Dear Edward by Ann Napolitano

__I enjoyed the book because... __the storyline is about a plane crash with one survivor, a young boy called Edward who loses his whole family. It chronicles the lives of many passengers on the plane and Edward’s journey through life without his family. I enjoyed following the stories of different characters and it was nice to see Edward grow throughout the book, despite his difficult circumstance. On a personal note - it was good to try a new genre, I usually stick to crime fiction!

Any critical comments or thoughts?
It was a bit of a slow burner if I’m being honest – for a lot of the book I wasn’t sure where the plot was going as you already know that the main storyline is about a plane crash, but the plot does build – I promise!

Anything you learned or took away with you?
Much of the book followed different passengers, the reasons why they were travelling and what was going on in their lives. I read most of this book on public transport on my commute, and I found it interesting to consider that everyone I travel with has very different lives and have lived under very different circumstances – it was food for thought!

Would you recommend / who is it a good read for?
I would recommend it to anyone who needs a boost of positivity! It follows Edward who turns his extremely sad situation into a positive one. I wouldn’t however recommend it to anyone who is a nervous flyer - like myself!

If you had to provide a quote for the cover what would it say?
“An inspiring read”

Rating out of 5?
3

__I enjoyed the book because... __it gets you thinking about really relatable, real-life situations is amazing, it really drew me in and made me want to read more. It makes you think about what you can change or need to change to care a little less about the unimportant things.

Any critical comments or thoughts?
Word count on how many times it says fxxx would be pretty high!

Anything you learned or took away with you?
A different way of processing and reading situations. A busy mind isn’t always a healthy mind, and sometimes looking at things and realising they’re not as important as you think can change a lot. Especially for my job (lol), I care about everything and everyone, but it really makes you open your eyes and realise who you should and what you should prioritise in life.

Would you recommend / who is it a good read for?
So far yes, (I haven’t finished it yet, oops) although I do feel it may get a little repetitive – anyone that likes humourous and light-hearted self help books!

If you had to provide a quote for the cover what would it say?
To the point and humorous ways of not giving a fxxx

Rating out of 5?
3

I enjoyed the book because... it centres around four female protagonists in Korea who lead very different lives, who all have different flaws and who all face very different struggles, but there’s themes which tie them together. I loved the focus on the four different characters and the ways in which they subtly influence each other’s lives, and how they also convey a bigger message about modern life for the women of Korea.

Any critical comments or thoughts?
The only criticism I have is that I wish I knew how all the characters’ lives went on after the book ends!

Anything you learned or took away with you?
I learned that the issues and struggles of being a woman span across the globe, even if they materialise in different ways. This book is an interesting insight into Korean beauty standards and relationships, and there’s some interesting parallels.

Would you recommend/who is it a good read for?
I would absolutely recommend this book, it’s a great read for anyone interested in exploring a very different culture and it’s a very interesting comment on modern-day Seoul.

If you had to provide a quote for the cover what would it say?
A fascinating and intimate portrayal of contemporary Korea and its young women, I couldn‘t put it down.

Rating out of 5?
5!

I enjoyed this because... it's a chick flick, real easy read and good for escapism as it takes you away from reality but doesn’t require too much thinking!

Any critical comments or thoughts?
The plot keeps you on edge as it centres around a grandmother's deathbed and who will inherit her fortune. It’s funny and will transport you into a world where money is no issue - funny how the other half live!

Anything you learned or took away with you?
The only thing I found frustrating about the book is that it often uses footnotes to translate native language or to go into further detail. It just took away slightly from being a truly easy read.

Would you recommend/who is it a good read for?
I would recommend this to my friends and family as an easy and funny read.

If you had to provide a quote for the cover what would it say?
An intriguing, hilarious and addictive read!

Rate out of 5?
4

I enjoyed the book because... the plot gets more exciting and interesting as you read further into the novel, surprising you as it goes from a seemingly ordinary story of two individuals into a panic-filled thriller as their secrets are at risk of unravelling.

Any critical comments or thoughts?
The book is a little slow at first, and the characters can struggle to grip you until further into the book, so some perseverance is needed at first.

Anything you learned or took away with you?
Sometimes a slow beginning can make tension build more than a wholly intriguing plot.

Would you recommend/who is it a good read for?
I would recommend the book for someone who enjoys serious drama, not necessarily a light read.

If you had to provide a quote for the cover what would it say?
The ups and downs of this story will grasp you and leave you more human than ever before.

Rating out of 5?
3

I enjoyed this book because... it's a lovely book to dip in and out off and is great to have by your bed for when you are struggling to fall asleep. Having gone through periods of bad insomnia myself, I found it interesting to read different facts about what makes people stay awake as well as learn tricks to help you sleep. It’s not ground breaking but definitely a good reminder of the importance of sleep and source of help for those struggling with it.

Any critical comments or thoughts?
It’s not your usual book, it has lots of illustrations and fun facts – like that dolphins don’t sleep for a month after giving birth – mental!

Would you recommend/who is it a good read for?
I would recommend this book to anyone with sleeping difficulties, as well as anyone wanting to improve the quality of their sleep.

Rating out of 5?
4

__I enjoyed the book because...__I liked that the modern-day themes acknowledged were very relatable: the pretence of social media, mental health, the seemingly constant negativity of the news, the anxiety of time disappearing and Western beauty constructs - to name but a few. I liked the author’s honest and open writing style and his bullet-point strategies for coping with each stressful element of the modern world. Another bonus is the fact it’s very concise with extremely short chapters, which made it easy to pick up anytime.

Any critical comments or thoughts?
At times it did feel like every single element of life made the author anxious and you end up feeling a bit stressed just reading about it!

Anything you learned or took away with you?
How to live in the present, better.

Would you recommend/who is it a good read for?
It would be a good read for those who often feel overwhelmed by everyday life and who need some advice on how to cope from someone who has experienced and learnt to deal with the same feelings.


If you had to provide a quote for the cover what would it say?
“Sex isn’t really what sells. What sells is fear.”

Rating out of 5?
3