Book talk: Books I read this winter

Reading is my way of escaping. Books transport me to places and eras that I would otherwise have no knowledge of. Although I read on a constant basis, it is probably during the winter months that I get through the most books as few activities are cosier than sitting in a comfortable armchair, wrapped in a soft blanket and whiling away the time between the pages of a good novel. None of the books I’ve read this winter will ever be classified as literature in the true meaning of the word but, perhaps more importantly, they were all a good read.

• The Paris Secret by Lily Graham

This is the story of a family that was torn apart by the second world war and of one young woman’s determination to heal the wounds of the past.

The Paris Secret is a short book - I read it in about 2 to 3 days – and that is where it’s weakness lies. The plot could have been expanded and more details included to make the story more plausible. Unfortunately, I kept getting the impression that the author was in a hurry to finish and publish it. At the end I ended up feeling like I had just read the outline of what could have been a more moving and heartfelt story.

Loree’s rating: ★★★☆☆

• The Winter Children by Lulu Taylor

This book’s blurb tells us that “Behind a selfless act of kindness lie dark intentions” and throughout the story I kept expecting something sinister to happen to protagonists Olivia and Dan Felbeck and their much longed-for twin children.

The suspense kept building up but, in the end, nothing too out of the ordinary happens and the twist at the end made the whole story fizzle out for me because, all along, I had been expecting something horrific.

Loree’s rating: ★★★☆☆

• The Revolving Door of Life by Alexander McCall Smith

My husband bought me this book without realising that it was part of a series and, unfortunately, it was the tenth book about fictitious 44 Scotland Street and its inhabitants. However, reading it as a standalone book did not, in any way, detract from the story-line of this particular one.

I really enjoyed the book and all the characters we get to meet. By the end of the book, they almost felt like family – especially little Bertie. Another plus is the wonderful glimpses of contemporary Edinburgh that the author gives us.

Loree’s rating: ★★★★☆

• The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris

This is a novel based on the true story of love and survival in a horrific place that is better known for the terrible atrocities and barbaric acts that took place there. And yet, love and hope managed to survive in the living hell that was Auschwitz.

As the tattooist of Auschwitz, Lale Sokolov, a Slovakian Jew, is allowed a few ‘privileges’ that allow him to exchange jewels and money taken from murdered Jews for food to keep his fellow prisoners alive. It is in Auschwitz that he tattoos and meets  Gita and immediately vows to survive the camp and marry her.

This true story is both uplifting and heart-breaking but I feel that the author didn’t do it justice because it felt rushed in some places and, sometimes, months pass between one chapter and another. Perhaps deliberately, the author does not dwell too long on the horrors of this place but focuses her story on Lale and Gita and their struggle for survival.

Loree’s rating: ★★★☆☆

• The Silver Music Box by  Mina Baites (translated from German by Alison Layland)

The book spans the two world wars and beyond. At the centre of the story is a silver music box that Jewish jeweller Johan Blumenthal creates for his young son,  Paul, and which he gives to him prior to his departure for the Western Front in 1914. Half a century later, the box turns up in London, when it is inherited by Lilian Morrison after the death of her parents.

I enjoyed this book and I found that the narrative flowed well but, to repeat what I’ve already said, I wish that the author had drawn it out a bit longer in some places.

Loree’s rating: ★★★☆☆

• Hero of Rome by Douglas Jackson

This is the first in a series of books about Tribune Gaius Valerius Verrens and it takes us to Roman Britain at the time of the rebellion of the tribes that was led by the proud Boudicca, queen of the Iceni. Standing against the rising tide of Boudicca's rebellion is Roman Tribune, Gaius Valerius Verrens, Commander of the veteran legions at Colonia. Valerius leads the veterans in a last stand against the unstoppable horde of Boudicca's rebel army. Step by step, the bloodied survivors are forced back into the Temple of Claudius. It is here that Valerius wins lifelong fame and the accolade Hero of Rome.

I found the first 3 or 4 chapters of this book rather slow but after that, I was hooked and found it hard to put the book down. But since I seem to have a weakness for heroes, especially if they are wielding swords, this is hardly surprising. Which means that, in future, I will probably read more of the adventures of Gaius Valerius Verrens.

Loree’s rating: ★★★★☆

• My Mother’s Wedding Dress by Justine Picardie

At first glance it may seem like this a book about fashion. And it is, of course. But it’s so much more. Justine Picardie draws into the psychology of fashion: why we wear what we do; our perception of colours, with special emphasis on red, black and white; the connection between clothes and literature; the different textures and embellishments and why they appeal to our senses. Woven into this narrative are many personal glimpses into Picardie’s life and family and her encounters with designers such as Donatella Versace and Karl Lagerfeld.

This book has its faults, like too many parentheses and over-long ones at that, and there are a couple of chapters that go into too much unnecessary detail, but I read it at the right time. Because I am going through a phase of questioning what I wear and why and whether some clothes are ‘too young’ for me and whether others make me look frumpy. So, yes, I did enjoy it and would recommend it to anyone who wants to delve a bit deeper into our relationship with clothes.

Loree’s rating: ★★★★☆

As always, I am looking forward to read more books during the coming months. I have quite a pile waiting by my armchair for the lazy summer days. What interesting books are you reading these days?