Janet

The Story of Beautiful Girl by Rachel Simon The ‘blurb’ On a stormy night in small-town America, a couple, desperate and soaked to the skin, knock on a stranger's door. When Martha, a retired schoolteacher, answers their knock, her world changes for ever. Her visitors are Lynnie and Homan, who have fled The School for the Incurable and Feebleminded with their newborn baby. But the police are closing in and their freedom is about to be snatched away. Moments before she is taken back to the School, bound and tied, Lynnie utters two words to Martha: 'Hide her.' And so begins the heart-rending story of Lynnie, Homan, Martha and baby Julia - lives divided by seemingly insurmountable obstacles, but drawn together by a secret pact and extraordinary love. Lynnie and Homan both live in an institution in 1960s America – Lynnie because she has learning difficulties and Homan because he is deaf. But being the 60s, things are not as they should be – the residents are treated badly, and, following abuse from a member of staff, Lynnie finds herself pregnant. She and Homan flee but it’s not long before they are tracked down. Lynnie is returned to the institution, but not before she persuades Martha, a retired and widowed teacher, to take care of her baby. Homan escapes. Told in turns by Lynnie, Homan and Martha, it follows the lives of the three characters from the 60s to the present day. This book didn’t really live up to expectations for me - I found that I didn’t really warm to any of the characters. The sections about Homan mostly bored me – Martha and Lynnie’s sections were more interesting, but I felt I plodded through it. Even though I didn’t dislike the book I didn’t overly enjoy it either and found it a bit clichéd – and the ending felt rather rushed. Not sure I’d try the author again.

I hope you enjoy it.

Tess looks like a turkey trussed up in Bacofoil! Loving the final. We missed Louis' first dance. Denise's lifts were spectacular! The 'singer' is now slaughtering Bohemian Rhapsody!

The Red Tent by Anita Diamant The ‘blurb’ Her name is Dinah. In the Bible her fate is merely hinted at in a brief and violent detour within the verses of the Book of Genesis that recount the life of Jacob and his infamous dozen sons. The Red Tent is an extraordinary and engrossing tale of ancient womanhood and family honour. Told in Dinah's voice, it opens with the story of her mothers - the four wives of Jacob - each of whom embodies unique feminine traits, and concludes with Dinah's own startling and unforgettable story of betrayal, grief and love. Deeply affecting and intimate, The Red Tent combines outstandingly rich storytelling with an original insight into women's society in a fascinating period of early history and such is its warmth and candour; it is guaranteed to win the hearts and minds of women across the world. Surely everyone knows the story of Joseph and his brothers from the bible? This is the story of their lesser-known sister, Dinah, who grows up surrounded by strong women. In the bible, her story is one of misery, and she really doesn’t feature much after a tragic event that affects her whole family. This embellishes that tale as it tells the story of her life and of her four mothers from before her birth and throughout the course of her life. It’s such a rich story – a story of love and hope, tragedy and triumph. I certainly wouldn’t have picked it up if it wasn’t a Book Club read, and I started it reluctantly, but to my surprise I found that I absolutely loved it! The women in this book were portrayed as being so strong and the story read like an epic Hollywood blockbuster, played out in glorious Technicolor in my head! It made for excellent discussion at Book Club too. Thoroughly enjoyable.

You're welcome. I do hope you enjoy it!

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness The ‘blurb’ The monster showed up just after midnight. As they do. But it isn't the monster Conor's been expecting. He's been expecting the one from his nightmare, the one he's had nearly every night since his mother started her treatments, the one with the darkness and the wind and the screaming... The monster in his back garden, though, this monster is something different. Something ancient, something wild. And it wants the most dangerous thing of all from Conor. It wants the truth… Connor’s life is falling to pieces around him. If it wasn’t bad enough that his Mum’s suffering from cancer, he’s now being visited by a monster. The monster wants Connor to tell him a story – but first the monster has three tales of his own. I don’t really want to say any more about this book – apart from ‘read it’!! I adored this book! It is definitely one of the best books of 2012 for me. I bought it back in August - it was on my Wish List and then Michelle recommended it when I met her in Bluewater in the summer. It's so beautiful that I just wanted to own it. I'm certain I will re-read it (which I seldom do) as it was just so amazing! The illustrations, by Jim Kay really make this book. In some respects I wish I’d read the non-illustrated version first as I’d be interested to see whether that affected my reaction to it – I cried a lot and was in absolute bits at the end – it’s not often a book makes me cry. However, I’m certain I would have had the same reaction whether illustrated or not – nonetheless, for me the illustrations just make the book. Finished November 2012

