Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman

 Light between Oceans,by M.L. Stedman, is a beautifully written story where you can hear the waves, feel the love and pain between the well developed characters. They are all so real. . I could not put this book down.    

Tom Sherbourne, a Word War 1 Veteran, returns to Australia and finds himself a job as the lighthouse keeper on Janus Island, a tiny island off the coast of Australia.  Not long thereafter, Tom marries Isabelle and they settle down on the isolated island.  At first life is blissful, but as time moves one Isabelle struggles with her pregnancies and gives birth to a stillborn son after two miscarriages..  During this period of grief, a boat washes ashore carrying a dead man and a small crying infant.

The decision between two good people, seemingly right at the time, proves to have heart breaking consequences a few years later.

Light between Oceans explores motherhood, life & death, questions of right and wrong,  and difficult moral issues. 

Would we do what’s morally right even when we know it will break our loved ones spirit?  Or would be continue to be tormented, by what we’ve done wrong, in order to protect our own?

This was a great read with a story not easily forgotten.

 ☆ ☆ ✰ ☆ ✰

Dyngkåt och hur helig som helst.

I loved this books!

The title through me for a loop as it's quite vulgar.  Wasn't sure what to expect.  Closest translation I can think of is "Fucking Horny and Holy as Could Be!

The book is written by Mia Skäringer, a well known Swedish comedian and actress.  It is based on a blog that she wrote for the Swedish magazine Mama.   Mia is brutally honest and humoristic while sharing her life stories about sex, family, divorce, career, and parenthood.

The book makes you think about your everyday life and how most of us live a very predictable life within our society. God forbid if we were different.  I recognized myself in many of the situations in the book and it makes one stop..reflect....and wonder..

Here's two extracts from the book.. (translated from Swedish)

"Damn, I'm tired of all the nagging about sex. All sexologists! All tips! Reportage! News Columns!  Have sexologists themselves a good sex life? Do priests really believe in God?  Does Mia Törnblom really have unbelievable  low self-esteem. Only the devil knows. But this is the world we live in.  A ten year conflict is solved by doctor Phil in ten seconds. Same with sex. Buy a dildo! Surprise your partner! Here are the top ten positions for the woman. This is what mothers are looking for this summer. Nice quick sex."

"I am so tired of the super-moms, self-sacrifice, martyrdom, sex to keep the the peace at home, and false facades.  I long for reality, vulnerability, and tummies and stretchmarks.  I long for people who dare to be themselves and show their true colors without pretense.  I long for "new" Maria's whom by their own will and their own sexual desire dare ask Joseph for selfish sex while baby Jesus is sleeping.  Mothers are people too, or?  Vulnerable.  Weak. Wild and free.  Feelings that come and go.  Just imagine if we all dared to be true to ourselves before we die.  Imagine if we all realized how fucking beautiful we are"



This book left me smiling long after I finished the last page....

Before I Go To Sleep - S.J. Watson

Before I Go To Sleep, what a surprise!  

I picked this book up for $1 at my local library's "books for sale" shelf.  I had not heard of this book previously and didn't realize it was such a recent book.  It was published in June 2011 in the US.

The book is a psychological thriller about a woman, Christine, who suffers from amnesia and wakes up every day not knowing who she is.  She looks at the unfamiliar man in bed next to her; goes to the bathroom and sees an unfamiliar woman in the mirror.   There are photos plastered all over the bathroom and they look like her and the man she woke up next to.  Every morning the man in bed, Ben, must explain to her that he is her husband and that's she's had an accident more than 20 years ago.

This repeats itself every day; Christine waking up not knowing why she's in bed with a stranger and Ben explaining that he's her husband. 

But a phone call from a Dr. Ed Nash, a neurologist claiming to be working with Christine, directs her to a black journal hidden in the closet, changes her life.  The first entry in the journal reads, 'Do not trust Ben'.   Christine's journal becomes her life line and slowly pieces of memories return.

