Catching up with Book Reviews (and alleviating my guilt for not writing them sooner) by Georgie Tennant

Book Reviews. As you read these two, innocent-sounding words, I am sure they evoke different responses, depending on who you are.  As a reader, guilt is the first thing that leaps up and takes hold of me.  I have read so many excellent books, recently, but has reviewing them yet made it to the top of my unwieldy to-do list? Sadly, no.  And yet I know how important they are to those from whom the brilliant literature I have enjoyed, has sprung.  As a writer, they may fill you with excited anticipation or fear and dread – or sheer annoyance and frustration at the number of people who have read your book, told you they’ve enjoyed it – but not left a review (sorry everyone)!

So, with long summer days approaching (we can but dream), I thought I would execute the pair of proverbial winged creatures with one smooth pebble and type up, for this blog, some reviews I have been meaning to write for some time.  I hope they will both encourage the wonderful writers we have in our midst, as well as give our eager readers some great books to add to their summer reading lists.

FICTION

‘The Gardener’s Daughter’ by Kathryn Hitchins

This is a fast-paced thriller, well-worth taking on holiday with you.  The novel’s protagonist, Ava-Claire unearths information that throws her whole life and identity into question.  She hires a Private Investigator to help her get to the bottom of who she really is and stumbles upon illicit workings of a ruthless criminal gang.  Hitchins writing is both compelling and beautiful and this book is a can’t-put-it-down page-turner, right from the start.  She seamlessly weaves in themes of identity, belonging and the Father-heart of God, brought together in a satisfying ending.  Read this book, and, if you like it, read her others too ('Girl at the End of the Road' and 'The Key of all Unknown').

‘The Jazz Files’ by Fiona Veitch Smith

I absolutely loved this book.  The novel centres around a young woman, Poppy Denby, who is breaking out of her sheltered existence to pursue a new life in 1920s London.  I loved both the plot and the fascinating historical details, woven into the story.  The novel is compelling, right from the start, as Poppy is plunged into a mystery surrounding one of her Aunt’s fellow suffragettes.  Her new job as a journalist on ‘The Daily Globe’ sees her right in the thick of the action, putting her own safety at risk to right some historical wrongs.  I devoured this book and can’t wait to get stuck in to Book 2, 'The Kill Fee'.

NON-FICTION

‘Too Soon’ by Jane Clamp

This is such a beautiful, sensitive and empathetic book.  It takes the form of a series of short devotionals, lasting 30 days, to help guide and support women who have suffered the trauma of miscarriage.  Jane is a wise and gentle companion, on this thirty-day journey and draws on her own experience of four miscarriages to help the reader move forward, despite the horrible loss of a precious baby.  The pain of miscarriage is often buried or minimised in our society and Jane seeks to reverse this, giving the reader permission to feel what they need to feel and mourn wholeheartedly – but with beautiful threads of hope, drawing them onwards.  I am glad Jane wrote this book and I would wholeheartedly recommend you buy one – for yourself of for a friend.  With one in four women experiencing miscarriage, I’m sure you know someone it would benefit!

'Catching Contentment' by Liz Carter

I am confident you will have heard of Liz and her book – it has just been shortlisted for the Woman Alive Readers’ Choice Award, to be announced in September.  If you haven’t yet had the pleasure of reading it, make it a priority.  Liz is achingly honest about her own struggles to find contentment so, in her, we find a sensitive guide for our own struggles with finding contentment, whatever our circumstances.  Split into chapters, with stories, reflections and prayers to help us on our own journeys, Liz’s reflections are down to earth, fully acknowledging our hard realities, but spurring us on to face them better, and with more hope.  Liz knows all about the struggle to find contentment whilst living with physical disabilities – but I found it just as helpful as someone living with grief and loss.  There was so much to take away from this book, I will be reading it again and again and buying it for friends.

Do read one of these books over the holidays – and don’t forget to write a review!

Georgie Tennant is a secondary school English teacher in a Norfolk Comprehensive.  She is married, with two sons, aged 11 and 8 who keep her exceptionally busy. She writes for the ACW ‘Christian Writer’ magazine occasionally, and is a contributor to the ACW-Published ‘New Life: Reflections for Lent,’ and ‘Merry Christmas, Everyone: A festive feast of stories, poems and reflections.’ She writes the ‘Thought for the Week’ for the local newspaper from time to time and also muses about life and loss on her blog: www.somepoemsbygeorgie.blogspot.co.uk