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The Diverging Lives Of Bethany Raven by Sarah E Bonner

May8

Unique & Engaging

The Diverging Lives Of Bethany Raven by Sarah E Bonner is a very entertaining contemporary novel that I thoroughly enjoyed.

The plotline is unique – one in which Bethany Raven wakes each day in a different version of herself. There are similar but different life experiences as we witness what life could have been like if she had made different choices. “One tiny choice created a whole ripple.”

Her final wake up life is horrendous as she is married to a bully. Bethany is desperate to find her way back home.

Constant in her many lives is Tyler Adams – her nemesis in her original life, and just a science teacher in her final life but his brain is huge, and she needs all his knowledge to help her get back home.

We witness Bethany Raven interacting with her friends in the different worlds.

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The Shadow Pony by Olivia Wakeford (Illustrated by David Litchfield)

Apr24

Love – The Glue That Binds

The Shadow Pony by Olivia Wakeford (illustrated by David Litchfield) is the most charming contemporary children’s novel that I adored. It is suitable for the over tens. It is beautifully illustrated too.

The story is set in Wales and has Aberuraun Colliery as its’ focus. Following a school trip, lead character eleven-year-old Evan desires to find out more about the pit ponies that worked the mines.

Evan’s Grandad used to work in the mine and is haunted by a past event.

There is power in a story. It is in sharing stories that memories can be passed down the generations. We all want to know our personal histories.

We see the difficulties that arise when living with someone with a mental illness. Twelve-year-old Melly’s Mum has bi-polar. This is hard for Melly as sometimes her Mum has to be hospitalised.

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Sisters Of The Storm by Lana Kortchik

Apr23

The Bonds Of Love

Sisters Of The Storm by Lana Kortchik is a powerful World War II novel that I just couldn’t put down.

The reader joins twin sisters, both of whom are nurses, doing their bit for the war effort. The plane carrying them across Albania crashes and the book tells of their fight to survive in enemy-occupied land. They are befriended by partisans and by the people of Albania who are kind, sharing what little they had. “You stay in my house, you are family.” The Albanian people were kindness personified. “What they lacked in material possessions, they more than made up with unconditional love.” With no thought to personal safety, they helped the crashed Americans. “Every step of the way, they were met with kindness. They were welcomed by strangers like they were family.”

We learn about the daughters lives before the war. “Marrying his daughters off was a business deal for their father.” A daughter is cast out when she marries the man of her dreams, who turns out to be a nightmare.

We witness domestic abuse. It’s not always punches; it can be words. “Since they got married, there was a voice inside her head that sounded just like his, hissing and angry and terrifying, telling her she wasn’t good enough or smart enough.” A character believed the lies her husband spoke over her, and is determined not to be that person again. “One of these days I need to stop making excuses for him.” It takes guts to stand up to her husband, and to refuse to be brow-beaten any longer.

You never forget your first love. Although miles from home, there is a chance meeting for a couple who vow never to be parted again.

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I Did A Bad Thing by Louise Jensen

Apr1

A Mother’s Love

I Did A Bad Thing by Louise Jensen is a totally gripping contemporary psychological thriller that I just could not put down.

This is a book about a mother’s love. It motivates her to do what she does. Some of her choices are questionable. As a mother puts lives on social media, we see that the world is your judge. Lives thrown open to the world, are criticised by the world.

We see the importance of a mother’s instinct. “He might know medicine, but I know my child.” This maternal instinct will save a life, as it is fought for by the mother. “I’m scared she’ll die.”

Our choices are important. Choices bring consequences and we must live with them. We see a life facing the ‘what-if’ questions. Will a conscience choose to do the right thing?

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