I read this book July 2011
I love LdB - I confess a bias. I have read loads of his work and never been disappointed. I think his whole style suits my reading preferences.
This is a collection of short stories that stand alone, yet are all centered around the events/people of the village of Notwithstanding. set at different times and using different genres. I really liked the idea of this way of bringing a collection together. I must say here that I have been working on a set of stories centered around a sheltered housing complex and had thought of this long before I read this. I am recording this to remind myself that I wasn't influenced...
Back to the book, entertaining, witty, sad, funny in turns.
A throughly good read as always with LdB
9/10
Have you read this book? what did you think of it, let me know
Helen
Sunday, 14 August 2011
The Hare with Amber Eyes
I read this in July 2011
I read this as part of the Waterstone's Book Club. I think I may even have voted to read it!
How disappointing can a book be? This book reminded me of why I don't usually read biographies from choice. It was too 'listy' for my liking, it seemed , to me, to have long drawn out sections of uninteresting details and then to skim over the bits I would have wanted to read more on. Is this because a piece of non-fiction has to be that? I don't know, I just prefer writers to be able to 'fill in the gaps'
Strangely the cover also had an odd texture which I didn't like, sort of waxy.
Well enough said on this one, a potentially interesting book that I just could not get into.
Unfortunately a 2/10
Have you read this book, tell me what you thought of it
Helen
I read this as part of the Waterstone's Book Club. I think I may even have voted to read it!
How disappointing can a book be? This book reminded me of why I don't usually read biographies from choice. It was too 'listy' for my liking, it seemed , to me, to have long drawn out sections of uninteresting details and then to skim over the bits I would have wanted to read more on. Is this because a piece of non-fiction has to be that? I don't know, I just prefer writers to be able to 'fill in the gaps'
Strangely the cover also had an odd texture which I didn't like, sort of waxy.
Well enough said on this one, a potentially interesting book that I just could not get into.
Unfortunately a 2/10
Have you read this book, tell me what you thought of it
Helen
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
I read this in July 2011
This book was passed onto me by Julie and had it not been for that I would have completely missed out on reading this one as it really didn't appeal very much. What a treat I would have missed though. An episcopal novel (written as letters) it is a tale of the time when Guernsey was under german occupation in WWII. Many years ago I recall hearing that the children had been taken off the island and not returned for 5 years, but this novel really brought it home to me what that could be like. The hardships endured by the Islanders, the POWs and the Germans came to life. The story is lively, not overly sentimental and funny...how life goes one no matter what
I really enjoyed this quick, light read
8/10
Have you read this book? let me know what you think of it
Helen
This book was passed onto me by Julie and had it not been for that I would have completely missed out on reading this one as it really didn't appeal very much. What a treat I would have missed though. An episcopal novel (written as letters) it is a tale of the time when Guernsey was under german occupation in WWII. Many years ago I recall hearing that the children had been taken off the island and not returned for 5 years, but this novel really brought it home to me what that could be like. The hardships endured by the Islanders, the POWs and the Germans came to life. The story is lively, not overly sentimental and funny...how life goes one no matter what
I really enjoyed this quick, light read
8/10
Have you read this book? let me know what you think of it
Helen
Gladys Aylward By R.O. Latham
read this book in June 2011
I bought this little book as past of a job lot at a fair - and took it to our Condo in Florida for guests to read if they wished. I picked it uo when we were holidaying as a bit of light reading.
The Story of Gladys Aylward, missionary to China who took a group of children across the mountains to safelty when the Japanese army invaded China in WWII - filmed as Inn of the Sixth Happiness
A sweet little book, telling an interesting story of faith and heroism.
7/10
Have you read this book? if so what did you think of it?
Helen
I bought this little book as past of a job lot at a fair - and took it to our Condo in Florida for guests to read if they wished. I picked it uo when we were holidaying as a bit of light reading.
The Story of Gladys Aylward, missionary to China who took a group of children across the mountains to safelty when the Japanese army invaded China in WWII - filmed as Inn of the Sixth Happiness
A sweet little book, telling an interesting story of faith and heroism.
7/10
Have you read this book? if so what did you think of it?
Helen
Last Known Victim by Erica Spindler
I read this book in June 2011
This book was left by a guest at our Florida condo. I wanted a bit of light reading during my holiday.
Very interesting detective story set in post Katrina New Orleans - a serial murder and family issues all rolled into one. A good holiday read.
8/10
Have you read this book? let me know what you thought of it.
Helen
This book was left by a guest at our Florida condo. I wanted a bit of light reading during my holiday.
Very interesting detective story set in post Katrina New Orleans - a serial murder and family issues all rolled into one. A good holiday read.
8/10
Have you read this book? let me know what you thought of it.
Helen
Wednesday, 1 June 2011
All Quiet on the Western Front By Remarque
This World Book Night copy was passed onto me. I thought I had read tis when I was younger but the minute I started it I knew I hadn't. It's written from the point of view of a froup of young german schoolboys who sign on to fight in WWI. The descriptions and emotions are a joy to read even though the subject matter is so awful. These boys have nothing to go back to no school, no jobs, no wives or girlfriends. They are forced to grow up so quickly and so violently.
A must read
10/10
Have you read it? share your comments
A must read
10/10
Have you read it? share your comments
Special by Bella Bathurst
I read this book in May 2011
It has been on my books to read shelf for at least 12 months and I can't remember when, where or why I bought it. My guess it was in a sale, either at a collectables market or somewhere, as it has no store marks.
Anyhow let's leave that mystery unsolved shall we - the plot - a group of teenage girls are taken on an activities break after their exams and before end of term. Being teenage girls they are more interested in boys, absconding, smoking, drinking and their bodies. Full of teenage angst, do we ever grow out of it?
darkly entertaining, worth a read
7/10
Have you read it? if so please post your comments here
Helen
It has been on my books to read shelf for at least 12 months and I can't remember when, where or why I bought it. My guess it was in a sale, either at a collectables market or somewhere, as it has no store marks.
Anyhow let's leave that mystery unsolved shall we - the plot - a group of teenage girls are taken on an activities break after their exams and before end of term. Being teenage girls they are more interested in boys, absconding, smoking, drinking and their bodies. Full of teenage angst, do we ever grow out of it?
darkly entertaining, worth a read
7/10
Have you read it? if so please post your comments here
Helen
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