Jessi Posted December 30, 2011 Posted December 30, 2011 (edited) 2009: Read 48 books 2010: Read 79 books 2011: Read 74 books Aim - 100 books is still my goal - third time lucky! - to have a shorter TBR List on January 1st 2013 than I did January 1st 2012! Read in 2012: 1. The Tales of Beedle the Bard - J K Rowling 2. Little Mother of Russia - Coryne Hall 3. The Fellowhip of the Ring - J R R Tolkien 4. Quidditch Through The Ages - J K Rowling 5. Black Beauty - Anna Sewell 6. Behind Closed Doors - Amanda Vickery 7. 1776 - David McCoullough 8. The Life and Letters of Charles Darwin - Charles and Francis Darwin 9. Northanger Abbey - Jane Austen 10. A Study In Scarlet - Arthur Canon Doyle 11. 1000 Years of Annoying the French - Stephan Clarke 12. Sense and Sensibility - Jane Austen 13. Tommy - Richard Holmes 14. Call The Midwife - Jennifer Worth 15. The Queen Mother - William Shawcross 16. In Shadow of the Workhouse - Jennifer Worth 17. Poison In The Blood - MG Scarsbrook 18. Call to Arms - Charles Messenger 19. Farewell to the East End - Jennifer Worth 20. The Love Letters of Henry VIII To Anne Boleyn 21. News From The Front - Martin Farrar 22. The Reader - Bernhard Schlink 23. Just Henry - Michelle Magorian 24. Creation - Randal Keynes 25. Tess of the D'Urbervilles - Thomas Hardy 26. Goodnight Mr Tom - Michelle Magorian 27. Destined - PC and Kristin Cast 28. The Unquiet Western Front - Brian Bond 29. The Two of Us - Sheila Hancock 30. A War Imagined - Samuel Hynes 31. The Silence of Memory - Adrian Gregory 32. Emma Darwin - Edna Healey 33. Workhouse - Pamela Oldfield 34. Jane Eyre - Charlotte Bronte 35. A Feast For Crows - George R R Martin 36. Churchill - Paul Addison 37. The Diamond Queen - Andrew Marr 38. Can Any Mother Help Me? - Joanne Bailey 39. Only Fools and Horses - Steve Clark 40. 25 Chapters Of My Life - Olga Alexandrovna Romanov 41. The Communist Manifesto - Marx and Engels 42. Marx - Peter Singer 43. The Gentleman's Daughter - Amanda Vickery 44. To Make Our World Anew: Vol I - Robin DC Kelley 45. The Uncrowned Queen - Anne O'Brien 46. Wartime Princess - Valerie Wilding 47. Oliver Twist - Charles Dickens 48. The Frock Coated Communist - Tristrum Hunt 49. Clementine Churchill - Mary Soames 50. One For Sorrow - Chloe Rhodes 51. Desperate Duchesses - Eloise James 52. To Make Our World Anew: Vol II - Robin DC Kelley 53. The Vampire Diaries - LJ Smith 54. Stefan's Diaries: Origins - LJ Smith 55. Stefan's Diaries: Bloodlust - LJ Smith 56. Little Women - Louisa May Alcott 57. The Tudors - G J Meyer 58. The Vampire Diaries: The Fury and the Reunion - LJ Smith 59. Love You To Death - Chrissy Calhoun 60. The Craving - L J Smith 61. Dead Reckoning - Charlaine Harris 62. Love You To Death 2 - Chrissy Calhoun 63. On Origin of the Species - Charles Darwin 64. The Ripper - L J Smith 65. Wuthering Bites - Sarah Gray 66. Churchill - Norman Rose 67. Lenobia's Vow - PC and Kristin Cast 68. The Phantom of the Opera - Gaston Leroux 69. She Wolves - Helen Castor 70. Sally of Monticello - N.M.Ledgin 71. Kidnapped - Robert Louis Stevenson 72. Lloyd George and Churchill: Rivals to Greatness - Richard Toye 73. Colonel Roosevelt - Edmund Morris 74. The Chronicles of Downton Abbey - Jessica Fellowes 75. The Raising of a President - Doug Weed 76. The Asylum - L J Smith 77. Persausion - Jane Austen 78. Dead Until Dark - Charlaine Harris 79. Call the Midwife - Heidi Thomas 80. Call the Midwife - Jennifer Worth 81. The Hobbit - Jude Fisher 82. The Borgias - Christopher Hibbert 83. The Real Downton Abbey - Jacky Hyams 84. Modern Family 85. Nightfall - L J Smith 86. The Loves of Charles II - Jean Plaidy 87. The Sugar Girls - Duncan Barrett 88. The Hobbit - J R R Tolkien 89. A Daughters Tale - Mary Soames 90. Inside Games of Thrones 91. Love and Conquest - Douglas Smith 92. Nellie Taft - Carl Sefrozza Anthony Edited December 30, 2012 by Jessi Quote
