Hazel Walker () 18/09/2006 14:08	Win all the books on our books page
	It's easy: just write a review of 100 words or less on any book and post it here in the forum, and if our books editors select it, you will win all the books featured on the Woman & Home books page that month. Reviews must be original, of course. The value of the prize varies, depending on the books we feature, but is rarely less than £50. Good luck!
Dotty (member) 22/09/2006 16:28	Re: Win all the books on our books page
	To Kill a Mocking Bird by Harper Lee. This is a beautifully written book set during the Depression in the southern states of America. It tells the story of the Finch family, and this is narrated by Scout the youngest of the two children of Atticus Finch, who is a lawyer. The main story in the book is that of the trial of a negro for raping a white woman. Atticus defends him but of course, he is up against a lot of prejudice and the scales of justice are heavily laden against the negro. As well, the book recounts the adventures of Scout and her brother, Jem, and particularly of their friendship with the recluse, Boo Radley. Atticus is portrayed as a very wise man, who teaches his children about the ways of the world and of human nature. He is the sort of person one would want to turn to for advice as he always seems to know the right thing to do. This is surely one of the best books I have ever read.
RedSpirit (member) 29/09/2006 12:22	Re: Win all the books on our books page
	The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger The remarkable love between Clare and Henry unfolds as they face complex challenges thrown at them by his genetic condition of time travelling. As they struggle with unpredictable journeys into both past and future the reader is drawn deeply into their lives. Written from both their perspectives it reflects the ordinary yet soulful quality of being in relationship with one you love with heartrending complications; What's it like to meet your husband when he thinks you’re meeting for the first time? How to make the painful decision of whether to have children? What to do with unwelcome knowledge from the future? How to cope with the uncontrollable nature and risks of the condition? The authors craft is in creating a story that can touch each of us as it intensely explores hope, longing, life, loss and ultimately love. I was touched to my core reading this – I recommend you give yourself plenty of time to indulge in this book and space to cry, even my husband shed tears.
waterbaby (member) 04/10/2006 16:40	Re: Win all the books on our books page
	Perfect Match by Jodi Picoult Nina Frost's occupation as an Assistant District Attorney specialising in child abuse means she spends her days in court trying to protect her young victims and winning for them the satisfaction of their violators being sentenced. Thus she protects herself from getting too personally involved. However, when Nathaniel, her five year old son, drops the bombshell that he has been abused, Nina is sent reeling into the world of extreme protectiveness that only mothers can feel for their own children. How far will Nina go to avenge this intrusion on her child's life? I thought this book might have been a bit of a tricky subject but the reader gets so involved and can physically feel Nathaniel's own sorrow, plus his bewilderment at what is happening to his parents. This was the first book by this author that I have read but will delve into her others now.
Janecaroll (member) 05/10/2006 08:20	Re: Win all the books on our books page
	The Tea House on Mulbery Street by Sharon Owens. Penny and Daniel Stanley own Muldoon's Tea Rooms and the book follows the everyday life of them and their customers. We soon get to know the main characters, Brenda the artist, Sadie's sadness, Claire's battle with a past she can't let go and of course the Stanleys themselves. We quickly become drawn into their lives and those around them. There is sadness, self discovery, a journey home, mouth-watering deserts and of course, a happy ending! This is a feel good book to curl up with on a winters evening... Enjoy!
suz (member) 05/10/2006 19:40	Re: Win all the books on our books page
	The Other Side of You by Sally Vickers Psychoanalyst David McBride describes a series of consultations with a failed suicide, Elizabeth. A dry-as-dust case history? Not a bit of it. Sally Vickers' novel blossoms from prosaic beginnings. There are insights galore into the human condition, but these are delivered within the context of a passionate and multi-layered love story. By means of visits to Rome, and via a shared understanding of the life and works of Caravaggio, both David and Elizabeth discover ways in which their damaged lives may be changed. This is a wonderful novel - a thought-provoking and entertaining read.
suz (member) 06/10/2006 10:59	Re: Win all the books on our books page
	My apologies for incorrectly spelling Salley Vickers' name in my review. Here is a corrected version: The Other Side of You by Salley Vickers Psychoanalyst David McBride describes a series of consultations with a suicidal patient, Elizabeth. A dry-as-dust case history? Not a bit of it. Salley Vickers' novel blossoms from prosaic beginnings. There are insights galore into the human condition, but these are delivered within the context of a passionate and multi-layered love story. By means of visits to Rome, and via a shared understanding of the life and work of Caravaggio, both David and Elizabeth discover ways in which their damaged lives may be changed. This is a wonderful novel - a thought-provoking and entertaining read.
AlisonC (member) 08/10/2006 18:57	A Little Prisoner by Jane Elliot
	It is through the descriptive narration of this true story that we discover the true extent of the abuse that the author endured from her father during her childhood and as it continued as a adult. We are informed of what Jane tolerated before finding the strength to put an end to her abusive past and how she thought to protect herself and her children. This book is very moving and highly addictive as we embark on a journey of isolation and secrecy by entering a world that we would otherwise find hard to believe.
Dotty (member) 22/10/2006 20:40	Re: Coming Home by Rosamunde Pilcher
	Judith Dunbar's parents emigrate with her little sister to live in Singapore and leave Judith behind to attend a boarding school, where she meets Loveday, an irrepressible, impetuous character. Loveday takes her to her family home at Nancherrow and Judith is captivated by her fun loving family. They are separated by the war and tragedy strikes them both but later they are reunited at Nancherrow and both find their happy ever after. The story of their tragic war years is quite thought provoking, although Judith personally seems a fairly unemotional person and seems to recover very quickly from the terrible events.
