Barcelona and Books

Hi again booklovers! I am back here to talk to you about one of my favourite book of 2019. It was part of one of the bookbox received from My Chronicle Bookbox and I am so glad they included it. As usual with the books I receive from my book subscriptions, I would not have chosen this book on my own so I am very grateful they did!

« The Way of all Flesh » is an historical crime novel written by husband-and-wife Chris Brookmyre and Marisa Haetzman also known as « Ambrose Parry ». It is set in Edinburgh around 1847 and follows Will Raven a young medical student starting his apprenticeship with Dr Simpson. Along with Sarah, Dr Simpson’s witty and clever housemaid who wants more than what the century offers to women, Will Ravin starts to investigate the murders of young women across the Old Town.

I loved the way the story unfolds and especially the way this book is written: « No decent story ought to begin with a dead prostitute, and for that, apologies, for it is not something upon which respectable persons would desire to dwell. However, it was the very assumption that the gentle folk of Edinburgh would shy from such a thing that set Will Raven upon his fateful path during the winter of 1897. » Wow. This is the first sentence of the book. See what I mean?

I surprisingly loved the medical side of the book and especially going back in time to realize how things were done at that time, without all the medical progress and knowledge we have now. I absolutely loved « going back » to Edinburgh as well, one of my favourite cities in the world, which is in my opinion underestimated by everyone. I’m saying « going back » because it really felt like I was back in the Old Town streets with the characters, and it felt so good!

I have been several times to Scotland and I will never get tired of going back. It is a very beautiful country and Scottish people are always so welcoming. Whether you walk around Edinburgh, visit Glasgow or another city or go up to the Highlands, the landscapes will always take you breath away. When I think of Scotland I think of beautiful landscapes, a hot cuppa and warm scones… don’t you??

The second book in the series « The Art of Dying » is warmly put on my bookshelf in my to-be-read pile and I am really looking forward to read it! If you like books taking place in the Victorian Era with a touch of Sherlock Holmes, I highly recommend the series!

Happy reading,

Emma

Sunday Brunch

Another great address in Barcelona if you want to indulge in a good breakfast or brunch to start your day! I stopped by this little café a few weeks ago and immediately felt the cozy atmosphere that I always look in a coffee shop. Books are everywhere on the shelves or on the walls as part of the decoration so I immediately knew I was in the right place. They have a great selection of cakes and I chose a slice of Carrot Cake with an English Breakfast cup of tea. Heaven. Make sure you check it out, you won’t be disappointed! 

“Les derniers jours de Smokey Nelson” – Catherine Mavrikakis

Before talking about the book in itself I will tell you how I discovered it.
It was a sunny afternoon in Barcelona as usual and I was strolling in the streets of El Raval, one of the most lively neighborhoods of the city. I entered a very cute bookshop called “La Central Del Raval” to discover floors and floors of books and a very, very cute little café in the middle of a court. If you are looking for a peaceful place to read under the shades, I have the right address for you!

La Central Del Raval also offers books on discounts. As I perused the books on that specific section, I found “Les derniers jours de Smokey Nelson” and immediately bought it, along with two others…for 6euros! #bookwormsheaven

“Les derniers jours de Smokey Nelson” is not like any other book I have read so far. The summary mentioned 4 “choral voices” that narrates the story and I must admit that I did not know what it meant at first. 

As I started reading it, I discovered a very particular and unique writing style. There are four narrators in this story, all with a different way of telling you what happened.  

On 15 August 2008, in Georgia, one of the North American states where the death penalty is still allowed, Smokey Nelson is about to be executed. Judged guilty for the massacre of a family of four, it took twenty years for justice to set the fateful date. It is through the eyes of three characters, all linked directly or indirectly to the murderer, that we discover a bruised and disenchanted America… 

The story begins with Sydney Blanchard, a 38-year-old black man, falsely accused in 1989 of murdering the O’Connors family in an Atlanta motel and incarcerated for a crime he did not commit. We then discover Pearl Watanabe, in her sixties, who was the manager of the motel at the time, but also the first person to have seen and talked with the murderer after he acted. Finally we meet Ray Ryan, 72, father of the victim and pious man, who is presented to us through a divine voice. These three characters have in common the fact that they have been deeply impacted and traumatized by this sordid story. From then on, their lives will change and it is gradually discovered that all three are themselves victims of Smokey Nelson and that their lives, like the murderer’s, have been on probation for twenty years… 

Even if it’s not a book that I would usually read, I noticed straight away the complexity of the writing process and the professionalism of Catherine Mavrikakis. The story is captivating because of the diversity of her narrative. She is a seriously skilled author that deserves every praise gotten for this book. 

