General Chat

Crimson Petal by Michael Faber. for a summing up of the story see Dee's posting dated 04/10/05 on this thread (there's little I can add) One of those rare books which makes you contradict yourself. You're dying to know what happens to Sugar next and can't put the book down but know you're going to be upset when it's ended! Makes you laugh, makes you cry. A few good twists thrown in. Great descriptions of people and places. Calling it a thumping good read (over 800 pages) doesn't do it justice. I hope Dee's right and we have a follow up to find out what happens to Sugar and Sophie. Paula.

Seems like we all enjoyed that one then. Thanks Paula Ann Glos

Just started on The moonstone - finding it quite hard going at the moment, anyone else reading it? Ann Glos

Hi Ann I am about a third of the way through, finding it quite fascinating, not sure I will be finished it in time to review it this month though Dee xx

Dee I am about quarter way through. takes me a lot longer to read than modern books because of the style, but yes the story is intriguing. i have one problem, the book took ages to come through to my library and i go away for two weeks soon leaving me only 5 or six days to read it. the library extended the return date a few days for me. i don't like to take library books on holiday in case they get lost. Ann Glos

A Gathering Light by Jennifer Donnelly A Gathering Light is set atmospherically in the Adirondack Mountains, close to the Canadian border, at the turn of the last century. It tells the bitter-sweet coming-of-age story of memorable 16-year-old Mattie Gokey, who, despite coming from an impoverished farming family, is passionate about words and books. We follow her story since the death of her mother, as Mattie is torn between family responsibilities, her dream of going to college and being a writer and the potent excitement of her first romance, which is fast leading her down the alternate path of becoming a farmer’s wife. Woven intriguingly into Mattie’s story, and lending it tremendous authenticity, is the true story of a murder that took place in the Adirondacks at the time; a story that rocked America, and that is so captivating itself, that it has already inspired one other novel and the film A Place in the Sun, starring Elizabeth Taylor and Montgomery Clift. A really good read.

nudged for Chrissie

Thanks Dee. I don't know whether I'm allowed to add, as it is hubby who has read it. I will delete if it doesn't fit in with the 'norm' LOL Deception Point - Dan Brown (the writer of 'Davinci Code') Hubby thought this was a far better book than the Davinci Code. Although the Davinci Code has very interesting religeous arguements, Deception Point is a really good, out and out, political thriller, which is very difficult to put down. It's about NASSA not having many successes in recent years and budgets being increasingly overstretched. Making it easy for senator Sexton to use this in his campaign to be president. Chrissie x p.s. This sounds really boring to me LOL:))

Have just finished reading 'Goodbye to Berlin' by Christopher Isherwood (the play 'I am a Camera' was based on it, which in turn inspired the musical/film 'Cabaret'). I would really recommend this, as a 20th century classic. Anyone who's seen Cabaret will really appreciate the poignant depiction of a city and people that will soon be torn apart by war (it's set in 1930-33). It's not really like Cabaret (although many characters are there - Sally Bowles, Fritz Wendl etc) but it has that same melancholy menace with the Nazis slowly coming to power, almost unknowingly by the average person on the street. Isherwood's writing is very evocative but easy to read at the same time. Although he says that the central character isn't him (despite being called Christopher Isherwood - or Herr Issyvoo as his landlady calls him) knowing that Isherwood lived in Berlin for 5 years certainly gives it something of a biographical quality. Just starting reading 'Point Counter Point' by Aldous Huxley (another 20th century classic). Haven't got too far yet (and it looks as though its going to take me some time !) the writing so far is beautiful. Simon

A Thousand Country Roads by Robert James Waller This is the sequel and ending to The Bridges of Madison County. A great little book, not very long. If you read The bridges and want to know the end of the story (I am not going to tell you) it is well worth reading. here we have Robert Kincaid and Francesca Johnson again searching, both of them. Kincaid takes to the road again and Francesca often visits the bridge where it all started. Worth reading, I loved it. Ann Glos

The Sequel to A Girl Called Thursday: A Promise To Keep by Lilian Harry. Thursday is a VAD and in this book she returns to haslar Hospital after 2 years serving in Egypt. You do need to have read A Girl Called Thursday first which is also a very good read. In this book there is a lot of information about the WW2, lots of things I was not aware of and it finishes with the ending of the war (VJ). It is a fairly light book but very relevant at the moment reminding us what people went through. it is set, of course, mainly in Gosport and Portsmouth/Southsea, very evocative if you come from that area. the other series that Lilian harry wrote is also set around Portsmouth and Gosport during WW2. That series starts with Goodbye sweetheart. Ann Glos

