This is a book by the author probably best known for writing 'The Alphabet Sisters' (and speaking of which, stay tuned for a blog on the sequel. I got the book for Christmas but haven't read it yet).
'Spin the Bottle' contains the hint of the chatty/gossipy/Irish charm that the author has in many of her other books, along with that touch of something which reminds you she is Australian too.
This book is partly set in Australia, but mostly in an Irish Bed & Breakfast when the main character, Lainey Byrne, is forced out of her well controlled comfort zone to get back in touch with her Irish heritage at the whim of her aunt's Will.
Lainey has to confront many things. Physical challenges in a whole new lifestyle, but most importantly personal challenges as she has to face many aspects of her actual self that she has not ever dealt with before.
In amongst all this there is romance, intrigue and more then a little comedy!
Definitely recommended for those already fans of Monica McInerney as well as those people who like Maeve Binchy and the genre I like to think of as chick-lit-that-also-appeals-to-the-more-mature-chick ;)
Showing posts with label Irish. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Irish. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Juliet Marillier "Heart's Blood"
I was given this book to read by a friend ages ago when she heard how much I had enjoyed Juliet Marillier's "Daughter of the Forest" and some of its sequels, but I have only just read it.
Based on the classic fairy-tale "Beauty and the Beast" the book follows the story of a young female scribe called Caitrin who runs away from a cruel husband. She ends up in the household of Lord Anluan. A lord who has been deformed. A lord who lives in a castle no-one will go near. A lord who does not, or cannot, do his duty by the people of the greater area he is responsible for, yet at the same time has the ultimate loyalty of the few members of his household. A lord with a secret. A lord who lives in a castle in a wood filled with whispers and shadows and voices and eyes.
Caitrin is hired to help Anluan uncover a secret so that he can find the way out of the curse that has been on his family for generations and as the story progresses she slowly begins to unravel the mystery and comes to realise the enormity of the horror she has come across.
This was a great book!! It took me a few chapters to get into it, which I find is usual for me with this type of book. It also took me probably longer then it should have for me to get all the characters sorted out in my head. They all have old Irish names, which adds to the feel of the story, but I always find it just makes it that little more complex to follow. As a random side point, I was particularly excited with the reference the old Irish law as I spent a semester studying it a few years ago (Probably not of interest to most people! I do realise this!). I am looking forward to re-reading it at some point as I think there were some aspects I missed. Definitely recommending this one.
Based on the classic fairy-tale "Beauty and the Beast" the book follows the story of a young female scribe called Caitrin who runs away from a cruel husband. She ends up in the household of Lord Anluan. A lord who has been deformed. A lord who lives in a castle no-one will go near. A lord who does not, or cannot, do his duty by the people of the greater area he is responsible for, yet at the same time has the ultimate loyalty of the few members of his household. A lord with a secret. A lord who lives in a castle in a wood filled with whispers and shadows and voices and eyes.
Caitrin is hired to help Anluan uncover a secret so that he can find the way out of the curse that has been on his family for generations and as the story progresses she slowly begins to unravel the mystery and comes to realise the enormity of the horror she has come across.
This was a great book!! It took me a few chapters to get into it, which I find is usual for me with this type of book. It also took me probably longer then it should have for me to get all the characters sorted out in my head. They all have old Irish names, which adds to the feel of the story, but I always find it just makes it that little more complex to follow. As a random side point, I was particularly excited with the reference the old Irish law as I spent a semester studying it a few years ago (Probably not of interest to most people! I do realise this!). I am looking forward to re-reading it at some point as I think there were some aspects I missed. Definitely recommending this one.
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