Jessi Posted December 30, 2011 Author Posted December 30, 2011 (edited) 1 - 52: gained in 2009 or before 53 - 108 gained in 2010 109 - 155: gained in 2011 TBR List: 1. Campbell, Christy: Band of Brigands 2. Foreman, Amanda: The Duchess 3. Fraser, Antonia: Marie Antoinette 4. Garfield, Simon: Our Hidden Lives 5. Gristwood, Sarah: Elizabeth and Leicester 6. Guy, John: My Heart Is My Own 7. Massie, Robert: Nicholas and Alexandra 8. McCullough, David: 1776 9. Rees, Laurence: Behind Closed Doors 10. Soames, Mary: Clementine Churchill 11. Williams, Stephanie: Olga’s Story 12. Weir, Alison: Henry VIII 13. Anderson, Hans Christian: Anderson’s Fairy Tales 14. Alcott, Louisa May: Little Women 15. Austen, Jane: Emma 16. Austen, Jane: Mansfield Park 17. Austen, Jane: Northanger Abbey 18. Austen, Jane: Persuasion 19. Austen, Jane: Sense and Sensibility 20. Bronte, Charlotte: Jane Eyre 21. Boyne, John: The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas 22. Burnett, Frances Hodgson: The Secret Garden 23. Dunant, Sarah: In the Company of the Courtesan 24. Fforde, Jasper: The Eyre Affair 25. Furnivall, Kate: The Russian Concubine 26. Gaskell, Elizabeth: North and South 27. George, Margaret: Helen of Troy 28. Gee, Sophie: The Scandal of the Season 29. Gregory, Philippa: The Other Queen 30. Gregory, Philippa: The Queens Fool 31. Gregory, Philippa: The Favoured Child 32. Gilbert, Henry: Robin Hood 33. Grahame: The Wind in the Willows 34. Hardy, Thomas: Tess of the D’Urbervilles 35. Lawrence, D. H: Lady Chatterley’s Lover 36. Lee, Harper: To Kill A Mocking Bird 37. Lewis, Hilda: I, Jacqueline 38. McIntosh, Fiona: Royal Exile 39. Montefiore, Santa: The Swallow and the Hummingbird 40. Montefiore, Santa: The Butterfly Box 41. Montgomery, L.M : Anne of Green Gables 42. Nesbit, E: The Railway Children 43. Ryan, Robert: Early One Morning 44. Sewell, Anna: Black Beauty 45. Sheers, Owen: Resistance 46. Sittenfeld, Curtis: American Wife 47. Steel, Danielle: Silent Honour 48. Stevenson, Robert Louis: Kidnapped 49. Thomes, Rosie: Isis and Ruby 50. Tolkien, J.R.R: The Silmarillion 51. Tolkien, J.R.R: Unfinished Tales 52. Zusak, Markus: The Book Thief 53. Adams: The Letters of John and Abigail Adams 54. Brands: Traitor to his Class: The Privileged Life and Radical Presidency of Franklin Delano Roosevelt 55. Byatt, AS: The Children's Book 56. Burstein, Andrew: Jefferson’s Secrets 57. Campion, Emma: The King's Mistress 58. Cast, PC: Divine by Blood 59. Cheek, Mavis: Amenable Women 60. Clark, Mary Higgins: The Christmas collection 61. Clarke, Stephen: 1000 Years of Annoying the French 62. Deighton, Len: SS – GB 63. Dickens, Charles: Oliver Twist 64. Didion, Joan: The Year of Magical Thinking 65. Duff, David: Alexandra: Princess and Queen 66. Dunant, Sarah: Sacred Hearts 67. Erikson, Carolly: Great Catherine 68. Erickson, Carolly: The Hidden Diary of Marie Antoinette 69. Figes, Orlando: Natasha’s Dance 70. Follett, Ken: The Pillars of the Earth 71. Furnivall, Kate: Under A Blood Red Sky 72. Gill, Gillian: We Two 73. Gregory, Philippa: The Red Queen 74. Gordon Reed, Annette: The Hemingses of Montecello 75. Hall, Coryne: Little Mother Of Russia 76. Harrods-Eagles, Cynitha: Anna 77. Hibbert, Christopher: Victoria – a Personal History 78. Hosseini, Khaled: The Kite Runner 79. James, Eloisa: Desperate Duchesses 80. Kerr, Judith: Out of Hitler Time 81. Leroux, Gaston: The Phantom of the Opera 82. Lieven, Dominic: Russia Against Napoleon 83. Lovell, Mary S: The Mitford Girls 84. Lukyanenko, Sergei: The Day Watch 85. Mantel, Hilary: Wolf Hall 86. McCullough, David: Mornings On Horseback 87. Mitchell, Margaret: Gone With The Wind 88. Morris, Theodore: Colonel Roosevelt 89. Morrow, James: The Last Witchfinder 90. Motley, Annette: Men on White Horses 91. Norton, Elizabeth: Jane Seymour 92. O’Brien, Stacey: Wesley 93. O’ Grady, Paul: At My Mothers Knee 94. O’Toole, Patricia: When Trumpets Call 95. Pakula, Hannah: An Uncommon Woman 96. Plaidy, Jean: Madame Du Barry 97. Plaidy, Jean: Plantagenet Prelude 98. Quinn, Kate: Mistress of Rome 99. Romanov, Olga Alexandrovna: 25 Chapters Of My Life 100. Schlink, Bernhard: The Reader 101. Smith, Douglas: Love and Conquest 102: Smith, L.J: