Book Review - 'Daughters' by Elizabeth Buchan

From the back cover:

It is a truth universally acknowledged that all mothers want to see their daughters happily settled.

But for Lara, mother to Maudie and stepmother to Jasmine and Eve, realizing this ambition is proving far from easy.

With Eve's upcoming wedding, Lara has enough to worry about, without also contending with an ex-husband embarking on a new marriage and the surprising, late-blooming developments in her own love life.

And when she begins to fear that Eve is marrying a man who will only make her unhappy, and Maudie reveals something that shocks the entire family, Lara faces the ultimate dilemma. Does she step in and risk the wrath of her daughters? Or does she stand by and watch them both make what she fears will be the biggest mistakes of their lives?

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I had never heard of Elizabeth Buchan's work but one day in the supermarket (where I seem to buy too many books when I have only popped in for milk) I saw this book and the back grabbed my attention. The family set up seemed complex and the subject matter of life changes intrigued me.

The family set up is indeed complex and well explained. Lara meets Bill who has two daughters from a previous marriage and they marry and have a daughter of their own. When the marriage breaks down unusually Lara keeps her stepchildren and raises the three girls in her house. Because of the marriage breakdown and the children/stepchildren mix, the relationships can be difficult and tense. Lots of resentment, lots of old hurts and lots of honesty in the writing.

Most of the book is written from Lara's point of view (in third person) and it was enlightening and humbling to read from what I guess would be my mum's point of view. The heartache and worry you experience when your children are finding their way in the world is something I have not experienced yet but I thought of my mum often when reading.

The women in this book are the focal point but the men in their lives are obviously important. Their attitudes and the way they are portrayed isn't overly flattering (apart from Lara's new love interest) but I think maybe this was done to show how important the relationships with other women were in the character's lives. I might be wrong but that is my interpretation!

I am not sure I am 100% happy with some aspects of the ending but in truth, the ending is probably the most realistic. Once I was a few chapters in I was engrossed and I love a book that makes me think about my own life and relationships. You can learn more about Elizabeth Buchan's work here.

ROW80 Check-in 27th May 2012

Ok, not a perfect week but a better week.

My goals are:
1) By 11th of June have a finished first draft of my WIP.
2) Test mile - 250 words a day. (1,750 words in a week)
3) Read two books a week for 100+ reading challenge (or as much as I can!).
4) Review one book a month.
Here is how my week has looked.

Monday
Wrote 301 words

Tuesday
Wrote 325 words

Wednesday
Wrore 253 words

Sunday
Wrote 532 words

I am aware there are three days missing but am focusing on the positives! Since I wrote double my word count today let's count that as Thursday's words. I was away with my Unversity friends for the weekend and I could have written on the train so I have no excuse but I had an amazing time in the sun, drinking pimms and putting the world to rights so I am happy.

Word count total is.....1,411! 339 short of my goal but alot more words than previous weeks. I kind of made some sprints but often came in after they had started to just jumped in and made my presence known later! Love the sprints and hope to make some this week.

So goal wise...
1) I am getting there with my WIP and am on track to finish by the 11th of June.

2)  Writing on four days is an improvement but next week I am aiming for seven!

3) I am reading book number 37 but should be finishing book 42 so still ground to make up. After this week I am on a week's break from work so should have lots of reading time although my niece or nephew is due and let's face it, baby cuddling is more important!

4) Book review. Not done yet but still 4 more days of May.

Feeling much more positive this end and thank you so much for all your comments. I really do appreciate them. I hope everyone has had a productive and happy week :)

Row80 Check-in 20th May 2012

One of these days my friends I am sure I will check-in and actually achieve all my goals. Like I used to....remember those good old days? Well this week hasn't seen much more success through one reason or another. On Monday I sat down and wrote 279 words and that is all I have written this week. Many reasons why, I won't bore you with them now but getting into the habit of daily writing is proving hard at the moment.

