When I look back over this book and think about its content, I realise that it was quite a fascinating read, w...moreA bit confusing, but I'm glad I read it.
When I look back over this book and think about its content, I realise that it was quite a fascinating read, with a lot of details that we spent an excellent book group flushing out. However, while I was reading it I was really struggling to keep it flowing. It was a painfully slow read and the majority of my fellow book-groupers felt the same way. I found it very confusing, not least, the nationalities (native African or ex-pat British) of some of the characters and who was speaking when a new chapter started.
Set in Sierra Leone, the narrative swaps - a bit irratically - between current time and 1969, when Elias Cole first sets eyes upon Saffia. He is instantly besotted and although she is married, starts to stalk her, even befriending her husband, his colleague, Julius. In current time, Adrian Lockheart, a volunteer psychologist, is listening to the elderly Elias recount his life, but why is he so determined to tell all? Is he trying to rewrite history so that he appears more favourably? The use of the psychologist, Adrian, was an excellent tool to recount many of the experiences of survivors of the 1991-2002 civil war, as he attempts to help them come to terms with their lives. Almost the whole population is suffering from some degree of post taumatic stress disorder after the atrocities. Adrian befriends a fellow hopital doctor, surgeon, Kai, probably the most likable character. Kai is dedicated to his country but has recently started to consider moving to the USA for a better life and to escape his memories. The denouement effectively links Elias, Adrian and Kai in a satisfying finale that joins the various strands of the novel.
Although I am glad I read this book, I stand by my 3 star rating as I found it rather confusing, especially in the first half. I don't think I'd particularly recommend it and am quite surprised by some of the glowing reviews it has received.(less)
A good listen in the car. This unabridged book was pleasant enough listening for some long journeys, but not earth-shattering. Penelope Keith was wonde...moreA good listen in the car. This unabridged book was pleasant enough listening for some long journeys, but not earth-shattering. Penelope Keith was wonderful as Agatha but rather grating when she impersonated some of her more squarky characters.
Agatha becomes embroiled in a murder mystery surrounding Mrs Tamworthy and her offspring and their spouses. Mrs Tamworthy has managed to upset, not only her whole family but also the whole village, with her plans to sell off the manor house and build a technical college. Strangely enough she suspects that someone may be trying to murder her and there are plenty of suspects for the murderer.
I listened to this around Christmas time for a bit of Christmas spirit, but only the final CD was at all festive - possibly a good thing if you're thinking of listening to it in June!
I liked the character of Toni, Agatha's new assistant, and I had a few chuckles during the telling, but overall it was fairly mediocre - 3 1/2 stars, if I could. (less)
This was a short book, at just 96 pages. An excellent translation from Kyrgyz, full of feeling and wonderful descriptions of the countrysi...moreAtmospheric.
This was a short book, at just 96 pages. An excellent translation from Kyrgyz, full of feeling and wonderful descriptions of the countryside of Kyrgyzstan.
Set during WWII, the men of the villages are all off fighting at the front while the day to day running of the farms is left to women, youngsters and the injured. Grain must be transported over many miles to collection points from whence it is delivered to the fighting soldiers. Seit, the narrator, his sister-in-law, Jamila and Daniyar, an injured soldier are responsible for making the daily trecks to the collection depot from their village. Gradually we get to know the the characters and watch their interactions during these long journeys.
The book is described as a love story but it is also a taste of life in a remote part of the world, at a particular time in history. Unfortunately my copy pretty much told the story on the back cover, so there were no surprises, but it was still an interesting read, atmospheric and spare. (less)
This book had just a touch of magic about it - not so much as to make me sceptical, but just enough to be believable. A story of love,...moreMagical realism.
This book had just a touch of magic about it - not so much as to make me sceptical, but just enough to be believable. A story of love, between best friends and between girl/boy. Definitely a feel-good book.
Willa Jackson lives in Walls of Water, North Carolina. It seems to be the sort of small American town that everyone wants to escape from and Willa was no exception. Her father's death brought her back, however, and she now runs a sporting goods shop at the foot of the famous trecking area that accesses the waterfalls that the town is named after. Wealthy Paxton Osgood, who went to school with Willa, seems unreachable to Willa, living in a different circle socially. Paxton decides to renovate the large house on the hill, the Blue Ridge Madam, which belonged to Willa's family in the days of her grandmother, but was lost to them when they lost their income from logging. The renovation reveals some long buried secrets that force Willa and Paxton to look into their pasts.
Meanwhile, Paxton is also busy organising the annual gala for the Womens' Society Club, which will take place at the newly renovated Blue Ridge Madam. Willa has no intention of attending, she doesn't realise how relevant the whole event is to her history.