The Night World 103. Snyder, Maria V: Storm Glass 104. Tolstoy, Leo: Anna Karenina 105. Van Der Kiste, John: Queen Victoria’s children 106. Weir, Alison: Katherine Sywnford 107. Weir, Alison: The Captive Queen 108. Weir, Alison: The Lady in the Tower 109. Withey, Lynne: Dearest Friend 110. Adornetto , Alexandra: Halo 111. Atkins, Dixie: Humble and Loyal 112. Atkinson, Kate: Case Histories 113. Cast, PC And Kristin: Destined 114. Chamberlin, E. R: Everyday Life In Renaissance Times 115. Darwin, Charles: On Origin Of The Spices 116. Darwin, Francis and Charles: The Life and Letters of Charles Darwin 117. Dickens, Monica: One Pair of Hands 118. Fraser, Antonia: Love and Louis XVI 119. Graham, Laurie: The Importance of Being Kennedy 120. Gilbert, Elizabeth: Eat, Pray, Love 121. Gray, Sarah: Wuthering Bites 122. Greene, Graham: Brighton Rock 123. Harris, Charlaine: Dead Reckoning 124. Harris, Charlaine: The Sookie Stackhouse Guide 125. Healey, Edna: Emma Darwin 126. Hibbert, Christopher: The Borgias 127. Hyams, Jacky: The Real Downton Abbey 128. Lewis, CS: Mere Christianity 129. Lovell, Mary S: The Churchill’s 130. Keynes, Randal: Creation 131. Magorian, Michelle: Just Henry 132. Martin, George R R: A Feast For Crows 133. Montefiore, Santa: The French Gardener 134. Morpurgo, Michael: War Horse 135. Morpurgo, Michael: Peaceful Private 136. Newman, Janis Cooke: Mrs Lincoln 137. Nicholas, Katie: William and Harry 138. Obama, Barack: Dreams of My Father 139. O’Connell, Tyne: A Royal Match 140. Orzel, Chad: How To Teach Quantum Physics To Your Dog 141. Patch, Harry: The Last Fighting Tommy 142. Parsons, Tony: Starting Over 143. Pasternak, Boris: Doctor Zhivago 144. Perry, Tasmina: Kiss Heaven Goodbye 145. Richman, Alyson: The Lost Wife 146. Rose, Norman: Churchill 147. Sanderson, Jane: Netherwood 148. Sebba, Anne: That Women 149. Shawcross, William: The Queen Mother 150. Sibley, Brain: Peter Jackson 151. Toye, Richard: Lloyd George and Churchill: Rivals for Greatness 152. Tremlett, Giles: Catherine of Aragon 153. Trotter, Janet MacLeod: Never Stand Alone 154. Vickery, Amanda: Behind Closed Doors 155. Wead, Doug: The Raising of a President Edited December 23, 2012 by Jessi Quote
Jessi Posted January 1, 2012 Author Posted January 1, 2012 (edited) Gained in 2012: Addison, Paul: Churchill Anthony, Carl Sferrazza: Nellie Taft Bailey, Jenna: Can Any Mother Help Me? Bagwell Gillian: The Darling Strumpet Barrett, Duncan: The Sugar Girls Bond, Brian: The Unquiet Western Front Brown, Kate Lord: The Beauty Chorus Cast, PC and Kristen: Hidden Cast, PC and Kristen: Lenobia's Vow Carnarvon, Countess of: Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abbey Carter, Aimee: The Goddess Test Castor, Helen: She Wolves Calhoun, Chrissy: Love You To Death Calhoun, Chrissy: Love You To Death 2 Chbosky, Stephen: The Perks of Being a Wallflower Clare, Cassandra: City of Bones Clare, Cassandra: Clockwork Angel Cogman, Bryan: Inside Games of Thrones Collins, Suzanne: The Hunger Games Clark, Steve: Only Fools and Horses Dickens, Charles: Great Expectations Doyle, Arthur Canon: The Complete Sherlock Holmes Collection Douglas, Donna: The Nightingale Girls Dunn, Dot May: Twelve Babies on a Bike Edward. Anne: Matriarch Harvey, Greg: The Origins of Tolkien's Middle Earth Fellowes, Jessica: The Chronicles of Downton Abbey Fisher. Jude: The Hobbit: Visual Companion Follett, Ken: Winter of the Worlds Foster, RF: Randolph Churchill Goldman, Lisa: The No Rules Handbook for Writers Haeger, Diane: I, Jane Hardy, Thomas: The Mayor of Casterbridge Harrison, Cora: Debuntantes Hancock, Sheila: The Two of Us Haworth, Eileen: Faded Dreams Holmes, Richard: Tommy Holt, Maggie: A Nurse at War Huth, Angela: Land Girls Hunt, Tristram: The Frock Coated Communist Hynes, Samuel: A War Imagined Jackson, Nancy: The Cook's Tale Jones, Nigel: Tower Kelly, Robin, DC: To Make Our World Anew: Vol I Kelly, Robin, DC: To Make Our World Anew: Vol II King, Stephen: 11.22.63 Kerr, John: A Dangerous Method Ledgin, NM: Sally of Monticello Marr, Andrew: