Hazel Walker
Reged: 02/12/2005
Posts: 25
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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!
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Dotty
member
Reged: 06/09/2006
Posts: 7
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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.
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RedSpirit
member
Reged: 29/09/2006
Posts: 4
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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.
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waterbaby
member
Reged: 23/08/2006
Posts: 42
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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.
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Janecaroll
member
Reged: 05/10/2006
Posts: 1
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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!
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suz
member
Reged: 05/10/2006
Posts: 3
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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.
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suz
member
Reged: 05/10/2006
Posts: 3
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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.
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AlisonC
member
Reged: 08/10/2006
Posts: 1
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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.
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Dotty
member
Reged: 06/09/2006
Posts: 7
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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.
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Buzz50
member
Reged: 14/09/2006
Posts: 5
Loc: East Yorkshire
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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.
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Jane_H
member
Reged: 31/10/2006
Posts: 1
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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.
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audreysimpkin
member
Reged: 05/11/2006
Posts: 1
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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.
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britab
member
Reged: 05/11/2006
Posts: 1
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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!
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Filly
member
Reged: 24/08/2006
Posts: 639
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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.
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cassie
member
Reged: 24/04/2006
Posts: 198
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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. 
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Anthea
member
Reged: 03/09/2006
Posts: 3
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Hello. Where can we find out who wins the books? I never know where to look.
Anthea
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ANGELA62
member
Reged: 04/08/2006
Posts: 75
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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
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julie
member
Reged: 31/03/2006
Posts: 1
Loc: Have been living in Geneva for...
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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.
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Happily married for more years than I like to admit to.
Two bi-lingual grown up children (now 24 and 21)
who survived immersion into the Swiss education system at 8 and 5 years of age.
Woman and Home helps keep me up to
date with changing trends in England.
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sallyj
member
Reged: 10/12/2006
Posts: 71
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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.
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CarolineN
member
Reged: 13/12/2006
Posts: 95
Loc: Scotland
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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.
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sallyj
member
Reged: 10/12/2006
Posts: 71
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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!
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Daisycat
member
Reged: 09/06/2006
Posts: 654
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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.
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Dotty
member
Reged: 06/09/2006
Posts: 7
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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.
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PARV29
member
Reged: 30/12/2006
Posts: 1
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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.
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lynne
member
Reged: 13/03/2006
Posts: 910
Loc: The Far North Of England
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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.
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didi
member
Reged: 24/02/2006
Posts: 1
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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.
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member
Reged: 30/04/2006
Posts: 23
Loc: Nottingham
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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.
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CharleneC
member
Reged: 11/01/2007
Posts: 1
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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)
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JackieFranklee
member
Reged: 21/01/2007
Posts: 2
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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.
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