A Place Called Here

A fantasy, set in the modern day, about where things go when they are lost.

Since Sandy Shortt's childhood schoolmate disappeared twenty years ago, Sandy has been obsessed with missing things. Finding becomes her goal - whether it's the odd sock that vanished in the washing machine, the car keys she misplaced in her rush to get to work or the graver issue of finding the people who vanish from their lives. Sandy dedicates her life to finding these missing people, offering devastated families a flicker of hope.

Jack Ruttle is one of those desperate people. It's been a year since his brother, Donal vanished into thin air and the sleepless nights and frantic days aren't getting any easier. Thinking Sandy Shortt could well be the answer to his prayers, he embarks on a quest to find her. But, when Sandy goes missing too, her search ends when she stumbles upon the place - and people - she's been looking for all of her life. A world away from her loved ones and the home she ran from for so long, Sandy soon resorts to her old habit again, searching. Though this time, she is desperately trying to find her way home!

Before embarking on her writing career, Cecelia completed a degree in journalism and media studies. PS, I Love You is Cecelia's first novel and rights to it have already been sold worldwide, including in the United States. A film adaptation is currently in pre-production with Warner Brothers. Cecilia also happens to be the daughter of the Irish Prime Minister, Bertie Ahern.

October Meeting

The October meeting of the Book Circle & Pudding Club will be on Wednesday 3rd October.

The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas

The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas is the first novel ever written for children about the Holocaust. However, the word Holocaust is never mentioned. When you start to read this book, you go on a journey with a nine-year-old boy called Bruno.

Bruno lives in Germany during World War II. He knows nothing of the Final Solution and the Holocaust. He is oblivious to the appalling cruelties being inflicted on the people of Europe by his country. His dad is a soldier and when he gets a new, more important, job, Bruno and his family move to a new home at a place called Out-With. But when Bruno gets there he's homesick. His new home is smaller, full of soldiers and there is no-one to play with. And he is forbidden to explore.

But his curiosity becomes too much and so he investigates his new home and meets Shmuel, who lives on the other side of the fence and who, like the other people there, wears a uniform of striped pyjamas. Although Bruno comes from a Nazi family and Shmuel is Jewish, they become friends and meet at the same spot and talk whenever they can.

As a result Bruno learns more about where he lives, how other people live and the effect of the war.

Chocolate Brioche Pudding

• 1 small brioche loaf
• 85g melted butter
• 1/2 jar apricot jam
• 3 eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 300ml milk
• 300ml double cream
• 85g sugar
• 200g chocolate chunks
• 50g flaked almonds

Set oven to 150 oC

Cube brioche and layer on bottom of oven-proof dish. Drizzle over half the melted butter.

Spread with jam, layer more brioche and drizzle the remaining butter.

Mix eggs, milk, cream, vanilla and sugar and pour over the brioche, leaving to soak for 30 minis.

Sprinkle with chocolate and almonds and bake for 30 mins until golden and risen.