Sue Fairhead's Blog, page 61

The Finneal Solution (by Alan M Bold)

This is a bit of an unusual review, in that its a brand new book, only published a few days ago, but I have been reading it - or bits of it - for several years. Thats because it was written by my father, Alan M Bold. We helped him to self-publish his autobiography, Scenes from the life of a lucky man a couple of years ago, and have just done the same for The Finneal Solution.

That this is not the kind of book I would normally read. Its a kind of medical thriller set perhaps a decade or so in...

The Princess of the Chalet School (by Elinor M Brent-Dyer)

Its more than twenty years since I last read The Princess of the Chalet School, third in Elinor M Brent-Dyers lengthy series about a boarding school in Austria, which started in the 1920s. The last time I read the series through, I skipped this one as I was away from home when I acquired the next one in the series, and wanted to read it at once.

So although I remembered the outline - that the Princess Elisaveta, from an imaginary central European mini-state called Belsornia joins the Chalet...

A Loving Life (by Paul E Miller)

I first came across Paul E Millers writing when I downloaded and read his book A Praying Life free for my Kindle nearly a year ago. I liked the style very much indeed, and afterwards put a couple of his other books on my wishlist. I was given A Loving Life for Christmas, and have just finished reading it.

I didnt realise - or had forgotten, anyway - that this book is basically an in-depth study of the Biblical book of Ruth. The story is well-known - the Jewish Naomi has moved to Moab, married...

Moving Pictures (by Terry Pratchett)

When I started re-reading Terry Pratchetts Discworld books a few years ago, I didnt get as far as Moving Pictures; so the last time I read it was back in 2004. I remembered that it was one of my favourite of the early Pratchett books, and of course I recalled that it was a kind of Discworld spoof of Hollywood. But I had entirely forgotten the actual storyline.

But this time I'm getting further into the series.  I re-read 'Eric' back in February, and was quite looking forward to getting...

Take me with you (by Catherine Ryan Hyde)

I have liked all the books I have read by Catherine Ryan Hyde, over the past decade or so. So Im gradually acquiring more. I was a bit startled to realise, when I picked up Take me with you to read, recently, that I was given it for my birthday nearly three years ago. Im very glad that I have read it at last!

The book is about a teacher called August, who spends his summers travelling around the United States in a motorhome. We meet him early in June one year when his vehicle has broken down....

Charity Girl (by Georgette Heyer)

I reread all my Georgette Heyer historical romances regularly, and find I like them afresh each time. It had been ten years since I last read Charity Girl, so it was more than time for a reread. I knew that this was one of my favourites, but only remembered the general outline of the plot rather than any of the characters or details.

Viscount Ashley Desford is the hero of this book. Hes one of Heyers nicest young men, in my view. His family want him to get married, now hes approaching...

Greenwitch (by Susan Cooper)

I am glad I finally decided to read - or perhaps re-read - Susan Cooper’s ‘Dark is Rising’ series. I’ve just finished ‘Greenwitch’, the third in the series. I think I probably read it when we first acquired it, twenty or so years ago, but I hadn’t remembered the story at all.

The book follows on nicely from both the earlier books in the series. The first one, ‘Over Sea, Under Stone’, introduced the Drew children: Simon, Jane and Barney. In that book they discovered an ancient cup or grail,...

Small Steps (by Louis Sachar)

Nearly ten years ago I read the teenage novel ‘Holes’ by Louis Sachar, and liked it very much. So when I spotted ‘Small Steps’ by the same author on a church bookstall a little over a year ago, it was not a difficult decision to pay 50 cents to buy it. I didn’t pick it up to read until a few days ago, however, and have just finished it.

The main protagonist is a teenage boy whose real name is Theodore. He is determined to get rid of the nickname ‘Armpit, but that’s how the author mainly...

Secrets and Shadows (by Mary Nickson)

I have been thoroughly enjoying re-reading Mary Sheepshanks’ novels - four of them in that name, and two in her alternative name of Mary Nickson. I’ve just finished re-reading ‘Secrets and Shadows’, written under the latter name. It’s a sequel to ‘Off Balance’ which I re-read in January, and I remember being delighted to discover this when I first read ‘Secrets and Shadows’ nearly twelve years ago.

This book takes place about six years after the end of ‘Off Balance’. Giles and Isabel have...

The Uninvited Companion (by Scott E Shaum)

I regularly check Amazon for free or inexpensive books for my Kindle, particularly before travelling. I also receive emails with some offers. About a year ago I spotted ‘The Uninvited Companion’. I had never heard of the author, Scott E Shaum, but it sounded interesting and the reviews were positive.

I started reading it while visiting relatives a few weeks ago, and have just finished it. It’s not that the book is a long or difficult read, but I found my mind wandering if I read more than...