Look what I found on my morning run:
An internet search revealed this: ‘Hidden Books‘ initiative aims to encourage children to read and explore outdoors more. … Children who find the books can take them away, read them, and hide them again if they choose.’
Brilliant idea!
Snow, Glass, Apples by Neil Gaiman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
A twizzed round take on the traditional fairy tale. The stepmother isn’t evil and the princess isn’t snow whiter than white. A chilling, fantastical Gaiman at his best. Loved it!
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I am filled with nostalgia when I walk through the Children’s Store section of the rolling stacks. The Famous Five, The Chalet School, Biggles, Flambards. All those old friends meeting on the shelves.
The Pianist of Yarmouk by Aeham Ahmad
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
The inspirational story of Syrian-Palestinian pianist Aeham Ahmad, who lived through and escaped the hardship and desperation of the Syrian war and siege in Yarmouk, near Damascus. Ahmad became known worldwide after videos of him playing piano on the bombed out streets of Yarmouk were posted on YouTube.
This is Ahmads narrative of the displacement of Syrian refugees, his journey to Europe and the power of music to give him hope in a desperate situation.
‘I’m a pianist…. My revolution is music… Music was going to be my form of protest…’ p.170
https://www.unrwa.org/crisis-in-yarmouk
https://www.bing.com/search?q=pianist…
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Apricots on the Nile: A Memoir with Recipes by Colette Rossant
My rating: 2 of 5 stars
Evocative and fascinating insight into 1940’s Egyptian life and food. Tempted to try some of the recipies, but probably won’t get round to it.
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The Turn of the Key by Ruth Ware
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
I do not read a huge amount of crime/ thriller novels but was at a Publishers Day and heard the author read the first few pages of The turn off the key. Read it in a couple of days. It was gripping, fast paced, a cracking ghost and crime story with a clever twist at the end.
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About a Boy by Nick Hornby
My rating: 2 of 5 stars
I’ve been meaning to read this for years.( I Vaguely remember the film, with Hugh Grant, being about in the late 90’s early 2000ish). It was OK. Will amused me and Marcus was cute. The book avoided scmulchz- was quite unsentimental with its characters, which I liked. I was just a bit underwhelmed overall.
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