Esiotrot
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A Partisans Daughter by Louis de Bernieres ~ 3/5 Synopsis from Amazon Chris is in his forties: bored, lonely, trapped in a loveless, sexless marriage. He's a stranger to the 1970s youth culture of London, a stranger to himself on the night he invites a prostitute into his car. Roza is Yugoslavian, recently moved to London. She's in her twenties, but has already lived a life filled with danger, misadventure, romance, and tragedy. And though she's not a prostitute, when she's propositioned by Chris, she gets into his car anyway. Over the next few months Roza tells Chris the stories of her past. She's a fast-talking Scheherazade, saving her own life by telling it to Chris. And he takes in her tales as if they were oxygen in an otherwise airless world. But is Roza telling the truth? Does it even matter? Review This is the first book by De Bernieres I have read and from his reputation it sadly wasnt what I expected. Chris is a medical salesman who appears to be having a midlife crisis, he becomes obsessed with a younger immigrant woman called Roza, who encourages him to visit her. These visits consist of Roza telling some almost unbelievable stories of her past and result in Chris becoming all the more obsessed with her. Chris is a sad character and the result of his relationship with mysterious Roza is more unanswered questions. Despite the focus on Roza and her history, I completed the book doubting the truth of her stories and feeling like I knew little about her present. I personally felt this book would have been improved if Chris had been the only narrator, rather than jumping between both Chris and Roza. This would have added to the mystery of Roza and gave a broader understanding of Chris's feelings.
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Your review of The Way Home by George Pelecanos has convinced me I need to read it - added to my wish list! k x
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This is quite near the top of my Mount TBR so would love any opinions on it k x
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Yep pretty sure that English schools do A Levels and the Scottish equivilent are Highers - I did enjoy it but had to go back to my old high school and join the 17 year olds as there is no college here. I stupidly droppped out of school at 16 while doing my highers first time round so am pleased I did it.
There are loads of new faces here - missing a few oldies though - does Paula (happyanddandy) still come on?
K x x
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Hi Janet - Oooh looking forward to your views on The Little Stranger as its on my wish list. I have Fingersmith by the same author so planning to read that first to ensure I like her style. K x
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Hi Janet -
Thanks for the message, lovely to see an old friend - didnt think anyone would remember me so tried to sneak in!
Been busy ~ added an extension to the house, got a puppy and been caring for my 89 year old Granny. Somewhere in the middle I went back to school and did my English and History highers - bit scary being twice the age of everyone else in my class. Reading for study sort of killed reading for pleasure and it took me ages to get back my mojo back.
Anything new with you?
Karol x
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Acchh here and there ~ added an extension to the house, got a puppy and been caring for my 89 year old Granny. Somewhere in the middle I went back to school and did my English and History highers - bit scary being twice the age of everyone else in my class. Reading for study sort of killed reading for pleasure and it took me ages to get back my mojo back.
Its so nice to read a familiar name as I doubted anyone would remember me.
Anything new with you?
Karol x
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Ooopsie!! Thanks Diane (lovely to see a familiar face) - I stand corrected Nicci is actually the female half of the Nicci French thriller writing couple - I havent read anything else by her but will certainly be keeping an eye out for her other books. x
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The Winter House by Nicci Gerrard ~ 5/5 Synopsis from Amazon When Marnie receives a phone call that summons her to the side of a once-beloved friend, she is wrenched from her orderly London life and sent back into a past from which she has fled but never escaped. Ralph, Marnie and Oliver once knew each other well and are still inextricably bound by ties of love and betrayal. Now they meet again in Ralph’s secluded cottage in the Scottish highlands, to spend the precious days that Ralph has left with each other. As they reminisce, Marnie is taken back to the summer years ago when everything changed between them and heartbreak and desire broke up their little group. Will Ralph have the chance to say what needs to be said before it’s too late? And can they put the devastating events of twenty years ago to rest and rekindle the intimacy they once shared? Review The Winter House is a beautifully written book about of 3 friends who reunite after almost 20 years to care for Ralph who is dying, they spend their last days together retelling the story of their friendship. Marnie the main character tells the majority of the tale with Ralphs memories interjecting in thoughts rather than spoken voice. A remote cottage in Scotland provides the backdrop to this heart renching story in which the main characters recall their shared memories of childhood. Their history complicated and intertwined with the summer setting of most of the memories reflecting the hotbed of feelings, emotions and confusion of the characters teenage years. The contrast of the wintery, snowy cottage the characters are in effectively conveys the bleakness of their situation. The cover of the book initially attracted my attention - the deep blue drew me in and I spent some time looking at the picture taking in each detail considering the cold isolation of the cottage and the warmth within. After reading I was struck by how effectively the cover conveys both the main characters. This is a poignient and touching novel which makes you consider your own teenage years, lost or forgotten friendships and all the experiances which are the building blocks of your character. Gerrards writing is exquisitely tender and the characters are warm and believable. A wonderfully haunting book which I adored - highly recommended.
