We Have Books

Once Upon A River by Diane Setterfield Today sees me taking part in the blog tour for a new book that I predict is going to be HUGE. It is the long-awaited new title from Diane Setterfield, noted author of the bestseller The Thirteenth Tale. My thoughts: Already being hailed as a masterpiece of storytelling Once upon a River is an otherworldly tale of myth and legend woven around the winding river Thames in times gone by. It's a book-lovers book based on traditional storytelling, with a touch of magic, a hint of the supernatural and a lot of twisting and turning. As the river meanders so does the tale. Although its a relaxing piece of escapism, don't get too comfortable, this is a book with depth and needs a good level of concentration to follow it, constructed as it is from lots of separate stories which weave together to become a book. This clever and mysterious book is set in various hostelries and Inns along the river in an indistinct past era, where storytellers gather and...

MY REVIEW of The Binding by Bridget Collins Isn’t it wonderful when you hear about a book you’re certain you’ll love. Isn’t it awesome when you are granted a copy to read and review before most folk get to read it? (Thank you Harper Collins and Edelweiss+) Isn’t it amazing when you love it even MORE than you thought humanly possible? Isn’t it brilliant to be able to shout about it and tell people how amazing it is? And isn’t it hard to find the right words to do it justice? To say I adored this book is a gross understatement, I devoured it and it satisfied every need. First, it is fantasy realism which is utterly believable. There is really only the one element of fantasy - the premise that real memories can be taken from your mind by binders who create them into a book which allows all your worst most hurtful memories to be hidden, even from yourself, forever. It is set in an unnamed historical era which feels like late 1800s. Peopled with many wonderful characters I fell in love with...