Sue Fairhead's Blog, page 27

Island Treasure (by Helen Parker)

Years ago I was in a writing group with Helen Parker, and always appreciated her contributions. So I was very pleased when I learned that she had published a novel for teenagers, ‘Hide and Secret’.  I read it in October last year, and was delighted when a stand-alone sequel, ‘Island Treasure’ was published later in the year. I was given it by some family members for my birthday a couple of months ago, and have just finished reading it. 
Like ‘Hide and Secret’, this book is mainly about teens, ...

Mothers and Daughters (by Erica James)

I have liked almost everything that Erica James has written. I first discovered one of her novels about twenty-five years ago, although it doesn’t seem that long ago. I have gradually acquired them all, and have re-read several. Every time she publishes a new novel I put the paperback on my wishlist. I was given ‘Mothers and Daughters’ for Christmas last year but with so many other good books on my ‘to-read’ shelves, it’s taken me this long to start reading it.
However it didn’t take long to f...

Making Money (by Terry Pratchett)

In my gradual re-read of Terry Pratchett’s long Discworld series, I reached ‘Making Money’, which is apparently the 36th book by publication date.  I first read it towards the end of 2007, shortly after it was published but have not re-read it since. So I had pretty much forgotten the storyline.
Unlike the majority of the Discworld series, this book is divided into chapters, and mainly follows the activities of just one individual: the ingenious, intelligent former criminal Moist von Lipwig. W...

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

In my current meandering re-read of Elinor M Brent-Dyer’s long ‘Chalet School’ series, I reached the one which was 21st in the original series, ‘The Chalet School and the Island’.  I last read this in 2011 and had only the vaguest memories of what it involved. 
I previously had an Armada paperback edition of this book which was falling to pieces, so was pleased to be given an old (but well-kept) hardback by a relative who was getting rid of some inherited books a few years ago. However, accord...

Staying in the Boat (by Jeff Lucas)

I have liked all the books I’ve read by Jeff Lucas, a Christian writer who works in the United States as a pastor, but is originally from the UK. I was very pleased to be able to acquire one I hadn’t previously read a couple of months ago, and have just finished reading ‘Staying in the Boat’ - or, as its full title is, ‘If you want to walk on water, consider staying in the boat, and other things I wish I’d known’. 
The book is divided into about thirty short sections, each just a few pages lon...

The Ghost in the Garden (by Jude Piesse)

I very much like being part of a local reading group; it’s introduced me to a lot of different authors and genres that I would probably never have discovered on my own. Inevitably there are one or two books each year that I really don’t like, or which I’m quite sure I’ll never read again. And despite its popularity, this month’s read - ‘The Ghost in the Garden’ by Jude Piesse - is one of that category.
It’s not fiction; the cover features an image of Charles Darwin, and the subtitle is ‘in sea...

Earthly Possessions (by Anne Tyler)

I’ve been enjoying re-reading my collection of novels by Anne Tyler - she has a quirky style and a good sense of characterisation. She’s not all that well-known in the UK but popular in the United States. Her books aren’t my favourite - the books are totally character-driven with not a great deal of plot - but they make a good light read over a busy period.
I’ve just finished ‘Earthly Possessions’ which I first read in 2005 and had entirely forgotten what - and who - it was about. I quickly re...

Cartes Postales from Greece (by Victoria Hislop)

I didn’t have any idea what to expect when I bought a couple of Victoria Hislop novels from a church book stall nearly three years ago. One or two friends had recommended this author, but although the covers looked appealing and the blurb sounded interesting, they seemed like rather long books to tackle, when I wasn’t sure I would like them. Which is perhaps why it’s taken this long to decide to read them. 
I finished ‘The Island’ a couple of months ago, and liked it very much indeed, so last w...

Christmas at Nettleford (by Malcolm Saville)

After finishing Malcolm Saville’s wonderful ‘Lone Pine’ series earlier in the year, I decided to read the three ‘Nettleford’ books which I have somehow acquired. I re-read the first one, ‘All Summer Through’ a couple of months ago, and have just finished the second, ‘Christmas at Nettleford’.
I have no idea if I have ever read this book before; I had no memory of it at all. I assume I might have read it as a child or in my early teens, perhaps more than once. But I’m pretty sure I haven’t read...

Eternity is Now (by John Ortberg)

I have very much liked - and appreciated - the books I’ve read by John Ortberg. He’s an American pastor who would probably call himself evangelical, but he’s not a fundamentalist; he has a sense of humour, a sometimes quirky style of writing, and a much broader view of the Bible in context, and the church in general than many Christian writers. 
So when I saw that he had published a book which wasn’t in my collection, I put it on my wishlist and was very pleased to be given ‘Eternity is Now’ f...