This book is addictive.  I couldn't put it down. I went to bed wanting to read more and woke up thinking, I have to finish the book. 

Before I Go To Sleep is S.J. Watson's debut book, and is amazingly written. 

The book was not without flaws, and the end of the books seems a bit rushed.  I think the end could have been a few chapters longer. 

This is a fast read; my daughter is on her last few chapters and she started reading this book yesterday.  

So, don't start reading this book at bedtime as you're guaranteed to lose sleep.

Ghost Trails - Jill Homer

The story of an ordinary person competing in the Iditarod mountain bike race, in the month of February, along a frozen barren trail in the wilderness of Alaska got my attention. I had no idea such a race existed. It's considered one of the most difficult winter wilderness races in the world, across mountains, frozen rivers and the isolated tundra.  In this race, participants decide what to pack, and when to take breaks.  You're alone against the elements of Mother Nature.

This is an inspirational book where the author Jill Homer, a young woman, have to face her fears, weaknesses and endurance in the freezing cold of Alaska. Any mistake made during this race and Jill could loose her fingers, toes or her life.

I love the outdoors, enjoy biking and grew up in the cold of Northern Sweden but the thought of biking solo through the wilderness and setting up emergency shelter for the night, in the midst of Alaska is both a bit crazy and brave.

Climbing into a sleeping bag, alone, in the middle of the night with only a tent protecting me from the frigid cold and snow; I don’t even want to imagine “what if”????

"What about wolves, what about moose, thank god, the bears are hibernating. But, then again, are there Polar Bears there?".

This was such an intriguing story and easy read that I finished it in two days.

After finishing the book I would say that Jill Homer is certainly no ordinary gal.

There are numerous free books on LibraryThings. Some of them have not been released yet, and in return for the free books the authors kindly ask for a review of their books.

The Paganini Contract - Lars Kepler

I so enjoyed "Hypnotisören"  http://annika-simplepleasures.blogspot.com/2011/06/hypnotisoren-hypnotist.html   by Lars Kepler that I decided to read the sequel, Paganini Kontraktet.

Once again, we get to follow detective Joona Linna as he undertakes the case of solving some bizarre murders in Stockholm, the capital of Sweden.

On a summer night , an abandoned large pleasure boat is found drifting in the Stockholm archipelago.   Aboard, a woman is found dead, sitting up in the berth of the main cabin.  Her lungs are filled with brackish water but there is no trace of water on her clothing or hair.  It turns out she's the sister of the intended victim, Penelope Fernandez, a peace activist with a South American background. 

The following day, General Carl Palm Crona is found dead in his apartment in Östermalm, an exclusive part of Stockholm.   The man is hanging from the ceiling chandelier.  The ceiling is high, and there is nothing to climb on as there are no furniture in the room.  How did it happen? 

The link between the two deaths is a photograph that belonged to Penelope.  It is a photograph of international politicians and arms dealers.  Nothing out of the ordinary - except that murders have occurred to stop the photo spread.

An exciting and thrilling book with ruthless arms smugglers who will stop at nothing to carry out their business.
 
Some contracts can not be broken even by your own death....
 
This is an excellent crime novel that is brilliantly written.   Hypnotisören was also an excellent read but this one is even better; Looking forward to sequel no. 3.

Hypnotisören is available in English, but no date is available for the English release of the Paganini Contract.

Sirila Gentlemän sökes by Karin Brunk Holmqvist

What a fabulous book!  This is a charming book full of warmth and humor.  http://www.mynewsdesk.com/se/pressroom/StorySide/pressrelease/view/karin-brunk-holmqvists-hjaertevaermande-bok-sirila-gentlemaen-soekes-nu-som-ljudbok-319263

Alma and Margit, two mischievous old ladies are neighbors and best friends in small town Sweden.  They enjoy taking turns to host morning coffee each day, where the same thing is served every time so the ladies won't have to compete with one another.     

One day they receive news that the municipality they live in is building a cottage resort in their neighborhood and the city is forcing the sale of their homes to make room for a road.  The friends temporarily move in to a nursing home and that's when their adventure begins. 

