Sue Fairhead's Blog, page 53

The Black Moth (by Georgette Heyer)

I regularly re-read novels from my large collection by Georgette Heyer, and sometimes I find that I recall almost all of the plot, even though I have forgotten many details. But there are other times when I recall almost nothing - and that’s the case with ‘The Black Moth’, which I have just finished re-reading. The last time I re-read it was in 2011, and before that in 2004, yet for the first few chapters I had absolutely no recollection of any of the characters or the storyline. 

Still, tha...

A Family Recipe (by Veronica Henry)

Ive liked the novels Ive read so far by Veronica Henry, so I added a few to my wishlist, and was given A Family Recipe for my birthday earlier in the year. I picked it up to read a couple of days ago, wanting something reasonably light, and found it quite difficult to put down by the time I was half-way through.

The story is set in two different periods, as is not uncommon in modern novels.  It opens in April 1942, introducing 18-year-old Jilly Wilson. Shes the only daughter of a doctor...

Celebration of Discipline (by Richard J Foster)

I know very little about Richard Foster, who is an American theologian and pastor. His book with the apparently contradictory title Celebration of Discipline is one of those often found in church bookcases, or the Christian shelves in many homes. Our copy is one which, according to the label on the front, we acquired somewhere for 25p. Or possibly someone else passed it on to us. I dont remember when I last read it - it must have been over twenty years ago. I recalled that it was a little...

The Bastard of Istanbul (by Elif Shafak)

I had never heard of the author of this book, Elif Shafak, nor had I heard of The Bastard of Istanbul. Its not the kind of title that would appeal to me at all if Id seen the book, either. But it was the novel assigned for this months local reading group, so I bought it from Awesome Books a few months ago, and started reading it just three days ago 

I liked the style immediately. The writing is crisp and incisive, with just enough description - some of it a tad ironic - to ensure that I...

Soul Music (by Terry Pratchett)

In my gradual re-reading of Terry Pratchetts lengthy Discworld series, I had reached the sixteenth in the series, Soul Music. I recalled it as being one of my favourites, although its a long time since I read it. I acquired it in 1996, and am pretty sure I read it aloud to my teenage sons around six or seven years later, but I have not read it since then.

By this stage in the series, Pratchett had developed the technique of running several different threads alongside each other,...

The Long, Tall Short Stories of Sue Jones

Earlier this year, we helped our friend Sue Jones to publish her two novels, The Legacy and The House where Nobody Lived via KDP.  More recently, she decided to put her collection of forty-two short stories together and publish them too. I had thoroughly enjoyed hearing a selection of them, over the past couple of years, at our local writing group, so I was very pleased to be able to proof-read and format her Long Tall Short Stories. 

Sue Jones is a talented writer whose skill and...

Exploits of the Chalet Girls (by Elinor M Brent-Dyer)

In my gradual re-read of Elinor M Brent-Dyer’s Chalet School series, I’ve just finished ‘Exploits of the Chalet Girls’. It takes place during the Autumn term directly after the events in ‘The Chalet Girls in Camp’, and refers to the camp in a couple of places; however, as with most of these books, it stands alone. It certainly isn’t necessary to have read ‘...Camp’, although as characters recur I find it more interesting to read the books in order. 

This is not a particularly memorable book....

This is How it Always is (by Laurie Frankel)

Sometimes when I am given a book, I have no recollection of how it ended up on my wishlist. That’s the case with the book I have just finished reading, ‘This is how it always is’ by Laurie Frankel. I had never heard of her, and I don’t know anyone who has read and recommended this. I was given it for Christmas last year, and had entirely forgotten whatever I read about it that inspired me to request it. 

And what an incredible book it is! 

It’s about a family in the United States. Rosie and P...

Walking on Water (by Madeleine L'Engle)

It was rather by chance that I acquired the book ‘Walking on Water’ by Madeleine L’Engle. She’s best known for her classic book ‘A Wrinkle in Time’ and its sequels, but she wrote some non-fiction as well, and this one - about writing, art and Christianity - is probably my favourite of all her works. I last read it in 2008 so it was more than time to re-read.

The style of the book isn’t going to appeal to everyone, but I found it warm, inviting and inspiring. The author has written lots of sn...

Look the World in the Eye/Letters to my Sister (by Alice Peterson)

Twelve-and-a-half years ago, I was given the novel ‘Look the World in the Eye’ by Alice Peterson for my birthday. When I read it shortly afterwards, I liked it very much. I’ve gradually acquired the author’s other novels over the years, all of which I have enjoyed.  

So each year, as Christmas approaches, I check to see whether any of my favourite writers have published any more books, and (if so) add them to my wishlist. Towards the end of 2016, I saw that there was an Alice Peterson book c...