Claire's Book List 2015

[chesilbeach]

Northanger Abbey by Val McDermid

 

Synopsis (from amazon.co.uk):

Jane Austen in the hands of queen of crime, Val McDermid. Get ready for a very different Northanger Abbey.

 

Seventeen-year-old Catherine ‘Cat’ Morland has led a sheltered existence in rural Dorset, a life entirely bereft of the romance and excitement for which she yearns. So when Cat’s wealthy neighbours, the Allens, invite her to Edinburgh Festival, she is sure adventure beckons.

 

Edinburgh initially offers no such thrills: Susie Allen is obsessed by shopping, Andrew Allen by the Fringe. A Highland Dance class, though, brings Cat a new acquaintance: Henry Tilney, a pale, dark-eyed gentleman whose family home, Northanger Abbey, sounds perfectly thrilling. And an introduction to Bella Thorpe, who shares her passion for supernatural novels, provides Cat with a like-minded friend. But with Bella comes her brother John, an obnoxious banker whose vulgar behaviour seems designed to thwart Cat’s growing fondness for Henry.

 

Happily, rescue is at hand. The rigidly formal General Tilney invites her to stay at Northanger with son Henry and daughter Eleanor. Cat’s imagination runs riot: an ancient abbey, crumbling turrets, secret chambers, ghosts…and Henry! What could be more deliciously romantic?

 

But Cat gets far more than she bargained for in this isolated corner of the Scottish Borders. The real world outside the pages of a novel proves to be altogether more disturbing than the imagined world within…

 

Review:

It was with some trepidation I approached McDermid's modern retelling of Northanger Abbey, but I absolutely loved it.  It follows the original story very closely, has the same comic tone, with Catherine Morland's over exposure to gothic novels translated into a fondness for YA vampire books.   The characterisation is very good, I loved the modern interpretation of Isabella Thorpe, and even better, it's set at the Edinburgh Book Festival … what's not to love!

 

I will probably never read another book by McDermid, but I'm delighted she was chosen for this project, and am actually now looking forward to reading Joanna Trollope's Sense and Sensibility as soon as the book jar throws it out at me.

 

One of the most enjoyable reads of the year so far.  

[bookmonkey]

That sounds interesting Claire.  I like Val McDermid.  Would you recommend reading the original Northanger Abbey first though.  I do plan to at some stage.

[chesilbeach]

I think I would, although I think you could enjoy it without having read the original, I just think you'll get so much more out of it if you know the source.

[bookmonkey]

Thanks.  Off to add the original to my tbr list so I finally get round to reading it.

[frankie]

I'm sorry to hear you were sometimes somewhat bored with Pippi Do you fancy reading any other novels by Astrid Lindgren?

[chesilbeach]

I'm sorry to hear you were sometimes somewhat bored with Pippi Do you fancy reading any other novels by Astrid Lindgren?

 

That's not what I said!!! I thought if I read too many chapters in one go, I *would* get bored, so I made sure I only read one or two at a time to prevent that.  The thing with this style of children's book is that they work best if you only read one chapter at a time, probably at bedtime, and like I said, if I had a young child to read it to, I'm sure I would have loved that experience.  Some children's books are more linear in their storyline so you can read the whole thing in one go, but this was more a collection of stories just using the same characters, which is why I felt it better to read one or two at a time.

 

I think if her books are all aimed at that younger age range, then I probably wouldn't.  Has she written any thing for older children or adults?

[nursenblack]

I am definitely adding Northanger Abbey by Val McDermid to my wishlist.  I haven't read the original, but this sounds pretty good anyhow.

[chesilbeach]

After meeting up with Kay yesterday, I've got nine(!) more books on by TBR list, which now stands at 64 books 

 

We don't have any more holidays for a while, so I'm definitely going into no buying mode.  I have pre-ordered some books for authors who have books published in the next few months, but I don't think it's more than 5 or 6 books, and I have one book that came out a couple of weeks ago, that I've been trying to find, and will hopefully get today, so once that's done, I'm putting myself on lockdown.  I'm not even going to look at the Kindle deals.  I need to reduce seriously concentrate of getting this number down.

 

Having said that, Kay has lent me some corkers!  

 

The whole of the St Clare series by Enid Blyton

Campari for Breakfast by Sara Crowe (have been coveting this one for ages)

Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress by Dai Sijie

If On A Winter's Night A Traveller by Italo Calvino.

[Athena]

I hope you enjoy all your new and loaned books !

[frankie]

 

That's not what I said!!! I thought if I read too many chapters in one go, I *would* get bored, so I made sure I only read one or two at a time to prevent that.  The thing with this style of children's book is that they work best if you only read one chapter at a time, probably at bedtime, and like I said, if I had a young child to read it to, I'm sure I would have loved that experience.  Some children's books are more linear in their storyline so you can read the whole thing in one go, but this was more a collection of stories just using the same characters, which is why I felt it better to read one or two at a time.

