Calves in the Mud Room- Jerome O Brown

This is the first novella (or short book) that I have ever read and I have to say that I'm a huge convert. I've always been interested in the idea of novellas- due to their ease and quickness- but I have just never really come across one that I've wanted to read.

When the email about Calves in the Mud Room came into my inbox I was incredibly interested as my family are big farmers and I've grown up with being told funny stories and tales about farm life, and I thought this would be a lovely little thing to read. I was not wrong. Although this is a short story it is incredibly thoughtful, interesting and funny as well as touching and full of meaning. I couldn't put it down and really connected with the main character Wade. This really is a 'coming of age story' with another level.

The book is really well written and incredibly descriptive and paced wonderfully. I love the authors style which is really well fitted to the story itself and compliments Wade's narrative voice brilliantly. I personally feel its a very honest and realistic view of farming life and the struggles and complications that can be incurred. It was incrediblt moving and real and I really enjoyed that.

If you're looking for a short story to read this is a lovely one. Not appropriate for under age readers but a really great well written and interesting story.

Note: This book was sent to me to review. This is no way alters or affects my opinion of the book and I only review books sent to me that I genuinely would have considered
purchasing for myself.

The Book Lover Quiz!

Today I thought I would do something a little different, and found some bookish questions to answer!

Hardback or trade paperback or mass market paperback?
I love a hardback however I’ll have to go with paperback as that is what I tend to buy

Amazon or brick and mortar?
Brick and mortar! Book shops are one of favourite places on earth and I think its really important we support them.

Locally owned bookshop or big name chain store?
Locally owned if I can, but I don’t mind the big chains

Bookmark or dog-ear?
Bookmark! I can’t bear to ruin books.

Alphabetize by author or alphabetize by title or random?
Random, I am far too messy

Keep, throw away, or sell?
Keep, although I do try and donate books to my local oxfam book shop as often as I can

Keep dust jacket or toss it?
Keep!

Read with dust jacket or remove it?
I tend to read with or I would lose it

Short story or novel?
Novel

Collection (short stories by same author) or anthology (short stories by different authors)?
Hmmm probably anthology as I like comparing different styles and techniques

Stop reading when tired or at chapter breaks?
chapter breaks, but don’t be surprised if you find me still awake at 4am trying to get to the end

“It was a dark and stormy night” or “Once upon a time”?
Dark stormy night!

Buy or borrow?
Buy but I love to lend

New or used?
Either to be honest, but I love buying used books as it feels like they have a new life

Buying choice: book reviews, recommendation or browse?
All three! But recommendations from my mum, nana and sister are sure winners!

Tidy ending or cliffhanger?
I get very frustrated with cliffhangers but I still love them!

Morning, afternoon or nighttime reading?
I tend to not have a lot of time in the morning but I can happily while away an afternoon or evening submerged in a book

Single volume or series?
Again, either!

Favorite series?
The magicians guild trilogy by Trudi Canavan


Favorite books read last year?
Probably We Were liars by E.Lockhart

Favorite books of all time?
I couldn’t say!

Thank you to the guys over at good reads for providing the questions which you can find here, http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/1162432-questions-for-book-lovers

Born survivors- Wendy Holden

This book was not what I was expecting at all. I was expecting a fiction book, based on real events, but a story none the less- something woven and, although probably accurate, a depiction of events rather than a written account. This is not what I got- but oh was it so much better.

This book follows the stories of three very real expectant mothers during the holocaust. The stories are laid out in an interview/account style with recollections and memories from the three ladies as of the time of writing. I can’t stress enough that this book is in no way a ‘story’ per say but is an accurate historical account. As you can imagine it is wholly gripping. This incredibly unique telling of the lives of these three ladies is remarkable and allows you to view the suffering of the victims of this monsterous point in history in a way, I personally, have never seen before.

I was extremely moved whilst reading this book- by 50 pages in I was crying. Due to the style of this book you are so connected to the ‘characters’ that it is impossible not to sit in heartbreak for the suffering these ladies endured. What really gripped me were the tiny stories interwoven into each ladies main story- I don’t want to go into too much detail because you really need to read it for yourself to truly appreciate these memories. These ‘untold’ miracles and accounts truly blew me away and I was left speechless at the courage and risk others took in the face of such fear and oppression.

Everyone should read this book. It is so important that the holocaust is never forgotten, to stop anything like this every happening again and to draw attention to atrocities that are currently happening in the world now. Literature such as this book is vital for coming close to understanding what truly went on during this horrifying time- it is especially important for the younger generation, 15/16+ to learn about what happened. A fantastic book.