General Chat

The Historian - Elizabeth Kostova I chose this book after reading the synopsis on the back. Nowhere in that synopsis did it mention anything about Dracula and vampires. Had I known that that would be the subject of the book, I would have put it straight back on the shelf.....and missed out on an excellent read. The word Dracula brings to mind those tacky black and white movies featuring the likes of Peter Cushing, but you can forget all of that. Whereas the movies used to be based more on Bram Stoker's Dracula, this story centers around the legend and the man that was believed to have been the real Dracula....Vlad the Impaler. Think of it as Dracula for those with more than one brain cell! LOL The story is told mainly through letters written by international diplomat, Paul, to his daughter. But included in these letters are other letters and postcards from Paul's old college mentor and his missing wife, so it can get a bit confusing at times. But don't let this put you off. This is your chance to find out the 'real story' of Dracula, and by gum it's a good 'un! Jeanette x

Actually reading the blurb Dee, i didn't think it looked very good. sorry you were disappointed. Ann Glos

The Apple – Michel Faber I nominated this book for Greaders but was so anxious to read this follow up to The Crimson Petal and The White that I got it from the library anyway. I had so enjoyed Crimson Petal, and those of you who read it when it was our choice will remember what an odd ending it had This is supposed to be a prequel/sequel to Crimson Petal – giving an insight into the lives of some of the characters. It is a series of short stories, none of them very memorable, including one with references to the Suffragette movement and another involving the odd sexual preferences of a ‘rat man’ It was an easy book to read (I read it in 2 nights) but I must admit I have rarely been so disappointed in a book.

Never Go Back - Robert Goddard For a group of ex-RAF comrades, it is to be the reunion to end all reunions: a weekend in the Scottish castle where they were guinea pigs in a psychological experiment many years before. Most of them haven't seen each other since. But the convivial atmoshpere on the journey north is quickly shattered by the apparent suicide of one of the party. When a second death occurs, a sense of foreboding descends on the group. It appears that the past is coming back to haunt them, a past none of them has ever spoken about. Their recollections of it are all frighteningly different. So what really happened? Robert Goddard is one of my favourite authors, and this book did nothing to change my mind about that! It moves along at break neck speed with lots of twists and turns along the way. It also had lots of points where I thought the story could come to an end, but it kept on going and had me gripped right until the last page Jeanette x

Mr Timothy – Louis Bayard Not so tiny any more – that’s a fact So begins Louis Bayard’s enthralling tale of mischief and murder. The Tiny Tim of Dickens’s A Christmas Carol has now grown up. Has cast his crutches aside, and has just buried his father. Determined to shed his ties to his benevolent ‘Uncle’ Ebenezer, he lives by day in a house of ill repute and spends his nights dredging the Thames for dead bodies and the treasures in their pockets. Tim’s dark adventures take him from the murkiest parts of London’s Victorian underworld to the upper echelons of aristocratic society. Thorough teeming markets, shadowy passages and thick brown fog, this brilliantly imagined Dickensian thriller dazzles at every turn Well it looked good on the shelf of the charity shop, and as you know I am fascinated by the Victorian period and am an avid fan of Dickens The best bit of the book must be the description of it on the cover. The book itself is boring and very poorly written, with a story line that really could have been dealt with in a far more interesting, and believable way. Basically Tim uncovers a business that has been set up to procure under age foreign girls to satisfy the sexual desires of the aristocracy. Not a book I enjoyed reading, or would recommend to anyone interested in finding out more about the depraved and somewhat seedy side of Victorian life Disgruntled Dee ;-)))

Rosie Thomas White The story of an expedition to climb Everest. Some romance, sad in places, graphic description off the climb, an excellent book. the story centres on the doctor who accompanies the expedition, her ex lover who is the leader and a man who sees her, fancies her and gets himself on the party, his father being an ex mountaineer injured and disabled in a fall. Did you know that some of the people who die in the attempt are left lying where other climbers can see them as they pass? Ann Glos

