General Chat

Glad you enjoyed Thursdays in the Park Tess. I agree Jeanni wanted a good shake, or seemed to.

I am not sure if I read Woman in White or not, I think it was a Greaders book way back. Obviously didn't make a good impression if I can't remember Lol!!

Ann, yes Wilkie Collins does tend to writ big books. Have ready read two of them
Woman in White (or was it Lady in White) and one other.


I have checked at Handsworth Library. The books from the (large) Central Library, are now out of circulation. So this is one of the reasons that books are unavailable or we have to wait a long time for them.

I think that the New Central Library will be opening in September. I'm really looking forward to it.

Will be able to do research there too. :-D

Review for Thursdays in thePark by Hilary Boyd.

I quite enjoyed this book especially the descriptions of Ellie, the grandchild.

At times though I got rather frustrated by Jeanie's inaction when her husband wanted to move.

Anyone else in the room with me would have heard me mutter ... "For goodness sake woman, just say 'I am NOT going!' Forget about this 'I don't want to rubbish!"

However I do know that habits can be difficult to break, and don't know what I would have done in Jeanie's place.

It was also interesting to read about my generation having a libido (is that the correct word?) That a grandmother came actually 'fancy' a man (not just an unobtainable film-star etc.)


It was interesting to see how, once the upbringing of the husbands, of Jeanie, and Chanty, was revealed, that they became far more deserving of sympathy and understanding. (Had though, already thought that Chanty rather took her husband for granted re childcare).

This is an interesting first novel by formaer writer/journalist Hilary Boyd.

Sounds a good story Tess, Wilkie Collin's books are always big aren't they?

Poor Miss Finch is interesting .
The Miss Finch of the title is a beautiful, blind and lonely young woman. She advertises for a companion, and Madame Pratolongo answers the advertisement and gets the job.

The story is told through the eyes and voice of the widowed Madame Pratolongo, and is set in the South Downs.

The descriptions of the people in the story are first rate, making them appear as fully formed personallities, instead of just names on the page.

It is a love story, about the love of twin brothers, Oscar and Nugent for Drucilla, and that of Drucilla for Oscar.

But as the say "the path of true love never runs smooth" (or something like that!)
There are quite a few twists and turns to the story ...
As I have nearly one hundred pages to read, I don't know how it turns out, and yes, after reading two hundred and fifty paged I AM still interested.

What is Poor Miss finch like Tess?

Have got them! Will start reading as soon as I have finished "Poor Miss Finch" by Wilkie Collins. :-D

That is great Mersey, thank you for adding it. I thought it was a sort of gentle book in a way

Thursdays in The Park - Hilary Boyd

I was pleasantly surprised at this book. A love story between a woman trapped in a loveless marriage and her own self discovery into finding herself. Jeanie the main character made me both laugh and annoyed at times .

Her life revolving around Thursdays and the feelings she had not felt in along time opening up a brand new world for herself.

Well written and identifiable features and feelings on some pages.






Hope this is ok Ann :-)

The Paula McClain book does sound interesting Tess but not at that price. I wonder, do people actually pay that for books?

Glad your books are in, hope you enjoy Thursdays in the park. Try and stay awake :-D

Have now been informed that both books I requested from the library are ready for collection.

Library is closed today, so will be collecting them tomorrow.

Will start reading "Thursdays in the Park" as soon as I can and then writing the review.

Just be warned, I am keeping rather active (for me ) at the moment, so when I sit down, I tend to fall asleep.

Since writing the review, I looked at the list of books written by Paula McLain.

One of them is an autobiography, where she tells of her two sisters and herself going into care at a very early age.
They were in several foster homes.
Amazon have a copy (hard back, I think) on sale at around £64. so I won't be buying it form them!
However it sounded quite intersting. Will have to make a proper note of the title and see if it is available from Library or Charity shop.

Thanks for that Tess a good review of the book.

At last, I have finished reading "The Paris Wife" by Paula McLain.

Review.

I knew a little about Ernest Hemingway before reading this book, I was therefore reminded about what I had already heard and also had meat put on the bones about Hemingway after WW1.

