February is the month for love and hopefully we all celebrated St Valentine’s Day on 14th February with our nearest and dearest. My aim this month was to read books about love and romance but I didn’t really manage to read too many books of this genre. Firstly, I was in hospital for ten days with a chest infection. If you’ve ever had a hospital stay, you will know that reading and hospital stays aren’t the best of combinations. Then some of the books I read this month didn’t really fit the bill for love and romance even though the book jacket indicated otherwise. As a result, I’m only reviewing three books this month – Brooklyn, Looking for You and Happy Place. Colm Tobin’s Brooklyn was my definite favourite – another Irish author so what else could you expect?
Brooklyn by Colm Tobin – five stars
This book has received rave reviews and was recommended to me by Jo, the owner of “The Secret Bookshelf” in Carrickfergus as a must-read for my February romance book blog – and it didn’t disappoint!
Colm Toibin is a famous Irish writer and this book is set in Enniscorthy, Co Wexford as well as Brooklyn in the 1950s The main character is Eilis Lacey who is unemployed and in her 20s. Living with her widowed mum and older sister Rose, the highlights of her life are the Friday night dance in the parish hall as well as Mass on Sundays. Rose introduces the family to Father Flood, a priest from Brooklyn who is over on holiday in Enniscorthy. Father Flood very quickly organises for Eilis to move to Brooklyn, finding her a job in Bartocci’s department store as well as accommodation in Mrs Kehoe’s boarding house. Eilis then finds herself on an ocean liner from Liverpool to New York where she is violently seasick in her third class cabin.
Her new life then starts in New York with a new job, new lodgings and the weekly dance in the parish hall. After a bout of homesickness, Father Flood organises an evening book-keeping class in the local college which keeps Eilis busy. Then she meets Tony at the dance who is a charming Italian American who treats her like a lady and they start to fall in love. But everything changes when there is shocking news from Ireland and Eilis decides to return home.
This is a very captivating and moving read which I was constantly trying to guess what would happen next. There is also a follow-up book called Long Island which I must try to get my hands on.
Looking for You by Alexander McCall Smith – four stars
Famous Scottish author Alexander McCall Smith never disappoints and “Looking for You” was no exception. This is the second in the Perfect Passion Company series but you don’t have to have read the first book as they both stand alone. The Perfect Passion Company is based in Edinburgh and it was set up by Ness to provide an introduction service to lonely hearts. Ness has decided to have an “adult” gap year in Canada and has left her niece Katie running the business. Katie gets a helping hand from her neighbour William who is an Australian knitwear designer.
Throughout the book, we were introduced to some very interesting lonely hearts and Katie does her best to find matches. Plus William decides to become an amateur sleuth when he stalks out a supermarket in search of Clea’s mystery man who buys Seville oranges to make marmalade.
This book is full of warm characters who follow a charming but humorous journey looking for love. A perfect read for a little escapism to the streets of Edinburgh and especially to the Valvona and Crolla deli which Katie frequents regularly. I thought it was a fictitious eatery as it also features in Alexander McCall Smith’s 44 Scotland Street series but Google tells me otherwise and the business is open and located on 19 Elm Road, Edinburgh if you ever fancy checking it out!
Happy Place by Emily Henry – three stars
If you’re a fan of American romcoms, then this is the book for you. It’s an easy read and you could suspect what the outcome is going to be – but are you correct?!
College friends Harriet, Sabrina and Cleo have been going to Sabrina’s Dad’s holiday cottage in Maine for many years along with their partners – this was their “Happy Place”. Sabrina’s dad is going to sell the cottage so Sabrina organises their final swansong at it. But Harriet has a secret – she has split up with her fiancée Wyn five months ago and hasn’t told any of her friends about this. When Harriet arrives at the cottage, she is shocked to discover Wyn is there too and she is expected to share a room with him. They agree to keep the charade going throughout the week and to let the others know at the end of the week. Sabrina had planned lots of activities as they revisited memory lane at the cottage but her biggest surprise was her wedding to Parth at the end of the week.
Love, family values and friendship are at the heart of this book but there wasn’t much of a story line.
So many books, so little time.
Frank Zappa
Hopefully I have given you some inspiration about what to read next and if you have any ideas as to what I could read next, please feel free to comment below with your thoughts. Next month, my theme is going to be local authors ie authors who are from Northern Ireland originally – and I’m not spoiled for choice!
Lynda
The Author
Lynda Willis lives in Co Armagh and writes blogs about her rambles in nature as well as rambling about topics close to her heart. This year, she is fundraising for Breast Cancer Now so please click here if you’d like to donate.
