My very first Heather's Pick - and still one of my favourite stories - was 'The Secret Book of Grazia Dei Rossi'. A love story between a poor young woman and a dashing Count, set against the backdrop of all that was happening in the time of the Medicis, the richly imagined saga was inspired when author Jacquie Parks came across two letters in the young woman's hand archived at The New York Public Library.

Similarly, People of the Book, written by Pulitzer Prize winner Geraldine Brooks, takes its inspiration from a small truth - the real-life existence of a rare and richly illustrated Passover Haggadah, originally created in medieval Spain. 'People of the Book' has it all - romance, mystery, intrigue, history, and when all is said and done - a great life lesson.

It is storytelling at its best and will surely be considered one of the best novels of 2008. The perfect read to curl up with on these last few wintery weekends.

I picked up this book because it was a Heather's pick but I was quite disappointed. I found the book somewhat boring and although I'm an avid reader I had to force myself to continue. Since it was a guaranteed read, I returned it and got my money back.

This was a good read, especially if you are a fan of historical fiction. As the main character investigates the origins of a rare book the reader is brought back in time to various points in the book's history - from WW2 to the Italian Renaissance and much in between - from the most recent past (Yugoslav wars of the 1990s) to the origins of the book. I liked how the book alternated between the present and history, and how the story is told from a variety of voices but was still anchored by the very likable main character Hanna.

The Sarajeva Haggadah surfaces and book expert Hannah Heath is called in to study its' history. Through a series of clues, Each clue brings the book to different areas of the world, cultures, and people who will stop at nothing to protect this volume. This story although fiction, is partially true, and will bring you on a great historical ride. . If you liked the "Red Violin" you will like this.