Ich wollte dieses Buch schon seit langem lesen, war aber dann doch überrascht davon. Die Geschichte ist rührend und traurig und dennoch voll Hoffnung und Spiritualität. Ich hatte eigentlich ein Kinderbuch erwartet. Das war es definitiv nicht.
»Mister Gott muss sich manchmal ganz klein machen, sonst weiß er doch überhaupt nicht, wie ein Marienkäfer lebt - oder?«Das sagt Anna mit fünf, ein Jahr nachdem Fynn (neunzehn) sie als Strandgut in den Londoner Docks aufgelesen hat. Drei Jahre hängen die beiden aneinander wie die Kletten, und Anna erklärt Fynn, was das wirklich ist: Gott und die Welt, Menschen und Liebe, Lachen, Angst, Freude und Trauer... Sogar was relativ ist, kann sie kürzer erklären als Einstein. In diesen drei Jahren »erforschen« und erfahren die beiden mehr als viele Menschen im ganzen Leben. Dank Anna. Denn dieses »Geschenk auf zwei Beinen« nimmt nichts hin, bloß weil es so ist, wie es ist. Anna entlarvt vieles, was die großen leute reden, als Gewäsch. Anna hat den Röntgenblick für falsche Gefühle.
Sunday, 29 June 2008
Sunday, 22 June 2008
Julia Falckenberg: Hotel Italia
Unterhaltsame Frauenlektüre und tolle Möglichkeit, sich auf den Urlaub vorzubereiten...
Die große Chance. Alles im Leben der jungen Grafikerin Stefanie scheint auf ehe und Familie mit dem Betriebswirt Peter hinauszulaufen, als sie eine unerwartete Nachricht erhält: Ein ihr unbekannter Sizilianer hat ihr sein Strandhotel in der Nähe Taorminas vererbt. Peter ist dafür, den heruntergewirtschafteten Betrieb zu verkaufen, doch es kommt anders. Stefanie erliegt der Schönheit der Insel und dem Charme eines romantischen Italieners. Sie übernimmt das Hotel, um es persönlich zu leiten. Ein Roman, in dem der Traum vom Leben am Meer im sonnigen Süden für eine junge Frau zur Wirklichkeit wird.
Die große Chance. Alles im Leben der jungen Grafikerin Stefanie scheint auf ehe und Familie mit dem Betriebswirt Peter hinauszulaufen, als sie eine unerwartete Nachricht erhält: Ein ihr unbekannter Sizilianer hat ihr sein Strandhotel in der Nähe Taorminas vererbt. Peter ist dafür, den heruntergewirtschafteten Betrieb zu verkaufen, doch es kommt anders. Stefanie erliegt der Schönheit der Insel und dem Charme eines romantischen Italieners. Sie übernimmt das Hotel, um es persönlich zu leiten. Ein Roman, in dem der Traum vom Leben am Meer im sonnigen Süden für eine junge Frau zur Wirklichkeit wird.
Thursday, 19 June 2008
Lauren Henderson: Exes Anonymous
Somehow I found it very difficult getting into this book. Overall, the story was quite nicely laid out, however, for my taste, it was a bit long-winded in places. In the end I did get into it and then I started enjoying it, although everybody lives happily ever after....
This book is written in first person by the main character Rebecca, who is still obsessed with her ex-boyfriend five months after they have broken up. Her best friend Davey suggests that she set up an 'Exes Anonymous' group in the same vein as 'Alcoholics Anonymous' in order to help her out.
This book is written in first person by the main character Rebecca, who is still obsessed with her ex-boyfriend five months after they have broken up. Her best friend Davey suggests that she set up an 'Exes Anonymous' group in the same vein as 'Alcoholics Anonymous' in order to help her out.
Tuesday, 17 June 2008
Lloyd Jones: Mister Pip
What a fantastic read! At times the storyline is disturbing, in particular when it comes to the descriptions of the impending upheaval and the actual trauma of the rebels and the redskins entering the village. However, as for Matilda "Great Expectations" also gives the reader an escape into a different world. I also enjoyed Matilda's later years, where she travels to London and Rochester to see the places as they are and as they have entered the Dickens novels. I must admit that this novel gives me reasons to re-read some of English finest classics, and living in Kent gives me reasons to re-visit Rochester!
