Angel Posted September 14, 2008 Share Posted September 14, 2008 I found A Thousand Splendid Suns amazing as well. Not normally my cup of tea Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janet Posted September 29, 2008 Author Share Posted September 29, 2008 Finished All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque yesterday (8/10). Now moving on to Escape by Carolyn Jessop The 'blurb' (from Amazon) Born into the Fundamentalist Church of the Latter Day Saints (FLDS), the author describes her life before, during and after her marriage at 18 to a 50-year-old man with three other wives. This painful memoir certainly doesn't bear much resemblance to the polygamous fantasies of the HBO series Big Love. The author's large family lived in grinding poverty, and Jessop was constantly subjected to humiliations at the hands of her husband, Merril. But she had inner resources. In a decidedly patriarchal culture, she often spoke her mind, and she talked Merril into letting her go to college. Her occasional questioning of his views, however, earned his suspicion and the condescension and mistrust of her fellow wives. So what kept Jessop in the community? Fear. From her earliest childhood, when she played a game called "apocalypse," she had been taught that God punished those who disobeyed his rules. Furthermore, she knew that no woman had ever managed to get herself and her children safely away from the community. Still, one night in 2003, Jessop snuck her eight children out of the house and fled to Salt Lake City. There, she found little in the way of support networks for women escaping polygamy. She was told that "there would be more legal and financial help for me if I were a refugee arriving from a foreign country." The chapters about her struggles to adjust to this new life are more riveting than the occasionally tedious descriptions of her earlier hardships. Especially wrenching are scenes featuring the two of Jessop's children who felt torn between their parents and resented their mother for taking them away from the FLDS church. The book's final pages recount triumphs large and small, from getting her first stylish haircut to standing up to her husband in court.Though Jessop's circumstances were unusual - and particularly harrowing - her memoir will appeal to many women who have left abusive relationships. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janet Posted October 1, 2008 Author Share Posted October 1, 2008 Escape was just gripping! 8/10 Not sure what to read next. Probably Englby by Sebastian Faulks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janet Posted October 12, 2008 Author Share Posted October 12, 2008 I finished Engleby this morning - and then I read Forever by Judy Blume this afternoon! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janet Posted October 12, 2008 Author Share Posted October 12, 2008 Yup. It's only 175 pages long and is reasonably large print because it's a 'young adult' book. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
~Andrea~ Posted October 12, 2008 Share Posted October 12, 2008 What was the verdict on Forever? It's years since I read it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janet Posted October 12, 2008 Author Share Posted October 12, 2008 I've never read it, but we were discussing it on the Neighbours forum so I thought I'd check it out. Although rather tame to an adult, I can see why it was such an exciting book to a teen - and why so many were buying it and hiding it from their parents! I was surprised to find it was published in 1975 - I'd assumed it was from about 10 years after that date. The version I have has a message from Ms Blume in the front about how in the 70s, the message was to use contraception to avoid pregnancy, whereas today it would have been about using a condom for safe sex. Despite it being over 30 years old, it didn't seem dated at all. Very enjoyable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
~Andrea~ Posted October 12, 2008 Share Posted October 12, 2008 I must admit, I can remember very little about it, other than Ralph of course Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janet Posted October 12, 2008 Author Share Posted October 12, 2008 A couple of the people who were discussing it were having a joke about 'Ralph', but I didn't know to what they were referring. I guess these days he'd call it something like Josh! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janet Posted October 22, 2008 Author Share Posted October 22, 2008 It took me a while, but I finished The End of Mr Y by Scarlett Thomas today. A cracking read, imho! 9/10 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janet Posted October 29, 2008 Author Share Posted October 29, 2008 Finished Moab is my Washpot by Stephen Fry yesterday. A very frank and honest account of his first 18 years. 9/10 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frankie Posted October 29, 2008 Share Posted October 29, 2008 Finished Moab is my Washpot by Stephen Fry yesterday. A very frank and honest account of his first 18 years. 9/10 I'm glad you liked it, it's in my TBR and I have it in my bookshelf already. Have you read any of the other books by Stephen Fry? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janet Posted October 29, 2008 Author Share Posted October 29, 2008 No, but I'm definitely going to! I'm going to look out for The Liar next, as although it's a novel, it's loosely based on this book! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janet Posted November 10, 2008 Author Share Posted November 10, 2008 I've lost my reading Mojo. If anyone finds it, please return it to me by first-class post, as I'm missing it...! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ceinwenn Posted November 10, 2008 Share Posted November 10, 2008 I've lost my reading Mojo. If anyone finds it, please return it to me by first-class post, as I'm missing it...! I think it's out causing mischief with mine! I haven't been able to pick up a book in weeks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pipread Posted November 10, 2008 Share Posted November 10, 2008 I've lost my reading Mojo. If anyone finds it, please return it to me by first-class post, as I'm missing it...! Perhaps your prize will entice it out of hiding! hope so, `cause losing your mojo is no fun. well done on the win. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janet Posted November 10, 2008 Author Share Posted November 10, 2008 Thanks guys. Ceinwenn - they're a pair, aren't they! Hopefully someone will send them marching back soon. Pipread - I hope so - I'm certainly looking forward to reading David Walliams' book. I've been reading The Shack since 29 October. It's okay but it's not making me think "I *must* pick this up to find out what happens next..." but if I stop now then I know I won't go back to it as I'm not very good at returning to books I've half-read. I've lost my ironing Mojo too - but I'm less concerned about that! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pipread Posted November 10, 2008 Share Posted November 10, 2008 Thanks guys. I've been reading The Shack since 29 October. It's okay but it's not making me think "I *must* pick this up to find out what happens next..." but if I stop now then I know I won't go back to it as I'm not very good at returning to books I've half-read. I`m a bit like this with Second Glance - don`t know why! I've lost my ironing Mojo too - but I'm less concerned about that! I lost this ages ago, not rushing to find it either!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charm Posted November 10, 2008 Share Posted November 10, 2008 (edited) I've lost my reading Mojo. If anyone finds it, please return it to me by first-class post, as I'm missing it...! Me too My OH subtly pointed out to me today that since I joined the bcf I have read less! Well done on your win btw! You lucky thing lol Edited November 10, 2008 by Charm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madcow Posted November 10, 2008 Share Posted November 10, 2008 Congratulations on your win Janet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janet Posted November 10, 2008 Author Share Posted November 10, 2008 Thanks, Jules. I'm looking forward to trying it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janet Posted November 25, 2008 Author Share Posted November 25, 2008 I finished The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom on Sunday. It was a good and enjoyable story but lacked depth of characterisation in my opinion. 7/10 I finished The Shack by William Paul Young this morning. I've been reading it for *weeks*. I really don't know how to review this one - will have to put my thinking cap on! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janet Posted November 26, 2008 Author Share Posted November 26, 2008 Next I'm going to read The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway - kindly sent to me by Paula (Gyre). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janet Posted November 30, 2008 Author Share Posted November 30, 2008 (edited) Finished The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway - 10/10 Next, The Boy in the Dress by David Walliams Edited November 30, 2008 by Janet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janet Posted December 1, 2008 Author Share Posted December 1, 2008 I finished The Boy in the Dress - what a fabulous book. Laura - I'd recommend it. Moving on to my December bookworms choice now - The Flower Boy by Karen Roberts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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