For Bookworms
Welcome to the stylechapel library. Let me describe it for those of you who are hard of hearing. The wood paneled room has a high ceiling and a large window on one side that’s framed by deep red velvet curtains. On the opposite wall is an ornate fireplace, above which hangs a portrait of the Lady of the House, Margo Le Singe-de-Bébé. Quite a looker in her day. The only furniture in the room is two worn and faded brown leather Chesterfield chairs that sit facing each other close to the hearth. Between them is a rather threadbare rug given to Margo by Lord Pilkington-Wilkington, Governor-General of Bahawalpur. His slippers are still where he left them the day he had to flee the amorous advances of Edith Smedgewick, housekeeper. Never to return. The rest of the room is bookshelves. Wall to wall, floor to ceiling, packed with dusty old reference tomes alongside pristine new releases. And it has one of those ladders on wheels. Tremendous fun to just whizz yourself along and randomly grab the next read. Anyway, enough about the place itself, you came here for a recommendation. So let’s see. Ah yes, here are some book reviews from the stylechapel congregation so you can peruse before you choose…
13, rue Therese
Written by Elena Mauli Shapiro.....reviewed by Sandrine
Sarah's Key
Written by Tatiana de Rosnay.....reviewed by Sandrine
The Uncommon Reader
Written by Alan Bennett.....reviewed by Sandrine
50 Shades Trilogy
Written by E L James.....reviewed by Lav & Marge
Before I go to sleep
Written by SJ Watson.....reviewed by Sandrine
Room
Written by Emma Donoghue.....reviewed by Sandrine
The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake
Written by Aimee Bender.....reviewed by Sandrine
Comfort and Joy
Written by India Knight.....reviewed by Sandrine
War Reporting for Cowards
Written by Chris Ayres.....reviewed by Steve
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
Written by J.K. Rowling.....reviewed by Fia Rose
The Handmaid's Tale
Written by Margaret Atwood.....reviewed by Anna C
Coco Chanel - The Legend and the Life
Written by Justine Picardie.....reviewed by Sandrine
Dark Fire
Written by C.J. Sansom.....reviewed by Sandrine
The Memory of Love
Written by Aminatta Forna.....reviewed by Anne O'Tate
The Outcast
Written by Sadie Jones.....reviewed by Anne O'Tate
Mutiny on the Bounty
Written by John Boyne.....reviewed by Sandrine
A week in December
Written by Sebastian Faulks.....reviewed by Trudi
The hand that first held mine
Written by Maggie O’Farrell.....reviewed by Hevlar
One Day
Written by David Nicholls.....reviewed by Sandrine
The Help
Written by Kathryn Stockett.....reviewed by Sandrine
Three Cups of Tea
Written by Greg Mortensen & David Oliver Relin.....reviewed by Eileen and Luca (mum and son, adult and child versions)
Eat Pray Love
Written by Elizabeth Gilbert.....reviewed by Dee
Millennium Trilogy
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, The Girl Who Played with Fire, The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest
Written by Stieg Larsson.....reviewed by Sandrine
Mr Chartwell
Written by Rebecca Hunt.....reviewed by Mel
And these are our top 5 favourite books of all time as voted by stylechapel's very own bookworm, Sandrine:
1. Shadow of the wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón
2. Pride and prejudice by Jane Austen
3. Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
4. To kill a mockingbird by Harper Lee
5. Wild Swans: Three daughters of china by Jung Chang