Hobbies and Crafts

Just finished. The Girl You Left Behind You, by JoJo Moyes.

I have read books by this author before and enjoyed them. This one did not disappoint.

It opens in France in 1916. Edouard Lefebvre leaves his wife, Sophie and goes to fight at the Front. When her town falls into German hands, Edourd's portrait of Sophie draws the attention of the new Kommandant. As his obsession deepens, she will risk everything, in the hope of seeing Edouard again.

Nearly a century Kate, Sophie's portrait is given to Liv by her husband, shortly before his sudden death.....

The story swaps between the two women/ times. Sophie, during the time of war. Liv, still trying to come to terms with the death of her husband, while fighting to keep the much loved portrait of Sophie.

A really interesting story. Kept me interested all the way through. Well worth reading.

Just finished reading Sleepers Castle by Barbara Erskine. Really enjoyed this one, her usual time slip with murder as well Mailnly set in the time of zowain Glendwr. Didn't want to put it down, gripping.

Almost finished Linda Bellingham...There's Something I'm Dying
To Tell You....took me awhile to download and read it but eventually
got round to it.

Worth the read imo.

Hi all :-D :-D <3

I have just started reading Jobe by John Thompson, it is his first book
and I am thoroughly enjoying it :-D

I wish John all the very best with his writing and look forward
To reading more of his work in the future <3

19th century Liverpool, the hills of Everton look down on the River Mersey and the thriving port that brings so much wealth to the city. But the confusion of black roofed tenements, courts and slums that stretch as far as the eye can see reveal that amongst the gilded prosperity there lies a neglect of any pursuit beyond the merest means of existence.
Eight-year-old Jobe, born on the sloping hills is oblivious to the struggle of life in the slums where, Kitty, his Catholic mother was born or the opulence of the rolling pastures of the Wirral where his Protestant father, Albert, grew up. His parents, ostracised from their respective families because of their sectarian splitting love, live only for each other and their son. It is not until an unforeseen circumstance imposes the disease of desperation and deprivation onto their lives that they become aware of the poverty, industrial unrest and sectarian storms that are blowing through the city.

Happy reading bookworms
<3

Have got the Lynda Bellingham book in my massive "waiting to be read' pile.

Will let you know when i have read it.

T

I have just finished Death of a Friend by Rebecca Tope.

If you have never read any of hers this is one of the best I have read, set in Devon among a Quaker fraternity and also a horse riding fraternity (Hunt etc and protesters). Quite an intriguing murder story narrated mostly from the perspective of the DS second in charge of the case. I really enjoyed it. Mostly her books are fairly easy reads but I didn't guess the murderer until very near the end.

'The Book of Irish Mammies' by Colm O'Regan.

Gentle leg-pulling of the Irish mother we all know & respect. :-)

I am working my way through a long biography of Catherine the Great by Robert Massie. It seems to be taking me ages and I'm only just over half way but I am enjoying it and learning quite a lot.

I have already read books by the same author on Nicholas 11 and the last of the Romanov dynasty and on Peter the Great. His books are well researched and very detailed but are very readable and not too academic.

I eventually finished the biography of Catherine the Great just before going to Russia so it was good background reading.

Now catching up on some books that have been on my kindle for a while. Finished "Revelation" which is one of the books in the Matthew Shardlake series by C J Sansom. Tudor times, Henry has had Catherine Howard executed and is looking at Catherine Parr for his 6th wife. A series of gruesome murders seem to relate to prophesies in the Book of Revelation.....A good read if you enjoy historical crime/thrillers as I do.

I'm now reading "The Mad Monk of Gidleigh" , a medieval murder mystery by Michael Jecks.

Thank you for that - it sounds just up my street. Amazon have that one and 2 others for £1.99, just downloaded.

I've been reading quite a few freebies but none worth recommending.

Been reading quite a lot recently. just haven't goy round to coming on here.

Quite a few of my usual fare, (historical novels) including:


The Leopard Unleashed, by Elizabeth Chadwick, set (mainly) in 12th Century Wales, the third of The Ravenstowe trilogy.

The Empress by Meg Clothier, also set in the 12th Century, this time in Constantinople. Agnes of france moves to Constsntinople to get married, It is a story of treachery, warfare, love and betrayal. real charecters from history. Quite a change from reading about British history.


The Second Duchess, by Elizabeth Loupas,
another new author for me, it was listed at the end of the Meg Clothier book. Found it interesting. It is about real historical figures, most of them previously unknown to me. Twenty-six year old Barbara of Austria (i mention her age because she was considered to be rather old to be getting married for the first time)
She marries Alfonso d'Este, Duke of Ferrara, a widower. His first wife died under mysterious circumstances. Barbara has a keen eye and an enquiring mind and wants to find out the truth about the death of the First Duchess.

I was spell bound by the story, the mystery, , history, politics, love and hate all play a part in this story of intrigue and passion.
Highly recommended.

Have also read some more modern books. just finished "The Widow" by Fiona Barton. Had not heard of this author, but grabbed it off the library shelf because it was less than 400 pages, so I would be able to complete it within a week!
I'm so pleased that i did! A two year old chila, Bella, disappears from her front garden one afternoon. After police enquiries a man is charged with her abduction. However, his wife "stands by her man" and even gives him an alabi.
The story is told by some of the leading characters in the book, including a policeman leading the investigation, a reporter following up every lead, and getting interviews with the women in the case, "The Widow" i.e. the suspects wife.
Something rather different from my usual reading. Will try the same author again. Well worth reading.

Another "modern" book The Lives She Left Behind" by james Long.
Set in the present day, but also going back in history. This book features reincarnation. ++++ Okay if you are willing to go with the flow. But otherwise, not for you. I liked it.