Buzz50 (member) 29/10/2006 17:12	Re: Win all the books on our books page
	Five People You Meet In Heaven is an ‘uplifting’ book that once started, you want to read without interruption until you get to the last page. Mitch Albom writes about an ordinary maintenance man in a smooth, easy to read way. The story starts at the end and is about Eddie who finds himself in heaven after a freak accident. Eddie’s life is told by the five people he meets in heaven and he learns how his life touched theirs without his even knowing them and he discovers why he followed a path in life he never intended to.
Jane_H (member) 31/10/2006 12:20	Re: Win all the books on our books page
	Empress Orchid by Anchee Min. From a humble childhood, Orchid enters the Forbidden City and will go to any lengths to win favour with the Emperor. But to what cost? Set in 19th century China, and based on Tzu Hsi, China's last Empress, this is a dazzling and exotic story of forbidden love, betrayal, politics and power. Packed with fascinating facts and beautiful descriptions of Imperial China, it is truly enlightening. Loved it.
audreysimpkin (member) 05/11/2006 11:03	Re: Win all the books on our books page
	War Reporting for Cowards by Chris Ayres: A true story by Chris Ayres a 'celebrity' reporter based on the West Coast of the USA who ends up, through every fault of his own, being an 'embed' with the United States Marines during the 2003 Iraq War. Cringe-worthy in places, at times laugh-out-loud hilarious. A look at the Iraqi conflict from a self-confessed coward's point of view. As an Army wife, used to hearing war described mostly in acronyms (about which I have no idea), it was refreshing - and I mean no dis-service to the author by this - to read a more 'girly-fied' version of military manoeuvres.
britab (member) 05/11/2006 13:13	Re: Win all the books on our books page
	The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio by Terry Ryan. With endless good-humour and spontaneous wit, mother-of-ten, Evelyn Ryan, somehow manages to rise above her poverty of circumstance, to feed and clothe her growing family by entering '25-words-or-less' slogan competitions, in America's 1960's jingles heyday. If there are such things as guardian angels, Evelyn definitely had one! The true story of an inspirational mother, written by Terry, child number six. A must! Once you start to read it... I guarantee you won't be able to put it down!
Filly (member) 06/11/2006 17:13	Re: Win all the books on our books page
	Swimmer in the Secret Sea by William KOTZWINKLE Perhaps one of the most moving books that I have ever read. William Kotzwinkle manages to describe the deepest of human feelings with this book. It is what could have been a "happy-end" story. Parents waiting for their first child to be born and the tragic, but unfortunately not rare, outcome. Their mourning and the father's quest for the perfect resting place for his child. A sad tale, but written in such a way that the dignity and the desperation of this young couple is keenly felt by the reader. An excellent read, perhaps not to be recommended to too sensitive expectant mothers.
cassie (member) 10/11/2006 15:04	Re: Win all the books on our books page
	One Good Turn by Kate Atkinson I don’t really like murder mysteries but I have enjoyed the other books by Kate Atkinson so thought I’d give it a go. I’m so glad I did. A driver brakes to avoid hitting a pedestrian and is in turn hit by another car. This loosely links together a number of bystanders and the story begins to follow the lives of each of these people. The characters are ordinary people, some more interesting than others and some downright un-likeable. Each character has their own secrets which are gradually revealed. Although it is obvious they are all moving towards each other for the finale there are many twists and turns in the plot. Nothing is what it seems. I don’t want to explain in more detail for fear of spoiling the plot. Read the book.
Anthea (member) 10/11/2006 19:18	Re: Win all the books on our books page
	Hello. Where can we find out who wins the books? I never know where to look. Anthea
ANGELA62 (member) 12/11/2006 22:00	Re: Win all the books on our books page
	THE TAKE (Martina Cole) Yet another East End gangland saga. Freddie introduces his younger cousin Jimmy into the life of crime only to be usurped by him at a later date. All their businesses are masterminded by Ozzy from his prison cell. He is in the know about everything and everyone and God help anyone who crosses him. The families are complex. The recurring themes are violence, sex, bad language and the most vicious of murders. A real page turner, yet despite the descriptive content, it is imperative to know how these people end their days. In Cole’s inimitable style, even the most corrupt person can be portrayed as good and honest. Angela62
julie (member) 19/11/2006 22:50	Re: Win all the books on our books page
	Oscar and The Lady in Pink Eric-Emmanuel Schmitt This is a beautiful, but sad story,with the underlying message to live life to the full. Oscar, terminally ill in hospital, is persuaded by elderly hospital visitor Grannie Rose (the Lady in Pink),to write letters to God. One day equals ten years, and every night Oscar writes a letter about his life. We meet Oscar at the age of ten, and he leaves at 110, having married, adopted a daughter, and lived his life to the full with joy and adventure. It helped me question the fear of dying in a positive way.
sallyj (member) 10/12/2006 20:21	Re: Win all the books on our books page
	The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini This is an excellent first novel about loyalty, friendship and betrayal. Privileged Amir grows up with low-caste Hassan, the son of his father’s servant, in 1970s Afghanistan. The boys are close and Hassan is incredibly loyal to Amir, even though he must also serve him. However, Amir is jealous of the affection and respect his own father shows to Hassan. Hassan helps Amir to win a kite-fighting competition and also his father’s approval. But then Amir betrays Hassan in a terrible way. Only after Hassan’s death, twenty years later, can Amir make amends in an exciting and gripping climax.