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All The Things We Didnt Say by Sara Shepard 4/5 Synopsis Emotional, issue-led fiction perfect for all fans of The Memory Keeper's Daughter and Jodi Picoult Tragedy came as if so often does: a teenage party, emotions running high, followed by a horrific car crash. A girl is left dead and a boy is forced to leave his home town, with a secret that he will carry with him forever! Years later, when Summer's mother disappears one summer, she is left with her father. Obsessed with an accident from years ago, he slowly descends into mental illness. And as he becomes more disorientated, he reveals small fragments of a secret that has been hidden since his youth, a secret that changes everything. Summer supports her father as much as she can but eventually realises that she has to escape. She finds refuge with her great-aunt, Stella. Feisty, fun-loving, and dying of cancer, Stella holds parts of the family secret. Slowly, things fall into place for Summer - or at least so she thinks! This is a story of the importance of family, of the damage a lie can do, and of how nothing is ever what it seems. Early reviewer copy from Library Thing. I enjoyed this book ~ its a coming of age story of detailing Summer, her clinically depressed father and various members of their family. There are a few bit of the story which are really insightful, humerous and tender, but unfortunatley in other areas the story falls flat, this left me wondering if the author had lost the thread of her idea. There are a few things that fall too neatly together, I personally think the author tried to cover too many things and would have been focusing on just a couple and developing those further. All in all it is a good read but its not a book I would have picked up as the cover infers a light and fluffy chick lit romance type novel and this is a disservice as the book is better than the cover suggests.
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Hi folks ~ It has been a while hope everyone is well? I have had a lot going on and my reading mojo has been in hibernation but has now awoken and my appetite for books is back Hence my new shiny reading list to record and rate the books I have read. I will also be adding some reviews as I go along but doubt I will ever find the time to add Mount TBR as it rather large! 1. The Secret by Rhonda Byrne ~ Dip Reading 2. My **** Life So Far by Frankie Boyle ~ Unfinished but will go back to 3. We Need To Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver ~ 4/5 4. The English Patient by Michael Ondaatjeh ~ 3/5 5. The Pools by Bethan Roberts ~ 3.5/5 6. All The Things We Didnt Say by Sara Shepard ~ 4/5 7. One Day by David Nicholls ~ 4.5/5 8. The Daughter Game by Kate Long ~ 3/5 9. The Talented Mr Ripley by Patricia Highsmith ~ 4/5 10. The Graft by Martina Cole ~ 3.5/5 11. The Winter House by Nicci Gerrard ~ 5/5 12. A Partisans Daughter by Louis de Bernieres ~ 3/5 13. The Cutting Room by Louise Welsh ~ 3.5/5 14. Fingersmith by Sarah Waters ~ 5/5 15. Behind The Scenes At The Museum by Kate Atkinson ~ 3/5 16. Lullaby by Claire Seeber ~ 4/5 17. What Ever Love Means by David Baddiel ~ Abandoned 18. The Luminous Life of Lilly Aphrodite by Beatrice Colin 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25.
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Over the years I have spent a fortune on glossy & gossip magazines but have managed to ween myself off them. What a waste of money! they are mainly adverts and reprints of interviews that were in the others the week/month before. I do still occassionally buy magazines - usually when I like the look of the free gift. I won a subscription to New Books Magazine from a fantastic website which I love and I will continue the subscription when the year is out.
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I like a story I can believe in - if I doubt it could happen then I just cant get into it. Contemporary Fiction is a wide genre but probably covers all my bases!
I actually find it easier to say the books I avoid - Chick lit, Romance, 'stories of my tortured childhood' white cover books, historical fiction, war and spy type books - I am soo fussy LOL!
My favs this year to date include The Kite Runner, Book Thief and The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox.
What do you like to read?
KX
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I am turning into a desperate housewife LOL! We had home made Lentil, Pepper and smoked sausage soup with home made bread for lunch and for dinner home made Pizza and then home made hobnobs with a cup of tea! Asides from saving a bit of money, I am actually really enjoying making everything from scratch. Kx
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The Story of a Marriage by Andrew Sean Greer
Esiotrot replied to Lilywhite's topic in General Fiction
Hi Kat I also received this book as Early Reviewer from Library Thing - so relieved to read I am not the only one struggling. I have been trying to read it for almost a week and am only on page 83. I absolutley echo your thoughts on the book, there is just no spark about it - I thought it was just me! I have had some trouble with my reading mojo being MIA so though that was the problem. I would have given up a couple of days ago if this book wasnt a review copy. I have so many other wonderful looking books I want to read, but I am actually avoiding reading at the moment. I am now feeling less guilty about giving up on this book now I have read this, its like a weight has been lifted! KxXx -
Sorry folks - I really didnt like this book Too much happening too fast - it was a bit far fetched for me. Good job we dont all like the same books
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A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini
Esiotrot replied to everydayxangels's topic in General Fiction
I have had this book for ages but felt I needed a rest from Afganistan after reading Kabul Beauty School and the Kite Runner quite close together. Once I get past my 'have to read pile' (bookring & review) I will be reading this. I am really looking forward to it. Kx -
oooocha bright page LOL! I am back! Nice to read you - Its going to take me months to catch up on all the posts since I have been away. Hope all is well with you and yours
Kx