 

I think if her books are all aimed at that younger age range, then I probably wouldn't.  Has she written any thing for older children or adults?

 

I'm sorry, I worded it in a very lazy fashion  I did mean I was sorry that you were in danger of finding it boring if you kept on reading and didn't pause at certain intervals. I did get what you meant but I just phrased it very poorly  

 

Lindgren's books are largely written for children, yes. I don't think she's written anything for adults... She's written a series called Kati for older teenagers but I didn't find them nearly as good as her other stuff. So I don't know if I can recommend anything to you... I love her Brothers Lionheart, and it's not like Pippi in that there's an actual plot in the book, but I don't know... I wonder if Kay has a copy, I can't remember if I've sent her one? If she has, and if she reads it, she can then maybe tell you if you'd like it. That's as far as I'll go in 'recommending' it to you  

 

I hope you like Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress!  

[chesilbeach]

The Bloody Tower and The Black Ship by Carola Dunn

Synopsis for The Bloody Tower:
Daisy discovers fresh blood in a tower infamous through history for dark deeds… Daisy continues her journalistic career by writing a piece for a new magazine on the Tower of London. On her visit she's not only given a tour of the Crown Jewels, she's also introduced to the Raven Master and the Yeoman Warders - and most importantly, she's been invited to attend the Ceremony of the Keys ritual, which involves spending the night in the haunted Bloody Tower. Having survived the night, Daisy can't wait to get away the next morning and in her eagerness to leave, trips over the body of a yeoman warder. Daisy instantly realises that this is murder most foul on account of the halberd sticking out of his back. And with Alec assigned to investigate the case, Daisy one again finds herself enmeshed in a case of an unexplained murder at the Tower…

Synopsis for The Black Ship:
Set in a small circle of houses with a communal garden, it seems like the idyllic setting – that is, until a murder victim turns up under the bushes of the communal garden.

Now rumours of bootleggers, American gangsters and an international liquor smuggling operation via black ships turn everything upside down. Alec, in his role as Scotland Yard detective, has been assigned to ferret out the truth behind the murder – but it is up to Daisy to find out who the dead man is, what his relationship with her new neighbours was, why he was murdered – and who it was who did him in!

Review:
Every series must have its ups and downs, and for me The Bloody Tower was one of the downs. Set in the Tower of London, I found the location confusing (despite being provided with a site map), and it was such an insular environment, I found the quite large roster of characters a bit confusing, and if I'm honest, it was just a bit dull.

The Black Ship, however, was a step back in the right direction. I love how Daisy's personal story has moved on, I liked the new location and the new cast of characters, and the mystery was interesting and I got more involved than the previous book.

[chesilbeach]

The Quilter's Apprentice by Jennifer Chiaverini
 
Synopsis (from amazon.co.uk):
When Sarah McClure and her husband, Matt, move to the small town of Waterford, Pennsylvania, to get a fresh start, Sarah struggles to find a fulfilling job. Disheartened by failed interviews, she reluctantly accepts a temporary position at Elm Creek Manor helping seventy-five-year-old Sylvia Compson prepare her family estate for sale after the recent death of Sylvia's estranged sister. As part of her compensation, Sarah is taught how to quilt by this reclusive, cantankerous master quilter.
During their lessons, Mrs. Compson slowly opens up to Sarah, sharing powerful, devastating stories of her life as a young woman on the World War II home front. Hearing tales of how Mrs. Compson's family was torn apart by tragedy, jealousy, and betrayal, Sarah is forced to confront uncomfortable truths about her own family -- truths that she has denied for far too long. As the friendship between the two women deepens, Mrs. Compson confides that although she would love to remain at her beloved family estate, Elm Creek Manor exists as a constant, unbearable reminder of her role in her family's misfortune. For Sarah, there can be no greater reward than teaching Mrs. Compson to forgive herself for her past mistakes, restoring life and joy to her cherished home.
 
Review:
This was recommended to me by Diane, who thought I would enjoy it as I've started quilting myself.  It's a gentle story, but I enjoyed reading the story of someone also starting out in quilting, learning the techniques and terms, and making friends with other quilters.  I'm definitely going to read more of the series, perfect gentle reading for relaxing breaks.

[chesilbeach]

Summer at the Little Beach Street Bakery by Jenny Colgan

 

Synopsis (from amazon.co.uk):

Summer has arrived in the Cornish town of Mount Polbearne and Polly Waterford couldn't be happier. Because Polly is in love: she's in love with the beautiful seaside town she calls home, she's in love with running the bakery on Beach Street, and she's in love with her boyfriend.

