Reden - Estrid Ott

Title: Reden (The Nest)
Author: Estrid Ott
Genre: YA, Classic
Rating: 5/5
# pages: 148
Date read: October, 2014

The story of a poor organist, his wife and their 5 kids who always get into adventures.

Estrid Ott was one of my favourite authors growing up, and it's so gratifying to see that her books still stand the test of time. I've read this book times beyond number since I first discovered it in my (very) early teens. It's a lovely story about a family who support each other through thick and thin and who - of course - always come out on top. A lovely feel-good book that I always close with a happy sigh :)

Bimbi er frihedskæmper - Estrid Ott

Title: Bimbi er frihedskæmper (Bimbi as Freedom Fighter)
Author: Estrid Ott
Genre: Childrens
Rating: 3/5
# pages: 142
Date read: October, 2014

Bimbi is finally back with his beloved Babsi. But war has come to Denmark, and though he is just a toy elephant, Bambi and Babsi find ways for him to join the resistance movement and join the fight against the Germans.

The "Bimbi" books used to be among my favourites as a child, so I was keen on rereading them for the read-a-thon. Unfortunately I discovered that they are just slightly too 'twee' for my tastes now, but I have a feeling that they probably work much better when read aloud than when read to myself.

Plus, nostalgia always helps as well ;)

Ungen - Estrid Ott

Title: Ungen (The Kid) (Reden #2)
Author: Estrid Ott
Genre: YA
Rating: 4/5
# pages: 156
Date read: October, 2014

"Ungen" is the sequel to "Reden". When Ulla comes back home after years abroad, she is horrified to find that her darling little sister "Ungen" has been spoiled beyond recognition. It is now up to Ulla and her other siblings to turn Ungen into a true member of the Lund family.

I remember being rather disappointed the first time I read this, because all the lovely mischief and camaderie of "Reden" had disappeared. As I grew older, I started appreciating it more, and while I still don't think it is anywhere near as good as the first book, I do enjoy it just the same.

Apparently there's a third book in the series as well, but I don't think I've ever read that one.

The Peach Keeper - Sarah Addison Allen

Title: The Peach Keeper
Author: Sarah Addison Allen
Genre: Fiction
Rating: 3.5/5
# pages: 272
Date read: October, 2014

It's the dubious distinction of thirty-year-old Willa Jackson to hail from a fine old Southern family of means that met with financial ruin generations ago. The Blue Ridge Madam - built by Willa's great-great-grandfather and once the finest home in Walls of Water, North Carolina - has stood for years as a monument to misfortune and scandal. Willa has lately learned that an old classmate - socialite Paxton Osgood - has restored the house to its former glory, with plans to turn it into a top-flight inn.

But when a skeleton is found buried beneath the property's lone peach tree, long-kept secrets come to light, accompanied by a spate of strange occurrences throughout the town. Thrust together in an unlikely friendship, united by a full-blooded mystery, Willa and Paxton must confront the passions and betrayals that once bound their families - and uncover the truths that have transcended time to touch the hearts of the living.

"The Peach Keeper" is only the second book I've read by Sarah Addison Allen. The first was an instant favourite ("Garden Spells"), so I was slightly hesitant to pick up another of her books, as I was certain it couldn't live up to my expectations. And it didn't - quite. Still, it came close enough that I didn't feel too cheated and it is a lovely charming book. I wasn't too convinced by the romantic pairings, but LOVED the growing friendship.

Definitely a feel-good book, and while not an instant favourite, I liked it enough that I'll definitely continue to pick up more of her books.

Falling into Place - Amy Zhang

Title: Falling into Place
Author: Amy Zhang
Genre: YA
Rating: 4.5/5
# pages: Audiobook ~5.5hrs
Date read: October, 2014

On the day Liz Emerson tries to die, they had reviewed Newton’s laws of motion in physics class. Then, after school, she put them into practice by running her Mercedes off the road.

Why? Why did Liz Emerson decide that the world would be better off without her? Why did she give up? Vividly told by an unexpected and surprising narrator, this heartbreaking and nonlinear novel pieces together the short and devastating life of Meridian High's most popular junior girl. Mass, acceleration, momentum, force - Liz didn't understand it in physics, and even as her Mercedes hurtles toward the tree, she doesn't understand it now. How do we impact one another? How do our actions reverberate? What does it mean to be a friend? To love someone? To be a daughter? Or a mother? Is life truly more than cause and effect?


I had this recommended very highly by a friend of mine who works for the publisher. I downloaded the sample from Amazon, and liked what I read, so purchased it from Audible.

I'm glad I did. It's a really, really good book! It made me go on detours to continue listening, which is always a good sign :) With shades of "Thirteen Reasons Why" by Jay Asher and "If I Stay" by Gayle Forman it is obviously a very sad read, but I didn't find it as emotionally manipulative as it could have been. It was horrible to read about the kids being bullied, and how Liz Emerson slowly got convinced that suicide was the only way out.

I liked the way the book jumped in time - the chapter headers kept it from getting confusing, and the patchwork style of the book really worked for me.

I also liked that the ultimate outcome was kept under wraps until the very end. Just like in "If I Stay" it isn't made obvious right from the start, but enough hints are given that the reader is prepared for it to go either way.

The author was 18 when she wrote this! I'm terribly impressed!