Assorted Reviews From Poole Libraries

Richard P Evans: The Walk 

Continent; North America

"Wow! By far the best book I have ever read! What a delight to read. An inspiring travel story of a life-changing journey away from doom and gloom to hope and determination. An essential read for everyone."

From Karen

Helen Oon: Singapore

Continent: Asia

"A lovely book. Informative and colourful. Lots of fantastic pictures to see. We sat and read the book as a family – it was lovely to see where some of our relatives lived. We are now starting to plan our family trip to Singapore using all the knowledge gained!"

From Karen

Nuruddin Farah: From a crooked rib
Continent; Africa

"The cover of this book caught my eye and I was glad I chose it. The story is the struggle of one woman in pre-independent Somalia to live the life she wants and not the one chosen for her – an arranged marriage and all it entails. There is the contrast between the tribal village she leaves and the urban life she goes to but things arethe same for her as a woman and these are not ‘glossed over’. I loved the writing style but not an easy read."

From Cora

Review: Lisa See's "Snow Flower and the Secret Fan"

Continent: Asia
Genre: Fiction
Sent in by: Julie, Dorset

Although I thought it would be a slow read, I read it in two sittings as I was so entranced. The book is set in China, where the culture is so alien to our own and the customs and beliefs of people during the late 1800's is indisputably foreign. It's a world where footbinding is still practised and where men and women lead entirely separate lives. This made for a fascinating read as well as telling the moving story of two women's friendship and love over decades. Communicating with a secret language known only to women for a thousand years, they share hardship, marriages, childbirth and illness until a misunderstanding drives them apart. When they finally reunite, it's both moving and heart-wrenching.

Review: David Wroblewski's "The Story of Edgar Sawtelle"

Continent: North America
Genre: Fiction
Sent in by: Kayleigh

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Book Review - Alexander McCall Smith's "No 1 Ladies Detective Agency"

Continent: Africa
Genre: Fiction
Sent in by: Perri, Poole

This book, based in Botswana, Africa, follows the adventures of Precious Ramostwe, female private detective. Although simply written it managed to easily conjure images of the country in which the story was set. Interestingly the bulk of the story reads as an amusing and light-hearted tale, however, there is an undercurrent of sadness, so subtle, which intermittently ripples to its surface . These sparing sentences were so powerful that they bought tears to my eyes although I was quickly bought back to smiling by the re-emergence of Precious' feisty and quirky character and those around her. Heavily recommended.