Book Club - Twenties Girl

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rDDO2quPfZk/TEwfwnJjCBI/AAAAAAAAAv4/O2iTJmJ_wgU/s1600/thumbnailgenerator.ashx.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rDDO2quPfZk/TEwfwnJjCBI/AAAAAAAAAv4/O2iTJmJ_wgU/s320/thumbnailgenerator.ashx.png" /></a></div>I would like to start out by saying thank you very much to all my lovely readers for being so patient. I do apologize for being MIA for the past few weeks. Its been a bit of a tough time for me, hopefully the worst is over and things can and will only get better from here on out.<br /><br />For this months book club I would like to introduce you to the novel that has been keeping me company for the past two weeks.....<br /><br />Its the latest novel by Sophie Kisella, author of the <a href="http://ellainspired.blogspot.com/2010/02/book-club-guest-review-of-confessions.html">Shopaholics</a> series, Twenties Girl.<br /><br />It really is a delightful story of a young women, called Lara, who is haunted by a 23 year old ghost version of her dead great-grandmother that only she can see. Together the two of them embark on a whirlwind of adventures and Lara achieves the impossible by learning a valuable lesson from her dead relative.<br /><br />I real easy read that lets you escape and keeps you smiling. The perfect novel to enjoy poolside whilst on holiday :) Get your copy <a href="http://astore.amazon.com/e0fa0-20/detail/0385342039">HERE</a><br /><br /><br /><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_t5Wvjfo3y5o/S--2WYmnvbI/AAAAAAAABQw/nwe6MAK0glM/digital%20signature.png" width="100" />

Book Club - Twenties Girl

I would like to start out by saying thank you very much to all my lovely readers for being so patient. I do apologize for being MIA for the ...

