Miranda's Big Mistake * Jill Mansell

Miranda is thrilled when she meets Greg at a cocktail party. He's gorgeous, he's funny - and he's very keen. Just what a girl needs to put some sparkle in her life. Heavens, he's practically perfect! Greg likes Miranda a lot. She's young, she's pretty, and she never talks about babies. 

Of course he hasn't told her everything about himself - even the sweetest girls can be a bit funny about a man who's just left his newly pregnant wife. But there's no way she's going to find out - or is there?

Miranda can't believe her luck when she gets stopped by a homeless man. She's already late for work, has forgotten her lunch and in desperate need of a sit down. But here she is promising a sandwich to the local man whilst standing in the pouring rain, could her day get any worse? 

Chloe is on cloud nine. She's madly in love with her husband Greg and she's about to tell him that they're expecting their first child. Greg isn't happy at all, in fact he's furious and is soon telling Chloe to leave...not only their home but their marriage.  Chloe's could is quickly turning grey. 

Though things aren't all bad, Miranda has found a new man at a local charity event, he's charming, handsome and incredibly funny - Greg seems like the perfect man to settle down with. With Chloe pregnant, homeless and nearly jobless, moving in with a new landlady seems like the best solution, she's just yet to meet the other tenant. 

Miranda's Big Mistake by Jill Mansell, is one of her oldest books and is the seventh book I have read by the author. I can honestly tell that this is an old book and can see how her writing style has changed over the years. Both are not a bad thing, it's just clear to see how it's changed. 

I struggled to get into this one at first if I'm honest, but once I finally got sucked in I loved it. I really loved Miranda and Chloe, they were fab. Though I think I loved Florence the best. 

There was plenty of romance and drama, I found ti quite funny too! As always I shall be reading more of her books as I really do love them and find them the perfect, easy summer escape! However, I did read this when the sun wasn't shining and when we were in March! 

I will be giving this book 4 out of 5

Fen * Daisy Johnson

The Fen is a liminal land. Real people live their lives here. They wrestle with sex and desire, with everyday routine. But the wild is always close at hand, ready to erupt.

This is a place where animals and people commingle and fuse, where curious metamorphoses take place, where myth and dark magic still linger. So here a teenager may starve herself into the shape of an eel. A house might fall in love with a girl. A woman might give birth to a, well, what?

In a town, where a girl wastes away into something peculiar. A woman gives birth to something inhumane yet feral.

Where one woman wrestles with the conspiracy theories and prophecies of her fisherman husband, and where a young girl becomes infatuated with a wall - is anything reality for much longer?

Where hope, fear, love and sexual desire all become mingled into one. Where life ceases to live and hardly exist at the same time. Where chaos and beautiful, wonderful things come together as one, and then nothing all at the same time. 

There is only one place, one strip of land where it belongs. The Fenland.

Fen by Daisy Johnson, is the second novel from this wonderful and brilliantly talented young, man booker prize novelist.

You all know how much I loved and raved about Everything Under last year, and has since then become one of my favourite books of all time. 

Fen is a mixture of short, wonderful stories all of which seem to focus around main key points. I feel that these are strong female sexuality, head strong women, with a touch of anxiety and depression. The stories are all unique, though in someway attached to each other, but by only a small fraction. The imagination in the book is exceptional, the words alone manage to creep up and under your skin, pulling you in more and more.

At times I must admit I did feel a bit confused, going from one story to the next. Though I loved it non the less. I think my favourite story would be the one with the girl and the wall, or the very first one in the book. There's just something about the story telling that captured me and drew me in.

Johnson's books never fail to amaze me, there is something so strange and peculiar about them and her writing style is gorgeous. They're ever so quirky, magical and downright strange and that is precisely why I love them. Whilst I did love this book, I don't know if I loved it as much as Everything Under, but she has quickly become a favourite author of mine. 

I will be giving this book 9 out of 10 

Always Look on the Bright Side of Life: A Sortabiography - Eric Idle

We know him best for his unforgettable roles on Monty Python - from the Flying Circus to The Meaning of Life. 

Now, Eric Idle reflects on the meaning of his own life in this entertaining memoir that takes us on an unforgettable journey from his childhood in an austere boarding school through his successful career in comedy, television, theater, and film.

"Life's a piece of shit, when you look at it. Life's a laugh and death's a joke it's true"

We all know him, wether it be from The Life of Brian, The Holy Grail or plain old Python sketches. He has become somewhat of a national treasure, Eric Idle, in his own words.  

From a young boy growing up in boarding school, to a cheeky teen doing as he pleases and finally, to one of the most well known comedic's in British history and member of the well loved Monty Python. 

Written and narrated by the Python himself (which makes it ten times better) 

Always Look on the Bright Side of Life by Eric Idle, was such a wonderful read. I managed to finish this within a week with the help of having this as an audiobook. I found it highly hilarious and it helped listening whilst I'm currently working from home. 

It's a lovely cheerful read to have at a time like this and will leave you with a smile on your face. Granted, there were times when I laughed, cried and was even down right shocked (annoyed) at some of the stories that Idle mentioned. Sadly some of thee stories put a slight dent in my appreciation for the comedian, but I can't say it will stop me from watching Monty Python and I still have a high appreciation for what he has achieved, and I can't not say that he hasn't worked hard to get where he has today. 

All in all it was a very joyous, sad and interesting read and I would recommend to any Python enthusiast. 

I will be giving this book a 7 out of 10