When adults experience a loss they can often pull from past experiences to help with the grieving process. This is not always the case when a child experiences a loss, especially when they are very young or it is the first time. What Happens When A Loved One Dies uses bright, simple and familiar illustrations... Continue Reading →
The Extraordinary Journey of the Fakir Who Got Trapped in an Ikea Wardrobe, by Romain Puértolas
With a title to rival The 100 Year Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared, by Jonas Jonasson, and the Secret Letters of the Monk Who Sold His Ferrari, by Robin Sharma, Romain Puértolas’s first novel is destined to become the next book club sensation. Tending towards cutesy at times, The Extraordinary Journey... Continue Reading →
One Plus One by Jojo Moyes
While a favourite in Britain, it was only last year with the publication of "Me Before You" that author Jojo Moyes became a recognized name on this side of the Atlantic. "Me Before You", is the story of a caregiver, Lou, with nothing but a jest for life and her patient, Will, a paraplegic with... Continue Reading →
The Shadow of the Wind, by Carlos Ruiz Zafón
I came across an article, recently, about the best libraries in literature: a list that could not fail to include the Cemetery of Lost Books, a fascinating labyrinth of forgotten tomes created by Zafón. Certain rules exist for those fortunate enough to enter this library: any first time visitor is required to wander the endless... Continue Reading →
TBPL Staff Poetry Favourites “The Day the Saucers Came” by Neil Gaiman
That Day, the saucers landed. Hundreds of them, golden, Silent, coming down from the sky like great snowflakes, And the people of Earth stood and stared as they descended, Waiting, dry-mouthed, to find out what waited inside for us And none of us knowing if we would be here tomorrow But you didn’t notice because... Continue Reading →
Room, by Emma Donoghue
I don’t normally read reviews until after I’ve finished the book, especially if I’m planning to review it myself. This way I’m not influenced by what other people have to say. With Room, though, I made the mistake of hitting the Internet at the end of the work day (probably a Friday), and foolishly found... Continue Reading →
Fifty Shades Freed, by E. L. James
The hardest thing about reading Fifty Shades Freed is admitting to it afterwards. You probably read the first two as well – a cause for further embarrassment. Be that as it may, though, kudos to James. Through some clever marketing she has made herself some mega-bucks out of this whole enterprise and has revitalised the... Continue Reading →
The Food of Love, by Anthony Capella
This is the perfect travel book for reading at airports and on planes. It’s super light in content, with no long lists of names to remember or complex plots to do battle with when your brain is on the verge of jetlag-induced mush. It is pure fluff. I rather enjoyed it: mostly because it’s set... Continue Reading →
Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand – Helen Simonson
Occasionally a book comes along that is simply charming in the portrayal of the human heart, "Major Pettigrew's Last Stand", is just such a book. When Mrs. Ali the owner of the local grocery comes to his door early one morning, she finds Major Pettigrew distressed at having received news that his brother has just... Continue Reading →
Decameron, by Boccaccio
‘Beginneth here the book called Decameron … wherein are contained one hundred novels told in ten days by seven ladies and three young men.’ Written between 1349 and 1351, Decameron is a collection of, not novels per se, but short stories, which taken together form a complete tale. Translated from the volgare – the vernacular... Continue Reading →
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