Saturday, 7 May 2011

Sandra: Ten favourite books.

Feed My Dear Dogs - Emma Richler

Family rules, values and humour.

Made me feel enriched and grateful
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Five People You Meet In Heaven - Mitch Albom.

Story of the death of an old man and the five people who influenced him most. Some known, some not known to him.

This book was addictive. Very thought provoking and challenging. I felt inspired by it.
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Jude the Obscure - Thomas Hardy

Heartwrenching story of a simple man with two loves.

Made me cry. Great sadness and despair.

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The Killing Floor - Lee Child

A brutal thriller.

This made me recoil and shudder at the violence, but  I was also very attracted to the main character by
his strength and power.

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Stern Men - Elizabeth Gilbert

Story of the lobster wars off the coast of Maine.

I have ralatives in Maine so the book had an added interest in that it was set  in a place that I know.
It made me feel nostalgic and evoked many happy memories.

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Tuesdays with Maurie - Mitch Albom

The tale of the relationship between a terminally ill college professor and an ex-student who visits him each Tuesday.

Having spent many 'Tuesday Afternoons' in a similar situation recently I realised that like the protaganist what started off as a sort of resentful obligation changed with time into something very precious and important to me.
So I think revelation would be what this book gave me.
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The Firemasters  Mistress - Christie Dickason

A historical romance. Based on the life of Guy Fawkes and his long suffering mistress.

I felt the passion,lust and desire of this book.  I  smelt the gunpowder and felt the sweat and dreamt of being carried away by Guy Fawkes for many weeks after!!! 

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So He Takes The Dog - Jonathan Buckley

Detective story with a difference

Suspense , impatience, anticipation and excitement.

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Eleni - Nicolas Gage

Not sure if this book qualifies really as it is a Biography. I loved it though so it gets in my top ten.

The book was full of love and humour. I felt angry at the injustice of Eleni's death and also a deep longing for cold retsina and olives. Yiamis..

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The Trumpet - Jackie Kay

A very sensitively and beautifully written story of a transgender relationship.  This is my number one at this moment in time.

The book made me realize I am far too judgmental and have prejudices I was not even aware of. It made me feel an insensitive oaf.  This book is the last kiss from a lover you know you will not see again. Exquisite.

3 comments:

  1. An interesting list, Sandra. I only knew one of them! I thought it was a good idea of yours to summarise the books - it gives me an idea of which ones I would like to read!

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  2. I will look for the novels of Mitch Albom as I like the description you have given of them Sandra. Thank you

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  3. 'This book is the last kiss from a lover you know you will not see again. ' - you should write jacket copy! I liked Jackie Kay's book about her Dad. 'Feed my Dear Dogs' is an intriguing title. It reminds me of advice given to authors some time in the early twentieth century - a book should have some link to medicine, pets and politics to be a bestseller - the resulting title was 'Lincoln's Doctor's Dog'.
    Thanks for noting exactly how each book made you feel - it shows I think that when we open a book we expect to be taken on a rollercoaster ride and are a little disappointed if we aren't.

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