distance of a lion, didn’t feel unsafe at all.
So there you go – Zimbabwe is now high up on the Price family favourite holiday destinations list!!
Note: This is not a sponsored post, we paid for everything we did. All of it was organised by our wonderful Travel Counsellor Michelle. We just wanted to share the amazing trip we had – and keep a record of it for us to look back on.
I was lucky enough to be sent an advanced review copy by Penguin of this new book out in September 2018 in return for an honest review. Here’s the blurb:
“Is the one you tried to forget the one you can’t live without? Stella once thought that if she never saw Jack again, it would be too soon. But life has other plans for her and her stubborn, handsome ex-husband. Looking after their daughter in a time of need, Stella finds herself unwillingly reunited with the man she shared the best years of her life with – followed by the worst. Where tragedy once tore them apart, now Stella and Jack are being drawn back together. But each of them has a new partner and a new life. Should they fight temptation? Should the past remain the past? Or are some loves simply meant to be?”
The book is set in the current time – but with flashbacks to the family tragedy 27 years earlier. The back story is filled out over time in a way that keeps you wanting to know more. Whilst you find out early on what the result was of the tragic event – you don’t know how and why it happened (and I won’t ruin it by giving too much away here – I loathe reviews that ruin a fundamental part of the story – and I’m pleased the blurb doesn’t in this case).
I really liked Stella and Jack – and you’re routing for them both in different ways.
Their daughter Eve (co-incidentally one of my daughter’s too) is very much stuck in the middle – and I found her a bit annoying at times, but pregnancy can make anyone a bit annoying (I’ve done it 4 times, and I’m sure was annoying every time!!)
I devoured the book in a few hours on holiday – but it felt like the kind of book you want to romp through as it moves at quite a pace – and you’re picking up the history too.
Overall I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was a reasonably easy read – although appeared to have some randomly complicated words in at times – you could almost picture the writer using the synonym feature on her computer to get a fancy pants word as it generally wasn’t highbrow language!!
I don’t think I’ve read anything by Hilary Boyd before – but I will be sure to look out her back catalogue now for other holiday reads.
I was lent a copy of this by a friend – and told it was really ‘different’. Now, I’m always nervous of ‘different’ having used exactly that word to describe Donna Tartt’s ‘The Goldfinch’ – some of my friends still haven’t forgiven me for putting then through that! Anyway – I read the book without reading the blurb first – which is always a risk!!
But here it is for you:
“Nova is 32 years old and she is about to see the world for the very first time. Jillian Safinova, Nova to her friends, can do many things. She can speak five languages. She can always find a silver lining. And she can even tell when someone is lying just from the sound of their voice. But there’s one thing Nova can’t do. She can’t see. When her brother convinces her to have an operation that will restore her sight, Nova wakes up to a world she no longer understands. Until she meets Kate. As Kate comes into focus, her past threatens to throw them into a different kind of darkness. Can they each learn to see the world in a different … and open their eyes to the lives they could have been living all along?”
I LOVED this book – from start to finish. It’s difficult to know what category to put it in – there is a lot about the physical act of seeing, but also non physical blindness to things going on around you – as well as a romance and thriller aspects – very difficult to pin it down to a genre.
The whole concept of ‘curing’ a ‘broken’ sense is something I hadn’t even considered until a few years ago when a friend’s son was diagnosed as profoundly deaf at birth. Cochlear implants were an option for him – and as someone with no experience of the deaf world at all, I just assumed it was a no brainer, and anything to make a child ‘normal’ (I cringe writing that now) should be grabbed at. I hadn’t realised – until my very patient and forgiving friend – explained to me the complexities of ‘curing’ deafness has massively opposing views in the deaf community. At the age of about 1, my friend’s son did have the implants and is thriving as a funny, feisty, bright, articulate, handsome, loving and loved 6 year old – and his implants are something that will be an intrinsic part of his life forever.