Three more reviews to add to the collection By the way Ann, when are we selecting some more books to read? I gave up on my medeival course so have more time on hand than I had expected. Will be reading quite a lot for the Victorian course, if I get round to it I will do some more reviews Dee xx Gone To Earth – Mary Webb The author of Precious Bane, which I had read and thoroughly enjoyed, wrote this book. ‘This is the story of Hazel Woodus, a creature of the wilds who comes from the earth, and, in the end, returns to it. Daughter of a Welsh gypsy and a crazy bee-keeper she is happiest living in her forest cottage in the remote Shropshire Hills, at one with the winds and seasons, protector and friend of the wild animals she loves But Hazel is a beautiful young woman, and this beauty draws her relentlessly into the orbit of human life. Her innocence is an irresistible magnet to men – to Jack Reddin the local squire and to the gentle minister Edward Marston, who offer her human love, human sexuality. Hazels’ fate unfolds as simply and relentlessly as a Greek tragedy as this child of nature is drawn into a world of mortal passion in which she must eternally be a stranger’ Please, DON’T read this book if you like happy endings. The last chapter reduced me to tears, and gave me nightmares My thanks go to Maz, who reminded me what Orison represented in Cloud Atlas. The word appears in this book, and in this context meant a prayer. One phrase, which struck a chord with me, is the following one, which is used when she is comparing her mother in law and her lover, and is trying to decide if she should leave her husband or not ‘She found a man’s roughness preferable to a woman’s velvet slaps, his most masterful demands (were) less wearing than her silent criticism’ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Diary of a Nobody – George and Weedon Grossmith This first appeared in Punch in the 1890’s and is written in the style of Pepys and Boswell The diarist – Charles Pooter, regales us with choice anecdotes and domestic crises from life at The Laurels, Brickfield Terrace, Holloway, and from his chequered career as a City clerk. The wayward behaviour of his son Lupin – intermittently engaged to the unsuitable Daisy Mutlar – is only one of the burdens he has to bear. It is an amusing look into life in Vistorian times. Two characters kept popping up, Cummings and Gowing, and it brought to mind Maz’s comments on the names in The Moonshine, which would have been written at roughly the same time (I think!!) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mary Barton – Elizabeth Gaskell Set in Manchester at the start of the ‘hungry forties’ it is meant to be a sympathetic, truthful portrayal of ordinary people struggling with rapid social change and overcrowded cities. To my mind she is not as good at portraying the times as Dickens. She is a far more romantic writer. I didn’t enjoy it as much as I had hoped, but it has given me a different persons perspective of the times. Basically I read it as background to an essay I am going to have to write, I’m not sure the story line would have been strong enough for me to have wanted to finish it if I had been reading it for pleasure Dee xx

Wonderful Adventures is a rare example of an early autobiography by a Black British Woman, originally published in 1857. Mary Seacole, born into Jamaican slave society, chronicles her extensive travels and experiences for a Victorian public. Businesswoman, traveller, gold prospector, writer, doctress, nurse, she led a varied and exciting life. A notable figure in the Crimean War, Mary Seacole deserves to stand beside Florence Nightingale, but is seldom accorded even a footnote. Her literary skills reveal a keen observer of the life about her, and give a remarkable insight into a man’s world from a Black female perspective Have read this as part of the course I am on and would recommend it to anyone interested in the period, and in the part women have played in historic events Dee xx

A Walk in the wood by Bill Bryson The longest footpath in the world (at the time of writing this book) stretches along the east coast of the USA from Georgia to maine. If you are interested in walking, in reading about walking, in forests or even if you are interested in learning snippets of history of the USA, this is a good book to read. Bill Bryson’s humorous style of writing makes for an easy read and yet there is plenty more than humour in the book. At the age of 44 and in the company of his friend Stephen Katz (not a natural long distance walker), Bill Bryson sets off to hike through the vast tangled woods which have been frightening sensible people for 300 years. This is a really good read, I thoroughly enjoyed it and thoroughly recommend it. “Now here’s a thought to consider. Every 20 minutes on the Appalachian trail Katz and I walked further than the average American walks in a week.”

nudge

Ann I didn't manage to read the other selected book this month, sorry Dee x

Hi I have read five of M C Beaton Agatha Raisin books in the last month,,,,,,,,,, very light hearted easy to read thrillers a slightly younger Miss Maple but craves sex with nearly all of her single male neibours in a daft way,with a half chinese/english policeman as a friend!!!!!!!!! sorry but not very serious ,,,,,,,,, it makes a change to be able to read,,,,,, put down,,,, and then continue without having to recap where you left off,

Thanks Gwen, please don't apologise no reason why the only books reviewed should be of the heavier variety. Ann glos

Hi Sparkly Ann I have to make my apologies as I haven't read either of the two books selected. A 'series of unfortunate events' meant I didn't get time. Would it be ok to review the last book I read then catch up for next month?? Sorry Kaz

Of course Kaz. Will you manage to catch up? Don't forget to add any choices of books for December to the other thread. ann Glos