CarolineN (member) 13/12/2006 22:10	Re: Win all the books on our books page
	A Place Called Here by Cecelia Ahern Have you ever spent ages looking for a missing sock but never found it? Have you ever wondered where your favourite earing dissapeared to? Sandy Shortt is just the person for you. Sandy spends her life looking for missing items and discovers that she has lost more than she first thought. Cecelia makes the unbelievable believable in this easy to read but delightful story which has a deeper meaning if you care to look for it.
sallyj (member) 14/12/2006 19:48	Re: Win all the books on our books page
	An Unsuitable Job For a Woman By P.D. James A P.D. James novel with only a very minor for Adam Dalgliesh? It sounded like fish without enough chips. But private eye Cordelia Gray proves that her profession is more than suitable for a plucky young woman. Hired to investigate the reasons behind a student suicide she uncovers one murder, witnesses another and is herself nearly killed. Mix in a coded message in a prayer book, friends of the deceased with something to hide plus an alcoholic family doctor and the result is a gripping story. This book is stimulating and satisfying with no need to add salt and vinegar!
Daisycat (member) 24/12/2006 11:49	Re: Win all the books on our books page
	The Playground Mafia by Sarah Tucker Caroline Gray is now a divorcee with a little boy who is about to start school. On searching for a new home Caroline decides to move to Frencham, where her two school friends live with their families. Caroline is feeling very pleased with herself as the house she has bought is within the catchment of the best state school in the area and her friends children already attend. Its the first day of school and Caroline is very nervous and is greatly supported by her son Ben as they enter the school gates...and so the story begins. If you have ever been in the position of running the gauntlet of a school yard and the politics involved or are about to embarke on this stage in your life this book is for you. You experience the ups and downs of being a working mum trying to juggle lifes everyday happenings together with the internal politics of school life, which is anything but boring. While reading this I laughed and cringed at the antics these parents got up to just to get their children on in life, regardless of the damage they caused. It reads very true and could be considered a good guide as to the dos and donts of school politics.
Dotty (member) 24/12/2006 21:57	Re: Win all the books on our books page
	1984 by George Orwell. I read this in my teens, but decided to have another go at it, and it impacted on me in a much stronger way this time. This is written in the then future and Britain has become part of a larger continent called Oceania. The population are basically a lot of brainwashed zombies but the hero, Winston, begins to fight against Big Brother. Unfortunately, he is ultimately crushed. The country portrayed displays some startling and worrying similarities to modern day Britain and is a wake up call for those of us who believe everything they are told.
PARV29 (member) 30/12/2006 17:56	Re: Win all the books on our books page
	A Gathering Light by Jennifer Donnelly This unusual novel is based on a real life murder which took place, in 1906, in New York State. Mattie, the fictitious narrator, is torn between assisting her impoverished widowed father and her desire to gain a college education. The book succeeds on several levels. All the characters, however minor, have considerable depth, and the background and time in which they are placed are beautifully drawn. As Mattie tells her story, the life of the murder victim is also revealed. Thus two women`s lives are cleverly interwoven in the novel which is long remembered afterwards by the reader.
lynne (member) 11/01/2007 17:52	Re: Win all the books on our books page
	Thirteen Moons by Charles Frazier. Sold by his family, Will Cooper's exquisitely told life story is set in the turbulent 19th Century American Frontier. This sumptous historical fiction totally immerses the reader in an epic love story. Will's passion for a woman, his adopted people and for his land is totally believable. So insightfully written, it deserves to be savoured and read slowly. It will touch you on all levels.
didi (member) 12/01/2007 16:14	Re: Win all the books on our books page
	Dead Simple by Peter James A murder, mystery set around the Brighton area of England. The groom goes missing on his stag night and his four friends, get killed in a drunken road traffic accident. The distrought bride and bestman, try to help the police as much as they can, but why would the groom disappear days before he was due to marry the love of his life? There are so many twists and turns in this book, you won't be able to put it down until you've discovered the truth behind the mystery.
(member) 19/01/2007 21:35	Re: Win all the books on our books page
	Stuart- a life backwards by Alexander Masters Stuart Shorter was a happy, loveable child but became a drug addict, psychotic, frequently homeless, repeatedly arrested. He and Alexander Masters formed an extraordinary friendship while fighting a campaign to free two wrongly convicted prisoners. Stuart agreed that Masters could tell his story, but backwards, starting at the end of his brief life and – reluctantly on Stuart’s part - working back to the shocking probable sources of Stuart’s problems. I defy anyone who has read this story not to develop a greater empathy and tolerance towards the plight of homeless people and those who work with them.
CharleneC (member) 26/01/2007 22:44	Re: Win all the books on our books page
	The Memory Keeper's Daughter. by Kim Edwards. Under what circumstances would you decide to give up your newborn baby? Dr David Henry makes this choice one winter night in 1964, when his twin babies are born. The first child is a healthy boy. The second, a little girl,has Downs Syndrome. A life defining moment is unfolding.Dr Henry chooses to send his daughter away to a special clinic, and tells his wife that the child has died.From this moment on, the lives of everyone involved will be forever changed. But not even Dr Henry is in complete control. He is about to make a discovery that changes everything.
JackieFranklee (member) 28/01/2007 10:14	Re: Win all the books on our books page
	One Big Damn Puzzler - John Harding A lawyer visits an idyllic South Sea Island, abandoned by the US Military with a landmine legacy. His aim is to persuade the inhabitants to make a claim against the government for their injuries. OCD, "Ladyboys", and hallucinagenic drugs are just some of the devices used by Harding to create an hilarious exploration of the devastating impact the West can have- in both landmines and "compensation culture". Is the march of so-called progress really this relentless? The combination of all these strands results in a fantastic read. Serious issues are addressed, but with an incredibly deft and light hearted touch.
