Me Before You - Jojo Moyes

Ok so I admit that I watched the movie before reading this. 

Ugh.  Make sure you have tissues and some kind of comfort food when you read this.  Seriously.  Especially the ending.

Louisa, a witty, outgoing 26yr old in England loses her job at the local bakery and goes to the Job Centre to find a job.  Through this she takes a job with the Traynor family who owns the local castle.  Their son is a quadriplegic and needs a companion.   Louisa signs on for 6 months but her first impressions of Will are not good.  Will she be able to make it through?

Ok so not my best reader's digest version of the novel above but I'm hoping that I'll make it sound more appealing here.  This is one of those books that makes you think - about life, things going on around you and about yourself.  With the movie I got more wrapped up in the relationships - Louisa and her family, Will and his family and the unique bond that forms between Louisa and Will.  The book was slightly different in the way they presented those relationships (the book has a sister to Will whereas the movie doesn't for example).  I truly think you need to read the book AND watch the movie to be able to get the whole picture so to speak.  Not necessarily in that order either.  Both made me cry.  The book helped me understand the limitations of quadriplegics and the obstacles that they face everyday.  The movie helped me understand that when you look at someone you get so much more out of a look, whether it's between parents, co-workers or someone you are in a relationship with.  I must admit that I liked Louisa better in the movie than I did in the book.  And I really disliked Louisa's sister in the book.  Whereas in the movie she only plays a minor supporting role. 

Ok I'll stop comparing the book to the movie since this blog is about book reviews and not comparisons to movies made from books.

Jojo writes very well from the medical aspect of quadriplegics and their requirements.  It's not overflowing to the point you want to go cross eyed from medical terminology but she helps you understand just what is involved.  It feels like you are learning along with Louisa.  Emotionally you connect with her frustration in coming into a situation that is so new and out of her comfort zone.  It is a gripping testimony that although life throws some pretty hard curve balls, that a positive smile and willingness to fight can get you through anything.

I would DEF recommend!!

The Feast of Roses - Indu Sundaresan

Well since I devoured the Twentieth Wife I figured I should finish the series.

This book picks up a couple of weeks after the finish of the Twentieth Wife ends.  This one is def more about the politics after Nur Jahan is married to the Emperor, her struggle to rise to the power in the harem and the struggle to keep that power.  She also battles with people who view her as a threat - a threat to the empire, to their way of life and to themselves.

This one was more of a struggle than the last one (even tho the last one frustrated me).  I'm more of an enjoyer of sweeping stories, romance and less of politics and this was FULL of politics.  I think the power, like with most people, went to her head and she far over stepped her boundaries.  However those that were against her plotted against her - did they push her to make the decisions she made?   In the beginning she asked to be equal to the Emperor, in a land where the Emperor is the ultimate be all and end all.  So did she push people to be her enemies by gaining so much power, thusly her enemies pushing back and then just the domino effect?  I will let you as the reader judge.

If you read the Twentieth Wife then I would recommend this as your second read too.

Frostbike - Tom Babin

Got sidetracked in my quest to find balance between working full time and exercise.  This book was recommended to me by my bike specialist and is well worth the read.

Tom is a native to Calgary, Alberta (where I live) and not only does he discuss a couple winter's struggles with biking here but he also goes into the long history of winter biking in general, the disillusions we convince ourselves of in winter and the general mechanics of winter bike riding.  No those that ride in winter aren't crazy.  And those that think about riding in winter aren't crazy either.  Especially if you've ever stood outside in -31°C waiting for a bus in Calgary.  Like everything in life there are obstacles, like the unique chinooks here in Calgary, but its all about mindset and wellness. 

I'm struggling with exercise (who isn't??) and riding a bike to work takes two things off my list at once - exercise and the need for transportation.  But like every Canadian city we deal with winter and typically that means the end of cycling.  Or does it?

A very good read.  Tom is a writer by trade and his style is informative and filled with personal what-works-and-what-doesn't anecdotes. 

Worth the read and I highly recommend reading it even if you don't plan to ride in winter.

The Teahouse Fire - Ellis Avery

Keeping with the "Asian" theme, this one came up on the list.

Told through the eyes of Aurelia, a french American orphan, who crossed the sea with her priest uncle.  The story begins with her life in New York, then unfolds with Aurelia being "adopted" by a Japanese tea ceremony school family once she crossed the ocean.

Ya sounds interesting right? 

