Libby: Ougat, Shana Fife

 

I think this must have been very cathartic for Shana Fife to write, to share her abuse. Very raw.

I did like that she is also the narrator of the audiobook.

3/5

Kindle: Flawless, Elsie Silver

It started off strong. I had not read a romantic cowboy book before. 

But it was to say the least, a load of bull, pun intended. At best 'meh'.

Full of cliches. I appreciate that I am not the target audience, it definitely is much better suited to 20-year olds.

2.5/5
 

Libby: 7 Dae, Deon Meyer

Thoroughly enjoying this Bennie Griessel 'who~dunnit' series.

In this one the case gets cracked in seven days.

Bennie is now with the Hawks. He has to investigate a high powered lawyer who is stabbed in her apartment. 

A shooter threatens to shoot a policeman every day until her murderer is arrested.

Was gripping and perfect December holiday read.

Kindle Audiobook: All The Glimmering Stars, Mark Sullivan

 

I went into this book blind, (as I normally do); had absolutely no idea what it was about. When I realised it was about the abduction of children to become soldiers in Uganda/South Sudan, I thought 'ugh...oh no, I am not too sure I have it in me to listen to something heavy right now.'

It didn't take long before I was totally hooked and binge listening.

This is a beautifully written book. Telling the story of Anthony and Florence. Both upducted in their early teens to become soldiers for a guy called Joseph Kony, leader of the Lord's Resistance Army~LRA.

Although it says it is a novel, it is based on truth.

Key lessons:

• Regardless of what you go through, be a good human.
• Love is the most important thing to conquer everything.
• To get rid of the voice of lack, think of everything to be grateful for.
• Fear prevents from living the life you are meant to.
• Love, gratitude, forgiveness 

I am so grateful that this book has crossed my path.

5/5

Libby: Kopskoot, Rudie van Rensburg

 

I really like Rudie van Rensburg's writing. I just got a bit confused with who was who.

In this one, 56 year old men are being targeted, serial killer or is there a relationship between them?

Simultaneously, Kassie Kasselman needs to investigate a fake Irma Stern.

Because I battled to keep track of who is who, 3.8 / 5.

Libby Audiobook: Atonement, Ian McEwan

 

Really battled to get into it, and quite a few places in the beginning I had to rewind to relisten to it. It was touch & go, and very almost a DNF.

Then while tidying my office this afternoon, I made a converted effort to listen to it.

Actually quite sad, but, there are bits of incredible humour woven in.

3.5/5

Kindle Audiobook: The Survivors, Caroline Mitchell

 

Uhm, I like Caroline Mitchell's work. This was ok. Twisty. Not one of my top favourites of her.

3/5

Libby: East of Eden, John Steinbeck

 

So glad to have read / listened to this book. Grew quite fond of the characters and such a fine sense of humour in places.

Cain & Abel / good and bad is our choice.

4.8/5

Library: Gone Girl, Gillian Flynn

 

This was so good! Every chapter is from either Amy Dunne or Nick Dunne's perspective.

Amy is wealthy, marries Nick and they are happy, but go through a rough patch.

On their 5th wedding anniversary, Amy disapears, and it look like Nick killed her. But, it's actually all orchestrated by Amy!!

So enjoyed it!!

5/5

Kindle Unlimited: The Last Guest House, Caroline Mitchell

 

Didn't love this one as much as I love her other work.

A bit all over the place.

Nicola, Matt her boyfriend and son George need to stay over in a weird Guest House in the Isle of Skye. George sees a little girl in the attic, or does he? All patrons have to hand in their phones and are not allowed to leave once they are booked in. 

In between, there is a mystery podcast. 

3/5

Libby Audiobook: Pines, Blake Crouch

 

Had absolutely no idea what this book was about. First of a trilogy. Started off really strong and good a Federal Agent wakes up after a massive car crash, doesn't know where he is. 

Then it got bizarre, and I realised it's science fiction that I really don't like but I was 80% through, so decided to stick it through. 

It then got semi interesting again. If I have absolutely nothing to listen to, then I will tackle the second book.

3.8/5

Libby Audiobook: Let God Fight Your Battles, Joyce Meyer

 

Worship.

