Kate's Reading

[Kate]

Synopsis from Amazon:

He's my teacher. I shouldn't be alone with him. But I can't help that he's irresistible. I let the door silently close at my back. He stared at me, and a taut quiet stretched between us. "I like hearing you play," I said, moving toward him. He turned, in sync with my slow approach. He looked up at me but didn't say anything. I rested my clammy hand on the cold, slick body of the baby grand. "May I?" The muscles in his throat shifted, then he swallowed. "Eden." My knees weakened, like a soft tickling kiss had just been blown against the backs of them. "Is it okay?" I asked. His gaze held mine like two hands joined. He understood what I was really asking. "Let me stay," I said. "Please." "You're going to get me in trouble," he said.

 

I cannot rate this book highly enough. It is the best book I have read in ages. I completed it in two sittings; I was gripped from the first page.

I loved the characters, especially Eden, the protagonist. Warwick wrote her in such an amazing way that I completely connected with her and felt all the emotions she did. I was so in tune with her that when she cried, so did I.

 

 

 

The story was so well written. Warwick explored friendship, love, high school, family, death and music. The description of some of the pieces James played were breathtaking, and I could almost hear them. Watching Eden mature and fall in love was beautiful. Feelings were explained magnificantly. To see broken relationships patched up and repaired was lovely, and realistic. Every issue Warwick wrote about was successful. Even the relationship between Eden and James was sensitively written, and believable. I could easily see this happening in reality, playing out just like it does in the book. James was a lovely character. I fell in love with him too, it is hard not too!

 

 

I am so happy to have read this book. Nothing has left my disappointed. I loved the ending, the sense of maturity, adulthood, and adventure into the next chapter of Eden's life was amazing.

 

 

I don't have a bad word to say about the book.

 

 

10/10

[Kate]

I started reading American Quest by Sienna Skyy but just couldn't get into it. I'm happy to send it to anyone who wants to read it. I'm going to settle down and finish The Tenderness of Wolves now, then back onto review books and book ring books

[Inver]

Season of Eden might be worth a read I think. I thought there was a bookring for this, but must have been something else. Just have to add it to TBR pile

[Kate]

This book is the memoirs of Wal Hannington from the 1930s. This is the decade remembered for mass unemployment, the decline of the staple industries, the removal of slum housing and the depression. It was an interesting book to read as a primary source for studying the 1930s, however Hannington himself annoyed me. We read about how he was Communist, and was imprisoned for that; how he was an active member of the National Unemployed Workers Movement - and the many clashes with the police he had and all the campaigns he was involved in. It was an interesting read as we don't hear about him out looking for work, instead we read about him campaigning for better pay for employers, attempting to get trade unions on his side, his problems with the government and the benefits he is on and his general dissatisfaction with the "capitalist government" leadership. Although a very interesting point of view, it was these things about him that annoyed me. I just wanted to tell him to stop moaning and go get a job!! This book was a good historical source, but one must remember Hannington's bias when reading it.

 

 

7/10

[Kate]

The Wise Woman: Philippa Gregory

As I have said before, I've decided to try and avoid books about the occult/magic etc. and this book started off fine (I did know it was going to feature in the book) however it became very heavy and for that reason I have chosen to put it down, which is a shame because I was really enjoying it.

[Kate]

Blood Ties: Sam Hayes

I have decided to put this book down too because one of the characters was using tarot cards and considering contacting the dead and I am not reading books that involve the occult if I can help it.

[Kate]

Alan Carr: Look Who It Is!

 

From the front cover flap:

Hello and welcome to my life.

Oh, and what a life! From the grimness of doing data entry for Mr Dog to the dizzy heights of `The Friday Night Project' and performing for Her Majesty at the Royal Variety Performance. My life's been like a long flume, up and down with a couple of damp patches in the middle.

Take my hand, I want to lead you through my life. Within these pages you will come face to face with my parents, my dog Minstrel, my friends and a whole load of waifs and strays that have helped to make my journey that little bit more memorable. When you read Look Who It Is! I'm sure you'll agree - it's just been one thing after another.