The Diamond Queen Magorian, Michelle: A Little Love Song Magorian, Michelle: A Spoonful of Jam Magorian, Michelle: Cuckoo in the Nest Martin, George. R. R: A Dance with Dragons: Dreams and Dust Martin, George. R. R: A Dance with Dragons: After the Feast McInerney, Monica: Those Faraday Girls McKay, Sinclair: The Secret Life of Bletchley Park McKissack, Patricia C: Slave Girl Messenger, Charles: Call to Arms Meyer, G J: The Tudors Moyes, Jojo: The Girl You Left Behind Newman, Michael: Socialism Oldfield, Pamela: Workhouse O'Brien, Anne: The King's Concubine O'Brien, Anne: The Uncrowned Queen Plaidy, Jean: The Loves of Charles II Plaidy, Jean: The Merry Monarchs Wife Plummer, Rosemary: The Maids Tale Powell, Margaret: Below Stairs Prentis, Evelyn: A Nurse and Mother Prentis, Evelyn: A Nurse in Time Purcell, Jennifer: Domestic Soldiers Rhodes, Chloe: One For Sorrow Rice, Anne: Interview with the Vampire Richards, Susan: Chosen by a Horse Scarsbrook, M G: Poison in the Blood Sibley, Brian: Offical Movie Guide Singer, Peter: Marx Smith, LJ: The Awakening and The Struggle Smith, LJ: The Fury and The Return Smith, LJ: Nightfall Smith, LJ: Stefan Diaries I: Origins Smith, LJ: Stefan Diaries II: Bloodlust Smith, LJ: Stefan Diaries III: The Craving Smith, LJ: Stefan Diaries IV: The Ripper Smith, LJ: Stefan Diaries V: The Asylum Soames, Mary: A Daughters Tale Stachniak, Eva: The Winter Palace Stockett, Kathryn: The Help Thomas, Heidi: Call the Midwife Townsend, Sue: The Secret Diary of Afrian Mole Aged 13 3/4 Tsaraidze, Alexandre: Wife Before God Vickery, Amanda: The Gentlemans Daughter Wilcock, Penelope: The Hawk and the Dove Wilding, Valerie: Wartime Princess Wolff, Jurgen: Your Writing Coach Worth, Jennifer: Call The Midwife Worth, Jennifer: Farewell to the East End Worth, Jennifer: In the Shadow of the Workhouse Edited December 23, 2012 by Jessi Quote
Jessi Posted January 1, 2012 Author Posted January 1, 2012 (edited) Wish List: Clare, Cassandra: The Infernal Devices Clare, Cassandra: City of Bones Davis, Peter Ho: The Welsh Girl Dexter, Colin: Last Bus to Woodstock Downer, Lesley: The Last Concubine Fraser, Antonia: Charles II Flanders, Judith: The Victorian House Follett, Ken: Fall of Giants George, Margaret: The Autobiography of Henry VIII Gullan, Harold: Faith of Our Mothers Harper, Karen: The First Princess of Wales Horn, Pamela: Life in a Victorian Household Horn, Pamela: Life as a Victorian Lady Kiste, John Van Der: Childhood at Court Maloney, Alison: Life Below Stairs Maloney, Alison: Bright Young Things Malcolmson, Robert: The Diaries of Nella Last Massie, Robert: Catherine the Great Mead, Richelle: Vampire Academy Osbourne, Frances: Park Lane Piercy, Rohase: My Dearest Holmes Ridley, Jane: Bertie Sim, Alison: The Tudor Housewife Sparks, Nicholas: The Lucky One Vicery, Tim: A Game of Proof Ok done Edited August 30, 2012 by Jessi Quote
Jessi Posted January 4, 2012 Author Posted January 4, 2012 Two books read already this year, with a third to be added soon - thats the good news. The bad news is my lap top has died - and I'll have to do my TBR list all over again Quote
Jessi Posted January 8, 2012 Author Posted January 8, 2012 (edited) Tales of Beedle the Bard by JK Rowling (4/5) Even without Harry Potter, I just love this little book. I am sure I have reviewed it before here, but I had to do it again. It is when reading this book as well as Quidditch Through the Ages and Magical Beasts that you realise just how boundless Rowling’s imagination is. A very quick read, but a brilliant one; these are the Fairy Tales my kids will be brought up on. Edited January 9, 2012 by Jessi Quote
