Book Club

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  • bubbadog
    bubbadog Member Posts: 5,544
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    I'm close to finishing 'Unintended Consequences it's well written and keeps your attention. Very good so far!!
  • Slosh
    Slosh Member Posts: 3,194
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    A combination of half-term and my spa break has meant lots of reading has been done so here goes.
    Lamentation, CJ Sansom
    This is the latest in his Shardlake series, historical murder mysteries set in Tudor England during the reign of Henry VIII. Shardlake is a lawyer and as a " hunchback", the term used in the book as the one that would have been used at the time sometimes has to deal with prejudice. The characters are well drawn and are developed over the series although enough background detail is included for the books to be read individually. As well as the mystery aspect these books deal with the politics of the period and are very well researched, this one even has an essay on the main historical themes in the book. They bear re-reading, once for the whodunit aspect and then again for all the other details in the book. 5 starts

    A Question of Identity (no. 7 in the Simon Serrelier series) Susan Hill
    I have posted before about these books, again a crime series but this time contemporary. Again I enjoy these not only for the crime aspect but for the cast of characters and how these are developed throughout the books which sometimes deal with other issues such as alternative therapies, mental illness, and domestic violence. These are not raised in a sensationalist fashion but as themes that are explored, often in terms of their impact on family members. 5 stars.

    I am now reading a Stella Rimington thriller, she used to be head of MI5 so her espionage thrillers, as well as having a strong female central character are written with her knowledge of how the service works.
    He did not say you will not be storm tossed, you will not be sore distressed, you will not be work weary. He said you will not be overcome.
    Julian of Norwich
  • bubbadog
    bubbadog Member Posts: 5,544
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Wow Slosh you have been busy reading!! Well I will finish the book I'm reading very soon so look out for the review very soon!
    Well the weekend has come round again and the weather is suppose to be very nice so make the most of it because we will soon be in our snuggly onsies soon!!
    Hoping you will all have a good weekend whatever your up to!! :)
  • frogmorton
    frogmorton Member Posts: 30,088
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    You're right Amanda! Slosh has been very busy :shock:

    Thanks for those reviews Slosh you have given me some ideas :)

    Sun's out here today - I can't believe it's November!

    WHITE RABBITS to you all

    Toni xxx
  • Slosh
    Slosh Member Posts: 3,194
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    No sun here in East London, grey and wet
    He did not say you will not be storm tossed, you will not be sore distressed, you will not be work weary. He said you will not be overcome.
    Julian of Norwich
  • frogmella
    frogmella Member Posts: 1,111
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Glorious here today, not that surprising given my proximity to Frogmorton!

    I finished One Step Too Far by Tina Seskis
    I will preface my review with a warning - Bubba, you won't like this book it has a lot of different timeframes going on!
    Anyway, it begins with Emily/Cat leaving her old life and name behind and starting again in London. The reasons for her doing this are unclear at the start. The book follows her new life parallel to her old one.
    It was OK. Not brilliant, not awful! So ***

    I will start Nine Tailors now!

    Slosh - I had thought about giving one of those Shardlake books a go. May well do so now!

    Have a good weekend bookworms!
  • bubbadog
    bubbadog Member Posts: 5,544
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Unintended Consequences By Marti Green

    I totally enjoyed this book, the story was very interesting and kept you gripped all the way through to the end. The book is about George Calhoun a gentleman who has spent 19yrs in prison on death row accused of murdering his daughter which he has always denied and he only has weeks before his execution. He writes to an organisation call HIPP (Help Innocent Prisoners Project) as a last ditch effort to be heard. George has always believed the body of the little girl was not his daughter. Dani Trunball one of the attorney's at HIPP picks up the case and wants to believe him so takes the case and listens to George Calhoun. The story takes you on the emotional rollercoaster of the attorney trying to find evidence to prove George is innocent and if the child's body is of his daughter or not and if not who is the child and who murdered her. Well worth a read!

