Review: The Book of Tomorrow

 

Title:  The Book of Tomorrow

Author:  Cecilia Ahern

Publication Date:  February 2011 by Harper Collins

Review Copy Provided by:  publisher

About the Book - from Goodreads:  Tamara Goodwin has always got everything she's ever wanted. Born into a family of wealth, she grew up in a mansion with its own private beach, a wardrobe full of designer clothes and all that a girl could ever wish for. She's always lived in the here and now, never giving a second thought to tomorrow. But then suddenly her dad is gone and life for Tamara and her mother changes forever. Left with a mountain of debt, they have no choice but to sell everything they own and move to the country. Nestled next to Kilsaney Castle, their gatehouse is a world away from Tamara's childhood. With her mother shut away with grief, and her aunt busy tending to her, Tamara is lonely and bored and longs to return to Dublin.When a travelling library passes through Kilsaney Demesne, Tamara is intrigued. Her eyes rest on a mysterious large leather bound tome locked with a gold clasp and padlock. What she discovers within the pages takes her breath away and shakes her world to its core.  

My Thoughts:  This was an interesting read.  I always had a thought that there was more going on than the author would let me believe, but the more I read, the more convinced I was that there was something eerie about this story.  

Tamara, the main character, is very independent.  She's used to being able to come and go as she pleases, but not anymore.  It seems as though she's always being watched.  Since her father's death, she has been forced to move to "nowhere" with her aunt and uncle.  Tamara has no access to the internet, no malls, nothing she is used to, so she's forced to find other things to occupy her time.  One of which, is a book.  This is not an ordinary book though.  The book writes itself, in Tamara's handwriting, and tells about tomorrow.

What a concept for a story!  I loved this one and I fell in love with Tamara, even though I thought she was a snob at first.  Throughout the story Tamara learns more about her family than she's ever known, but what she really learns is about herself and that she has to make her own tomorrows.

Ahern does an excellent job of keeping the reader in suspense.  There's something new around every corner, but she keeps you second guessing yourself, just like Tamara is second guessing the people around her.  This one had me predicting right up till the end, even though some of my predictions weren't what really happened.  I loved that as a reader, I was able to make those predictions.  The author didn't just reveal everything all at once.  As the story unfolded, so did the lies, or the truth, however you choose to read it.

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Review: Waggit Again

Title:  Waggit Again

Author:  Peter Howe

ARC Provided by:  Harper Collins Publishers via the Picnic Basket

About the Book:  The first time it happened, Waggit was just a puppy.  But now he is lost again, and this time far away from home.  How will he ever get back to where he belongs?  Just when all hope is lost he finds two new and very unusual friends.  Are his troubles over?  Or are they just beginning?

My Review:  Once again, Peter Howe gives us Waggit's story only this time he's older and has more friends.  I enjoyed Waggit Again just as much as the Waggit's Tale.  In this story, Waggit is out of the park living on a farm, but he doesn't like can't and can't believe his Upright has left him there.  Howe tells Waggit's story as he meets up with 2 new friends and together, they venture back to the park where Waggit's Tale began, the place that he loves and feels he belongs.  Like his first book, Howe tells the story from Waggit's point of view, drawing the reader in with the suspense and adventure.  I fell in love with the new characters and was saddened at times by events in the story.  Again, I was unable to put this one down until I knew what was going to happen.  I can't say much more about this book without giving away spoilers.  Waggit Again is due out in May, so keep an eye out for it.  I do want to share some quotes from the book which I think sum up the theme well.

"So much had happened in such a short period of time.  He had learned about survival and friendship, and loyalty and bravery through overcoming fear.  He had also come to understand that the world was not always the friendly place he would like it to be.  There were bad dogs...and bad humans like the men at the bar, and these you had to stand up to, even though it was scary and dangerous."

"What he had learned was that both humans and dogs are often different from the way they first seem, and to judge too quickly was often to be wrong.  It was a lesson he would try to live by."

Aren't those things that we all wish our children would learn?  Not only has Howe written a great story, but he leaves you with life lessons.

This book was reviewed for the Picnic Basket and it gets a 5 - strongly recommend

Thank you Picnic Basket and Harper Collins for sending this to me!