The One Who Got Away

 

The One Who Got Away by Caroline Overington

Caroline Overington’s latest book The One Who Got Away was released a couple of days ago; and I was so excited. Caroline is one my favourite authors and after reading a sample I couldn’t wait to get my hands on this one.

I must admit to being the tiniest bit biased in my opinion where Caroline’s books are  concerned after having been lucky enough to have met her here at Parramatta Library a couple of years ago for an author talk. (Click HERE to listen to the podcast). I became an even bigger fan. Caroline is a very talented writer and a nice person.

I think it’s fair to say I expected a lot from The One Who Got Away and I wasn’t disappointed.

The One Who Got Away tells the gripping tale Loren and David; the perfect couple?  When Loren meets David, she falls hard. Although they’re from the same Californian town they come from very different backgrounds … but Loren is not about to let that stop her from winning over her perfect man.

There is suspense with twists and turns all the way through and you wont know what to believe. I loved the way it was told from different perspectives; it really allowed the story to build up gradually to a point where you are practically screaming “I need to know what happens NOW”!

I resisted the urge to skip ahead to the end of the book so I could find out what happened, but let me tell you it was very hard. When I finally read the last page, I was in total shock and went straight back and reread the last chapter to make sure I hadn’t read it wrong. The way the story kept revealing secrets all the way to the very last line was masterful.

Do yourself a favour and read this one, I LOVED IT and can’t wait to talk about it with my reading obsessed colleagues here at the library.

Jody

 

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If you only knew – a Book Club Review

if you only knewIf you only knew – Kristan Higgins

Summary
Letting go of her ex-husband is harder than wedding-dress designer Jenny Tate expected…especially since his new wife wants to be Jenny’s new best friend. Sensing this isn’t exactly helping her achieve closure, Jenny trades the Manhattan skyline for her hometown up the Hudson, where she’ll start her own business and bask in her sister Rachel’s picture-perfect family life…and maybe even find a little romance of her own with Leo, her downstairs neighbor, a guy who’s utterly irresistible and annoyingly distant at the same time. Rachel’s idyllic marriage, however, is imploding after she discovers her husband sexting with a colleague. She always thought she’d walk away in this situation, but her triplet daughters have her reconsidering her stance on adultery, much to Jenny’s surprise. Rachel points to their parents’ perfect marriage as a shining example of patience and forgiveness; but to protect her sister, Jenny may have to tarnish that memory-and their relationship–and reveal a family secret she’s been keeping since childhood. Both Rachel and Jenny will have to come to terms with the past and the present and find a way to get what they want most of all.

Comments
The book was a light, easy read with subtle humour that was well written.  The scenes involving Leo and the triplets were very funny.  We liked the way the writer alternated the first person narration between the sisters, Jenny and Rachel, allowing both sides of the story to be heard and to see how the same incident can be seen differently.

While some clubbers found it a little slow to start, not really grabbing their attention until almost 100 pages in, others loved it from the first word.  As a group, we found it very easy to relate to both sisters and the dilemmas they faced.

Rating – 8/10        Read by – Cultcha Club Book Club

2016 Miles Franklin Award Longlist Announced

The Miles Franklin Literary Award is Australia’s most prestigious literature prize. Established through the will of My Brilliant Career author, Miles Franklin, the prize is awarded each year to a novel which is of the highest literary merit and presents Australian life in any of its phases.

First presented in 1957, the Award helps to support authors and to foster uniquely Australian literature. Miles Franklin believed that “Without an indigenous literature, people can remain alien in their own soil.”  She also had first-hand experience of struggling to make a living as a writer and was the beneficiary of two literary prizes herself.  A short biography and synopsis of each title in the longlist can be found here. Click on any title below to reserve your copy now.

Ghost River – Tony Birch
Coming Rain – Stephen Daisley
Hope Farm – Peggy Frew
Leap – Myfanwy Jones
The World Without Us – Mireille Juchau
The Hands: an Australian pastoral – Stephen Orr
Black Rock White City – A.S. Patric
Salt Creek – Lucy Treloar
The Natural Way Of Things – Charlotte Wood

And the Mountains Echoed

 

 

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And the Mountains Echoed

Khaled Hosseini

Summary

Ten-year-old Abdullah would do anything for his younger sister. In a life of poverty and struggle, with no mother to care for them, Pari is the only person who brings Abdullah happiness. For her, he will trade his only pair of shoes to give her a feather for her treasured collection. When their father sets off with Pari across the desert to Kabul in search of work, Abdullah is determined not to be separated from her. Neither brother nor sister know what this fateful journey will bring them. And the Mountains Echoed is a deeply moving epic of heartache, hope and, above all, the unbreakable bonds of love.
Comments
The groups opinions were divided. Half really liked the book and the other half didn’t really enjoy it. All agreed it was well written and most people like the characters.
Read by – The Last Thursday Book Group

 

2015 Summer Bookmarks are here!

Looking for some reading inspiration for Summer? Why not check out one of our latest bookmarks here or pick one up at any Parramatta Library Branch. What’s your favourite? Crime/Thriller; Australian Authors; Steampunk; Horror; Historical fiction; Scandinavian Crime; Books to Screen; Fantasy; Science Fiction; or Romance.