The Dragon Prince - Melanie Rawn

Rohan becomes prince of the desert earlier than expected when a dragon kills his father. No one is sure how he will do as he so different to his father, quiet and studious instead of loud and physical. The three yearly trading meet is approaching and Rohan knows the pressure is on him to select a bride there. His Aunt has selected one of her sunrunners (can communicate by weaving the light from the sun and moon) while the High Prince has many daughters he is offering.

This is a very enjoyable read and although it’s not the best fantasy book I have read I finished the book in three days and I’m keen to read the rest of the series. The book appears to be in two parts; the first is about Rohan becoming prince and selecting a wife (more complex and political than it sounds) and then there is a gap of a few years and the story continues with the repercussions of Rohan choice. I would have been happier with the book if it had finished after the first part and the rest was in the next book in the series, I almost didn’t go back for the second part, but obviously it didn’t take me that long to get back into it.


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Persuasion - Jane Austen

I find this book harsher than Jane Austen’s other books, but that just makes it stand out from her other more popular books.

The main character Anne is twenty-seven, unmarried, mostly ignored by her father and older sister and motherless since her childhood. Her family have overspent and must change their lifestyle or move somewhere cheaper; appearances must be kept so her father and sister move to Bath and their estate is let to the sister and brother-in-law of the man, Captain Wentworth, Anne loved but rejected eight years ago.

Anne stays with her younger sister in a neighbouring village but frequently sees Captain Wentworth and has to watch him court the daughters of their neighbours who are very interested in this rich and handsome Captain. However Anne’s luck seems to be changing as another man arrives who is very interested in her, might she marry yet?

The Eyre Affiar - Jasper Fforde

This book is similar in content to a children’s essay; it has everything jammed in; murders, war, love, villains, time travel. The difference is that Jasper Fforde has produced a story that is believable. We all know that dodo don’t exist, Britain wasn’t occupied by the Germans in the second world war and that most people don’t care who wrote Richard III, but in ‘The Eyre Affair’ it is all true; and it works.

The main character, Thursday Next works as a Literary Detective tracking down people taking liberties with the printed word and in a country crazy about literature this isn’t a quiet job. Life suddenly changes when she is seconded to another diversion of the Special Operations Network to help with the capture of Acheron Hades, the third most wanted criminal in the world, and Thursday’s old lecturer.

As part of this hunt Thursday finds herself inside the original manuscript of Jane Eyre using one of her Uncle’s inventions. It is wonderful to discover that the characters of books are sentient beings who have a life outside of the story line and if an interloper, like Thursday, walks into the story lines they will change the plot of the book, as happens with Jane Eyre.

If knowing its about Jane Eyre puts you off the book don’t worry this is only a small part of the story and there is a whole new wonderful world to discover. I’m really looking forward to reading the second book in the series.

The Red Tent - Anita Diamant

This book is narrated by Dinah; the first section is about her mother and three aunts and the second section about her own story. Although the story has happy and uplifting moments it also has many moments of distress and great upheaval to the main characters.

The story begins with the arrival of Jacob at his uncle Laban’s camp. He marries two of Laban’s daughters (and is given the other two as dowries). Obviously having four sisters as wives leads to jealously but also great bonding and unity. Out of the thirteen living children the four women have, Dinah is the only daughter, and is therefore important to all of them as she will learn their stories.

However, life doesn’t run as smoothly as expected. There is conflict between Jacob and his father in-law and then between Jacob’s sons. This is unsettling to the women and after experiencing both love and tragedy Dinah travels to Egypt where she earns respect and fame from her practise of midwifery.

I admit I found the book confusing to start with as there were so many characters and was glad there was a family tree at the beginning of the book, but the characters soon developed their own personalities, especially the women. The culture of the red tent was fascinating to read about and how attitudes were changing from this old way of life to the new religion of Abraham (Jacob’s grandfather). However it is not the best book I have read this year

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My Sister's Keeper - Jodi Picoult

I have only recently discovered Jodi Picoult, in fact the last book I read was The Pact written by her. I was so impressed by that book that I didn’t believe this book could be as good; it was good to be proved wrong. From just these two books I think Jodi Picoult has jumped to the top of my favourite authors list. Like The Pact, the writing style is one that I haven’t enjoyed in the past where each chapter is from the point of view of a different person or in a different time but which Jodi Picoult is proving is a useful tool to provide the full information for a story.

This story is also a gritty issue where the parents have a third child, genetically selected to be a donor for her sister with cancer. I’ve heard in the news about families who want to do this, but haven’t really thought what happens beyond the birth of the child. Whereas this books takes you through that journey where Anna is repeatedly in hospitable throughout her thirteen years to provide donations for her sister. Her sister now needs a kidney and Anna has had enough.

Having finished the book I still don’t know which side of the argument I stand on and when I think of the reactions of the characters they are so well written I honestly can’t say I would behave any differently if I was in their position.

Bookcrossing journal - controlled release (book ring)