Sushi for Beginners by Marian Keyes

Sushi for Beginners
Marian Keyes

Front cover

Date read: 11 - 24 August 2016
Length: 564 pages

Lisa is a magazine editor, hoping to land a job in New York. But when she gets called to Dublin instead, she is devastated. At her new job she meets Ashling, her assistant editor, who is, frankly, her polar opposite. Clodagh is Ashling's best friend. She's married with 2 children, but on the verge of a mental breakdown. Will these ladies retain their sanity?


Ashling is known as Little Miss Fix-It.  In her bag she everything anyone might need; a pen, plasters, an assortment of painkillers. Until her boss convinces her to stop looking out for everyone else, and look out for herself. I quite like Ashling.

Lisa is not someone I would get on with. I think she would be horrible to work for and she doesn't seem to know how to make friends. You do get some glimpses of her compassionate side, but those are rare.

Clodagh seems nice. A good friend and stable family woman. Or not. She turns out to be quite selfish and hurts her best friend by cheating on her husband with Ashling's boyfriend. I'm glad Ashling didn't forgive her and ended their friendship.

Some despicable characters mixed with some lovely ones. Falling out of love, and falling in love. New careers, challenges and hopes. What more could you want from your chick lit?

Marian Keyes

Overall rating

Thanks,
The Wee Librocubicularist

I Shall Wear Midnight (Discworld #38) by Terry Pratchett

I Shall Wear Midnight
Discworld #38
Terry Pratchett

Front cover

Date read: 2 - 10 August 2016
Length: 340 pages

The Cunning Man is after Tiffany, but that means all magic could stop if he is successful.
The Baron's son is due to get married, but little does he (or his fiancee) know, she is a witch. And witches aren't so popular right now...


I can't belive Tiffany is nearly all grown up! When I read a Tiffany Aching novel, I still expect her to be about 11 years old. I suppose she can't stay young forever. She's growing up well though.

I'm glad the relationship between Tiffany and the new Baron is almost mended. They were such good friends as children, and it's nice to see them rekindle some of that friendship.

And of course it's not a Tiffany Aching story without the Nac Mac Feegle! Those little guys are drunk and disorderly buffoons, but my goodness they're loyal! After ask these years they're still looking out for their ex-Kelda Tiffany.


I'm so sad this series is going to end soon (for me), but I'm very glad to have had the pleasure. Well worth it.

Terry Pratchett

Overall rating

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The Wee Librocubicularist

The Little White Bird by J. M. Barrie

The Little White Bird
J. M. Barrie

Front cover

Date read: 25 July - 1 August 2016
Length: 312 pages

The Little White Bird tells the story of an old man who is infatuated by a young boy named David. The two grow close and spend a lot of time together. So much so David even calls him father. The old man has many stories to tell, including how he was involved with how his parents met,and the beginnings of the tale of Peter Pan.


I liked some of the imagery here. Like the idea of children being small birds waiting to be born to humans. A lot of it is very innocent and quite lovely really.

I thought the old man was a bit creepy. He made up a child of his own in order to get close to David, all despite his hatred of David's mother. Nothing circumspect haopened, and I think he genuinely liked the young boy as a companion. It makes you realise things were much different back in the early 1900s, because something like that nowadays would be seen as extremely suspicious; a red flag.


I'm looking forward to reading Peter Pan. If I've seen an adaptation, I certainly can't remember much about it. I know some of the story, but it will be good to look at it with fresh eyes and mind, as it were.




Overall rating

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The Wee Librocubicularist

Songs of the Humpback Whale by Jodi Picoult

Songs of the Humpback Whale
Jodi Picoult

Front cover

Date read: 14 - 24 July 2016

Length: 427 pages 

When Jane hits her husband Oliver, she freaks out and heads on a cross-state journey towards her brother Joley. Already waiting in the car with everything they need is her daughter Rebecca. 

When they arrive at the Orchard, their lives are turned upside down. They both fall in love (Jane with Sam, Rebecca with Hadley) but for different reasons it cannot last. 

But Oliver is a scientist who is good at tracking. How long will it be before he finds them? 

This story is told from the characters' different view points, which is a style I quite like. I feel you get to know the individual characters better and it's less presuming. 

The story switches between different times, which can be confusing at first but actually works quite well. It's interesting to see what the different characters think at different stages in their lives, and how those opinions change over time. 

I quite liked all the characters, there are none truly despicable. My least favourite is probably Oliver though. He seems a bit self centred and expected everyone to do what he wanted. I didn't really have a favorite character. None of the others particularly stood out.

Quite good for her first novel I'd say. 

Jodi Picoult

Overall rating

Thanks,
The Wee Librocubicularist