I think this gave me slightly more of an insight into Nova’s operation than I would have had if I’d not even considered ‘repairing a broken sense’ before. Obviously in her case it’s totally different as it’s sight not hearing, and she’s 32 – so has lived without seeing anything properly her entire life to date. She’s an independent, successful woman working as an interpreter for the police – and the aftermath of her operation plays out for her professionally, personally and psychologically.
Nova’s path crosses with Kate in hospital. I have to say I’d made assumptions about how Kate’s injuries would pan out – and I was totally and utterly wrong! But their lives become entwined in a complex and ever changing way. The support they show each other – in different ways at different times – is beautiful and very real.
Also, being a ‘builder’ in my day job helped me appreciate some of Kate’s geeky architect references, for example the soundproofed new flat – I love it when there are seemingly irrelevant facts that interest me!
Nova and Kate’s relationships with family and friends are fundamental to the story but work really well – you see them as rounded people without any of it being forced – it’s just written really well. I don’t want to give too much of it away – you need to see what I mean when you read it.
This book does make you think about how we ‘see’ – and Nova’s rules of seeing are dotted throughout – some are practical – and some with a much deeper meaning – but all very cleverly done.
I would thoroughly recommend this book to anyone and everyone!
I am trying to tick off some categories in my 2018 reading challenge – and this book by Amy Schumer is a previous Goodreads Peoples Choice winner #yay. My husband and I watched ‘Trainwreck’ a few years ago – and he was surprised how much the Amy Schumer character reminded him of me…… (this is a compliment – I think?!) We watched some of her stand up and found that very entertaining too (probably I enjoyed it more than him – even though he doesn’t mind a vulgar sex reference much!!) Anyway – I wanted to find out more about the real Amy – rather than the semi autobiographical one from Trainwreck (and was hoping I wouldn’t be massively disappointed in the whole Greatest Showman / PT Barnum autobiography debacle from earlier this summer)
Here’s the Amazon blurb:
“In The Girl with the Lower Back Tattoo, Amy shares stories about her family, her relationships, her career, good – and bad – sex, recounting the experiences that have shaped who she is today: from the riches to rags story of her childhood to her teenage quest for popularity (and boys) to becoming one of the most sought-after comedians on the planet and an outspoken advocate for women’s rights. Whether she’s experiencing lust at first sight in the queue at the airport, discovering her boot camp instructor’s secret bad habit, or candidly discussing her father’s multiple sclerosis, Amy Schumer proves to be a fearless, original, and always entertaining storyteller. Her book will move you, make you laugh, catch you completely off guard, and answer this burning question: is it okay for a 35 year-old woman to still sleep with her childhood teddy bears?”
First up – I really enjoyed the book. It’s quite explicit sexually – but that’s not a huge surprise if you’ve seen any of Amy’s previous work! But it’s also very soul bearing emotionally. Both as a woman – but also in her role as a daughter. I hadn’t appreciated that her father had multiple sclerosis – this touched a nerve having watched a family friend – the Dad of one of my best friends – go through this diagnosis and live with MS for 30 years until he eventually passed away a few years ago. I note from a bit of Google research that Mr Schumer has undergone some stem cell research (mentioned in the closing chapters of the book) and has successfully stood again – which is AMAZING news.
Amy is very open and honest throughout the book – again, as you would expect from her stand up. I thought it very interesting how she would class herself as an introvert – despite her chosen career.
I loved her relationship with her sister, brother in law and niece – they are clearly a really vital and loved part of her world. Her relationship with her Mum is more ‘interesting’ and is explored in some depth at different times in her life.
The book also emphasised just how hard she worked for years on end before becoming an apparent ‘overnight success’ – and I hadn’t really thought before how a comic has to be continually working on their act – as she says, it’s not like being a musician where everyone wants the old classics people want new stuff all the time! (The complete opposite of a Take That concert where everyone pops to the loo whilst they play the new stuff, willing them to sing Relight My Fire so they can do the Lulu bit – or maybe that’s just me?!?!?)
