It seems to me that despite an increased Uni workload and stress, I managed to finish a grand total of three books! Yay me!
Z: A Novel of Zelda Fitzgerald | Therese Anne Fowler
‘Z’ follows the Fitzgerald’s lives through Zelda’s eyes as they navigate their way through the early roaring 20’s and the jazz age, during which Zelda was dubbed ‘the world’s first Flapper’, and lived in seemingly wedded bliss. The novel also follows their strained relationship as they travelled through Europe and America, dealing with jealousy, the birth of their daughter Scottie, chronic alcoholism and depression in a world that begs them to join the excess and partying that ultimately leads to their downfall.
I’ve reviewed this book over at Blogger’s Bookshelf and overall I really enjoyed it. As a fictionalised version of the Fitzgerald’s lives, you can see Fowler’s has a little creative license when it comes to dramatising Scott and Zelda’s personalities and their relationships with each other and those around them. I did, however, really enjoy Fowler’s portrayal of Zelda’s voice, capturing the euphoria of young love and heartbreak of Zelda’s damaged, broken yet fiercely independent mind. Recommended for those who loved Gatsby and want to know a little more about the woman who became the muse of one the literary figures.
The Book Thief | Markus Zusak
It’s 1939. A small, nine-year-old girl named Liesel, arrives in Himmel Street to the home of her new foster family. Liesel is a book thief and the novel is her story and the story of, amongst many things, an accordionist, a Jewish fist fighter and Nazi Germany.
There’s a reason why this book comes highly recommended by pretty much everyone I meet. The plot itself is fairly simplistic, but it’s Zusak’s writing and use of language that makes this book really extraordinary. As someone who isn’t easily swayed into reading historical fiction, the focus on Liesel and her life on Himmel Street made the story more engaging. I will say this book is definitely not easy, it requires thought and feels experimental in its writing, but if you give it a chance this story will move you.
The Bad Boyfriend’s Bootcamp | Poppy Dolan
Molly’s little brother Sam is stuck in a love rut. He’s tries so hard with women but falls short. Luckily Molly is willing to lend a helping hand and as she waves her metaphorical dating wand, she lands Sam the girl of his dreams and helps him keep the girl too!
Molly’s little brother Sam is stuck in a love rut. He’s tries so hard with women but falls short. Luckily Molly is willing to lend a helping hand and as she waves her metaphorical dating wand, she lands Sam the girl of his dreams and helps him keep the girl too!
Thanks to Sam’s success, Molly’s single, male friends are soon lining up for her magical dating makeover and, along with her two friends, her entrepreneurial brain gets to work to create The Bad Boyfriend’s Bootcamp. But fixing other people’s problematic love lives is only half of the story, Molly also has to deal with her successful entrepreneurial mother, a grim looking overdraft thanks to her past failing businesses, and her own lackluster love life.
As seen in the title, the plotline for this novel is pretty predictable from the get go. Molly herself is a character I’ve seen in from this genre of book before, and I often found myself frustrated at how shortsighted and selfish she was being. Despite this, the writing was fun and there was a few pretty recent pop culture references that made me chuckle. If you’re after something quick and easy to read, this one’s for you.