This Is How We Are Human by Louise Beech @louisewriter BLOG TOUR @OrendaBooks #ThisIsHowWeAreHuman #JubilantJune

 

Sebastian James Murphy is twenty years, six months and two days old. He loves swimming, fried eggs and Billy Ocean. Sebastian is autistic. And lonely.

Veronica wants her son Sebastian to be happy … she wants the world to accept him for who he is. She is also thinking about paying a professional to give him what he desperately wants.

Violetta is a high-class escort, who steps out into the night thinking only of money. Of her nursing degree. Paying for her dad’s care. Getting through the dark.

When these three lives collide – intertwine in unexpected ways – everything changes. For everyone.

A topical and moving drama about a mother’s love for her son, about getting it wrong when we think we know what’s best, about the lengths we go to care for family … to survive … This Is How We Are Human is a searching, rich and thought-provoking novel with an emotional core that will warm and break your heart.

This Is How We Are Human by Louise Beech is published in paperback by Orenda Books on 10 June 2021. My thanks to the publisher who sent my copy for review for this Blog Tour 

I have read every book that Louise Beech has had published. I have loved them all, some more than others, but every single one of them is made up of the most beautiful prose, and the most magnificently created characters. 

She's an author who cannot be put into a box. Her stories slip into multiple genre, she weaves a magic with words that is utterly astounding. 

I read This Is How We Are Human in one weekend, hardly raising my eyes from the page during that time. I have a new favourite Louise Beech novel, and it's this one. It is exactly what I want in a book.

Sebastian James Murphy and his mother Veronica live in Hull. They are the world to each other. When the story opens Sebastian is aged twenty years, six months and two days. Sebastian really wants to have sex but no girl that he knows would consider having a relationship with him. Sebastian is autistic. Apart from his mother, his life revolves around his love of Billy Ocean, swimming, fish and a daily portion of fried eggs; cooked perfectly, just as he likes them, by Veronica. 

Veronica is devastated by Sebastian's longings. Whilst he is handsome, with beautiful eyes and a body that is toned from his swimming, as soon as he begins a conversation, woman retreat. Veronica is also scared. She's scared that Sebastian will do something terrible, despite her efforts to talk to him about consent. Veronica decides that the only way forward is for her to pay someone to have sex with her son. 

This is not a decision that she takes lightly. 

Violetta works nights as an escort. She's with a reputable agency, she's not a sex worker who picks up men from the streets. Violetta is not her real name. By day, she is someone else. She is someone with responsibilities and a strong sense of loyalty. Escort work is her only choice. 

Sebastian and Violetta's worlds collide, with Veronica playing an integral part in the blossoming relationship. Things do not work out how any of them imagined. 

This is a beautifully written story, told with sensitivity and with wit. There are people who will say that only #OwnVoice writers should tell a story such as this, and whilst I totally respect that movement, this author has made it very clear that she worked closely with a friend who has a son who is autistic when she created this novel. 

It is daring and brave. All too often, the issue of sex is swept under the carpet when we read fiction about people with a disability. It's almost as though it's a taboo issue, but honestly, this is how we are human ... we are all human, and Sebastian is most certainly human. 

This is not just a story about a twenty year old who would like sex. It is also an exploration of relationships; those within the family, and also how other relationships form, especially if someone is a little different. I had so much compassion for Veronica. She is the ultimate mother, putting her own needs aside to ensure that her beloved boy has everything he possibly can to live his life to the full. She has some difficult, quite tragic scenes within the story. Telling Sebastian that he can no longer attend his swimming lessons, because he is an adult now and it's not appropriate for him to be naked around children is heartbreaking to read. 

Violetta too has her own intimate story; one of hope, and sadness, tinged with a sense of shame and then with a feeling of not believing in herself when long held secrets are exposed. 

Wonderfully moving, emotional and very thought provoking. A book to savour and love. Highly recommended. 

Louise Beech is an exceptional literary talent, whose debut novel How To Be Brave was a Guardian Reader’s Choice in 2015. 

The sequel, The Mountain in My Shoe, was shortlisted for the Not the Booker Prize. 

