Week 3 Book 3 – Wishful Drinking (Carrie Fisher)

This book is a tell all insight into the life of the late Carrie Fisher during her most intimate moments. During this book she delves into the life she led as the offspring of two of Hollywood’s heyday elite.

With Singing in the Rain’s Debbie Reynolds and infamous singer Eddie Fisher as her parents, Carrie was set up for a life out of the ordinary, which in fact was proved true.

‘Wishful Drinking’ is a sort of spin off from Carrie’s one woman stage show with the same name. It reads very much like you are having a conversation or at a dinner party with Fisher. The entertaining and frank, relaxed style of writing makes this an effortless read and thoroughly enjoyable.

One part I particularly enjoyed was an explanation into the sordid intertwining of Hollywood relationships: many marriages, affairs and inevitable divorces. Provided with this is a sort of family tree of who married who and had what children. The reason for this is that Carrie needed to determine whether her daughter was in any way related to Elizabeth Taylor’s grandson, as they had engaged in a brief flirtation at one time. They are not related, but there are a whole load of scandals that interlink the two.

In summary I found this book to be a lighthearted read that certainly brightened my daily commute.

Week 2 Book 2 – The Little Paris Bookshop (Nina George)

This story is set on a barge in Paris – this is no ordinary barge but a ‘Literary Apothecary’ run by self proclaimed book pharmacist, Jean Perdu. He has the rare gift of being able to ‘prescribe’ the appropriate book to his customers in order to heal any emotional ailments they may have. However he is unable to do the same for himself.

In a turn of events Jean is somewhat inspired to make a change and embarks on a quest to unlock his heart. He sets sail upon his floating bookshop to Provence – in search of answers to his past, and his beloved.

Along the way a few more characters are welcomed aboard in pursuit of their own personal journeys. With no food or money Jean is forced to use his books as currency or set up shop in some of the stop offs, it is fortunate that he meets so many book-lovers.

The book has been perfect timing for me in echoing my own literary journey and has reinforced my passion in books and reading as so many of the characters in the book have. George describes reading in such a beautifully therapeutic way throughout the book and I can completely relate to this.

The ending provides a lovely resolution to the story in a heartwarming way with a great life lesson to be learned.

After the story is finished some traditional Provenance recipes are included along with an Emergency Literacy Pharmacy, I found this to be such a wonderful touch.

Week 1 Book 1 – ‘The Light Between Oceans’ (M.L. Stedman)

Rating – 4/5

The book is set shortly after the first world war in a coastal part of Australia. The story starts with the most important part and immediately captures the reader. Tom is a lighthouse keeper and lives with his wife, Isabel, on the island of Janus. One day, a boat washes onto their shores with a dead man and a crying baby.

The book then flashes back to the back story of Tom and sets the scene for the incredibly painful love story about to unfold.

The contrast in stories between Tom & Isabel and Rachael (the child’s natural mother) provides an interesting element. I found myself torn between a moral battle of who the rightful mother should be – which was unexpected for me.

One aspect of the book I particularly enjoyed was the depiction of the island of Janus. It felt like a third character within Tom and Isabel’s relationship. Stedman describes the island beautifully echoing how happy and content Isabel is with her new found and secluded family.

Without giving too much away the ending had an emotional climax for me, but not in the stereotypical sad way these sorrowful books can be. I found myself contented with the ending, which was a surprise, but then this moved me more than expected. After the all the traumas for many of the characters in the second half of the book, this ending was greatly welcomed.