Siril gentlemen wanted. We are two single women, 81 and 79 years, one of which has a limp . We are each looking for a male friend. We would prefer that you live in or near Tomelilla and have a car so you can drive us to Kivik when the fruit trees blossom. / Last attempt /.

Alma and Margit places a personal ad in the local newspaper.  They are not sure what siril means but they decide that it sounds good.

When they catch the fierce manager Ulla in an extramarital affair with a city council member, Alma begins to plot....in order to get their homes back.

A very easy to read entertaining book about deep friendships, a life still full of surprises and first time experiences at an older age.  Too bad there's no English translation for my North American friends.

The author Karin Brunk Holmqvist has published a number of books, all with the same humoristic style so I will definitely read another one of her books. 

This was a true feel good book.  It kept me smiling while reminding me that each stage of life has its beauty!

Hypnotisören - "The Hypnotist" By Lars Kepler

I've been reading books in Swedish lately, and in order to "keep up" with my friends and family back home I researched the most sold Swedish books in 2010 and Hypnotisören by  Lars Kepler** came in as #3.  I downloaded it as an eBook in Swedish, but the English version will be released in Canada on July 5th under the name "The Hypnotist".   Take a peek inside a chapter:   http://browseinside.harpercollins.com.au/index.aspx?isbn13=9780007359103

The story begins with a triple murder.  A man is found brutally murdered in the change-room of a local sporting complex.  Shortly thereafter his wife and daughter are discovered butchered in the family home.  Their teenage son is found severely injured with over 100 knife wounds and barely alive.  He is rushed to emergency where he floats in and out of consciousness.  Detective Joona Linna discovers that there is one more family member alive; a sister and he needs to find her before the killer does.  
Doctor Eric Maria Bark is called upon to hypnotize the boy in the hope of getting a description of the killer.  However, Eric Bark had sworn never to practice hypnosis again.   When Erik breaks his promise and hypnotizes the boy...a chain of events begin to unfold leading you into another story, and another story, which eventually leads to the kidnapping of Eric Barks son, and Eric having to revisit his past.

I really enjoyed this book and stayed up way best my bedtime for a few nights to finish the book.  I like books that are unpredictable, where I have a feeling about "who did it", but I'm not quite sure.  The only criticism I have about "Hypnotisören" is that some of the plots seem unresolved, specifically the "bullying kids and the Pokemon".  

I would love to read the book in English as well, to see if I feel differently about the book.  I preferred the Stieg Larsson http://www.stieglarsson.com/ books in Swedish, but I thought Henning Mankell's, one of the words best selling authors, books were better in English.  Perhaps it has to do with the translation.

The movie rights to the title has been sold and with the right cast and director, it should make for an interesting and thrilling story.

**Lars Kepler is actually a pseudonym, and when the book was first published in Sweden, the hunt begun to figure out who had written this book.   A married couple in their early 40's, Alexander and Alexandra Coelho, eventually went public.  A sequel to this book "Paganinikontraktet" was published in July 2010 and  has received great reviews.   Some believe the sequel is an even better book. 

I'd give this book a 4 STAR out of 5.

Left Neglected - Lisa Genova

This book took me by surprise.  I don't know why, but for some reason, I thought the book was about "someone" being neglected.

I read this book cover to cover within 24 hours.  I became intrigued by "left neglect", which is a neurological syndrome, caused by damage to the brain,  whereby a person is unable to perceive anything to the left ie. her leg, arm, people and objects to the left.  I had no idea this condition exists.

The main character of this novel is Sarah Nickerson, a multi-tasker with a demanding career and family with 3 children.   One rainy November morning there's a car accident and a brain injury leaves Sarah with "left neglect".  She is not aware of anything on her left side.  She can hear her husband's voice in the room, but can't see him, as he's on her left side.  She knows she has a left leg and arm but can't see them.  She looks at her dinner tray, but can't see the chocolate bar on the left side of the tray.  Sarah has to "re-train" her brain in an attempt to recognize and acknowledge her left side, and this is not an easy task.

