Mac Posted June 7, 2009 Posted June 7, 2009 I've not read this one, but have seen the film, which I really enjoyed. 6/10 doesn't make me want to buy the book, though, and I trust your judgement, Rach. Quote
rach.at.the.disco Posted June 8, 2009 Author Posted June 8, 2009 That's not a bad thing, Rach! I'm well impressed, really. I wish I had more time to get down to it. It's all my own fault, actually, because I volunteer to do so much other stuff and my band takes up a reasonable amount of time as well. I really am impressed by your devotion to books. My kind of mate! Hope you've had a great weekend. Let's face it Mac: I'm a loser . Being a anti social, unemployed singleton gives me lots of free reading time!! I should get aff my arse really but I much prefer to spend my days reading... Quote
rach.at.the.disco Posted June 8, 2009 Author Posted June 8, 2009 39. Pack Up The Moon - Anna McPartlin Synopsis from Waterstones: What if your boyfriend died right in front of you? It was a night of laughter and celebration. But when John dies in a dreadful accident, his girlfriend Emma is plunged into despair. She loved John more than life itself - and now death has taken him from her. She feels nothing, she has lost everything, her world spins out of control. Or so she thinks. For Emma has friends - good friends who rally around. But the shocking memory of that night returns to haunt each of them in different and trying ways. And Emma knows that if she is ever to laugh at life again, or find love she once had, she will have to let go of the man she thought she couldn't live without. She must let go and trust her heart. Started: 7th June Finished: 8th June 367 pages Rating:8/10 Quote
Mac Posted June 9, 2009 Posted June 9, 2009 Let's face it Mac: I'm a loser . Being a anti social, unemployed singleton gives me lots of free reading time!! I should get aff my arse really but I much prefer to spend my days reading... Hey, no! I'm appallingly anti-social. I'm always running back home and locking the doors, turning off my phones and putting a blanket over my head. You just wouldn't believe how freaked out I feel in the big, wide world. Give me someone else's world any day! If that makes one a loser, then I win at that game... I love this site for the very fact that lovely people (like yourself, loser or not!) who adore books can chat about them. How great is this thing we call the interweb?!? And, by the way, The Time Traveller's Wife is one of my favourite books! I hope you enjoy it. Take good care. Quote
rach.at.the.disco Posted June 14, 2009 Author Posted June 14, 2009 40. The Time Traveler's Wife - Audrey Niffenegger Synopsis from Waterstones: This extraordinary, magical novel is the story of Clare and Henry who have known each other since Clare was six and Henry was thirty-six, and were married when Clare was twenty-two and Henry thirty. Impossible but true, because Henry is one of the first people diagnosed with Chrono-Displacement Disorder: periodically his genetic clock resets and he finds himself pulled suddenly into his past or future. His disappearances are spontaneous and his experiences are alternately harrowing and amusing. The Time Traveler's Wife depicts the effects of time travel on Henry and Clare's passionate love for each other with grace and humour. Their struggle to lead normal lives in the face of a force they can neither prevent nor control is intensely moving and entirely unforgettable. Started: 9th June Finished: 14th June 518 pages Rating: 9.5/10 Quote
Mac Posted June 15, 2009 Posted June 15, 2009 I adored this book. I'm so pleased you enjoyed it, Rach. 9.5/10!!! It's terribly moving in places, isn't it?!? Hope you're well, my friend. Quote
rach.at.the.disco Posted June 16, 2009 Author Posted June 16, 2009 I adored this book. I'm so pleased you enjoyed it, Rach. 9.5/10!!! It's terribly moving in places, isn't it?!? Oh Mac can you believe I cried at the letter Henry wrote to Clare after he died !! I really enjoyed it and can't wait to see the film . Quote
