The Last Runaway - Tracy Chevalier

Well usually my post title would be a reference to books, from the book I am reviewing... However I am so out of practice (and go so sucked into this story) that I completely forgot to keep an eye out for one!

I love Tracy Chevalier, and have read everything she has published thus far. I can't stand it though, that every time she brings something new out, it is compared to The Girl With A Pearl Earring.

She has written many others that are just as good, if not better. Most recently I thoroughly enjoyed Remarkable Creatures. If you are a fan of historical fiction, then take a gander at  The Virgin Blue, The Lady and the Unicorn and Burning Bright (which was good, but it didn't have the same pull and strong characters as some of the others)

The Last Runaway was yet another intriguing, immersing and unique view of people, places and events in history.

Set in the 1950's, it follows the story of Honor Bright, a Quaker from England, who travels to America. Along the way, a series of events see her involved with some colourful characters, as well as the underground railway movement, helping to get runaway slaves across the border from America into Canada.

There were some moments where I found the main character a little too rightious and tedious, however the supporting characters were strong and saw me through.


Like all of Chevalier's novel's, this story that had me looking for more information, I wanted to know about Quakers, slavery in America, and with all the quilting going on, it had me snuggling further under one of the patchwork quilts my Mum had made.

I doubt if he had read twenty books in his life - (Pg 9)

Danny the Champion of the World, is yet another Roald Dahl I had not read. It is a lovely story. Filled with the usual wit and humour that Dahl wields so well.

The love between parent and child just leaps off the page and I thoroughly enjoy the warm, small, but rich world that the main characters inhabit.

I think this kind of story is best read aloud. I certainly found myself laughing out loud while reading it! I cannot wait to share this, and the entire collection of Roald Dahl classics with my two sons.

1 Day Remaining, 0 Books To Go! Whooo! By the skin of my teeth ;o)

She would pile stacks of books everywhere - (Pg 323)

Bride Flight by Marike van der Pol is an epic sweeping tale! It focuses on the lives of three very different women who immigrate from Denmark to New Zealand in 1953.

I was drawn in by this story and the characters. There is a lot to this book, however I do feel a little disappointed with how everything unfolds. There are strong characters here that seem to change, however in essence, everything pretty much stays the same.

It was originally written in Dutch so you can never be sure of the translation, however I doubt it would've strayed much from the original text.

My one turn off with this story, was the descent into Mills and Boon sexcapades!


It wasn't so moving that it made me cry or laugh out loud. Although it did make me thankful for what I have. Overall I was pleased to be able to finish (and balance) a 450 odd paged book whilst breastfeeding, and being wholly sleep deprived!

A film was made based on this book, I look forward to seeing how it has been interpreted.

16 Days Remaining, 1 Book To Go!

I read him 'The Night Before Christmas' in French - (Pg 105)

The Nanny Diaries by Nicola Kraus & Emma McLaughlin was recommended to me by a friend. It starts out interestingly enough and is actually quite funny until you realise there are people actually like this and it isn't all tongue in cheek.

It becomes very confusing as to why a supposedly intelligent woman would continue to nanny for such highly strung and extremely rude people.


She put herself into the situation and can quite easily get out of it. Her relationship with the child is the supposed reason why she doesn't leave, however that relationship doesn't come across as terribly strong.

Do not read if you are easily frustrated by stupid people!

74 Days Remaining, 2 Books To Go

My eyes still ache if I read or write much - (Pg 113)

Going Solo by Roald Dahl picks up where Boy left off. It is quite a different set of tales I can tell you.

In Boy, there are a lot of characters and situations where you can see Dahl has drawn from later to write his magnificent children's fiction. Going Solo however is much more 'grown up' and the stories, while unbelievable, are not the types of things that make good children's fiction.

I for one am amazed that Roald Dahl survived the situations he faced and was able to escape the war with his life, let alone come back from what he saw and the situations he faced and write such wonderful stories.

