Letters From My Sister by Alice Peterson is definitely on my list of favourites.
Written from the viewpoint of the sibling of a disabled sIMG_5314.JPG
Letters From My Sister by Alice Peterson is definitely on my list of favourites.
Written from the viewpoint of the sibling of a disabled sister this book mesmerised me. I too have a disabled sister and I identified with so many thoughts and scenes in this book. Katie has a successful life but family problems mean she is asked to have her sister to stay for two weeks. Her boyfriend and friends don’t know about Bells and despite her rejection of her sister we grow to like Katie as she travels a path she has not trodden before. The staring and discomfort experienced in the book are a familiar part of my life, even now that we think we have more awareness and understanding. Somehow the politically correct society has not fully taken off.
My only disappointment was that the ending is not exactly as I would have wished but perhaps Peterson is leaving the door open for a sequel. If so I shall be the first to the bookshop to get it.
My own story is a work in progress - titled at the moment, Sharing The Silence, about the hearing sibling's experience of her deaf sister's life. I doubt I can make as good a job of it as Peterson has with Katie's story.
A lovely book which I read in 3 sittings. Sophie's boyfriend leaves her on the same day as she finds she has inherited a property. The story centres oA lovely book which I read in 3 sittings. Sophie's boyfriend leaves her on the same day as she finds she has inherited a property. The story centres on her struggle to comply with the condition that to inherit she must meet her father who she has never seen. Bring in an architect for advice, a singer for a mother who is living in Spain and the ex boyfriend who seems to be up to no good and you have a story with twists and unexpected happenings. I loved it. ...more
A lovely read, very engaging and amusing. Set in Paris on the day she is dumped Aurelie comes across a book which contains a scene from her restaurantA lovely read, very engaging and amusing. Set in Paris on the day she is dumped Aurelie comes across a book which contains a scene from her restaurant and the character is herself. She tries to contact the author but the editor at the publishing company is not helpful. We know early on that the editor, Andre, actually wrote the book and the story is about his attempts to thwart Aurelie's wish to meet the non existent author. Surprised at the poor reviews and low ratings as I found it unputdownable....more
A wonderful work by this great author. I particularly enjoyed how Charlotte made such good relationships with the people she met and her quest to findA wonderful work by this great author. I particularly enjoyed how Charlotte made such good relationships with the people she met and her quest to find the man she had fallen in love with. I was not entirely sure what the dark secret in her childhood was and felt that this could easily have been left out of the book without harming the story which did not hinge on her experience. The graphic scenes of deportation from France to the Polish death camps were moving. Faulks does extensive research which shows in the book and I wish I could write as he does....more
A heart wrenching and at the same time heart warming book about the relationship between two brothers. Jack is dead and Tom continues to have conversaA heart wrenching and at the same time heart warming book about the relationship between two brothers. Jack is dead and Tom continues to have conversations with him. Although the book is about mental illness and the darker side of life it is not sad and I was hooked early on and hoping that Tom would find all the answers to what happened to his father. A wonderful debut to be proud of....more
After loving Small Island, this was a good read. A selection of stories mainly reflecting life in the 1950s for newcomers to Britain and the strugglesAfter loving Small Island, this was a good read. A selection of stories mainly reflecting life in the 1950s for newcomers to Britain and the struggles they faced. I read one story each night in bed and loved every minute....more
Having enjoyed One Day I couldn't wait to read this and it didn't disappoint although some parts were tiresome as the main character desperately seeksHaving enjoyed One Day I couldn't wait to read this and it didn't disappoint although some parts were tiresome as the main character desperately seeks to undertake the Grand Tour with his reluctant son and a wife who no longer wants to stay married to him. Beautifully written and warm, the ending is predictable but with a light at the end of the tunnel....more
Definitely a 5 star read about a highly successful young man who, after an accident, becomes a quadriplegic. When his mother employs a girl to care foDefinitely a 5 star read about a highly successful young man who, after an accident, becomes a quadriplegic. When his mother employs a girl to care for him and keep an eye on him she doesn't disclose that he has tried to end his life. He promises his mother six months before he goes to a clinic to end his life....more
I have not read any other books by this author so I cannot compare this to previous books. It provides a good picture of life in the post war period bI have not read any other books by this author so I cannot compare this to previous books. It provides a good picture of life in the post war period but I found some parts contrived and not well written but I kept reading as I wanted to find out what happened to the three girls who had served in the army together and returned home to pick up their lives where they left off. It is not the kind of book I usually read but it was entertaining. I liked Nell and sympathised with Iris but found Maggie quite irritating. My main problem with this book was the large number of characters and I could not keep track of them all. Also, towards the end, the children's lives took centre stage, which took the spotlight off the three women. However, the relationships between the characters are well defined....more
