New Year Reads!!

Hello Everyone,
This year my new year’s resolution is to actually update my blogs.. and to read more than 65 books- my total for last year.

The first I want to tell you about is one I am currently reading with my sister and is called The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale. The story is gripping and really powerful, I will let you know my full review once I have finished reading the whole thing. So far... the main character is Princess Anidori who has a connection with animals and a deep routed passion for horses however once she turns 16 she has to leave her village to marry a prince in another town (whom she has never met) and with jealousy rife in the travelling party she comes into conflict and danger. The Independent describes the book as a 'masterpiece' and it also has a lovely cover... definitely one to pick up this year!

Cecelia Ahern is another of my favourite authors, for Christmas I was lucky enough to receive her new book 'The Time of My Life' and hope to sink my teeth into that one soon but for now a lovely tale she wrote a few years back is 'The Gift' which explores magical possibilities, families and friendships- a truly lovely tale. Ahern is a very talented writer and is well worth reading her well known 'P.S. I Love You' which has been made into a film but is a beautiful read. Others I enjoy include 'Where Rainbows End', 'The Book of Tomorrow' and 'A Place Called Here'.

If you fancy an emotional read 'The Lovely Bones' by Alice Sebold is excellent, already a movie, the book explores in so much more depth and detail the awful torment of rape on a family and the afterlife of a victim, the second in the collection is called 'Lucky' and is based on the true ordeal of Sebold- both are an interesting and powerful read.

I may be putting my neck on the line here but I think MY BOOK OF 2011 is 'North of Beautiful' By Justina Chen Headley, a tale that truly touched me. This book was so inspiring and has so many messages in it for every reader- I would recommend this wholeheartedly.
The plot centres around a teen girl named Terra Cooper who was (according to her) unfortunately blessed with a port-wine stain (birthmark) across her face. The novel explores her carefully laid plans being ruined, family tensions and the pressure to be perfect but also a reader can expect to enjoy romance and the meaning of true beauty-  A MUST READ!! 

I wish you all a Happy & Healthy New Year- Keep Reading,

Love Ellie xx