I have several books on my shelves by this author and have long intended to give her a try. I'm so glad that this book was available on Amazon Vine, I shall certainly be reading more by Ms Allen in the future. (less)
This book was great, it kept my interest from beginning to end. It covered the American '50s dance and theatre scene with skill, ad...moreA pleasure to read.
This book was great, it kept my interest from beginning to end. It covered the American '50s dance and theatre scene with skill, added a bit of the New York gangster atmosphere and the anti communist threat of those times. If I had to voice a criticism, and it is minor, it was that the jumping of time, to and fro, was sometimes a bit hard to follow.
Kit Corrigan is one of triplets, raised from birth to love the stage. It was the only way her father could afford to raise three young children. Her studies fell behind as she put all her efforts into song and dance classes. Eventually this pays off and she heads for New York for the Big Time. Needless to say she encountered more than she'd bargained for and as the back story unweaves, everything falls into place.
Beautifully written with wonderful characters, haunting and intense, this is a book I would not hesitate to recommend.(less)
The abreviated audio CD was read by Judy Greer in a rather twee voice that grated at times, but my expectation of chick-lit was s...moreChick-lit: 3.5 stars.
The abreviated audio CD was read by Judy Greer in a rather twee voice that grated at times, but my expectation of chick-lit was somewhat tempered by the travel aspect.
Thirty-something Julie decides to travel around the world with a view to writing a book about how single women deal with their situation in various countries. She leaves her four single friends, with all their various problems, and travels from Paris to Rome, India to China, Brazil to Iceland, interviewing single women (very small samples, it must be said!). She manages to fall in love with a married man, experience varied highs and lows during the journey, and returns to New York in a slightly better mental position than when she left.
The author did travel a fair bit before writing this novel so the travel aspect should be reasonably accurate, reflecting her own experiences. I fear that the main content that was abridged from my audiobook was possibly a fair chunk of the travel detail, which would have been a shame. However, although I enjoyed listening to this while driving, it's not a book that I shall be in a hurry to read in full.
Having read the many glowing reviews for this book, I am thinking that by 'reading' the abridged audio version I may...moreReview for the abridged audio CD.
Having read the many glowing reviews for this book, I am thinking that by 'reading' the abridged audio version I may have short-changed myself. I did enjoy it, but it wasn't really a five star listen; perhaps it lost something in the depth of its characterisations or description. It was beautifully read by Patricia Rodruiguez, I have no criticism of the narration, just of the abridgement.
July 1966: 16 year old Natalie Ward notices a young blond man coming up her drive, carrying a guitar case. River Jordan is a conscientious objector, a draft dodger, avoiding American conscription into the Vietnam War. He has strong beliefs regarding war and has come to earn a meagre wage on the Ward's farm rather than go off to kill men he doesn't know and has no quarrel with. His arrival shakes the farm and everyone falls in love with him in one way or another.
Time then jumps and Natalie is an adult, living far away from home - what has happened to cause this rift? Why is Natallie so hesitant to return to her home town and her beloved brother, Boyer? As her mother nears death, Natalie must face her demons and return. Gradually we learn about the events from 1966 to 1968 and why she is so haunted by that time.
I have another book by Donna Milner on my shelves - The Promise of Rain, this one I shall definitely read in unabridged hard copy. (less)
There was a lot in this novel - the situation of the Jewish community in Iraq in the 1940s, the struggles endured as a maid coming from a...moreRecommended.
There was a lot in this novel - the situation of the Jewish community in Iraq in the 1940s, the struggles endured as a maid coming from a poor background in the Marshes to work in bustling Basra, and the problems of friendships between different cultures and between unmarried men and women.
There are two main charcters, Shafiq, a young Jewish-Iraqi, who starts to feel the effects of anti Jewish sentiment in Iraq as he reaches his teens, and Kathmiya, a beautiful young girl from the Marshes who should be entering into marriage at this age but finds herself shipped off to work as a maid in Basra. Kathmiya can't understand why she is not getting married like her sister Fathima, and why her father seems to hate her so much. But she makes the best of her life in Basra and works hard. There she is noticed by Shafiq, who is stunned by her beauty. In this society it would mean certain death for Kathmiya if her friendship with Shafiq were ever discovered and the relationship can have no future.
The other main relationship in the book is between Shafiq and his Muslim neighbour, Omar. Not only are the boys best friends, but the families help each other in numerous ways over the years in a society where such friendships are becoming increasingly problematic.
Jessica Jiji has never lived in Iraq but learned of this time in history from her father who left the country in 1947 as an 18 year old. HIs love for his homeland is reflected in her warm feelings towards this place and time. In spite of all the problems, I felt this affection and became involved in the narrative as it unravelled.
I listened to the unabridged audio version of this book, excellently narrated by Adriana Sevahn Nichols, but I have to admit I struggled with the names of all the secondary characters, which can't be back referenced on audio. Possibly better to read this than listen to it, but certainly recommended. (less)
There are only two reasons why I finished this book - because I had to read it for a book group and because it was bein...moreThank goodness that's finished.