I found the book interesting, funny, thought provoking, emotional and really enjoyable. And a million times better than the P T Barnum autobiography!!
I have to confess to being a bit of a fan girl of Jenny Oliver’s (when I met her in real life I was a) a bit drunk and b) a bit embarrassing by introducing myself as THE Libby Price (as she’d named a character after me in a previous book after my husband bid for it in a charity auction!) ) She is a friend of a friend – and I believe this book in hard copy has dedication to the aforementioned friend – but I couldn’t find that on the Kindle version (which is currently 99p – what a bargain!)
Here’s the blurb:
“The house where Stella and her sister Amy grew up never changes – the red front door, the breath-taking view over the Cornish coast, her parents in their usual spots on the sofa. Except this summer, things feel a little different… Stella’s father is nowhere to be seen, yet her mother – in suspiciously new Per Una jeans – seems curiously unfazed by his absence, and more eager to talk about her mysterious dog-walking buddy Mitch. Stella’s sister Amy has returned home with a new boyfriend she can barely stand and a secret to hide, and Stella’s husband Jack has something he wants to get off his chest too. Even Frank Sinatra, the dog, has a guilty air about him. This summer, change is in the air for the Whitethorns… Warm, funny and gloriously feel-good, this is the perfect summer read for fans of Veronica Henry and Milly Johnson.”
I really enjoyed this from the start. Stella is having difficulties with a challenging 13 year old son – and I totally empathise with that! Not that I’ve dumped mine at my parents – yet!
I liked the fact that the book revolved around the extended family – and so there were lots of central characters. Whilst Stella was the one I empathised with most – I liked most of them – although wanted to slap some of the on a number of occasions!!
A chunk of the book is based on competitive swimming – we have good friends who swim in that world (ridiculous pun most definitely intended!) and so I could empathise with some of that too!
Having holidayed in Cornwall and Portugal in the last few months I had some of the locations in the bag already too – which is always useful! I’m a sucker for any story that includes a pastel de nata reference! #Portuguesecustardtart
I have to admit that a couple of friends had said this was utterly amazing and they had wept through it – and maybe I’m a hard hearted cow – but I didn’t find it that emotional – but I did really enjoy it.
For 99p – you can’t go wrong!
P.S. Whilst I can concur with the Veronica Henry reference in the blurb – this blows any Milly Johnson I’ve ever read out of the water!!!
My friend offered to lend me this – and my immediate comment was ‘oh, the Harvey Weinstein book’ – I couldn’t have been more wrong – I will explain why in a minute.
First – here’s the blurb:
” “My life, as you will read, has taken me from one cult to another. BRAVE is the story of how I fought my way out of these cults and reclaimed my life. I want to help you do the same.” -Rose McGowan
A revealing memoir and empowering manifesto – A voice for generations
Rose McGowan was born in one cult and came of age in another, more visible cult: Hollywood.
In a strange world where she was continually on display, stardom soon became a personal nightmare of constant exposure and sexualization. Rose escaped into the world of her mind, something she had done as a child, and into high-profile relationships. Every detail of her personal life became public, and the realities of an inherently sexist industry emerged with every script, role, public appearance, and magazine cover. The Hollywood machine packaged her as a sexualized bombshell, hijacking her image and identity and marketing them for profit.
Hollywood expected Rose to be silent and cooperative and to stay the path. Instead, she rebelled and asserted her true identity and voice. She reemerged unscripted, courageous, victorious, angry, smart, fierce, unapologetic, controversial, and real as f*ck.
BRAVE is her raw, honest, and poignant memoir/manifesto—a no-holds-barred, pull-no-punches account of the rise of a millennial icon, fearless activist, and unstoppable force for change who is determined to expose the truth about the entertainment industry, dismantle the concept of fame, shine a light on a multibillion-dollar business built on systemic misogyny, and empower people everywhere to wake up and be BRAVE.”
