Book Reviews

‘The best moments in reading are when you come across something - a thought, a feeling, a way of looking at things - which you had thought special and particular to you. And now, here it is, set down by someone else, a person you have never met, someone even who is long dead. And it is as if a hand has come out, and taken yours.’ Alan Bennett

“Many a book is like a key to unknown chambers within the castle of one’s own self.” ― Franz Kafka

Mentions

‘A super inspirational blog for readers and fantastic reviews for writers’ - Sue Uden

Sometimes people have very kindly mentioned, quoted from and/or linked to reviews featured on The Little Reader Library. I decided to collate these mentions as and when I've spotted them because it's a lovely feeling that someone has been interested in what I've written here on the blog at times and thought it worthwhile.

An interview with me on author Claire King's website 


My guest spot featuring on Sharon Goodwin's blog Jera's Jamboree in the Stationery Love feature.


My choices on Triple Choice Tuesday on Reading Matters blog 

My choice for best read 2013 on We Love This Book website feature asking some of the UK's top book bloggers to tell us which books they loved this year.

The View on the Way Down by Rebecca Wait
Picador
It’s hard to choose just one book from several wonderful reads this year, but on reflection, my best book is The View on the Way Down by Rebecca Wait. This was a superb, beautifully written debut novel, the writing understated yet incisive, the story sad, raw and honest but also warm and hopeful. Rebecca Wait sensitively portrays painful, harsh truths about depression and the effects on sufferers and loved ones, yet the book remains throughout a compelling, vital story that the reader has to read to the finish.
Chosen by Lindsay Healy from The Little Reader Library. Follow Lindsay on Twitter @linshealy
How to be a Good Wife by Emma Chapman - link to my review on the press page of the author's website

Spirit of Lost Angels by Liza Perrat - my review featured on the author's website

When You Were Older by Catherine Ryan Hyde - an extract from my review on the author's website

Lindsay of The Little Reader Library said: "I loved this story. It’s a wonderful, beautifully written tale. I found it compelling from start to finish, and read it very quickly as I couldn’t bear to wait to discover what happened. The author has created some lovely characters in Russell and Anat. My favourite novel yet by this author!" Read the whole review HERE.

Sleeping Patterns by J. R. Crook - a quote from my review on the author's website and the publisher's website.


“…This is the work of an inventive and talented writer who has taken a chance and is unafraid to challenge the reader’s expectations with the unconventional style and structure of his storytelling…” - Lindsay Healy, The Little Reader Library

Great review of Sleeping Patterns by The Little Reader Library

Sleeping Patterns by J.R.Crook has recently been reviewed by popular book blog The little Reader Library.
Below is a snippet:
'For me this is the work of an inventive and talented writer who has taken a chance and is unafraid to challenge the reader's expectations with the unconventional style and structure of his storytelling here. As I've said, it was quite different from a lot of what I read and I liked the challenge and uniqueness of it. I think I'd like to read it again one day and see what else I discover, and the short length of the book encourages me to do this as does the attractiveness of the edition.'


Vanished by Liza Marklund - quote from my review and link to it on the news section of the website (28th February 2012)

28 FEBRUARY — Praise for VANISHED
Vanished keeps getting lovely reviews by book bloggers in the UK. The Little Reader Library says: "This is a fast-paced crime novel. I really enjoyed reading it, I like this author's style of writing, and felt like the plot carried me along. It's one of those reads where I kept thinking, I'll read just one more chapter". To read the rest of the review, please click here .

Bad Moon Rising by Frances di Plino - quote from my review and link to it on the author's blog

“... anyone who enjoys a good crime novel should find this thriller an absorbing read. I sincerely hope there will be another novel featuring Paolo and this cast of characters.”

A Parachute in the Lime Tree by Annemarie Neary - quote from my review and link to it on the author's website.


Lindsay Healy at The Little Reader Library 
"The writing is lyrical and beautiful. There is sadness, separation and anxiety, but also powerful love, belief and determination against the odds...This is a very well-written work of historical fiction, powerfully evocative of place and time. I would certainly read more writing by this author.



The War of the Wives by Tamar Cohen - a quote from my review on Farm Lane Books Blog site 

…at times droll and darkly humorous, at others deeply emotional and tragic.The Little Reader Library

HHhH by Laurent Binet - a quote from my review on Farm Lane Books Blog site

The style is an unusual construction, but for me it was highly effective and extremely engaging. The Little Reader Library

The Glass Guardian by Linda Gillard - a quote from my review on the author's website and a quote on the back of the paperback edition of the novel!!!!

From a review on Lindsay Healy's blog The Little Reader Library

...The author sensitively explores Ruth's feelings of loss, of not being certain of the next step in her life, and, as the seasons change, the beautiful but increasingly isolated location and the depiction of the wintry weather adds to the atmosphere of the story. Equally sensitive is the portrayal of the strong love story that emerges, and how someone who knows so much about death can teach someone else so much about life...