    Rating: *****/*****
  • bubbadog
    bubbadog Member Posts: 5,544
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    I've found my next book which I'm going to read before Book Of The Month I needed something light hearted after my last read so found in the 99p Kindle books Prada & Prejudice by Katie Oliver A book about love and shopping! Just what Women want!! Can't wait!
  • frogmella
    frogmella Member Posts: 1,111
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    That does sound like good read Bubba. I may have to add that to me ever expanding to read list!! I am enjoying the Nine Tailors so far although only started last night so only one chapter in!
    Wish I had a bit more time for reading and posting on here. Work sucks! Come on lottery!! :lol::lol:
  • bubbadog
    bubbadog Member Posts: 5,544
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Just wanted to pop my head in a say hope everyone is staying warm and if I'm not around for a couple of days it's because I'm doing my new favourite past time sleeping due to the Anaemia! Will try and pop in when I can to see what you are all up to and what your reading. Hope to feel better soon. :(
  • bubbadog
    bubbadog Member Posts: 5,544
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Wanted to wish everyone a good weekend and stay dry! I'll be snuggled up on the settee with my furry throw and two rugrats cuddling up!! And I'm going to start my next book.
  • frogmorton
    frogmorton Member Posts: 30,088
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Oh poor you Amanda!

    Lucy is anaemic too so you have our sympathy :?

    At least you have two pusskins and some good reading matter to hand :wink:

    One of the books in my wish list on A*azon The baby laundry for unmarriedMothers by Angela Patrick is finally cheap enough so I have bought it :)

    Your 'light read' prada and prejudice sounds a good idea.

    Frogmella you are so right! No way will Amanda cope with One Step Too Far. I think I quite enjoyed it, but probably because it was a book I was unusually able to read in one go..being on my hols in France.

    I am finishing The Estate box set by Mel Sherratt (my excuse? it was on offer!!) before reading Agatha Raisin.

    Love
    Toni xxx
  • bubbadog
    bubbadog Member Posts: 5,544
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Arnie & Willow are very protective of me at the moment, Arnie insists on lying in between my legs on my furry throw and refuses to move even when I have my tea! Willow likes to climb into my arms when I'm on my laptop and when I'm reading my kindle as if to say I'm more important than what your doing now! My OH finds it hilarious!
    I'm really enjoying 'Prada & Prejudice it is a more easy read and very funny in parts.
    Hope everyone's enjoying their books they are reading at the moment. I had an email from Amazon today about Kindle Unlimited. You pay £7.99 a month and you can access over 700,00 Kindle book and audio books. I don't think it would be what I want as I don't read fast but if it's something any of you all would enjoy they have a 30 day free trail for it available if anyone wants to try it. Here's the link to it:

    http://www.amazon.co.uk/Kindle-eBooks/b/ref=sv_kinc_1?ie=UTF8&node=5209103031
  • frogmella
    frogmella Member Posts: 1,111
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Good to hear from you Frogmorton!

    Just dropping by before swimming to say I am enjoying The Nine Tailors. I wouldn't normally have read it, I don't think, so am glad for the suggestion.

    Hope everyone's anaemia is getting better.
  • bubbadog
    bubbadog Member Posts: 5,544
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Glad your enjoying The Nine Tailors frogmella and hope you had a good swim. I'm galloping through Prada & Prejudice very enjoyable read and can't put it down.
    Anaemia is still squatting in me though feel a little better today. Have a good day everyone! :)
  • dreamdaisy
    dreamdaisy Member Posts: 31,520
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    I am absolutely hooked on the series penned by Shayne Parkinson, set in New Zealand in the final quarter of the 1800s. The first in the series was called Sentence of Marriage, and to be honest I cannot remember why I downloaded it, but I began it shortly before we left for our break. I am now on the third volume (we've tipped over into the early 1900s) and I am now rationing myself to a little every now and again, just to prolong the pleasure (it's a mixture of dark and light story threads and utterly mesmerising). DD

    PS. Slosh? I have the first of that Tudor series lined up and ready to go.
    Have you got the despatches? No, I always walk like this. Eddie Braben
  • Slosh
    Slosh Member Posts: 3,194
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    DD, I hope you enjoy it, I really enjoy the mix of history, and mystery. I like the look of the series you mention so will have a look and download it. A bit of a virtual bookswop!
    He did not say you will not be storm tossed, you will not be sore distressed, you will not be work weary. He said you will not be overcome.
    Julian of Norwich
  • frogmella
    frogmella Member Posts: 1,111
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    I've added it to my library shortlist too!
  • dreamdaisy
    dreamdaisy Member Posts: 31,520
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    I am staggered at how this series has gripped me, I gorged on book 3 then downloaded book 4, the last in the series - I'm already half way through. :( It's one of the best ten quid or so I've ever spent. To compensate for my loss when I end this I will return to Peter Robinson and his excellent Inspector Alan Banks series (which ITV so woefully miscast). DD
    Have you got the despatches? No, I always walk like this. Eddie Braben
  • bubbadog
    bubbadog Member Posts: 5,544
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Good to hear from you DD, you seem to be well addicted to the books by Shayne Parkinson If you could would you be able to do a review on one of them so others could get an idea of the stories and could know the title and who wrote them. Would really appreciate it if you could do that thank you.
  • dreamdaisy
    dreamdaisy Member Posts: 31,520
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    A review? Crikey, here goes., I haven't done one of these for years!