Both of her previous books Maria in the Moon and The Lion Tamer Who Lost were widely reviewed, critically acclaimed and number-one bestsellers on Kindle. 

The Lion Tamer Who Lost was shortlisted for the RNA Most Popular Romantic Novel Award in 2019. Her 2019 novel Call Me Star Girl won Best Magazine’s Book of the Year, and was followed by a ghost-story cum psychological thriller set in a theatre, I Am Dust. 

Louise lives with her husband on the outskirts of Hull – the UK’s 2017 City of Culture – and loves her job as Front of House Usher at Hull Truck Theatre, where her first play was performed in 2012. 

Follow Louise on Twitter @LouiseWriter and visit her website: louisebeech.co.uk.

Winter People by Gráinne Murphy BLOG TOUR @GraMurphy #WinterPeople @Legend_Times_ #BookReview

 

The wild Atlantic coast of Ireland.

Three strangers.

One question: who are we without the people who love us?

Sis Cotter has lived her whole life in a small house by her beloved beach. Here, she grew up, reared her family, and buried her husband. Now her children are far away and, in three days, her house will be taken from her.

Next door, Lydia has withdrawn from her husband, her friends, her life. She watches the sea as her own private penance for a wrong she can never put right.

Peter’s best friend is dying, and his long-time foster mother is slowly forgetting who he is. Adrift without his two anchors, and struggling with the ethics of displacing people for a living, he looks for something to remind him of who he is and who he wants to be.

Winter People is a story of forgiveness, resilience, and the power of the sea to unlock what we are most afraid to say.

Winter People by Gráinne Murphy was published on 12 October 2022 by Legend Press. My thanks to the publisher who sent my copy for review as part of this Blog Tour. 

I read and reviewed Where The Edge Is by Gráinne Murphy (also published by Legend Press) a couple of years ago and loved it so very much. I was delighted to be offered a pre-publication of this, her latest novel by the publisher.

A short novel at around 260 pages, this is a story that tears at the heart. It is quite incredible how this author can create such beauty from such sadness and pain, yet she does, on every page. The words of lyrical and wonderfully woven, the characters are complex, sometimes flawed, often bitter and always a joy to discover, This really is some of the finest story telling that I've come across for years. 

The three lead characters tell their own stories, we hear their voices, their innermost thoughts, their doubts and their regrets. Sis, Lydia and Peter do not have much to be joyful about, and whilst they are not really know to one another, their lives are linked by circumstance, and by the wonderfully described landscape of the are in which they live. I do have to mention the incredible portrayal of the wild Atlantic coastline of Ireland, for this adds so much to the story; the burden of the ever changing and uncontrollable weather adds to the personal struggles of each character and it is done with such style and ease. 

Sis Cotter has lived in her cottage by the beach for many many years. Alone now, with just her dog for company, her children are scattered through the world, her husband is dead. Sis had a long marriage, but the legacy of her husband's behaviour means that her twilight years will not be as she had hoped. Her children are abrupt and appear uncaring, with her daughters holding grudges about their childhood and her son is such a disappointment. 

Lydia is a young woman in the Blue House nearby to Sis. Lydia does not leave the house, her only contact with the outside world are regular, difficult phone calls with her mother, long and silent calls to her estranged husband and the deliveries of prescriptions and groceries from the nearby town. As Lydia's story progresses, the reader learns about her overwhelming feelings of guilt, and how she hates herself. We are witness to her thoughts and what she would like to say to Mary; a woman whose life Lydia has altered for ever. 

Peter is possibly the quietest of the characters, yet the story of his background is so very powerful. As he goes to work each day, removing people from the homes that they've lost, he thinks about his own early years, and how he came to find a home. Peter's best friend is dying, yet he struggles to know how to deal with this, he cannot bring himself to phone, or to visit. Berating himself throughout the story, yet eventually doing what he knows is for the best. 

Three wonderfully created characters with voices that are unique and realistic, in a setting that conjures up amazing imagery and adds such depth to the whole novel. 

This is a stunning, tender and compassionate story that will stay with me for a long time. 

Gráinne grew up in rural west Cork, Ireland. 

