sallyj
member
Reged: 10/12/2006
Posts: 71
|
|
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
Reged: 09/06/2006
Posts: 654
|
|
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
Reged: 06/09/2006
Posts: 7
|
|
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
Reged: 30/12/2006
Posts: 1
|
|
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
Reged: 13/03/2006
Posts: 910
Loc: The Far North Of England
|
|
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
Reged: 24/02/2006
Posts: 1
|
|
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
Reged: 30/04/2006
Posts: 23
Loc: Nottingham
|
|
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
Reged: 11/01/2007
Posts: 1
|
|
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.
Edited by CharleneC (26/01/2007 22:54)
|
JackieFranklee
member
Reged: 21/01/2007
Posts: 2
|
|
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
Reged: 07/02/2007
Posts: 1
|
|
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!
Edited by Mrsaris (07/02/2007 09:18)
|
waterbaby
member
Reged: 23/08/2006
Posts: 42
|
|
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
Reged: 26/02/2007
Posts: 1
|
|
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
Reged: 31/08/2006
Posts: 1586
Loc: Falmouth in Cornwall
|
|
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
Reged: 04/03/2007
Posts: 2
|
|
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
Reged: 04/08/2006
Posts: 75
|
|
CONGRATULATIONS on your win, Jennifer.
See private mail.
Hope you enjoy your books - mine are fantastic.
Regards,
Angela 
|
MarieBr
member
Reged: 09/03/2007
Posts: 7
Loc: Northumberland
|
|
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
Reged: 11/03/2007
Posts: 1
|
|
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
Reged: 31/08/2006
Posts: 1586
Loc: Falmouth in Cornwall
|
|
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
Reged: 13/03/2006
Posts: 910
Loc: The Far North Of England
|
|
Our book club read this recently.........loved it!
|
sallyj
member
Reged: 10/12/2006
Posts: 71
|
|
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.
|
Previous
Index
Next
Threaded
[Re: 
Edit
Reply
Quote
