Book Review: The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo

Title: The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo

Author: Taylor Jenkins Reid

Published By:

Release Date: 2017

Genre: Fiction

Format: Paperback

Length: 385 pages

Synopsis

Aging and reclusive Hollywood movie icon Evelyn Hugo is finally ready to tell the truth about her glamorous and scandalous life.

When she chooses unknown magazine reporter Monique Grant for the job, no one in the journalism community is more astounded than Monique herself. Why her? Why now? Monique is not exactly on top of the world. Her husband, David, has left her, and her career has stagnated. Regardless of why Evelyn has chosen her to write her biography, Monique is determined to use this opportunity to jumpstart her career.

Summoned to Evelyn’s Upper East Side apartment, Monique listens as Evelyn unfurls her story: from making her way to Los Angeles in the 1950s to her decision to leave show business in the late 80s, and, of course, the seven husbands along the way. As Evelyn’s life unfolds—revealing a ruthless ambition, an unexpected friendship, and a great forbidden love—Monique begins to feel a very a real connection to the actress.

But as Evelyn’s story catches up with the present, it becomes clear that her life intersects with Monique’s own in tragic and irreversible ways.

Review

Thankful for the The Readers Hub book club because this book had been sitting on my shelf for close to three years and I hadn’t picked it up! (for whatever reason best known to me). We read it as our book of the month of March and I totally enjoyed it! 

March was a very slow reading month for me with work stress and falling physically ill, so this was the only book I finished, but boy it was like reading 50 books in one! I loved Evelyn’s character, the love between Harry and Evelyn, the development of all the major and minor characters, the subtle but profound lessons dished out by Evelyn, the few shocking plot twists (we don’t do spoilers here, not to worry) and the chronological arrangement of the book. I also loved and appreciated the writing style of the book; straightforward and easy to understand! Such a page turner!

While I loved the book in huge parts, I had a few reservations though but I captured those in my review on my YouTube channel. Watch my full review on this lovely book by clicking on the video below:

Book Review: The Mountains Sing

Title: The Mountains Sing

Author: Nguyen Phan Que Mai

Published By: Oneworld Publications

Release Date: 2020

Genre: Historical Fiction

Format: Hardback

Length: 339 pages

Synopsis

With the epic sweep of Min Jin Lee’s Pachinko or Yaa Gyasi’s Homegoing and the lyrical beauty of Vaddey Ratner’s In the Shadow of the BanyanThe Mountains Sing tells an enveloping, multigenerational tale of the Trần family, set against the backdrop of the Việt Nam War. Trần Diệu Lan, who was born in 1920, was forced to flee her family farm with her six children during the Land Reform as the Communist government rose in the North. Years later in Hà Nội, her young granddaughter, Hương, comes of age as her parents and uncles head off down the Hồ Chí Minh Trail to fight in a conflict that tore not just her beloved country, but her family apart.

Vivid, gripping, and steeped in the language and traditions of Việt Nam, The Mountains Sing brings to life the human costs of this conflict from the point of view of the Vietnamese people themselves, while showing us the true power of kindness and hope.

Review

Wow. Wow. Wow.

Beautiful.

This was a lovely, heartbreaking historical fiction book. Totally enjoyed! It was an emotional rollercoaster indeed. Such a beautiful read and beautiful story.

Watch my full review on this lovely book by clicking on the video below 👇🏽

Book Review: The Girl With The Louding Voice

Title: The Girl With The Louding Voice

Author: Abi Dare

Published By: Sceptre, an Imprint of Holder & Stroughton

Release Date: 2020

Genre: Coming-of-age, Fiction, Bildungsroman

Format: Paperback

Length: 312 pages

Synopsis

Adunni is a fourteen-year-old Nigerian Girl who knows what she wants: an education.

As the only daughter of a broke father, she is a valuable commodity. Removed from school and sold as a third wife to an old man, Adunni’s life amounts to this: four goats, two bags of rice, some chickens and a new TV. When unspeakable tragedy swiftly strikes in her new home, she is secretly sold as a domestic servant to a household in the wealthy enclaves of Lagos, where no one will talk about the strange disappearance of her predecessor, Rebecca. No one but Adunni…

As a yielding daughter, a subservient wife and a powerless servant, Adunni is repeatedly told that she is nothing. But Adunni won’t be silenced. She is determined to find her voice- in a whisper, in song, in broken English- until she can speak for herself, for the girls like Rebecca, who came before, and for all the girls who will follow.