The Queen's Fool - Phillipa Gregory Since joining Greaders I have discovered that I quite like books that are set in the past. I saw this book when I was in Asda one day and couldn't resist it! What I particularly like about this type of book is that I am learning about history but in an entertaining way. I used to hate history lessons at school! This book is set in Tudor times. Now, most books and television programmes set in this period tend to concentrate on either Henry VIII or Elizabeth I ......not that I have any objection to that as I find them fascinating! But this time it is set during the reign of Queen Mary......something I knew very little about. Hannah and her father, like many Jews at that time, have fled Spain during the Inquisition, and come to live in England. Hannah has 'the sight' and is discovered by Robert Dudley and sent as a holy fool to spy on the household of the then Princess Mary. The story follows Hannah through her associations and friendships with the Dudleys, Queen Mary and Princess Elizabeth, and her constant fear of her real religion being discovered. I will certainly read more books by this author.

The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas by John Boyne Everyone should read this book. It is beautiful, haunting and moving - it will stay with me for a long time. The story is told from the point of view of 9 year old Bruno, a true innocent living in terrible times and in a terrible place. If only we could all be more like him. I don’t want to spoil it for you, so I won’t say more, but please please find and read this book. At the library you may find it in the older junior or teenage section (although I think it’s ideas are too advanced for youngsters.) Maz. XX

Brother and sister by Joanna Trollope One of her newer books. A search by a brother and sister, Nathilie and David both adopted, for their individual birth mothers. A book about relationships. How they felt about searching, how their Mother felt and how their birth Mothers reacted to being traced. Ann Glos

3 books I found gripping while on holiday were a trilogy: Shores of Sealandings Storms at Sealandings Mehala Lady of Sealandings By Jonathan Grant who is, if I remember correctly a doctor specialising in tropical diseases. These books follow the story of Mehala, set in the 19th century. Mehala is picked out of the sea and survives, the other main character is pioneering Doctor Ven Carmichael. The stories deal with lots of medical and legal issues of the time. There is a lot of sociological information and general information, i.e. it cost 5p a mile to ride inside a coach and 3p a mile to ride outside. An excellent read for anyone interested in the background of their 19th century ancestors. Ann Glos

The Beachcomber Josephine Cox. Kathy Wilson dreams of turning the derelict Barden House, left her by her Father, into a home free of the pain she suffered back in London. Tom Arnold seeks refuge in West Bay Dorset needing a place to hide when the life he knew was brutally destroyed by tragedy. drawn to this aloof loner Kathy feels a bond forming that will radically change them both. But the shadows and secrets that haunt Tom and Kathy will not easily be dismissed. And as two wounded people try to find the courage to open their hearts to love, the past threatens their fragile new beginning. another good holiday or dreary winter afternoon read. Ann Glos

Macbeth ...

The Lady in Waiting by Deborah Fowler Two stories in parallel. - one in 18th century and one 20th century. Prue takes over the running of the Lady in Waiting pub which was an inn run in the 18th century by Elizabeth, the mistress of Thomas earl of clare, they have a son guy. Prue senses Elizabeth's misery, she has an afair with an american Jonathan but has help with tracing the past from Charles the present Earl. A well written book, slipping from one time cae to the other. A good holiday read. ann Glos

Number 4 in the series is Indelible

Thank you people, it is good to get reccommendations. Ann Glos

Thanks Kris -I will look out for Faithless over here Just finish your book tourists before you go home and leave it with the book starved receptionist !!! x

Karin Slaughter is brilliant. The latest in the series is called Faithless and is just as good as the rest

Just finished-1Blindsighted 2Kisscut 3A faint cold fear by Karin Slaughter Got to read by everyone on here-usually I will only read Stephen King ,Dean Koontz etc!

My Best Friend's Girl - Dorothy Koomson Two best friends become estranged when one has a one night stand with the other's fiance resulting in her becoming pregnant with his child. 4 years later the friend with the child is dying with leukaemia and gets back in touch with the other and asks her to adopt her child when she dies. I enjoyed it very much, it was extremely sad in parts but very uplifting in other ways. A good read.

I have Ann.... Priceless by Charlie Daniels... Call me Elizabeth....by Dawn someone..