The Summer Guest by Emma Hannigan

****

It appears that Lexi Collins and her husband Sam have the perfect lifestyle in Caracove Bay.  They have a thriving art business, a busy social life and a beautiful house on Cashel Square.  Their peace is disturbed by the increasing demand to have a baby from Lexi’s mother which stirs up unsettling memories of the past and creates friction and misunderstandings between the whole family.

Kathleen Williams suddenly appears on Lexi’s doorstep; visiting from America and keen to see the childhood home she left more than sixty years ago.  Lexi and Sam invite Kathleen to move into their basement flat to stay for the summer so she can revisit old friends and take on the challenges set by her beloved husband.  To add to the mix, wilful teenage niece Amelie, frustrated by the restrictions set by her parents and hoping her “mint-bomb” aunt will be much more understanding, decides to move into Cashel Square.  The three generations of women become close sharing their lives and secrets.

A gentle read about the importance of friendships, love and the power of rainbows.  At times it seems a little simplistic (would you let a complete stranger move into your house?!) and most of the minor characters are just sooooo nice. Although some more difficult issues are broached they are all neatly tied up by the end, but I became really angry about the way Lexi's mother pressured her about having a baby and felt it was some what overdone.  Billed as perfect for fans of Maeve Binchy, it certainly echoes her Irish family sagas and depicts a cosy image of Ireland and it's people.  It's an enjoyable summer read. 

Thank you to lovereading for providing a free copy for review.  A shorter version of this review was submitted to www.lovereading.co.uk

Day 30 - Your Favourite Book of All Time

Last day of the challenge and I'm still here (and on time!)

I haven't got a favourite book of all time, as I can't pick out just one book from all the favourites that I love for many different reasons and choose due to my mood.  
So (and it might be a slight cheat, but rules are meant to be broken) the books I return to again and again, that can still stand the many revisits and remain fresh and lively are all by Jane Austen.  If I had to be tough and limit myself to three (and that's as far as I'm willing to go) it'd be Persuasion, Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility. 

Day 29 - Favourite Book You Read in School

I have a tendency to be a bit contrary (really, moi?) and so if I was made to read something at school it didn't always turn out as well as the books I found for myself.  I don't remember having that many "class reads" in school either, we definitely did a few in middle school including:
The Owl Service
Five Children and It
The Silver Sword
which I remember purely because I loved them...but any others have faded into the dim dusty corners of my lost memories!

At secondary school we were force fed several texts.  I loathe Moonfleet, Great Expectations and Lord of the Flies due to the grim overworking of them by teachers having to teach a class where 90% had probably not read any of the set chapters beforehand anyway.  Although I'm told they are worthy reads they just can't redeem themselves in my eyes.
I did enjoy Wide Sargasso Sea despite being nonplussed by Jane Eyre.  I also loved all the Shakespeare I did (except Twelfth Night for some reason).


However, today's prize goes to a book already mentioned...The Turbulent Term of Tyke Tyler.

Day 28 - Favourite Book Title

Easy one today...

So Long and Thanks For All the Fish by Douglas Adams

Just a brilliant title that sums it all up.
It's ages since I read Hitch-hikers and I feel a re-read coming on!  

Day 27 - The Most Surprising Plot Twist Or Ending

Maybe I'm just a seriously flawed person, but I'm always looking out for the twist/ killer ending and so tend to look out for clues and spot the potential twists as I'm reading.  Although I'm not always right, (oo, that's painful to admit!) I enjoy this aspect when reading.  I can't think of any endings that completely floored me in the past few years, but I might if I mull over a bit longer.

However, when I was a sweet innocent I was shocked by the reveal at the end of The Turbulent Term of Tyke Tiler.  I loved this book and thank Mr Freeman for being the teacher who introduced it to me!

Day 26 - A Book That Changed Your Opinion About Something

Okay, there's been some days of the challenge that I've found difficult but I've drawn a complete blank here.  I don't really read enough "serious" books that are likely to change my opinions, and so I truly can't think of any thing I can offer today.
Total failure...apologies.  If I think of anything - I'd add it later.

Day 25 - A Character Who You Can Relate To The Most

Well, I'm feeling pretty smug as it's Day 25 and I've managed to stick to blogging every day, on time for this challenge and the end is rapidly approaching.
But today's another tricky one...I tend to want to be other characters rather than relating to them.
After some consideration I think I was a bit of a Hermione Granger when I was growing up and I do see where she's coming from in the books. (I think this was also why I got a bit annoyed, particularly with the earlier films as she wasn't portrayed quite as I imagined her.)
She's swotty, bookish naturally talented.  Her way of trying to solve a problem is to go to the library and research it.  She's annoying, bossy and has an opinion on everything.  She'd be the first to say I told you so.  But despite all that, she is aware of her flaws, she's no beauty (in the book) and she sometimes has a humour by-pass, but she has a spark about her.  Most importantly she is also incredibly loyal, resilient and reliable.  
I didn't go to a magic boarding school and I'm not naturally brilliant like Hermione but I was a hardworking, serious, girly swot with my nose always stuck in a book too and that's probably why I ended up doing the job I do so I had an excuse to channel my inner bossiness to a suitable end (but in a good way!)