At university she studied Applied Psychology and Forensic Research. 

In 2011 she moved with her family to Brussels for 5 years. 

She has now returned to West Cork, working as a self-employed language editor specialising in human rights and environmental issues. 

Twitter: @GraMurphy 

IG: @gramurphywriter

#Giveaway Three Signed Books ~ The Real Press @TheRealPressPub #MadToBeNormal

I'm delighted to be working with The Real Press today on Random Things, and am offering a set of three signed non-fiction books. 
The books are biographies and all link in with the promotion of the new book from The Real Press; Ronald Laing: The Rise and Fall and Rise of the Revolutionary Psychiatrist.

The publication of this book coincides with the release of a film of a snapshot of Laing's life at the height of his fame and controversy, Mad to be Normal, which is released in the UK on 6th April and stars David Tennant. The book covers Laing's life and brings to life the 1960s and 70s when he had reached a level of notoriety.

Entry is simple. Just fill out the competition widget at the end of this post to be in with a chance to win SIGNED copies of the following books.  UK ENTRIES ONLY PLEASE

Good Luck!

Ronald Laing: The Rise and Fall and Rise of the Radical Psychiatrist - The radical psychiatrist R. D. Laing took the world by storm in the 1960s and 1970s with his ideas about madness, families and people’s need for authenticity. At the height of his fame this fascinating man could fill stadiums like Bob Dylan, and often did so. Then he fell from grace, flung out of the medical profession. Yet, despite this, his influence is still everywhere - but largely unnoticed and unremarked.  This book tells the remarkable human story of his life and his struggles, first with the authorities as a psychiatrist in the army and then a series of mental hospitals, and sets it in the vivid context of the psychedelic 1960s and 70s.  It looks at what we can still learn from Laing today - he still has an unexpectedly potent message. 

The Secret History of the Jungle Book - The Jungle Book has captured the imaginations of successive generations by bringing the Indian jungles alive.  But there is a mystery at the heart of the book. There is a tale hidden in the very conception of the book and its characters, for Kipling was intricately enriching his Mowgli stories with the symbolism of Indian mythology.  How did an Englishman, dismissed as an imperialist, who wrote the books in Vermont, and is credited with believing that “East is East and West is West/And never the twain shall meet”, manage to conjure such authenticity from a mixture of Indian folk tales and dialect words, and weave them into such a magical and compelling mixture? It isn’t just that Kipling spent so long in India or that he felt so at home there. This book tells the real story behind Mowgli, Shere Khan and Baloo and the Jungle itself. Anyone who loved the characters and adored the Jungle Books as children needs to read Swati Singh’s journey into the soul of Kipling, and his own journey into the soul of India. Do that, and you will open up the real meaning of the Jungle Book. 

Scandal: How Homosexuality Became a Crime - The strange story of how homosexuality came to be criminalised in 1885, a story that takes us from the notorious Dublin Scandal to the unique moment of fear - now largely forgotten - after Oscar Wilde's arrest. The events involved the author's ancestor, who he traces from prominence in Dublin to an escape in disguise to a secret life in Camberwell in London in the 1890s.  But even in London, he wasn’t safe, escaping a second time ten years later in a moment of fear that was unprecedented in modern British history that swept through the gay community.  This book explains how the events of those years led to the persecution of tens of thousands over the next eight decades. It looks at the strange story behind that decision, and the furore that tore apart Irish society in 1884, and how the roots of the whole business lie in the furious world of Irish politics after the Phoenix Park murders. This is a ground-breaking book, part history part detective story, that looks back at the moment society turned on homosexuality with such venom, and why it happened.

Three Signed Books from The Real Press

The Real Press  We publish short books, ebooks and print on demand books that fit with our values and philosophy, and which seem likely to encourage debate about what really matters. These are available on Amazon and elsewhere, but also here in the shop.

THE STORY SO FAR...

We are not numbers. We are not cogs. We are not pixels.

The Real Press is dedicated to publishing books, in all genres, that point beyond the present technocracy that reduces human beings to one-dimensional machines.

