Thanks for the Memories by Cecelia Ahern

Justin is an American living in London and teaching part-time in Dublin. When he overcomes his fear of needles to impress a woman by donating blood, he feels like he should be thanked by the person whose live he eventually saves. But when his personal list of things he wants – basket of muffins, car and driver, morning paper etc – start to arrive anonymously, he wonders how anyone could have known about it. Is this a grateful recipient or a stalker?

I liked most of the characters in this book. Justin is self absorbed but likeable. Joyce, the recipient, is ditsy at first but endearing. Her father was a great combination of irritating to live with but loveable. The problem I had with the book is that there was a lot of padding in the story. There were too many missed connections that happened over and over again in various guises.

I listened to this on audio and I think that was a mistake. It went on entirely too long when it was being read out loud. This would have been better as a book so it didn’t take as long. By the end I was fast forwarding just to find out what happened and move on.

Monstrous Regiment by Terry Pratchett

The country of Borogrovia is at war. It is always at war and recruits aren’t that easy to come by anymore. Polly Perk’s brother went to war last year and no one knows where he is. Polly disguises herself as a boy and joins up to try to find her brother.

So, last week I said I was going to put this book in the bathroom to trick my husband into reading it. I put it in the bathroom and I read it. Yep, tricked myself. Now it is going back into the bathroom for him to read it. Since this is about the 4th time I’ve read it you can just assume I love it and think everyone should read it.