Review

This book was a lovely read for me. As a Nigerian, I could totally relate to the deep themes inherent in the book which were explored beautifully.

It was very warm and heart-felt and with a powerful message!

I loved the plot and the sequence of events as told in the book and felt it was a great effort. I also loved the writing style and the fact that the first part was written in broken english  and the first person POV (even if that required some level of patience on my part as I speak broken english slowly). It was my first experience reading such a book.

All in all, a lovely read. A lovely ending but would have not been surprised if it ended another way because that is the reality in Nigeria when it comes to child abuse and child labour.

Watch my full review on this lovely book by clicking on the video below:

Book Review: Tomorrow Died Yesterday

Title: Tomorrow Died Yesterday

Author: Chimeka Garricks

Published By: Paperworth Books Limited

Release Date: 2010

Genre: Fiction

Format: Paperback

Length: 292 pages

Synopsis

It’s 2004 Port Harcourt at the height of the kidnap of oil workers in the Niger Delta, a kidnapping goes awry and four lives are reconnected. Done (aka Doughboy) the career militant responsible for the crime. Amaibi the gentle university professor / eco – warrior accused. Kaniye the lawyer themed restauranteur who tries to get him off and Tubo an amoral oil company executive.

Against a backdrop of corrupt practices, failed systems and injustice, these four friends tell the story of oil in a region and its effects on local communities and the Nigerian larger society.

Review

DEBUT NOVEL WHATTTT??

This book was purely exceptional and I totally enjoyed it! I thought it was a great effort from the author especially as a debut novel.

I loved the deep exploration of the characters through the writing style of first person narrative as told from the four major characters. The author found a way to endear the characters into the hearts of readers no matter w villainous their characters may appear to be.

I also loved the fact that deep themes which are prevalent in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria were explored in depth. Such themes like corruption, violence, oil bunkering, gas flaring and the effect of such on native communities within that region.

As a lawyer and legal practitioner, I absolutely loved Kaniye’a character and the legal thriller aspect of this book. Whoa!

Watch the full review on this lovely book by clicking the link below:

5 SHORT, AMAZING SELF-HELP BOOKS YOU MUST READ IN 2020!

One of my favourite reading genres is Self-help.

Over the years, reading self-help books has helped me in my personal development and self-improvement.

The particular self-help books I read are practicable and realistic to my needs and they have not disappointed so far. i have gained so much wisdom learning how to deal with circumstances, people and life in general. When needed, I have been able to tap into these resources to also gain the much needed motivational and inspirational boost needed to pursue my goals.

So, if you are looking for SHORT LIFE-CHANGING, SELF-HELP books which you can finish in A DAY or TWO (especially if you consider yourself a slow reader), then I have good news for you.

In my latest video on my Youtube channel, I share 5 BITE-SIZED, AMAZING self-help books filled with valuable lessons and wisdom that will leave a long-lasting impact on your life!

These books are short, straight to the point and so so valuable to your self-improvement and self-Development as an individual! 

Enjoy!

And please subscribe to my Youtube Channel!

My Reading Routine

I get asked alot how i am able to read alot with my 9-5 and what my reading routine is like.

On my Youtube Channel, I share my reading routine (TBRs, recommendations, balancing with my 9-5, what works for me and what does not). I also share how to get out of reading slumps and other little things about my reading routine.

Enjoy!

Don’t forget to subscribe to my Youtube channel!

Book Review: The Mastery of Self

Title: The Mastery of Self by Don Miguel Ruiz Jr

Hands down, one of the best books I have ever read in my life!!

Don Miguel Ruiz Jr did a great job on this one.

I learned so much about domestication and attachments, unconditional love for yourself and others, comparison and competition, goal setting and other things which could be subconscious mind traps.

If you’re looking for a great self-help book to start the year, this is the one for you!

Watch my review of this lovely book on my YouTube channel!

Like, comment and share!

Also, subscribe to my channel!

Thank you!