We aim, in a small way, to publish books which we really believe in – whether they are works of fiction, non-fiction, poetry or anything else. It is dedicated to human beings, as they really are, uncategorisable, imaginative, spiritual . . .

www.therealpress.co.uk

Facebook: The Real Press

Twitter @TheRealPressPub

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One by Eve Smith BLOG TOUR #One @evecsmith @OrendaBooks #climateemergency #thriller #BookReview

One law. One child. Seven million crimes…

 A cataclysmic climate emergency has spawned a one-child policy in the UK, ruthlessly enforced by a totalitarian regime. Compulsory abortion of 'excess' pregnancies and mandatory contraceptive implants are now the norm, and families must adhere to strict consumption quotas as the world descends into chaos.

 Kai is a 25-year-old 'baby reaper', working for the Ministry of Population and Family Planning. If any of her assigned families attempt to exceed their child quota, she ensures they pay the price.

 Until, one morning, she discovers that an illegal sibling on her Ministry hit-list is hers. And to protect her parents from severe penalties, she must secretly investigate before anyone else finds out.

 Kai's hunt for her forbidden sister unearths much more than a dark family secret. As she stumbles across a series of heinous crimes perpetrated by the people she trusted most, she makes a catastrophic discovery that could bring down the government … and tear her family apart.

One by Eve Smith is published on 20 July 2023 by Orenda. My thanks to the publisher who sent my copy for review as part of this Blog Tour 

I am a huge fan of speculative / dystopian fiction. The Handmaid's Tale has been my favourite book for over 30 years, and what I love most about novels such as these is that as time moves on, and the world changes, these books become more and more believable. 

Eve Smith's third novel is another story to both educate and horrify the reader. It is set around 60 years on from the present day and the UK has been ruled by the ONE Party for the last fifty years. The ONE party has core ethics that, on paper, appear to be sensible and caring toward mankind, and the planet. On closer inspection we find that what they've really done is to impose cruel and often misery making policies on the population. 

Each person has a resource quota, and the party can see exactly how this has been used. They know when and where people travel to and how much they eat, and what energy is used in their homes. Technology has advanced and bots are the norm; working alongside humans, and there are even bots that can be kept as household pets. 

The biggest and most important policy is the one-child policy. We know that this is not a new thing, we know that countries have done this in the past (look how that worked out!), but the UK have taken this a mighty leap further. First babies are welcomed, but a second pregnancy will be aborted .. these abortions are often forced and traumatic. There's also a mandatory contraceptive implant that all women are expected to endure. 

This is where lead character Kai fits in. She works for the Ministry of Populations and Family Planning. She is dedicated to her job, she is totally loyal to the ONE party. She spends her working hours tracking down second pregnancies and ensuring that they are terminated. 

Until the day that she recognises one of the DNA profiles assigned to her, and realises that she has a sister. Her parents must be arrested for the crime that they've hidden for over twenty years, and Kai must come to terms with the fact that her Mum and Dad are not who she's always thought they were. 

This leads to a tension filled, superbly written thriller that will chill the reader to their bones. As Kai discovers more about her family, and realises that her sister Senka is considered to be state enemy number one, her world unravels around her. She has always been dedicated to the Government and their policies, but there are things that she uncovers that prove that she, and millions of others have been lied to, for years. 

Whilst this is speculative fiction, it feels so very relevant. Eve Smith's knowledge of climate change is extraordinary and her ability to weave this into such a fine piece of fiction is brilliant.  It's not only about the damage done to the planet itself, there's the issue of migration and how the ONE Party treat migrants. The terrible conditions that they are kept in, the lack of basic human rights, the determination to send the boats back, or to send those people to other lands  ..... sound familiar?  Yes, I thought so. 

I live in Lincolnshire, not far from the coast, and we know that in years to come this area will not exist, it will be part of the sea. Some of this story is set here, and to read the stunning and terrifying descriptions of places that I know so well, such as Horncastle, Gunby and of course Skegness is horrifying .. they are no longer thriving towns and villages, they are just memories. Drowned by the sea, and all because of what we have done. 

This would be the perfect book for a book group discussion. I feel as though I want to say so much more about it, but I try not to write long reviews and the author has written such a gripping and authentic story. It is not my place to go into every detail ... but please anyone who has read it, do contact me, we need to talk! 

