trippingdifferently

July 5, 2023

Book Review: Shadows Within The Fog by Benjamin Haymond

Romantic fantasy in a real-world setting is not my usual pick but this is a good one. Benjamin Haymond‘s debut self-published novel is a slow burner. It starts off with what seems like unconnected stories about people who are linked in only a small way but keep at it and you start to see the red thread running through these stories and the bigger story which holds them together.

Haymond has taken the age-old idea of a red thread linking people across vast distances to another level, adding a beautiful love story and a thousand-year-old curse into the mix; building more layers into it. Setting the story in real-world locations grounds the tale and makes it more relatable.

Lewis and Katie are our lovers in question, Hildegard, an elderly woman in a care home, has known their story through the ages and Diane, Lewis’ best friend, who has (in my opinion) a slightly complicated relationship with Lewis, tries her best to help. Through these characters, the story unfolds in a rather unusual way; it’s not your normal linear storyline and that’s what keeps you reading; your brain is engaged in their story.

I won’t give any more details away. I will leave you to read it so you can enjoy the revelations for yourselves.

The book did leave me with a few questions but it doesn’t take away from what is, at its core, a wonderful story about love and what one would do to find it and keep it.

Happy Reading.
syc

June 21, 2023

Final Teen Year…

So this was a month ago, but still relevant… in some ways, it’s good to blog about it today, which is the summer solstice and the last day of Tobias’ final exams.

Yep, a month ago he turned 19 and today he finished the last of his exams for his pre-university education.

It seems like such a long time ago that we were sending him to his first day at kindergarten and yet at the same time, the years have just flashed by. Such a clichè thing to say but nevertheless it’s true.

Are there things I wish I could go back and redo or unsay? Of course. Has it been filled with heartache and tears? Some of it. But it was also filled with joy, laughter and adventures.

In a few months, he is off to serve NS (National Service) in Singapore. A whole new chapter of his life and our journey as his parents, as a family.

I wanted to link to all the previous birthday posts but decided it was too much. So I am going to link to just this one – for his 9th birthday, 10 years ago, where I also mentioned clichè and comtemplated if I would be ready for him to venture out on his own.

I don’t know if I am 100% ready but I know it’s a great next step for him to take out into the big wide world. Are you a parent whose children have flown the nest? How was it? How did you manage the complete change in lifestyle and focus? Care to share?

Here’s a few photos from Tobias’ 19th birthday:

syc

May 24, 2023May 10, 2023

Book Review: The Man Who Died Twice by Richard Osman

I was so excited to read this second book in the Thursday Murder Club series. By now, I feel that Elizabeth, Joyce, Ibrahim and Ron are like family to me. Richard Osman has done so well in endearing each character to my heart.

In this second book, things get more serious as Elizabeth’s past catches up with her. An old colleague of hers is in trouble and is asking her for help. He’s made a terrible mistake, crossed the wrong person, and now chose to hide at the Coopers Chase Retirement Village. There are diamonds, a violent mobster, and a local drug dealer involved as well. All these elements come with the full attention of the local police as well as the government department Elizabeth used to work for.

There are some heartbreaking moments as well as some heartwarming ones. But the action and mystery never stop. The very readable writing style and humour worked their magic to draw me further into the story. The numerous twists in the story kept me turning the pages.

I love how we get to know more about Elizabeth, Joyce, Ibrahim, and Ron, which made me care for them even more. I have become slightly protective of them, even.

I have deliberately kept as many details as possible out of this review so that you can enjoy them for yourselves. Osman’s Thursday Murder Club does not disappoint. I highly recommend reading this book, even if you haven’t read the first one. So have a read and let me know what you think.

Happy Reading!
Here’s my review of the first book in the Thursday Murder Club series.
Looking forward to reading the third book next.

syc