Sue Fairhead's Blog, page 57

Eustacia Goes to the Chalet School (by Elinor M Brent-Dyer)

I have just finished the sixth book in Elinor M Brent-Dyer’s lengthy Chalet School series, which I’m re-reading at a rate of about one per month. ‘Eustacia Goes to the Chalet School’ takes place not long after ‘Rivals of the Chalet School’ which I re-read at the end of June. It’s the last term for Mary Burnett as Head Girl.

But the main protagonist of this book is Eustacia Benson, a supercilious and uptight girl of thirteen who has been brought up in experimental mode by quite elderly parents...

The Girl You Forgot (by Giselle Green)

I have very much enjoyed the books I’ve read by Giselle Green over the past twelve years. So when, once again, she invited me to read a pre-publication copy of her latest novel, ‘The Girl You Forgot’, I leapt at the chance. I received a version which I was able to read on my Kindle, and have just finished it.

It’s always slightly concerning when I’m sent a book for review. What happens if I don’t like it? That wasn’t a problem with this book, however. I was hooked from the first chapter. I d...

An Island Christmas (by Jenny Colgan)

I have liked most of the books I’ve read by Jenny Colgan. They’re not my favourites, but they’re mostly good light reads, with satisfactory endings (and, in some cases, recipes at the back). I wasn’t going to put any more on my wishlist, but then last year I read ‘The Endless Beach’, and realised it had a sequel. So I put ‘An Island Christmas’ on my wishlist after all, and was given it last Christmas.

It would have been more appropriate to read it in the winter, of course, but I decided to p...

Small Gods (by Terry Pratchett)

It’s fifteen years since I last read ‘Small Gods’, thirteenth in Terry Pratchett’s lengthy Discworld series. I didn’t remember it with any great enthusiasm, but am determined to reread my way through the series at a rate of about one per month. So I have read it again over the past few days.

The story is essentially that of an likeable, hard-working young man called Brutha. He lives in a community of priests in the land of Omnia, but has not been ordained. His thought-processes are quite st...

Building Bridges not Walls (by Peter Bold)

It’s always a bit tricky reviewing books by someone I know. Peter Bold is my brother, as well as the Rector of Dronfield Parish Church. I’ve known about his plans for writing an ‘engineer’s guide to theology’ for some years, and was delighted that his book, ‘Building Bridges not Walls’ was finally published a couple of months ago. He sent me a copy in the post, and although I had read an early draft, I decided to read it in its published form, and have just finished doing so.

The book is wri...

Loving Against the Odds (by Rob Parsons)

I wanted something light-weight but thought-provoking to read first thing in the morning. I checked my list on LibraryThing, of Christian books I had rated highly but hadn’t read for a while, and ‘Loving Against the Odds’ seemed like a good one to re-read. I last read it in 2006, so hadn’t really remembered anything much, other than that it’s a general book about loving in difficult circumstances. It’s particularly aimed at married couples, but most of the principles hold for any kind of re...

Paradise House (by Erica James)

I am very much liking my re-reading of Erica James’ novels, most of which I had not read for at least twelve years. I hadn’t read ‘Paradise House’ for over fifteen years, and almost decided not to re-read it; I glanced at my previous review and apparently wasn’t too impressed with it. But I know I sometimes change my mind about a book on re-reading. That turned out to be the case with this one.

‘Paradise House’ is about three sisters, told from the viewpoint of Genevieve, the oldest of them....

Mystery at Witchend (by Malcolm Saville)

I have been reading Malcolm Saville’s ‘Lone Pine’ series for around fifty years, re-reading them all, even as an adult, every ten years or so. Some of my Armada paperbacks were starting to fall to pieces, and I had the opportunity of buying some of the Girls Gone By Publisher full reprints second-hand, inexpensively.

I’ve started on my latest re-read of the series, and have just finished the GGBP edition of “Mystery at Witchend’. I have been astounded at how much more content there is than in...

The Talisman Ring (by Georgette Heyer)

Georgette Heyer is my favourite historical romance writer, by a long way. Her characterisation is always excellent, her plots, if a tad far-fetched at times, are very well crafted, and her research was meticulous. I have a large collection of her novels, and re-read them regularly. ‘The Talisman Ring’ was one I bought from a street market back in 1987, and thoroughly enjoyed. I re-read it in 1995, again in 2004, and last time almost ten years ago, in 2010. It was more than time for a re-rea...

Shadow Child (by Libby Purves)

I have very much enjoyed re-reading the novels by Libby Purves, and have just finished re-reading the last one she wrote, ‘Shadow Child’. I read this first in September 2011, not quite nine years ago, but had entirely forgotten the story.

It’s told in the first person by Marion, who lives in a village with her husband Tom. They’ve been happy enough together, although they were only able to have one child, Sam. And we quickly learn that Sam died in a tragic accident the night before his 21st bir...