A powerful, masterful and incredibly important novel that should be read by everyone. Packed with characters that you can empathise with, even if you don't actually like them.  Eve Smith is a visionary story teller, her book is addictive and chilling. Highly recommended by me. 

Eve Smith writes speculative thrillers, mainly about the things that scare her. 

Longlisted for the Not the Booker Prize and described by Waterstones as ‘an exciting new voice in crime fiction’, Eve’s debut novel, The Waiting Rooms, set in the aftermath of an antibiotic resistance crisis, was shortlisted for the Bridport Prize First Novel Award and was a Book of the Month in the Guardian, who compared her writing to Michael Crichton’s. 

It was followed by Off-Target, about a world where genetic engineering of children is routine. 

Eve’s previous job at an environmental charity took her to research projects across Asia, Africa and the Americas, and she has an ongoing passion for wild creatures, wild science and far-flung places. 

She lives in Oxfordshire with her family.

www.evesmithauthor.com

Twitter @evecsmith

Instagram @evesmithauthor

My Top Books of 2017 . #AmReading #BookBlogger #TopBooks2017

Here we are again! The end of the year and another list. It doesn't seem like five minutes ago that I was compiling my list for last year. Once again, it's been an incredibly tough list to put together.

I've read around 160 books this year, and enjoyed almost all of them.  I don't tend to finish books that I'm not enjoying, and only feature books on Random Things if I've enjoyed them and would recommend them.  This makes things so much tougher for me when it comes to choosing my top books of the year though, but here goes.

I'm splitting my post into three. I'm going to start with some of the 2017 books that I read in 2016, I mentioned them last year and predicted that they would be huge, I think I was right.

The second part of my post is my list of Top Books of 2017; I tried so hard to get this down to twenty books, but failed, so there's a few more on there, but honestly, they are all great. I recommend each and every one of them.  For the first time ever, I've actually placed a Number One Book, something I usually don't do, but this book just captured my heart and as much as I loved the others on the this, this one is very special.

Finally, I'll give a mention to some 2018 publications that I've read early. All I can say is that if these are anything to go by, 2018 is going to be an awesome book year!

Thanks for continuing to support Random Things over the past twelve months, I hope you enjoy my choices and I look forward to bringing lots more recommendations over the next year.

2017 Books that I predicted would be huge ...

At the end of last year, I'd read these 2017 books pre-publication, and predicted that they would do well. I'm still recommending them, twelve months later.  (click on the title for my full review)

Good Me, Bad Me by Ali Land: Published by Penguin in hardback on 12 January 2017, and in paperback on 12 August 2017

Rattle by Fiona Cummins: Published by Pan Macmillan in hardback on 26 January 2017, and in paperback on 24 August 2017

The Keeper of Lost Things by Ruth Hogan: Published by Two Roads in hardback on 26 January 2017, and in paperback on 10 August 2017

Swimming Lessons by Claire Fuller: Published by Fig Tree in hardback on 26 January 2017, and in paperback on 9 January 2018

The Damselfly by SJI Holliday: Published by Black & White Publishing on 2 February 2017

The Two O Clock Boy by Mark Hill: Published by Sphere on 6 April 2017

My Top Reads of 2017

My Top Reads of the year are listed in order of reading. The list contains some favourite authors who pop up year after year, and also some debuts. I think it's a great list, with something for everyone. I heartily recommend all of these books.  (click on the title for my full review)

Quieter Than Killing by Sarah Hilary:  Published by Headline in hardback on 9 March 2017 and in paperback on 5 October.  Sarah Hilary's DI Marnie Rome series is one of my all-time favourite series and makes a welcome return to my Top Reads list."A complex story, with layers of reason and intertwined stories, yet it is absolutely compulsive. Once you start, you will find it very difficult to put down.
Sharp, ingenious, astonishingly good, crime fiction really doesn't get better than this."

Into The Water by Paula Hawkins: Published by Doubleday / Transworld in hardback on 2 May 2017 and in paperback on 3 May 2018. 