I can't speak highly enough of this book. I have recommended it to so many friends I have lost count. The structure is cleverly arranged so that we arI can't speak highly enough of this book. I have recommended it to so many friends I have lost count. The structure is cleverly arranged so that we are in the main character's head throughout, partly in the first person present tense where her life is muddled, confused and those around her sometimes not recognised and out of the confusion emerges a memory that is so crystal clear that she begins to piece together a story - now in the past tense - of an incident in her childhood. I couldn't put the book down and loved every minute as the jigsaw began to be completed in her own mind culminating in the life changing moment when her daughter at last believes what she is saying. Emma Healey shows great insight into the world of dementia with such sensitivity we cannot help but love all the characters - even when they are exasperated by her confusion - and witness the wonderful bond between Maud and her granddaughter....more
Loved this book. It was a present from my daughter who knows my reading tastes well. She was not sure of her choice but I had heard a review on radio Loved this book. It was a present from my daughter who knows my reading tastes well. She was not sure of her choice but I had heard a review on radio and it was written in my notebook as a book to get from the library. it did not disappoint. An absolute pleasure and a laugh a minute read. Such an unlikely love match but the one thing they had in common was the need to have a 'project'. I rarely re-read a book but I might make a first with this one. Certainly a book I would like to revisit....more
I was pleasantly surprised to find how closely the film kept to Gillian Flynn’s best seller that I had found hard to put down on holiday. The opposingI was pleasantly surprised to find how closely the film kept to Gillian Flynn’s best seller that I had found hard to put down on holiday. The opposing diaries and perspectives on a marriage between a needy redundant journalist and a sociopath wife were translated well on to the big screen. Some parts were omitted from the film but would have been easily added without making the film any longer. Without giving any spoilers, it was never clear that Nick’s finger prints were on the stash of treasure found by the police despite his ignorance of the hoard and the credit cards that financed them. Neither was it clear that he was writing a memoir at the end of the book . I read the book on the journey back on the plane in a furious endeavour to complete it before going to watch the film last Monday night. It is one of the most captivating reads I have engaged with for some months. Now to read Glynn’s previous book. ...more
An excellent read. I read this book a few years ago and it inspired me to write my own memoir. While I am still struggling with this and the several fAn excellent read. I read this book a few years ago and it inspired me to write my own memoir. While I am still struggling with this and the several forms it now seems to take I frequently refer to the wonderful prose and humour of this author. I will always have a picture in my head of his journey to school accompanied by his dog and jackdaw. That's the first chapter so no spoiler there!...more
I have marked this book read so that I can put a review but I have some pages to go. An excellent book which I think can be classed as a 'crossover' nI have marked this book read so that I can put a review but I have some pages to go. An excellent book which I think can be classed as a 'crossover' novel ie suiting both young adults, middle grade children and adults. Captivating and charming while scary at times. What would you do if you found such a creature in your garage? ...more
With my interest in the world of the deaf this was a brilliant book portraying the lives of three hearing girls growing up with deaf parents. SometimeWith my interest in the world of the deaf this was a brilliant book portraying the lives of three hearing girls growing up with deaf parents. Sometimes sad, sometimes hilarious, sometimes disconcerting, I loved every minute of it. Deeply moving. A beautiful account of life with parents living in silence. It informs and makes us respect the author's parents. I was so pleased that she took her knowledge and experience out into the world with her. It is something I have tried to do through life....more
This is an excellent read and a fascinating insight into Sikh life in the eighties. Sathnam Sanghera's discovery that his father and sister suffered wiThis is an excellent read and a fascinating insight into Sikh life in the eighties. Sathnam Sanghera's discovery that his father and sister suffered with schizophrenia casts welcome light on mental health issues and the lack of communication due to poor grasp of the English Language was both shocking and revealing. That no-one in the health services took the time to explain the condition to the sufferers or to the rest of the family is even more alarming. The author has shown great strength in opening up his feelings about his situation in the working class Sikh community in Wolverhampton and contrasting it with his more affluent middle class life in London. The book demonstrates the importance of recognising brilliance, intelligence and talent in children and giving them the high standard of education which can lead them on a journey to escape the confines of their background in a less well-educated community. This was certainly not a misery memoir but it did chart a journey the writer embarked on when researching his family background, from feelings of shame to the eventual revelation that his family would love him whatever he had written....more
I absolutely loved this book which was full of happiness and romance amidst the difficulties and sadness of teenage cancer. I couldn't put it down andI absolutely loved this book which was full of happiness and romance amidst the difficulties and sadness of teenage cancer. I couldn't put it down and would recommend it highly....more
I have always loved David Nobbs so grabbed the chance to pick this new one up at our local library. I started off laughing, then had a shock at the enI have always loved David Nobbs so grabbed the chance to pick this new one up at our local library. I started off laughing, then had a shock at the end of chapter one after which I almost lost interest particularly with the main character. But I am so glad that I stuck with it as, after a time when nothing much seemed to be happening, the book took off in a surprising manner and the other interesting characters came alive so much so that I had forgotten an early character who appeared at the end to make everything right for Sally. More than that would give the story away. Definitely one to recommend but might not be everyone's cup of tea....more
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