So it's Friday again, and that means another exciting Friday Recommends!This is an exciting book blog hop that book bloggers can take part in once a week to share with their followers, the books that they most recommend reading!
The rules for Friday Recommends are:
- Follow Pen to Paper as host of the meme.
- Please consider adding the blog hop button to your blog somewhere, so others can find it easily and join in too! Help spread the word! The code will be at the bottom of the post under the linky.
- Pick a book that you've read, and have enjoyed enough to recommend to other readers. It can be a book you've read recently, or a book you read years ago - it's up to you - but make sure you tell us why you love the book (like a mini review). You make the post as long or as short as you like.
- Add your blog to the linky at the bottom of this post after posting your blog post.
- Put a link back to pen to paper (http://vogue-pentopaper.blogspot.com) somewhere in your post.
- Visit the other blogs and enjoy!
A Gathering Light by Jennifer Donnelly
Goodreads synopsis:
British title for A Northern Light...
When Mattie is given letters by a guest at the hotel where she has a summer job, she thinks the guest is simply upset. But when the woman is found drowned next day, Mattie must decide whether she will read them, or burn them as requested. A touching funny surprising novel set in 1906 and based on a true story.
It has been just over 18 months since I read this book, but I am going to do my best to do it justice with my review - it's a truly great read!
What a fantastically appropriate novel for a lover of the written word!
Mattie is the perfect narrator for the story. She provides the reader with her inner-monologues, allowing us into her mind and putting such raw emotions on display that it's difficult not to immediately sympathise with her character. She's strong-minded, yet warm and loyal, and incredibly intelligent for such a young character - I couldn't think of a better character to lead the book.
Mattie's dream of being a writer resonates deeply with me, as this is a dream we share, but when I see how much she struggles against the wills of her family and neighbours to fulfill her aspirations, it makes me feel incredibly lucky to have the support I do in realising my own.
However, Donnelly's real achievement with this novel is her descriptive language. She composes Mattie's observations in such a poised and poetic manner, that the reader is immediately captivated by the world seen through her eyes.
This is an incredibly elegant and beautiful novel and not one to be missed!
________♥________
What books would you recommend to other readers? Are you a blogger? You can let us know by posting your own Friday Recommends and linking up in the linky below.
7 comments:
As you know I have read this one Dani as it was part of last years RiSi book circle. I did enjoy it and have some more of Jennifer Donnolly's books to read. Great choice :)
Jenny - My Friday Recommends post
A Gathering Light sounds pretty good. :) I really like the cover already and you seem to have really loved it. :) thanks for sharing!
I haven't read this yet. Now I can't wait to read. It seems interesting :)
I read A Gathering Light in the train on the way to Lille for my first Rammstein gig. It was about 7 years ago and I don't really remember much about the story, I just remember liking it! My mum didn't like it, though, she found it boring and predictable, so maybe this is one of those YA books that really are appreciated more by YA readers. Who knows!
This looks like a book I'd really like. thanks for the great review.
I love the sound of this book, I've had it sat on my shelf for ages and I must really get around to it soon!
Sounds like a wonderful read. Nice review.
Post a Comment
Thank you for taking the time to comment on my blog - it is always appreciated!