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Bookish. Publisher at Louise Walters Books. Reader, writer, and editor.

Tuesday 13 May 2014

Chocolate Book Tag Challenge

Thanks to Gill Edwards who tagged me for this. Here's a link to hers:

http://aheadinabook.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/chocolate-book-tag-challenge.html

The idea is to link your favourite books with your favourite chocolate bars. If you don't like chocolate I guess you could use crisps or something else equally delicious. I'm sticking with chocolate because I do quite enjoy it. Occasionally.

Here goes!

Dime bar = Where'd You Go, Bernadette? by Maria Semple




For me, it's easy to link these two. I love this book so much, one of my fave reads last year. It's not a long book, and a Dime bar is also small, and compact, but both pack a punch - I love the smooth outer and the hard snap in the centre. In fact, the snap in the Dime bar sets my teeth on edge, and this book does too, metaphorically, and in a good way. Moreover, Dime bars are a lot of fun and so is this book. In fact, when I re-read Bernadette, I'm going to make sure I have a stack of Dime bars to hand to accompany it. Yum! 


Green and Black's Organic Dark Chocolate = Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte


Probably don't really need to explain this one. This chocolate bar is dark, not too sweet, rich, beautiful and unforgettable. Like the book. 


Cadbury's Milk Chocolate, the one with the little squares to break off = Perfect by Rachel Joyce


I read Perfect last year too and loved it so much. I love the clarity and simplicity of it, and Cadbury's Milk Chocolate shares those qualities. I couldn't put Perfect down and I'm afraid once that purple wrapper has been opened... A bit of a classic, both.


Bounty = Moon Tiger by Penelope Lively



I don't eat Bounty bars often. I loved them as a child and I loved Penelope Lively's books too. Imagine my delight as an adult to realise that Penelope Lively also wrote books for grown ups! This book, probably her best, is exotic and  delicious, just like a Bounty. It is also nostalgic, looking back over the life of its protagonist, and for me Bounty is deliciously nostalgic too. 


Revels = Little Boy Lost by Marghanita Laski 


Revels are so good. You don't know for sure what you're going to get when you open that bag and start eating. I felt the same when I bought this book on one of my visits to the Persephone Book Shop in London. I loved the striking end papers and matching book mark, and I liked the sound of the novel. My goodness, am I glad I listened to my instincts, because it is one of the very best books I've read. The ending is incredible, such a moving, breath-taking moment. I burst into tears the first time I read it, and wasn't far off the second time. Just like a packet of Revels, you are guessing right up to the end. Wonderful book. 


The biggest Easter Egg you can get your hands on = Mother Missing by Joyce Carol Oates



For some reason the chocolate of an Easter egg is the best way to eat chocolate. I think it must be the smooth curves. Also, the thrill of what you'll find tucked inside the egg. Whatever it is, it's almost magical, and when I read this book by JCO, that was magical too. I had to read it again straight away. I couldn't stop reading it, just like you can't eat some of that Easter egg and then neatly wrap up the rest and put it away for another time. I was so inspired by this amazing novel that I decided to really get to grips with my own. I believe that if I hadn't read this book I would still be messing around with mine, not really knowing what to do. 

So there you have it, chocolate and books. Which bars and books would you choose? I'm not tagging anyone but would love to see your choices.