About the author

Catherine Mavrikakis is a Canadian author. She was born in Seattle from a Greek father and a French mother in 1961. She has lived in Canada, France and the United States before settling in in Canada and teaches literature at the University of Montreal. She’s the author of several books, such as “Les derniers jours de Smokey Nelson”, shortlisted for the Governor General’s Award for French-language fiction. (A Canadian literary award that annually recognizes one Canadian writer for a fiction book written in French).

Sarah Morgan, Cecelia Ahern, Sophie Kinsella, Jenny Colgan…

I always try to buy and read different types of books. Whether they are mystery and crime (my all time favourite), an inspirational or motivational story, an autobiography, a classic, I really like to read different genres and learn different cultures and lives. It allows me to broaden my knowledge on different topics that I would maybe not usually read about anywhere else, and it makes me learn things without even realizing it, just by enjoying a good read. However, I also have a great guilty pleasure…called Chick Lit! 

I admit, I’m a hopeless romantic who loves a good cheesy story. A man or a woman who lost all hope of being involved in a romantic relationship due to past painful experiences swept away by the new boy or girl in town… *sigh* I also love the fact that those stories are always about strong friendships and great family ties. Living abroad is great and I don’t regret my decision but living away from my family and friends sometimes makes everything more difficult and lonely. Those books give me fuzzy feelings, the need to finish the book in one sitting (I absolutely love the feeling of not being able to do doing anything else but read, whether it’s a chick lit or a good old thriller), the love that the man has for the woman, the way he sees her, like she’s the greatest thing on earth *sighs again* 

Amongst all of the Chick Lit that I’ve read, there has been several really bad ones. Truly. But there were also so many stories that really stuck with me and that I enjoyed beyond what I had expected. Here’s a non-exhaustive list of my favourite ones so far.

What about you? Do you like Chick lit? What is your guilty literary pleasure? 

Can you keep a secret? – Sophie Kinsella

I remember my mum buying this book just because the main character was named Emma, like me. The synopsys at the back of the book seemed funny and light, just what she was looking for as a bit of summer light reading. I of course started reading it as soon as she finished it, and immediately loved it. It’s the first time that I laughed out loud for a story I was reading, I loved Jack Harpers’ character and the love story simply. It was also nice to see that one small white lie in the end is not as innocent as it seems. We sometimes think that we avoid saying things to other people to protect them and keep them happy while in the end it ends up doing the opposite. 

The synopsys:

“The heroine, Emma, is sitting on a turbulent plane. She’s always been a very nervous flyer and really thinks that this could be her last moment. So, naturally enough, she starts telling the man sitting next to her – quite a gorgeous American, but she’s too frightened to notice – all her innermost secrets. How she lies about her size. How she’s not sure if she has a G-spot, and whether her boyfriend could find it anyway. How the coffee at work is horrible… how she once threw a troublesome client file in the bin… If ever there was a bare soul, it’s hers. She survives the flight, of course, and the next morning the famous founding boss of the mega corporation she works for is coming to look at the UK branch. As he walks around, Emma looks up and realises… It’s the man from the plane. And he recognizes her. And it’s soon clear that he remembers everything she said. What will he do with her secrets? He knows them all – but she doesn’t know a single one of his. Or… does she?”

Did you know that the book had a UK and US version where some passages are different? And most importantly, did you know that a movie adaptation will be out around September ?

PS I love you – Cecelia Ahern

This book will always be my all time favourite. I don’t know how many times I read it but it makes me laugh and cry every single time. The topic of death and losing someone so dear that your life is completely shattered is something that always spoke to me on a deeper level without really knowing exactly why. 

This book talks about strengths, strong friendships, trust in your own capabilities and “moving on” whilst still honouring the person you lost and loved. 

A movie adaptation has been made with Hilary Swank and Gerard Butler and if you haven’t seen it yet, well you should! 

The synopsys:

“Holly couldn’t live without her husband Gerry, until the day she had to. They were the kind of young couple who could finish each other’s sentences. When Gerry succumbs to a terminal illness and dies, 30-year-old Holly is set adrift, unable to pick up the pieces. But with the help of a series of letters her husband left her before he died and a little nudging from an eccentric assortment of family and friends, she learns to laugh, overcome her fears, and discover a world she never knew existed.”

Christmas Ever After – Sarah Morgan

The thing I like more than a good chick lit is a Christmas one. Wrapped up in a blanket next to my Australian Shepherd puppy with a cup of hot tea or hot chocolate in my hand… I can’t wait for winter!

“Christmas Ever After” is the story of Skylar and Alec who “hang out”  only because they belong to the same group of friends. Except that they hate each other. 

But Alec witnesses something that cannot be ignored and run to Skylar’s rescue. From there, well.. You can imagine how the story ends. 

