sambo
member
Reged: 07/02/2008
Posts: 1
Loc: Cornwall
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About a book I have read:
Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, By Author Lisa See 'Bloomsbury' £7.99.
This passionate story is set in nineteenth Century China, about two girls following punishing customs, such as the agonies of foot binding. Also their journey into marriage and its devistating ups and downs. I was truly engrossed into this beautifully written novel, so realistic in bringing alive an entire culture, the reader can actually feel the pain and anguish the girls go through (some parts are heartbreaking). You can not put this book down,so pick it up as its so well written and believable, its not to be missed.
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Cherryl
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Reged: 10/02/2008
Posts: 1
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The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold
The Lovely Bones is a beautifully written and incredible tale of grief and acceptance. The story is told through the eyes and memories of the now dead and murdered Susie Salmon (fourteen). Susie allows us to travel the paths of her family, friends and killer following this cataclysmic event. The narrative is quietly humorous throughout its sadness and the murder which is, in fact, just background to the story, is told in a way that avoids the feeling of horror without glossing over the facts. This enthralling and moving tale is a truly astonishing read.
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wordsmith
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Reged: 09/02/2008
Posts: 7
Loc: worthing, west sussex
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Case Histories by Kate Atkinson (Black Swan 2004)
With leafy, erudite Cambridge as the backdrop, Jackson Brodie, a private detective and 'weekend' father is approached by a seemingly unconnected group of people to solve several 'cold cases' dating back to the early 70's. Two violent murders and a missing child are embroidered into an intricate tapestry of flashbacks including a window into Brodie's own tragic past. Kate Atkinson presents each 'case' as a series of bite size notes and asides and allows us to follow Brodie as he unravels them, more often than not with his sugar-hyped four year old daughter in tow. Be prepared to attempt everyday tasks one-handed - this is a book you will not be able to put down until the very last page.
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jil3563
member
Reged: 11/02/2008
Posts: 3
Loc: Worcestershire
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Thriller - Stories to keep you up all night- Edited by James Patterson
As a lover of thriller books I am always looking for new authors but often reluctant to pay £10 or more and not be sure I will like their style. This book edited by James Patterson (a favourite author of mine) has over 30 short thriller stories all by different authors giving a great read, but also an opportunity to try out some new names. All the stories were well written but some styles were not as much to my liking as others, but I have now got a list of at least 6 new authors that I have not read before.
Great entertainment - great value and a great introduction.
Edited by jil3563 (11/02/2008 10:53)
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zennor
member
Reged: 31/08/2006
Posts: 1586
Loc: Falmouth in Cornwall
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Notes from an Exhibition by Patrick Gale
The characters leap out of the pages in this skilfully written story of the life of Rachel Kelly, a talented but troubled artist living in Penzance.
The narrative is strong and convincing and everyone knows of an 'Antony' the Quaker - quiet, solid and reliable who holds everything together in a calm and positive way. The house and its inhabitants come alive on every page and we dread the tragedy of its final pages ...
It is a long time since any book has given me such enjoyment and I cannot wait to read more of his work.
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sallyj
member
Reged: 10/12/2006
Posts: 71
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Random Acts of Heroic Love by Danny Scheinmann
If you feel men are incapable of deep romantic love then this book will change your mind.
In 1992 Leo is separated from Eleni by death. In 1914 Moritz is separated from Lotte by war. Grief-stricken Leo searches for Eleni’s presence in ants and other insects, whilst delving into quantum physics for explanations of love. Moritz escapes from a prisoner of war camp and walks home across Siberia, writing letters to Lotte that can never be posted.
This novel interweaves the separate stories of the two men, revealing their connection, across the years, only at the end of the book.
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emmaspud
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Reged: 16/02/2008
Posts: 3
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The Man in the Picture by Susan Hill
As a huge fan of Susan Hill’s short stories, I felt hugely excited by this neat little hardback. Dr Parmitter, a collector of art, procures a sinister, enchanting painting of a Venetian carnival, which brings a curse to all who study it. Associates of the scholar start to go missing; the anguished faces of those kidnapped start to appear in the painting, striking fear into the hearts of all who observe it. Hill’s narrative is simple, fresh and macabre, being one of those stories that haunts you, igniting your imagination with imagery that lingers for days after reading it.
