Currently reading
Alex
The Glass Room
Peter the Great: His Life and World
If I Can't Have You: Susan Powell, Her Mysterious Disappearance, and the Murder of Her Children
Skin Deep
The Good Daughter
A Boy in Winter
The Tie That Binds
The Idiot (Everyman's Library, #254)
The Velvet Hours
The Turn of the Screw
3.5 Stars The Turn of the Screw was written in 1898 and first appeared in serial format in Collier's Weekly This was a time when life was lived at a slower pace and Ghost /Gothic Horror Stories were the Reality TV shows of to day and in order to read this book one must take them selves back in time and experience this as a reader in 1898 in order to get the most of the book.
I throughly enjoy good old fashioned Ghost Stories, and especially ones where the writer allows the reader come to their own conclusion as to what exactly happened in the story and I can imagine The Turn of The Screw created great discussion among readers back in the day. I loved the execution of this story as the sense of time and place is not overplayed and yet its presence is powerful and the carefully crafted eerie atmospheric is subtly clever.
While I liked the way the story is presented to the reader and I enjoyed the opportunity to draw my own conclusions, I think the author did not give the reader enough facts to do so and this was a bit disappointing and my reason for my rating on this short novel.
Having said that I enjoyed this short novel and it was perfect October/Halloween reading.
Dreams of Falling
2.5 Stars A romance novel set in the Lowcountry of South Carolina where life long friendships, love and family secrets are at the heart of this novel.
Romance novels are not my cup of tea and while this was an ok read unfortunately Its not one for my my real life bookshelf.
I was drawn in by the premise of the Novel as family secrets and big houses tend to get my reading juices flowing but Dreams of Falling was a long winded romance novel that became predictable and a wee bit cheesy for my liking.
The story is set in two timeframes one in the 1950s and the other in present day and while the 1950s story is readable and interesting, the present day one was monotonous and drawn out.
While this book wasn’t a good fit for me I do think readers of romance novels may enjoy this one better.
The Memory of Old Jack (Port William)
A beautifully written and intimate portrayal of A farming man at the end of his days in rural Kentucky in 1952. As Jack reminisces about his life on the land, the town and his memories of bygone days we see the importance of community, family and the land and the struggles he endures with all of these. While this was set in rural Kentucky America, I could identify with Jack and his love and struggles with the land. I loved how the author drew us into this community and made us care about the characters. I loved going back in time with Jack and his memories and at times I felt Jack was telling his story just to me.
Wonderful sense of time and place and and a time where community and values were different and I for one loved reliving them with Jack.
This is not a plot driven novel but a quiet telling of what an old man remembers at the end of his days and while its not edge of your seat reading, it has a quiet honesty and realness about it that makes you sit up and take notice, the sort of book that makes you think about and value the important things in life.
I listened to this one on audible and it is beautifully narrated by Paul Michael. I had previously read Stand By MeStand By Me a short story by this author I really wanted to try one of his novels and I clearly wasn’t disappointed by this one.
 - Wendell Berry)
Rocket Men: The Daring Odyssey of Apollo 8 and the Astronauts Who Made Man's First Journey to the Moon
Absolutely loved this book. A meticulous, uplifting (pardon the pun) and beautifully written account of Apollo 8 and the Astronauts who made Man’s first Journey to the moon I knew when one of my friends here at Goodreads whose reviews I respect and love reviewed and rated this book 5 stars that it was one I wanted to get my hands on sooner rather than later and was so happy to have sourced this one on Audible.
I read this along with my husband and we discussed and marvelled over the details every day and to be honest I am going to miss the suspense and drama and company of this wonderful book.
Robert Kurson tells the story of the Apollo 8 and its crew and their amazing and riveting first mission to the Moon.
This book reminded me in ways of my reaction to the book Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience and Redemption and while both books are totally different, I wondered going into this one did I really want to read a book about Rockets and space and the moon and yet the moment I started listening to this book I was hooked, I enjoyed reading about the men and their families, the challenges that they and their families and NASA faced with this mission. What it meant to Science and the average Joe all over the world. I wasn't very familiar with the Apollo 8 and the Astronauts but obviously knew they flew a very successful mission and yet the suspense created in this account had me totally gripped and at times so anxious for these guys (although I already knew the outcome of the mission).
