This weekend the team at QBD Shellharbour have piled a diverse selection of titles under the spotlight to keep you company.
The Selection by Kiera Cass: Keeping with the trend of dystopic YA novels, The Selection is a world of eight different castes with the higher numbers living a life of luxury. Our heroine, America, is a Five, a musician who is selected along with 35 other girls to compete for the hand of Prince Maxon, a One. Despite not wanting to be there due to her love for another man, she competes anyway and realises there is a whole deal more going on behind the scenes. Take a pinch of The Hunger Games, mix in some Gossip Girl and just a hint of Reign and you have The Selection – a fun fantastical escape into a future world. – Maddi
The Man Who Mistook His Wife For A Hat by Oliver Sacks: The Man Who Mistook His Wife For A Hat is arguably the most well known book by the renowned British neurologist Oliver Sacks. A compilation of case histories of some of his more ‘interesting’ patients, Oliver Sacks delves into various aspects of brain functioning, demonstrated through the unusual manifestations of brain deficits, excesses and mental handicap. An incredible, engaging and insightful read, this book exposes the fragility of the ‘normal’ human perceptual experience and brings a humbling appreciation for the beauty of imperfection. A must-read for those interested in Psychology and the human experience. – Tyler J.
Love, Rosie by Cecilia Ahern: Perhaps one of the easiest and most difficult books for me to read in a long time! Presented in the form of letters, emails and texts, Cecilia Ahern brings us a heart wrenching story about the unequivocal love born out of best friendship.
Did you ever read a book that you just wanted to punch in the face? Love, Rosie is one of those books. In the best way of course. A book that explores the seedy underbelly of passive aggressive, ill timed yet star crossed love – it’s one to put on the old “To Read” list.
A witty, warm and an altogether whimsical read, guaranteed to make coldest of fish feel warm and fuzzy inside.- Linda
The Dark Charisma of Adolf Hitler by Laurence Rees: Laurence Rees delivers a refreshing, unbiased account of Hitler and his involvement in WWII – prior, during and after. A popular topic, but rarely told with indifferent emotions that assist one in understanding the events that all began in 1889. This book ignites the fire within and begins the yearning for answers. Rees feeds the curiosity that often holds great stigma. This book is an essential read for anyone who enjoys military history — and for those who don’t. It offers a simple approach (with added definitions) for anyone beginning their WWII history tour, most definitely providing a titillating first military history read. Antony Beever remarked that is was ‘a fascinating study’ and you cannot disagree with any margin.
Once you have read The Dark Charisma of Adolf Hitler, Rees has an index of his titles all continuing to impress with a quality of writing. – Jessica
Bared To You by Sylvia Day: Sylvia Day is a goddess amongst romance writers. Bared to You is a titillating page-turner designed to play to every woman’s innermost passionate desires. Combining mystery, tragic pasts and romance, Eva and Gideon must deal with their own pasts in order to have a future together. Day is incredibly skilled at creating a visual masterpiece, with Gideon almost leaping off the page and into the real world.
If you enjoyed Fifty Shades of Grey, you’ll love Bared to You and the Crossfire series! – Amanda
The Secret History by Donna Tartt: Beautifully interweaving a college drama with a reverse whodunnit, Tarts novel is completely engrossing with it’s intrigue and eccentric peculiarities. The story is told by the unreliable narrator, Richard Papen, about his time as a student in a New England college during which he becomes involved in a tight knit group that study Ancient Greek.
The narrative unfolds as dark secrets and shady intentions start to become known about his peers, and that changes everything. With the story paralleling a Greek tragedy, the Secret History is a book that will leave you shaken in the best possible way. – Tyler H.