There are only two reasons why I finished this book - because I had to read it for a book group and because it was being narrated to me by the brave Paul Panting on behalf of Audible. It was quite simply, tedious. There was little narrative that grabbed me, I felt the story line was just a tool to allow the author to express her opinions on every major event that has taken place since 1960. We had the baby boom and the contraceptive pill, hippies and LSD, the rise and rise of television, house prices and 9/11. ....And a great deal more besides. One discussion did interest me - the one about advertising, and one really annoyed me - the idea of 'time', how cliche is that?? The repetition of the idea that the generation represented would never get old was also worn thin by the end of the book.
The main character was the rather unlikable Stephen Newman. He is mixed race, half Cuban, half Polish, and has spent his childhood in America. He is very much an American, however, even once he finds himself living in Oxford and then London, UK. He marries Andrea in order to avoid being called back to the States to fight in the Vietnam war and they progress from squatting students to middle class comfort, with 2.5 children. And that's about as exciting as it gets.
I enjoyed Linda Grant's book about life in Palestine in the post-war era, When I Lived in Modern Times, but this felt like it had been written by another author entirely. (less)
I received this book for review from LibraryThing Early Reviewers and will be putting my copy in the recycling bin. This has to be the worst...moreAppalling.
I received this book for review from LibraryThing Early Reviewers and will be putting my copy in the recycling bin. This has to be the worst book that has ever passed my way. To start with, the translation is absolutely chronic - and this is the improved version after we were advised to dispose of the first copy we received because of printing errors. The conversation is disjointed, the narrative jumps about and a lot of it makes no sense at all.
Then there is the content of the book. At first it seemed like a really sad story of a girl who contracted polio at the age of 14 months. The medical profession doubted that she would ever walk again but thanks to the love and dedication of her father (the big man), she did manage to walk. She endured a childhood of name calling and isolation because she was a "cripple", but then changed schools at the end of her Primary schooling, to one where she was not known and was able to put this all behind her. Things were looking up until disaster struck again - but this was where I gradually decided that the saga of hatred and abuse that she had to endure was beyond believable. Every person she came into contact with was abusive in some way. There simply aren't that many awful people, I couldn't believe that she could go from one to the other in such an endless series of catastrophes. She lost my sympathies, it just didn't ring true.
If Chamed really did endure all this, then I apologise for my review, but combined with the awful translation I am giving this the lowest possible rating.(less)
Who-done-it's are not my favourite genre but I enjoyed the emotional bond between these two sisters and the gradual unravelling of Tess's...moreWell written.
Who-done-it's are not my favourite genre but I enjoyed the emotional bond between these two sisters and the gradual unravelling of Tess's last few weeks before her disappearance. Her older sister, Beatrice, rushes back from The States after receiving the news of Tess's disappearance and the narrative is structured as a letter from Beatrice, as she tries to find out what happened.
It was well written and the characters of Beatrice and Tess were very strong. The other characters were harder to grasp as Beatrice was suspecting everyone she came in contact with and so we were influenced by her constantly changing opinions.
Underlying all this was a fascinating medical scenario that lurked like an extra character and about which I'd have possibly enjoyed more detail.
I wasn't happy about the ending though ............ :( (less)
When I first saw this book I was put off by the title. It was then chosen as a monthly read for my book group and some memb...moreSlightly irreverent humour.
When I first saw this book I was put off by the title. It was then chosen as a monthly read for my book group and some members have chosen not to read it bcause of the use of God as the name for a rabbit. It was also banned in the UAE when it was first released but has since been passed. There are passages that could be taken badly - for instance, Elly asks her Sunday school teacher if Jesus could have been a 'mistake'. But this also illustrates the slightly irreverent feel of the book's humour - perhaps the title gave fair warning.
The book is quite episodic in style, skipping from one memorable event to the next in the life of Eleanor Maud, a young girl from a loving family, who befriends Jenny Penny. Jenny is from a less conventional family and is quite an eye opener for Elly, but by the same token, Jenny envies Elly her stable family life. I thought the characters were well drawn, Elly, her brother and Jenny Penny, particularly. The first half of the book was definitely stronger than the second, where events became a bit unbeievable and their solutions even more so....
For me, it was an easy, enjoyable read, I will be very interested to see how it is received by my book group. (less)
Although this novel has been highly acclaimed by other readers, I found it a slow read. The sections where Marie interracted with other ch...moreA slow read.
Although this novel has been highly acclaimed by other readers, I found it a slow read. The sections where Marie interracted with other characters on a personal level flowed well, but I got bogged down in the minutiae of the general day to day survival.
