The Reading List by Sara Nisha Adams - #bookreview

 

The doors are new: automatic open. Fancy. That has changed since Aidan was here last. The first thing he notices are the sparse rows of books - when he'd been younger, smaller, the shelves seemed to never end, teeming with books of all shapes and sizes...

***

A faded list.

Nine favourite stories.

For two strangers, friendship is only a page away . . .

When Mukesh Patel pops to the local library, forgoing his routine of grocery shopping and David Attenborough documentaries, he has no idea his life’s about to change.

He meets Aleisha, a reluctant librarian and the keeper of a curious reading list – just a scrappy piece of paper with the names of 9 stories. It doesn’t seem anything special. Yet something tells her to keep it close . . .

Story by story, Mukesh and Aleisha work their way through the list – their worries slipping away with every encounter, with every world discovered in their unlikely book club of two.

A fresh chance at life, at friendship, wasn’t on the cards for these lonely souls – but every story starts somewhere . . .

***

This is the perfect book for book lovers, and I enjoyed every word.

It is about the unlikely friendship between the two main characters, Mukesh an elderly man who is recently widowed, and Aleisha a teenager who reluctantly works at the library. It is also about how these two very different people discover themselves and their love of books. When Aleisha discovers a faded list of books tucked away inside one of the library books, she works her way through it and encourages Mukesh to do the same.

The chapters are told from the perspectives of both Mukesh and Aleisha. Both are lonely in their different ways. They are in need of healing and the author does a fantastic job in demonstrating how books can be the conduit to do so.

The entire novel is a love letter to books, reading and libraries. It is a heartwarming novel that demonstrates how books can bring people together, bridge the generational divide and heal us. 

This is a wonderful book, and although it has it's moments of sadness, it is ultimately uplifting and hopeful. It has been beautifully written and I highly recommend it.

ISBN: 978 0008391362

Publisher:  Harper Collins

Formats:  e-book, audio, hardback and paperback (currently available on Kindle Unlimited)

No. of Pages:  432

About the Author:

Sara Nisha Adams is a writer and editor. She lives in London and was born in Hertfordshire to Indian and English parents.  The Reading List was her first novel. The Twilight Garden is her most recent novel.

(all opinions are my own)

(author media courtesy of the publisher)

Norah's Ark by Victoria Williamson - #BookReview #BlogTour

 

I must be the only girl in the world who doesn't have a mum.

I don't mean like Maya Turner from my old school whose mum lives in another town cos her parents are divorced. And I don't mean like Chelsea Mackay at my new school either who says her mum's got a super-important job in New York, and that's why Chelsea lives in a foster home here in Hull. I mean I never had one to begin with. Dad says I was grown in a test tube in some space-age science lab just like in that film we saw years ago, but I don't know if I believe him or not.

Dad doesn't always tell the truth...

***

Norah Day lives in temporary accommodation, relies on foodbanks for dinner, and doesn’t have a mum. But she’s happy enough with her dad and a mini zoo of rescued wildlife to care for. Adam Sinclair lives with his parents in a nice house with a private tutor and everything he could ever want. But his life isn’t perfect-far from it. He’s stuck at home recovering from cancer with an overprotective mum and no friends.

When a nest of baby birds brings them together as an animal rescue team, Adam and Norah discover they’re not so different after all. Can they solve the mystery of Norah’s missing mother together? And can their teamwork save their zoo of rescued animals from the rising flood?

***

This is a wonderfully wholesome book aimed at children from about ten years plus. However, reading this as an adult, I enjoyed every word.

The two main characters, Norah and Adam, are both delightful in their own way. They each have their individual challenges and come from very different socio economic backgrounds but they come together through their shared love of animals and their loneliness. They both live in sad and difficult situations, and I would have liked to given them both a hug.

The book deals with some difficult themes; homelessness, childhood cancer, poverty and climate change to name just a few. The author treats each of these issues with sensitivity and never talks down to her readers in putting her message across. Instead, through empathy she allows the reader to familiarise themselves with these topics whilst encouraging a mindful and caring attitude in considering the difficulties that the two children encounter.

There is so much to admire in this book and it will appeal to boys and girls equally. It is well written, accurately paced and heartfelt. There is also an element of adventure thrown in which will increase it's appeal amongst young readers. It would make a great book for independent reading, but it would work equally well being shared as there are many points for discussion within the narrative.

I highly recommend this book. Also, the author is donating 20% of her royalties for this novel to the Shelter charity. If you would like to know more about this charity please click on the link here.

Also, if you would like to read my review of Ms. Williamson's book, The Pawnshop of Stolen Dreams, you can do so by clicking here.

ISBN: 978 1911107996

Publisher:  Neem Tree Press

Formats:  audio and paperback

No. of Pages:  304 (paperback)

Purchase Link*

About the Author:

Victoria Williamson is an award=winning children's author and primary school teacher from Scotland. She previously volunterred as a reading tutor with The Book Bus charity in Zambia and is now a Patron of Reading with CharChar Literacy to promote early years phonice teaching in Malawi. Victoria is passionate about creating inclusive worlds in her novels where all children can see themselves reflected.

Purchase Link*

(Book and all author info. courtesy of The Write Reads)

(all opinions are my own)

*Disclosure: I only recommend books I would buy myself and all opinions expressed here are my own. This post contains an affiliate link from which I may earn a small commission.