"So so dark, yet stylish and slick. Into The Water gripped me, twisted me and totally consumed me. Absorbing, moody and atmospheric. I loved it."

Watch Me and Trust Me by Angela Clarke: Both published by Avon Books; Watch Me on 12 January 2017 and Trust Me on 15 June 2017

"Angela Clarke is an absolutely cracking author, her writing grips, her plot lines are ingenious and her characters are fabulous."

What She Lost by Susan Elliot Wright: Published in paperback by Simon & Schuster on 9 March 2017.

"The human emotion is conveyed so precisely, this really is a wonderfully observed story. I loved it and would recommend it highly."

The American Girl by Rachael English: Published by Hachette Ireland in April 2017 and to be published in paperback on 4 January 2018

"The web of mystery is tantalisingly revealed, the characterisation is wonderful. Filled with sorrow, joy and tenderness and highly recommended by me."

Exquisite by Sarah Stovell: Published by Orenda Books on 15 June 2017 in paperback

"At times uncomfortable, often shocking, but always compelling.  Sarah Stovell is hugely talented, Exquisite is an absolute triumph."

You Don't Know Me by Imran Mahmood: Published by Michael Joseph in hardback on 4 May 2017, and in paperback on 19 April 2018

"You Don't Know Me is thrilling, daring and mesmeric. It is frightening, the author does not sugar-coat anything. The reader learns about the sordid and the cruel, alongside the dangers. It is a study in how young men can be influenced by those amongst them, about how easy it can be go from ordinary boy on the street to a man accused of murder."

Little Gold by Allie Rogers: Published by Legend Press in paperback on 2 May 2017

"I cannot recommend Little Gold highly enough. It really is a stunning first novel, full of love and beauty that masks darkness and pain. Incredibly accomplished. A truly fabulous story."

The Light We Lost by Jill Santopolo:Published by HQ in hardback on 18 May 2017, and in paperback on 27 March 2018 

"I have no doubt that The Light We Lost is going to be among my top reads of this year. It is a story that lingers in the mind, long after the final page is turned. It truly is quite beautiful."

Snow Sisters by Carol Lovekin: Published by Honno Welsh Women's Press in paperback on 21 September 2017

"Snow Sisters is complex and nuanced. There is tragedy yet there is so much love. This is a book to wallow in and linger over.  Highly highly recommended."

At First Light by Vanessa Lafaye: Published by Orion in hardback on 1 June 2017, and in paperback on 16 November 2017

"At First Light is absolutely wonderfully written, it is seductive, heart-breaking and compassionate. At times is it almost unbearably moving, but it is always compelling."

The Summer of Impossible Things by Rowan Coleman: Published by Ebury in hardback on 29 June 2017, and in paperback on 3 May 2018

"The Summer of Impossible Things is magical and captivating. The characters are superbly drawn and the 1970s New York setting is beguiling and entrancing. The essence of love seeps from the pages, it truly is a wonderful story."

Tin Man by Sarah Winman: Published by Tinder Press in hardback on 27 July 2017, and in paperback on 22 March 2018

"Tin Man is both heartbreaking and heartwarming, and as Ellis reveals his tragedy and then Michael relates his story, the sheer brilliance of this author's writing hits the reader. The skill and care taken in the creation of both the characters, and their story is outstanding, perceptive and quite frankly, stunning."

They All Fall Down by Tammy Cohen: Published by Black Swan / Transworld in paperback on 13 July 2017 

"I was both absorbed and at times disturbed, but always always completely consumed. This is another amazing story from one of my favourite authors."

Give Me The Child by Mel McGrath: Published by HQ on 27 July 2017, and in paperback on 25 January 2018

"This is not just a dark and delicious thriller, it is a book that raises serious questions. It is a story that will make the reader think about that question: 'Do we get the children we deserve?'"

Maria In The Moon by Louise Beech: Published by Orenda Books on 30 September 2017

"This is superb writing; a story that will stay with me for a long time and is extraordinarily written and presented. There are moments of unexpected beauty from richly complicated characters. It really is quite spellbinding."

