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Madeleine

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    Madeleine's Book Log - ongoing

    in Book Blogs - Discuss your reading!

    Posted · Edited by Madeleine

    "The Winter Secret" by Lulu Taylor - there are two storylines to this novel, both revolving around a beautiful house in Dorset, Charlcombe Park. It's original owners were Golden Age film star Natalie Lowe, her husband, a Russian prince called Paul, and their daughter Xenia. Natalie had a glittering Hollywood career, but unable to cope with the pressures of fame she gradually succumbed to drink, pills and manic depression, further exacerbated by the horrendous treatments of the time until Paul leaves one day, and Xenia and Natalie are left at the house in poverty, with only a few residual fees from Natalie's films to occasionally sustain them, as well as an artistic commune who live there for a while. Eventually Natalie passes away, and wealthy businessman Charles Redmain buys the estate, allowing Xenia to live out her days in a cottage on the estate, which she does, reflecting on past glory and wondering what happened to her father. Charles restores the house, and when his first marriage breaks up his ex, Ingrid, continues to live there in another cottage. Then he re-marries and brings his new wife Buttercup (ridiculous name, it's a nickname!) to live at the house, and whilst she initially enjoys the luxury of having everything done for her, eventually she starts to get restless, and after suffering a miscarriage she tries to go back to work. But this falls through, but on a trip back to London where Charles has his office staff as well as a penthouse flat in Westminster, she starts to realise that she is being watched everywhere, and every phone call, email and credit card transaction is monitored and logged. She starts to wonder what really caused the break-up of his first marriage, and wonders just how far Charles will go to protect his property. I did find Buttercup a bit annoying at first, but thankfully she decides not to be a victim, and sets about trying to make a life for herself; she desperately wants to keep her marriage, but once she discovers a web of lies, duplicity and obsession, she realises she is becoming more trapped. I did start to like her as she fought for her individuality, and for her admirable qualities of trying everything to save her marriage, and I just wanted her to run as soon as she could! Charles was a rather two-dimensional figure, I could almost see hear him sneering as he taunted poor Buttercup, and the ending wasn't a surprise, although there were also a couple of twists. I did get to like Xenia as well after a while, although initially she seemed to spend far too much time wallowing in her mother's faded glamour, but as her life was spent following her mother around film sets and then looking after her, she probably would have had no idea how to live a "normal" life. An enjoyable read, if the ending was a bit predictable. 7/10

    What's the weather like?

    in General Chat

    Posted

    Yes it looks as if it's quite warm, haven't been out yet but was warmer this morning than it was yesterday when we had a thick frost and it was really cold first thing.  I've got lots of daffs opening out in the garden and several crocuses.

     

    Naturally it's meant to get colder and wetter by the weekend:(

    What's Up in February? - 2019

    in General Chat

    Posted

    I'm really sorry to hear that Talisman, it sounds like you really need a break too.  I think your work situation is probably quite common, and can sympathise with you as we're always getting asked to take on more work too and we're not always told exactly what we'll be doing, or if we even know how to do it, I think a lot of people are probably in similar situations at work - usual story, cut back staff etc. 

     

    I hope Coran finds the right help soon, and the situation eases up for both of you. 

    Madeleine's Book Log - ongoing

    in Book Blogs - Discuss your reading!

    Posted

    The Bear and the Nightingale" by Katherine Arden - this is the first book in the Winternight trilogy, set in Russia and featuring a girl called Vasya, who lives with her family in a small town in the countryside, and is viewed with suspicion as she is able to communicate with strange creatures, including the household demons. But the real trouble starts when her father re-marries; his new wife claims to see demons everywhere and is a religious fanatic who hates Vasya. When a prospective marriage offer is rejected, her parents threaten to send her to a convent, but before she can go she runs away into the woods, where the Frost Demon has other plans for her, for he sees her special qualities and also her potential. Meanwhile a freezing winter is taking it's toll, and various neighbours, having succumbed to either illness, the cold or old age, start coming back as vampires. Vasya and her brother manage to fight them off, but the threat is growing and eventually she has to decide whether to stay at home (and certain misery in a convent) or join the demons. I found this disappointing, although I liked Vasya's character I found it all a bit disjointed, I think perhaps I thought it might be more like the Dark Materials by Philip Pullman, but it seemed to go on forever. I may however give the sequel a go, as the early chapters at the end of this book were promising. Plus it was cheap on the web, and the cover is gorgeous.5/10

    What's the weather like?

    in General Chat

    Posted

    Sunny here as well, last night was cold so there was quite a lot of frost this morning.  Not sure what it's like out at the moment, though it's meant to get into the teens later, although that's what they said last week and it's been quite cold!:cold:

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