An easy and very interesting read, you must read it for yourself.

75 Days Remaining, 3 Books To Go

And I began to write a book called Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - (Pg 149)

It shouldn't be that I have reached the age I have and not have read Boy by Roald Dahl. Dahl is by far one of my favourite authors. When I was a child his books were a pure joy, as they still are today.

I bought my son a set of Dahl books for his First Birthday. A little premature I grant you, but I wanted to get him a book he would keep forever and then I just couldn't possibly choose between all of Dahl's great stories.

So it came to be that this set of books has been looking at me every night at bedtime for my son and I decided to right a grievous wrong by borrowing Boy from this collection and finally reading it.

It is of little wonder that Dahl has been able to write just amazing fantastical stories, as his life has been filled with characters and situations as you might only find in a Dahl novel. Boy is a wonderful account of a handful of childhood incidents and memories and is just a lovely read.

Highly reccomended to anyone who was ever a child, and loved it!

85 Days Remaining, 4 Books To Go

Joesph had taken a liking to reading and eating - (Pg 94)

The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake by Aimee Bender was an interesting read. I would describe it as whimsical, however it was also a little melancholy, so I don't know if it can really be classed as whimsical.

A story about a young girl, Rose, who discovers she can tastes the emotions and feelings of the people in the food that they make. Her brother also has an interesting hidden talent that I won't divulge here.

The characters are relateable and the setting is nice. It was a mystery story in a way. Not the most amazing story I have ever read, but enjoyable, interesting and different to anything I have read in a while.

93 Days Remaining, 5 Books To Go

If he was reading he was reading - (Pg 9)

The Red House by Mark Haddon was quite a let down for me. Haddon's previous two novels, including A Spot Of Bother which I read in my original quest, had warm voices, interesting characters and humour.

These elements were completely absent from this story. It actually made me feel depressed and unsettled about life and what it's all about, pretty horrible really. Two families, 8 characters, and all of them horrible, uninspired, and terribly sad with no redeeming qualities whatsoever.

I also had to consciously remind myself it was set in England, it seemed to have such an American feel to it.

It was readable, if a little confusing with the pointless inclusion of excerpts from books that the characters were reading. I would only recommend it if you were in a dark mood and didn't want to be lifted out of it.

96 Days Remaining, 6 Books To Go

I read this woman's book, along with many others - (Pg 7)

French Children Don't Throw Food by Pamela Druckerman was a lovely eye-opener into the world of French parenting.

Nothing to do with the title 'French Women Don't get Fat' - This story is told from the point of view of an American raising her children in Paris and noting the vast differences in child rearing.

I must admit, I do like the French approach. Calm, and effective... although I haven't been able to fully and successfully implement these approaches into my own parenting (Druckerman isn't 100% successful either) it's just common sense and refreshing as well.

The only issue I have with this book, is that Druckerman isn't always specific about what age groups she is talking about. For example, when she watches French parents let children freely wander through a playground while sitting around chatting and picnicking, I have no idea if these children are 3 or 13 months old.

Well written and very interesting, even if you don't have young children, I'm sure you would find it an worthwhile read.

96 Days Remaining, 7 Books To Go

I devoured all the books I could get my hands on - (pg 1)

One Born Every Minute - Real Stories From The Delivery Room, by Maria Dore and Ros Bradbury is the book based on my favourite BBC documentary series.

This was a lovely book. Very easy to read and had some beautifully told stories about birth. If anything I wanted more stories or a little more depth. I felt sometimes they glossed over people or situations I would've like to have known more about.

Being pregnant with my second I found this a great book to read at this time. It was reassuring, and also gave me a little more knowledge and background, and the hope that I have midwives just as dedicated as these women.

There are some sad stories here, it's not all about when everything goes well. However these stories are told with dignity and and respect to the families. There are also some damn hilarious stories that made me laugh out loud. They are all told so well I find it difficult to now discern between what I have seen on the series, and what I have read.