Jessi Posted January 9, 2012 Author Posted January 9, 2012 (edited) Little Mother of Russia by Coryne Hill (4/5) This biography was wonderful! It told the story of Alexander III’s Tsarina, Empress Marie, the mother of the last Tsar, Nicholas II. Inevitably, that made this a very sad story to read at times, especially as Marie fought against the influence of Rasputin to try and save her son to no avail. The story spanned eighty years and follows the Empress from her youth as Princess Dagmar of Denmark ; as a young mother in her years as Empress in waiting; as a popular Tsarina; a distraught young widow (Alexander died before she was fifty); a dominate mother in law and then finally to her years as dowager empress in exile. The exploration of the relationships with the key people in her life is what I will take away from this book most. From youth, all the way to old age she was incredibly close to her elder, beautiful sister, Queen Alexandra of Great Britain. Letters flew between England and Russia for over half a century weekly. In spite of their clashing temperaments, Marie had a loving and happy marriage to her bear like husband, despite having initially been betrothed to his elder brother who tragically died with Marie by his beside before they married. She had difficult relationships with the majority of her children at one time or another for various reasons. She suffered the hearting breaking loss of all four of her sons, even if she did not accept it. Marie always maintain Nicholas was alive to others, though it was implied after Anna Anderson affair she had to admit the truth about what happened in July 1917 to herself, even if she wouldn’t to anyone else. It was overall a story of incredible highs and of devastating lows, and well worth reading. Edited January 9, 2012 by Jessi Quote
Jessi Posted January 13, 2012 Author Posted January 13, 2012 (edited) The Fellowship of the Ring by J R R Tolkien(4.5/5) I read this book for the first time in years and found I still love it just as much as I did when I was little, as I read it for the first time 10 years ago ( ) when I was 11. Just like J K Rowling, Tolkien's imagination never fails to wow me. The world he creates just engulfs me when I am reading. Of all the 'made up' worlds, I think middle earth is the one I would most like to go to - in fact, there is not a lot I wouldn't do to be able to live in the Shire. Sam has always been, and will always be, one of my favourite fictional characters in the world. He is just so loyal and loving. Whenever he comes on to the page, I just smile. Edited January 13, 2012 by Jessi Quote
Jessi Posted January 22, 2012 Author Posted January 22, 2012 Qudditch Through the Ages - a good qucik read, much like The Tales of Beedle the Bard Black Beauty by Anna Sewell (4/5) I don't think I had ever read this classic childrens book, but I am so glad I did. It was so charming and interesting to read - I learnt quite a lot about victorian London while I read it too. Beautiful tale about a beautiful animal! Quote
I'mRose Posted January 22, 2012 Posted January 22, 2012 Qudditch Through the Ages - a good qucik read, much like The Tales of Beedle the Bard Black Beauty by Anna Sewell (4/5) I don't think I had ever read this classic childrens book, but I am so glad I did. It was so charming and interesting to read - I learnt quite a lot about victorian London while I read it too. Beautiful tale about a beautiful animal! I haven't read Quidditch through the ages but I definitely must get it this year! I remember reading Black Beauty when I was a kid and loving it, but I'm not sure if it was an unabridged version or not. How long was your book? Because I remember it as being pretty short. Quote
Jessi Posted January 25, 2012 Author Posted January 25, 2012 Behind Closed Doors - Amanda Vickery (4.5/5) I read this book as I am doing the course it accompanies at uni this semester and I am so, so glad I picked it. I spend a lot of my day every day it seems, thinking about history but until lately I never though about the history of the home, about the way the homes we live in today developed. This book opened up part of that story to me and as I said, I am thrilled it did. Threaded throughout this book which takes us in to the homes of days gone past were references to Jane Austens wonderful novels, due to the way the literature shows the Georgiana home to us. Looking across the social barriers and studies across Britian, I leanrt a lot and found my basis. It felt like reading a novel - pick up a copy if you can! Quote
