Red Room Book Reviews

GENRE - Non fiction. Spirituality. Psychology. Self-help.  PUBLISHER - My version, Penguin Random House, 2018. First published by Penguin Books in 2016. First published by Dutton in 2005. BLURB - An international bestseller about reaching a high level of consciousness and living a more spiritual existence. Tolle discusses how we can overcome the fears of our egos in order to obtain true happiness for ourselves and society.  MY REFLECTIONS - I read this pretty quickly because I found it very interesting. Many of Tolle's words resonated deeply. At times it felt abstract, perhaps because I am not as spiritually advanced as Tolle . It has obviously resonated with many readers, as it is an international bestseller, and it was Oprah's Book Club pick of 2008.  A favourite quote - "You can only lose something that you have, but you cannot lose something that you are". You do not have to believe in god to appreciate this book, certainly not in a 'traditional' sense. If...

GENRE - Children's literature  PUBLISHER - Puffin, Penguin Random House, 1974 (my version 2016). First published 1970 by George Allen and Unwin.  THEMES - Animals, farmers, animals vs humans, nature, survival, food.  BLURB - Farmers, Boggis, Bunce and Bean, plot together to kill the fox who has been stealing from their farms - the fox is Fantastic Mr Fox. Mr Fox must outwit the farmers to save his own life and the lives of his family and animal friends. Who will win?  MY REFLECTIONS - A fun read. I read this with my seven year old son who gave it 9/10.  I enjoyed the creativity - the character names for instance, my favourites being Boggis, Bunce and Bean (I appreciate the satisfying alliteration). I also liked the song the children sing about him, and couldn't help singing it a la Wes Anderson. By the way, I did enjoy the film more than the book, although I did like the book.  Jack's favourite part of the story was Mr Fox having his tail shot off (a little...

Genre - Fantasy. Children's/young adult.  Published by - Bloomsbury  Purchased at - Asda Themes - Magic. Family. Friendship. School. Death. Good/evil. Right/wrong. Rules and rebellion. Secrets. Bullies. Plot - Harry lives with his cruel aunt, uncle and cousin, where his bedroom is the under stairs cupboard. On his 11th birthday he receives an invitation to attend Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, because, as he discovers, he is no ordinary boy. We follow Harry on his journey of magical adventures as he learns about himself, his family history and the secrets surrounding Hogwarts.  My reflections - I read this with my 7 year old, who gives it 9/10. I think a lot of it went over his head, but what he absorbed he enjoyed. I think he is a little too young for HP.  For me, it was overall an enjoyable read. I felt a little underwhelmed after the years of hype. I've seen the film, and, this is a rarity - I like it better. There are parts of the book that stand out...

Genre - Biography Due to be published - June 6th 2024 Reading Time - Approximately 9 hours, 30 minutes Arc received from The History Press May 2024 Blurb - A detailed biography regarding the events and occurrences of Charlotte Bronte's life which influenced the creation of Elizabeth's Gaskell's The Life of Charlotte Bronte. The troubles and tragedies of Charlotte's life are told through factual accounts and letters of Charlotte herself and those she knew and met, including Elizabeth Gaskell herself.  My Reflections - The attention to detail in this work is admirable. Watson manages to provide a careful and painstaking record of facts in relation to Charlotte Bronte's relationships, her personal life and her time as a published author. In turn, the actualities, with shrewd observation, enable an impression of Charlotte's character to form.  Those who have not read Elizabeth Gaskell's The Life of Charlotte Bronte will most likely wish to do so following on fro...

  GENRE  Literary fiction FIRST PUBLISHED May 2024 ARC RECEIVED FROM Oldcastle Books THEMES Life. Death. Parenthood. Family. Culture.  READING TIME Approximately 6 hours PLOT The book begins with an arranged marriage between Bedi and Sushma, who we follow into their future together and learn what has become of the hopes and dreams they had when they first met. The story goes further into the future, following the lives of their children, and their hopes and dreams. Their  thoughts and feelings about themselves and about life, echo those of their parent's and there are apparent ripples and repetitions of family history.  MY REFLECTIONS Oh this book. It is beautiful and I love it. I urge you to read it. I will do my best to express what an absolute masterpiece of a debut novel this is. This is a moving novel that conveys how beautiful, fragile and bittersweet life is, and about how our choices and actions influence our own lives and the lives of others. It is a se...

GENRE  Modernist fiction FIRST PUBLISHED  1925 PUBLISHED BY The Hogarth Press (1925) My copy, Vintage (2000) THEMES Disillusionment, society, high society, post war London, post traumatic stress, communication/lack of communication, inner thoughts vs action, being in love, parties, flowers, suicide READING TIME (audio, BBC Sounds) Approximately 7 hours (read just under half, listened to the rest) PURCHASED FROM The Works. Listened via BBC Sounds.  PLOT   Set over a day in  London, in the summer of 1923, Mrs Dalloway prepares for a party. A friend returns from India and Clarissa Dalloway reflects on the past. The novel follows the thoughts of several characters through the style of a stream of consciousness - their inner worlds are the plot. MY REFLECTIONS  The style of writing immediately had me gripped. It's so unique. It took some getting used to though. I could easily understand someone giving up on it. I first kept re-reading parts to make sure I'd...

GENRE: Contemporary fiction. Japanese literature.  FIRST PUBLISHED: Shogakukan Inc, 2010. My copy - Manilla Press, 2023. READING TIME: Approximately 3 hours, 45 minutes.  THEMES: Family. Books/reading. Bookshops. Love. Loss. Healing from heartbreak. Trauma. Relationships.  PURCHASED FROM:  Waterstones PLOT: Takako is a young, heartbroken woman who unwillingly goes to live with her uncle Satoru in a secondhand bookshop, Jimbocho, Tokyo. She comes to love the bookshop and reconnects with her uncle, whilst forming friendships with the locals, all of which lead her to healing, maturity, and a fresh start. MY REFLECTIONS:  The overall atmosphere of the book is one of heartwarming cosiness. Sadly I couldn't connect with Takako or the other characters. I found them all very bland and lacking in personality. Takako is in her twenties but seems more like a teenager, and due to this the story has coming of age vibes about it. Despite some of the heavy themes it's a light ...