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The Best Possible Taste

<div class="Text" style="tab-stops: 35.45pt 70.85pt 106.3pt 50.0mm 177.15pt 212.6pt 248.05pt 283.45pt 318.9pt 354.35pt 389.75pt 425.2pt 460.65pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><i>Guest Post book review from the lovely Anisha. Visit her at <a href="http://www.livelifedeeply.net/">Live Life Deeply</a>. </i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rDDO2quPfZk/S9X5ualdKHI/AAAAAAAAAsI/mt-nIbaggB8/s1600/thebestpossibletaste.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rDDO2quPfZk/S9X5ualdKHI/AAAAAAAAAsI/mt-nIbaggB8/s320/thebestpossibletaste.jpg" /></a></div><div class="Text" style="tab-stops: 35.45pt 70.85pt 106.3pt 50.0mm 177.15pt 212.6pt 248.05pt 283.45pt 318.9pt 354.35pt 389.75pt 425.2pt 460.65pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div><div class="Text" style="tab-stops: 35.45pt 70.85pt 106.3pt 50.0mm 177.15pt 212.6pt 248.05pt 283.45pt 318.9pt 354.35pt 389.75pt 425.2pt 460.65pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div><div class="Text" style="tab-stops: 35.45pt 70.85pt 106.3pt 50.0mm 177.15pt 212.6pt 248.05pt 283.45pt 318.9pt 354.35pt 389.75pt 425.2pt 460.65pt;"><span lang="EN-GB">Sam O‘Reilly‘s novel ‘<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Best Possible Taste</i>‘ is centred around main character Stephen Beckett: the 41 year-old owner of the chic organic restaurant ‘Earthsea‘ on the shore of Brighton and happily married father of two children. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="Text" style="tab-stops: 35.45pt 70.85pt 106.3pt 50.0mm 177.15pt 212.6pt 248.05pt 283.45pt 318.9pt 354.35pt 389.75pt 425.2pt 460.65pt;"><br /></div><div class="Text" style="tab-stops: 35.45pt 70.85pt 106.3pt 50.0mm 177.15pt 212.6pt 248.05pt 283.45pt 318.9pt 354.35pt 389.75pt 425.2pt 460.65pt;"><span lang="EN-GB">But wait - no!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="Text" style="tab-stops: 35.45pt 70.85pt 106.3pt 50.0mm 177.15pt 212.6pt 248.05pt 283.45pt 318.9pt 354.35pt 389.75pt 425.2pt 460.65pt;"><br /></div><div class="Text" style="tab-stops: 35.45pt 70.85pt 106.3pt 50.0mm 177.15pt 212.6pt 248.05pt 283.45pt 318.9pt 354.35pt 389.75pt 425.2pt 460.65pt;"><span lang="EN-GB">We soon have to learn that Stephen‘s project with his best friend Vinny is not quite as successful as visitor numbers would make one believe. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="Text" style="tab-stops: 35.45pt 70.85pt 106.3pt 50.0mm 177.15pt 212.6pt 248.05pt 283.45pt 318.9pt 354.35pt 389.75pt 425.2pt 460.65pt;"><br /></div><div class="Text" style="tab-stops: 35.45pt 70.85pt 106.3pt 50.0mm 177.15pt 212.6pt 248.05pt 283.45pt 318.9pt 354.35pt 389.75pt 425.2pt 460.65pt;"><span lang="EN-GB">None of the two are business men or too keen on accounting, which is why bills are rarely getting paid and expenses are not kept in check. Vinny and Stephen rather spend their time in the kitchen, dealing with their customers‘ orders and creating ever new dishes. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="Text" style="tab-stops: 35.45pt 70.85pt 106.3pt 50.0mm 177.15pt 212.6pt 248.05pt 283.45pt 318.9pt 354.35pt 389.75pt 425.2pt 460.65pt;"><br /></div><div class="Text" style="tab-stops: 35.45pt 70.85pt 106.3pt 50.0mm 177.15pt 212.6pt 248.05pt 283.45pt 318.9pt 354.35pt 389.75pt 425.2pt 460.65pt;"><span lang="EN-GB">It‘s exactly that obsession, stemming from the utter distaste for his mother‘s non-existent cooking skills, which is wrecking Stephen‘s marriage. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="Text" style="tab-stops: 35.45pt 70.85pt 106.3pt 50.0mm 177.15pt 212.6pt 248.05pt 283.45pt 318.9pt 354.35pt 389.75pt 425.2pt 460.65pt;"><br /></div><div class="Text" style="tab-stops: 35.45pt 70.85pt 106.3pt 50.0mm 177.15pt 212.6pt 248.05pt 283.45pt 318.9pt 354.35pt 389.75pt 425.2pt 460.65pt;"><span lang="EN-GB">Rachel, his wife, is not willing to let Stephen‘s mistakes and ignorance towards her feelings and their kids well-being slide again and thus, on the evening of their wedding anniversary, Stephen finds himself thrown out of his own house.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="Text" style="tab-stops: 35.45pt 70.85pt 106.3pt 50.0mm 177.15pt 212.6pt 248.05pt 283.45pt 318.9pt 354.35pt 389.75pt 425.2pt 460.65pt;"><br /></div><div class="Text" style="tab-stops: 35.45pt 70.85pt 106.3pt 50.0mm 177.15pt 212.6pt 248.05pt 283.45pt 318.9pt 354.35pt 389.75pt 425.2pt 460.65pt;"><span lang="EN-GB">From then on, things start spiralling downwards for him until he hits rock bottom: <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="Text" style="tab-stops: 35.45pt 70.85pt 106.3pt 50.0mm 177.15pt 212.6pt 248.05pt 283.45pt 318.9pt 354.35pt 389.75pt 425.2pt 460.65pt;"><span lang="EN-GB">Stephen has to realise that there is neither a chance for Vinny and him to save ,Earthsea‘ nor to stop his marriage from falling apart. He gets so caught up in his own disaster that he barely notices what is going on around him. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="Text" style="tab-stops: 35.45pt 70.85pt 106.3pt 50.0mm 177.15pt 212.6pt 248.05pt 283.45pt 318.9pt 354.35pt 389.75pt 425.2pt 460.65pt;"><br /></div><div class="Text" style="tab-stops: 35.45pt 70.85pt 106.3pt 50.0mm 177.15pt 212.6pt 248.05pt 283.45pt 318.9pt 354.35pt 389.75pt 425.2pt 460.65pt;"><span lang="EN-GB">Stephen panics about losing his children to another father figure when his wife suddenly turns up with, supposedly, a new boyfriend. His efforts to save the restaurant are being rudely sabotaged by his business partner‘s mean, cheating partner. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="Text" style="tab-stops: 35.45pt 70.85pt 106.3pt 50.0mm 177.15pt 212.6pt 248.05pt 283.45pt 318.9pt 354.35pt 389.75pt 425.2pt 460.65pt;"><br /></div><div class="Text" style="tab-stops: 35.45pt 70.85pt 106.3pt 50.0mm 177.15pt 212.6pt 248.05pt 283.45pt 318.9pt 354.35pt 389.75pt 425.2pt 460.65pt;"><span lang="EN-GB">And what happens when Stephen himself feels interest in other women stir inside of him?<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="Text" style="tab-stops: 35.45pt 70.85pt 106.3pt 50.0mm 177.15pt 212.6pt 248.05pt 283.45pt 318.9pt 354.35pt 389.75pt 425.2pt 460.65pt;"><br /></div><div class="Text" style="tab-stops: 35.45pt 70.85pt 106.3pt 50.0mm 177.15pt 212.6pt 248.05pt 283.45pt 318.9pt 354.35pt 389.75pt 425.2pt 460.65pt;"><br /></div><div class="Text" style="tab-stops: 35.45pt 70.85pt 106.3pt 50.0mm 177.15pt 212.6pt 248.05pt 283.45pt 318.9pt 354.35pt 389.75pt 425.2pt 460.65pt;"><span lang="EN-GB">While all of the above sounds quite tragic, Sam O‘Reilly manages to tell a story that will equally tug on your heartstrings as well as make you laugh out loud and smile. There are also moments when you will find yourself utterly surprised as a lot of the small details eventually add up to the bigger picture, making this a well-thoughtout novel.  <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="Text" style="tab-stops: 35.45pt 70.85pt 106.3pt 50.0mm 177.15pt 212.6pt 248.05pt 283.45pt 318.9pt 354.35pt 389.75pt 425.2pt 460.65pt;"><br /></div><div class="Text" style="tab-stops: 35.45pt 70.85pt 106.3pt 50.0mm 177.15pt 212.6pt 248.05pt 283.45pt 318.9pt 354.35pt 389.75pt 425.2pt 460.65pt;"><span lang="EN-GB">I think the author captures Stephen‘s voice perfectly without painting a stereotypical picture of your usual male character. In fact, all characters are original and have their own unique quirks, starting from the Beckett children to the stripper Stephen gets involved with. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="Text" style="tab-stops: 35.45pt 70.85pt 106.3pt 50.0mm 177.15pt 212.6pt 248.05pt 283.45pt 318.9pt 354.35pt 389.75pt 425.2pt 460.65pt;"><br /></div><div class="Text" style="tab-stops: 35.45pt 70.85pt 106.3pt 50.0mm 177.15pt 212.6pt 248.05pt 283.45pt 318.9pt 354.35pt 389.75pt 425.2pt 460.65pt;"><span lang="EN-GB">Also, I love that the likelihood of a story happening just like that is quite high: After all, the story is set in present time Brighton, a truly lovely place, and the subject, a married couple splitting up, is an everyday occurrence. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="Text" style="tab-stops: 35.45pt 70.85pt 106.3pt 50.0mm 177.15pt 212.6pt 248.05pt 283.45pt 318.9pt 354.35pt 389.75pt 425.2pt 460.65pt;"><br /></div><div class="Text" style="tab-stops: 35.45pt 70.85pt 106.3pt 50.0mm 177.15pt 212.6pt 248.05pt 283.45pt 318.9pt 354.35pt 389.75pt 425.2pt 460.65pt;"><span lang="EN-GB">While this is a book from a genre that I usually do not enjoy reading too much, I found myself thoroughly entertained by Stephen‘s story. Working as a part-timer at a restaurant myself, I could actually feel his pain that comes with running a food business. And who hasn‘t been through a bad break-up?<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="Text" style="tab-stops: 35.45pt 70.85pt 106.3pt 50.0mm 177.15pt 212.6pt 248.05pt 283.45pt 318.9pt 354.35pt 389.75pt 425.2pt 460.65pt;"><br /></div><div class="Text" style="tab-stops: 35.45pt 70.85pt 106.3pt 50.0mm 177.15pt 212.6pt 248.05pt 283.45pt 318.9pt 354.35pt 389.75pt 425.2pt 460.65pt;"><span lang="EN-GB">All in all, ‘<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Best Possible Taste</i>‘ is a lovely read; it‘s one of those books full of quotes you want to note down and remember when ever life throws you lemons! </span></div><div class="Text" style="tab-stops: 35.45pt 70.85pt 106.3pt 50.0mm 177.15pt 212.6pt 248.05pt 283.45pt 318.9pt 354.35pt 389.75pt 425.2pt 460.65pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div><div class="Text" style="tab-stops: 35.45pt 70.85pt 106.3pt 50.0mm 177.15pt 212.6pt 248.05pt 283.45pt 318.9pt 354.35pt 389.75pt 425.2pt 460.65pt;"><span lang="EN-GB">*eLLa*</span></div>