rach.at.the.disco Posted June 16, 2009 Author Posted June 16, 2009 41. Rumour Has It - Jill Mansell Synopsis from Waterstones: A sweet, funny and romantic novel from the Sunday Times No. 1 bestseller. When newly single Tilly Cole impulsively quits her London job for a fresh start in the small town of Roxborough she finds she's arrived in a hotbed of gossip, intrigue and rampant rivalry for the most desirable men. Tilly has no intention of joining in -- she's just happy with her new Girl Friday job. Then she meets Jack Lucas. Jack is irresistible...and he's got his eye on Tilly. But there are shocking rumours about his wicked reputation. Tilly doesn't want to be just another notch on anyone's bedpost. But is she being mature and sensible -- or is she running away from the love of her life? Started: 14th June Finished: 15th June 410 pages Rating: 8/10 Quote
rach.at.the.disco Posted June 16, 2009 Author Posted June 16, 2009 42. Summer On Blossom Street - Debbie Macomber Synopsis from Waterstones: Make time for friends. Make time for Debbie Macomber. This is Lydia's newest knitting class is called "Knit to Quit". It has four members: Abbie, a woman who's dealing with a broken engagement; Alix who wants to quit smoking before she gets pregnant; Margaret and - for the first time - a man, Brain Hutchinson, who joins the class to help deal with stress. There's also the chance to find out what's been happening with other Blossom Street regulars including Lydia and her husband, Brad, who want to adopt; Anne Marie from Twenty Wishes; and Ellen, whose biological father has tracked her down. With romance and friendship on the horizon, Lydia's "Knit to Quit" class is going to have a busy summer! Started: 15th June Finished: 16th June 361 pages Rating: 8/10 Quote
BookBee8 Posted June 16, 2009 Posted June 16, 2009 36. The Cupid Effect - Dorothy Koomson Have you read any others by her? I thought some of her other ones were more enjoyable than this one. Quote
rach.at.the.disco Posted June 16, 2009 Author Posted June 16, 2009 Have you read any others by her? I thought some of her other ones were more enjoyable than this one. I've read Goodnight, Beautiful and My Best Friend's Girl (my absolute favourite of hers, I was in tears ). I agree it's not her best (if I'm honest I forced myself to finish it) but I have Marshmallows For Breakfast and The Chocolate Run on my TBR pile, however I doubt it will overtake MBFG as my fave. Which one's have you read, any of the one's I haven't? Quote
BookBee8 Posted June 16, 2009 Posted June 16, 2009 Yeah, I've read all of them. I've actually forgotten what The Chocolate Run is about (oops) but I always tend to quite enjoy her books when I'm reading them. I really loved My Best Friend's Girl too, it's definitely my favourite by her. But Marshmallows For Breakfast is better than The Cupid Effect, I think. Quote
rach.at.the.disco Posted June 18, 2009 Author Posted June 18, 2009 43. Me And Mr Darcy - Alexandra Potter Synopsis from Waterstones: He's every woman's fantasy!" After a string of nightmare relationships, Emily Albright has decided she's had it with modern-day men. She'd rather pour herself a glass of wine, curl up with Pride and Prejudice" and step into a time where men were dashing, devoted and honourable, strode across fields in breeches, their damp shirts clinging to their chests, and weren't" into internet porn. So when her best friend invites her to Mexico for a week of margaritas and men, Emily decides to book a guided tour of Jane Austen country instead. She quickly realises she won't find her dream man here. The coach tour is full of pensioners, apart from one Mr Spike Hargreaves, a foul-tempered journalist sent to write a piece on why Mr Darcy's been voted the man most women would love to date! Until she walks into a room and finds herself face-to-face with Darcy himself. And every woman's fantasy suddenly becomes one woman's reality! Started: 16th June Finished: 17th June 340 pages Rating: 7.5/10 Quote
Mac Posted June 18, 2009 Posted June 18, 2009 You're still banging through them quicker than I can shake a stick, Rach! By the way, I loved Chocolat. I hope you do, too! How's tricks, chum? Quote
