Pat Norris
Book: Caribee
Author: Thomas Hoover
Category: Historical
The story is set in the 17th Century in the Caribbean. The author has researched the period and then created this story using an amalgam of actual people alive at the time.
I found the story interesting from the historical view point. It does seem pretty incredible the profound affect the English Civil War had on many major events around the globe at that time.
Many people came across the sea to escape religious persecution. Obviously the well known ones are the pilgrim fathers who left for mainland America. I hadn’t realised they also came to the Caribbean.
Royalists were also dumped here too. In fact the author describes the area as a dumping ground for various outcasts from all around the globe.
A generally enjoyable romp of a book that would probably encourage me to read more about this era both fiction & factual.
Paula Townshend
Book: The White Queen
Author: Philippa Gregory
Category: Historical
This book should have finished half way through. I struggled on to page 341 (out of 417) and couldn't bear it any more.Elizabeth is an ill-advised, smug and selfish young woman when she becomes Queen and thoroughly enjoys shafting her enemies without apparant regard for the consequences. When her mother becomes terminally ill, Elizabeth's only concerns are for the effect her mother's death will have on her, with no word of solace for her mother. In spite of this the first half of the book was reasonably enjoyable but thereafter there is just one tedious battle and plot after another with far too many unwelcome depictions of bloodthirstyness, butcherings and deaths.It becomes a sort of mediaeval Jamed Bond and I don't like James Bond either.
Cheryl Spencer
Book: Only Dad
Author: Alan Titchmarsh
Category: Celebrity Authors
After a slow start was quite startled by the turn of events. The dialog to the point of Pippas demise gave nothing away, so was a shock.
In my life I have always managed to read books that were in some way helpful to me at that time, and this was no exception. Usually the books leap out at me from the shelf, but this time they landed in my in tray.
I have suffered numerous close bereavements this spring and was able to empathise with Tom and Tally in a profound way.
So thank you for choosing this book for me.
Looking forward to the next one.
Jane Smaga
Book: The 39 Steps
Author: John Buchan
Category: Great British
I would never have chosen to read John Buchans 39 steps, but it was so enjoyable; a thumping good adventure story in the "boys own" adventure genre. Loved it!
Pat Fogarty
Book: The Road Home
Author: Rose Tremain
Category: Award Winner
This is not a book that I would have chosen to read but I am pleased to have had the opportunity to do so. It was hard going to start with but got better, very dark in places, but got brighter. The lead character was a very good friend, one you would like to have. He coped with most of the things that were thrown at him. It was a feel good book at the end, that he managed to achieve a great deal and was able to return to his own country proud of what he had achieved.
Lloyd Thomas
Book: A Dreadful Murder
Author: Minette Walters
Category: Quick Read
Just finished the quick read ‘A Dreadful Murder’ by Minette Walters. I had enjoyed a similar ‘real life murder’ book before (The Suspicions of Mr Whicher) so I was hopeful this would be as good, but I was very disappointed. It’s about a real-life murder case, but the author invents all of the characters other than the murdered wife, her husband and the policemen in charge; almost all the dialogue is made up with no hint of what was actually ever said, and most of it is stereotypical. As it was an unsolved case, we have no actual conclusion other than the author’s opinion. And to top it all off she recommends you read Wikipedia for further information! All in all, it would have been more successful if it wasn’t about a real case, and therefore the author could have brought the story to a conclusion with her own characters.
Stacey Webb
Book: Little Face
Author: Sophie Hannah
Category: Crime
This book was a difficult one for me to get into at first but once that “wall” was breached this was a book I couldn’t put down!
You think you’ve cracked the who-dunnit then it takes you into another direction with a massive plot twist as it comes to a climax.
Intensely absorbing – was told off for ignoring a few people whilst reading it!!
4/5
Ros Drain
Title: I did a bad thing
Author: Linda Green
Category: Feelgood
Really enjoyed this book, although you think you have cracked the plot quite early on in the book as to the ‘bad thing’, the story continues and there is a twist. Quite a sudden ending to the story, very enjoyable read.
Most definitely recommend, one of my favourite books of the challenge.
Christine Peart
Book: Minding Frankie
Author: Maeve Binchy
Category: Feelgood
Although this was a feel good read it was quite sad in a couple of places, having said this I still enjoyed the book. This is the first Maeve Binchy book I have read and I look forward to reading some more.
Sandra Wheeler
Book: Damage
Author: Josephine Hart
Category: Recommended
I found that I enjoyed this book despite not expecting to!
It was a very dark account of obsession. It was written so well, it felt it needed to be read at a fast pace to keep up with the story.
