General Chat

Maz Will look forward to seeing what you have to say about The Linnet Bird. By the way did you get hold of Merde Actually? Dee x

Dee - not yet, but its on my list - along with about 20 others at the moment!! Maz. XX

I read 44 Scotland st. When I got it, I was hoping it was't one of the detective agencies. (I enjoyed the first 3, but am not desperate to read the others. If they come my way I will, but won't buy them) I enjoyed 44 Scotland St. It was written to be serialised in the newpapaers a la Dickens The chapters were a bit short for my liking - and I can't believe anyone was as stupid as Pat was to go and lie on Bruce's bed. It was easily readable, but I wouldn't bother with a sequel It was a sequence of people who lived in a house made into flats, so it was a character studies, rather than a 'good plot'. Anne

Anne, because it was writtten like that it made easy bedtime reading I thought. Although I have read some of the No 1 series, I wouldn't buy them, I read my DiL's. In fact I have, wating to be read, The two and a half pillars of wisdom. Anyone read that one? Ann Glos

Ann, I agree about the bedtime reading, but I no sooner started a chapter than it wa finished, and I like to get my teeth into something, I'm not keen on short stories for the same reason. But that's just me. Anne

Maz, I know the feeling oh so well, I sometimes wonder if I will ever get to the bottom of the pile Bit like the ironing really, but a lot more enjoyable!!!! Dee ;-))

I have just counted 62 books waiting to be read on these book shelves. Ann Glos

Nights in Rodanthe – Nicholas Sparks From number one New York Times best selling author Nicholas Sparks comes a tender story of hope and joy, of sacrifice and forgiveness – a moving reminder that love is possible at any age, at any time, and often happens when we least expect it. At 45, Adrienne Willis must rethink her entire life when her husband abandons her for a younger woman. Reeling with heartache and in search of respite, she flees to the small coastal town of Rodanthe, North Carolina, to tend to a friend’s inn for the weekend. But when a major storm starts moving in, it appears that Adriennes’s perfect getaway will be ruined – until a guest named Paul Flanner arrives. At 54, Paul has just sold his medical practice and comes to Rodanthe to escape his own shattered past. Now, with the storm closing in, two wounded people will turn to each other for comfort – and in one weekend, set in motion feelings that will resonate throughout the rest of their lives A poignant tale, short (only 212 pages) and bitter sweet which will strike a chord with anyone who has had to cope with the breakdown of a relationship. I have read the book in a day, and found it fascinating

44 Scotland Street. Now about 3 weeks since I read this and a lot has happened since so can't give a detailed decription of the story. I was dreading this as I have read (or started) a couple of his other books...No1 Ladies... and couldn't get to grips with them. I really enjoyed this though. The characters weren't always believable but this added to rather than detracted from the story.( I didn't think it was meant to be taken too seriously). Easy to dip in and out of due to the way it was constructed. I would recommend it to friends.

The Linnet Bird by Linda Holeman A real blockbuster, I couldn’t put it down. Set in Liverpool, starting in 1823, and India it charts the life of Linny Gow, written as her own life story by Linny. “For you I will write of it all- part truth, part memory, part nightmare – my life, the one that started so long ago, in a place so far from here….” She had a very hard life, starting as a young girl when her mother died and she is left to the evil ways of her stepfather, when she works the streets as a prostitute, she then becomes a social climber, making a friend who is higher in society than she is. She accompanies this friend to India, marries and has several ‘adventures’ As the cover says, frequently disturbing, often moving and always enthralling, it is a story that will stay with you for ever. But it is not just a good yarn, it is educational, telling us what life on the streets was like and then what life is India in the 19th century was like, with the British considering themselves the superior race, so arrogant. Linda Holeman’s descriptive writing is excellent, you can smell the smells of the poorer areas of Liverpool and likewise Calcutta. As I said, I found it hard to put down and I was disappointed when I had finished it. It was sort of left open, we are left wanting to know more, maybe she will write a sequel. Ann Glos

for the benefit of helen and Joanne. i will also pull up the other review thread. ann Glos

