Jam by Jake Wallis Simons

As darkness falls on the M25, the flow of traffic comes to a halt. Time passes. More time passes. Then more. Drivers switch off their engines, then get out of their cars. And so the story begins ...In this bold, state-of-the-nation novel, Jake Wallis Simons brings together characters from all walks of life and explores what happens when lives collide on the M25.

 

A story about a traffic jam may not sound very interesting but this book had me gripped from very early on. As time passes and there's no sign of the traffic moving or even confirmation of what has caused the hold up, people get more and more stressed, especially as they have no food or drink and absolutely no idea of when they'll be on their way again.

 

 

What I loved about the novel was how it brought people together from all walks of life who may otherwise never have met. These include Jim, a grocery delivery van driver who has never married or had children and lives for his work. Also, Max and his wife Ursula who've been having marriage problems and have their young daughter with them in the car as well as her friend. Ursula is panicking as they're trapped in a phone signal black spot so she can't contact the girl's parents to let them know what's happened and that she's okay.We find out about a lot of the characters' backgrounds as well. 

 

A quick and enjoyable read by an author I'd never heard of before Jam but one whose other books I will definitely have to read.

Rating: 4 out of 5

Mailbox Monday

Mailbox Monday is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came in their mailbox during the last week.

It was created by Marcia @ A Girl and Her Books but now has a permanent home here

 

 

 

 

This is the first time I've participated in this meme. This week I got a proof copy of Another Night, Another Day by Sarah Rayner in the post from Picador:

 

Three people, each crying out for help

There’s Karen, about to lose her father; Abby, whose son has autism and needs constant care, and Michael, a family man on the verge of bankruptcy. As each sinks under the strain, they’re brought together at Moreland’s Psychiatric Clinic.

Here, behind closed doors, they reveal their deepest secrets, confront and console one another and share plenty of laughs. But how will they cope when a new crisis strikes?

 

 

 

Also two for my Kindle from Netgalley:

 

The Three by Sarah Lotz (which I'm now reading):

Black Thursday. The day that will never be forgotten. The day that four passenger planes crash, at almost exactly the same moment, at four different points around the globe.
There are only four survivors. Three are children, who emerge from the wreckage seemingly unhurt. But they are not unchanged.
And the fourth is Pamela May Donald, who lives just long enough to record a voice message on her phone.
A message that will change the world.
The message is a warning. 

 

 

Mother Island by Bethan Roberts

 

One warm June morning, Maggie Wichelo, a lonely young woman, arrives at the comfortable Oxford house in which she works as a nanny. Everything appears normal.
But this is the morning on which Maggie will abduct Samuel, loading him into a hired car, and driving him to a remote boathouse on the island where she spent her teenage years: Anglesey, known to the locals as M�n, Mam Cymru, or the Mother of Wales.

 

 

 

I also treated myself to the kindle edition of American Rust by Philipp Meyer which I've been meaning to read for some time.

  

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

Its Monday! What Are You Reading is a weekly meme run by Book Journey and you can mention books you've just finished, are currently reading and any you plan to read this week. You can leave a link to your blog and read other bloggers posts.

 

This week I read Keep Your Friends Close by Paula Daly and you can read my review for it here. I also finished Jam by Jake Wallis Simons on Saturday. I only heard about this book a few weeks ago and was able to borrow a copy from the library, it's about some people who get stuck in a traffic jam on the M25. I haven't read anything by the author before but was impressed with this novel so will have to read more of his at some point.

 

 

 

I'm now reading The Three by Sarah Lotz, I have been waiting for this book to come out since last year, it's published on 22nd May by Hodder and Stoughton but I was luckily accepted for a Netgalley copy on Friday.

 

Book Beginnings On Fridays (Jam)

Book Beginnings on Fridays is hosted by Rose City Reader and as she says the idea of this meme is for you to share the first sentence (or so) of the book you are reading, along with your initial thoughts about the sentence, impressions of the book, or anything else the opener inspires. Please remember to include the title of the book and the author's name. There's a linky list on the website and you can use #BookBeginnings on Twitter.

 

Jam by Jake Wallis Simons

 

The day was closing. The world was revolving gently, easing a new portion of its surface to the sun; London was moving along with it, towards the great darkness. Shadows were puddling under trees, stretching out from buildings, carpeting the streets.

 

 

  

 

Book Description:

 

As darkness falls on the M25, the flow of traffic comes to a halt. Time passes. More time passes. Then more. Drivers switch off their engines, then get out of their cars. And so the story begins...  

Keep Your Friends Close by Paula Daly

 

Natty and Sean Wainwright are married; as far as she's concerned happily, and work together running their successful hotel in the Lake District. They've been together since they were teenagers and have two daughters, Alice and Felicity. Natty's friend Eve who she's known since  University has come to visit when they receive the news that Felicity has collapsed while on a school trip to France. Natty rushes to be at her bedside while Sean stays to look after the business and Eve offers to stay at the family home so she can help. When Natty returns with her daughter a few weeks later her world is turned upside down; Sean tells her their marriage is over, he has fallen in love with Eve. And when she receives an anonymous note telling her that Eve has done this before, she begins looking into her so called friend's life and background, it doesn't match what she was led to believe.

Sean is obviously a weak and annoying character, getting together with his wife's oldest friend almost as soon as her back is turned. Eve is a really nasty piece of work, someone who has no redeeming features at all and knows exactly what to do to manipulate Sean. As in the author's first novel DC Joanne Aspinall and her mad Auntie Jackie make a return in this, I love them both and hope we get to meet them again in her next.

I loved Paula Daly's debut Just What Kind Of Mother Are You? so was very pleased to get a review copy of this from Netgalley. It's another gripping psychological thriller, as more facts become known and family secrets revealed the tension builds and it becomes almost impossible to put down. I had to force myself to on Tuesday lunchtime as I was reading at my desk and had to get back to work. I'm already eagerly awaiting her third novel.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Easter School Holiday

 

So today the girls are back at school. One of the great things about my job is that I only have to work two full days a week, giving me plenty of time with them in the school holidays. This Easter break my Mum helped out with the childcare and they stayed with her in Bury St Edmunds for a few days and we've enjoyed daytrips to Felixstowe and Colchester Zoo. Roll on May half term!

 

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

 

Its Monday! What Are You Reading is a weekly meme run by Book Journey and you can mention books you've just finished, are currently reading and any you plan to read this week. You can leave a link to your blog and read other bloggers posts.

 

I hope everyone is having a good Easter, I've definitely eaten too much and the diet starts tomorrow. This week I read two great books, The Facts Of Life And Death by Belinda Bauer and The View On The Way Down by Rebecca Wait. Yesterday I started Keep Your Friends Close by Paula Daly, an ARC I got from Netgalley.