Marie was based on Marie Dorion who travelled with an investigatory expedition from St. Louis to Astoria in Oregon. She accompanied her interpreter husband with two young sons, across thousands of miles of inhospitable terrain and we are with her for every gruelling mile. Whilst I am sure Jane Kirkpatrick has done thorough research, this felt like a history lesson and failed to capture my imagination.
I have the second volume, Every Fixed Star, waiting to follow on, but I am seriously considering giving it a miss. (less)
I have just finished listening to the abridged audio-book of a book that I originally read in 2007. Having reread my review written at that time I fee...moreI have just finished listening to the abridged audio-book of a book that I originally read in 2007. Having reread my review written at that time I feel that it perfectly summed up the way I feel about this book:
I personally feel that this book would have slipped through the net if it hadn't been for all the hype attached to Richard and Judy book nominations. It was an easy read, but left me feeling a bit empty, like I wasn't sure why I'd bothered.
We meet Richard Novak, a reclusive on-line investor, as he starts to show all the signs of the onset of a heart attack. As a result he is forced to leave his enclosed world as he calls an ambulance and goes to hospital. This seems to have been a bit of a wake-up call and he decides to change direction and make something of his life. Then it all starts to become a bit unbelievable as one calamity after another hits his house and he becomes a bit of a local hero / superman figure. The odd bit of assistance here and there would have been fine, but to have managed quite so many good deeds and heroic actions in such a short space of time was rather stretching belief.
The one aspect of the book that I did enjoy was the repairing of bridges between himself and his son, who he'd left with his wife after the break-up of their marriage.
The finale is suitably over-the-top, a fitting end to a strange book. (less)
I listened to the Audible version of this book, read, rather excessively slowly, by Tania Rodrigues. I think...more'It's time to stop fighting and go home'.
I listened to the Audible version of this book, read, rather excessively slowly, by Tania Rodrigues. I think in this instance I'd have preferred to have read the book as I seemed to lose the thread from time to time and it's hard to check back with an audio version. This was especially the case as the relationship between Aruna and Jazz was unravelled.
Aruna has been living in London, married to a doctor but still fighting addictions to drugs, alcohol and sex. She had lived for many years in Singapore but left suddenly when her relationship with her childhood friend, Jazz, came crashing to the ground. She suffers from bipolar disorder but is apathetic about the medication. In general, her life is a mess. The one stable thing is her marriage, until she suddenly walks out on it and buys a ticket on a plane back to Singapore. This move, prompted by the words from a poem that fall out of a book, 'It's time to stop fighting and go home', takes her back to face even more mess.
Gradually we learn of the background to her first relationship, with Jazz, and why she had felt the need to escape. Jazz's father was once a poet but he is eldely now and is ending his days, lonely, in a Singapore hospital. It seems he holds the answer to the many questions that have confused Aruna for many years and driven her to hide behind her addictions.
Aruna is really not at all likeable and I felt for the two men whom she had abandoned. There was no real satisfactory way to end this story once we had all the facts and I was frustrated with the decision that Aruna makes at the end.
An author that I will read again, though not as an audiobook. (less)
I read this for a recent book group. I enjoyed it, taking it purely at face value. I then discussed it within our group, several of whom...moreHidden depths.
I read this for a recent book group. I enjoyed it, taking it purely at face value. I then discussed it within our group, several of whom were of Arab origin, and suddenly I discovered whole new levels of the story that made sense to my Arab friends but which had completely passed me by. Yet I didn't detect the more floral language of an Arab writer in the narrative, it didn't have the feel, to me, of a book by an Arab writer.
The story is told by Nuri, just twelve when it begins with his encounter with the enigmatic Mona on a hotel beach in Egypt. Although Nuri has a teenage crush on Mona, it is his father whom she eventually marries. Thus begins a complicated relationship between the three of them, which is dramatically affected by the disappearance of Nuri's father whilst holidaying in Switzerland.
Much of this story is semi-autobiographical; Mr Matar's own father was abducted from the family's Cairo home by Egypt's Mukhabarat, handed over to the Libyan government and imprisoned in Abu Salim prison. He has not been heard from since a letter smuggled out in 1995. Hisham Matar must be well aware of the angst this causes a teenage boy, the terrible lack of closure caused by the unknown.
The characterisations are excellent, particularly that of Nuri. The pace of the novel reflects the feelings of a slightly introverted young boy as he is forced to come to terms with the loss of his father. Also very topical with the events that have unfolded recently in Libya. (less)
I originally read this book back in 2005. It came highly recommended by a friend so I expected it to be an excellent read. Unfortunately I was disappi...moreI originally read this book back in 2005. It came highly recommended by a friend so I expected it to be an excellent read. Unfortunately I was disappionted.