The writing style of this book while at first was fine, after the fire it gets...I dunno what.  Ellis has chosen to tell the story through Aurelia's eyes and you def get her frustration at the language barrier but when telling the story its terrible.  If you don't have any background knowledge of Japan, Japanese customs, haven't ever read anything what so ever about the country, Ellis doesn't really talk about it.  When Aurelia first arrives, her and her uncle are told by the other priests the basics but after the fire there is no one to interpret for Aurelia and as the reader I just grew more frustrated with each passing page.  And I've read a lot of Japanese books so I have a rudimentary understanding of Japanese culture and mannerisms. 

I couldn't finish this book.  Especially after a misunderstanding with a kimono and a teascoop. 

If you can get through this kudos to you.  I don't recommend picking this up.

The Twentieth Wife - Indu Sundaresan

This is also a historical story retelling and while a little off my usual book path, the story was still intriguing.

This book reminded me a lot in structure of The Last Concubine by Lesley Downer.  Indu Sundaresan based this story off of the historical figure of Nur Jahan - Mughal Empress in the late 1500's and early 1600's.  She was born into the world and named Mehrunisa and only later became Nur Jahan at the "old" age of 34 when she married the emperor Jahangir (who was 40 at the time) and became his twentieth (and last) wife.  While not a total fictional story, Indu writes about Mehrunisa's life leading up to her marriage to the emperor based on actual historical events. 

I found this book intriguing and frustrating at the same time.  It was filled with rich details on ancient Indian court life, political intrigue (but no so much that you wanted to throw the book away), a little romance and it swept your across lands and time.  It had enough that my interest was piqued and I finished the book in a day but my frustration lie in the relationship with Jahangir and Mehrunisa.  It was a constant meeting, leaving, years pass, meeting again briefly, leaving and years pass.  And it wasn't even a romantic meeting - it was moments, passing ever so briefly in the span of time.  Once they met in the gardens, she releases a bird and leaves.  That's it.  Yes there was words exchanged briefly but it was maybe a 5 minute meeting and he was captivated?  I have a tough time with the romance of this.  Oh I love fairy tales and have always believed if you have a connection you should explore that but this was beyond "love at first sight".  It was...not real.  Not even believable and I think therein that's where my frustration with this book lies.

Then the book ends.  The last 5 pages are of their marriage.  The last page of them taking their vows.  Then her thinking she wants to be the power behind the veil.  And that's when I figured out this was a trilogy and not a standalone novel.

I am torn when it comes to recommending this book or not as I feel you as the reader will enjoy the richness of the world but will probably feel just as frustrated as I felt when I finished it.  So I leave it up to you if you want to read it or not.

Cruel Crown - Victoria Aveyard (Supplementary Novella to Red Queen)

Until I saw this on goodreads I didn't even know that it existed.

A supplement to Red Queen (meant to be read after it but before Glass Sword - second in the series) it is 2 short stories.  The first is about the current prince's mother and her rise to queen.  The second is about Farely, the rebel we meet in Red Queen.

Very, very short read but well worth it as it helps to flush out the silver world and gives you A LOT of background and understanding into Farely.

I quite enjoyed it.  And if you are already into the Red Queen then this is a must read.

47 Ronin - John Allyn

I looked forward to this book as I enjoy stories on Japanese history and this is certainly one of the most famous, but also I liked the movie with Keanu Reeves ><  But I also wanted to read the true story and not the Hollywood-ized version.

The book is nothing like the movie and quite frankly I would think the Japanese people would be a little incensed that a Keanu would insinuate himself into a story like this.

The story is about 18th century historical event.  When samurai were bound to houses for life, the shogun ruled militarily and if your lord died you would become a ronin (leaderless samurai).  When daimyo (feudal lord) Asano Naganori was compelled to commit seppuku (ritual suicide) for assaulting a court official, his samurai avenged their master's honor, after waiting and planning for a year.  In turn they were granted the honor of committing seppuku.

It's a very thorough retelling of the story and it is told very well.  It's not like a historical telling but it's more like reading a novel (if that makes sense).  Their sense of honor and right in that time is far different than what we know in today's world.  And this book takes you back to that time, plants you firmly beside Oishi (Asano's principal counsellor) and makes you begin to understand their way of that honor.

It is a shorter read and because of it's nature (and history) it is violent.

Still, if reading historical books is your thing then this book is for you.

Again, it's NOTHING like the movie.