I have thought alot about why I am struggling to make myself sit down and write and yes work is busy but it is only going to get busier. I think it is because I am heading towards writing The End and I kind of know I am rushing it as well as heading into my first ever time editing something which terrifies me.

But I have a plan.

I have two more weeks of School and then a week off (side bar - when my niece or nephew is due!) and then after that the first few weeks of school are all consuming with reports to write for each child, sports' day to organise and practise for, parents evenings, new children visiting amongst other things! Therefore after said week off I am no doubt going to struggle to write but doesn't everyone say once you write The End you should leave your WIP alone for a while? So really that would be a natural break. So really I need to finish my WIP in the next three weeks.

I am DETERMINED to do this!!

It seems mad since my writing has been so patchy but I am putting it out there, declaring my intent and I know you will all be supportive and I really feel like I can do it!

So, my slightly changed goals (note the lack of exercise.....)

1) By 11th of June have a finished first draft of my WIP.
2) Test mile - 250 words a day. (1,750 words in a week)
3) Read two books a week for 100+ reading challenge (or as much as I can!).
4) Review one book a month.
I am reading book 36 of the year and technically should be finishing book number 40 today so a bit behind but still in the game!! I was thinking of reviewing Insurgent for my May book but I am sooooo worried about accidently spoiling it even if I am careful so I will pick another book.

Oooooh....I just realised it is my blog's first birthday on the 13th of June! Finishing my WIP before then would be a lovely birthday present!!

I hope everyone is fully in the swing of the round by now and I look forward to chekcing out how everyone is getting on!

ROW80 13th May 2012

Well there isn't much to say but I thought I should check-in so I don't go completely off the rails!

Recap of goals:
1) By end of the round have a finished first draft of my WIP. 
2) Test mile - 250 words a day. (1,750 words in a week)
3) Read two books a week for 100+ reading challenge. 
4) Review one book a month. 
5) Exercise twice a week.  

So...

Monday started well and I sat down and the words poured out so I wrote well above my test mile at 449 words.

On Tuesday I wrote 276 words so still met my test mile. But man, these words were hard to get down and seemed to take me ages but I persevered.

On Wednesday I was out and stayed out much later than expected so nothing was done. Then Thursday I was shattered from Wednesday and had work work to do in the evening. On Friday I was out and yesterday I was out. Gosh that just seems like a stream of excuses.

I must have had time to write as I read on these days but I just didn't. Sigh.

So I did write a tiny bit but not enough and I really am closing in on the end of my WIP so I can't work out why I am not more motivated. Maybe it is the fear of finishing and having to deal with editing. Who knows! But I hope this week I write more, at least my test mile everyday.

I am reading book 35 of my challenge (which is Insurgent by Veronica Roth which may be my book review this month, I am loving it already!) and I should be finishing book 38 today so I am a few behind but there is a lot of the year left!

Exercise. Let's not go there.

So very mixed bag week and I hope to get into a better routine this week.
I hope you have all had good weeks!!!

ROW80 Check-in (late!) 7th May 2012

Not a lot to report again. I feel I have lost my way slightly this round through one thing and another but I am going to get back on track. I REALLY AM!!!

Goals are as before:

1) By end of the round have a finished first draft of my WIP. 
2) Test mile - 250 words a day. (1,750 words in a week)
3) Read two books a week for 100+ reading challenge. 
4) Review one book a month. 
5) Exercise twice a week.  


Today is a new day and I am aiming to get back on track starting with my 250 words test mile. I haven't written in weeks since I got that bug and was wiped out for a week or so. My laptop is still poorly so good old pen and paper for me which is fine as I was writing in a notepad anyway the last couple of months.


I have read lots though although think I am still behind where I should be for the 100 books in a year challenge. I am currently reading book 33 of the year. As it is already May that seems further behind than I should be! Eeeeek! But there is time :) Must stay positive.


I hope everyone is doing well and I am sorry I have been so absent recently but without a laptop I am struggling as my phone can only do so much!!!


Fingers crossed next time I beg, borrow or steal a laptop I will have more to report!! Have a great week!