Having recently listened to the abridged audio book version, read by Carole Boyd, I am of the opinion that the book benefits from being abridged. However, I still found the style a bit simplistic and uninspiring. The characters were good in parts, but very predictable. And I was frustrated at how Emily and John pined after each other like lost sheep for year after endless year. I just wanted to give them a good kick and for them to get over their teenage crushes and get on with life.
It's a hard book to review without giving too much away, so I will just say that young lovers, Emily and John are forced apart by cruel circumstances, but they don't forget each other. The story follows their lives after their separation and we are wondering how this impossible situation can be resolved. It is set at the beginning of the last century and is full of atmospheric descriptions of life at that time, probably the highlight of the book for me.
I have another JC audio-book to listen to, perhaps I will enjoy that more. She seems to be a highly recommended author and this book has been well received by her fans, perhaps this is just not my genre?
I would have liked to have given this 3 1/2 stars.
Having read Andrea Busfield's first book, Born Under a Million Stars, and loved the humour and human...moreI would have liked to have given this 3 1/2 stars.
Having read Andrea Busfield's first book, Born Under a Million Stars, and loved the humour and human touch of it, I found Aphrodite's War a little disappointing in comparison. It felt more like a history lesson with a novel wound around it and seemed to have lost the immediacy of her previous writing.
There are two central themes here, a love story between childhood sweethearts, Praxi and Loukis, and the turbulent story that is the history of the island of Cyprus. Loukis is one of five children in the Encomidou family and although he is a central character, all five are used in various ways to explain aspects of the events that were taking place at the time. We also meet a Turkish man, Mehmet, known as Stavros to his Cypriot friends, who helps to provide a balance to the story for the Turks.
I'm glad I read this book, I learnt a lot, but I would have preferred that the author had removed some of the historical content and replaced it with a time line at the start of the book, leaving her with more freedom to do what she does so well and concentrate on the characters. In addition, a map would have been very useful. (less)
This was my first Lisa Jewell book and I was listening to the unabridged audio version.
Right from the start we know that Ralph and Jem hav...moreFrustrating.
This was my first Lisa Jewell book and I was listening to the unabridged audio version.
Right from the start we know that Ralph and Jem have parted ways, they share the care of the kids, passing them over on a Wednesday and back on Sunday - but have lost the vital spark of their relationship. Then we jump back in time to happier days, their romantic meeting, getting to know each other, and the early years before baby Blake. This was a couple that was destined to be together. So what went wrong? The majority of the book answers this question, which I found rather depressing, especially as I often wanted to bang their heads together and say "no, don't be such a pair of idiots!". The story is well told and the characterisations were good, but the book wasn't an enjoyable read. It entertained me as I walked round the park but didn't demand that I buy more from this author. (less)
I loved The Earth Hums in B Flat and could see the resemblance in this book, with the emotional descriptions of Davey's fearful episod...moreFull of feeling.
I loved The Earth Hums in B Flat and could see the resemblance in this book, with the emotional descriptions of Davey's fearful episodes after his return from WWI. Mari Strachan seems to be particularly good at this type of writing.
Again set in Wales, the story centres around Non (Rhiannon) Davies and her husband Davey. He has two children from a previous marriage and a younger son, Osian, who he mysteriously turns up with, as a baby, one day. Osian shows signs of autism, though at that time such disabilities would not have been recognised. Soon after their marriage, Davey goes off to war and although he is one of the few that came back apparently uninjured, his mental turmoil is just as damaging.
Non is an endearing character who is always ready to help her friends and neighbours, yet she seems unable to help her husband. Then a letter turns up in Davey's pocket and Non ventures to London in the hope of some answers.
This was every bit as good as Ms Strachan's first book, full of feeling and emotion - hopefully there will be many more to come. (less)
I am a great fan of Rose Tremain, having read five of her books, but this was the most disappointing and my lowest rating so far. I enjoy...moreNot her best.
I am a great fan of Rose Tremain, having read five of her books, but this was the most disappointing and my lowest rating so far. I enjoyed The Road Home so much that it joined just a handful of books that I've re-read, but Trespass felt like it had been written by a completely different author. I was never grabbed by the narrative and didn't particularly like any of the characters, though they were well described. It also struck me as overkill that both Veronica and her brother, were attracted to their own sex.
The link between the five main protagonists was the grand old French house known as the Mas Lunel. Owned by the Lunel family for generations, it had been allowed to fall into disrepair by Aramon Lunel, who had inherited it and the land around. His sister Audrun had a new, rather small cottage in the neighbouring wood. Audrun and Aramon had a strained relationship and she stayed away from him where possible. Anthony Verey was an art dealer from London but his business had suffered from the recession and he had decided to call it a day and retire to France to live near his sister, Veronica, and her partner. When Aramon decides that the Mas Lunel is too much for him and puts it on the market, Anthony Verey takes a look at it with a view to buying. Thus the two sets of characters are finally linked, bringing us to a thoroughly unsatisfactory ending.