Mrsaris (member) 07/02/2007 09:11	Re: Win all the books on our books page
	Divas Las Vegas by Belinda Jones This book follows the crazy saga of two English girls from Devon, England as they leave their quiet little English town behind to follow their dream to Las Vegas where the air is 70 % oxygen and 30 % confetti to find themselves husbands and have a double wedding. Izzy and Jamie, both in their late twenties are sick and tired of ‘crap’ boyfriends and now want to find themselves walking down the aisle together with ‘crap’ husbands from Vegas. Twenty-seven-year old Jamie wants to forget about her teenage boyfriend, CJ who now is about to marry his sister, Nadine. . Together with her friend, Izzy both girls travel to Vegas on a high-rolling, husband grabbing adventure!
waterbaby (member) 15/02/2007 16:07	Re: Win all the books on our books page
	Entwined (Lynda La Plante) What is the connection between two women in newly liberated Berlin? Both are suffering from locked away memories of their childhood - the terrible experience and survival of the Holocaust. A murder hunt brings a baroness and a circus performer together and we learn of the strange and powerful empathy that twins can have for each other. BE WARNED. A disturbing story about nightmare years yet lightened in the surroundings of the Big Top. An 'unputdownable' book.
Tabbycat (member) 27/02/2007 21:37	Re: Win all the books on our books page
	Miss Garnet's Angel Salley Vickers Following her closest companion's death, retired teacher, Julia Garnet, exchanges her unremarkable lifestyle for six months in Venice. Painted panels in the local church depicting the journey (physical and metaphorical) of Tobias from the Apocrypha intrigue her. Changes wrought in Tobias prove to be the work of his travelling companion, finally revealed as the Archangel Raphael. Julia's Venetian "journey" and characters she interacts with parallel those of Tobias, producing fundamental changes within her. Vickers' story is wrapped in haunting and mystical language; the imaginatively drawn characters, set against the art, beauty and mystery of Venice, fully engage the reader.
zennor (member) 28/02/2007 13:25	Re: Win all the books on our books page
	Second Honeymoon - Joanna Trollope Edie coped with her first two children leaving home but the pain of her youngest son fleeing the nest is almost more than she can bear! That coupled with her sister's turbulant marriage, an almost neglected husband and revelations about the true state of her offsprings' true financial and emotional circumstances make a novel that is extremely readable and extremely difficult to put down! It is so true to life that some of us could have almost written the script! This is no 'Aga Saga' - this is real life and a highly recommended read! Joanna has excelled in her latest bestseller!
watercolour (member) 04/03/2007 11:16	Re: Win all the books on our books page
	The Gypsy Madonna by Santa Montefiore Mischa discovers on his mother's death that she had possession of a valuable painting. In order to solve the mystery of why, he returns to France, the country of his childhood and recalls those often turbulent and disturbing times. This part of the book is written with great sensitivity but the tone and mood changes when he reaches mid-teenage years, almost as if penned by a different writer. The conclusion is a little disappointing and I do not think I have read a better book than the author's 'Meet me under the ombu tree'. However, this is still a very enjoyable read and a pleasant change of subject matter
ANGELA62 (member) 04/03/2007 18:45	Re: Win all the books on our books page
	CONGRATULATIONS on your win, Jennifer. See private mail. Hope you enjoy your books - mine are fantastic. Regards, Angela
MarieBr (member) 09/03/2007 19:32	Re: Win all the books on our books page
	Thin by Grace Bowman A moving, inspiring and very readable account of the author’s experience of and recovery from anorexia. Now married and approaching 30, Grace reflects on what caused her to begin a diet and be unable to stop. As her story unfolds, you marvel at Grace’s self-awareness, cry for her supportive, helpless parents, and come to understand the many complex causes of the condition. Such was Grace’s control, that her road to recovery began when she decided that enough was enough. Above all, the book gives a message of hope. Recovery comes from relinquishing control and focusing on the needs of others.
primrose (member) 11/03/2007 14:18	Re: Win all the books on our books page
	The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency. Alexander McCall Smith My new favourite author! This delicious series of books features the charming, clever detective Precious Ramotswe. Precious lives in her hearts desire, Botswana. Like many women she faces doubts and fears but outwardly is strong and determined. She runs the detective agency. This heroine is beautiful. Confidently, comfortably overweight she manipulates people around her with grace. The book includes stories about missing children, drinking tea and the local garage owner all woven together quietly amidst the understated Botswana background. It is like no other read and as such - a must. You will not be able to forget this book.
zennor (member) 20/03/2007 16:59	Re: Win all the books on our books page
	Whitethorn Woods by Maeve Binchy Maeve Binchy is such a comfort ... her books are full of wisdom with the characters all carefully interwoven. This latest offering centres cleverly around the theme of the Holy Well in Whitethorn Woods where people go hopefully to pray to St.Ann for a variety of personal reasons. The Woods are threatened by a new road and we learn about the past and future hopes of the residents in Rossmore in an astute and gentle way in which Maeve Binchy excells! A book for bedtime which will not cause sleepless nights - a book for Granny with inoffensive language, but best of all a book to enjoy and enjoy again another day!
lynne (member) 22/03/2007 10:23	Re: Win all the books on our books page
	Our book club read this recently.........loved it!
sallyj (member) 25/03/2007 20:12	Re: Win all the books on our books page - On Beauty by Zadie Smith
	On Beauty by Zadie Smith The New England Belsey family have problems. Kiki is struggling with Howard’s adultery whilst his academic career is faltering. Their three teenagers are discovering that life is not always fair. When Howard’s arch-rival Monty Kipps arrives at the university, the two men lock horns but their wives form a tentative friendship. A death and a disappearing painting propel the novel to its explosive climax. Brilliant, Technicolor language illuminates this compulsive tale - thick ankles are “like the ones Tom and Jerry played around”. This book demands that you settle down for a marathon word fest amongst imperfect yet likeable characters.
