Balancing Act by Joanna Trollope

I read this July 2014

I won it in a Facebook Competition my copy is an uncorrected proof

I hadn't read any Joanna Trollope before, I think this was pretty much as I expected it to be.
The story centres around  Susie Moran a designer of Pottery.  Her family are also part of her business and her grown up daughters have  ideas of their own on ways to move the family business forward. Susie is a formidable determined character, knocked off her perch somewhat when her father arrives back in England - her parents having left her with her grandparents when she was a baby...
Susie seemed to be an amalgamation of Laura Ashley, Emma Bridgewater, Anita Roddick 
An enjoyable bedside book is how I'd decribe it

8/10

Tales of the City by Armistead Maupin

I read this June 2014
It was a World Book Night Book
Set in the 1970's in San Francisco, I found this fascinating.  I didn't feel dated or hackenyed and teh characters weren't too stereotyped.
As we are going to Sf next year I was of course looking out for the references about the City itslef.  I shall reread it and make notes about what to do while we are there!
A great little read
8/10

Lucky Jim by Kingsley Amis

I read this July 2014 for the Waterstones book club.

I had looked forwrd to reading this as it had passed me by when I was younger.  However I must say I was disappionted with it
It seems tired and dated somehow.  Maybe not enough time has elapsed.  Set in the world of academia in the 1950's I found it lacked any spark or anyone I would remotely care about
5/10

Flow my Tears, the Policeman Said by Philip K. Dick

I rad this June 2014
I had read Do Andriods dream of Electric Sheep and enjoyed it so bought this and Ubik.
The plot  revolves round Jason Tavener who has a TV career and wakes one morning to find he has no identity....
It's all about living in different versions of reality.  I thorughy enjoyed this book.  My kind of thing.
10/10

Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy by John L Carre

I read this May 2014 for Waterstones book club

And wished I hadn't.. I managed to get through it but found it tediuos and boring.  the writing was excellent, but I just could not give a fig for the charaters or the plot.  Don't ask me to explain it, cos I can't.  Really not the book for me.

4/10

Trust your Eyes by Linwood Barclay

I read this in May 2014
It was given to me by Rosie my creative writing and book club friend.
The plot centres around a map obsessed young man (Thomas)  who's father (and carer) has died in an accident with a ride on mower.
Thomas witnesses a murder on Google maps and then the image is changed later.  His elder brother comes to the house to look after himmand to sort out details fo their father's Will etc.  Thomas manages to persuade the brther, Ray to start investigations, which ead them both into a whole buch of truble.

Extremely enjoyable.

9/10

The Pure in Heart By Susan Hill

I read this in May 2014
It is the second novel in the Simon Serrailler detective series and I have read others in this series and enjoyed them (but I am a Susan Hill fan)
A small boy is snatched as he waits for a lift to school.  The plot intermingles with Simon's personal/family life and we get to know a lt about the workings of his family as well as the police investigations.

I thoroughly enjoyed it despite.
9/10