Top 5 Reads on the Road in June
1. The Lollipop Shoes by Joanne Harris
I got very excited over this bound bundle of joy. Not only is the author a born and bred Yorkshire woman from good old Barnsley but the prequel – Chocolat is up there in my top 5 books of all time. The Lollipop Shoes kicks off five years after where we left Chocolat. Vianne has another daughter, Rosette and the family are now living in Paris. Something however is horribly wrong with this picture. Vianne has given up her vivacious, non-conformist ideals in favour of social acceptance and normality. Roux (Johnny Depp) has disappeared off the radar and in his place is Thierry – a character with the social skills of a half rotted Leak. Zozie de l'Alba then blows into town in her Lollipop shoes with every intention of saving Vianne but do we think it's that cut and dry? You should definitely give this one a read and find out.
The Lollipop Shoes by Joanne Harris is published by Random House (hardback; £17.99). It is also available through amazon.co.uk and all good booksellers.
2. Broken Angels by Richard Montanari
This is the tale of Detective Kevin Francis Byrne and the mindful resources he mobilises to stop not one but two serial killers. It's set in Philadelphia, the style flows well and there's a strategically placed romantic undercurrent that helps the book get going and provides relief from the blood and gore later on. Innocent people die and the suspects are killed too, so this isn't a story for the faint hearted. It is however, in parts, an accurate description of the single parent lifestyle and the intricate descriptions make it easy on the imagination.
Broken Angels by Richard Montanari is published by Random House (hardback; £10.99). It is also available through amazon.co.uk and all good booksellers.
3. The Life and Death of Charlie St Cloud by Ben Sherwood
This book started out as a last minute, cheap as chips, supermarket purchase that was shoved into a backpack, but it ended up as a story that will never be forgotten. The main characters are brothers, Charlie and Sam who are brutally torn apart when Sam dies in a car crash. That kind of bond is hard to break and thanks to some nearby mystical woodland, the pair connect their different worlds and teach us readers a lot about what might come up in the next life. It's presumption about what happens that most of us will take with a pinch of salt, however it's also a comforting approach to loss and near death experiences. There's romance, a happy ending and dare I say it: “Closure” thrown into the mix. In summary, it's a heart warmer that might help if you've ever lost someone you love.
The Life and Death of Charlie St Cloud by Ben Sherwood is published by PanMacmillan (paperback; £6.99) It is also available through amazon.co.uk and all good booksellers.
4. Quotable Animals by Milly Brown
If you're hung over on the road and the look of too many little black words on a page is nauseating, then this is the book for you. There are pages filled with adorable animal photos, small entertaining quotes and a general good vibe. Some might say that the St Christopher's backpacker is a more sophisticated traveller who doesn't read anything that isn't on a par with The Unbearable Lightness of Being. But then again some would say that when a traveller is faced with a bumpy, hung over coach ride that doesn't lend itself to sleep, the backpacker might care for something that's a little on the lighter side.
Quotable Animals by Milly Brown is published by Summersdale (paperback; £5.99). It is also available through amazon.co.uk and all good booksellers.
5. Running with Scissors: A Memoir by Augusten Burroughs
This is a shocking true life story about the author's childhood. Augusten was raised by a Santa Claus like psychiatrist, made friends with a pedophile who lived in the garden shed and lived in Victorian squalor. There are no rules in this extraordinary tale of growing pains, the Christmas tree stays up all year and Valium is more prolific than the Valley of the Dolls. It's a tough read because it doesn't hold back on the punches, however because of this very reason it's a great read and impossible to put down. It's a bestseller and an education all rolled into one.
Running with Scissors: A Memoir by Augusten Burroughs is published by Powells (paperback; $21.50). It is also available through amazon.com and all good booksellers.
- Rob Savage
