I loved this book; didn't want it to end. I was so sucked into Mary & Frank's romance.
Set during the election campaign of Nixon / JFK we meet Mary, wiI loved this book; didn't want it to end. I was so sucked into Mary & Frank's romance.
Set during the election campaign of Nixon / JFK we meet Mary, wife of Charlie, and Frank. Frank is a newspaper reporter and Mary and Charlie are part of the British diplomatic service based in Washington DC.
Mary and Frank meet at a party at Mary and Charlie's house. Charlie is inebriated, and is for most of the book. Mary, on a trip to NYC without Charlie, finds herself in contact with Frank and the rest, as they say, is history. Interspersed with historical references, this is the account of an extramarital affair. It isn't especially graphic in detail; the affair is strongly suggested.
Some reviews suggest it's a slow story but for me it set a good pace and it was one of those books I kept wanting to read and wanting more of. ...more
Interesting reflection on love, sadness, loss and survival during wartime. Well written, although at times I did get lost by the accounts of psychoanaInteresting reflection on love, sadness, loss and survival during wartime. Well written, although at times I did get lost by the accounts of psychoanalysis and found myself quickly reading over those sections. I liked the interconnected stories of the characters, even if the connections were slightly far fetched. The end was sad and shocking / unexpected but I think it was fitting to the story.
I've not read any other books by Faulks as yet but I think I'll change that soon. ...more
I tried reading this when it was first released and gave up. I tried again as I wanted an easier read. There's a lot of hype arouReally a 3.5 star...
I tried reading this when it was first released and gave up. I tried again as I wanted an easier read. There's a lot of hype around this novel given that it's soon to released as a film and comparisons to Gone Girl, a book and film I liked, made me more curious.
Rachel, a girl who likes a drink and taking train rides into central London, watches people in their houses as she passes by daily, and forms a story in her mind about a particular pair of individuals living in a house backing onto the railway track. She slowly becomes embroiled into their lives in twists and turns of the story.
Without going into plot lines, the story I thought was good, entertaining but not especially "thrilling". I think Gone Girl was more thrilling and certainly better written. I predicted whodunit about half way through GOTT whereas I was left guessing much more with Gone Girl.
I don't think the novel bad; it's worth a read and I think it'll make a decent film (despite the complete change of location. The little quips about British / London life were part of what was good about it for me). ...more
I'm probably slightly biased as I live in the town portrayed in this novel, but I thought this book was a very good read. I have previously read A KinI'm probably slightly biased as I live in the town portrayed in this novel, but I thought this book was a very good read. I have previously read A Kind of Intimacy and I liked her style then. This novel is the fictional account of a day in the life of an LDS family who reside in my home town (we are home to Preston Temple, England, as it's called...). She has some brilliantly accurate descriptions of my town which I loved, but the story itself is very good, covering everyone from the son who is due home from his 2 year mission to convert non-LDS, to the daughter who has made a mistake, and the other son who is about as far removed from his younger brother than can be imagined. The Mother has health issues and the Father, possibly worn down by the Mother, is seeking female "friendship" via dog walks in the local park. The stories converge, individuals connect, and I don't think it was in too far fetched a way. The conclusion is heartwarming.
I hadn't realised the author was previously a member of the LDS community. This book is therefore not a religious tract, but instead questions perhaps some of the structures of the LDS belief system. It is lighthearted, amusing in parts, and very well written. I see the many young (American) LDS around town and this novel, along with Carys Braynovel A Song for Issy Bradley: A Novel I have perhaps a better understanding of things like the "dresscode" for women, so it's been educational in that sense. ...more
Having read, and liked, other books by the author I decided to give this a go despite my reservations. I don't read books about psychics and paranormaHaving read, and liked, other books by the author I decided to give this a go despite my reservations. I don't read books about psychics and paranormal worlds because they usually hold no interest, and nor do I think them to be particularly believable (although I appreciate many enjoy the escapism).
This is the story of 2 sisters with psychic abilities and when one sister predicts an earthquake will occur, the ground and the environment surrounding both sisters certainly does change.
The story is a touch predictable in parts but we'll written. Have to say I didn't warm to any of the characters, but something still kept me engaged.
Thank you to Netgalley and publisher for this review copy.
As soon as I saw this book advertised I wanted to read it. I really enjoyed her previous novThank you to Netgalley and publisher for this review copy.
As soon as I saw this book advertised I wanted to read it. I really enjoyed her previous novel A Song for Issy Bradley because of the storyline and local setting. I think I liked this novel even more.