Don't just reach out to God when you have a problem. Celebrate him, worship and have fellowship with him. If your child just comes to you with problems without having conversations it would sadden you, why then only reach out to God with problems.

Start your day with joy, celebration and worship with God.

The references, which I understand are important, are distracting , that is why I didn't give it 5/5.

4.5/5

Kindle Audiobook: Imaginary Strangers, Minka Kent

 

I like her work. Camille is neglected as a child and a sociopath. She is married to a Dr and they have two children. Her daughter befriends a teachers aide~ calls her Imaginary. Imogen/Imaginary subtly shares stuff from Camille's past with her.

3/5

Kindle Audiobook: Plain Dead, Andy Maslen

 

Third of the Detective Ford series. He works with Hannah who has Asperger's. 

In this one one of the women in the black ops is murdered, it's made to look like a suicide.

4/5

Kindle Audiobook: Old Boys, Nick Spalding

 

Sweet. Will is stressed/depressed about getting older. His wife says she needs space and he goes to live with gis Rockstar dad, Red Fairweather.

3/5

Libby Audiobook: Connecting the Dots, Jonathan Ancer & Chris Whitfield

So interesting. One of the few clean ministers with integrity. If it is wasn't for him, our country would be even more in the shit and in debt due to a nuclear deal that Zuma wanted to get approved.

I was initially worried when I saw it was unauthorized, but, Pravin Gordhan gave quite a few interviews and content for the book, so not like Kitty's book on Oprah that was unapproved.

4.5/5

Kindle Audiobook: Grave Talk, Nick Spalding

 

I enjoyed his Reluctant Detective series, although I've just read one on the series so far.

This was so sweet. Alice loses her husband, Ben his brother. They are buried next to each other on the graveyard. Alice and Ben become friends.

Binge listened to it over the weekend.

Very sweet.

4.5/5

Libby Audiobook:

Had no idea what to expect. Loved it, so good. Three Irish brothers each giving their perspective of things growing up. 

Good strory, good narration.

4.5/5

Kindle Audiobook: Land Rites, Andy Maslen

 

Second in the Detective Ford series by Andy Maslen.

Also good. 

Two bodies, one the brother of a gang leader, the other an older man with a tattoo of Gaia.

4/5

Kindle Audiobook: Shallow Ground, Andy Maslen

The first in the Detective Ford series.

His wife died during a climbing accident, he blames himself. 

We meet his teenage son, Sammuy, as well as Hannah who is a highly intelligent detective with Asperger's.

A serial killer who kills people who makes use of the food bank, to use their blood.

4.5/5

Libby: Slagyster, Rudie van Rensburg

 

Oe, I enjoyed this! First of Kassie Kasselman's detective series. He is a detective in Newlands, Cape Town.

I was worried when I saw that it was about illigal weapon and oil dealings in Nigeria, that it would get complicated to follow. But, it's written well and kept me at the edge of my seat! There were a number of plots that twist together. Can't wait to read the rest of the series.

5/5

Kindle Audiobook: Pretty Little Thing, Kit Duffield

What a load of rubbish. I battled to get into it, then went onto Goodreads, where the reviews looked promising, with someone confirming it's a slow start, but encouraged that it would pick up and would be worth it. It. Was. Not.

The characters were grating, not believable and got more irritating as the book progressed.

Beckett is abused by her father because she ittitates him because of her night terrors. Turns out it's not nightmares, but actually a local boy, Kai, who creeps into her room at night and is obsessed with her. Her best friend, Leanne, is also obsessed with her.

Kai and best friend are dating, (which Beckett knows). Beckett hooks up with Kai. 

Kai and Leanne conspired to get Beckett back into their lives by killing off her parents.

It's so highly unlikely, oh yes, at some point Beckett is stabbed in the stomach with a shard of glass, but still able to run around.

Highly unrecommendable.

2/5

Libby Audiobook: Activate Your Greatness, Alex Toussaint

 

I had not heard of Alex Toussaint before. Thoroughly enjoyed listening to the audiobook. Particularly like it when the author reads their own book.

Appreciate him sharing his vulnerabilities, his relationship with his dad. Being sent off to military school. How he found his path to success.

Not only is he an incredibly successful Peleton instructor, but, also a motivator.

