I created this space for book lovers, to spark positive conversations about our shared love of reading! Here, you can discover my monthly picks of the best classic and new titles (when you’re not reading the latest DCI Ryan, of course!) and look out for monthly competitions, giveaways and live Q & A’s with guest authors. Join in the conversation online, or sign up to the newsletter to find out more. #LJBookClub
Hello and welcome to the LJ Ross Book Club!
This Month’s Picks
Sweet Sorrow
David Nicholls
About
In 'Sweet Sorrow' we meet Charlie Lewis, who is failing at school, not enjoying his home life caring for his dad and is filled with dread about the future. Then, Fran Fisher bursts into his life and Charlie begins to hope.LJ's thoughts
This is such a lovely, nostalgic book which is incredibly poignant, too. It's been described as a 'tragicomedy' and I can see why - at times, I laughed out loud whilst, at others, I was very moved by the story of Charlie's coming of age, which was so enjoyable to read.Where to find it
The Moonstone
Wilkie Collins
About
This month’s classic crime pick comes in the form of Wilkie Collins’ ‘The Moonstone’, an early modern example of detective fiction that went a long way towards establishing the present rules of the genre. It tells the tale of Rachel Verinder, a young woman who inherits a large and very valuable Indian diamond on her eighteenth birthday, not unlike the Hope Diamond. When Rachel wears it openly at her birthday party, it is stolen later that very night and the mystery of its disappearance is played out in a series of different narratives from the cast of main characters.LJ's thoughts
The Moonstone is a unique example of an epistolary novel, which means the story is played out as a series of different documents charting the perspectives of the main characters, rather than as one straightforward narrative. This approach is like being handed a police file, allowing the reader to become an amateur detective. It means you are invested in the plotline from the very beginning and eager to know the answers to ‘who’, ‘what’, ‘when’, ‘why’ and ‘how’, and makes for an enjoyable reading experience for the same reason so many people enjoy watching true crime documentaries— we are fascinated to understand the reasons why crimes are perpetrated, and Collins’ novel doesn’t disappoint on that score. Elegantly crafted and eminently satisfying, it’s a masterclass of crime fiction writing that has stood the test of time!Where to find it
Previous Picks
Postcards From a Stranger
Imogen Clark
About
When Cara stumbles across a stash of old postcards in the attic, their contents make her question everything she thought she knew. Cara digs into the early years of her parents’ troubled marriage, hunting down long-lost relatives who might help unravel the mystery - but the picture that begins to emerge is not at all the one she’d expected...LJ's thoughts
I love the author's style, which is beautifully descriptive as she weaves an emotional, evocative and page-turning story!Where to find it
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