Just Read

The Postcard – Lily Graham

Genre: Contemporary fiction

The Postcard is the story of Ivy Everton, a young children’s book illustrator, who moves to Cornwall with her husband to embrace the ‘quiet life’. Ivy sorely misses her mother, whose passing away is still fresh in her mind. One fine day, Ivy brings her mother’s writing desk to her house, the very same desk she remembers her mother writing at, oh so vividly. Then, strange things start happening. Ivy soon realises that there is a lot she still has to learn in life, and that she needs to heal from the inside.

Yes, the storyline is charming and magical and interesting, and the characters sound quaint, as does the Cornwall setting of the book. However, the book disappointed me entirely. I felt the characters to be half-baked, hinting at promise, but not getting a chance to develop into the full-bodied people they should have been. The story is way too sweet – everyone is good, everything is good, and far, far, far away from real life. The author’s writing style too felt amateurish, in my humble opinion.

The Postcard is a fast read, one that you can read in a day or so, but I felt it lacked substance. It is not something that I would recommend, that is for sure.

I received an e-copy of this book from NetGalley, free, in exchange for an honest review.

Taste: A Love Story – Tracy Ewens

Genre: Foodie fiction

30-something Kara Malendar is a ruthless food critic for the Los Angeles Times, a fact that she prides herself on. Quite unexpectedly, one day, she crosses paths with Logan Rye, son of the Ryeland Farms family and owner of The Yard, the newest restaurant on the block that happens to be a much-talked-about one. Kara and Logan have known each other in the past, but they didn’t exactly part on the best of notes. They are flabbergasted when life throws them in each other’s path once again, and then, a whole new series of events starts unfolding. All of this and more makes up Tracy Ewens’ Taste: A Love Story.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. I loved the way the characters have been developed, and how the author has presented the little things from their lives to shape them up. I loved how the author has tried to delve into the thought processes of the characters. I loved the discussions that happen throughout the book about eating locally sourced and chemical-free food, the importance of home-made food, and the joy of letting one’s creativity reflect in the food that he/she is cooking. I loved the romance in the book – it is sweet, and made me feel all warm from within. I loved how the book gave me a glimpse into the food industry and a peek into the media world. I loved the author’s writing style, too. She sounds mature, well-read, and a person who thinks well and puts across her thoughts in words really well.

This is a typical chick-lit formula book, gay friend of the heroine included. That said, there are so many other factors that elevate this book beyond ‘dumb chick-lit’ status.

I had just one grouse with the book – the poor-Kara-doesn’t-know-how-to-lead-her-own-life bit feels a little overdone. It gets sort of tiring half-way through the book, and I wish that could have been toned down a bit. However, that doesn’t take away from the beautiful reading that this book makes for.

Overall, this is a book that I would totally recommend to you, especially if you are looking for something warm that you can cosy up with. I am sure the parts about the food will inspire you, too, as they did me.

Apparently, this is the third book in a series, but it didn’t really matter. Taste: A Love Story is good as a stand-alone book. I am desperately waiting to get my hands on the other books by the author, though – judging by this book and her blog that I discovered recently, I have a feeling I am going to like them a lot!

I received an e-copy of this book from NetGalley, free, in exchange for an honest review.

Have you read any or both of these books? What are your thoughts about them?

What are you reading presently? I would love to know!