We have to make sure we rest, and that our cup is overflowingw. It's about we not i, even illness becomes wellness when we focus on we. We are like Christmas lights, if one fades in the string all the others are impacted too.

4.5/5

Libby Audiobook: An American Marriage, Tayari Jones

 

Ah, what a sad story.

Binge listened to it in one day.

We meet newly married Celestial and Roy, one evening after visiting Roy's parents they stay over in a hotel. Roy is wrongly accused of raping one of the guests and sentenced to prison.

Each chapter is the perspective of each, in some instances, the letters they wrote each other while Roy was in prison.  Then, how to cope when he gets out of jail and life has continued.

Beautifully and sensitivity written.

4.5/5

Libby Audiobook: Lessons in Chemistry, Bonnie Garmus

 

Absolutely loved this book. Binge audio listened to this over two days.

Met Elizabeth Zock, a scientist in the 1950's. She falls in love with Calvin, also a scientist and who is a rower and gets her into rowing. They get a dog 06:30. Her journey, trials and tribulations of what she has to deal with not wanting to get married. Then having to deal with being an unwed mother. Then she presents a television program Supper at Six, snd combines cooking with science.

Just so beautifully written. None of the characters grated me.

I highly recommend this book.

5/5

Libby Audiobook: Are You Happy Now? Hanna Jameson

 

Meh.

Started off interesting, friends attended a wedding, one of the guests has a fit of some kind, has she been drugged? What is going on? Turns out it is some or other pandemic causing catatonia. But, only / mainly affects younger generations.

We follow the journey and relationship of four friends.

I battled to keep track with who is who, and when I have to Google to understand a book at the end, it's not a good sign.

Not a book I would recommend. 

2/5

Libby Audiobook: The Infinite Game, Simon Sinek

 

A book recommended via the CEO X Factor.

Cool that I'm track with my comparison of building a business and reputation being a marathon not a sprint. In this book Simon Sinek shares that there isn't an end to building a business, business leaders who are concerned about the longevity of their business are more successful than those who treat it as something to win/a finite goal.

Our lives are finite, but life is infinite ~ it continues with or without us.

No one wins at life, we all die. 

3.5/5

Kindle Audiobook: The Original Twin, Paula Gleeson

 

This got quite high ratings on Goodreads. 

I found it incredibly wishy washy, highly unlikely and all over an absolute slog to get through.

We meet twins, May and June, named after their respective birth months. Their monther disappeared years ago under mysterious circumstances, pn the anniversary of their mom's disappearance, June disappears.

This is not a book I would recommend.

2/5 is being generous.

Kindle Audiobook: A Little Bird, Wendy James

 

Enjoyed this Australian book. Met Josephine (Jojo) who has moved back to where she grew up. Her mom left her and her father, taking her baby sister with her. Sent a note not to look for her.

Good book. All I didn't like was that narrator clipped her words quite a bit.

4/5

Libby Audiobook: The CEO X Factor, KC Rottok Chesaina

 

This has been my morning listen. Love that it wasn't 'the usual suspects'.

Appreciate learning from successful business owners. 

Core values and your team are crucial to your success.

Balance, sense of humour, reading,  empathy are also keys to success.

4.5/5

Kindle Audiobook: An Eye for An Eye, Carol Wyer

 

Battled initially to get into it and did wonder whether I did want to start another crime thriller series.

Then, I happened to see that Caroline Mitchell highly rated it on Goodreads, so I decided to stick it out and I was thrilled that I did.

Starts off on a train.

Detective Kate, married to Chris a journalist needs to solve why men are being murdered, they are choked on appels and their eye sent to the next victim.

We also meet Faith a forensic pathologist from Zimbabwe. The narrator battled with her accent.

There was a massive twist that I had not seen, shook me and I actually felt quite emotional.

Loads of characters to keep track of, didn't love that. I will listen to the rest of the series.

4/5

Libby Audiobook: Beartown, Fredrick Backman

 

Slow burn. Took quite a bit of time to get into it. Got a bit confused by the names. Went online to look for an outline of the characters which was a mistake, because I got quite a big spoiler.

Didn't love the present tense, but it's less annoying as an audiobook.

The town revolves around ice hockey.

Turned out to be very good. Looking forward to the next in the series.

