dryad
member
Reged: 11/02/2008
Posts: 243
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Ten books to read and enjoy!
Remember Me – Melvyn Bragg
Dark Echo – F G Cottam
Their Finest Hour and a Half – Lissa Evans
Beautiful People – Wendy Holden
Dewey: The small-town library cat who touched the world – Vicki Myron
Portobello – Ruth Rendell
Frothy Tales – Davey Spens
The Girl on the Landing – Paul Torday
Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant – Anne Tyler
The Stepmother’s Diary – Fay Weldon
Happy Reading!
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PLASMO
member
Reged: 13/03/2008
Posts: 13056
Loc: FLOUNCELAND
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Dryad,
Loved The Stepmother's Diary, I have read quite a few of Fay Weldon's books and enjoyed most of them.
Dewey, the story of the library cat in the USA, I had for Christmas, it was a beautiful story, cried so much, and how everyone loved him.
Thankyou Dryad for your suggestions, must read the Wendy Holden book (she lives in Derbyshire) often see her in the supermarket.
Plasmo x
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Thimble
member
Reged: 04/12/2008
Posts: 4326
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I use to read loads until I came on this forum. Now I cannot find the time....................must get off here occassionally and read some more.
There was someone on here yesterday on one of the threads that was recommending a book and I have seen others talking about it. For the life of me I cannot remember the thread nor the title.
Must remember to make a note in future ....................
Plasmo - what is The Stepmothers Diary like.................?
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dryad
member
Reged: 11/02/2008
Posts: 243
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Hi Plasmo,
I have read only one other Fay Weldon title – The Spa Decameron. I posted a review for this about a year ago; I was fairly new to the W & H forums at the time and I was worried I might offend someone by recommending such a book! Since then I have realised that I had nothing to worry about – we are not easily shocked, are we!
Hi Thimble,
Some would say my problem is that I read too many books! I do read newspapers too (though not as enthusiastically!). I always read the book sections first and get ideas for my wish list from there. Thankfully several of my friends are great readers so we exchange books regularly and share the cost. Reading keeps me sane . . . or so I like to think!
Hi everyone!
In case any forumer is thinking: ‘What is the use of a list of titles?’ Fear not!
Over the next couple of weeks I shall be posting a few details for each book on this thread.
As always, I welcome your comments!
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Vicky123
member
Reged: 22/02/2008
Posts: 2510
Loc: Essex
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I am reading The Girl on the Landing - will report back when finished.
Book to recommend - No Time To Say Goodbye - Secret lent it to me and its ab fab! A real page tuner
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dryad
member
Reged: 11/02/2008
Posts: 243
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Hi Vicky,
I enjoyed No Time for Goodbye too; what a clever story! I understand that Linwood Barclay has written another book; it's called Too Close to Home. I wonder if anyone on the forum has read this one yet.
I look forward to hearing your thoughts on The Girl on the Landing. I love Paul Torday’s originality. His earlier books – Salmon Fishing in the Yemen and The Irresistible Inheritance of Wilberforce (!) – are also very good.
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dryad
member
Reged: 11/02/2008
Posts: 243
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The Stepmother’s Diary – Fay Weldon
This novel offers a new slant on a well known fairy tale for here we have not the wicked stepmother but the wicked stepdaughter. Sappho and Gavin are happily married; however, Gavin’s manipulative daughter is far from happy and then the trouble begins. Sappho’s mother looks after ‘the stepmother’s diary’ and is shocked by what she reads. Will Sappho discover a way to outwit them all – not only stepdaughter but husband and mother-in-law too?
Fay Weldon always shows acute insight into the female mind; in this brilliant new novel she focuses on the complications of family life in today’s world.
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billie
member
Reged: 21/11/2007
Posts: 149
Loc: Derbyshire
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Ohhhhh! Dryad
I've not read any of the books you've posted and they all sound tempting the trouble as you know is the pile gets ever bigger! I could do with 3 months off work with no one to look after but myself! But I can't resist will have to visit the library and see if I can borrow any of them. Like you several friends at work are avid readers and we always have books passing to and fro at the last count I've got 36 awaiting.
Have you recommended any of these to Snoopy for Eyes Down?
Snoopy have we any spare months that need filling ?
Billie
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Ginnie
member
Reged: 24/06/2008
Posts: 1065
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Hi Dryad
Thanks for the list. I have read Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant and thoroughly enjoyed it. Love Ruth Rendell but haven't read Portobello.
I know what you mean about the pile Billie but I have to have one. I panic if I haven't got at least 2 books waiting. what if you only had one, picked it up and couldn't 'get into it'? Actually change at least 2 to at least 4.
Ginnie
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dryad
member
Reged: 11/02/2008
Posts: 243
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Hi Billie and Ginnie,
My pile of books is now down to four - no, five; another book has just arrived from Amazon!