At the heart of this book is a daughter and her father, both trying to deal with the death of their mother and wife. The daughter, Clover, is sensitive like her Father, and at age 12 wants to understand more about the death of her mother, Becky, who died when Clover was weeks old. After a visit to a museum she decides to build her own, mostly misguided and misunderstood and fantasised, image of her mother with mementoes her father has kept. He has struggled to deal with the death of his wife and has hoarded her possessions. It is these possessions that Clover uses to build what she thinks will be an exhibition to her mother's life.
Clover has a happy life and her father and family / friends love her and that was comforting. It was through her father's flashback memories that we begin to learn a little more about Becky and how she died. I think this was pieced together really well and the slow reveals made for an interesting story.
Again this book was set in Southport (old Lancashire, now Merseyside). A town I know very well and I was easily able and enjoyed piecing the locations together. For me the setting and even some of the side notes like putting the plastic charity bag out for collection, which for some might seem too colloquial, really added to the appeal of the novel.
Living in close proximity to the Preston Temple and knowing this book was set in Southport, a town I know very well, made me intrigued enough to want Living in close proximity to the Preston Temple and knowing this book was set in Southport, a town I know very well, made me intrigued enough to want to read this book.
The opening descriptions of the mother walking across the sands hooked me in. The author accurately describes the very bumpy coast road, the bird hides, and the seemingly endless walk out to sea.
The book centres around a Mormon family dealing with the death of a child..Each family members copes differently. They were interesting character portraits.
This book is heavy on references to the Bible and scriptures. And Mormon church interpretations. I had only a very basic understanding of their beliefs and now that is much fuller (although I'm sure some would argue inaccurate - the author is no longer a member of the church).
My third Toibin book and probably the most difficult to read when compared to Brooklyn and Nora Webster.
Katherine is a protestant woman from Ireland My third Toibin book and probably the most difficult to read when compared to Brooklyn and Nora Webster.
Katherine is a protestant woman from Ireland who escapes her unhappy marriage to live in Spain. It is the time of Franco and Catalonian forces battling for power and she arrives in Barcelona, Catalonian Spain looking for a place to be herself. She takes up painting and mixes with the artistic community and forms a relationship with Miguel as well as an Irish man called Micheal. Miguel has an interesting past which becomes clear when they move to the mountains. The story progresses through relationships, love, death...
I didn't particularly warm to the characters. They just seemed spoilt, uncaring, and too locked into being artistic. Although this is his first novel I wouldn't start here. Brooklyn is a much easier option....more
I read Revolutionary Road after watching the film and was struck by how well the author writes. I think the same applied to this book, The Easter ParaI read Revolutionary Road after watching the film and was struck by how well the author writes. I think the same applied to this book, The Easter Parade.
We meet sisters Sarah and Emily. Their parents are no longer together - their father works in NYC at a newspaper and their mother, who they must call Pookie, is a dreamer. Pookie moves them from town to town as she aspires for a better life for them all (sadly she also likes her drink so she sometimes is not in touch with reality). Sarah is a described as having a womanly figure and being of appeal to men whereas Emily is slight, and a more serious character. When they move to NY Sarah soon meets a boy and rushes headlong into marriage. Emily eventually goes to College, after brief encounters with men. Both these patterns dictate how the story will unfold.
We spend a good deal of the novel following Emily. Sarah has children, remains married, and makes attempts at writing but, like her mother, drink attracts her. Emily works in advertising, has relationships which take her different places but ultimately she is never happy. This isn't an especially happy story - references to domestic violence and alcoholism abound (and the references to domestic violence are particularly difficult because we see Sarah retreating back to her husband and Emily encouraging her. Emily, perhaps, later understands the error of her ways, but her response is also perhaps reflective of the era in which the novel is set).
I've got other Yates on my TBR list. Sometimes not a lot happens in the stories but his reflection on a specific era, and dealing with family and relationship issues, means his work appeals to me as a reader. ...more
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for providing this review copy.
Gwen is a young British woman who set sails for Ceylon (Sri Lanka) where she'Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for providing this review copy.
Gwen is a young British woman who set sails for Ceylon (Sri Lanka) where she's meeting her husband, a widower who's family has owned a tea plantation for many years. She's filled with trepidation but meets a kind Sri Lankan man who directs her to the nearest colonial hotel. Her husband eventually arrives and after a romantic rendevous they travel to the plantation and she immerses herself in the life of a colonial wife.
This novel, set in the interwar years, is filled with wonderful imagery of life in Ceylon. Parties, visits to local markets, the smells and sounds of Asia fill the senses but the author also refers to some of the very real difficulties facing the "native" population. Workers from India and native Sri Lankans work the tea plantations, living destitute lives, and there are undercurrents of political uncertainty and the potential for things to change in an instant.
