chesilbeach
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Posts posted by chesilbeach
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Hello!
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Hello!
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Started The Secret Agent by Joseph Conrad, and found out that my reservation for Fallen by Lauren Kate has arrived at the library
unfortunately I can't collect it until Friday though -
The upper part of the shoe that helps hold it onto the foot is also called the vamp.
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teamedward - that comment was from June 2008 before the leak. The last statement on her website about it is from August 2008 (post leaked draft) and says "... I feel too sad about what has happened to continue working on Midnight Sun, and so it is on hold indefinitely."
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Ive read the Xmas Factor by Annie Sanders and I really enjoyed that. What other book by them can you recommend for me to read? I like reading a wide range of books so any recommendations would be good
I've enjoyed all their books:
Goodbye, Jimmy Choo (2004)
Warnings of Gales (2005)
The Xmas Factor (2006)
Busy Woman Seeks Wife (2007)
The Gap Year for Grown-Ups (2008)
Getting Mad, Getting Even (2009)
I think my two favourites have been "Busy Woman Seeks Wife" and "Getting Mad, Getting Even" so I'd definitely recommend them, but they're all good entertainment!
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Title: The Shoe Queen
Author: Anna Davis
Publisher: Black Swan
Rating: 4/5
Synopsis (from blurb on book cover):
Society beauty Genevieve Shelby King devotes her life to partying with the artists and writers of Montparnasse. But despite her rich husband, glamorous apartment and enormous shoe collection, there is something hollow at the centre of Genevieve's charmed life.
When she spots a pair of exquisite shoes on the feet of an arch rival, her whole collection suddenly seems worthless. The exclusive designer Paolo Zachari, renowned for his fabulous shoes and eccentric behaviour, hand-picks his clients according to whim - and he has determined to say no to Genevieve.
As her desire for the pair of unobtainable shoes develops into an obsession with their creator, Genevieve is forced to confront the emptiness at the heart of her own elaborately designed life.
Review:
The story is set in 1920s Paris and is such a deceptive book, starting off with a seemingly shallow tale of a beautiful, rich young woman coveting the exclusive, exquisite shoes made by Zachari, but as the story progresses, we learn of where Genevieve's obsession with shoes stems from and the emotionally charged story of her past. The female characters in the story are so well written, and we get exposed of all sorts of women, from the bohemian artiste Lulu of Montparnasse to Olga, the severe assistant of the shoemaker. Even the briefest of glimpses into the life of secretary Marie-Claire are a fascinating insight into women's lives in the period.
I love Genevieve's journey in this book, as she grows and faces up to the past she has been trying to forget, and learns about herself and the direction she wants her life to take. The ending was a surprise for a book of this style, and I was very satisfied with how the story ended, and I can't say anymore than that without giving it all away!
The only thing I would say is that I'm not a girly girl and I certainly don't covet shoes myself (I live in walking boots!), but I could picture the beautiful shoes that Genevieve desires so badly, and I suspect even I would fall in love with the unique, hand crafted masterpieces made by Zachari as they are so beautifully described in how they look, the process of designing and making them, the way they caress the foot and how they make the wearer feel.
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Finished the excellent The Shoe Queen by Anna Davis. If only ii were still around, I could thank her for the fantastic recommendation.
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All the classic I have are in paperback.
I have a lot of the standard Penguin Classics (black spine with the coloured banding), most of which were purchased approx 20 years ago and have aged well, with no problems with pages falling out or too much yellowing or pages becoming brittle, and the newer ones seem to be of the same quality. I also love the design of the modern classics they do - books like Bonjour Tristesse by Fran
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I read it a couple of years ago with my reading group, so my memory is a bit hazy on it, but it was my first Picoult book, and I remember I didn't enjoy it much. I just found the characters annoying and a bit dull, then if I remember rightly, when it got to the courtroom section it was like rehashing the same story and I didn't really care what the outcome was.
We went onto read another Picoult book last year, and I found out that nearly all her books are story then courtroom drama, and I didn't like that either.
There are lots of others on the forum who love her books though, so I'm sure you get the opposite viewpoint from someone else!
ETA: Just noticed you're now reading an Annie Sanders book - YAY! They're my favourite chick-lit authors - I think they've developed their writing as chick-lit has grown up, and I love their books. Hope you enjoy it too
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Urggh, I forgot Nurse Jackie was on That has to be one of the best shows I've seen for a while!
I love it! I'm gutted that after a week of an episode every night, it's gone to episodes once a week on a Monday night - now I've got to wait a whole week before the next one
Tonights episode is being repeated on Saturday on BBC Four at 10:30pm, Fi, or it's on the iPlayer now.
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Just finished watching Nurse Jackie, and now about to watch Mock The Week
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Hello Sarah!
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Friends (again
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It really depends on the man and his taste in reading! My friend is a stickler for what he considers good writing, and he loves what he says are the better Austen novels (Mansfield Park, Persuasion, Sense and Sensibility), likes some of the others (Pride and Prejudice, Northanger Abbey) and dislikes the rest.
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Great review, Kell! I've read all the books in the series, and this one is still my favourite, and the one I re-read most often
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Read about 120 pages of The Shoe Queen by Anna Davis today, and I'm so pleased ii recommended it, as I absolutely adore it so far! Will try and finish it this evening if I can.
I'm reading Can't Be Arsed 101 Things not to do before you die by Richard Wilson. It's pretty funny so far.I got that for Christmas! Good to hear it's funny so I can look forward to reading it now
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I'm really pleased you enjoyed Dime Store Magic, peacefield!
You've got Industrial Magic next - I liked that better than Dime Store Magic, so I hope you do too.
Last Letter Word Game (part 3)
in Quiz Room / Thread Games Jokes etc
Posted
Mankind