The book follows Rose’s life – not quite chronologically, but pretty much – and what a life it’s been. She was brought up in a Children of God cult in Italy – and then moved back to the US as a child. It was all very tumultuous, and she legally emancipated herself from her parents as a teenager.
It talks you through her time in Hollywood – which again has been eventful. She doesn’t name Harvey Weinstein in the book (hence the fact I was so wrong in my description of it) as she doesn’t want to name ‘the monster’ – but what he did to her was horrific – and explained in great detail. The fact that Ms McGowan was one of the first women to ‘out’ the monster has been widely reported – and thank goodness she had the balls to do it. She is clearly (and rightly) very angry about what happened to her – and the knock on effect it had throughout her career in ‘the industry’.
Later on she talks about a Director she was in a relationship with – initially calling him RR. But by the end of the book Robert Rodriguez has been fully named. She also talks about her relationship with Marilyn Manson (which coincidentally was then mentioned in a film I watched yesterday)
I’m pleased I read this – and it was informative – albeit disturbing. I feel much more briefed about the origins of the #metoo movement. Even in my accountancy profession I witnessed sexual harassment – but nowhere near on this scale – it really is shocking.
I wish Rose McGowan the best of luck for the future and applaud her for changing Hollywood, hopefully forever.
So – if you’re reading this in the UK it’s 7½ deaths – but in America, where it’s already been published, it’s just 7. I’m not sure why we get an extra half a death over this side of the Atlantic – but I am assured it’s the same book.
Anyway – I was very kindly given an advance review copy (well, advance for the UK market) from Netgalley in return for an honest review.
Here’s the blurb:
“The Hardcastle family is hosting a masquerade at their home, and their daughter Evelyn Hardcastle will die. She will die everyday until Aiden Bishop is able identify her killer and break the cycle.
But every time the day begins again, Aiden wakes up each day in a different body as one of the guests.
Aiden’s only escape is to solve Evelyn Hardcastle’s murder and conquer the shadows of an enemy he struggles to even comprehend. But nothing and no one are quite what they seem.
Deeply atmospheric and ingeniously plotted, The 7½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle is a highly original debut that’s an Agatha Christie mystery in a Groundhog Day Loop, with a bit of Quantum Leap to it. “
This really is an intriguing and very different book! (Different in a much better way than when I described Donna Tartt’s ‘The Goldfinch’ as different – before various friends get panicky!)
Each day Aiden Bishop wakes up in a different host’s body. He stays in that body for a day (during the host’s waking hours) or until the host dies. It therefore flips between hosts, days, hours of the same day, with alarming frequency.
I am very glad that I am on the wagon at the moment – as it was tricky enough to keep track of when stone cold sober – and definitely would not be a book to read when even mildly inebriated!! Even in my abstemious state, it was still tricky to keep a handle on entirely what was going on…….
Often with books I get cross with the author (and editor!) for not spotting loopholes in plots and inconsistencies – but it was pretty much impossible to even begin to dissect the plot with this one! The interview with the author at the end says that he had a wall full of post it notes and a spreadsheet to ensure all of the characters and plot lines were consistent whilst writing the book – and unless I’d recreated this, I really don’t think it was possible to keep up, you kind of just have to go with it (which for a control freak like me is a bit tricky!)
The hosts that Aiden uses each day are all very different – physically / emotionally / mentally – and that is very cleverly portrayed. You’re never quite sure who you’re rooting for though. The house where it’s set – Blackheath – is also really well described and you can picture yourself inside it – and it’s grounds. It is very atmospheric.
Overall I enjoyed this – although I’m pretty exhausted having finished it – and am looking forward to something a bit lighter and less taxing for my next read! Reading something with a new ‘concept’ is a refreshing change – and I’m already interested to see what the author writes next!
Definitely put this on your list for when it’s published in the Autumn.
This Price is Usually Right 