The Beginner's Goodbye by Anne Tyler - a quote from my review is featured in the UK paperback edition of the book (I know it only says 'Lindsay' but it is me honest! Check my full review, I have got proof!)


The Colour of Milk by Nell Leyshon - a link to my review of this book on Follow The Thread book blog.

Through a Dog's Eyes by Jennifer Arnold - a quote from my review and link to it from the publisher's website - Souvenir Press

Five out of five stars. “This is an enlightening read, and after finishing this book, I felt I looked at my dog in a new way and I have definitely learned a lot about dog behaviour… This book is a fascinating, informative and worthwhile read for any dog owner.” – The Little Reader Library 

The Girl on the Stairs by Louise Welsh - a quote from my review on the book's product description/review section on amazon UK

The Child Who by Simon Lelic - a quote from my review on the author's website
‘This is a gripping, compelling read, with the author bravely tackling head-on a subject which arouses incredibly strong feelings . . . A fascinating and dramatic novel, this is definitely one to make you think, and the author leaves you wanting more.’— (4 out of 5) Little Reader Library

The Secrets of Mary Bowser by Lois Leveen - a quote from my review on the author's website
"The Secrets of Mary Bowser offers reading groups much to discuss . . . there is so much to think about after reading this book."
    — Lindsay Healy, The Little Reader Library


The Night Rainbow by Claire King - a quote from my review on the author's website
“Claire King has crafted a very special tale and told it beautifully. Surely an author to watch.” Lindsay Healy at The Little Reader Library

The Queen's Secret by Victoria Lamb - a quote from my review on the author's website


I loved this novel. I really enjoyed reading it, and I felt that the intrigue and pace of the story was sustained throughout the whole book. There are some very amiable and entertaining characters ... The storyline has many interesting and engaging strands, and secrets abound, including the secret that the Queen hides.

... I felt like I was in the very safe hands of a gifted storyteller whilst reading this thoroughly researched, compelling, and convincing debut novel.
The View on the Way Down by Rebecca Wait - a quote from my review on the author's website 

‘One of my principal thoughts after finishing this novel was that it’s so special to read a book that actually reminds you why you love reading so much… I don’t use ratings on my blog anymore but if I did this book would get 6 out of 5.’ ~ The Little Reader Library

Welcome to Biscuit Land by Jessica Thom - a quote from my review on the publisher's website


Welcome to Biscuit Land by Jessica Thom
“Jess writes openly and honestly about living with Tourettes and about the ways in which it can and does affect her daily life. I found this an informative, honest and very moving account and found I learned a lot about Tourettes… I’m really glad to have read this book, to have had the opportunity to get to know Jess Thom a little through her words and to have discovered more about what Tourettes is like through her open, moving and brave first-hand account.” – The Little Reader Library blog (read the full review)
Necessary Lies by Diane Chamberlain - a quote from my review on the author's website

“Diane Chamberlain gets to the heart of human relationships in her writing; she paints an honest, bleak yet never hopeless portrait of the times and the people… An important and gripping story, told with honesty and sympathy.”
—The Little Reader Library  Read the full review

My review of The View on the Way Down by Rebecca Wait featured in the Mind magazine Book Reviews


The View on the Way Down by Rebecca Wait
Mind member Lindsay  Healy has chosen to review Wait's debut novel. It's a fascinating insight into depression and relationships with siblings. It's moving, illuminating and most importantly, truthful.
Read Lindsay's review »

1 comment:

  1. Hi Lindsay,
    Love the blog. Are you still reviewing? If you are then you might be interested in "City of Secrets". It is is aimed at 8-12 year olds and tells the story of Letty Parker. She may be only twelve years old but like her friends Jeb and Mango, she makes her own living. Letty earns her money selling pies, until her customers start to go missing. The authorities, however, are not interested in what happens to street children and it is left to Letty to confront the dark powers behind their disappearance and organise a rescue.
    "City of Secrets" is set in an alternative, magical Bristol where dragons and gargoyles delight in the dark doings of the two gangs that run the city and will be published by Penkhull Press in October 2018.
    My beta-readers loved “Letty’s quirky but philosophical attitude” and “the idea that sinister things like eels and awesome creatures like dragons inhabit the city during the hours of darkness.” They also liked the Victorian atmosphere and were carried along by the story.
    Book bloggers make such a huge difference to the success of failure of a book, so if this is your sort of book I can send you a proof copy in Word, PDF or a mobi file.
    All the best,
    Misah

    ReplyDelete

Thank you so much for taking the time to visit and leave a comment. It's great reading your comments and I really appreciate them :)