Book Review: "Second Hand Heart" by Catherine Ryan Hyde

3rd book in the Transworld Summer Reading Challenge

There's something about a book cover with grass on that makes me feel happy. And having already read one book by Catherine Ryan Hyde - "Chasing Windmills", which both the Girl and I loved, I was looking forward to reading this, her latest, and it didn't disappoint.
Vida is 19 and has been about to die ever since she was born with a defective heart. Luckily for Vida, a suitable donor is found in the (heart-)shape of Lorrie who is killed in a tragic accident, leaving a shocked and grief-striken husband, Robert.
And even though I found this *tiny but infinitely important* detail a little unbelievable, the first time Robert sees Vida, she tells him she loves him.  As their individual journeys of self-discovery unfold, however, we see that this is no ordinary love - this is quite simply, (and scientifically) "from the heart". 
I was prepared for schmaltz and rather too much sentimentality and I got neither.  This was beautifully told, cleverly interwoven and I couldn't have been more delighted if it had proper, living grass on the cover.   It makes you think more deeply about the imprints we are unaware of making on the lives we lead, and more interestingly, of the impressions we are creating within our individual genetic make-up. A fascinating premise and a lovely book.  Highly recommended.

You HAVE to see "Seven Pounds"

At the risk of sounding like all I do at weekends is rent DVDs, I just HAD to tell you about one of the four that we rented the other day...

In a word, it is just MESMERISING and I don't use words like that lightly.It made me cry and it made me think and it made me want to be a better person (briefly, but I can still 'want', can't I?.
It normally irritates me when I start watching a film and think "you what?" I didn't understand what was going on (the start IS slightly confusing) but half an hour in I realised I didn't even need Will to say anything - his body language, his silences, his eyes just said it all... and ... well, it blew me away (and if you've seen the weight I've piled on recently you know that's no mean feat) (clearly it hasn't helped me with the parenthesis-addiction) (hmm).

Go rent 'Seven Pounds' - you'll feel a hell of a lot better about yourself afterwards.

(This wasn't a public services broadcast on behalf of those nice people at Kleenex)
(But it could have)