On finishing this book I was as proud of the Rocket men as every American must have been back on Christmas 1968.
This is my second book by this author. I also enjoyed his book Pirate Hunters: Treasure, Obsession, and the Search for a Legendary Pirate Ship.
Really enjoyed the sense of time and place and the reminders of events and people mentioned in the book.
Above all I loved reading and discussing this one with my husband who is a huge fan of all things space and science and he found this an entertaining and informative read too.
The audio read by Ray Porter and Robert Kurson and was extremely easy to listen to and the narration really added to my enjoyment of this book.
Never Let Me Go
Know when to hold them and know when to fold them comes to mind when trying to write a review on this novel. I have been meaning to read this book for so long but something kept me from doing so for many years and sometimes it best to go with your instincts when it comes to books and this is just one of those novels that I couldn’t connect with from the very first page. Having read 50% I felt I have given it ample time to improve.
I purchased my paperback copy in a second hand book shop and I struggled with the characters from the beginning and found the book “dull” reading, I just couldn’t connect with the story or the characters. I found myself reluctant to pick this novel up and after a couple of nights struggling to even get a understand what exactly was happening in the story I realized I didn't really care one way or another and Never Let Me Go was just a confusing read, wasn’t bringing me joy and time for us to part company.
I know I am in the minority on this one and thats fine, but the older I get the wiser I am becoming and realize my reading time is precious and I don't need to finish a book if I am getting nothing from it especially if I have paid for the privilege.
Fingersmith
Wow! What a remarkably compelling and atmospheric gothic tale , A real treat for lovers of this genre or for readers who enjoy well written historical fiction with vivid and interesting characters and an errie sense of time and place. This is what 5 Stars books are made of for me. I loved this book and can’t believe I hadn’t read this one until now but boy was it worth waiting for. Such a page turner and those twists and turns really kept me on my toes from start to finish. I picked this one up by chance in a second hand book shop while on an outing one Saturday and what a great find it was just the engrossing read I needed after a bunch of 2 and 3 star books.
Set in London 1862, Sue Trinder, orphaned at birth grows up among petty thieves, fingersmiths under the rough but loving cars of Mrs Sucksby and her family, Sue’s fate becomes linked to that of another orphan growing up in a gloomy mansion and her life takes a turn that is least expected and makes for chilling reading.
The author creates an amazing sense of time an place here and you are drawn into the London of 1862 and at times throughout this tightly woven plot I felt myself holding my breath and wanting to skip pages just to see the characters fates as I just was that caught up in the plot. There is a love story at the heart of this novel that is beautifully written and real. A charming but twisted tale full of
villains, intrigue and secrets.
This book was a lengthy read and probably could have benefited with being cut back by 100 pages and not affected the story in the least. The fact that the story is told from the viewpoint of two of the characters does make it a little repetitive. Having said that a terrific read that gave me so much enjoyment and if asked in 10 years time do I remember the characters fromFingersmith will say ABSOLUTELY ! YES! And that is my measure of really good book.
A book where the pages turn all by themselves and I highly recommend for readers who have enjoyed The Thirteenth Tale or The Silent Companions or The Woman in White
The Indigo Girl
I Love Reading accounts of strong women from history and The Indigo Girl is a powerful well written historical fiction story based on the life of Eliza Lucas a 16 years old girl who in 1739 takes over the running of her fathers plantations in rural South Carolina after he mortgages them in order to raise funds in pursuit of his military ambitions. Hearing how much French pay for Indigo dye Eliza believes its the key to her families salivation. I happened upon this one by chance while browsing audible and had no idea who Eliza was or anything about the Indigo process but was curious when I read that book was based on historical documents and Eliza Lucas’s own letters and what an interesting and educational read this was. This was a horrible time in America’s history but a time that was real and therefore can not be forgotten.
I really enjoyed learning about Eliza Lucas and her remarkable accomplishments and while this was historical fiction the author’s note does explain what is fact and where she has embellished the story and why. I loved the descriptions of South Carolina and life of eighteenth century colonial society. The Indigo process was extremely interesting and well documented considering this was a historical fiction story.
A story that is well researched and written and the audio version is so good and added to my enjoyment of the novel. . I especially love when historical fiction brings attention to a person or event in history that I am not familiar with or might never have read about and I am so glad I got to read about Eliza Lucas and her accomplishments in the Indigo Industry.