Together by Julie Cohen: Published by Orion in hardback on 13 July 2017, and in paperback on 5 April 2018

"Beautifully, cleverly written, this is an epic love story that is magnificently crafted. The emotion is raw and tender, the characters are tremendous and the sense of place in both Maine and England is perfectly done.
Compulsive and unmissable. Heart breaking and heart warming and very highly recommended from me."

The Winter's Child by Cassandra Parkin: Published in paperback by Legend Press on 15 September 2017

"With surprises and twists along the way, The Winter's Child is a book that will stay with me for a long time.  This is the author's best book to date, I adored it."

Anything You Do Say by Gillian McAllister: Published by Penguin as an ebook on 19 October 2017, and in paperback on 25 January 2018

"Anything You Do Say is bold and original, the writing is razor sharp and the plotting is tight. Incredibly clever, I loved it."

The Foster Child by Jenny Blackhurst: Published by Headline in paperback on 16 November 2017.

"The Foster Child is deftly plotted and entirely believeable, it is meticulously crafted with a gradual unfolding leading to a jaw-dropping ending that delivers more than one shocking reveal."

Another Woman's Husband by Gill Paul: Published by Headline in paperback on 2 November 2017 

"Another Woman's Husband is so powerful, a story to lose yourself in and one that I will remember for a long time. What a triumph!"

The Boy Made of Snow by Chloe Mayer: Published by W&N in hardback on 2 November 2017, and in paperback on 4 October 2018

"The Boy Made of Snow is an ambitious debut novel from an author who is obviously so very talented. I have no more words; it's brilliant and I recommended it highly. It's a marvel."

Snare by Lilja Sigurdardottir: Published by Orenda Books in paperback on 1 October 2017

"Snare is incredible. I loved every single page; the setting, the characters and the intricately woven plot. I am delighted that Lilja Sigurdardottir has two more books to come in this fabulous new series.
Has to be in the running for my Top Books of 2017 list. Outstanding. I loved it."

The Year of Surprising Acts of Kindness by Laura Kemp: Published by Orion as an ebook on 1 December 2017 and in paperback on 22 February 2018

"This is a book of secrets and reveals, of community and kindness. There's love, and betrayal, and discovery, it's a parcel of wonder that will delight the most cold-hearted of reader. It's warm, funny and shows the importance of finding a place that you belong in, and people that will love you."

And so, I come to my final choice; my favourite book of last year. This is the first time that I've ever singled out a single book in my favourites list.

There is just something about this book; the writing, the characters, the plot. It has stayed with me ever since I turned the last page. I've shouted about it, recommended it, bought copies for others. I love it and I really hope you will too

A Thousand Paper Birds by Tor Udall: Published by Bloomsbury in hardback on 15 June 2017 and in paperback on 28 June 2018

"A Thousand Paper Birds is so so intricate, so very perfectly balanced. There's a touch of magical realism that fits so smoothly into the story and the author handles the delicate subjects of death and grief so very well. Whilst some of the characters may be ethereal, their stories and feelings are human and authentic.

Tor Udall takes the process of grieving and handles it with delicacy and ease. These relationships are rich and crafted so very well.

A beautiful beautiful novel that should be savoured and treasured, and will be remembered for a long time. Stunning, Just stunning."

Books to look out for in 2018 ....

I've already made a start on the 2018 books, and if the ones that I've read already are anything to go by, we are in for another outstanding book year.

Here are a few tips; books that I think will be huge next year. (click on the title to read my full review)

Anatomy of a Scandal by Sarah Vaughan: Published by Simon & Schuster on 11 January 2018

The Chalk Man by CJ Tudor: Published by Michael Joseph on 11 January 2018

The Confession by Jo Spain: Published by Quercus on 25 January 2018

Need To Know by Karen Cleveland: Published by Bantam / Transworld on 25 January 2018

Lullaby by Leila Slimani: Published by Faber on 18 January 2018

Right! That's me done!  I've also read a few other 2018 titles, but they've not appeared here on Random Things yet, so there's plenty to look forward to - reviews are coming soon!

Thanks for continuing to visit Random Things, and read and support, it's much appreciated.

Wishing you all a very Happy New Year, with lots of books and smiles.