Bougainville. 1991. A small village on a lush tropical island in the South Pacific. Eighty-six days have passed since Matilda’s last day of school as, quietly, war is encroaching from the other end of the island. When the villagers’ safe, predictable lives come to a halt, Bougainville’s children are surprised to find the island’s only white man, a recluse, re-opening the school. Pop Eye, aka Mr Watts, explains he will introduce the children to Mr Dickens. Matilda and the others think a foreigner is coming to the island and prepare a list of much needed items. They are shocked to discover their acquaintance with Mr Dickens will be through Mr Watts’ inspiring reading of Great Expectations. But on an island at war, the power of fiction has dangerous consequences. Imagination and beliefs are challenged by guns. Mister Pip is an unforgettable tale of survival by story; a dazzling piece of writing that lives long in the mind after the last page is finished.
Bougainville. 1991. A small village on a lush tropical island in the South Pacific. Eighty-six days have passed since Matilda’s last day of school as, quietly, war is encroaching from the other end of the island. When the villagers’ safe, predictable lives come to a halt, Bougainville’s children are surprised to find the island’s only white man, a recluse, re-opening the school. Pop Eye, aka Mr Watts, explains he will introduce the children to Mr Dickens. Matilda and the others think a foreigner is coming to the island and prepare a list of much needed items. They are shocked to discover their acquaintance with Mr Dickens will be through Mr Watts’ inspiring reading of Great Expectations. But on an island at war, the power of fiction has dangerous consequences. Imagination and beliefs are challenged by guns. Mister Pip is an unforgettable tale of survival by story; a dazzling piece of writing that lives long in the mind after the last page is finished.
Wednesday, 4 June 2008
Giselle Green: Pandora's Box
This is a brand-new book that was just published in May. I read about it in our local paper, as the author is from Kent, and so I bought the book. I am a fan of Jodi Picoult's books and "The Memory Keeper's Daughter" and as the book was said to be like those, I thought I would like it - and I did indeed...Although the story is sad, it is also a story of hope and love, and you can empathise with Shelley for wanting to have a choice about her death rather than death coming upon her unannounced after a long illness. Also, there are some twists in the story which ensure that the reader's perception and expectations are not met. A fantastic read, apart from the fact that some of the characters are too exaggerated to be realistic, which is a shame...
Rachel Wetherby's life has been on hold since the diagnosis of her daughter Shelley with a debilitating and fatal illness. So when Pandora, Rachel's mother, offloads a box of her old possessions, including a diary, Rachel feels compelled to escape into a past, which - on the surface - was carefree. But opening up the box unearths memories best left uncovered.Shelley, meanwhile, is juggling a secret romance with planning her own death. Convincing Rachel that she'd like to spend her 15th birthday in Cornwall where she spend so many idyllic childhood summers, she devises a dignified exit.But nothing is as it seems and heartache and surprises lie in store for both mother and daughter...
Rachel Wetherby's life has been on hold since the diagnosis of her daughter Shelley with a debilitating and fatal illness. So when Pandora, Rachel's mother, offloads a box of her old possessions, including a diary, Rachel feels compelled to escape into a past, which - on the surface - was carefree. But opening up the box unearths memories best left uncovered.Shelley, meanwhile, is juggling a secret romance with planning her own death. Convincing Rachel that she'd like to spend her 15th birthday in Cornwall where she spend so many idyllic childhood summers, she devises a dignified exit.But nothing is as it seems and heartache and surprises lie in store for both mother and daughter...
Sunday, 1 June 2008
Caroline Llewellyn: Bitterer Wein
Eine leichte Lektüre für zwischendurch. Das Buch erinnerte auch mich an eine Mischung von Rosamunde Pilcher mit etwas Krimi und das Ende ist absehbar, aber dennoch gefiel mir der Roman, nämlich wegen der römischen und griechischen Mythen und Sagen, die angeschnitten werden....
Sadie Jardine erbt von ihrer Tante Minty die Hälfte eines Weinguts in ihrer Heimat. Die andere Hälfte fällt an Will Griffin, Tante Mintys Patensohn. Die beiden versuchen das Weingut wieder aufzubauen und Wein anzubauen, aber Sadies Schwager und Moany Scrimsher stören die Idylle. Können Sadie, Will und Sadies Schwester Julia, sowie deren Freunde und Nachbarn zur Ruhe kommen? Und zu welchem Preis?
Sadie Jardine erbt von ihrer Tante Minty die Hälfte eines Weinguts in ihrer Heimat. Die andere Hälfte fällt an Will Griffin, Tante Mintys Patensohn. Die beiden versuchen das Weingut wieder aufzubauen und Wein anzubauen, aber Sadies Schwager und Moany Scrimsher stören die Idylle. Können Sadie, Will und Sadies Schwester Julia, sowie deren Freunde und Nachbarn zur Ruhe kommen? Und zu welchem Preis?
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