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FiFi
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Reged: 29/03/2007
Posts: 388
Loc: Berkshire
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I put this on the main board but I think maybe I should have posted it here...
Review of Monster Love by Carol Topolski
This book lures the reader into its web with a “net curtain twitching” introduction to the Gutteridges. One cannot help but be intrigued by the life they, and their neighbours lead. Once comfortably drawn into the story the horrors that lie behind closed doors are exposed and the book becomes uncomfortable to read but just too good to put down.
This original novel introduces us to the minds of two evil parents but through exploring their own childhoods, it becomes apparent their current actions whilst unforgivable, are very much a result of their past. Their crime has far reaching implications for all those they come into contact with and kept me enthralled to the end.
Not for the faint hearted.
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keziah
member
Reged: 23/02/2008
Posts: 3
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Atlantis by David Gibbins
Reviewed by Kez Russell
Although Atlantis is an old myth, Gibbins' novel is given credence by the fact that the author himself is Cambridge archaeologist. So when his characters work out the position of Atlantis through underwater archaeology, classic texts and clues found on archaeological digs, it is believable. Unfortunately Gibbins ignores the huge scope of the sunken culture. His characters bypass the ancient citadel to fight against an 'enemy' that is a confused mix of cold war Russians and Muslim terrorists. With stereotypical and token characters and unimaginative writing, Atlantis is disappointing - not so much for its content as for its misadvertising.
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judi_t
member
Reged: 23/02/2008
Posts: 1
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We Need to Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver.
This is an engrossing book about an incrdibly difficult subject. Although the topic of high school massacres is harrowing it is the way that we see the development of the child through the eys of the mother that draws us in. Finally, it is up to the reader to make up their minds as to what or who was truly responsible for this tragedy. Is it a case of nature or nurture? I leave it to you to decide, but you will never find a better book upon which to base your feelings on this unresolved dilemma.
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dryad
member
Reged: 11/02/2008
Posts: 243
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FRIDAY NIGHTS Joanna Trollope
Joanna Trollope's unique skill for writing about relationships is demonstrated superbly in her latest novel. It is Eleanor, retired and solitary, who begins the circle of friends when she invites two single mothers, Paula and Lindsay, to visit her one Friday night. Later others join the group - Jules, young and unconventional, Blaise, a successful business woman, and Karen, wife, mother and breadwinner. Over the years the six women become firm friends. Then along comes Jackson, Paula's new partner - attractive, fascinating...trouble! The links of friendship are put to the test and stretched to breaking point; Friday nights will never be the same again.
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dryad
member
Reged: 11/02/2008
Posts: 243
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NO! I DON'T WANT TO JOIN A BOOK CLUB Virginia Ironside
As Marie Sharp approaches her sixtieth birthday she decides to keep a diary. Sometimes the entries are nostalgic but mostly she focuses on the present. She welcomes 'senior citizenship' and plans to enjoy her mature years. Learning a language, Open University Courses and joining a book club do not feature on her agenda - definitely not! The only new experience she needs is becoming a grandmother. She wants to do 'old things', like using her Freedom Pass on London transport. This is a funny, heart warming book which will strike a chord with any woman who likes the idea of growing old disgracefully.
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dryad
member
Reged: 11/02/2008
Posts: 243
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INVITATION TO THE WALTZ Rosamond Lehmann
This novel is about Olivia, the 17 year old daughter of a wealthy middle class family in the England of 1920; she has been invited to the coming-out dance of an aristocratic neighbour. Outwardly nothing much happens but inside Olivia's head and heart the action is intense; her thoughts and feelings are captured perfectly. There is something touchingly familiar about her excitement and panic as she gets ready for the big night - a red silk dress that now seems too bright, hair pinned up so tightly it hurts and far, far too much scent! At the dance she has partners both young and old and sometimes, having no partner, she takes refuge in the cloakroom; she is not enjoying 'the strange anxious hours'. When someone, who has promised to dance with her, forgets, she plunges to the depths of despair and wonders how she can live if things like this happen. But the next moment the handsome host appears on the moonlit terrace and she survives...for now. Olivia's story is both poignant and amusing; she is such a likeable, engaging character that I feel I want to know more about her. I am looking forward to reading the sequel - The Weather in the Streets.
