I've decided to re-read/read the American Girl series. At the age of 25, I'm sure it's been more than a decade since I've read any of them. I loved these books so much as a kid and Kaya is one of the dolls that I own.

I didn't like this book as much as I did all those years ago, mostly because of how abrupt the ending was. Speaking Rain almost drowns, but is saved by Kaya and the book almost immediately ends. I just wanted to see Speaking Rain again (even briefly) to be assured she's okay. There's no closure; it doesn't feel like an ending.

I also had a problem with Kaya's punishment. I understand the logic behind switching all of the children; I'm not complaining about that. I don't like the nickname that the whipping woman gives to Kaya. She was practically telling the children to bully Kaya. I do like the way that Kaya is taught to handle the nickname (i.e. to rise above it and become a person who no longer deserves the comparison), but it didn't sit right with me that the adults were totally fine with the cruel things the children were saying to Kaya. Kaya gets one good lesson out of it, but all of the children, including Kaya, are learning that it's okay to be so mean-spirited to each other.

(spoiler show)

On the other hand, I love how educational these books are, how the culture is exhibited throughout the story and then is shown in a more concentrated form at the end. And the illustrations have always been a high point for me. Especially the gorgeous horse Steps High. <3

The American Girl - Rachael English What a wonderful read Rachel English's American Girl was, Fresh, entertaining, witty, rich characters and just an all round good story that will have you turning the pages to find out more

I picked this up after hearing the author interviewed and was immediately drawn to the premise of this story. Boston 1968 Rose Moloney is seventeen, smart, spirited and pregnant. She is shipped off to a baby home in Ireland against her will. 2013 Martha Sheeran's is struggling to come to terms that her marriage is over and is urged by her daughter to look for her mother who gave her up for adoption over 40 years ago.

I really enjoyed this page turner, with its wonderful sense of time and place and for me a terrific reminder of all things 80s. I enjoyed the writing and the sensitive way Rose's story was handled and yet I had so many laugh out loud moments in this book as the writer has a wicked way with words that comes across so natural in her writing without been Cheesy or twee.

Loved the characters, and the small Irish town setting and having a teenager myself I felt the character of Evanne was so well protrayed as in fact were all the characters as they felt real and full of life and I could identify with them which made the book so enjoyable.

Martha watched her crouch to get a better shot of the slate-coloured church . It was funny, she thought, how small a part religion played in the lives of Evanne and her friends . For them the catholic church was a source of indifference. Like thatched cottages, slow sets at the disco and black and white TV, it belonged to to the past.

A terrific summer read, and one I will be recommending to friends to pact for holidays as its a really entertaining and a well written novel.

I think readers who enjoy [a:Diane Chamberlain|93345|Diane Chamberlain|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1366490290p2/93345.jpg] , [a:Heather Gudenkauf|2875124|Heather Gudenkauf|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1494019846p2/2875124.jpg]. or [a:Maeve Binchy|3532|Maeve Binchy|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1206566579p2/3532.jpg] might also enjoy this novel.

“Education,” replied Anna smoothly, “is an investment in a woman’s future. It is a dowry that cannot be squandered by a spendthrift husband. It is an evergreen inheritance that can be passed to her children no matter the condition of her husband’s estate.”

 

 

Preach. 

With the old year gone and the new one just two days old, it is time for a quick retrospective on what was great and what wasn’t.

 

Let’s start with the Best of the Best!

My favourite book of 2016 was probably Edie, the amazing biography of Edie Sedgwick. Not only was it exciting to read about her short but intense life, but it was also a great experiment in terms of writing style and figuring out new possibilities within the genre of biography.

Another book, that was surprisingly good was The Man-Eaters of Tsavo. I initially started reading it, because I was curious about the book on which one of my all-time favourite movies is based on, but after a couple of pages I fell in love with it (despite all of its flaws).

 

 

and now the Worst of the Worst

The biggest letdowns of 2016  were two books I was unfortunately really looking forward to read.

The first one was Metro 2034 by Dmitrij Gluchovskij. This was such a huge disappointment for me, because the first book in the Metro series was really exciting with a lot of interesting characters, really good writing and a thrilling plot. Unfortunately, Metro 2034 had nothing of the things I loved about the first one.

The other letdown was Jaws. And what a letdown that was! This is a sentence you hardly ever hear me say, but seriously: Go and watch the movie! It is ten times better than the book.

 

Additionally, there are some honourable mentions, meaning books, I am happy to finally have read and which I therefore can happily cross off my bucket list. Those are:

The Catcher in the Rye (although this is definitely not one of my favourites), Frankenstein (which was really good) and A Christmas Carol (love it!)

The American Girl was a bang on psychological thriller, well told story with plenty of twists and the added advantage of not necessarily being predictable - and I liked the way the past/present vibe was used in this novel - a kind of found footage twist that worked very well.

The American Girl stumbles out of the woods one night and is immediately involved in an accident - remembering nothing of what has happened or the whereabouts of the family she was staying with the small community rallies around her. But the town itself has its secrets and soon the tables will turn.

I liked that Kate Horsley honed the backstory to perfection as we begin to find out what has lead up to recent events - I especially like the strands of the narrative that speak to a young girl spiralling somewhat out of control. The reporter who starts off looking simply for a story then ends up becoming emotionally involved added an extra layer that also added to the addictive nature of the storytelling.

Exploring some fairly modern themes - in this digital age if your life goes viral and the world is watching, just how do you cope with that - and the added mystery element of who what why and when just means that The American Girl works on several levels. Whilst it may be nothing entirely new it was one of those that held my interest throughout and was a pretty darned good read.