Sue Fairhead's Blog, page 2

Permanent Rose (by Hilary McKay)

(Amazon UK link) The first time I read the ‘Casson family’ series by Hilary McKay, they were spread over about a year as I gradually acquired them. This time I’ve been reading in chronological order, at a rate of about one per month. I read the third in the series (originally the second), ‘Indigo’s star’, back in July, and was travelling in August. So I’ve only just reread its sequel, ‘Permanent Rose’. I last read this in February 2012 and had forgotten almost all of it. 
Rose, youngest in the Cas...

Song of the skylark (by Erica James)

(Amazon UK link) With a few exceptions, I like Erica James’ novels very much. I’m glad I decided to reread them over the past couple of years. The two I liked least first time around proved to be rather more interesting than I had thought. And those I enjoyed the first time have been every bit as readable and moving as they were the first time.
I first read ‘Song of the skylark’ in 2016, and had entirely forgotten both the characters and the storyline. But I did recall having liked the book. This ...

The marriage portrait (by Maggie O'Farrell)

(Amazon UK link) I very much liked the book ‘Hamnet’ by Maggie O’Farrell, when I read it just over three years ago. So I was pleased when our local reading group allocated another book by the same author for September’s choice. I was able to buy ‘The marriage portrait’ inexpensively from the WorldofBooks site when I was in the UK last month, and I started reading it last weekend. 
It’s a long book, over 400 pages and I thought it might take me a week to get through it. But I quickly found it compu...

The Chalet School and Richenda (by Elinor M Brent-Dyer)

(Amazon UK link) The last time I read ‘The Chalet School and Richenda’ by Elinor M Brent-Dyer was at the end of 2015. At the time, I had the Armada paperback version, and said that I wasn’t going to look out for a full one. I’m not sure why, since the official guide states that there are ‘very major cuts’ in the abridged version. 
However, in the intervening decade, I have acquired a ‘Girls Gone By’ full edition; I don’t recall how. Perhaps my Armada was starting to fall to pieces, or perhaps I wa...

Walking the walk (by Heather Hunt)

(Amazon UK link) When I first had my Kindle, I regularly downloaded books that were offered free for a short period. I tended to have a quick glance at the blurb, as I was interested to try out authors or genres I would not normally read. One of these was ‘Walking the walk’ by Heather Hunt, which has been on my Kindle since August 2012. I chose it at random as something non-fiction with a Christian slant to read over the past few weeks while I was travelling. Apparently there are other writers wi...

Snowdrift and other stories (by Georgette Heyer)

(Amazon UK link) For nearly four decades I have been an avid reader (and re-reader) of Georgette Heyer’s historical novels. So I was very pleased when I spotted what seemed like a new publication, ‘Snowdrift’, which said that it contained some recently discovered short stories. It was on special offer at 99p for the Kindle towards the end of last year, so I downloaded it. I only tend to use my Kindle extensively when I’m travelling, so I didn’t start reading it until I was at the airport a few da...

The second chance book club (by Stephanie Butland)

(Amazon UK link) I’ve very much liked the books I’ve read by Stephanie Butland. So when I saw her novel ‘Second chance book club’ on special offer for the Kindle, it was an easy decision to download it. I decided to read it while travelling recently, and finished it at the airport, while waiting for my flight.
The main character in the book is a young woman in her early thirties called September. At the start of the story, she’s living in a flat with her boyfriend Shaun. He’s a laid-back kind of p...

Bridget Vanderpuff and the baked escape (by Martin Stewart)

(Amazon UK link) A couple of decades ago, I thoroughly enjoyed reading to my teenage sons: sometimes classics which I loved and which I thought they might not otherwise pick up to read, sometimes new books which we all wanted to read at the same time. I missed this when they eventually left home. So I’m delighted that when I visit my older son and his family, my 11-year-old grandson still wants me to read aloud to him.
Not that I read classics or even new books - it’s rather the other way around. ...

Imitation of love (by Sally Quilford)

(Amazon UK link) It has become something of a tradition that I read one of Sally Quilford’s novellas on my Kindle each time I travel to the UK. They’re usually light-weight but well-written, with interesting plots. This year I decided to read ‘Imitation of love’, which, I quickly discovered, is historical fiction. Apparently I downloaded it nearly twelve years ago, when it was offered free on Amazon. 
The main character is a strong-minded independent young woman called Catherine, and most of the s...

The burnout (by Sophia Kinsella)

(Amazon UK link) After finishing a gripping but disturbing book allocated by our local reading group, I wanted something light-weight for the next few days. So I decided to read ‘The burnout’ by Sophie Kinsella. I like this author’s writing, on the whole. Her novels often feature a somewhat naive heroine, and a flawed but likeable hero. The pace is usually good, with some ironic humour.
I was not disappointed. Sasha is the main character, and she narrates the book. She works in a marketing company...