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The Remains of the Day Book Review

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The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro Published 1989 Publisher Faber and Faber Pages 254 ISBN  978-0-571-15310-7 I'm reading this simply because some of my students have chosen it as part of their independent study. I'm not completely ignorant of Kazuo Ishiguro- I know he is an acclaimed writer, several of his novels been adapted fir film- I have indeed bought to of his previous novel (again on my to be read shelf!) But this is the first Ishiguro I have attempted to read and Oh what a start! It certainly won't be the last! If you have an foreign friends who are nostalgic for the taste of the quaint English countryside or are sentimental about bygone day then this si the novel for you. Written by an author who came to England from Japan at the age of 6- not only does he capture English culture perfectly- but manages to capture it during post-WW1 and pre-WW2. An amazing feat for anyone! We experience the culture of lif
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Does Love Endure All?

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Enduring Love by Ian McEwan Ian McEwan, Enduring Love Published 1997 Publisher Johnathon Cape Pages 247 ISBN:  9780099276586 This book has been on my bookshelf for quite some time. When it came out in 1997 a lot of my friends recommended it to me- warning me it wouldn't be what I expected.Time went on books came and went, as they do- then, whilst I was perusing through my bookshelves I came across it again and thought now's the time. It's only a slim novella and really doesn't take much time to read- but it's oh so worth it! The title is cleverly misleading as we begin to question will love endure, what does love have to endure even, should love have to endure. Can love withstand any test? Should you stay with someone just because you think you should? What happens when the trust is gone? I know these questions might seem strange but, trust me, when you read it all will make sense. Protagonist, Joe, is a wonderfully quirky character who at first se
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To Be Read!

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Who's on your list? I was on Good Reads taking a look at some other blog posts and came across this; top 100 books to read before you die! Click Here Actually I was quite impressed that I've read many of the books in the top 15, no easy feat with a full time job! But it got me thinking. Which books have been gathering dust on my bookshelf, lying unread? Which books have I always thought, when I've got time I'm going to give that a go?  Hmmm... Recently one that keeps coming back to me is Margaret Mitchell's 'Gone With the Wind.' On the  BookBugs  shop we had a beautiful hardback vintage copy with its dust jacket in tact with beautiful art work on it. Another book that I thought I'll be sad to see this go. No surprise it was only on the shop a few weeks and was sold to an American buyer before I'd even had a chance to sniff the pages!  The wonderful image of the Southern Belle, the damsel in obstinate distress that was Vivienne Leigh in the w
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Tin Man by Sarah Winman- book review!

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Sarah Winman Tin Man- Book Review A short but emotional read following the narrative journey of Ellis, a shy, young boy discovering his own body, sexuality and identity in this heart warming tale of love and romance. Sarah Winman Tin Man 2017 Publisher Tinder Press ISBN 9 78-0735218727 226 Pages Not quite the book I thought it was going to be. After reading Sarah Winman's 'When God was A Rabbit,' I was looking forward to another nostalgic tale. This one I didn't see coming. Exploring the difficulties of accepting homosexuality and the AIDs epidemic of the 1980s in London, my heart went out to the poor, trapped, character of Micheal on his journey for acceptance.  This is not a straightforward love story. It's hard and it's real.  Combined with Winman's talent for creating realistic characters, Ellis and Micheal were two I came to really care about and wanted to meet in real life! The haunting description of the AIDs ward in a London Hospit
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Small Great Things by Jodie Picoult- Book Review!

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A Small Great Novel! Wow! I'm probably the last of my friends to read this epic novel but I can tell you it was well worth the wait! Jodie Picoult Small Great Things 2016 Publisher Hodder and Stoughton ISBN: 9781444788037 500 pages If Harper Lee's 'To Kill a Mockingbird' were to have a book baby with Kathryn Stockett's 'The Help' this is what their beautiful offspring would look like..gasp! Written in 2016 and set in contemporary New York, Picoult creates a range of realistic narratives exploring the somewhat uncomfortable truth of race between black and white professionals in New York State. Beautifully marrying historical events in a graceful, sensitive way, we follow lead character Ruth on her journey for the truth. Her trial is shocking and frustrating, and genuinely left me emotionally battered as I felt I lived through each tormented question Ruth did. Lawyer Kennedy works hard to defend the label of baby killer in a case that is wrapped
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