Lesley49 (member) 30/03/2007 00:41	Re: Win all the books on our books page
	Dead Simple by Peter James This is a thriller that I came across by accident but which has led me to become hooked on the author. The plot starts with a stag night prank that goes horribly wrong, leaving the impending groom encased in a coffin. The story introduces a police detective who is leading the hunt for the missing groom and the plot twists and turns toward an unexpected ending. This is the sort of story where you get half way through and then suddenly it makes you think, "whoa, I wasn't expecting that". I can't say much more without giving the plot away, but Peter James has a fascinating imagination.
AlisonP (member) 01/04/2007 19:40	Re: Win all the books on our books page
	Buttertea at Sunrise (A year in the Bhutan Himalaya) by Britta Das I love armchair travelling. I'm interested in people's lives and I like books that have at least a thread of fact running through them. This book hit all the spots. Britta is a Canadian physiotherapist who visited Bhutan and was drawn to work there. She tells her own story and that of countless Bhutanese villagers. Britta's writing draws you in, so you feel you are experiencing life in our time in another place. Don't miss it.
MarieDH (member) 01/04/2007 21:37	Re: Win all the books on our books page
	Five People You Meet In Heaven It is a book with a story but more importantly with a message and it is that message that I will focus on here. The author teaches us that, for our life to be rich, we must have and indeed acknowledge that we may all have great teachers and that we can all be great teachers. It is a book about the lessons we learn, the lessons we miss, and the lessons we should say thankyou for.
JustMe (member) 02/04/2007 13:21	Re: Win all the books on our books page - On Beauty by Zadie Smith
	The Invisible Girl by Peter Barham This book is incredible. The memoirs of Peter Barham about his beautiful daughter and her battle with anorexia. She had a very successful, though short, life. She inspired others, she could be bitingly sharp and always hilariously witty and clever. This book made me want to laugh and cry. I wanted to know her. I felt I did know her. The complications of her relationships with her parents, her internal struggle, her ambition and her successes are revealed in a touching narration by her father, with emails and insights from her peers after her death. Superb.
Buzz50 (member) 03/04/2007 11:08	Re: Win all the books on our books page
	Mary Wesley - A Sensible Life I only read Mary Wesley’s ‘A Sensible Life’ because it was taking up too much room on my bookshelf but it proved a most enjoyable read. Beginning in 1926 it combines an eclectic mix of English middle-class families who are in Brittany for the Easter Holidays. Flora, whose parents are too wrapped up in themselves to care much what happens to her is lonely and alone yet she captures the hearts of two sisters and three young men on the verge of adulthood. Flora’s story, woven with interesting characters spans 40 years during which time she is lost, betrayed and moreover loved. A completely satisfying read.
claires (member) 07/04/2007 11:38	Re: Win all the books on our books page
	The Tenderness of Wolves by Stef Penney It is the title that attracts you to this book and the following pages do not disappoint. Set in the 1860’s Canadian frontier it evokes hardship, loneliness and the power and beauty of the land. The central person is a tough back-woods farmer’s wife who bravely sets out, at the on-set of winter, in pursuit of her missing son who is suspected of murder. The story brilliantly moves between characters capturing their complex individualities and history whilst continuing to build intrigue and suspense. A fabulously written, enthralling and prize winning, debut novel.
claires (member) 07/04/2007 11:49	Re: Win all the books on our books page
	The Tenderness of Wolves It is the title that attracts you to this book and the following pages do not disappoint. Set in the 1860’s Canadian frontier it evokes hardship, loneliness and the power and beauty of the land. The central person is a tough back-woods farmer’s wife who bravely sets out, at the on-set of winter, in pursuit of her missing son who is suspected of murder. The story brilliantly moves between characters capturing their complex individualities and history whilst continuing to build intrigue and suspense. A fabulously written, enthralling and prize winning, debut novel.
Lib (member) 07/04/2007 21:20	Re: Win all the books on our books page
	The View from Castle Rock by Alice Munro In this book Munro goes in search of her roots. From Will O'Phaup, grandfather of the Scottish writer James Hogg, to her father who farmed turkeys and fox fur in the American Depression, all Munro's ancestors leap from the page and engage our imagination. She recalls her own childhood and young love, writes of the hopes of her first marriage and reveals the solidity of her second. Munro writes perceptively of the complexities of family life and those hidden ties that link her to past lives, while celebrating the joys of the present time.
HeidiMary (member) 09/04/2007 15:09	Re: Win all the books on our books page
	The Egg Race by Polly Williams Another cracking (!) read from the author of 'The Rise and Fall of the Yummy Mummy'. This time her focus is thirty- something women with loudly ticking biological clocks. The story centres on Stevie who is about to marry a man who, whilst not making her earth move, is the nearest she can get to husband material! The story carries you along with a poignant humour as she deals with a series of crises involving her family as well as some old friends and unlikely faces from the past. A real page turner of a romantic comedy with a likeable central character whom you really hope will find happiness.
Jacqueline (member) 11/04/2007 16:12	Re: Win all the books on our books page
	Crow Lake by Mary Lawson When I read Joanne Harris's (Chocolat) comments on Lawson's first novel I was impressed that such an accolade could be bestowed by a recognised author onto an apparent "rookie" in the profession. And, Harris was right to praise this work - this is a sensitive, passionate tale of a bereaved family of 4 young orphans in the rural outback of Canada. The descriptions of each individual's hunger and thirst for, and pleasure and disappointment with life, all different, but inexorably intermingled with each other, will have you reaching for the tissues in either sympathy and/or empathy before the last page praying for a conceivable resolution - and Lawson doesn't thwart our appeal.
clare29 (member) 16/04/2007 21:13	Re: Win all the books on our books page
	Time Traveller's Wife - I also loved this book - it really seemed to get "under the skin" as it were - and Henry and Claire became very real to me, although I was always trying to work out where in time they were! I only saw this post tonight (16 April 2007) as I am a rather intermittent follower of forums. But as I enjoy reading, it's always good to see if anyone likes the same books I do.