Against this backdrop Gwen meets other Westerners, including her husband's ex-lover, and his much younger sister who is a mixed up young woman, in love with the wrong person. Gwen's cousin visits and she too falls for the charms of a Sri Lankan man, but again this relationship is frowned up.
After scene setting we move the the main story - there was from the outset a mystery about the dead wife and we are given snippets of information. When Gwen falls pregnant after a party and gives birth to twins her world falls apart, and without revealing spoilers, family history rears it's head once again. She finds it a very difficult time, only consoled by the fact she has her precious son.
The resolution of the story is very interesting and the author provides notes in the back to explain a little how colonial life worked. This was a useful backdrop but best leaving until the book is read! Overall this was an enjoyable read and I'd read novels by the author again. ...more
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for this review copy.
I very much enjoyed this novel - it was both amusing and educational. I'd not heard of Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for this review copy.
I very much enjoyed this novel - it was both amusing and educational. I'd not heard of the author but reading the blurb and the idea that this novel focused on the author's upbringing, and some of the challenges along the way, interested me.
The author's parents arrived in Toronto, via Liverpool and Pakistan. As Muslims in Toronto they were part of an active and busy Mosque, and there was a real sense of community evidenced in her writing. She explains some of the challenges attending a non-Islamic school - her mum preferred her to wear more traditional hairstyles and clothing for example (plaits in her hair, courdroy trousers etc) whereas she was keen to dress similarly to her classmates, in short skirts and styled hair. Attending Mosque she felt more part of the community but quite clearly wanted to challenge attitudes, including the separation of men from women, and the subjects covered at Muslim Summer School.
When she finished school her Dad had been keen for her to become a Doctor but her grades weren't up to it. Her parents didn't resist when she got a place on a journalism course and again she persued important issues she felt worth challenging (this part of the story is set around the time of 9/11). Her mother was keen to see her married though. She'd avoided marriage earlier due to education, and despite her parents trying to find a suitable match, she engineered a meeting with her brother's friend who she deemed a more suitable husband.
With her husband she moved near her parents-in-law to their much smaller Muslim community. She was still perusing her journalism but began branching out to film media. Again she tackled important issues through her work, including her TV show. I've not heard of Little Mosque on the Prairie but this TV show ran on CBS for 6 seasons. It met with a mixed reception in her community, possibly because of the satirical elements.
Whilst part of the story is her journalism career there is much focus on the importance of family. Her Mum is a key figure in her life and she appears close to both parents, despite the general craziness (which felt very familar to me). She's quite an amazing woman managing her career and four children (four pregnancies in four years!). I liked her character and spirit - she was desperate to provide the feast at the end of Eid but her planning went a little awry with amusing consequences and this is just one example. In another example she's on the phone to a TV exec whilst she's feeding one child and breast-feeding another - she's a perfect example of a multi-tasking woman!
This book is amusing - the anecodotes are told in a light manner but you also get a good sense of how important Islam is to her. I was also fascinated by her explanations of Hajj, and the Five Pillars of Islam for example. I'd recommend this read, and I'd be interested to see the TV shows she made, if they ever aired in the UK (they may well have done without me realising).
I read I know why the caged bird sings a long while ago, and Maya Angelou told her remarkable life story. This follows on and it's equally well writteI read I know why the caged bird sings a long while ago, and Maya Angelou told her remarkable life story. This follows on and it's equally well written.
In this book she's a teen mum living initially in SFO. She finds work as a cook, falls in love and it doesn't work out, and heads for LA before a diversion to San Diego and Oklahoma. She takes short term jobs cooking and waitressing to help her raise her son. Somewhere in this story she, at 18, runs a brothel.
The blurb tells you she dabbles in drugs and in Oakland she dabbled in prostitution before her brother brings her to her senses. She also falls in love left, right, and centre but all are bad news.
The story is again remarkable and very well written. If anything shocked me it was her leaving her son with virtual strangers for long periods of time whilst she worked. I guess times and communities have changed, at least they have in my experience, and now we don't have "mamas" who take in people's kids and virtually raise them, with the mother visiting on her day off. I liked seeing this reflection back to the past....more
I was intrigued to read this partly because of the recent Man Booker Prize interest, but mainly because the novel is set in South Korea, a place we doI was intrigued to read this partly because of the recent Man Booker Prize interest, but mainly because the novel is set in South Korea, a place we don't see that many novels set.