Recommended for readers who enjoy historical fiction and novels such as The Kitchen HouseThe Kitchen House or Someone Knows My NameSomeone Knows My Name.
An American Marriage
Ingeniously constructed and extremely well written, a novel that held my attention from the very first page and the audible version was exquisiteNewlyweds Celestial and Roy are the embarking on life as a married couple when their world is ripped apart by the arrest of Roy for a crime they know he didn't commit.
A story partly told through a series of letters really bring a freshness to this novel. The writing is vivid and beautiful and I wanted to stop the audio so many times just to recapture some of the wonderful phrases and statements written so eloquently in this novel. I was so lucky to have a hard copy of this book as well but as it was on loan to me I just couldn’t highlight or mark up the pages. I am not a fan of Oprah’s choices but this one really worked for me as the characters and their actions felt very true to life and I could visualize the people and places so clear in my mind. I loved the ending and for me it worked so well.
When I was mad, I didn't raise my voice. Instead, I lowered it to a register that you heard with your bones not your ears
Gloria once told me your best quality is also your worst
Thomas Murphy: A Novel
I fell in love with the cover of this Novel but unfortunately the story didn't hold the same fascination or interest for me. Trying his best to weasel out of an appointment with the neurologist his only child, Máire, has cornered him into, the poet Thomas Murphy—singer of the oldies, friend of the down-and-out, card sharp, raconteur, piano bar player, bon vivant, tough and honest and all-around good guy—contemplates his sunset years
This is a story of sorts but more one mans ramblings thoughts as he recounts his life story but for me it failed on many levels.
The humor while plenty and witty in places felt forced and unnecessary to the story so much so that it overpowered the character and story. I didn't have any feelings for the character and didn't make a connection with him. I found the writing vivid but too wordy and sometimes I felt I needed to re-read a paragraph to make sense of the story. This wasn't a novel I enjoyed reading but as it was a short read and I had a hard copy I did make it to the finish line.
An ok read but not one for my favourites shelf.
Having read the wonderful When All Is Said where the author balances out humor and story I was hoping for more of the same.
The Neighbors
I really liked this one, entertaining , twisty and emotionally charged domestic suspense novel that was quite the page turner. This is the exact sort of novel where upon finishing I go “ Darn! I really wish had kept this one for my holidays We are all intrigued when a new family moves into the neighborhood and next door neighbors is even more intriguing until you realize these neighbors have have a connection with your past and a past you might want to keep hidden.
The Neighbors started out really strong and held my attention all the way to the end. This is my kind of fun summer read when I am relaxing outside and want a little distraction from the norm.
Enjoyed the character development and plot for this Novel as I felt I got to know most of the characters. I loved the dislikable characters if that makes sense. Also enjoyed how each character had their own narrative in the story as this made the story flow. A fast paced novel which I listed to on Audible and I really enjoyed the experience as I think the narration was really good.
I think readers who enjoyed books like [b:The Wife|34971475|The Wife|Alafair Burke|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1499099806s/34971475.jpg|56247075][bc:The Wife|34971475|The Wife|Alafair Burke|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1499099806s/34971475.jpg|56247075] might enjoy this one also.
My Mother's Secret: A Novel Based on a True Holocaust Story
What an amazing story But this is a fictional account inspired by the courage of Franciszka Halamajowa and her daughter Helena. The characters in this novel are fictional but a lot of the events are true with the happenings at the time. Its an amazing story but unfortunately I found the writing very childish and disjointed and wasn't sure exactly what was real and what was fictional until the end where the author does explain in her Epilogue.
Five stars for bringing this story of two remarkable and courageous people to my attention. Franciszka and her daughter Helena risk their lives to shelter Jews in Nazi occupied Poland although the penalty for doing so is the death sentence and yet they saved the lives of 15 people in their tiny home.
I love reading stories of ordinary people in times of war who go above and beyond to make a difference and what a difference these two people made and it is heart warming and inspirational to read stories like this.
However while this book is a moving story I felt the writing was a bit of a let down. Character development was poor and the story felt quite disjointed. While I know the characters were fictional I couldn't get a sense of any of them and really felt there could have been so much more to each of these characters. The book lacked a sense of time and place also and this was disappointing also.
