lyndsay_conway
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Reged: 30/07/2007
Posts: 24
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This month’s winner is Jean Marshall, from Bushey, Herts.
Her review will be printed in the June issue and she has won all the books from the May issue.
Here's her review:
Oscar Wilde and the Candlelight Murders by Gyles Brandreth (John Murray, £7.99)
In 1889 Oscar Wilde finds the mutilated corpse of a young boy in a candlelit room of a London back street. With his friend Arthur Conan Doyle, he returns to the scene to discover the corpse has vanished. Scotland Yard has no interest in a murder without a body so Wilde sets about unravelling the mystery. As other bizarre murders are uncovered, the plot speeds to an exciting climax. Brandreth presents Oscar Wilde as a flamboyant character and the London of his time is richly atmospheric. Very entertaining.
Well done Jean!
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Sealover
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Reged: 31/08/2006
Posts: 1271
Loc: Devon
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Congratulations Jean and enjoy your books!
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jdm
member
Reged: 11/02/2008
Posts: 133
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Thank you, Sealover.
My books arrived today – a great selection! I plan to start with The Book Thief (Markus Zusak). It seems an interesting book, judging by all the comments on the Book Club Forum!
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nannyconnie
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Reged: 05/03/2008
Posts: 273
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Congratulations jdm,always love your reviews so am very pleased for you.Enjoy your books,what did you have,other than The Book Thief?And have you got around to Bryce Courtney yet?
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jdm
member
Reged: 11/02/2008
Posts: 133
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Thanks, nannyconnie, you’re lovely!
Thanks also for your two recommendations. I finished The Potato Factory this morning (850 pages!). I think Bryce Courtenay is a skilful writer – plot, setting, characterisation are all strong features in his epic novel. I have also read The Swan in the Evening which I found very moving. I really enjoy Rosamond Lehmann’s writing and plan to read more of her books, that is, after reading the books I won!
These are the books; all were featured in the May issue of Woman and Home.
The Book Thief – Markus Zusak
Ferney – James Long
Written in Bone – Simon Beckett
Engleby – Sebastion Faulks
The Last Empress – Anchee Min
A Handful of Honey – Annie Hawes
This Year it will be Different – Maeve Binchy
Witch Child – Celia Rees
The Shock Doctrine – Naomi Klein
The Daughter Game – Kate Long
Fly in the Ointment – Anne Fine
Those Faraday Girls – Monica McInerney
The Ice Princess – Camilla Lackberg
Narrow Dog to Indian River – Terry Darlington
Happy reading to you too!
Edited by jdm (11/05/2008 14:12)
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lynne
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Reged: 13/03/2006
Posts: 873
Loc: The Far North Of England
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Vey very well done....I absolutely loved Engelby.....quirky and interestingly, despite the subject matter, is very believable.
Hope you enjoy your books.
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billie
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Reged: 21/11/2007
Posts: 50
Loc: Derbyshire
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Well done Jean I'm also a fan of your reviews. Happy reading. Billie
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Spanishlady
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Reged: 21/01/2008
Posts: 992
Loc: Torrevieja Spain
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Well done Jean enjoy all your books
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http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y231/thecraftfairy/MariaKDTWStransp.gif
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jdm
member
Reged: 11/02/2008
Posts: 133
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Thank you, lynne!
I am a great fan of Sebastian Faulks. There is an article about him in the latest issue of newbooks magazine. Apparently he has written the authorised James Bond novel, marking the centenary of Ian Fleming’s birth. Devil May Care is published on May 28 - half price at Waterstone’s (with free James Bond postcards, if you’re interested!).
Thank you, billie!
I am pleased to see that your book choice (Just Another Kid – Torey Hayden) is getting such a good response from the members of the Eyes Down Book Club. Sorry I have not read it (nothing personal, I assure you!). I think books that take us out of our comfort zone are good for us. However, at present I have such pressure at work that anything I read just has to be pure escapism!
Thank you, Spanishlady!
I have to say that I loved your post ‘I am so happy’ on Your Lives! I bet you look absolutely gorgeous in your new clothes – you sound very stylish. This weekend I had planned to go shopping for summer clothes but I fear that our summer is over. As I write this I am wearing a long woollen cardigan…and I have just turned on the central heating!
Happy reading!
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jdm
member
Reged: 11/02/2008
Posts: 133
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THE BOOK THIEF – Markus Zusak
I am really enjoying this book and I agree with all the positive comments I have viewed on the Book Club Forum. I think the author’s use of language is often mind blowing; such simplicity and clarity in the narrative, plus such richness and vividness in the imagery. It is one of those special books - impossible to forget.
There is another reason for my copy of the book to be special. The author has signed it and added the words ‘Here’s to life, death, love and colours. . .’ Thanks very much W & H.
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jdm
member
Reged: 11/02/2008
Posts: 133
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As well as The Book Thief (Markus Zusak), I have really enjoyed the following books (rating = five stars!):
Ferney – James Long
Written in Bone – Simon Beckett
Engleby – Sebastian Faulks
Witch Child – Celia Rees
Those Faraday Girls – Monica McInerney
I highly recommend all of these.
I have left The Shock Doctrine (Naomi Klein) until last (yes, I prefer fiction to non-fiction!). This is not a book to ‘enjoy’ but it is certainly worth reading. On the front cover there is a comment from John le Carré – ‘impassioned, hugely informative, wonderfully controversial and scary as hell’. I agree!
Edited by jdm (14/06/2008 20:46)
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