Today Will be Different by Maria Semple, narrated by Kathleen Wilhoite (Contemporary, Audiobook, 8/10E, unfinished)

Eleanor really wants life to be different!

September 2016, Orion, 6 hours 28 minutes, Audiobook, Review copy

Content: strong language, adult relations,

 

Book summary from Hachette Audio

Eleanor Flood knows she's a mess. But today will be different. Today she will shower and put on real clothes. She will attend her yoga class after dropping her son, Timby, off at school. She'll see an old friend for lunch. She won't swear. She will initiate sex with her husband, Joe. But before she can put her modest plan into action - life happens.

For today is the day Timby has decided to pretend to be ill to weasel his way into his mother's company. It's also the day surgeon Joe has chosen to tell his receptionist - but not Eleanor - that he's on vacation. And just when it seems that things can't go more awry, a former colleague produces a relic from the past - a graphic memoir with pages telling of family secrets long buried and a sister to whom Eleanor never speaks.

Nayu's thoughts 

Initially I wasn't keen on Eleanor, but I was intrigued by the summary so I kept going. It bothered me how she treated her son. He was fed, had clothes, and the essentials taken care of, but the connection between them didn't feel amazing. So I thought over the book her feelings would improve as the story progressed. They did to a certain extent, and I'm sure they would have carried on but the story veered  off for what seemed like age to the memoir (I think). I couldn't understand what they had to do with  Eleanor (I hadn't remembered the blurb...) I kept waiting for the viewpoint to switch back to her, but it didn't and I had no interest in the characters so I stopped listening.

Audiobooks are harder to fast forward, whereas with a physical or ebook version I could have sen where to skip ahead to get past the part that didn't catch my interest. I really did want to keep going but I couldn't face it. The story itself is well written, I loved Timby and felt sorry for him as he didn't get his mother's attention as much as he liked. The narration was spot on, seamlessly changing character voices. I do recommend checking this out, I will read the ebook version at some point just to know what happened at the end!

Find out more on Maria's website.

 Suggested read

Another good contemporary read is  Family Tree by Susan Wiggs, Narrator Christina Traister (Contemporary Fiction, Romance, 9/10E, Audiobook, short 'n' sweet review)

Bone by Bone by Sanjida Jay, Narrator Gillian Burke (Thriller, Audiobook, 8/10E unfinished, short 'n' sweet review)

 October 2016, Audible Studios, 9 hours & 7 minutes, Audiobook, Review copy from Audible

Summary from Audible 

Laura loves her daughter more than anything in the world. But nine-year-old Autumn is being bullied. Laura feels helpless. When Autumn fails to return home from school one day, Laura goes looking for her. She finds a crowd of older children taunting her little girl.

In the heat of the moment, Laura makes a terrible choice. A choice that will have devastating consequences for her and her daughter.

Nayu's thoughts

I was really excited about this book because I love stories that focus on a mother taking care of her child. Autumn getting bullied had me certain there would be tough times ahead, and it would be really interesting. Unfortunately I didn't get past the first chapter. The prologue ruined the entire story for me. I can't say what happens because that would be a big spoiler. Let's just say that what happens made me disinterested in reading the rest of the book. 

I know some readers would want to find out how the prologue happened, and part of me was curious but knowing what happens by the end of the story before I've even begun is a real turn off. I honestly tried to get past chapter 1, as the writing is good and I was on the edge of my seat, but I forever had the prologue in my head which dramatically reduced my interest in the story. I guess I'd recommend it to read but maybe skip the prologue until the end, which I realise defeats the point that Sanjida was making for the story, but it's not a formula that works for me. The narration was great though!

Serafina and the Twisted Staff by Robert Beatty (Children's, 11 years +, 9/10E, unfinished, short 'n' sweet review)

 July 2016, Egmont, 400 pages, Paperback, Review copy 

Summary from Egmont

Once hidden in the dusty basement of the Biltmore Estate where her pa worked as hired help, young Serafina now struggles to adjust to her new life of airs and graces upstairs in the grand house. 

Uncertain about what the discovery of her mother in the dark forests that surround the house means, Serafina finds herself caught between two very different lives.

But when a sinister arrival threatens her whole world, Serafina and her new friend Braeden must solve the mystery of this new evil before it engulfs everything – and everyone – they’ve ever known . . 

Nayu's thoughts

 It got too scary for me to continue! I enjoyed the first book, Serafina and the Black Cloak,  which I struggled with the darker parts. 

I wanted to know if Serafina would be okay after an event tears her apart from Braeden, but I read past where I was comfortable and, knowing books like this get more intense as the pages go by, decided I couldn't stand to read any more as I was getting freaked out at the horrors Serafina endures. I gave it a high grade because it's engrossing, and I love Serafina's determination. I like how she finally made a girl friend, and I'd had high hopes for that friendship, but it's too scary a read for me!

Find out more on  Robert's website. 

Lorali by Laura Dockrill (Young Adult, unfinished, ungraded)

July 2015, Hot Key Books, 352 pages, Paperback, Review copy 

Content: a fair amount of scary bits 

Summary from Hot Key Books

Colourful, raw, brave, rich and fantastical - this mermaid tale is not for the faint-hearted.

Looking after a naked girl he found washed up under Hastings pier isn't exactly how Rory had imagined spending his sixteenth birthday. But more surprising than finding her in the first place is discovering where she has come from.

Lorali is running not just from the sea, not just from her position as princess, but her entire destiny. Lorali has rejected life as a mermaid, and become human.

But along with Lorali's arrival, and the freak weather suddenly battering the coast, more strange visitors begin appearing in Rory's bemused Sussex town. With beautifully coiffed hair, sharp-collared shirts and a pirate ship shaped like a Tudor house, the Abelgare boys are a mystery all of their own. What are they really up to? Can Rory protect Lorali? And who from? And where does she really belong, anyway?

Nayu's thoughts 

After receiving a gorgeous shell as part of the publicity leading up to the launch of Lorali, I was super excited about the mermaid read. 

I received one similar to this. Picture source.

I adore mermaids at the moment, so it was easy to say yes to reviewing it. Unfortunately the story got too weird for me to continue, plus the point of view changes were choppy which annoyed me a lot. It's a great concept and I loved a lot of it, just not enough to keep going through the too scary-for-me parts which I suspect would only get scarier. To quote the summary, I must be faint-hearted!

Find out more on Laura's website.  

Available to buy from most bookstores including NRC affiliate Foyles.  

Suggested read

If you like mermaids try the awesome, not too dark for me  Forgive My Fins by Tera Lynn Childs (Young Adult, 10E/10E)