lynne (member) 02/05/2007 22:21	Re: Win all the books on our books page
	Well done Sally.......it looks like you are in for some good reads!
sallyj (member) 06/05/2007 20:02	Re: Win all the books on our books page
	The Undomestic Goddess - Sophie Kinsella Rock solid ‘roasted’ chick peas, an untamed ironing board and a gardener who can see straight through her ‘housekeeper’ act. Top lawyer, Samantha Sweeting, leaps all these hurdles as she plummets from law firm partner to cleaning her new employer’s toilets. With absolutely no domestic experience can she live up to her own ‘cordon bleu trained’ boasts? This book is a delightful departure from Kinsella’s Shopaholic series. It takes the reader on a frothy roller coaster of humour and romance as Samantha’s life is turned upside down. But beware – it may leave you questioning your own 9 – 5 office existence!
sallyj (member) 06/05/2007 20:05	Re: Win all the books on our books page
	Thank you, Lynne. I've received a box of 13 books! That should keep me busy for a while. Good Luck to all the other reviewers out there.
janis (member) 27/05/2007 22:43	Re: Win all the books on our books page
	I too enjoyed this book enormously. It is quite unique and a rather challenging read. I have passed it on to several friends but most of them found it 'difficult' and 'strange.' I thought it was excellent and shed a tear at the end - always a good sign!
happiness28 (member) 29/05/2007 16:06	Re: Win all the books on our books page
	Fans of Maggie O' Farrell will not be disappointed with her latest novel, 'The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox'. This is a story of family - of sisters and sisters, of brother and sister, all inextricably linked. The power of O'Farrell's writing lies in her ability to blend narrative voices so expertly that they all appear to be present at once, telling their tale to the reader. Esme's story is heartbreaking and provokes sympathy; Kitty's constant ramblings reveal the true events and Iris, as a young modern woman, with issues of her own, is left to pick up the pieces. A stunning read.
Stella (member) 03/06/2007 18:06	Re: Win all the books on our books page
	The Mathematics of Love by Emma Darwin Two stories alternate through the book, seemingly very different, but inextricably linked by the end. Major Stephen Fairhurst, maimed at the Battle of Waterloo, travels Europe, mourning his lost love and searching for meaning in his life. He befriends an independent-minded woman, passionate about photography. Anna, a lonely teenager in the mid-seventies, is left to fend for herself one summer with unknown relatives. She is befriended by exotic neighbours, who help teach her about photography - and life. The themes of photography, independent thought and especially the importance of love for others, blend the two stories satisfyingly into one.
mbing (member) 05/06/2007 20:14	Re: Win all the books on our books page
	The Last Detective by Robert Crais When the step-son of ex-special forces Elvis Cole is kidnapped, everything points to a revenge kidnapping relating to events in Cole's army life. How could the kidnapper know the details of military operations unless he was there? A true 'can't put it down' thriller, this book has clever twists and turns, deep characters, and bucket loads of plot. This is the seventh Cole novel, and Crais’ tenth bestseller, so there’s lots more once you’re hooked. Other examples of his work include TV scripts for LA Law and Cagney and Lacey.
SUEG (member) 07/06/2007 16:47	Re: Win all the books on our books page
	'Ghostwalk' by Rebecca Stott is a beautifully written, thought-provoking, literary novel. It’s also a page turner. Set in present day Cambridge, it’s the story of Lydia Brooke, who is caught up in a web of ghosts, time slips, scientific intrigue and murder when her ex-lover Cameron asks her to complete the book that his mother, a historian, was writing before she was found drowned---and, mysteriously, holding a glass prism in her hand. Why did this happen? The hairs on the back of your neck will rise with a frisson of exquisite terror as you discover the truth.
feathers (member) 07/06/2007 17:19	Review: 'Those who save us' by Jenna Blum
	Those who save us by Jenna Blum Although this is quite a thick book it was so compelling I devoured it in 24 hours. The narrative switches between the wartime years in Germany and the USA in the 90s where the main characters settled with a GI husband after 1945. Key characters are Trudy and her mother, Anna, who has never talked about what she endured to survive in Nazi Germany. It's only through a university project Trudy is running examining how ordinary Germans lived through these extraordinary years that she finally learns the truth about her heritage. But her mother, who has learnt to hide the past, is silent to the end.
Frailty (member) 10/06/2007 17:19	Re: Win all the books on our books page
	The Inheritance of Loss – Kiran Desai Set in India during the Ghurka uprising , there is much to enjoy in this book. There are many telling phrases and descriptions such as the Gymkhana library, slowly mouldering away. The extreme poverty and difficulties of those at the bottom of the social scale and the impossibility of change are a constant theme. Most of the characters are unsympathetic, any redeeming features quickly over shadowed by another instance of selfishness or callousness. It isn’t one to read as a bit of escapism. Look out for the endearing depiction of the dog Mutt, an uncomplicated joy in so much gloom.
sallyj (member) 23/06/2007 20:53	Re: Win all the books on our books page
	Innocent Traitor – Alison Weir This is the historical novel for those who don’t usually choose them. Using the present tense, it brings to life the story of the highly intelligent Lady Jane Grey. Her short life, cruel treatment and unfair manipulation is recounted vividly from several intermingled viewpoints. We hear of the death of Henry VIII and witness that of his son, Edward. From then on Jane’s days are numbered and we share her prison in the Tower of London. Finally, her last moments are described by the executioner himself and I guarantee you will shed a tear.
aggipanthus (member) 24/06/2007 10:12	Re: Win all the books on our books page
	'Something Like Love' by Catherine Dunne (Pan Books £6.99) Rose's husband Ben walked out on her and their childrren after twenty years of marriage, and eight years on decides to walk back in - or tries to. This is the story of how a woman once depressed, confused and a little scared, learnt to live as a single mother. She picked herself up, started what was to become a successful business, and found an inner strength to fight her husband, and find an even better life, and a better man. Amongst other things this is an object lesson in how to give your ex his comeuppance!