This story begins with a woman being repulsed by meat and therefore adopting a vegan lifestyle. Her family do not understand it and the response is quite violent. My husband and I are vegetarian and whilst this is quite common in our culture there is still some resistance and comments but nothing like in South Korea which seems to be a meat dominated culture.
This story is less about veganism or vegetarianism and more about family relationships and mental health. It is an interesting read, although I sometimes found it confusing hence my 3* rating (more like 3.5*). ...more
Long time fan of Judy Blume's teen books, this is my second read of her adult books.
Early on this read as one of her teens books - it documented the Long time fan of Judy Blume's teen books, this is my second read of her adult books.
Early on this read as one of her teens books - it documented the friendship of two girls who spent time together over summer, learning about themselves, and in true Judy Blume fashion they explored their sexuality (and there are references to sexual encounters - a warning for those who might wish to avoid such discussions).
The story covered more adult concerns - like getting a job - as the novel progressed, and whilst the ending was not surprising, I did enjoy this easy, perfect for summer read. The storyline is good, and although I didn't warm to any specific characters, it kept me engaged. ...more
Charlie is socially awkward until he finds a group of people willing to be inclusive. This book is most certI was pleasantly surprised by this story.
Charlie is socially awkward until he finds a group of people willing to be inclusive. This book is most certainly YA but shares common themes of acceptance and realisation it is OK to be different.
The ending was surprising but also perhaps explains the episodes of mild violence and anger, and perhaps his hesitancy where women are concerned.
As I've seen on other reviews I did wonder whether the character was on the autism spectrum ......more
Thank you to the publishers and Netgalley for a review copy.
After reading The Paying Guests earlier this year I wanted to read more of Sarah Waters woThank you to the publishers and Netgalley for a review copy.
After reading The Paying Guests earlier this year I wanted to read more of Sarah Waters works and this seemed an ideal opportunity.
Whilst I loved The Paying Guests I was less enamoured with this. I found the characters less engaging and the story more confusing, although I enjoyed the London Blitz / WW2 setting. Whereas The Paying Guests had an obvious plot (a crime of passion) there was a less obvious plot with The Night Watch.
The Night Watch centered around 4 main characters each facing challenges, in the most part to do with their sexuality. There were descriptions of sexual (straight and lesbian) activity which some readers might not want to read.
In the end the characters stories all intertwine which I liked. As I said before I found the plot and characters confusing. This was probably a 3.5 star read for me. It hasn't turned me against the author and I would read her other works. ...more
Another Colm Toibin book I've really enjoyed reading. He writes so well, and it's so easy to slip into the world of the characters of the novel.
The seAnother Colm Toibin book I've really enjoyed reading. He writes so well, and it's so easy to slip into the world of the characters of the novel.
The setting is early 1990s Ireland and the majority of the novel is set on the coast, in the house of Dora, mother to Lily and grandmother to Helen and Declan. Declan is unwell, seriously so, and wants to spend time at his grandmother's house with his family and close friends around him. It becomes clear that the relationship between the children, Helen and Declan, and their mother is strained. Helen, particularly, hasn't seen her mother since she left home after college.
The theme of strained mother / daughter relationships appeared in another Toibin novel I read recently The South, as did the theme of what it meant to be a mother. I really liked the opening to the Blackwater Lightship, describing Helen as a mother, going to her young children as they called out in the night. There is then the description of a party later that day, followed by the clean up the next morning. All very ordinary but designed to show Helen as a doting mother and wife. In contrast, Helen's mother, Lily, seemingly abandons her children when their father is dying, and Helen takes this particularly badly, seeing it as a rejection.
The family come together because Declan, dying of AIDS, wishes them to. He invites his two close friends who themselves mother him and have mothered and protected him during his stays in hospital. Slowly but surely each individual has the opportunity to say their peace / piece, and reconciliation is another strong theme that is evident.
Overall, very well written, and very moving. My list of Colm Toibin books I've read and liked keeps on increasing. ...more
Bride is born to a woman who struggles to accept the blackness of her skin. Bride, as a young child finds herself in a situation where she could win hBride is born to a woman who struggles to accept the blackness of her skin. Bride, as a young child finds herself in a situation where she could win her mother's love. As an adult she meets Booker but he has secrets, so much so they overpower any love he feels for Bride. Their stories are described in short chapters and this short novel packs in so much.
I've read Toni Morrison's previous works but it was a while ago. I do remember them to have hard-hitting themes and this was the case with God Help the Child. Issues of race and racism, parenting (or lack of), and child abuse are intertwined with the lies told by the different characters....more
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