 

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would recommend it to all. It follows Alan's life up until he accepts the offer to host The Friday Night Project with Justin Lee Colins. It is easy to read, interesting and engaging. He was very honest and I feel I know him now, and would like to meet him. It was very enlightening, I had thought Alan had been on the comedy scene for longer than he has. In fact, it was around 2005 he began to get famous.

 

 

Alan does not just talk about comedy though. He speaks of his family, including his famous, football manager Dad, Graham Carr and all his life experiences to date, which include university, travelling around the world and horrid temp jobs such as working in a call centre. There were several things in this book I could relate too, which made it even more enjoyable.

The book was not as funny as I was expecting it to be, however it did have me laughing and chuckling in places so I don't feel particularly let down.

 

 

This is a great book; an honest story where Alan says it like it is, and doesn't go for the sympathy vote. It is a bit cheeky that he has left the door open for a sequel in a few years, but hey, good for him.

An enjoyable book.

 

 

9/10

[Kate]

Happy Families by Adele Parks:

 

Synopsis from Amazon:

Lisa is forty-two, divorced and a mum of three. For the past year, Lisa has been going out with Mark, who is five years younger than her. Lisa really likes him but she worries that one day he will leave - just like her ex-husband did. On top of everything else, Lisa feels really tired and moody, and has put on weight. She thinks it's the menopause but could there be another reason for how she's feeling? Lisa's life is about to change in a big way but does she want Mark by her side? Does he even want to be there? With the help of her family and friends, Lisa starts to believe that a second chance of love and happiness might just be possible.

 

This was a fun quick read. I enjoyed this book however I didn't find the menopause story line convincing. Being 42 she should have been more clued up. The problem with the Quick Reads is that they aren't long enough to get in touch with the characters however, I did get emotionally involved with the lead character Lisa, just not the others. It was interesting briefly exploring family dynamics and how people punish others for other people's mistakes. It was nice to see a happy ending and everything resolved. It was an easy read and I read the book in one day. I would love to read this story in a full novel, there is potential here for a great book. A good, quick read!

7/10

[Kate]

I have to say I was disappointed with this book.

Synopsis:

BOOK 1 OF THE TAWFORD CHRONICLES: A STORY OF INTRIGUE, PASSION AND BETRAYAL IN THE ENGLISH CIVIL WAR. Devon, September, 1642: Charles I has raised his standard and declared war on Parliament. The South West is in danger of being lost to his cause. It is imperative that the King's men continue to fight on. On the Somerset marshes, Roundhead soldiers capture a vagrant carrying vital information, but he is not what he seems. He is ALEXANDER DYNAM of TAWFORD. Deadly with a blade, a master of disguise and a Royalist spy. Widely and wrongly believed to be the 'person of dubious parentage' son of his guardian, Viscount Westley, he has to cope with learning the truth of his parentage and accepting that he cannot reveal his feelings of love for Ellen, the woman everyone thinks is his aunt. As the country spirals into bloody civil war Tawford buries his frustration in acts of reckless courage and debauchery and faces dangers that go beyond the Royalists' struggle for supremacy in the South West. Somebody wants him dead, but who? And why? What is the secret of his identity and does it hold the key? Seeking help from Cobb, leader of a band of outlawed Exmoor gypsies, and the lovely Arabella, an accomplished actress and spy, Tawford is drawn inexorably into a tangled web of intrigue, murder and deceit that carries him and his faithful band of followers from Exmoor to London, to Cornwall in service of the King.

There were a lot of characters, and I just could not remember who was who and who was fighting for which side. It was a descriptive book which made me laugh in places, but the story took a while to get going and sometimes it was too descriptive and graphic, leaving violent images in my mind. This book was a let down I'm afraid.

[Kate]

I have read this book as part of my Master's course.

Synopsis:

This volume addresses some of the difficult issues surrounding women

[Kate]

Yesterday I finished The Rose of Sebastopol by Katharine McMahon and I really enjoyed it. My review is here

[Jo-Bridge]

I like the sound of that one- and i know my mum would love it ! Might buy as a xmas present and then borrow it!

