Sue Fairhead's Blog, page 38

Somewhere Safe with Somebody Good (by Jan Karon)

I’m so glad I decided to re-read Jan Karon’s Mitford/Father Tim series, which started with ‘At Home in Mitford’. Reading around one a month means that I haven’t become at all bored of the characters in these novels, but have no problem recalling who is whom when I pick up the next one.  I’ve just finished ‘Somewhere Safe with Somebody Good’ which I first read only six years ago, but had entirely forgotten. 

In the last few books, Father Tim had been travelling in his early retirement years, but ...

Bird by Bird (by Anne Lamott)

I’m not sure where I first heard of Anne Lamott; possibly recommended in some other book I read. I discovered that she’s written both novels and non-fiction including some on the topic of faith, and one, which is highly rated on the topic of writing. I put this (and a couple of others) on my wishlist and was given them for my birthday earlier in the year. I’ve just finished reading ‘Bird by Bird’ which is the book about writing.

I should make it clear from the outside that although the author is...

Mums@Home (by Sophie King)

Every month or so, if it’s not too hot I visit the local church book sale and often pick up a selection of interesting-looking books. I’m always prepared to try new authors for 50 cents, and if I don’t think I’ll read a book again, I return it a month or two later. I had heard of Sophie King before I spotted her book ‘Mums@Home’, but had never read any of her novels. I bought the book about six months ago, and picked it up to read a few days ago. Apparently it was republished under the name 'Lo...

The Unfinished Clue (by Georgette Heyer)

I am enjoying re-reading Georgette Heyer’s light crime fiction, something I only discovered in the past twenty years or so after having loved her historical romances since I was in my teens. I first read ‘The Unfinished Clue ‘in 2008, and had entirely forgotten the plot and the characters.

Dinah Fawcett is the main character in this book; she’s a likeable, determined young woman with a sense of humour and a lot of affection for her sister Fay. Fay is rather feeble, and married to the older, over...

Cinderella's Sister (by Anne Dunlop)

I don’t think I had heard of Anne Dunlop, although it’s possible that Amazon tried to recommend some of her books to me. But I saw her novel ‘Cinderella’s Sister’ at a church book sale a few months ago; the cover looked appealing, the blurb sounded interesting, and it was only 50 cents to buy. It sat on my shelf for a while and I read it this week.

The story is narrated by a young woman called Francesca. She’s actually approaching forty in the main part of the story, but there are a lot of flash...

Lavender Laughs in the Chalet School (by Elinor M Brent-Dyer)

I’m slowly re-reading the lengthy Chalet School books by Elinor M Brent-Dyer,, and have just finished ‘Lavender Laughs in the Chalet School’, which was 17th in the original series, first published in 1943. I have a hardback edition that was my mother’s as a child, so I had read this before in the full version; I last read it in 2011. Apparently the abridged Armada edition had ‘frequent minor cuts’, so the story was essentially unchanged. 

Lavender Leigh is the main character in this book, a new ...

The Disaster Tourist (by Yun Ko-eun)

I had not heard of Yun Ko-eun, a Korean writer, and possibly would never have done so, had her book ‘The Disaster Tourist’ not been scheduled for this month’s local reading group. Thankfully there is an English version, and I was quite looking forward to reading it. The front cover makes it look fairly light-hearted, the book has won some prizes, and there are several good endorsements on the cover and first pages. It’s quoted as being a dark, satirical ‘comic caper’, with some ‘horror comedy’ ...

Reflections (by Marcia Willett)

I have very much liked most of the books I’ve read by Marcia Willett over the past twenty or more years. I discovered her novels after a serendipitous find in a thrift store, introducing me to the ‘Chadwick’ family. I acquired the sequels and have regularly put her latest novels on my wishlist. 

I was given ‘Reflections’ for Christmas 2020 and started reading it last year. But I quickly realised, to my delight, that it involved some of the Chadwick family. So as I had not read the earlier books ...

The Ragamuffin Gospel (by Brennan Manning)

I had never heard of Brennan Manning when my son sent me his book ‘The Ragamuffin Gospel’ for my birthday many years ago. I thought it excellent, and then gradually started acquiring more of the author’s books. I re-read this one in 2012, so after a ten year gap it was more than time for another read through.

Brennan Manning was a Catholic priest who left the priesthood and got married fairly late in life. He knew how much God loved him, and he also knew that he was far from perfect. He made mis...

The Swimming Pool (by Louise Candlish)

I know that when I start a new Louise Candlish novel, I’m going to be gripped - and possibly quite tense - until I’ve finished it. Her earlier novels were lighter, albeit with some dark sections and hints of mystery, but the more recent ones have been described as psychological thrillers. ‘The Swimming Pool’, which I was given last Christmas, is no exception. 

Natalie is the narrator in this novel, and thus the main viewpoint character. We meet her first in a dramatic prologue where she is runni...