[Part of this review appeared in one of the Book Activity threads, so if it seems familar (if anyone reads it!) then that's why] Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator by Roald Dahl The ‘blurb’ Picking right up where Charlie and the Chocolate Factory left off, Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator continues the adventures of Charlie Bucket, his family and Willy Wonka, the eccentric candy maker. As the book begins, our heroes are shooting into the sky in a glass elevator, headed for destinations unknown. What follows is exactly the kind of high-spirited magical madness and mayhem we've all come to expect from Willy Wonka and his creator Roald Dahl. The American space race gets a send-up, as does the President, and Charlie's family gets a second chance at childhood. Throw in the Vermicious Knids, Gnoolies and Minusland and we once again witness pure genius. What kind of ridiculousness is this? I enjoyed Charlie’s exploits in the chocolate factory so was looking forward to reading some more of his adventures. My version (like my copy of CatCF) isn’t illustrated by the wonderful Quentin Blake - it's illustrated by Faith Jaques. It's just not right! However it was definitely the story I didn't like - I thought it was stupid and a bit odd... and for some reason I can't put my finger on it gave me the creeps. I read after finishing this that Dahl had intended to write a third book about Charlie Bucket but didn’t ever get round to it. Maybe if he had, Charlie would have gone out on a high but this just left me cold – however I’ve enjoyed most of the Dahls I’ve read so far, so onwards and upwards.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl The ‘blurb’ Charlie Bucket loves chocolate - and Mr Willy Wonka, the most wondrous inventor in the world, is opening the gates of his amazing chocolate factory to five lucky children. It's the prize of a lifetime! Gobstoppers, Wriggle Sweets and a river of melted chocolate delight await - Charlie needs just one golden ticket – and all these delicious treats could all be his. I know the story of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory from the Johnny Depp film and from the inferior version with Gene Wilder (Dahl himself hated this adaptation and was disappointed that Willie Wonka was made the central character (which was due to a commercial advertising campaign for a candy ‘Wonka’ bar!) instead of Charlie, and that it wasn’t a accurate adaptation of his story), but I digress... Charlie Bucket lives with his parents and four grandparents in a ramshackle house – the family is very poor so Charlie is limited to having his beloved chocolate just once a year, on his birthday. It is announced that five lucky finders of a ‘golden ticket’ will win a tour of Willie Wonka’s famous chocolate factory. By a stroke of fate, Charlie acquires one of these tickets and together with Grandpa Joe, he embarks on a wonderful adventure at the factory with the four other ticket winners. As the children travel around the factory, each one is taught a lesson until only Charlie is left – what does this mean for him? It’s difficult reviewing this because I am so familiar with the film version. I enjoyed the book although I wouldn’t say I loved it - I’m sure I would have had I read it as a child. It’s certainly not a book I’m ever likely to re-read. I bought this second-hand and it’s illustrated by Faith Jaques, rather than the more familiar Quentin Blake, of whom I’m a huge fan as an illustrator - it doesn’t quite feel right as a result of his!

I quite enjoyed Charlotte Sometimes when I read it a couple of years ago, but it is rather dated, so I can understand why it wouldn't appeal to today's youngsters. I like the 'time switch' concept, but this certainly isn't one of the best ones of that type of story.

I've never watched the Simpsons but I do like this poem. I always thought Raven's blog on here should be called 'Quoth the Raven'! (Although I don't think he has a reading thread).

Thanks. I hope you enjoy it.

Amazon.com have it available second-hand.

At the Sign of the Sugared Plum by Mary Hooper The ‘blurb’ It is 1665 and Hannah is full of excitement at the prospect of her first trip to London. She is going to help her sister, Sarah, in her candy shop, 'The Sugared Plum'. But Hannah does not get the welcoming reception she expected from her sister, because the Plague is taking hold of London. However, Hannah is determined to stay and together the two young women face the worst-with the possibility of their own demise, growing ever closer. But through it all they persevere with the support of their neighbours and each other. And at last, they find hope in a daring attempt to escape the city. Country girl Hannah heads to London to help her sister Sarah who makes sweets to sell in her shop, unaware that the city has been affected by the plague; because the letter Sarah wrote warning her not to come didn’t arrive in time. Hannah, beguiled by London the minute she arrives, determines to stay and brave it. She soon settles into life in London, catching up with an old friend from the country who now works as a maid in a prosperous household and meeting a love interest. But as the plague rampages, the girls are increasingly at risk – and soon only people who are certified as healthy are allowed to leave London. Hannah and Sarah must take a risk to leave the city, and at the same time help to save someone from a desperate situation. This is the second of Mary Hooper’s children’s books I’ve read this year and I have enjoyed them both. Hooper really captures the essence of London and of the absolute horror of the plague and tells it in a way that is acceptable for children without being patronising to adults. There is a sequel, Petals in the Ashes which I will probably try next year. (Finished 5 November)

You're welcome. And thanks again for yours.

