The Shining by Stephen King

Title: The Shining
Author: Stephen King
Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton
Release Date: 1st July 1980
Genre: Thriller, Sci-Fi, Mystery, Classic, Horror

Summary:
When his father becomes the Winter caretaker of the Overlook Hotel, young Danny Torrance does not know the danger that awaits him. Danny is blessed (or as some may say - cursed) with the shining and the mysterious forces inside the hotel want it badly...

Review:
I made a promise to myself to "try" and look after myself more with all my assignments and drama going on around me so, I thought I would take a stab at The Shining which I have tried to read about three times before.

The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton

Title: The Miniaturist
Author: Jessie Burton
Publisher: Picador
Release Date: 3rd July 2014
Genre: Fiction

Summary:
Nell Oortman thought that was she marrying into the wealthy family of an Amsterdam merchant. However, her new husband, and his family, are hiding a dangerous secret. He presents Nella a curious and unique wedding gift in the form of a miniature model of their house. Nella soon enlists the help of a miniaturist to help decorate her new toy.

Things soon take a dark turn when she is sent mysterious and intrusive decorations for her model home and the secrets hold within her family start to leak...

Elizabeth is Missing by Emma Healey

Title: Elizabeth is Missing

Author: Emma Healey

Publisher: Penguin

Publication Date: 10th June 2014

Genre: Fiction, Mystery

Summary:

Maud is forgetful, but there is one thing she is one hundred per cent sure of - Elizabeth is missing. 

Review:

I honestly thought this book was going to be great and, given that it was the winner of the 2014 Costa Book Award, I was looking forward to reading it. However, surprise surprise, this book was, in my opinion, pretty poor. 

Without giving too much of the plot away, two plots are interwoven throughout the book; one of when Maud was young and one in the present day following the old, forgetful Maud. I think this aspect of the book was the only bit I liked. The past life of Maud helped explain her current behaviour and raised interesting questions about how certain events can impact you for the rest of your life. However, I did actually find the past plot line more interesting than the present and skim read the other story line just so I could get to the interesting part.