This book is beautifully written.  I didn't want to put the book down, as I felt that Sarah was real and I wanted to know how her story.  It's a book I won't forget.

"Left Neglected" also reminds us of how precious our lives are and  that many of us are on a high speed train that needs to slow down so we can enjoy the scenery along the way.

Book Club

It's hard to believe that it's been a year-and-a-half since a few ladies at the yacht club decided to start up a book club.   Last night, we discussed our 15th book; Water for Elephants.  This books was a big hit with all the ladies in attendance.  In addition to cracker jacks and sasparillas, our "hostess" treated us to the most delicious little burgers; one topped with blue cheese and mushrooms, the other with goat cheese and sweet peppers.  Excellent! 

This book club brings me many positive experiences.

• Commitment to reading one book each month
• Reading books that I otherwise would not choose
• Discussing the books; not always agreeing but feeling free to speak candidly without being judged
• Getting to know the other ladies through our discussions, often inspiring and intimate conversations where we have shared joys and sorrows.
• Belonging to a group where we all have something in common; reading.
• The opportunity of meeting published recognized authors
• Excellent samples of food that often tie in with the book.

And not to forget...lots and lots of laughter...

The Joy of Reading!

I've always had a love affair with reading!  I remember being in grade 2 and reading chapter books.  There were no pictures, just I, an 8 year old and my imagination.  Wow, that was a big deal!  As a teenager, I would spend my summer months lying on a blanket in the backyard between the apple trees, from morning until late afternoon, reading and allowing myself to be transported to another time and place.  Mind you, my teenage reads were mainly Harlequin and British Romance Novels, set in the early 1900's.   

Ever since I've become a "computaholic", spending way too much time online, surfing the web and watching web TV, I've put my reading on the back-burner.

Last month, I decided to reclaim some of my "simple pleasures" in life; one of them being reading.  By rearranging my priorities, I managed to read a whopping 6 books this month.  I'd forgotten what a pleasure it is to read, read and read...I love it!

I didn't spend any time choosing the titles, as I've decided to finally get through all the unread books on my shelf.  Pick a book - any book on the top shelf.   Here's my 6 selections:

Eat Pray and Love

This was my third attempt at reading this book.  Everyone keeps talking about how great this books is, but I struggle getting through it.  Twice I started the book and got stuck in Italy.  Then I was told that I have to get past Italy.  So, this time I made it past Italy and into India, but I still wasn't that impressed.  Not until I got to Bali did I think it got a bit more interesting.  I know millions of people really enjoyed this one, but I'm not one of them.  My girlfriend tells me I'm too analytical, which stands in my way of enjoying the book.   Perhaps, different strokes for different folks.

Between Two Worlds

I bought this books a few years back when I was into autobiographies.  I know that most people put a lot of thought into purchasing their book titles, but I'm not one them.  I go for the smörgåsbord, a little bit of everything.  If it appeals to me, I'll give it a try! 
The book is about Zainab Salbis recollection of growing up in Iraq under Saddam Hussein's control.  Salbi's father was Saddam Hussein's personal airplane pilot, and as such the whole family was trapped in a highly controlled life style and in constant fear of Saddam Hussein.  This is a very captivating story that gave me a glimpse of life in Iraq, before and during Saddam Hussein's regime.  Great story that I'd recommend others to read.

 The Geometry of Sisters

I believe this book is "courtesy of the bookshelf" at the yacht club.   The story is about three sets of sisters, with a bond so strong that each one cannot properly live without her sister.  I only read this book about two weeks ago, and I can barely remember the content.  That tells me a lot; not too much substance in this one.  It's what I'll call a "cheesy fiction".  Easy afternoon read, but not very memorable.  Glad I got it for free!