4/5

Libby Audiobook: The Kind Worth Saving, Peter Swanson

 

Twisted!

The sequel to The Kind Worth Killing, but apparently not a must to read it first.

We meet Mr Kimble teacher turned PI.

GOOD, the only thing is that I am not 100% sure I understand the ending.

3.5/5

Libby Audiobook: The Life and Love of a He Devil, Graham Norton

 

A fun take on what he likes and hates. Entertaining and in some areas so sad. 

Candid take on his life, dogs, lovers, booze and work.

He also narrates it.

4/5

Kindle: Cross Her Heart, Melinda Leigh

 

Quite a serious one. It wasn't bad. If I have absolutely nothing else to read I may read the next one.

We meet Bree, her dad had killed her Mom, then himself. 

She has a sister Erin and brother Adam.

Bree is in law enforcement.

Erin is killed and Bree has to find the killer. She meets Matt who helps her. 

3/5

Kindle: Never Tell a Lie, Gail Schimmel

 

This one was ok. Also kept me intrigued with what was going to happen next. Who do you trust? Who is telling the truth?

It did annoy me that Mary's son was called Django and Joshua 's daughter, Willow. It feels like Gail was watching TV and these two popped up and she decided to name the characters after them.

It starts with a school reunion and Mary reunites with school friends, and becomes close friends with April and Joshua.

I switched between reading and audiobooking, both are good.

I preferred Little Secrets. 

3/5

Kindle Audiobook: Women Like Us, Amanda Prowse

 

The autobiography of Amanda Prowse. I have enjoyed all the books that I have read of hers, now even more after getting to know her a bit more after this book.

She does the reading of all her audiobooks!

Love how she followed her passion of writing, and didn't listen to the neighsayers.

Also love and appreciate how she shares her challenges with food, open, raw and brutally honest.

4.5/5

Libby, Little Secrets, Gail Schimmel

 

An absolutely marvellous family drama! At the beginning of September I said to myself that I would like to read more books written by South African authors. I didn't realise that Gail Schimmel is South African so it was a marvellous surprise when I saw the Johannesburg references. I stayed up way too late to read the book.

We meet Jewish family Monique, married to Ben, their oldest daughter Rosie and twins Hugo and Cooper. Each chapter is from the perspective of either Monique, Ben or Rosie.

Ben meets Daisy and things start to unravel. 

Couldn't put it down, just had to know what was going to happen next. 

Only thing is that I am not a fan of present tense writing, but that's a me problem :).

Highly recommended.

Libby Audiobook: Princess Bride, William Goldman

 

I remember watching the movie with Mark years ago, but can't remember it. 

The audiobook is ok, I think the book would be better.

I got a bit confused who is who, but there were funny, witty bits.

3/5

Kindle Audiobook: The Silent Wife, Andy Maslen

 

This is the third in the Detective Kat Ballantyne series, and definitely my favourite so far.

Narration is so good.

It has ended on quite a cliffhanger!

Her bag man Tom is in a coma, and why did her dad pay £50k into her account...?

4.5/5

Libby Audiobook: Demon Copperhead, Barbara Kingsolver

 

Aah, absolutely loved this book. We get to meet Damon/Demon Copperhead. 

It is written so sweetly, naively from a little boys perspective of growing up with a junkie Mom, no dad and who then gets put into the foster system. It's flippen sad. So well written.

I had borrowed the book from Libby, but it's quite a thick book and I wasn't able to renew it because someone else was waiting for it. So I also borrowed the audiobook version. I already had Demon's voice in my head so hearing the audiobook felt incongruent. I definitely preferred the book vs. the audiobook.

4.5/5

Kindle Audiobook: The School Reunion, Shalini Boland

 

I didn't enjoy this one as much, it felt a little bit 'messy' and all over the show. But, there was still a very good twist, and gets dark!

Most of the characters are a bit grating and I just don't like bullies. 

My favourite book by Shalini Boland is The Honeymoon. 

3/5

Kindle Unlimited: Walt Disney, Hourly History

I had been wanting to read Walt Disney's biography for quite some time.

This version is a very quick read, but boy is it dull. Walt Disney was this incredibly creative force with his brilliance of animation, and this book depicts him as very grey.

I need to find a better biography of him.

