Expat Amber

  After the death of his grandfather, Noah’s life is thrown into chaos as he faces a  repressed past which threatens everything he believes to be true. In the course of  trying to come to terms with his loss, Noah must also navigate a difficult relationship  with his sister, Kelly, as they reflect on their turbulent childhood – when they were  taken from London to live in the Kent countryside following the breakdown of their  parents’ marriage. Set between the 1970s and the more recent past, Adventures About To Begin  chronicles a collapsing marriage as experienced by its children and reflects on how  memory shapes our decisions at crucial junctures during our lives.  It is both funny and touching, as well as a sensitive insight into British family life  during a period of great social and cultural change. I liked it and gave it three stars. Adventures About to Begin  by Allen Therisa is a touching and nostalgic tale that transport...

Murder By Natural Causes introduces us to Cilla, a 22-year-old contract killer who specialises in the dry job,  making murders appear as natural deaths. She is an unconventional anti-heroine, lacking beauty and physical strength, but armed with astute cleverness and tenacity. But Cilla knows her luck won't last forever, and she must find a way to reinvent herself before her past catches up with her. This intelligent thriller keeps readers engaged in her journey of self-preservation towards the normal life she so desperately craves. Do you remember going to raves and where you were when the Berlin Wall fell?  Cilla does, and it all conveniently coincides with her own small glimmer of hope. As a product of an experimental programme training child assassins behind the Iron Curtain, she had no need for emotions. This protagonist seemed more of a curiosity to me when I first started listening. She even taught me a little about the game of bridge, which I fondly remember my parents...

Runaway Train is about a journey of self-discovery that begins with tragedy in 1993. Nico escapes her troubled life and goes on a road trip to Seattle, encountering a wild cast of characters along the way. Through music, she learns to confront her fears, face her past, and embrace her future. Do you remember the grunge scene and the cast of 90210? Even if you don't, the soundtrack chapters of this book will transport you directly into the mosh pit of raw teen angst. Before cell phones captured everything about our lives, mix tapes and Polaroids told our tales. Personally, I was on my own path of self-destruction at the time, so this story really resonated with me – pulling at memories long forgotten for good reason. By the end, I was glad to have been along for the ride. “Memory can be a fickle thing. We choose what we want to remember. So, forget everything else about today, and remember it as the day you made that mountain your bitch.” I liked it and gave it three stars.  This b...

One summer morning, Elle's life changed forever the moment she dove into the pond at The Paper Palace – the one place that knows all her secrets. Within the next twenty-four hours, a journey of fifty years leads to a decision that changes everything. Do you remember answering machines and sea monkeys?  Even if you don't, you'll connect with the choices that can make and break us. Jumping from one memory of a moment to another, the story spans half a century. Especially if you enjoy descriptive detail, you’ll find yourself immersed in the smell of the salt air and the pang of regret. It was a slow burn for me, but the perfect Generation X beach read.  “I hate the way British people cook eggs.”  I liked it and gave it three stars.  This book was purchased from The Mysterious Bookcase. Discover a blind date with a new or preloved book here .