You (as the reader) were made aware that this story was going to end in tragedy, but the way this came about was so shocking that I had to read the passage twice, think about it & then read it again, just to be sure that I had absorbed the awful event that brought everything crashing down.
Thank you for exposing me to something that I may not otherwise have read.
Catherine Hartley
Book: The Good Thief's Guide to Amsterdam
Author: Chris Ewan
Category: Crime
I found this a surprisingly enjoyable read. It was not a book I would have chosen myself but it is very well written with a fast-moving story line and good characterisation. I would certainly read another book by this author. 4/5
Deborah Benton
Book: Children of the Mist
Author: Kathleen Morgan
Category: Historical
The story was typical of a historical romance - predictable boy meets girl, they hate each other and finally live happily ever after. However the characters were well rounded and believable. I really enjoyed this book; it was well written.
Book: Little Women
Author: Louisa Alcott
Category: Childhood Favourites
I loved this book when I read it years ago and have watched the movies. It is a nice story with ups and down, happiness and sadness. It isn't full of action but it is full of character. I probably wouldn't have picked it to read but I enjoyed it and it was lovely to read it again.
Gail Madeley
Book: The Road Home
Author: Rose Tremain
Category: Award Winner
Not something I would have chosen myself, but glad I read it – very different to my normal choice.
Very interesting seeing what lengths people will go to to better themselves. The only down side to this book was the unnecessary use of expletives throughout.
Christine Peart
Book: The White Queen
Author: Philippa Gregory
Category: Historical
My second book in the challenge. The book is about the war of the roses (between Lancashire & Yorkshire) and some of the action/battles take place in the Gloucester and Tewkesbury area. Coming from Lancashire and now living in Gloucestershire I found it a very interesting read. I am not sure how accurate the information is but I still enjoyed reading the book.
Ros Drain
Title: Damage
Author: Josephine Hart
Category: Recommended
Hmm no comments to make on this book really. I didn’t really enjoy and I didn’t dislike to the point that I wouldn’t have finished it.
Elizabeth Beechey
Book: The Hanging Shed
Author: Gordon Ferris
Category: Recommended
This wasn’t the sort of book I would have usually picked up as I was put off by the title and cover and so I avoided it for a couple of weeks! However it was a really good read once I opened it, a ‘murder mystery’ type. A page turner that kept me wondering how it was going to turn out. Worth opening.
Debbie Bishop
Book: The White Queen
Author: Philippa Gregory
Category: Historical
"A very quick start which assumes that you have some knowledge of that period of history and of who Elizabeth Woodville is. The family tree is a bit brief and could do with some embellishment."
"However, it carried me along and the book is well researched. Leaves a cold chill at the ending as recent documentaries show what will/may happen to Elizabeth's son Richard in the future."
"About to be made into a TV series to be shown in July, so very contemporary in a historical kind of a way."
"I like the fact that this story describes section in time, where there is a sense of previous history and a sense of the story to come. (Maybe that's why there was no introduction as such, as the story is told as if it's a chapter in Elizabeth's life rather that a story with a beginning, middle and end)."
"Also like the allusions to Melusina (and the way that this is written). I take it to be a (sort of) coded message of women's position in society at that time. I understand that this was a popular legend in Medieval times and I can see that the idea of a woman (even if she is a goddess) could have an appeal, as she had a power that was probable denied to many women at that time."
Judith Martin
Book: The Railway Children
Author: E.Nesbit
Category: Childhood Favourites
Delightful – good escapism, well told story, and a happy ending! E. Nesbit engages with the imagination and paints a wonderful picture of the time. Seen the film loads of times so it was a joy to read the book.
Judith Martin
Book: The Loving Spirit
Author: Daphne du Maurier
Category: Great British
"So disappointed in this book – I’ve read lots of du Maurier, but see why this one isn’t so popular – it’s awful. It’s like her attempt at Mills and Boon. I couldn’t read more than a few pages because it’s so not my thing – I found it badly written and clichéd. I did skim read it to see if the later stories improved, but they didn’t."
"Sorry if this offends anyone who likes this genre, as if you like something you can often forgive aspects you don’t like – unfortunately I didn’t like any of it!!"
