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Notebook Number Nine by Jackie Carreira

Aug27

One Smile At A Time

Notebook Number Nine by Jackie Carreira is the most beautiful contemporary novel that sank into my heart and soul. I never wanted it to end.

The tale is one of self-discovery. It begins in the year 2000 and ends in 2024. Bekki wants to discover the meaning of life, and the meaning of her life, in particular. She makes drastic changes. Notebooks are bought and written in over the years. “A journey of self-development doesn’t take you to a place on a map. It takes you to a place inside yourself.”

We learn that changes don’t happen overnight. For change to be consistent, we need to implement small changes regularly over time. We will always have the choice to do the right thing.

Along the way, Bekki meets people who will change her life with their care, kindness and compassion. There are those who look out for others – Ruth and Alf run a café and they have a heart to feed and help the homeless. There are some huge hearts within the book.

We ‘hear’ Bekki’s thoughts on religion, politics and war – the latter is particularly poignant, as we read:

“The only people that ever benefit from war are arms dealers and undertakers.”

We learn the value of a smile. To change someone’s world, all it may take is a smile. Practice kindness. “If you can make one person’s life a little better every day, then you’ve changed the world.”

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Eighty & Out by Kim Cano

Aug23

Very Charming

Eighty And Out by Kim Cano is a very charming and beautiful novel. The narrative sank into my heart and soul.

This is a book about a life and the relationships formed along the way. It is a book that is easy to empathise with – this could be any one of us. When we are young, we fear getting older – checking out at eighty seems sensible! However, as we get older, we realise that life is for living – carpe diem – seize the day!

Snippets of a life are shown over the years. We witness the awful persecution of African Americans in the 1950’s, even in the North.

In school, the lead character is ostracised for daring to be friendly to the new girl who is an African American. In her neighbourhood there is persecution and intimidation. “Shouldn’t we see if they need help?”… “I don’t think it’s a good idea,’ Dad cautioned. ‘It’s best not to get involved.” The grown-ups shy away from helping as they fear personal reprisals. Only a young girl feels empathy and has a conscience.

We witness friendship, and the heartache when one of a pair moves away to college. Even in 1960’s girls were held back from being educated. “Why do you want to go to college?’… A girl getting an advanced education was unheard of.”

The Vietnam War was an unpopular war in America. Boys were called up to fight. Some never came home. Others came home, physically okay but mentally damaged. “I made eye contact with him and wondered what unspeakable horrors he’d experienced over there, he had never told anyone.”

There was a beautiful bond between sisters. Death comes knocking. Grief is hard. “As I watched [her] casket being lowered into the ground, I felt part of me die. [Her] faith in me was my greatest strength. Without her, I was weak.” Death keeps on knocking. “All he can really do is take it day by day.” The road of loss is a hard one to travel. It is literally, one step in front of another.

We want the world to stop turning. “Life just kept coming and I didn’t have a choice.” We have to keep going – and one day we will realise that life is for living again.

Eighty & Out is a beautiful book that I never wanted to end. I loved Kim Cano’s easy style of writing. I look forward to reading more by her.

JULIA WILSON

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Summer Term At Malory Towers by Pamela Cox

Aug23

Teamwork Makes The Dreamwork

Summer Term At Malory Towers by Pamela Cox is the eighth book in the Malory Towers series. It can be read as a stand-alone but I recommend reading the books in order, for timeline progression. And continuity of characters.

Malory Towers was originally penned by Enid Blyton in the 1940’s. Pamela Cox has taken up the reins from book seven onwards. It is a seamless transition as the flow and style is the same as the originals. The books are perfect for the over ten girls.

We rejoin Malory Towers for the summer term, seeing familiar faces, and meeting new ones.

We see the importance of friendship, and learn the value of sharing problems. “Sometimes it helps to confide in someone.” What can be a burden for one, becomes lighter if carried by more.

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Five Have A Wonderful Time by Enid Blyton

Aug19

More Than They Bargained For!

Five Have A Wonderful Time by Enid Blyton is the eleventh book in the Famous Five series but can be read as a stand-alone.

Familiar faces are off on an adventure again – as a caravanning holiday leads to more than the children bargained for.

Staying in two traditional traveller’s caravans, the five are looking forward to a peaceful time in the countryside.

First, they meet some hostile circus folk, then a face from the past returns, and finally there is a face-off with the bad men! No such thing as a quiet time for the five!

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