121 Days Remaining, 8 Books To Go

"Such a charming novel," cried Julia - (pg 546)

I read The Mystery of a Hansom Cab by Fergus Hume as my Husband has recently worked on a Tele-Movie Production of the story, coming sometime to your ABC!

I downloaded this onto my IPad as part of Project Gutenburg Australia, a place where you can download all kinds of free ebooks. I'm still not a fan of the ebook, mostly as I can't read it in the bath!!

Back the the book at hand. I found it to be quite a good mystery, even though I determined who the murderer was at the beginning, I enjoyed discovering the motive. I also enjoyed the setting, 19th C Melbourne, the city and the country and am really looking forward to seeing it portrayed in the new Tele-Movie.

The forward by Hume himself was also very interesting, his inability to get published at first, coming from one of the 'Colonies'. The story itself became an international bestseller and outsold the Sherlock Holmes novel A Study in Scarlet by Arthur Conan Doyle.

121 Days Remaining, 9 Books To Go

I learned far more from my father and from his library than I ever did at school - (Pg 210)

There was much that I liked about Jane Austen in Australia by Barbara Ker Wilson. It had however, one major downfall, there was no story or plot tying the whole thing together.

The story is fictional, and entertains the question, what if Jane Austen had visited Australia in 1803. Unfortunately, Jane Austen as protagonist was barely present at all, and there was no antagonist to speak of.

There were a number of great characters, and I loved the sense of time and place both in England and Australia. The story features some fantastic historic figures and events from Australia's colonial past, and contrasts them beautifully with English manners and lifestyle at the time.

I just wanted something to happen. There were so many little events and sub-stories that were interesting, however there really was no common thread tying them all together.

The book has given me a thirst to read other fictional stories set in Australia during this same period. It was a very fascinating and turbulent time, when the colony was just getting established. Any reccomendations would be truly welcomed.

 151 Days Remaining, 10 Books To Go

Expectant mothers are nowadays exhorted to play Mozart and read to their unborn babies - (Pg 19)

Monday's Child is Fair of Face by Steve Roud, is a lovely book to have as a reference sitting in your bookshelf, however it doesn't make for the best read.

It's constructed much like I remember constructing essays in University, badly and without much evidence to back up any comments or theories.

There was not a lot of evidence or support of where or how most of the beliefs and myths started and were perpetuated, there was a lot of guessing and not a lot of fact. In most cases I really wanted to know more about the history or the root of the myth but each saying or myth is touched on only briefly.

Like I mentioned previously, it's lovely to have it there. It has a good contents and index so if you want a little information on something you can quickly find it. It's also probably not the best book to read while pregnant or just after having a baby, especially if you are superstitious! There are a lot of myths that relate to childhood deaths and illnesses as a result of the times from which they came.

151 Days Remaining, 11 Books To Go

A fine lot of books - (Pg 234)

I finished Agatha Christie's The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding - and a selection of Entrees last week. I can't recall how many short mysteries were in this compilation, possibly about 8.

They were mainly Poirot stories with one Miss Marple. I thought they were a mixture as I am a fan of Miss Marple, especially the TV adaptations, she's just gorgeous and hilarious at the same time. I also expected them all to be Christmas based (also a huge fan of Christmas) however it was only the first story.

This aside, the mysteries were mysterious and compelling indeed, even if by the end a few did seem quite similar.

A nice, easy to swallow collection of murder and mystery.

196 Days Remaining, 12 Books To Go

She had read more widely and with greater enjoyment - (Pg 13)

Death Comes To Pemberley by P D James was a pretty good read. There were a few things I had to look past. Such as the ludicrous tongue in cheek references to Pride and Prejudice and also to current day crime solving techniques.

It was easy to read, not quite as complex or juicy as I like in a murder mystery. Give me Miss Marple any day. I missed the absence of red herrings, and there wasn't any kind of investigation into the murder which also made me feel a little cheated.