Jessi Posted January 31, 2012 Author Posted January 31, 2012 1776 by David McCullough (4/5) I had this one on my bookshelf far too long before I got round to reading it. I forgot how well McCullough writes. When reading the history of a war it is always far too easy to get lost in the battles and the mechanics of it – however McCullough keeps the personalities to the front of the story and the narrative fluid. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this history of the war of independence. Quote
Jessi Posted February 10, 2012 Author Posted February 10, 2012 (edited) The life and letters of Charles Darwin – Francis and Charles Darwin (4/5) This sounds a lot heavier than it was, though the scientific terms did become a little hard to take at times. I got interested in the Darwin’s after I watched the film ‘Creation’ over the Christmas break. I was never much one for science when I was at school – I did not even get a C for my GCSE. Yet now I’ve learnt a little bit more about Darwin, I find I can get a better grip on the subject. It was quite an enjoyable read. Edited February 10, 2012 by Jessi Quote
Jessi Posted February 10, 2012 Author Posted February 10, 2012 (edited) Northanger Abbey – Jane Austen (4.5/5) This has been my favourite book of the year so far and I think it is the best Austen I have read to date. I just feel so in love with the characters and Catherine Morland was a wonderful creation. This is a tale I am going to read again and again over the years. It was wonderful! Edited February 10, 2012 by Jessi Quote
Jessi Posted February 22, 2012 Author Posted February 22, 2012 A Study in Scarlet – Sir Arthur Canon Doyle (5/5) I do not know why it took me so long to get on to the Sherlock books, they are wonderful. I am not much one for spies and thrillers so this really was new territory. Sherlock Holmes speaks for itself; it has wonderful plots, is fabulously written and two of literatures greatest characters. I also feel as if I am learning when I am reading Doyle and loved getting lost in Victorian London. Quote
Jessi Posted February 27, 2012 Author Posted February 27, 2012 1000 Years of Annoying the French - Stephan Clarke (4/5) I really enjoyed this book. It was very informative, very funny and took me a very long time to get through. Nevertheless, that does not mean I didn’t like it. This quick race through 1000 years of French history gave lots of dates and characters, but it did not feel over powering. I’d recommend it. Quote
Jessi Posted March 2, 2012 Author Posted March 2, 2012 (edited) Sense and Sensibility – Jane Austen (4/5) While I did not enjoy Sense and Sensibility quite as much as I did Northanger Abbey it is still surely one of Austen’s best. As one of two sisters, who are like chalk and cheese, there was an awful lot in this novel I could relate too. Elinor was a wonderful heroine – strong and selfless, she was almost too good to be true; and while Marianne could be self centre she felt very real. I know this is going to be a book I read and reread time and time again. Edited March 8, 2012 by Jessi Quote
Jessi Posted March 8, 2012 Author Posted March 8, 2012 Tommy by Richard Harris (3.5/5) I read Tommy for uni as one of my courses this semester is on world war one and I am glad that I did. The course is totally changing the way I think about the war, and Tommy is part of the reason my views are changing. Tommy looks at the soldiers lives on the western front form a very personal point of view. Holmes’s work is littered with very insightful primary sources. Though they did become a little over powering at times and I found the discussion of weapons a little laborious too, other discussions (for example, what the soldiers were reading when they were in the trenches and the day to day lives of the solders) made this book hard to put down. Though obviously a heavy topic, this is well worth the read, especially as we approach the hundredth