ANGELA62 (member) 02/07/2007 19:20	Re: Win all the books on our books page
	THE CONSTANT GARDENER By John le Carre Tessa, the young lawyer cum aid worker, murdered in Nairobi with the African doctor purported to be her lover. Justin,‘the deceived’? Justin was ‘the professional bachelor’, and had reached his ceiling in the Foreign Office, but surprised all by marrying the much younger Tessa. He is cleared of conspiracy and murder. He sets out on a long and arduous journey to unravel the mysteries of her work and to bring to justice the bent African government, the multinational pharmaceutical conglomerates that are killing innocent Africans used as guinea pigs to promote their ‘cure’ for tuberculosis. What becomes of Justin? Read on...don’t watch the film.
sallyj (member) 07/07/2007 19:50	Re: Win all the books on our books page - Cold Hit by Linda Fairstein
	Cold Hit by Linda Fairstein Try this if you’re a Patricia Cornwell fan. Alexandra is a feisty Assistant District Attorney in New York, specialising in sex crimes. One evening she is called to view the body of an elegant woman which has been pulled from the water. She has been tied to a ladder and raped. Cooper and her detective colleagues are plunged into the international art world of the dead woman. Their job is made harder by the fact that the victim’s marriage had broken down and she had two lovers. Or is the murder linked to a major art theft several years earlier?
LindyLouMac (member) 12/07/2007 21:11	Emotional Geology by Linda Gillard (Entry for Win all boks on bk page)
	One of my favourite reads so far this year and in my opinion even better than the author's excellent debut novel `Emotional Geology'. With this second novel I feel that Linda Gillard has established herself as an author to be watched by those who enjoy contemporary literature. The story of the Dunbar's and their complicated familial relationships will stay with me, long after I finished reading. It is a disturbing but compelling tale as one is drawn into the lives of the family members. The jumping backwards and forwards in time of the narrative I at first found confusing and had me flicking back and forth checking points. However for me this style added considerably to the understanding, because of the complexity of the story. I am intrigued as to how Linda Gillard tackled the writing of these different sections? Anyway the technique works very well with Flora's narrative starting the novel with her own funeral and then continuing to be inserted throughout. I admire the author for tackling such a difficult theme so sensitively without causing angst. I feel that I could say more but not without spoiling the plot for those who have yet to read this. I am now encouraging family, friends and others to read the work of this brilliant new author if they have not already discovered her themselves. I had a very enjoyable few hours immersed in the life of the Dunbar's and am now looking forward to the publication of her third novel.
nina1973 (member) 13/07/2007 10:51	My most treasured read .......
	I was reading some of the book reviews above and began thinking what book would I recommend over all others. And for me it has to be 'The five people you meet in heaven' by Mitch Albom. I chose to read this book 6 months after losing my mum, when I had many questions (mostly unanswerable), and was struggling to cope. The author has written this book in such a beautiful way, delicate at times then more hard hitting at others. When the main character of the book tragically dies, he arrives in heaven to be greeted by five people that he has significantly or igsignificantly been involved with during his existence on earth. They are there to remind him of valuable lessons he has lived through before arriving at this point. This book planted a seed in my mind which helped me to view heaven and my mum in a comforting way. This book is by no means trying to impose that heaven is that way, but for me at a time when I was very confused - it was just the tonic I needed.
ongoingstudent (member) 13/07/2007 20:59	Re: Win all the books on our books page
	This book will save your life by A M Homes This intriguing book takes the reader on the weird mental, and literal, journey of Richard, a well-off American divorcee who has hit a mid-life crisis. As his senses begin to reawaken - sometimes in quite spectacular fashion - he starts to notice things about himself and his environment in sometimes bizarre ways. This reawakening leads to him collecting an assortment of entertaining characters on his journey. This was a book that left me with a feeling of needing to keep in touch with reality, just in case it somehow passes me by. Sheer curiosity kept me turning the pages.
maidofkent (member) 14/07/2007 18:19	Re: Win all the books on our books page
	There are whispers of the Brontes all the way down the shadowy corridors of this novel, surprisingly Setterfield's first. Gothic, oppressive, disturbing, it is beautifully written, and completely gripping. The heroine is suitably solitary and questioning, the main protagonist, Vida Winter, decidedly peculiar, telling a story that twists, repels and misleads wonderfully. But the strength for me of this book is that the author understands, how good books catch at one's vitals, and how bereft one feels when one is finished. As an encouragement for total immersion, I have not found a better. Start reading and you will find it hard to stop, and when you have to, you will mind. What better reason to begin?
paulagalvin (member) 20/07/2007 00:57	Re: Win all the books on our books page
	I have just finished reading "The Glass Room" by kathryn Holmquist.It really is page-turning,taps into the zeitgeist,turns on all the right taps,knobs and buttons and is basically a redemptive tale.A great book to take on holiday, sip it as you would a sweet and possibly cloying cocktail!!!!!!!!!!!