I enjoyed listening to Hadley's voivce throughout the sorry tale. (but sometimes wanted to tell her to open her eyes and have a good look at her situation).

Sometimes I had to remind myself that this all happened around ninety years ago, when things for women were very different.
Nowadays the paperatzzi (spl.) would have a fiel day, writing about who was with who, and photographing people when they were worse for wear.. (which seemed to be often.)

The book was written in an easy to read, rather gentle style, possibly because this is the way that Paula McLain thought of Hadley.
My interest in other famous friends of Ernest and Hadley, was piqued. Will now try to find out more about some of them,, including Gertrude Stein and the Scott Fitzgerlads.

Will also look out for books written by Hemingway, especially "Moveable Feast" where he talks about his marriage to Hadley.

Paula McLain bought the story and the times to life.
A well written book, the only reason that I can't say I liked it is because of my dislike of Hemingway.

However, I would recommend to my friends.
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Still waiting for "Thursdays in the Park"
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P.S. Will now read the other reviews of "The Paris Wife"

Thanks Tess, hope you enjoy it.

Collected "The Paris Wife" from the library yesterday. Have now started reading it.

Still waiting for "Thursdaaays in the Park"

Will try library again on Monday.

Will be back with review/s as soon as I can.

From Helen

The Paris Wife

I just love stories about the ‘20s, from lots of different countries, because there seemed to be so much going on. Hadley Richardson’s story brought so much of it to life for me and I was sorry to finish the book. Hemingway is one of my favourite authors so it was interesting to see a different side to him, even though it ultimately ended in heartache. Considering so many “Bohemians” were supposed to embrace poverty the tales sporting and making merry are probably the true story.....much recommended.

Thursdays in the Park

Well this was sad and sweet at the same time, it’s really nice to read about an older couple meeting, falling in love, sorting out their lives despite interference and opinions from their grown-up families – in fact hasn’t there been a TV series about this recently?! It can never be easy to be in Jeanie’s position but a stale marriage is not right for everyone so although I thought this might be a bit of a “beach-book”, if you know what I mean, I did enjoy it.

The Paris Wife – Paula McLain
This book didn’t really do much for me. I found Hemingway to be a most unpleasant man, and the set he went round with very shallow. His passion for bull fighting and the chapters covering his and Hadley’s visits to Spain were rather harrowing. Seems neither of them had much time for poor Bumby, but then I guess children didn’t fit very well into the ‘arty’ set of the 20’s.

One Hundred Names – Cecilia Aherne
A fascinating book, I couldn’t put it down. Just goes to show we meet people and walk past people every day without really knowing who they are or their real hopes and dreams.
I also learnt a new word through reading this book - noscomaphobia - fear of hospitals

The Paris Wife

When I first started reading the prologue I wasn't sure I was going to enjoy this book but as soon as I got into the story proper it drew me in. It was interesting learning about the 'Jazz age' times and people we had heard about. You don't tend to think about the people around someone as famous as Hemingway so it was good to find out about his wife and friends. You knew, however, that the marriage of Hadley and Ernest would end in tears. McLain has created an engaging mixture of biography and fiction.

Thursdays in the Park

I liked the character of Jeanie, but I don't think I would have put up with a marriage without closeness for so long! It is great to read a book where older people are the main characters. It made me smile and it made me cry, although I did think the part where George finds happiness was rather tagged on so Jeanie would not have to feel so guilty.

100 Names

Another heartwarming book that engaged my attention. Were 100 names too many? Maybe, so I'm glad that only about six people were highlighted, but it was interesting to be able to work out the connections as you read further, and to chart the changes in Kitty's personality.

Haven't managed to get Mr Penumbra - our library didn't seem to have heard of it!

I hadn't read a Cecelia Ahern since PS I love you, so was interested to read 100 names. A complicated but heart felt story about someone fulfilling anothers dream after they have died. As someone who loves to people watch, and make up stories in my head, that fulfilled that fantasy for me, an excellent read.

As someone who loves SF,and is going back again later this year, I was left wondering if there wa s shop like Mr Penumbras 24 hour store...in fact I may look !!! It was a revelation and I shall recommend the book to all my biblio friends.......Barnes and Noble it isn''t