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Day 22 – 30 Day Book Challenge

Oct22

It’s gorgeous isn’t it? It’s a true treasure given to me from a friend for my birthday. I’ve never been given such a valuable present before and it’s my favourite thing I own after family jewellery. There’s an inscription on the cover dated 1900 from a Katie. (I’ve had it dated and it’s around 1890) It’s a piece of history. I keep it wrapped up and hidden; I’d do anything to keep it safe.

Day 16 – 30 Day Book Challenge

Oct16

Felicity might have been the first American Girl series I read, I can’t remember. I just remember how jealous my nine-year-old self was that Felicity had a pony. It was also fun to learn colonial speak. It made me want to live during that time until I released women didn’t have any rights. Still, Felicity had her own horse and she is so full of a fiery personality that I wanted to be just like her (remember, I was nine). She also had a very close relationship with her grandfather, as did I. They aren’t the same when you read them now, but back in primary (elementary) school, these books were the coolest things ever!

Day 12 – 30 Day Book Challenge

Oct12

I loved anything that had to do with horses growing up. Black Beauty was a beautiful story, but as I grew up the cruelty inflicted upon the horses affected me more and more. Now I don’t think I can read the story again. All I remember is poor Ginger and the lack of understanding that horses are creatures too. When I worked at an after school program my head teacher decided to read this story, one chapter every afternoon, to our kids. I asked if she was sure she wanted to do that, for she hadn’t read the book before. I’ll never forget the look on her face when she read aloud Ginger’s fate. The kid’s faces weren’t much better, but it’s all apart of growing up isn’t it?

Day 10 – 30 Day Book Challenge

Oct10

Maybe it’s because I’ve never seen any visual adaptations of Frankenstein that I adored this classic. Can’t say the same about Bram Stoker. I had no idea what was going to happen and was heavily intrigued by the humanity that develops within the monster. I was totally on the monster’s side and loved this gothic horror of skill.

Released Today! The Midwife’s Daughter by Patricia Ferguson

Sep27

It’s 1900, in Cornwall, England, twin sister’s Bea and Violet attempt to work through their strained relationship. A severely ill orphaned child lies in a lonely cot. Her eyes hold Violet, how alike they are to her own daughter that has passed away. There’s just one big difference; the nameless child is black. Regardless of her colour Violet claims the girl as her own, raising her along the seaside.

Christened as Grace, she grows up in a racist world, praying to God that he turn her skin white. Time passes as Violet and Grace age. History evolves around them as they redefine the structure of family during a period of war and medical progression. Love knows no colour in this beautiful historical novel.

Although not a YA novel, this book was given to me for an honest review. Thus I’m making a onetime exception (although throughout the middle of the book Grace is a teenager – classic YA?). I am a fan of historical fiction and the book is fantastically written. With accents and language that bring the reader across any ocean to Cornwall, Ferguson has clearly down her research. Touching on sensitive topics as race and class, The Midwife’s Daughter will make you think about the past and how the future has progressed.

The Midwife’s Daughter hits stores today! Buy your copy now!

I was given this book as an ARC from Penguin Books, many thanks to the marketing and publicity team at Penguin Books UK!