I would enthusiastically recommend The Road Home, The Way I Found her or The Colour. If this is your first taste of Rose Tremain it is going to give you an entirely false impression of an excellent author. Not recommended. (less)
I've never read any of Sophie Kinsella's books and had no idea what to expect from this abridged version of Remember Me? I have to say I was...morePure fun!!
I've never read any of Sophie Kinsella's books and had no idea what to expect from this abridged version of Remember Me? I have to say I was pleasantly surprised and my only complaint was that it was abridged.
Lexie suffers concussion from a car accident and wakes to find she can't remember anything after the eve of her father's funeral in 2003. She has lost 3 years of memory, during which time things seem to have changed drastically. She does not recognise thew new Lexie who no longer has crooked teeth, has lost weight, walks with confidence in high heels and has an amazingly dishy husband and swanky flat. Unfortunately she also doesn't remember rising to senior management, losing all her friends and having an affair on the side. As she attempts to put the pieces together on her new life, she realises that it's not as flawless as it appears.
Highly entertaining, with a few cringeworthy moments, this was excellently read by Charlotte Barry and I found myself sitting outside my house, with the engine still running, just to find out what happened next. I do have a copy of the book and may well read this in its full version at some point in the future. Definitely recommended for some light relief. (less)
Although this novella was only 90 pages long, it delivered quite a punch. With a slow start describing Mimi's life as a lawyer...moreShort but to the point.
Although this novella was only 90 pages long, it delivered quite a punch. With a slow start describing Mimi's life as a lawyer in America, the book opens out to describe her past as a child in Saigon before it fell to the Communist North, and the difficulties of escaping from the country.
Mimi's escape was traumatic enough and she was devastated to leave a much beloved grandmother. But many were even less fortunate and suffered as the 'boat people' that we heard so much about on the news at the time. With storms, pirates and often refusal on their eventual arrival, this was an hugely risky way to escape.
The postcards of the title arrived from Thailand without return addresses, signed 'Nam'. At first Mimi could not fathom who they could be from, but when she finally realises the identity of Nam she is forced to remember suppressed memories from her childhood.
Mimi interviews several survivors, to relate a piece of history that has probably slipped from many memories. Although this is the third of a trilogy, I did not feel I should have read the other books first. Having read Postcards From Nam, however, I would very much like to read the previous 2 books. Written in a slightly awkward style, I would still recommend this for its powerful content. For an alternative read based in Vietnam, I would also suggest The Man From Saigon by Marti Leimbach. (less)
This received quite mixed reviews on Amazon UK, and I had reservations when I began reading. Fortunately I was pleasantly sur...moreLife in an Ottoman harem.
This received quite mixed reviews on Amazon UK, and I had reservations when I began reading. Fortunately I was pleasantly surprised and found it a very enjoyable read with plenty of historical interest and atmospheric descriptions.
There are two time frames used in the novel; the current day story of historical researcher, Elizabeth Staveley, is used as a tool to provide the background to the more interesting historical section. Elizabeth finds a fragment of a manuscript suggesting that Celia, an English girl, may have been ship-wrecked by pirates at the end of the sixteenth century and subsequently sold into the harem of Sultan Mehmet III of Constantinople (now Istanbul). The novel follows a few months in Celia's life in 1599. Having been bought by the Sultan's favourite concubine, as a gift for her mother-in-law, we follow Celia's rise within the harem and the intrigue and sceming that goes on within those walls. Paul Pindar is her fiance and assumes her drowned in the ship-wreck, until his cook, John Carew, chances to see her while visiting in the palace. Both the historical and the modern time frames then follow these characters in a search for the outcome of this love match. Did Paul manage to rescue Celia from the harem? What were their ultimate fates?
While parts of this novel were excellent (such as the description of the gelding of a young boy so that he might become a much prized eunuch), other parts were less well written. The modern story, in particular, had a rather chick-lit feel to it. In discussion, our book group hilighted many incidences of dubious behaviour or inconsistencies, and I have to admit that these criticisms were valid. Some of these instances did detract from my reading, but mostly my enjoyment of the novel allowed me to ignore them. I did find the ending a bit weak though.
Paul Pindar and John Carew also feature in Hickman's latest novel, The Pindar Diamond, set in Venice, and I look forward to reading this in the near future.(less)
Review for the unabridged Audible version, narrated by Michal Friedman, Ellen Archer, Suzanne Toren and Robert Petkof.
Although I had already reviewed...moreReview for the unabridged Audible version, narrated by Michal Friedman, Ellen Archer, Suzanne Toren and Robert Petkof.