I had started The Snow Child, but I've given up as I've come to the conclusion that December is not the right time to be reading it! I will wait until January when it's not so busy and read it then. I've started Matilda by Roald Dahl instead - it doesn't take as much thinking about as I've watched the film umpteen times! A big thank you to Kay for my Christmas present! I have put it upstairs with the family parcels for Christmas day - I can't wait to see what's inside!

I loved A Little Princess, Sacred. And The Gruffalo, Eleanor, as you can probably tell from my avatar! I think I'll probably do a new one of these at some stage in 2013 - this one was started in 2009 and we've had some members leave and lots of new members since then - it would be interesting to see if there are many changes. The one thing I found difficult when compiling the results was that some people picked The Chronicles of Narnia (and other series) as one choice - but really it would have been better if they could have singled out their favourite book from the series.

Great review of Daughters of Zion:A Family's Conversion to Polygamy, Julie. I read Escape by Carolyn Jessop on the same subject a few years ago - it was fascinating.

Oh dear! Is it the first of hers you've read? I read An Awfully Big Adventure a couple of years ago - it was quite slow and took me a while to get into. It didn't make me want to rush out and read any more!

Thanks. I think I removed it because it's a bit pricey, but I've just added it again!

Is Woman's World a graphic novel? It's ringing vague bells - I think I might have had it on my Wish List at some stage.

Burmese Days by George Orwell The ‘blurb’ Based on his experiences as a policeman in Burma, George Orwell's first novel presents a devastating picture of British colonial rule. It describes corruption and imperial bigotry in a society where, 'after all, natives were natives - interesting, no doubt, but finally ... an inferior people'. When Flory, a white timber merchant, befriends Indian Dr Veraswami, he defies this orthodoxy. The doctor is in danger: U Po Kyin, a corrupt magistrate, is plotting his downfall. The only thing that can save him is membership of the all-white Club, and Flory can help. Flory's life is changed further by the arrival of beautiful Elizabeth Lackersteen from Paris, who offers an escape from loneliness and the 'lie' of colonial life. The novel opens with a dishonest official, U Po Kyin plotting against a local man, Dr Veraswami who he dislikes immensely. By spreading lies about the doctor, suggesting that Veraswami is anti-British Kyin hopes to discredit him. Veraswami’s protection comes in the form of timber merchant Flory with whom he has a close friendship. Living in an expat community, Flory finds the other Europeans irritating and dull. He immerses himself into Burmese life, taking on a native mistress, but one day a young European woman called Elizabeth comes to stay with her aunt and uncle and Flory takes an interest in her. Worried about being saddled with her, Elizabeth’s Aunt and Uncle encourage the relationship until they learn of the imminent arrival of military police lieutenant named Verrall who they believe to be a better match. Flory must then fight to keep his relationship with Elizabeth whilst also trying to restore the reputation of his doctor friend but as Kyin’s plot reaches its climax, this is going to prove harder than Flory thought. This was Orwell’s first novel – and ironically the last of his full-length works that I have read! Published in 1934, it is based on Orwell’s life as a policeman in Burma. When first published it caused something of a stir due to its criticism of British colonial life which Orwell disliked. Some of it is rather dated (naturally) and one of the characters in particular has more of a touch of ‘Alf Garnett’ about him which the modern reader might find hard to swallow, but this character would have been fairly typical of some colonials at the time. Orwell’s descriptive, easy writing more than makes up for this though and the writing conjures up a very vivid image of the landscape. It is not my favourite of Orwell’s books (for non-fiction that would be the excellent Down and Out in Paris and London and for fiction, A Clergyman’s Daughter) but I did enjoy it. I do, however, tend to prefer his novels about poverty over the ones about politics. I am sorry to have reached the end of Orwell’s full-length books – on to the essays for me now!

I'm about to start on my annual re-read of A Christmas Carol. I tried listening to it on an audio book but found that I couldn't concentrate on the story whilst doing other stuff - I think I'll save that version for the next time I have a long car journey in a December and go back to the good old fashioned paper version!

I feel exactly the same. I don't usually have a particular problem with her but I'm not really enjoying her in this - and James' arrogance really gets on my nervous (as I used to say when I was little! ). Tonight's result was what Peter and I predicted. I don't mind Nicky, but I thought it was difficult to see where one type of dance ended and then next started. As much as I don't like James, I thought their dance was great - the changes between the two dances were really good. Although I think Nicky is a better dancer than Lisa (and so is Denise) I think she has quite a big fan base. Well, obviously she does as her dancing isn't keeping her in any longer. I do like her but I think maybe she'll go next.

I was sorry to see Michael go. I thought Dani's dance was lovely on Saturday. I just can't warm to Denise in this show - I don't know why as normally I don't have a problem with her. I think it's because she's dancing with James!