3/5

Kindle Audiobook: The Girl in the Corner, Amanda Prowse

I've now read a number of her books, and they are all so good. Cozy novels. Well written.

We meet Rae-Valentine where she meets Dolly as teenagers. Rae marries Dolly's brother Howard. Dolly is marvellous outgoing, but I found her to be a bully. Rae finds out that Howard cheated on her. She and Dolly then go to Antigua to get away from it all. Dolly puts a lot of pressure on Rae to forgive her 'perfect' brother.

Beautifully written.

4 1/2 / 5

Kindle Unlimited, Die Prys is Hoog, C.J. Venter

 

Nie té bad nie. Speel in 1979 af en ons ontmoet 'n koerant redukteur, Hein Malan wat moelike besluite moet neem oor stores wat geplaas, nie geplaas, moet word. Hy is getroud en het twee kinders. En, 'n moontlike liefdesbelangstelling, Tessa. Sy verhoudings is nie baie goed nie, omdat hy 'n werkverslaafde is. 

Daar is groot gevolge as hy verdoemende stories publiseer. 

Iets wat vir my besonders simpel was, is dat hy twee karakters met amper die selfde name het, Ben en Bennie.

'Redelike vinnige en maklik om te lees.

3/5

Libby: As Long as The Lemon Trees Grow, Zoulfa Katouh

 

I was initially a bit worried that this was going to be overwhelmingly emotional. 

This was beautiful. Gave such a good insight and perspective of what is happening in Syria. We hear about the war and refugees, but I don't think, fully get it.

Salama is a pharmacist who is thrown into a surgeon's role. Her Dad and brother were arrested during a protest and her Mom killed in a bomb attack. During this same blast, she got a big head injury. But, is fortunately able to still work. It has caused her to hallucinate 'Kwarf' who she has conversations with and who encourages her to leave Syria. 

Her best friend from school that she grew up with, and now lives with, is married to her brother and expecting their first child.

Salama meets Kenan who she was meant to meet and be introduced to as a possible husband, but they never during that meeting because of the bomb. 

But, their paths still cross and the way their relationship is depicted is incredibly beautiful.

I must admit that I felt so much angst throughout, but it's definitely a book I would highly highly recommend. (Even though it was written in present tense).

5/5

Kindle Audiobook: The Silent Bride, Shalini Boland

 

This is now my third Shalini Boland book, and she is right up there as a favourite crime thriller author for me. Similar to the others, a chapter of then, followed by now, it is present tense writing, but it is ok.

We meet Alice, excited about her wedding day. As she walks down the aisle, she does not recognise her groom! It's not the 'Seth' she knows and loves!

Very good. Binge listened to it on one day.

4/5

Libby Audiobook: The Book of Fire, Christy Lefteri

It's the same author as The Bee Keeper of Aleppo, had heard such good things about it. Had high hopes for this one. But.

Did not enjoy this book. Quite repetitive and laborious at times. It's an emotional topic, but feels like it was trying too hard.

It's about a fire in a Greek forest and a Mom relaying the story  now and of then. What immediately irritated me was that their dog, a greyhound, was  swimming to safety with them, for three hours! Is that possible?

3/5

Kindle Audiobook: The Honeymoon, Shalini Boland

So so good! Stella, from a working class family, falls in love and marries very wealthy, Austin. They head off to Venice, Italy for their Honeymoon. Until Austin disappears.

Only irritating thing is the present tense writing, but it didn't irritate me as much as other books. Maybe present tense is less annoying when it is an audiobook?

Massive twist I didn't see coming at all.

4/5

Kindle Unlimited: One of Us is Lying, Shalini Boland

After all the pretty bleh books I've recently read, this has been a pleasant surprise. I couldn't wait to read more. Easy to follow the three characters of Fiona, Kelly and Tia who grew up together. Fiona runs her own design business, and is married to an utter idiot, Nathan. She unexpectedly gets a tax audit.  Kelly lost her husband, does a ton of volunteer work and a random woman rocks up at her house and Kelly takes her in. And Tia, who I get a sense is a little bit common, married to Ed and has two children, receives explicit photos of herself in a compromising position. 

All ties wonderfully together.

The cover doesn't represent the story.

The only reason I am not rating it higher is because it is written in present tense. Annoying.

4/5