 

And yet there's something unsettling about the gentle summer breeze that's floating through town. Selina, recently widowed, hopes that moving to Mount Polbearne will ease her grief, but Polly has a secret that could destroy her friend's fragile recovery. Responsibilities that her boyfriend thought he'd left behind are back and Polly finds it hard to cope with his increasingly long periods of absence.

 

Polly sifts flour, kneads dough and bakes bread, but nothing can calm the storm she knows is coming: is Polly about to lose everything she loves?

 

Review:

This is the follow up to The Little Beach Street Bakery, and I have to say, it was just as good as the first … perhaps even better.  I love Jenny Colgan's romcoms.  Her eceptively simple and easy style makes it a joy to read, and although romanticised, it's still got its feet in reality, with a heartwarming story that makes you feel good.

[chesilbeach]

The Beautifull Cassandra by Jane Austen

 

Synopsis (from amazon.co.uk):

A selection of Austen's dark and hilarious early writings - featuring murder, drunkenness, perjury, theft, poisoning, women breaking out of prison, men forging wills and babies biting off their mothers' fingers...

 

Review:

These were interesting to read. The naivety of the story telling, with all the spelling mistakes left in, a unique look at the emergence of one of the greats of English literature.

[chesilbeach]

The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson

 

Synopsis (from amazon.co.uk):

Sixteen-year-old American girl Rory has just arrived at boarding school in London when a Jack the Ripper copycat-killer begins terrorising the city. All the hallmarks of his infamous murders are frighteningly present, but there are few clues to the killer’s identity.

 

“Rippermania” grabs hold of modern-day London, and the police are stumped with few leads and no witnesses. Except one. In an unknown city with few friends to turn to, Rory makes a chilling discovery…

 

Could the copycat murderer really be Jack the Ripper back from the grave?

 

Review:

This YA was a lot more grisly than I would normally read, but it was an intriguing story nonetheless. I was halfway through it on holiday, and had just finished reading the end of a particularly creepy chapter where the heroine is in jeopardy, and I went to start again later in the day and my Kindle had broken! I'd normally never end at a point like that on my own, but fortunately managed to replace the broken Kindle by the evening, so was able to read another chapter to leave it in a bit better place before I went to sleep that night!

 

It was quite a good read, although, at the very end there is an incident that happens which I just felt took the story too far. I can't say too much, but it's obviously an ending that was needed in order to set up a series of books, and although I realise it's a supernatural story and therefore all rather unbelievable, this last action made it that bit too unrealistic for me.

 

The Boy in the Smoke by Maureen Johnson

 

Synopsis (from amazon.co.uk):

On a cold night, Stephen Dene went to the Eton boathouse to perform a desperate act. But someone stopped him along the way, sending his life in a new and decidedly strange direction--leading him to London, to two new friends, and to a world of shadows and mystery.

 

Review:

This short story is kind of a prequel to The Name of the Star, telling us more about who Steven Dene is and how he came to be in the story of the first book. Quite enjoyable reading after finished the book.

[Nollaig]

Maureen Johnson is one I have never gotten around to reading, despite her association with John Green whom I adore, and The Name of the Star is the title I've been meaning to get around to. Might, now that you've reminded me of it. Shame about the ending, though.

[Athena]

Nice reviews! I don't own Summer at the Little Beach Street Bakery, but I own the first one as well as several other books by Jenny Colgan. I hope to read at least one of them this summer.

[chesilbeach]

Maureen Johnson is one I have never gotten around to reading, despite her association with John Green whom I adore, and The Name of the Star is the title I've been meaning to get around to. Might, now that you've reminded me of it. Shame about the ending, though.

 

It's just the last chapter really.  The main body of the story is perfectly fine, and the resolution of the crimes is good, just a little niggle about that last chapter that took it a tad too far for me.  Chrissy also read it (her review made me buy it in the first place ) and enjoyed it.

[Nollaig]

Well, tis on my tablet now so no going back! Might start it alongside my current read, maybe.

[chesilbeach]

Will try and catch up on some reviews soon, but so many to do, it might take me a while.

 

In other news, one of my favourite children's authors is doing a signing this weekend at my local Waterstone's, but wonder if I'll stand out like a sort thumb as a forty-something woman with a handful of children's books to be signed, so not sure whether to go or not.  I'm shy enough as it is in public situations with people I don't know, and worried I'll look like an idiot if everyone else there is 10 years old (or at least accompanying a child).  

[Nollaig]

Go for it Claire, who cares what they think! What author is it?

[Janet]

I would offer to come with you but I'm busy on Saturday.  I say go anyway - I think you'll regret it if you don't. 

[chesilbeach]

Thanks Noll. The author is Emma Carroll.

[chesilbeach]

Thanks Janet. I think I probably will go … I can always just sneak away if I feel *too* awkward!

[Alexi]

If you go and it's full of kids you can always pretend you just wanted a browse in Waterstone's! But I bet there are likely to be a few adults there as well and I think Janet is right, you don't want to regret not going