Book Review - One Hundred Names

One Hundred Names by Cecelia Ahern

Released 11th October 2012

Hardback 336 pages

Published HarperCollins

Rating 5/5

Source Sent a copy by HaperCollins.

Summary…

Everyone has a story to tell…

Journalist Kitty Logan’s career has been destroyed by scandal, and she now faces losing the woman who guided her and taught her everything she knew. At her mentor’s bedside, Kitty asks her – what is the one story she always wanted to write?

The answer lies in a file buried in Constance’s office: a list of one hundred names. There is no synopsis, no explanation, nothing else to explain what the story is or who these people are. The list is simply a mystery.

But before Kitty can talk to her friend, it is too late.

With everything to prove, Kitty is assigned the most important task of her life – to write the story her mentor never had the opportunity to. Kitty has to not only track down and meet the people on the list, but find out what connects them. And, in the process of hearing ordinary people’s stories, she uncovers Constance’s – and starts to understand her own…

My thoughts…

I am a huge fan of Cecelia Ahern and have been ever since PS I Love You. Everytime I see a new book coming out I clear my schedule and prepare to immerse myself into Cecelia’s world. One Hundred Names, I am pleased to say, did not disappoint me at all.

One Hundred Names is typically Cecelia, a beautifully charming, witty, uplifting, and enchanting story full of twists and turns and wonderfully diverse characters. The story takes you on a journey with Kitty Logan, a shamed journalist that has been left with no job, no credibility and no boyfriend. To top it all off, the one person who believed in her and her best friend and mentor passes away from Cancer leaving her feeling like she has no one to turn to.

One of Kitty’s last conversations with Constance was about a story that she never got to write, so when she passes Kitty takes it upon herself to do what Constance couldn’t. With a list on 100 names and no clue who they are, how to find them or what their stories are – Kitty begins her life changing journey She not only discovers the meaning of Constance’s final story, but she also discovers who she really is and finds her place in life.

Every book that Cecelia writes is almost a fairy tale story for adults, she somehow manages to sweep her readers off their feet and whisk them away into her magical little land. One Hundred Names does just this as the story takes to you places to meet people that are so unique and special but so real at the same time.

This is a must read book that I cannot recommend highly enough. If you want to escape then this is the book for you.

Book Review - This Charming Man

This Charming Man by Marian Keyes
Released 5th March 2009
Paperback 912 pages
Publisher Penguin
Rating 4/5
Source Borrowed

Summary...

Lola has just found out that her boyfriend - charismatic politician Paddy de Courcy - is getting married. To someone else. Heartbroken, Lola flees the city for a cottage by the sea. But will Lola's retreat prove as idyllic as she hopes?

Journalist Grace wants the inside story on Paddy de Courcy's engagement and thinks Lola holds the key to it. Grace knew Paddy a long time ago. But why can't she forget him?

Grace's sister, Marnie, might have the answer but she also has issues with the past. Her loving loving husband and beautiful daughters are wonderful, but they can't take away memories of her first love: a certain Paddy de Courcy. What will it take for Marnie to be able to move on?

Alicia Thornton is Paddy's wife-to-be. Determined to be the perfect wife, Alicia would do anything for her fiancé. But does she know the real Paddy?

Four very different women. One awfully charming man. And the dark secret that binds them all...

My thoughts...

Marian Keyes is one of best selling female authors and is the person who inspired me to write. I heard her say once "Everyone has it in them to write a least one novel." However, in all these years I had never got around to reading any of her books until a friend let me borrow This Charming Man. 

Given her reputation I expected a classic 'chick lit' story, and I am pleased to say that I wasn't disappointed.

The story focuses around four very different women and their relationships with Paddy de Courcy. Lola, Grace, Marnie and Alicia have all been captured by politician Paddy's charm, only to be tossed aside when he got bored leaving them all scarred and tormented. For each of the women, Marian took on a different writing style, if that is the right way to put it. You could instantly tell which character was currently narrating the story by the way in which it was being written. 

So many different authors tell a story from different character angles, but very few will change the writing style so dramatically. For me, this is a skill that so few have and one that really made this book work.

I will admit, that I did struggle to get into the book at the beginning. I can't quite put my finger on why, it could just have been me, but once I sat down and concentrated I literally couldn't put it down. 

The story has so many twists and turns, that it is impossible to even attempt a guess at how it will end. Anyone who follows me on Twitter will know that even I had it completely wrong as at one point I likened Paddy to Christian Grey from the Fifty Shades trilogy. With his obvious sex appeal, charming mannerisms and interest in kinky sex, how could you not link them? As the story develops there is more to Paddy than meets the eye and I will guarantee that you will be left shocked, and thats without even mentioning the "trannies"!

If you are looking for a page turning chick lit book, then this is for you. I am so pleased that I have been introduced to Marian Keyes and I cannot wait to read more of her books, from what I can see, I have missed a lot.

Until next time, keep reading x