However at the HEART of this novel is a remarkable true story of two amazing and courageous women who put the needs of others before their own and not only did they save 15 people they probably saved hundreds as those 15 people have probably gone on to have families populate the world all because of Franciszka and Helena.
A remarkable story simply told.
We Have Always Lived in the Castle
A mystery novel by shirley Jackson written in 1962 and the auhor's final work. The novel is written in the voice of 18 year old mary katherine "Merricat " Blackwood who resides with her Uncle and sister on their estate in Vermont. Not long ago there were seven Blackwoods until a dose of arsenic found its way into the sugar bowl.......This was my first Shirley Jackson Novel and I really enjoyed her writing style and loved her characters. I enjoy novels where the author lets the reader be part of the story in that she allows you to use your imagination and this works well in this particular novel.
This was a strange book however I didn't get the creepiness or supernatural element I was expecting from this one and while I enjoyed the read I wanted a little more from this one but sadly it didn't deliver.
However I enjoyed the read and look forward to reading something else by this author in 2019.
The Witchcraft of Salem Village
3.5 Stars What an interesting and educational read where Shirley Jackson examines in detail the horrifying true story of accusations, trials and executions that shook the community of Salem Village to its foundations. The famous Salem witch trials began during the spring of 1692 after a group of young girls in Salem village, Massachusetts claimed to be possessed by the devil and accused several local women of witchcraf resulting in the trials of hundreds of people and the dealths of nineteen who were found guilty and executed.
I was familiar with the Salem Witch trials but had only read fictionalised accounts and was delighted when I came across this book by Shirley Jackson on audible. Wonderfully narrated, concise and to the point this was a short read but the author sticks to the facts and we get as much information as possible. While I am sure there are more in depth explanations and analysis of the Witch trials this short book satisfied my curiousity and was a great audio find.
Written I believe as a children's book but very readable and educational for adults too.
The Last Time I Lied
I had a very hard time suspending disbelief throughout this Novel to rate it any higher than 2.5 Stars. There were way too many character' s actions and decisions that just couldn't possibly have happened and that kind of ruined the story for me. However there is suspense at the heart of this novel that did keep me turning the pages and the book's conclusion was worth hanging in for I understand I am not singing with the choir on this one as so many of my friends are loving it and the story did start out strong with Emma a rising star on the New York Art Scene painting her massive canvases filled with ghostly shapes in white dresses. . Emma meets a face from her past and is quickly is drawn back to Camp Nightingale the camp where she spent a summer as a thirteen year old girl and the scene from where her three friends disappeared 13 years ago.
I listened to this one on audible and while the narrator was fine the character of Franny was very victorian sounding and the characters words and speech sounded too dated for a modern novel.
Thrillers where I have to suspend disbelief dont work well for me and while this one wont make my favourites list I know I will recommend it to friends who loved books like [b:Something in the Water|36388243|Something in the Water|Catherine Steadman|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1528120440s/36388243.jpg|58079049]
[b:The Woman in the Window|40389527|The Woman in the Window|A.J. Finn|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1528225499s/40389527.jpg|52941950].
[b:Behind Her Eyes|28965131|Behind Her Eyes|Sarah Pinborough|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1485279813s/28965131.jpg|49193186]
Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm
What a charming, funny and beautiful read, a simple back to basics story , beautiful prose and a feel good read that suprised me and left me with a lovely warm feeling on completing this novel. My 13 years old self would have loved this Novel. Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm is a classic American 1903 children's novel by Kate Douglas Wiggin that tells the story of Rebecca Rowena Randall and her Aunts Miranda and Jane Sawyer one stern and one kind, in the fictional village of Riverboro, Maine. Rebecca's joy for life inspires her aunts, but she faces many challenges in her young life.
I listened to this one on Audible and I really believe a narrator can make or break a good book and Lorna Raver does a superb job on this narration and brings out the best in this story. I just loved her different voices for the characters and she brought this book to life.
I think if you are going to read a story like this you need to take yourself back in time and immerse yourself in the story as these sort of books are written when life was slower and more straight forward. I loved the character of Rebecca, Mr and Mrs Cobb and even Miranda and Jane. I laughted out loud so many times and felt sorrow for Rebecca every time she got herself into a mess.
Having read Ann of Green Gables I felt this one was quite similar although I enjoyed this one more. I was suprised to learn that Ann of Green Gables was written 5 years after Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm.