Book review - About Last Night by Adele Parks

From the back cover:

"HOW FAR WOULD YOU GO TO SAVE YOUR BEST FRIEND?

For thirty years, best friends Steph and Pip have been through thick and thin. Selfless and trusting, there's nothing they would not do for one another. Until a few simple words change everything.

'I need you to say that I was with you.'

Steph, eternally solid and dependable, is begging her friend to lie to the police as she's desperately trying to conceal not one but two scandalous secrets to protect her family. Pip, self-consigned to the role of scatty hot-head, is overwhelmed; she's normally the one asking for help in a crisis.

Steph's perfect life will be torn apart unless Pip agrees to this lie. But lying will jeopardise everything Pip's recently achieved after years of struggle. It's a big ask.

SO WHAT WOULD YOU DO?"

The question 'what would I do?' ran through my head constantly as I read this book and even after finishing it I am still not sure what I would do. I found it hard to put it down especially towards the end when the emotions were running high. The story feels a very honest portrayal of many women's friendships covering the love, resentment, obligations and care many relationships involve. What I enjoy about Adele Parks' books is that she doesn't shy away from these more ugly sides to us humans. Who can honestly say they have never resented a friend, been jealous or felt obliged? Because these ugly but real emotions are dealt with often I find some of the characters difficult to like but that makes it all the more real for me. To be annoyed by someone in a book is a wonderful thing to me!

About halfway through the book I decided it would be my April review. From that point on I kept half a mind on why I was enjoying it and what I felt was working so well and I think part of the answer is the detail. Each character has clear characteristics that are sewn in amongst the plot. It makes them more human and allows you to know the characters and visualise them clearly in your head.

An example I like of this involves Steph's father on page 354:

'He never came downstairs without showering and dressing first, not even on Christmas 

morning. Steph had never seen him in his pyjamas, except once when he was bed-

bound with a particularly vicious bout of flu. His rule was that once up, you should get 

dressed, open the curtains and, ideally, go for a walk; he believed each day should be 

greeted with some enthusiasm.'

All these little details and anecdotes make for well-rounded characters and it hit me smack between the eyes that I don't know my characters as well as this and I am nearing the end of my WIP. This is something I really need to work on and I knew it but I was ignoring it. It is all a learning curve though so I am not going to worry! I will save that until the editing stage.

Since publishing her first book in 2000 Adele Parks has published a book a year, how inspiring is that? To me that is the dream. To be focused enough to produce interesting, heartfelt stories year after year. I am so excited that her next book (according to the Bonus Material at the end of this book) is set in Dartmouth, the town in which I live! I cannot wait to see what she makes of this beautiful place.

If you like novels that focus on relationships of all kinds and have challenging and interesting characters you should really check out any of Adele Parks' books. Each one I have read I have enjoyed and they make me think long after I have finished them. 

A link to her website can be found here.

ROW80 Check-in 25th April 2012

Well I haven't an awful lot to check in about today as this time last week I had just come down with a horrible bug that wiped me out for a good three or four days. All my best laid plans and motivations went out the window and I spent all my time in bed dozing and watching television. I didn't feel up to reading. Now you know how bad it was! Not only was I poorly but my laptop has been all kinds of crazy and I just finished a two hour restore which fingers crossed has solved the problem!

So my lovely goals haven't happened. They were:
1) By end of the round have a finished first draft of my WIP. 
2) Test mile - 250 words a day. (1,750 words in a week)
3) Read two books a week for 100+ reading challenge. 
4) Review one book a month. 
5) Exercise twice a week.  

So none of these happened but it is ok because I was poorly and was experiencing technical difficulties. I have just finished a book though so have read 30 books so far this year!!! I did write a book review last week before everything hit the fan so will publish that after this check-in so I guess I can tick that one off. See, all is not lost!!! It is of Adele Park's latest book 'About Last Night' so check it out.

I hope to be back on the wagon tomorrow atleast with my test mile and hopefully will join in with some sprints. Onwards and upwards!