The Best Possible Taste

Guest Post book review from the lovely Anisha. Visit her at Live Life Deeply .  Sam O‘Reilly‘s novel ‘ The Best Possible Taste ‘ is centred ...

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Book Club - Guest Review of The Time Traveler's Wife

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rDDO2quPfZk/S5PvT1VAqNI/AAAAAAAAAns/4da0MF61vsk/s1600-h/the-time-travelers-wife.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rDDO2quPfZk/S5PvT1VAqNI/AAAAAAAAAns/4da0MF61vsk/s320/the-time-travelers-wife.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This months book club review is by the lovely <a href="http://moremagicalways.blogspot.com/2009/07/hi-im-luinae-i-started-this-blog-more.html">Luinae</a> of <a href="http://moremagicalways.blogspot.com/">More Magic Always</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">Overall Review: 4.5/5</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">The Time Traveller’s Wife is a beautiful and romantic love story that spans the years, pushes boundaries, and tests the foundations of love. It is complicated at first, but soon becomes so hard to put down, as it takes you on a rollercoaster ride of one couples love. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">I believe one of the reasons I enjoyed this book so much is because it is such a unique and entertaining idea. Henry first meets Clare when she is 20, but Clare has known Henry since she was 6. This is possible because Henry is a time traveller, but instead of the bright lights/Hollywood/spacesuit time travel, Henry is instead pulled to moments of emotional gravity from his past, present, and future. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">This book also questioned a lot of morals. This is because when Henry time travels, he appears naked and without anything on his person. It questions things like: “Is it o.k to steal?” and that facet of the book made it very interesting. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">At first, when reading, the book seems very complicated. However, once you finally get into the groove of how the time travelling works, it actually becomes very straightforward. Luckily, the author puts both the age of Henry and Clare, as well as their ages, at the beginning of each chapter. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">I won’t spoil the ending for you, but don’t be surprised if the library copy is tear stained ar the end. I cried so much when I read the end; it was incredibly hard for me to read. The reason I’m not giving it 5/5 is because I felt like it described too much of the intimate relations between Henry and Clare (read: sex) and I wasn’t very comfortable with it. However, I am only 14! So if you were older, you probably wouldn’t even notice it at all. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA">-Luinae<o:p></o:p></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA">Have you read The Time Traveller’s Wife? Or have you seen the movie?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal">Get yourself a copy <i><a href="http://astore.amazon.com/e0fa0-20?_encoding=UTF8&node=7">here.</a></i></div>

Book Club - Guest Review of The Time Traveler's Wife

This months book club review is by the lovely Luinae  of More Magic Always Overall Review: 4.5/5 The Time Traveller’s Wife is a beautiful an...