Snow Falling on Cedars – David Gutterson A fisherman from a Pacific island is found dead in his net. The book is a whodunit, was he murdered? If so by whom? There is unrest on the island, the time being post war, the inhabitants of the Island being both American and Japanese American. There is a flash back to Pearl harbour when all Japanese Americans were interned in camps and not particularly well treated. Feelings run high against the Japanese Americans. Well, what can I say about this book? I really didn’t enjoy it at all and struggled to finish it. It has been in my pile of ‘books to read’ for sometime as it was one of the earlier selections for the club. Did you ever read it Mike? If so would be interested to know what you thought of it. Seems Ann and I disagree on this one. The references to the relocation of the Japanese following Pearl Harbour, and the historic background to that whole episode, have I suppose given me information that I was not previously aware of. I wasn’t sure that it was relevant to the story though Two things that struck me were: Firstly the reference to the census taker in chapter 7.’ 39 Japanese worked at the mill………the census taker neglected to list them by name, referring instead to Jap Number 1, Jap Number 2……..Japan Charlie……..Dwarf Jap’ Good to know it is not just our census returns that are ambiguous at times. Secondly there was a reference to Ishmael’s collection of seaglass. Having only recently read Seaglass by Anita Shreve I wondered why the Americans have this strange desire to collect the stuff. It is not something that I have ever been aware of people collecting, and it was odd that I should have read about it in two consecutive books One thing that the book club has done has been to introduce me to books that I would not necessarily come across, and that can only be a good thing. I am going to be reading The No 1 Ladies Detective Agency next, before starting Time Travellers Wife and Hard Times – looks as though I shall be busy!!!! Dee x

Thanks Dee, We often do beg to differ on books. This is mainly, I think, because what we would have read before the book club introduced us to different books were books with very different content (sorry about repeat phrase, couldn'r think of another way to put it. I would not normally have read this book either, Iw as lent it by my son in law and it sat on my shelf for a year. But, because it was so different, and because it taught me a lot about the Japanes in America and how they were treated, I did enjoy it. That is not to say I enjoyed it as I do a good blockbuster novel, but I didn't find it hard to read. Strange about the obsession with sea glass. i can only assume they do collect it (they are and have been for a long time well into craft work, floral displays and other displays in the home. I have seen references to it in other books. Actually I have picked up pieces of glass worn smooth by the sea myself and it can be very pretty. (But then I am a strange person Dee, I collect all sorts when on the beach). Please review the No 1 Ladies detective agency (which book) on the books read in last 2 months thread when you have read it, i will be interested in your views. Ann Glos

Hi Ann I am a bit of a beach comber as well, shells, pebbles etc, haven't come across much glass, perhaps I should look out for it next time I am out Detective Agency is easy reading so will be reviewing that soon Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence was about the Japanese as well wasn't it? Or am I having a senior moment (again) ? Dee xx

No i think you are right, i had forgotten that. don't retain information for very long these days!! Ann Glos

The Linnet Bird by Linda Holeman (better late than never lol) Mixed feelings about this book. It raced along and there was plenty of action, well told, great descriptions of Liverpool and India - very vivid. But I don't really like this sort of thing! It just seemed to me sometimes as if the author was thinking 'ok, she's been raped, stabbed, beaten .... now what else can she have done to her???'. It just struck me as a bit too far-fetched in the amount the 'heroine' had to suffer. Not sure if I really liked many of the characters that much either - including Linny! Having said all that, it was an absorbing read, pure escapism, and anyone who likes this sort of saga would love it! Maz. XX

forgot to put that I also found the historical aspects really interesting - particularly the voyage as my grandfather sailed to New Zealand and my ggg grandmother's sister emigrated to Tasmania in the 1850's - 3 of her children died during the voyage. Also was interesting to hear how the English behaved in India - not adapting at all to India but trying to recreate England there. Makes you feel quite ashamed of them! Maz. XX

'Father Figure' by Ann Widdecombe is my latest read....with all the publicity about Fathers4Justice this week, it rang a topical note. It certainly made you sympathise with (some) absent fathers. Well worth reading - especially if coping with children suffering as a result of parental breakup. Lily

Hi Lily - I'm in that situation so I might give that one a go - not a huge fan of Ann W in general so will have a look first! Maz. XX