Whilst I haven't kept updated with my reviews online, I have been reading still. In particular I have read two books whilst I was in France.
The first, and the most enjoyable by a long way was a book that fits into the Teen fiction genre.
Pushing the Limits by Kate McGarry is a fantastic gripping book in the perhaps cliched boy turned bad, and lost girl, making a perfect couple etc. Everyone knows the basic storyline, however this has a very good relationship with its characters, the individual stories of both the central protagonists allow the reader to engage with not just the teen romance, but the back stories. Both are quite harrowing, but the emotions expressed are extremely engaging. I have picked the book up several times to reread passages, as the writing is extremely powerful. The main setting of high school feels real with the fake friendships and the relationships that are expected no matter what is surrounding your life. It is well worth a read for some easy but difficult topic reading. I read the book in a sleepless night, and it was easy to keep going until the end.
The other book i read was
The Secret Letter by Emma Donoghue, the author of room. I have had it on my shelf for a little while, and have thought often that I should get through it. I actually found it quite hard to get through. Although i believe the plot is a good one, the writing seems to be very wordy which takes away some of the importance. The story centres around a Victorian relationship, which features a manipulative women, a friendship, a divorce court case and Victorian values. The book is full of melodrama, and a couple of stereotypical views on what would be. One of the main females, is referred to often as a spinster, and women's rights looked down on. I may try reading it again another time, but for now i think it is a 3 out of 5 for it.
