January's Hottest Reads

You’d probably have to have been living under a rock not to have heard of Twilight, supposedly the biggest teen book since Harry Potter (the flim adaption is also out now, click here to check out Ramarea's review). Like myself, you may have thought that the book itself would turn out to be not that great. However, Ms Meyer has produced a thrilling look into a world of spunky vampires and werewolves, which will keep you on the edge of your seat. 

 

The plot is classic girl-meets-boy, but with a supernatural twist. Bella moves to the ultra-dull town of Forks, and is instantly attracted to Edward, one of the most handsome boys in school, who unfortunately seems to hate the very sight of her. When Edward mysteriously manages to save Bella from death, she becomes even more obsessed with discovering who he and his perfect family really are. The truth frightens her, but not as much as realising what it means to really love someone, enough to want to save them from anything. It may sound cheesy, but trust me, this book is fascinating. Little, Brown; RRP $29.99

 

Just in time for your New Year’s resolutions, The Accidental Organiser gives you simple principles and tips to help you organise your life. Unlike most books of this genre, it’s not based around fancy storage systems or becoming a Stepford Wife, but learning quick ways to keep your rooms, your diary, and your life more streamlined. 

 

For me, victim of permanently messy work and home desks, the best chapter was undoubtedly “Drowning in a pile of paper” which had great suggestions to help me clean up my act and discover that I really do have a surface under all that paper! This book is upbeat, easy to follow, NZ-based, and even has a section on best clean-up songs – exactly my kind of organising! Shoal Bay, RRP $24.99

 

I developed a huuuge crush on Heath Ledger after watching 10 Things I Hate About You, along with most of the female population. That gorgeous smile! That bad-boy attitude! This crush only continued with the likes of A Knight’s Tale and Casanova, and meant that I, like millions of others, was devastated to hear of Heath’s untimely death. It also meant I’d be fussy about a biography of him, but this book is truly worthy of its subject matter.

 

Following Heath’s rise from high-school drama king to Australian and then international stardom, A Family’s Tale is packed with insights from those who knew Heath best, and will fascinate anyone who has ever admired this hugely talented actor. Pier 9, RRP $39.99

In these times of recession, not many people can afford a $37,000 diamond necklace. But what if you didn’t buy it just for yourself? What if you and 12 friends bought it, and shared both the necklace and your stories of what the necklace brought you? In this remarkable true story, the remarkable women who did just that share their lives, and what the necklace meant, and continues to mean, to them and their community.

 

From Patti, the shopper who finds joy in sharing, to Priscilla, who never wanted to join the group, and Jonelle, who started it all, these women will inspire you to think about how your life could be changed by sharing. Although at times this book becomes almost evangelical, ultimately I really enjoyed its message of how female friendship can truly make a difference not just to the women but to the community at large. Now I just need to find 11 other nzgirls to try it out with here! HarperCollins, RRP $29.99

Stars: 4
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The beautifully-named Lilly Nelly Aphrodite grows up as an Berlin orphan during the First World War, reliant on no-one except her best friend Hanne, who has a habit of disappearing. Early on, we learn that Lilly is destined to be a movie star, and it is this knowledge that sustains the reader through Lilly’s experiences of starvation, destitution, and heartbreak.

 

For a novel about such sobering times, Luminous Life is immensely witty and entertaining. Lilly’s unique outlook on life provides a fascinating insight into life in Berlin in the inter-war period, including the debauchery, the poverty, and the rise of the Nazis. An exquisite book. John Murray, RRP $38.99