 The Moonlit Cage

My girlfriend lent me this book months ago, and it came highly recommended.  It's been on my bookshelf ever since, but March was its lucky day!  This is a beautifully written novel that is hard to forget.  The author transports you back in time and place.It's about a young  Muslim girl,  Daryâ,  who struggles for independence during the 1850s Afghanistan.  Daryâ embarks upon the journey of a lifetime, from Bombay to the heart of the British empire, London.

This was a very easy read.  I really enjoyed the first 2/3 of the book and could barely put it down, but the last part, played out in England, just didn't seem to fit in with the rest of the book.  The book had a very predictable cheesy ending.  I'd give this one a 7 out of 10..

Water for Elephants

This is my book-club's choice for March.   I truly enjoyed this story.  Jacob Jankowski, a law student, receives news that his parents were killed in a car accident and suffers a breakdown.  He leaves school just short of graduation and jumps on a train in the middle of the night to find himself on a circus train.  And thus the story begins.
Water for Elephants is about circus life during the Great Depression.  The author paints a very vivid picture of all the characters and it's difficult not to care for them.  With its unique stetting, this books brought me to a time and place that is long forgotten..Highly recommended.
I'm looking forward to the movie release next month.  I hope it measures up.

 Skumtimmen (Echos from the Dead)

I read this book in Swedish.  It's Johan Tehorin's debut book, and it's one of the best crime fiction novels I've read in a while.  It's a very gripping story of a mother's search for the truth.  On a thick foggy late summer-day, in the 1970's, a 6-year old boy vanishes without a trace.  Police, family and friends search for weeks, without any results.  20 years later, the boys mother, Julia, receives a phone call from her father Gerlof.  He has received an anonymous package containing the boy's sandal.  And thus the story unfolds.   This book kept me guessing until the end.

This book is translated under the title "Echos from the Dead". 

Swedish crime writers are invading the market:
http://www.leserglede.com/engblogg/the-swedish-crime-invasion/

My next read is Sweden's best selling novel of 2010, Hundraåringen som klev ut genom fönstret och försvann.  

I'm looking forward to reading this book as it's supposed to be full of humor with an eccentric main character.

This book is currently not available  in English but many countries are in the process of translating.
http://www.jonasjonasson.com/Jonas_Jonasson/The_Centenarian_Who_Climbed_Out_The_Window_And_Disappeared.html

Book Club

I've been an avid reader since I was a little girl. During my summer holidays as a teen, I could often be found  on a blanket in the backyard from early morning until late afternoon reading books. I probably read 1-2 books per day during the summers. Recently, I've been too busy or exhausted in the evenings for reading, so I thought it would be a good idea to start up a book club. So, tomorrow I and 8 ladies are meeting up at the Yacht Club for our first book club meeting. The book chosen for this month is Crow Lake by a Canadian author, Mary Lawson. It is her debut novel and it was first published in 2002.

The novel is a fiction, narrated by 26 year old Kate Morrison, and set in Crow Lake, a rural community in northern Ontario. The story weaves in and out of Kate's life, beginning with 7 year old Kate, her toddler sister Bo, and two brothers Luke and Matt who are orphaned when their parents die in a car accident. At first, the plan is to divide them up among their relatives, but 19-year old Luke intervenes and gives up his scholarship to college and decides to take a job and keep the family together. The family struggles against all odds, but with the assistance of the community manage to survive. Matt's plans for a post-secondary education are also shattered as he becomes involved with the neighbour’s daughter Maria Pyem. So Kate becomes the scholar in the family. She becomes a zoologist at a Toronto college and almost 20 years after her parents’ death, she has not come to terms with her past and is forced to confront it when she receives and invitation to her nephew's 18th birthday.

I thought this was a great story. The land and the climate of the north remind me of my own hometown in northern Sweden. You really get drawn into the story line and I can see the characters of Kate and Matt lying down on their stomachs looking into the ponds. I did not enjoy the adult Kate; she is embarrassed and ashamed of her family. She's focused on "what they've lost out on" by wasting their intelligence and leading a simple small town life, rather than realizing that they are content with the choices they've made.