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Book Club - Guest Review of Confessions of a Shopaholic

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://thekoolaidmom.files.wordpress.com/2009/11/confessions-of-a-shopaolic1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://thekoolaidmom.files.wordpress.com/2009/11/confessions-of-a-shopaolic1.jpg" width="199" /></a></div><br /><br />For this months Book Club the lovely Leia of <a href="http://hifashionsl.blogspot.com/">HiFashion</a> reviewed the Confessions of a Shopaholic Book series:<br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"></span><br /><div>Book: Confessions of a Shopaholic</div><div>Author: Sophie Kinsella</div><div>Genre: Chick-lit</div><div><br /></div><div><div>Overall review: 3/5 stars</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Confessions of a Shopaholic is witty, fun, and impossible to put down! It is best suited to women of all ages - preferably those who love to shop. It may teach you a thing or two about getting into debt!</div><div><br /></div><div>But as far as chick-lit goes, I wouldn't say this was a favorite. I actually prefer Sophie Kinsella's other books to the Shopaholic series. There were a few "tiny niggles" (as Kinsella would say): I wish that Rebecca Bloomwood's appearance was actually described. I had no idea what she looked like - all I knew was that she had a penchant for designer clothing! It would have been much more fun if I could picture her - after all, her best friend and boyfriend were well-portrayed. </div><div><br /></div><div>There were also a few small quirks in her writing style that bothered me (although you probably think I'm being over-analytical!) - she used the word "brightly" so many times that it started to irritate me, and Rebecca Bloomwood seemed more of an alcoholic than shopaholic! It seemed that alcohol was her cure for all of life's dramas, because some kind of drink presented itself every few pages. I'm not sure I'm happy with the kind of message this sends, especially to young readers!</div><div><br /></div><div>Perhaps I made a mistake watching the movie before reading the book, but I do think that for something that has so much to do with aesthetics, it is much more fun to be able to actually visualise the clothes and shoes and bags. Personally, I much preferred the movie, but if you're on vacation or need something light to read, then pick up Confessions of a Shopaholic!</div><div><br /></div><div>xx Leia</div><div><br /></div><div>Have you read the series? What where your thoughts? Do you want to review a book for next months book club? Send it in!</div><div><br /></div><div>*eLLa*</div></div>

Book Club - Guest Review of Confessions of a Shopaholic

For this months Book Club the lovely Leia of HiFashion reviewed the Confessions of a Shopaholic Book series: Book: Confessions of a Shopaho...

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Audience Participation

<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rDDO2quPfZk/S026ISYbPuI/AAAAAAAAAhA/MfDezkmfEDM/s1600-h/20090215220431.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rDDO2quPfZk/S026ISYbPuI/AAAAAAAAAhA/MfDezkmfEDM/s320/20090215220431.jpg" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Calling on all readers!!!<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I've got two projects on the go that require you in order to work :)<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Number one: Valentines Day Themed Blog Carnival<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">YAY/NAY<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Number two: Book Club<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">You might remember a while that I started an Amazon Shop as a way to express my love of reading and suggest books to all of you. Now I would like to have a monthly book club where readers submit a review of their favourite book/s of the past or present. Fiction, non fiction, fashion, fantasy you name it - all is welcome!<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Simply write a short summary of your thoughts about the book and what kind of reader would like it. Include book name, picture, author and genre.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Leave a comment or send me an email.</i><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Looking forward to your submissions!</i><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>*eLLa*</i><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>

Audience Participation

Calling on all readers!!! I've got two projects on the go that require you in order to work :) Number one: Valentines Day Themed Blog Ca...

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