May Bookclub

Hey everyone!

I am finally writing those book recommendations I promised a while ago, whoops! Reading is a huge part of my life, as I have probably mentioned before, and I would like to share that with you. I have tried to include as many genres as possible so everyone can find something that they like. 

Elenor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman

This book took the world by storm last year because it is very different to the usual realistic fictional story. The author, Gail Honeyman, got her inspiration from reading about the lonely existence of a girl who worked and then went home without socialising. This is essentially the story of Eleanor.

She is a 29-year-old woman who has a desk job and lives alone. She makes no contact with anyone, apart from a weekly phone call with her disapproving and ghastly mother. Her routine is never-changing; she buys the same frozen pizza, she wears the same clothes and she purchases the same brand of vodka at the end of each week. However, one night she ventures out of her flat to a gig at a bar. She becomes infatuated with the lead singer which leads her to change her appearance and behaviour to look like a "human woman". Her obsession grows but so does a new friendship with her co-worker, Raymond. 

This was a very unusual read for me because the realistic fiction books I read are about younger characters but I enjoyed this story nonetheless. It was interesting to see the perspective of a woman who does no socialising whatsoever and the toll that this took on her emotionally. It really opened my eyes to how people I see during the week spend their time after I say goodbye to them on a Friday afternoon until I see them again on a Monday morning. It was actually quite thought-provoking, which I did not expect. If you need a quick read, this is the one for you. 

Jack Reacher: Past Tense by Lee Child

Now we all know that Lee Child writes action-packed, quite gory but ultimately very thrilling books and this book is no different. What is great about the Jack Reacher series is that you can read the books in any order and they still make sense.

In this particular novel, Reacher is travelling through New England when he comes across the town where his father was born. He looks into his family history but no records seem to exist which raises some questions in his mind. At the same time, a Canadian couple begin their travels to New York. Unfortunately, their car breaks down and they become stranded in a motel but luckily for them, they are not far from Reacher. Soon the couple realise that their hosts have sinister intentions but will they escape in time to save their lives?


Oh, I left you in suspense! This book is very cool, it may take a while until the action happens but when it does, wow, there's a lot of it! It is one of the more gory novels of Child's, so be wary, but it didn't put me off at all. The physical abilities of Reacher are astounding, as are his intellectual abilities to predict when and where things will happen. And thankfully for the Canadian couple, he never dies, despite the physically-demanding and life-threatening situations he puts himself in.

The Wolf in the Whale by Jordanna Max Brodsky

This story tells the tale of Omat, a young Inuit shaman with the soul of a hunter but the spirit of a wolf. He is born into a small Inuit family that lived through the tragedy of losing their best hunters to the sea but as the shaman, Omat has to bear the burden of a now-starving family. He goes on a great journey across the ice to search for food but his travels coincide with those of the Vikings. The tyranny of the Vikings soon becomes known but Omat manages to befriend an outcast, Brandr, and they continue on their journey. The pair soon come across the Native Americans and trouble ensues.

This book is an absolute masterpiece! I loved every second of it as it encompasses such a tumultuous but fascinating time in history that actually occurred! I love historical fiction and especially as this story is about a time that is not spoken about often, it made this read very special. The journey that Omat makes, physically, spiritually and emotionally is both heart-wrenching and inspiring. Learning about the spirituality of the Inuit people and their use of all parts of the animals they hunt is extremely interesting as well. I highly, highly recommend this book, not only because of the storyline, but also because of the beautiful descriptions and language that Brodsky used.

Carve the Mark and The Fates Divide - Veronica Roth

This is a two-book science fiction series that follows the lives of Akos and Cyra. They are completely opposite, in their upbringings and in their culture but they are inherently more connected than they may think. Akos, from pleasant and safe Thuvhe, is torn away from his family and thrust into the violent Shotet community, where Cyra and her family rule. In such an unrestful time, will they learn to work together or will their differences tear them apart?

This was a very exciting series that I finished in just under a week because I could not put the books down! It may have been difficult to pronounce the places and the characters' names, but it just adds to the atmosphere of being in another world. It was a very compelling read, evident from the short time in which I read it, as it is filled with threats, fighting and romance. If you need an easy read that still stimulates your imagination, I recommend this series written by the author of Divergent.


Wicked Business - Janet Evanovich

This next book is a comedy, quite a contrast to the skop, skiet en donder of Jack Reacher (this is an Afrikaans phrase that refers to a story filled with kicking, shooting and beatings). Wicked Business is the second book in the Lizzy and Diesel series but I didn't read the first one and I didn't have any trouble understanding the plot.

It follows the life of Lizzy Tucker. She has recently moved to Salem because of her inheritance of her aunt's house, and has become a pastry chef. However, her normal life does not stay normal for long. Diesel, a part-bodyguard part-magic wielder, has appeared in her life and refuses to leave. Apparently, she is in danger from those in search of the Seven Deadly Sin Stones. Lizzy is unwittingly drawn into a complicated plot filled with death and intrigue, so she decides to go along for the ride.

This book had me in fits of laughter throughout and it didn't take long to finish. I loved the dynamic that Lizzy and Diesel have and the way their plans turn out is hilarious. It is part of the fantasy genre but the book's fantastical side comes across in a very mature manner that makes it pleasant to read. I have not read the rest of the series but I hope to in the future because I thoroughly enjoyed this novel.

I hope that one of these books tickles your fancy and that you will enjoy it as much as I did. Try to borrow the book from a friend or the library so as not to create any more waste than necessary. You don't want to spend your money on something that you will read once and then collect dust. Let me know which books you enjoyed and please pass on some of your own recommendations in the comments below.