Our Epping team share with us what they’ve been reading in this week’s QBD Spotlight
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens:
This is my favourite book of all time and I have read it in November each year for over 25 years.
Described as a ghost story about Christmas, it covers the transformation of Ebenezer Scrooge from a heartless, stingy moneylender to a generous benefactor of his town. He is visited by ghosts from his past, present and future, and they help him to rediscover his human spirit. I find it also gets me in the right frame of mood for Christmas, where we shouldn’t only be thinking of the commercial side of the season. And so , as Tiny Tim observed, God bless us, Every One ! – Peter (Store Manager)
The Help by Kathryn Stockett:
Such a powerful and moving read. I couldn’t put ‘The Help‘ down and I loved it so much that I have it in a couple of different covers! Enter 1962, Jackson, Mississippi, where you are defined by the colour of your skin. The maids are black but they seem to love and care for the white babies they take care of more than their own mothers. It’s time for the maids to have a voice, and Skeeter, an educated, young white woman is determined to write a book from the help’s perspective. Along with maids, Aibileen and Minny, she’s helping the people without a voice finally speak up! – Carla ( Store 2IC)
Room by Emma Donoghue:
What can I say about this book that hasn’t already been said? Emma Donoghue’s insight into the mind of five year old Jack, whose whole world is a room, is at once incredibly accurate (well as accurate as I could imagine) and beautiful. Considering the entire novel is written through the eyes of Jack and the language is that of what I believe to be an autistic child, it is surprisingly fluid and easy to read. I’ve read thousands of books and I have to say this is one that will stand out as a highlight and stay with me for a long, long time, a masterpiece. I’d give it 6 stars if I could. – Daniela
Leaving Time by Jodi Picoult:
Leaving Time is yet another amazing and shocking book by Jodi Picoult! The ending of this book has haunted me since I finished it over a year ago! Meet Jenna Metcalf, a young girl not convinced that her mother abandoned her as a child, but instead believes that she was brutally murdered. To help solve the crime, she befriends a shamed psychic and the uninterested detective who originally investigated her mother’s disappearance. The more Alice searches, the more convinced she becomes that her caring mother would not have willingly left her. Told from multiple perspectives, and coupled with unbelievable twists, Jodi Picoult reminds us why she is a best selling author! Miles better than Picoult’s award-winning novel – My Sister’s Keeper – Leaving Time is one of her best pieces of work, and has me counting down until her new novel Small Great Things released in October. – Jacqueline
Love, Rosie by Cecelia Ahern:
Formally titled “Where Rainbow’s End”.
Hands down one of the best love stories I’ve ever read. Rosie and Alex have been best friends since forever but missed opportunities and life’s unexpected twists and turns test even the strongest of friendships. This book isn’t just about love, its about life and the lessons you learn along the way. Rosie experienced so much over the pages of this novel and learnt that plans never turn out the way you wanted them to. I think that’s the most special thing about this book is the realistic life lessons it teaches you. Love, Rosie is written as a series of letters, emails and text messages which makes the book seem more personal as you read the private messages between lovers and friends. The most important lesson you will learn from this novel is never hold back what you feel, you just might regret it if you do. – Adriana