rach.at.the.disco Posted June 23, 2009 Author Posted June 23, 2009 44. Chocolat - Joanne Harris Synopsis from Waterstones: Try me...Test me...Taste me. When an exotic stranger, Vianne Rocher, arrives in the French village of Lansquenet and opens a chocolate boutique directly opposite the church, Father Reynaud identifies her as a serious danger to his flock - especially as it is the beginning of Lent, the traditional season of self-denial. War is declared as the priest denounces the newcomer's wares as instruments of murder. Suddenly Vianne's shop-cum-cafe means that there is somewhere for secrets to be whispered, grievances to be aired, dreams to be tested. But Vianne's plans for an Easter Chocolate Festival divide the whole community in a conflict that escalates into a 'Church not Chocolate' battle. As mouths water in anticipation, can the solemnity of the Church compare with the pagan passion of a chocolate eclair? For the first time, here is a novel in which chocolate enjoys its true importance, emerging as a moral issue, as an agent of transformation - as well as a pleasure bordering on obsession. Rich, clever and mischievous, this is a triumphant read. Started: 17th June Finished: 22nd June 320 pages Rating: 9/10 Quote
Lucybird Posted June 23, 2009 Posted June 23, 2009 I'm glad you liked this one rach, it's a favourite of mine Quote
rach.at.the.disco Posted June 27, 2009 Author Posted June 27, 2009 45. Dear Fatty - Dawn French Synopsis from Waterstones: Dawn French is one of the greatest comedy actresses of our time, with a career that has spanned nearly three decades, encompassing a vast and brilliant array of characters. Loved for her irreverent humour, Dawn has achieved massive mainstream success while continuing to push boundaries and challenge stereotypes. Here she describes the journey that would eventually establish her as a perhaps unlikely, but nevertheless genuine, national treasure. Dawn began her career as part of the groundbreaking alternative comedy group, the Comic Strip, marking a radical departure from the more traditional comedy acts of the time. Later came the all-female Girls On Top, which teamed Dawn with Jennifer Saunders, Ruby Wax and Tracy Ullman and firmly established women in British comedy. As part of the wildly successful and much loved duo French and Saunders, Dawn helped create a repertoire of brilliantly observed characters, parodying popular culture and impersonating everything from "Madonna" and "Harry Potter" to "The Exorcist". Dawn's more recent role in the "Vicar of Dibley" showcased not only her talent but also her ability to take a controversial and topical issue and make it mainstream - and very funny. From her early years as an RAF child and her flat-sharing antics with Jennifer Saunders, to her outspoken views on sizism and her marriage to Lenny Henry, "Dear Fatty" will chronicle the extraordinary, hilarious rise of a complex, dynamic and unstoppable woman. Started: 25th June Finished: 27th June 366 pages Rating: 7/10 Quote
rach.at.the.disco Posted June 27, 2009 Author Posted June 27, 2009 I'm glad you liked this one rach, it's a favourite of mine It was a bad idea to watch the film first though -it confused me a bit because of the changes made from the book . I did enjoy the book very much though . Quote
rach.at.the.disco Posted June 29, 2009 Author Posted June 29, 2009 46. I Heart New York - Lindsey Kelk Synopsis from Waterstones: Perfect for fans of Sophie Kinsella, get ready for the summer debut of the year...It's official. Angela Clarke is in love -- with the most fabulous city in the world. Fleeing her cheating boyfriend and clutching little more than a crumpled bridesmaid dress, a pair of Louboutins and her passport, Angela jumps on a plane, destination - NYC. Holed up in a cute hotel room, Angela gets a New York makeover from her NBFJenny and a whirlwind tour of the city that never sleeps. Before she knows it, Angela is dating two sexy guys. And, best of all, she gets to write about it in her new blog (Carrie Bradshaw eat your heart out). But it's one thing telling readers about your romantic dilemmas, it's another figuring them out for yourself ! Angela has fallen head over heels for the big apple, but does she heart New York more than home? Started: 27th June Finished: 28th June 307 pages Rating: 7/10 Quote