Off to the library tomorrow to return a couple of books.

Will be on the lookout for books by Robert Massie, Michael Jecks, C.J. Sansom as well as Fiona Barton and Elizabeth Louper.

If I don't find anything by any of them, I'll just grab a couple that tafe my fancy.

Thanks for that. Some of those authors are new to me so I'll be looking out for them.

Books read on holiday, some were paperbacks picked up in the hotel, some were on Kindle and a couple of paperbacks I took with me. All were very readable.

Nights of rain and stars by Maeve Binchi 4 strangers meet in a Greek Taverna high above the village of Aghia Anna a tragedy throws them all together. V good.

Diane Chamberlain Her Mother's Shadow. Following on from The Keeper of the light. Lacey meets up with Bobby, meets Rick. Tragedy brings her Mackenzie. Father Alec real father Tom. Excellent

small Great things by Jodi Picoult Ruth is a nurse in Labour & delivery, the only black nurse in the dept. Davis Bauer is delivered to White Supremist parents who forbid her to touch him with tragic consequences. She is tried for murder. Excellent

EVThompson Paths of destiny, set mostly in either Cornwall or the Crimean war. Alice Row orphan servant and Gideon Davey railway ganger. V good

Jo jo Moyes Me Before you a re-read of a good weepy.

James Patterson 4th of July Det Lindsay Boxer, late night show down has to fire in self defence. She is put on trial. Taking leave she gets caught up in the solving of other grisly murders. Very good

Cecilia Ahern The Marble Collector Sabrina Boggs finds a marble collection in her father's belongings. She searches for answers about the man she thought she knew who can't remember his own story.

Judy Astley No place for a man. Jess and Matt, she writes a feature for the. Newspaper, he is made redundant, son Oliver off to Oz, daughters Natasha and Zoe. Trash meets Tom a runaway. Ok.

James Patterson NYPD RED Zach Jordan new partnerKylie Macdonald. The Chameleon, Gabe Benoit & partner, Lexi. Murders of film stars, bombs etc good

They all sound interesting Ann, will make a note of them all.

Have recently read "Me before You" as you say, a weepy. But I found that it made me think too. (which is a good thing)

Have also read "Paths of Destiny" another very interesting and informative book. Bought it home just how much the railways have changed lives.

Have read other books by some of the authors mentioned (Maeve Binchey, Jodi Picoult, James Patterson and Cecilia Ahern) and have enjoyed them.

My sister is an avid Jodi Picoult reader, will ask her if she has read Small Great Things.

Gives you a few to look for Tess anyway! :-) Hope you are well.

Hi, couldn't find books we discussed earlier in the lairary. So just grabbed a couple "that took my fancy"
Been rather busy, so only manager to finish one of them.

The Secret Scripture by Sebastian Barry.

The story is told by two people, Roseanne, the writer of The Scripture, who is approaching her 100th birthday. She lives in a memtal hospital, and has been in "mental institutions" for well over half her life.
The second person telling the story is Dr. Grene, he is finishing up his case notes before the hospital is closed, psychiatrist, Dr. Grene, is intrigued by the story of his elderly patient. Many of her notes are lost, so he sets out to investigate the reasons that she was "put away"
A really interesting at times puzzling story. Set in Sligo, from the time of "the troubles" to the 21st Centuary.

First published in 2008, it was shortlisted for The Man Booker Prize, and was the winner of Costa Book Awards in 2008.

I was so moved by this "history" that I have now added the name of
Sebastian Barry, to my list of authors to look out for.

Highly recommended.

Just finished a book I enjoyed Island Secrets by Patricia Wilson Crete in 1940s and present day. Angelica intrigued by mother Poppy’s past, visits grandmother Maria in Crete village where mother grew up Learns story from Maria. I learnt a lot about Crete in the war, based on true stories from Cretians still living. Excellent book.

Both your books sound good, Ann and Tess, so I have added them to my “to be read” list.

I’ve been reading Emma by Alexander McCall Smith. It’s a modern retelling of the Jane Austen book. It stays faithful to the original story and spirit of the book but, because it is set in modern times, it loses a lot of the social nuances of Jane Austen and doesn’t flow well. Emma comes over as a spoilt rich kid. It’s an OK book but a bit disappointing.

I.ve read a few Alexander McCall Smith books, including the a few Ladies Detective Agency ones set in Botswana and a few set in Scotland. enjoyed both types. In fact saw some AMS books on the library shelves last week while looking for some other author whoes name begins with S. (the name escapes me at the mament, and I can't be bothered to go looking for my "books to read " book. (This not so little girl has had a busy day!).

I did in fact see some by the desired author and although they were papaerbacks they were also HUGH 650-720 pages!!
However than noticed a book by Betty Smith. The title just jumped out at me - "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn"
I read this in one of my dads Readers Digest Condensed books years and years ago ( well over fifty).

Can only very slightly remember it, e.g. it was set in Brooklyn in the early 20th Centuary, and the main person is a young girl. Not much to go on, but I remember that I enjoyed it. Just wondered what I would think now that I am much older and perhaps a little wiser, definatly better informed.
So rejected the big combersome books in favour of A Tree Grows...
It is rather a new print and I think that I am the first or second customer to take it out. "Oh! said the man is he was scanning my library card and stamping the book "I was going to read that!" "They made a film of it in 194x," and named a couple of people in said film.
He would be a good person to have in your quiz team. I thought as I put the book in my bag and left.


Will let you know what I think about it when I have finished. Have still got another Sebastian Barry Book on the go, so might take me sometime.

did anyone else read readers Digest condensed versions of books?