Ros Drain
Book: The Colour
Author: Rose Tremain
Category: Great British Authors
"I managed to read half the above book, before admitting defeat!!! "
"Found the story line quite dull………………"
Sarah Brown
Book: The Perfect Crime
Author: Jack Erickson
Category: Crime
"Loved the Perfect Crime, by Jack Erickson. Got my heart thumping once or twice for sure and would definitely recommend it, although the ending was a bit sudden and I wanted to know what else happened. " 4/5
Pat Fogarty
Book: Swallow and Amazons
Author: Arthur Ransome
Category: Childhood Favourites
"Thank you for the book. I didn’t read it as a child, and it took me a while to get into it, but then enjoyed it. Good escapism and would recommend it to be read especially by children"
Stacey Webb
Book: A Song for Achilles
Author: Madeline Miller
Category: Prize Winner
"I thoroughly enjoyed this book!! This story captivated me from the first sentence & I was unable to put it down.
Fast-paced and epic telling of the love story between Achilles and Patroclus.
The characters are well-developed & you feel for them through all their trials & tribulations…
Definitely worth a read!"
5/5
Mary Schoen
Book: Damage
Author: Josephine Hart
Category: Recommended
"I found this book mesmerising. It is a dark tale of obsessional love and its repercussions. Written in the third person it illustrates how our thoughts can be in turmoil whilst our everyday actions appear calm. The writing style is beautiful and it reads very easily. It left me feeling uneasy about how easy it is to ruin one’s life by following obsessions outside of our control. A thought provoking read which I highly recommend"
Ros Drain
Book: A Sea Change
Author: Veronica Henry
Category: Quick Reads
"I really enjoyed this quick read, story line predictable, but only so much you can cram into a short story.
Would recommend especially if you have an odd hour to while away the time, as I did, waiting for my son to finish at an appointment."
Sarah Bellwood
Book: Little Face
Author: Sophie Hannah
Category: Crime
"Well, I was not expecting this book to be so exciting but could not put it down. It was perfect for reading in the sun over the bank holiday weekend. In parts it was slightly shocking but interesting how you can be deceived by another individual. It had a good ending."
Sheelagh Franklin
Book: A TIny Bit Marvellous
Author: Dawn French
Category: Celebrity Authors
"I have read my first book A tiny bit Marvellous by Dawn French. I wasn’t to sure when I first started reading this, but I read it in one day!! Throughly enjoyed it."
Ros Drain
Title: The White Queen
Author: Philippa Gregory
Category: Historical
"From last year’s Six Book Challenge my historical novel was The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory, which I thoroughly enjoyed, so I was expecting the same enjoyment of The White Queen.
After finishing The White Queen as I was keen to know if young Prince Edward had survived and reunited with his family I was a little disappointed with the book.
I would certainly read another Philippa Gregory novel."
Anne Payne
Book: Sentence of Marriage
Author: Shayne Parkinson
Category: Historical
"Really enjoyed this, much to my surprise! So much so I have downloaded the next in the series."
Ros Drain
Book: Alice in Wonderland & Through the Looking-Glass
Author: Lewis Carroll
Category: Childhood Favourites
"Having never read this book growing up, only seeing snippets of the Disney film I enjoyed reading of Alice in Wonderland. Through the Looking-Glass wasn’t as enjoyable I felt."
"Certainly recommend Alice in Wonderland to parents to either read to or with their children."
Kirsty Priest
Book: Damage
Author: Josephine Hart
Category: Recommended
"I would never have chosen this book to read myself; mainly because it is too short as I prefer a lengthy novel. I did enjoy the book and if you prefer a short read I would recommend it (it only took me a couple of hours to read). The book is about obsession which is certainly an interesting topic. However I felt the book was too short to get to know the characters properly and it jumped around quite a lot. For example two characters meet very briefly in one chapter and in the next chapter it starts with them having sex. How did they get to that point? I imagine this could be the authors way of showing how strong and instant obsession can be. "
"So to summarise a good book but not something I would personally want to reread."
Stacey Webb
Book: Damage
Author: Josephine Hart
Category: Recommended
"Quick read – took one day to finish. I felt unable to become emotionally involved with the characters with the exception of Ingrid. I don’t believe we even find out the name of the main character but I could be wrong and just completely missed it. The concepts to me just don’t make sense or even seem believable. Not my cup of tea."
2/5
Debbie Bishop
Book: A Dreadful Murder
Author: Minette Walters
Category: Quick Reads
"The book starts out quite promisingly, but then comes to a very abrupt end. The characters are not particularly well developed (although ok) and the book is very quick to read – as is its purpose. OK to pass the time, but felt that the end was just chopped when it was starting to get interesting."
" I have read short stories before and the characters and plot have been realised more satisfactorily than this one. Was ok to read on the bus, though."
Christine Peart
Book: The Secret Garden
Author: Frances Hodgson Burnett
Category: Childhood Favourites
"Just finished reading the above book. Brought back lovely memories. Nice gentle read to start off my challenge. Better than the film."