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dryad
member
Reged: 11/02/2008
Posts: 243
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OSCAR WILDE AND THE CANDLELIGHT MURDERS Gyles Brandreth
In 1889 Oscar Wilde, poet and playwright, finds the mutilated corpse of a young boy in a candle lit room of a London back street. With his friend Arthur Conan Doyle, creator of Sherlock Holmes, he returns to the scene of the crime - the corpse has vanished! Scotland Yard has no interest in the case until remains of the body appear so meanwhile Oscar Wilde takes on the role of detective and sets about unravelling the mystery. He is a larger that life character - flamboyant, outrageous and witty. The London of his time is richly atmospheric; the sordid world of vice and violence is as convincing as the luxurious life of champagne and oysters. While other bizarre and brutal murders are uncovered, the plot speeds along to an exciting climax. The solution to the mystery is totally unforeseen and very satisfying. This novel is the first in a series; I hope the others are equally entertaining.
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dryad
member
Reged: 11/02/2008
Posts: 243
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INVITATION TO THE WALTZ Rosamond Lehmann
(I have edited the review I posted earlier - this one is 100 words approx. Sorry - I loved this book so much and had so much to say! Do you remember your first dance?!)
This novel is about Olivia, the daughter of a wealthy family in the England of 1920; she has been invited to the coming-out dance of an aristocratic neighbour. Outwardly nothing much happens but inside Olivia's head and heart the action is intense and her feelings are captured perfectly. There is something touchingly familiar about her excitement and panic as she gets ready for the big night. At the dance she has a variety of partners but sometimes takes refuge in the cloakroom, not enjoying 'the strange, anxious hours'. Olivia's story is poignant and amusing; you will enjoy reading about this very likeable character.
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dryad
member
Reged: 11/02/2008
Posts: 243
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OSCAR WILDE AND THE CANDLELIGHT MURDERS Gyles Brandreth
(I have edited the earlier version of this review too - the revised one is 100 words approx. Sorry again! I really enjoy detective stories and this one was brilliant!)
In 1889 Oscar Wilde finds the mutilated corpse of a boy. With his friend Arthur Conan Doyle he returns to the scene of the crime - the corpse has vanished! Scotland Yard has no interest in the case until remains of the body appear so Oscar Wilde takes on the role of detective himself. He is a larger than life character - flamboyant, outrageous and witty. The London of his time is convincing and richly atmospheric. While other bizarre murders are uncovered, the plot speeds along to an exciting climax and the solution to the mystery is totally unforeseen. A very entertaining detective story!
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JoannaSa
member
Reged: 24/02/2008
Posts: 1
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Kate Saunders has managed to create the impossible – a current day Little Women meets Pride and Prejudice.
A delicious tale of love and intrigue, the Marrying Game tells the story of four sisters struggling to cope with their father’s suicide. With his death the ancestral home of the aristocratic yet impoverished Hasty girls is under threat.
The Hastys though are determined not to allow Melismate to be torn from their grasp. As the bailiffs threats come ever closer, the eldest, Rufa, devises a cunning plan. With her sister Nancy they head down to London and so the Marrying Game begins
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sallyj
member
Reged: 10/12/2006
Posts: 71
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On those occasions when it’s too much effort to immerse yourself in a novel, try these bite size chunks of female fiction. Contributors range from Veronica Bright, who won the Woman and Home 2005 short story competition, to Penny Vincenzi and Alexander McCall Smith. Subject matter covers sibling rivalry, reaching milestone mid-life birthdays and learning to read.
This book is like a box of chocolates – once you start you’ll want to finish the whole lot! But best of all, the book was published in association with Woman and Home in order to raise money for Breast Cancer Care.
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mbm
member
Reged: 02/02/2008
Posts: 3
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Anyone heard of an author called Sue Welfare? She's really good! Just read "Off the Record" - its light & relaxing.
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cherry25
member
Reged: 02/03/2008
Posts: 2
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The Thirteenth Tale - Diane Setterfield
This timeless story looks back on famous author Vida Winter's life that she has always kept very secret. Whether the truth is actually told remains in doubt throughout the book.
The main feature of the book is an old house and the disturbed family that live in it. The tragic tale of twin girls gradually unfolds alongside fragments of the storyteller's own sad life
It takes a long time for the story to piece together and the Thirteenth Tale is revealed at the end. This is a real page turner and I was gripped from the first page
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