paulagalvin (member) 24/07/2007 19:37	Re: Win all the books on our books page
	I am reading the most truly wonderful book i have read in years!!!!!!!!!!I heard the author speak at the "Dublin Writers`festival" about a month ago and I was so moved by her reading of it and the book itself,that I simply had to go out and buy it."It" being "The post-birthday party" by Lionel Shriver. it is simply a sumptuous read;intelligent,without being off-puttingly intellectual,beautifully written and so acutely aware of what makes women and to a lesser degree men tick.you find yourself nodding in agreement to all the internal monologues. The novel tells the tale of Irina Mc Govern,a childrens`book illustrator,who takes out her "husbands" friend for dinner and afterwards,is tempted to kiss him. but does she?it is on this seemingly frivolous whim ,that the entire novel is based.It follows two distictly separate storylines;one in which she does and one in which she does`nt,each one is utterly plausible,each one beautifully written so it is all up to you the reader to see which choice was best. i found it an utterly beguiling read;she beautifully catches the cadences of ordinary speech,the petty pointless bickering of long-established relationships,the constant yearning for "another" (even when things are perfect) lionel Shriver is funny.There are some fantastic one-liners in her book and you really will laugh out loud,or quietly chuckle.i really loved"one of the luxuries of which the underpriveleged were deprived in the United kingdom was consonants" I think she is a superb writer and if you have ever wondered "What if"...........this is the perfect book for you!
paulagalvin (member) 24/07/2007 19:39	Re: Win all the books on our books page
	It is called the post birthday world ,not party-sorry!
paulagalvin (member) 24/07/2007 19:41	Re: Win all the books on our books page
	P.F.Galvin
waterbaby (member) 26/07/2007 15:16	Re: Win all the books on our books page
	The Memory Keeper's Daughter by Kim Edwards Every word demands to be read. During a snowstorm David, a doctor, delivers his son followed by an unexpected twin who has Downs Syndrome. Deep and angry memories of his childhood lead David to tell his wife the second baby died and ask his nurse to take the child to an institution. The consequences of this decision have a huge life-changing impact on so many lives. The worry of being found out (David), an unfulfilled marriage (wife) feelings of inadequacy (son) and ... read to find out. Read slowly and enjoy the beautiful use of language describing secrets, tangled lives, sadness and love.
paulagalvin (member) 30/07/2007 23:10	Re: Win all the books on our books page
	"Back When we were grown-ups"by Anne Tyler tells the tale of Rebecca,who has dutifully performed the tasks required of her as a mother and wife and discovers that in this process,she has somehow lost herself. She simply disappears one day and re-invents herself.This is a beautifully-wrought,deeply affecting tale ,told with Tylers`typically understated wisdom and knowledge of humankind.
paulagalvin (member) 30/07/2007 23:19	Re: Win all the books on our books page
	A Wedding in December" by Anita Shreve brings together seven former classmates for the wedding of two of their number.Throughout the course of two days,passions are rekindled,old animosities inflamed and some interesting secrets explored and divulged.It is a beautifully narrated tale,exquisitely perceptive and elegant. Shreve manages always to be sentimental and poignant without mawkishness.I think she is a superb story-teller.
paulagalvin (member) 01/08/2007 00:00	Re: Win all the books on our books page
	Colm Toibins "the master" is truly magnificent;it tells the tale of Henry James and is written in his exquisite style. it is beautifully written and perfectly envisions the James as he might have been,it is perfectly mannered,polished and poignant as it depicts a man who had everything yet failed to achieve what he would have liked most;intimacy.
Sealover (member) 01/08/2007 13:46	Re: Win all the books on our books page - The Distance Between Us
	The Distance Between Us by Maggie O'Farrell In Hong Kong it's Chinese New Year and Jake goes through an horrific experience which has major repercussions on his life. Trying to escape his claustrophobic existence and in search of his roots, he heads for Scotland. When he reaches his destination he meets Stella, who has also abandoned her everyday life to return to a place which only her sister, Nina, knows the significance of. A beautiful, romantic tale with a surprising twist at the end. If you have something important to do, don't start this book - you won't be able to put it down!
Sealover (member) 01/08/2007 13:56	Re: Win all the books on our books page - Digging to America
	How can two tiny Korean babies, adopted by very different Baltimore families, have such a profound effect on the lives of those who have chosen them? Fans of Anne Tyler's stylish writing will love this book and those who have never experienced her are in for a treat. Jin-Ho joins the Donaldson's, a close-knit family not afraid of expressing their feelings. Sami and Ziba Yazdan, both of Iranian origin, become the parents of tiny Susan. The story of these two disparate families, who stay in contact over the years, is both touching and funny. A great read.
paulagalvin (member) 08/08/2007 22:49	Re: Win all the books on our books page
	"The Way I Found Her" by Rose Tremain is an utterly beguiling read;it is exquisitely written,beautifully evocative of a certain time and place.The place is Paris and Lewis,our hero of fourteen years travels there with his mother,Alice who is translating the medieval romances of Valentina,a glorious exotic.Lewis falls in love with her and the labyrinthal story that follows involves secret trysts,intruiging characters and a slowly-unravelling and ultimately tragic denouememt.It is told through the eyes of Lewis,a highly intelligent and complex boy and therein lies part of its huge appeal.Readers,I loved it!
Lib (member) 11/08/2007 21:58	Re: Win all the books on our books page
	The Diana Chronicles by Tina Brown (published by Century) This book is unputdownable! Not only is it a gripping account of the life and death of a modern icon, it's also a social commentary and a psychological examination of a beautiful but flawed princess. Diana has entered into a Faustian pact with the media which she cannot break. Charles, who turned away from his wife in life, fights his corner for her after her death. These two unhappy people can only be together when apart. This modern Greek tragedy, beautifully written by someone who knew Diana personally, gives us a fascinating insight into the aristocracy in our media-driven world.
Foxie (member) 12/08/2007 14:43	Re: Win all the books on our books page
	The City Lawyer by John Grisham Michael Brock thought he had everything required for a perfect life - an upward career in a law firm with a five figure salary, a wife with a fast track medical career, a l