I particularly like this story because it is set up in the UK during Christmas time, it has a very “cosy feeling”, it talks about strong characters and especially strong and intelligent women who swept the guy’s heart by being basically too awesome. 

The synospys:

“Skylar Tempest has never understood Alec Hunter’s appeal. So what if he’s a world-renowned historian? He’s also cynical, aloof and determined to think the worst of her. So when a twist of fate finds her spending the lead-up to Christmas with Alec and his family, she’s not expecting the season to be either merry or bright.

Alec has learned the hard way not to trust beautiful women—and Skylar is the most beautiful woman he’s ever seen. But as he watches her throw herself into his family’s festive chaos, Alec realises there is far more to this blonde bombshell than meets the eye.”

What about you? Do you have any favourite chick lit books to recommend? What do you think about the one mentioned in the article? 

If you don’t know what to offer to one of your bookworm friends, I have the answer for you: A Bookbox Subscription! It is seriously one of the best gifts someone could offer me. 

My Chronicle Book Box

My Chronicle Bookbox works a bit differently than other bookbox on the market. They have two themes: Crime & Mystery (the one I have) and Science Fiction & Fantasy. 

Each both contains 3 signed books, interviews from the authors and other goodies such as candles, tea towels, bookmarks etc. 

I really enjoyed every book I received and I know that they put a lot of work and effort on offering us the best stories available. 

As mentioned, all of the books are signed, and they arrive with interviews of the authors on their writing process, the book in itself or their next projects. It is always very interesting and the books are always great stories. You can be sure that you will like any book they send you. Another great thing is that I did not know any of the authors and that’s something I really appreciated as well. 

The box arrives every three month in order to give you time to finish the ones you received 3 months before. It is the perfect gift for book lovers who never get tired of more books!

Crime & Mystery – August 2019

This month’s bookbox contains: 

“Those People” by Louise Candlish, here’s the Goodreads summary: 

Lowland Way is the suburban dream. The houses are beautiful, the neighbors get along, and the kids play together on weekends. But when Darren and Jodie move into the house on the corner, they donʼt follow the rules. They blast music at all hours, begin an unsightly renovation, and run a used-car business from their yard. It doesn’t take long for an all-out war to start brewing. Then, early one Saturday, a horrific death shocks the street. As police search for witnesses, accusations start flying–and everyone has something to hide. 

“The Never Game” by Jeffery Deaver, here’s its Goodreads Summary:

A young woman has gone missing in Silicon Valley and her father has hired Colter Shaw to find her. The son of a survivalist family, Shaw is an expert tracker. Now he makes a living as a « reward seeker, » traveling the country to help police solve crimes and private citizens locate missing persons. But what seems a simple investigation quickly thrusts him into the dark heart of America’s tech hub and the cutthroat billion-dollar video-gaming industry. When another victim is kidnapped, the clues point to one video game with a troubled past–The Whispering Man. In that game, the player has to survive after being abandoned in an inhospitable setting with five random objects. Is a madman bringing the game to life?

Shaw finds himself caught in a cat-and-mouse game, risking his own life to save the victims even as he pursues the kidnapper across both Silicon Valley and the dark ‘net. Encountering eccentric game designers, trigger-happy gamers and ruthless tech titans, he soon learns that he isn’t the only one on the hunt: someone is on his trail and closing fast.

“Tick Tock” by Mel Sherratt, with it’s Goodreads Summary:

In the city of Stoke, a teenage girl is murdered in the middle of the day, her lifeless body abandoned in a field behind her school. Two days later, a young mother is abducted. She’s discovered strangled and dumped in a local park.

DS Grace Allendale and her team are brought in to investigate, but with a bold killer, no leads and nothing to connect the victims, the case seems hopeless. It’s only when a third woman is targeted that a sinister pattern emerges. A dangerous mind is behind these attacks, and Grace realises that the clock is ticking….

Can they catch the killer before another young woman dies?

The number-one best seller returns with a breathtaking thriller that will have you on the edge of your seat. Perfect for fans of Martina Cole and Kimberley Chambers. 

I cannot wait to read them all and let you know my thoughts on those books! One thing I must add is that My Chronicle BookBox have a great customer service and did everything they could to make me receive my box while transferring from one country to another. Even if it meant sending it earlier than planned. 

My subscription unfortunately ends this month but I will never stop advising people on getting it. 

My next Bookbox is Le Ptit Colli from Collibris, a French bookbox. I will receive two books per month on a various range of genres. It will allow me to read more books in French as I tend to forget to read in my own language sometimes, and also to discover other genres and authors. I’m looking forward to the change but will definitely keep checking out what My Chronicle BookBox do!