I did like how James kept very true to the characters of the original novel. The way they acted and reacted in the situations she put them in was just as I would expect them to.

It is quite interesting to note that P D James was 91 when she wrote this, if I am lucid enough to string a sentence together at the age of 91 let alone an entire best selling novel, I'd be pretty chuffed with myself.

208 Days Remaining, 13 Book To Go

Four big books with thick hard covers - (Pg 43)

Parvana's Journey by Deborah Ellis wasn't quite on par with the original Parvana.

In Parvana's Journey, I found the characters to be very one dimensional, quite robotic in their actions and reactions, and not terribly interesting.

I also felt that while what was happening to Parvana was devastating and more than likely is happening to some poor child at this moment, it read very much like a work of extreme fiction, a horror fantasy world.

The ending was another let-down. Extremely far fetched and terribly unlikely.

If you have read Parvana and are considering continuing, it won't take you long to read, however you may be disappointed.

221 Days Remaining, 14 Book To Go

It is my hope that this book will be an encouraging force for you - (Pg 3)

The Handmade Marketplace by Kari Chapin, is the second of the two books I have recently read in relation to selling handmade goods.

If I were to suggest only one book to buy about selling handmade, it would be this one. It covers the same things as How to Make Money Using Etsy, however in more broader terms. It also looks at selling and marketing face to face as well as online.

It is a neat little book. Well set out with good references, good examples and brimming with ideas and encouragement. It also looks pretty cute! Take a look, and don't forget to check out my online handmade business Felix George & Me!

223 Days Remaining, 15 Books to go

A Crafty Book Review - (Pg 80)

How to Make Money Using Etsy by Timothy Adam was a well presented somewhat useful reference.

At the end of last year, I set up a small online business, Felix George & Me, selling Iron On Letters and Motifs. I launched into it with much enthusiasm, however over the months, with a demanding toddler and another one on the way, my enthusiasm has waned.

Recently I have come across two books that have helped to reignite my original excitement in my venture. The first being How to Make Money Using Etsy (an online handmade marketplace).

I do not have an Etsy store, and as you would expect, much of this book covers the more particular ins and outs of using Etsy. There are however a number of other general chapters that are quite useful, especially those relating to marketing via social media, and how to get your handmade business out there.

A very useful reference, especially for users of Etsy. However, remember that with changing social media (like facebook and twitter ) some of the 'how to' sections have already become redundant, even though this book was published just last year.

223 Days Remaining, 16 Books to go

The point is, it didn't really matter what that book was about - (Pg 39)

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak is a difficult book to describe. I enjoyed it immensely and finished it quite quickly.

If you were to look at the subject matter, it appears to be a very grim book indeed. Set in Nazi Germany and narrated by death.... a little bleak to say the least.

Somehow though, it is a beautiful story. There are wonderful characters, and the style of storytelling has a lovely flow and ebb to it.

Death is one of the most lovely characters of all, which probably seems odd, however the idea of death just doing a job and yet still showing empathy is really touching.

Another strange feature of this story is that many of the key plot points are given away before they actually happen. Despite this, there is still an urge to read on, and to learn how, what and why as the details unfold.

I came to this book with no idea of what it was about and, this was probably the best way to approach it. If you read it, I hope you enjoy it.

223 Days Remaining, 17 Books to go

Sometimes she worried...the book would be lost in the library and she'd never read it again - (Pg 39)

I couldn't really get into A Tree Grows In Brooklyn by Betty Smith. Apparently one of The books, I just wasn't moved.

I didn't care for the main protagonist to whom things seemed to just happen. At the beginning of the story she was young and naive, at the end, she was older and naive.

Yes many things happened to her and her family, yes she faced many hardships, however I didn't feel that anything really had any effect or change upon her.

They story was long, drawn out and not terribly interesting. The same story has been told with much more enthusiasm (despite the sad and oppressed subject matter).

Yes a tree grew, it didn't change, it just grew and kept growing.

250 Days Remaining, 18 Books to go