    The tale is centred on Amy (around 15 in the first novel) and her father's second marriage to Susannah. This new wife (who is generally unlikeable) asks her younger brother to stay and Amy falls for his 'charms' in a very big (and in those days, very unacceptable) way. We are also introduced to her cousin Lizzie, they are the main female protagonists in the series. As time moves on other characters are introduced and you truly gain the sense of an ever-expanding family. As I come from a small one I find that aspect interesting.

    Lizzie's family life grows ever-richer whilst Amy's becomes an unutterable hell. There were times when I wanted to give Amy a good shake but that's because I am looking at her story from a very different perspective. It also brought home the complete innocence of that time and the sheer hard work of running a house. Book 1 ends with Amy's marriage to Charlie, Book 2 is a pure contrast of Amy's marital misery compared to Lizzie's marital content: Books 3 & 4 continue and develop the narrative. I have downloaded Daisy's War, which is the fifth and final in the series, but I may struggle with this as it's written from a child's point of view. I'll find out soon. DD
    Have you got the despatches? No, I always walk like this. Eddie Braben
  • frogmella
    frogmella Member Posts: 1,111
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Those books do sound good DD.

    I finished The Nine Tailors by Dorothy L Sayers this weekend. I will admit that I would probably not have read it if it hadn't been a read on here but I am glad I did. There was a lot of detail in places and I did drift off a little bit at times but I did want to know who did what and why by the end. I had worked out how the dead man died before the end.
    For me it is a book for when I am not working and tired - I need books broken up into smaller chunks for these days - but I might read another during a holiday or something.
    Thanks for recommending it Slosh. I agree that the characters are well written. When I was telling Mr F about it he thought it sounded like his type of book. I think he would add a start to my rating!!
    So I award ****

    Got The Crane Wife by Patrick Ness to collect from the library today.
  • bubbadog
    bubbadog Member Posts: 5,544
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Thank you DD & Frogmella for your reviews, they will be helpful to others choosing their next books.

    Well it's that time again!! I want to put a shout out for recommendations for Decembers Book Of The Month Seeing as it's going to be read over the Christmas Period I would like it to be an easy reading book preferably a light hearted one or one that will melt your heart. So please post your idea's by the end of the month and I look forward seeing them.
  • bubbadog
    bubbadog Member Posts: 5,544
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Another week gone and we're getting closer to Christmas. Hope everyone has a good weekend. I'm off to the hairdressers to treat myself tomorrow! Take care and stay warm. bubbadog x
  • frogmorton
    frogmorton Member Posts: 30,088
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Lovely Amanda a new hairdo just what the doctor ordered :)

    I am loving Agatha Raisin and know I could finish it in one sitting if I allowed myself :oops:

    December's book of the month then???

    I'd suggest another Agatha Raisin, but they are rather pricey still. I just downloaded the free short story Hell's Bells though if anyone wants it.

    I read The Baby Laundry for Unmarried Mothers in hospital with Lucy last weekend too by Angela Patrick (had been in my wish list for ages and finally cheap enough :wink: ):

    Here is my review:
    The Year is 1963 and times were very different than they are now. Angela, after a brief tipsy encounter with her soon-to-be-ex boyfriend finds herself 'in trouble'.
    Coming from a 'good' Catholic family there is no option it seems than to fabricate a story of foreign travel and to enter a Mother and Baby home in London instead.
    There we hear of the harsh treatment Angela and the other young girls received at the hands of the nuns before the unbearable torture of having to give up their babies....
    Along the way Angela meets some genuinely wonderful people and does ultimately carve herself a future including a husband and child.
    She is never able to forget the baby boy she had to give up though.....

    This book was surprisingly well-written, (I have found that biographical ones aren't always), the characters likeable and Angela's journey is one I very much wanted to hear about.
    Definitely a **** star read for me
    Love to you all
    Toni xxx
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