[Kate]

Both me and my Mum enjoyed the book

 

I have just finished The Other Queen by Philippa Gregory. My review is here

[Kate]

This morning I finished The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid by Bill Bryson. I posted my review in the non-fiction forum

[Kate]

I started The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux because I enjoyed the musical so much, but I didn't get on with it so well so have stopped reading it. It wasn't much like the musical and written so well it properly creeped me out so I have put it down. I think I just scare easily.

[Michelle]

Ooh.. that sounds good! Did you stop it just because it was creepy, is it otherwise a good book?

[Kate]

Yeah I only stopped it because it is creepy and I'm a wuss, other than that it was a good read.

 

I have just finished Don't Shout at the Guns by Lawrence Harris. It is a young adult's book based around WWI. My review is here.

[Kate]

I read Deluded by Dawkins? by Andrew Wilson and posted a review in the non-fiction section.

 

Yesterday I started Jodi Picoult's Tenth Circle but have put it down. Picoult is an incredible writer but the problem was the issue - self harm and running away. It was just a bit too close to home for me.

[Kate]

Today I finishedA Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. Here is my review:

 

Synopsis from Amazon:

Ebenezer Scrooge, whose name is now synonymous with greed and parsimony, believes Christmas to be 'humbug'. Refusing to donate any of his fortune to the poor, he comforts himself by saying, 'I don't make merry myself at Christmas, and I can't afford to make idle people merry.' But then the ghost of his old partner, Jacob Marley, returns from the grave to haunt him. Dragging a long and heavy chain, representing his mant sins, Marley sends down the three spirits of Christmas Past, Present and Future to warn Scrooge against a similar fate...

 

This is an extremely well known story, and there have been many adaptations of the book, however, I would heartily recommend people read the book. It is a thoroughly enjoyable book, which I loved right from the beginning. Dickens is engaging, and writes in such a descriptive way I felt like I was there with Scrooge on his journey. Dickens looks at family, Christmas, community, poverty, wealth and personality, but in a light-hearted and engaging way. However, a message is conveyed throughout the book - don't be miserable, selfish, rude and tight-fisted towards those in need.

My favourite character was probably Fred, Scrooge's nephew. He was full of life, able to stand up to Scrooge, and embraced him as a family member even though Scrooge did not want to be accepted.

There is so much that can be said of this book, many issues raised, a whole life looked at and of course Dickens as a writer. I think he tactfully looks at poverty vs. the rich, and makes a point that people with money should be sharing, and that life would be better for those in need, and those in ill-health if charity was given. My favourite period in Scrooge's life was probably when he was a young man, an apprentice, full of life and fun. Had he kept on that road, his life would have been full of family, community and happiness. And as for Dickens, he is wonderful writer and I can find no faults with this book, I loved it.

10/10

[Kate]

Today I also finished Five Quarters of the Orange by Joanne Harris and really enjoyed it. 9/10

[Kate]

This week I have finished Terry Pratchett's The Colour of Magic and Stef Penney's The Tenderness of Wolves.

I am now reading Anne Tyler's Digging to America, Erica James' Tell it To the Skies and Sophie Kinsella's Shopaholic and Sister

[Kate]

I have just finish Sophie Kinsella's Shopaholic and Sister. Was a quick, easy read. My review is here.

[Chimera]

I am now reading Anne Tyler's Digging to America

 

How are you finding it Katie? It can be a bit slow at times but I loved it!

[Kate]

How are you finding it Katie? It can be a bit slow at times but I loved it!

 

It was a good book, my review is here. Not the best but an enjoyable read.

[Kate]

Diana Souhami - A Woman's Place: The Changing Picture of Women in Britain

 

This is not a long book, only 160 pages, which takes you on a journey through women's history in Britain from the turn of the twentieth century to the 1980s. It is a pictorial history, with many images portraying the changes in women's lifestyle but there is written history too, which is easily accessible and very informative. Souhami is definitely biased; it is clear from her writing she believes women have been mis-treated and are capable of much more than they have been given credit for and if given a chance would maybe prove themselves to be better than men. She covers topics ranging from women in the home, to work, to image/stereotypes.

I found this an extremely useful book, with cleverly selected images and writing which is easy and enjoyable to read.

8/10