anniversary of the war breaking out. Call the Midwife – Jennifer Worth (5/5) This is the best book I have read in a very long time. It was filled to the brim with life as it was in the East End during the 1950s. When young Jenny Lee walked in to the convent in Poplar as a newly trained midwife she had no idea what life was going to through at her – basically everything it could, and then some. This is a book which is as heart warming as it is gut wrenching. Mary, Len and Conchita, the young midwifes and the old nuns are all going to stay in my mind for a long time. While some of them experiences love as most of us can only hope to, others suffered beyond imagination. Personally, I felt as if I could connect with the book on some levels; my grandparents and their parents lived in this world. It therefore helped me understand them a little more. Geographically, I go to Poplar 3 times a week for uni. As I read about the east end Worth knew, I literally walked the streets of it too. I can’t recommend this highly enough – that said, there are some quite disturbing moments. And tissues should also come free with it. Quote
Jessi Posted March 15, 2012 Author Posted March 15, 2012 The Queen Mother – William Shawcross (4/5) I thoroughly enjoyed this informative, well written and engaging biography of the Queen Mother. Taking us from her happy childhood all the way through to her long widowhood, this huge biography sheds interesting light on the queen who helped lead England through the second world war and is well worth the read. Quote
Jessi Posted March 19, 2012 Author Posted March 19, 2012 (edited) In the Shadow of the Workhouse – Jennifer Worth (4.5/5) This was my favourite of the Midwife trilogy. It is going to stay with me for a very, very long time. I wept at both the story of Frank and Peggy as well as Joe’s tale. Jane also broke my heart. They were four good people who life was unkind to... but more than that, they suffered unnecessarily and cruelly from separation as well as others actions. It is a hard hitting read, but worth it. Edited March 19, 2012 by Jessi Quote
Jessi Posted March 19, 2012 Author Posted March 19, 2012 Poison in the Blood – MG Scarsbrook (1/5) The worst book I have read so far this year. It would be better if Scarsbrook had invented characters to go with the plot. Instead, it is billed as to be a Borgias novel. I accept that some authors write historical characters in to tales which aren’t accurate, but it still aggravates me. A badly written Alexander mixed in with a self righteous Lucrezia meant this was book was always going to wind me up. I down loaded it when it was free on kindle thankfully; my advice is don’t waste your money. Quote
Jessi Posted March 23, 2012 Author Posted March 23, 2012 Call to Arms by Charles Messenger (4/5) This was another book I read for my world war one course at university. I thoroughly enjoyed it; it was a great over view of the British army in the western front. The chapter on women in the army was especially interesting. A really wonderful book that didn’t get too heavy but gave solid information. Quote
Jessi Posted April 6, 2012 Author Posted April 6, 2012 Farewell to the East End – Jennifer Worth (4/5) It was with sadness I finished this book as I was thoroughly engrossed in the 1950s East End Worth recreated. It was written with the same affection and warmth which characterised its predecessors. Worth tells us what happened to herself and her fellow midwives once they left the east end as well as wrapping up the stories of the final patients we met as well as the nuns. All three books are well worth reading. Quote
Jessi Posted April 7, 2012 Author Posted April 7, 2012 The Love Letters of Henry VIII to Anne Boleyn are surely a must read for any Tudor fan. The passion at the beginning of one of the most passionate and doomed relationships in history has been well documented elsewhere but reading the letters really brings it back to the reader. A wonderful but tragic read. Quote
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