NetGalley Reviewer nix21230

Accessible, witty and enjoyable read!  Title: Holes Author: Lois Sachar This was picked as a year 5 English class read by a local school. Expecting another boring and dry mandatory school book like Lord of the Flies (which I hated) I reluctantly started to read it.  Camp Green Lake is not like any camp you've ever been too; this is not a fun summer camp, nor are there any greenery or any lake to swim in. Stanley Yelnats was given the option of selecting between prison and Camp Green Lake; he picked the camp. Sachar has created an engaging and enjoyable fast paced story which is easily accessible to both young and old readers.  All I can say is, that I wish my English teachers had picked this type of book when I was young! Teachers will have lots of topics to analyse and discuss this book with their class, delving into subjects like friendship, love, right and wrongs, racism, youth crime, abuse of power, myths, etc.  

"If you believe you can change—if you make it a habit—the change becomes real. This is the real power of habit: the insight that your habits are what you choose them to be"  Title: The Power of Habit   Author: Charles Duhigg The book is full of easy to understand real-life examples to showcase the science behind the power of habit. It increases our understanding of ourselves and others, how we can work together despite having different believes and goals.  There is a section on how companies never should let a serious crisis go to waste; a crisis provides the opportunity to do things that we could not do before. According to Duhigg we can achieve almost everything in life, as long as we create the right habits. Habits, which are based on science and intrinsically liked with cue and reward. It's the part, the routine, between these two which we should change to our advantage.  “It seems ridiculously simple, but once you’re aware of how your habit works, once you recog...

How to live alone and yet not be alone? Title: Less Author: Andrew Sean Greer I had high hopes for this book, seeing the various awards the author had accumulated; including the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction (2018) for this particular book, and the raving reviews online.  It really SHOULD be a great book, but it just doesn't take off. Perhaps it was just the wrong book at the wrong time, or my brain just didn't GET this book.  Sorry. Arthur Less is 49 years, NOT 50!, and he sees himself as a failed nobody. To avoid going to the wedding of his former partner of nine years, he sets off on a tour around the world, financing it with speaking opportunities, lectures, awards ceremonies and teaching.  PS. I did like this quote from the book though:  "The key to speaking a new language"... "is to be bold instead of perfect" .

I'll happily pay for a 'mum breakdown service' Title: More Than Just Mum  (More Than Just Mum, Book 1) Author: Rebecca Smith In the reviews by others, this book is described as an "absolutely hilarious, laugh out loud novel of family chaos and reinvention". I wasn't that enamoured with it. Sure, it made me smile from time to time, but it wasn't incredible.  Hannah is the mum of Dylan, Scarlet and Benji. She's tired of being 'the mum of...'. and she's longingly looking back at a time when she was Hannah, not the MUM. She decides she needs to find a job she loves and earn a lot of money.  To earn lots of money she decides she should become a writer, because they apparently all earn a lot of dosh. She has a particular niche in mind...  "... might ask for advice about how to handle being forty-three years old, permanently strapped for cash and doing a job I hate while trying to deal with three exhausting kids. That’s the kind of breakdown ...

Fast-paced, political spy story with more intelligence than brute force; I loved it! Title:  I am Pilgrim   Author: Terry Hayes A woman is murdered in New York and all ways to identify her have been removed. The body makes the lead officer on the scene think of a scene in a book written by a former CIA legend.  The CIA agent has gone into hiding to enjoy his retirement, but the New York police department decides to try to track him down as they desperately need his help. We meet the young Saudi boy who has seen his own father being beheaded in public. As he grows up, he is disgusted by the way women outside of Saudi lives and he joins the Taliban.  He sets in motion a long-winded, well-planned and extremely carefully executed plan. The effects of which will be much worse than 9/11. Further books by the author The second book by Hayes, called The year of the locust , is allegedly due to be released in May (hardback) and July (Kindle) 2021. Not sure why it is taking so...

Life is what it is... you take it as it comes Title: The Innocent  (Will Robie) Author: David Baldacci Baldacci never disappoints! Will Robie is the best of the best at his job; assassinating people when instructed. Always following orders, never questioning anything and always succeeding; until he's faced with a young woman and her two children. Something doesn't feel right. Robie decides to listen to his conscious and Baldacci has set the scene for yet another series of remarkable books. Strong characters, fast pace, a few twists and interlinking plots. The Will Robie series include the following books; The Innocent (2012) The Hit (2013) Bullseye (2014) The Target (2014) The Guilty (2015) End Game (2017)

The rules and morale are different during Bonus Time; anything goes as long as it ensures a better bonus than everyone else Title: At bonus time no one can hear you scream   Author: David Charters The story is fast paced, incredibly funny and sometimes probably a bit too honest! Dave Hart is worried about his annual bonus and we follow him during the last two months leading up to the Big Announcement. During Bonus Time the rules are different and people all behave very differently compared to other times of the year. A deal clinched at this time of year is worth much more, than say a deal in March (which is when Dave Hart last had a deal close).  Charters gives us an incredible funny insight into what we'd hope are the worst possible personalities and companies occupying the Square Mile (London's financial district).  Considering that Charters has been working as an investment banker, one wonders how many of his former colleagues recognise themselves or others in Dave Har...