Although I had already reviewed this book when I read the printed version (copied below), I wanted to add a review relating to the audio version. I really enjoyed the spoken book, the only thing I felt it lacked was the poinancy of the capital letters that Jack assigns to important items in his life, such as Bed, Rug and Table. For obvious reasons, this cannot be transferred to audio and I have to admit, I missed them. Having said that, I didn't feel that the second half lost out to the first, this time around, so what it lost in one aspect, it gained in another. I still think it should have won The Booker Prize.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Some of the comments below may be considered as spoilers.
The first half of this book was outstanding.
Although this book was let down a little by the second half, the first half was good enough to raise it to an overall 5. I'm sorry it did not win this year's Booker Prize.
The depiction of Jack as a five-year old, raised from birth in a twelve square metre Room, with only his mother for company, was sheer brilliance - I even found myself looking at things in my house with a capital letter in front of them. His mother spends every waking hour keeping him entertained, teaching him to read and write and doing 'phys ed' round the bed. Except for the times when she sinks into deprssion and is 'Gone' for a day. The only other living person in this part of the book is Old Nic, Ma's abductor, but Jack is kept away from him, hidden in the bottom of Wardrobe at night. The highlight of their week is Sundaytreat and they spend all week assessing the best use of this one special request.
The second half of the book, spent in Outside, details the shock of coming out of a confined space after 7 years. Jack seems to cope with all these new experiences better than Ma, but then, to him it's an adventure; to Ma it's a return to an old, distantly remembered, life. Details like sun and eye protection rang true but some of the personal interactions with professionals and relatives and even the general public, fell short in places. The book just seemed to go off the boil a bit here.
Nevertheless it was one of those rare books of pure enjoyment and is one I shall read again and recommend widely, if you haven't already read it then give it a go!(less)
My feelings towards this book oscillated as I read it. I'm not a fan of courtroom narratives and found the beginning quite dull as we sp...moreGood in parts.
My feelings towards this book oscillated as I read it. I'm not a fan of courtroom narratives and found the beginning quite dull as we spent much of our time in the court. As things heated up, with more activity out in the real world, so did my enthusiasm. Unfortunately I was disappointed with the end which fell a bit flat, so only three stars overall.
(Please excuse spelling errors as I listened to the unabridged audiobook and so may have some names wrong.) Nina Reilly is a likeable lawyer, efficient and determined. Her client, Stephan Wyatt, has been arrested for digging up the bones of a dead Russian, Constantin Zhukovsky, for $1,000. Stephan is the 'Unlucky' character of the title, as he discovered a dead body in the soil above the coffin and is subsequently arrested for the murder of Zhukovsky's daughter, Christina. Nina is defending him with little background research as the case has not been adequately prepared before her arrival (annoying/rather unbelievable). Her boyfriend, Paul, is a private investigator who works for the same firm and he helps unravel the explanation for Christina's death.
The story also centres around death of the last Tsar of Russia, Nicholas II, and his family nearly 100 years earlier. What happened to the two family members who were not accounted for at the time? This is an era that I had been intending to look into and so I found this aspect of the narrative fascinating.
Well read by Laural Merlington, I'm glad I listened to this rather than reading it. Recommended as an audiobook, reservations as a straight read. (less)
I had mixed feelings about this book - on the one hand there were some wonderful descriptions and thoughts on the personal implicat...moreSome great moments.
I had mixed feelings about this book - on the one hand there were some wonderful descriptions and thoughts on the personal implications on war, but on the other, there were a lot of strangely structured sentences that made me want to send the author a copy of Eats Shoots and Leaves. Unfortunately it was the sentence structure that slowed me down and reduced my rating to three stars. If you are stalling on the first half, however, the second half does flow better and I read the last 125 pages at one sitting in the early hours.
Iris has recently moved to the small American town of Franklin to become the 'postmaster' in a small local post office. She is efficient and often abrupt and seems to stand a bit aloof from the locals. The opening of the book is somewhat strange, as we meet her visiting a doctor to obtain a certificate to prove that she is still a virgin. She wants to have this to offer Harry Vale in case he should propose! Emma is newly arrived in the town, the young wife of their local doctor. She is so young and defenceless that I really felt for her as she arrived in a new place. As a youngster she lost both her parents and now feels that unless she is loved she will just disappear, cease to exist. That idea really captured me. The third of the book's women is Frankie Bard, the strong young reporter, determined to make a difference. Her observations on the effects of the Blitz in London during WWII were some of the most powerful I have read. She then goes into Europe to report on the stories of the Jewish refugees, and her frustration with the impossibility of taking a story right through to the end, was palpable - haunting her through voices that she records on an early recording machine.
It is the actions and interactions of these three women, and their men, that formed the basis of the book. An excellent hanger on which to attach the observations and feelings for war that Sarah Blake so excels at.
