Celebrating International Peace and Love Day through the Power of Books
On Peace and Love Day, the world unites in a harmonious symphony of compassion and understanding. It is a celebration that transcends borders, religions, and cultures, reminding us of the universal language that connects us all: love. This day serves as a powerful reminder that peace is not just the absence of conflict, but a vibrant tapestry woven with acts of kindness, empathy, and forgiveness. So let us embrace this moment, radiate love, and sow the seeds of peace, and read books.
Here are my Book Recommendations to celebrate International Peace and Love Day is .....
Title: The Keeper of Lost Things
Author: Ruth Hogan
Genre: Romance
Star Rating: 5***** I loved it and highly recommend
About Book: Meet the 'Keeper of Lost Things'... Once a celebrated author of short stories now in his twilight years, Anthony Peardew has spent half his life collecting lost objects, trying to atone for a promise broken many years before. Realising he is running out of time, he leaves his house and all its lost treasures to his assistant Laura, the one person he can trust to fulfil his legacy and reunite the thousands of objects with their rightful owners. But the final wishes of the 'Keeper of Lost Things' have unforeseen repercussions which trigger a most serendipitous series of encounters...
My Thoughts: The keeper of lost things by Ruth Hogan is a plethora of secrets slowly unfolding as the book progresses. It moves between the 70’s, current time and the time of the lost item. Each one intertwining, each one opening up the next stage in the journey. Hogans empathy for the characters, for love lost, for fear and hope shines through immensely in her writing.
The story does have its sad moments but it is also heartwarming and a book full of hugs, so much so I just wanted to continue reading the book in one sitting.
The book also has humour, wit and friendship all neatly bound within its pages. A great read I highly recommend.
Title: A Terrible Kindness
Author: Jo Browning Wroe
Genre: Romance, Historical Star Rating: 6****** This book surpassed all expectations, I loved it and highly recommend
About Book: It is October 1966 and William Lavery is having the night of his life at his first black-tie do. But, as the evening unfolds, news hits of a landslide at a coal mine. It has buried a school: Aberfan.
William decides he must act, so he stands and volunteers to attend. It will be his first job as an embalmer, and it will be one he never forgets.
His work that night will force him to think about the little boy he was, and the losses he has worked so hard to forget. But compassion can have surprising consequences, because - as William discovers - giving so much to others can sometimes help us heal ourselves.
My Thoughts: A book that starts with the Aberfan tragedy of 1966. Even though the book is a work of fiction you can't help feeling emotional right from the start. Jo Browning Wroe's writing is intensely moving, with the characters well crafted. So much happens at the beginning of the book I am left wondering where it can go next.
After the initial unfolding the book goes on to open the life of the main protagonist, William Lavery, he is my favourite character, his empathy from the start was outstanding, his fears and the way he thinks has been written beautifully. Although, I did get frustrated with him from time to time, but I think I was just so invested in him. The book goes on to describe his life as a child at school then as he gets older, his experiences, thoughts, fears and interactions with others. - secrets slowly revealed which makes the reading much more enjoyable. The authors writing flows even though sections of the book move backwards and forwards through time.
There is drama, frustration and the first book that I have had to hold back from crying in a long time. A huge emotional roller-coaster. A great read, one that shouldn't be missed, and I highly recommend.
Title: Everything is Beautiful
Author: Eleanor Ray
Genre: Romance, Mystery
Star Rating: 5***** I loved it and highly recommend.
About Book: When Amy Ashton's world fell apart eleven years ago, she started a collection.Just a few keepsakes of happier times: some honeysuckle to remind herself of the boy she loved, a chipped china bird, an old terracotta pot . . . Things that others might throw away, but to Amy, represent a life that could have been.Now her house is overflowing with the objects she loves - soon there'll be no room for Amy at all. But when a family move in next door, a chance discovery unearths a mystery, and Amy's carefully curated life begins to unravel. If she can find the courage to face her past, might the future she thought she'd lost still be hers for the taking?
My Thoughts: I read this book in 2 sittings, it was so captivating I didn’t want to put it down. The story was told through two eras. The first era made sense of the second as the story unfolded. And was told brilliantly. The characters each and everyone of them, played their part. Although, my favourite character was Charles - the child from next door, he was lovable, endearing and very insightful. The story flowed with making you want more. I don’t know how I didn’t take a peek at the back of the book to see how it ended. A great read about love, hope and friendship that you will not want to put down.
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