rach.at.the.disco Posted June 29, 2009 Author Posted June 29, 2009 47. In My Sister's Shoes - Sinead Moriarty Synopsis from Waterstones: Kate O'Brien is thirty and has very little to think about except trying to keep her balance as she totters up London's media-land ladder. Fiona O'Brien is Kate's responsible older sister - with a husband, twin boys, a dog and now ...a life-changing problem. It's a problem that means Kate going back to Dublin. Pronto. There she finds herself stepping into Fiona's shoes - and discovering that she's definitely not cut out to be a domestic goddess. On top of that, the ex she thought she'd got over years ago turns up to haunt her. Will either of the O'Brien sisters survive? And even if they do, can either of them slip back into their old shoes ever again? Started: 28th June Finished: 29th June 313 pages Rating: 7/10 Quote
rach.at.the.disco Posted July 7, 2009 Author Posted July 7, 2009 48. The Constant Princess - Philippa Gregory Synopsis from Waterstones: Splendid and sumptuous historical novel from this internationally bestselling author, telling of the early life of Katherine of Aragon. We think of her as the barren wife of a notorious king; but behind this legacy lies a fascinating story. Katherine of Aragon is born Catalina, the Spanish Infanta, to parents who are both rulers and warriors. Aged four, she is betrothed to Arthur, Prince of Wales, and is raised to be Queen of England. She is never in doubt that it is her destiny to rule that far-off, wet, cold land. Her faith is tested when her prospective father-in-law greets her arrival in her new country with a great insult; Arthur seems little better than a boy; the food is strange and the customs coarse. Slowly she adapts to the first Tudor court, and life as Arthur's wife grows ever more bearable. But when the studious young man dies, she is left to make her own future: how can she now be queen, and found a dynasty? Only by marrying Arthur's young brother, the sunny but spoilt Henry. His father and grandmother are against it; her powerful parents prove little use. Yet Katherine is her mother's daughter and her fighting spirit is strong. She will do anything to achieve her aim; even if it means telling the greatest lie, and holding to it. Philippa Gregory proves yet again that behind the apparently familiar face of history lies an astonishing story: of women warriors influencing the future of Europe, of revered heroes making deep mistakes, and of an untold love story which changes the fate of a nation. Started: 30th June Finished: 7th July 486 pages Rating: 8/10 Quote
Weave Posted July 10, 2009 Posted July 10, 2009 Great review Rach, I have never read any of the Philippa Gregory books, I might invest one of these days Quote
Stephanie2008 Posted July 10, 2009 Posted July 10, 2009 Great review Rach, I have never read any of the Philippa Gregory books, I might invest one of these days I haven't read any either but I've made a note to start Wow you read a lot of books Rach Quote
rach.at.the.disco Posted July 10, 2009 Author Posted July 10, 2009 I actually enjoy Philippa Gregory's books considering I'm not into history stuff but I was surprised I did enjoy them. I hope you guys like them. Wow you read a lot of books Rach I know, I'm such a loser lol. Since uni finished I've had loads of spare time since there's no essays and book lists to get through . Quote
rach.at.the.disco Posted July 10, 2009 Author Posted July 10, 2009 49. Falling For You - Jill Mansell Synopsis from Waterstones: Maddy Harvey was a bit of an ugly duckling as a teenager, what with her NHS specs, unfortunate hair and wonky teeth. Thankfully she's blossomed since then. But when she meets Kerr McKinnon one starry summer's night and discovers, days later, who he actually is...well, that's when the problems really start. Because everyone in Ashcombe knows what happened eleven years ago, and as far as her mother's concerned, Marcella would rather tear that family to pieces with her bare hands than see Maddy associate with a McKinnon. It's Romeo and Juliet all over again. Quick, hide those sharp knives and that little bottle of poison... Started: 8th July Finished: 10th July 438 pages Rating: 7/10 Quote
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