I do find it strange that the book is called The Postmistress but the picture on the front of my book must be of Frankie, who is young and blond, rather than Iris, the postmistress, who is older and red-haired! I'm glad I read this but hope that the author's next book will be slightly better edited and a really great read. 3 1/2 stars. (less)
The Long Song differed from other slave fictions in that it continued beyond the lives of slaves on the sugar plantat...moreLife as a slave and as a freeman.
The Long Song differed from other slave fictions in that it continued beyond the lives of slaves on the sugar plantations in Jamaica and into their lives after slavery and the hardships that freedom also brought.
The book was narrated by July, half negro, half white, (mulatto). She was the daughter of the overseer on the plantation, although he would never acknowledge her as such. At the age of 9 she was separated from her mother by Caroline Mortimer, the sister of the plantation owner, just because she took a fancy to the cute little girl. She worked in the big house and eventually became Caroline's personal servant. As slavery is abolished she becomes swept up in the madness of the times and the subsequent struggle to survive. The narrative is July's account of her life on the plantation, in the big house, and subsequently as a freeman. It is written as she nears the end of her life and is living with her son, Thomas, a printer by trade. He encourages her to write her life story, which he will then publish.
I didn't really enjoy the way in which the book was presented - July tells her own story in an authentic Jamaican voice, but this voice seems to dilute in the telling to a more 'British' voice, which then suddenly reverts when we are again made more aware that this is July's story. I'd have preferred her voice consistantly, to this yo-yo effect. In addition, July would tell one version of her life and then say 'no, that's not really what happened' and then re-tell it. I found this mildly annoying.
This was my third book by Andrea Levy, but not my favourite. I enjoyed Every Light in the House Burnin' but by far my favourite was Small Island, definitely a hard act to follow. (less)
This was an easy read, it flowed along gently, yet it kept my interest. Although it never made five star rating for me, it was a comfort...moreA gentle read.
This was an easy read, it flowed along gently, yet it kept my interest. Although it never made five star rating for me, it was a comfortable four star and I even found myself flicking forward to find out what Eilis decided in the end :)
Brooklyn is set in 1950s Ireland, where there are few jobs and many people are looking to America for a brighter future. The best Eilis has manged to secure is a Sunday-only job in a local grocery with the crotchety Miss Kelly. Then her sister, Rose, meets Father Flood, visiting from America, and he promises to find Eilis a good job, accomodation and the opportunity to study. With all the enthusiasm from Rose and their mother, Eilis has little say in the decision and before she knows it she is in a rolling liner across the ocean. Toibin excels in his descriptions of these details - the hasty preparations, the awful crossing, and then the newness of everything and the crippling homesickness. To be honest, not a lot happens, but it is the characterisations and the minuitae of life that made this book such an enjoyable read.
When there is a death in the family and Eilis makes the journey home, she finds herself torn between her old life and the new. At one point I was willing her to make one decision, by the end I was truly torn. Very similar in many ways to Ellis Island by Kate Kerrigan, also a good read. (less)
This book didn't really grab me, it felt a bit too drawn out. Although there are some fascinating, if lurid, descr...moreReview for the unabridged audiobook.
This book didn't really grab me, it felt a bit too drawn out. Although there are some fascinating, if lurid, descriptions of early cosmetic surgey techniques, used to repair damaged soldiers injured on the Front, it didn't seem to add much to other similar books I had read..
We meet Riley Purefoy as he is being bombarded with snowballs by Nadine Waverney and her brother. He is brought back to their house to dry off and Nadine's mother takes rather a shine to him. Riley is from a working class background and Nadine's large home is very different to his reduced circumstances. So, when Mrs Waverney suggests that he help an aged artist, he leaps at the chance to earn some money and improve himself. Under the patronage of Sir Arthur, he receives an education and the bearings of a gentleman, but Nadine's parents are all too aware of his origins and do not wish their daughter to become too involved with him. Distressed by the way things have turned out, Riley signs up for the Great War and is shipped out to the horrors of France. His commanding officer is Peter Locke, a reliable man, who has left Julia, his beautiful but fickle wife, behind. She has always been known for her beauty and seems to have very little else to offer. She lives with Rose, Peter's sensible, but unmarried cousin.
These five main characters, Riley, Nadine, Peter, Julia and Rose, interact in each other's lives throughout the war and it is these intertwining relationships that form the narrative of the book.
Having read other reviewers' comments, I am wondering why I only rated this as 3 stars. Very much like discussing a book at a book group, I am seeing aspects of the novel that I missed at the time. However, as I was listening to the Audible version, I was wishing it finished, and the truth is that I didn't particularly enjoy it, especially the first half. So my rating reflects my feelings as I was listening, rather than that affected by other reviewers. (less)
DubaiReader
>
Books:
2011
(98)
×
Loading...