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dryad
member
Reged: 11/02/2008
Posts: 243
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Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant – Anne Tyler
This novel is about the Tull family of Baltimore. Abandoned by her salesman husband, Pearl is left to bring up her three children alone – Cody the bad son, Ezra the good son and Jenny the wayward daughter – three very different characters. Now as Pearl lies dying, memories of the past come flooding back and secrets are unlocked. The details of domestic life and strife are immediately familiar; Anne Tyler’s writing is funny, perceptive and wise. The result is a gem of a book – superb entertainment.
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dryad
member
Reged: 11/02/2008
Posts: 243
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The Girl on the Landing – Paul Torday
This is a fascinating novel: do we ever really know a person? Michael is a wealthy, rather boring man, locked into the routine of working as Secretary to his gentleman’s club in Mayfair or stalking deer on his estate in Perthshire. However, a visit to friends in Ireland appears to trigger a change in his behaviour. Though she is puzzled, his wife, Elizabeth, delights in the company of the ‘new’ more exciting Michael. But then she discovers the truth about Michael and his past and her world is shattered. This is a compelling and unsettling story – definitely a page turner.
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Vicky123
member
Reged: 22/02/2008
Posts: 2510
Loc: Essex
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Hi Dryad and everyone else. Just finished The Girl on the Landing and I thougth it was excellent so may have to go get the author's other novels. Just started Joi Piccoult The Other Half Lives which is quite good to start (hate books that take an age to get going). Interested to hear others' reviews of The Girl on the Landing.
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snoopy56
member
Reged: 28/08/2007
Posts: 199
Loc: Norfolk
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Remember Me - Melvyn Bragg
I have read and really enjoyed Melvyn Bragg's previous 3 autobiographical novels so would be interested in this one. Do you think it would be OK to read it without having read the other books ( 'A Soldiers Return' 'A Child of War' and 'Crossing the Lines') ? If so I might recommend it for the Eyes Down Club.
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Dawn001
member
Reged: 29/08/2008
Posts: 37
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Thanks for the book list Dryad. I'm off work on Tuesday supposed to be decorating my daughter's bedroom but I can see myself escaping to the library to see if I can pick up any of the titles. Very keen to try 'Girl on the Landing'. Recently read 'Nineteen Minutes' by Jodi Picoult. Very good and am looking forward to reading some of her other novels.
Thanks again - Happy reading everyone.
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burbuja
member
Reged: 15/04/2009
Posts: 19
Loc: Madrid
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London, Edward Rutherfurd
Millenium, Stieg Larsson
The last Victoria Hislop, based in Granada (forgotten title, sorry!)
Trying to go over my last reads but too late at night to remember titles!!
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dryad
member
Reged: 11/02/2008
Posts: 243
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Hi Vicky,
I am pleased to hear you enjoyed The Girl on the Landing. Isn’t the ending weird?! I am sure you will like Paul Torday’s other two novels.
Hi Snoopy,
Even though I had not read the other three books you mentioned, I enjoyed Melvyn Bragg’s Remember Me. It’s a great book (and very long one!).
Hi Dawn,
I think you should definitely spend some time reading on your day off work! What are days off work for?! The Girl on the Landing is a fascinating novel.
Hi burbuja,
Lucky you – living in Madrid! I enjoyed Edward Rutherfurd’s London too and also Sarum which is about Salisbury. There are just so many good books!
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dryad
member
Reged: 11/02/2008
Posts: 243
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Frothy Tales – Davey Spens
In producing this little book of short stories, the Costa Writer-in-Residence, Davey Spens, combines three of his favourite things – people-watching, coffee-drinking and writing. The tales are quirky, clever and witty; here we meet all sorts of weird and wonderful characters, including the Mocha man with different coloured socks, the glamorous lady in the waterproof jacket and the Earl Grey man with the doctor’s bag. It’s a very entertaining read!
The book costs £1 and is on sale in Costa coffee shops; all proceeds go directly to the Costa Foundation to help improve the social and economic welfare of coffee-growing communities.
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Vicky123
member
Reged: 22/02/2008
Posts: 2510
Loc: Essex
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Just realised I had wrong author for The Other Half Lives, its not Jodi Piccoult its Sophie Hannah whose other books I have enjoyed. Cant get into this much.
If anyone wants The Girl on the Landing PM me and I'll send it to you for the price of the postage.
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dryad
member
Reged: 11/02/2008
Posts: 243
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Hi Vicky,
In the pile of books which are waiting to be read I have The Other Half Lives. I bought this because I too enjoyed Sophie Hannah's other books. Sorry to hear that you are disappointed so far. I shall get back to you later when I have read my copy. You and I seem to have similar tastes in books!
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