General Chat

Whilst away I read "Call The Midwife"" by Jennifer Worth. Thoroughly enjoyed it.
Also "Gypsy" by Lynn Pearce which I couldn't put down.

Would recommend both

Linda :o)

brilliant book and Jennifer Worth has another out -forgotten the name -brilliant too

Think the other book is called the workhouse
Anne

Both excellent books. My great grandmother was a midwife in the early l900's, and my Mum told me a few tales she had been told by her.
Liz

Hi another Anne from glos and Rosalyn, the other book by Jennifer worth is "Shadows of the Workhouse". I have it on my coffee table as my next read !!!
I'll let you know how I get on.

Linda :o)

shadows of the workhouse is also very good you will enjoy it.

ooh me too, I've got "Shadows of the Workhouse" waiting to be read!! But am still reading Small Island by Andrea Levy at the mo'...which is good but not the most brilliant I've ever read.

If anyone is interested in Indian history, then Maharanis by Lucy Moore gives a good insight into the lives of 4 women spanning 4 generations, covering the rise and fall of the Raj and India's road to independence.

K

She had a 3rd book out in April - which I have yet to buy called-

Farewell to the East end.

Am sure it is the follow on on from the two mentioned.

Am going to buy this week.

Liz

Thanks for adding Karen. That sounds like my sort of book too as my father in law was born in British India in 1923. He started my real interest in genealogy so I shall look for this book.

Liz I will look for the book you mention too. I really like the way Jennifer Worth writes.

Gilda O'Niell is another lady who writes about the East End and I have read several of her books.

I feel an Amazon search coming on, especially if this lovely weather continues and I can sit in the garden relaxing.
Linda :o)

Talking of Amazon, I recently ordered some of the old classics (Thomas Hardy, Jane Austen, Charlotte Bronte etc) as they were up for £1.99 each (free p&p)!!!! HOW good is that?!

I may have read a lot of them before, but that was literally yonks ago, so it's nice being able to re-read them, and enjoy them all over again.


K

Don't know if these are available in the Uk but for those in Oz at least, "Tomorrow When The War Began" by John Marsden is just brilliant. It is the first of a series of seven and is followed by a trilogy about the main character. Written for the mid to older teenager but great for adults too. Love them. I bought them when my 13 year old was 1 just in case they were out of print when she was older but they just keep getting reprinted. Probably would mean a whole lot more to Aussies though.
Also love anything by Raymond E Feist. Anyone else read him?

Alison

"Shadows of the Workhouse" was really good just finished it. Found I couldn't put it down in the end. Very sad too, but quite an eye-opener. She really is a very good author and makes you feel you're therewith her listening over her shoulder.

Will look at Amazon for her next book........................... Farewell To The East End, but only available as a hard back at present.

Linda :o) XxX

Linda,

I agree about "Shadows of the Workhouse" - brilliantly written. I have saved the last chapter for tonight's bedtime reading!

Elisabeth

Edit.... for anyone interested in this author, I bought it from Morrisons, in one of their multiple book offers.

I love a good read, and can remember in the early '50's, being a member of the library. This passion has stayed with me all my life, and I always bought books for the children at Christmas, and they carry this on too.
I have read the first book mentioned, by Jennifer Worth. My favorites are Patricia Cornwall, Kathy Reichts et al. However, I have found that in more recent years, Cornwall has become too, how shall I say, technical, for my tastes,and now entering the computer world of detective work. I have all on to manage how to use my PC, so do not want to use my precious reading time, reading about it. But, I suppose she is only moving with the times.
However, I have gone back to John Grisham, who is abit more to my taste. We have a book shop in a local town where I can pick up his books for £2.99, and I recently visited the 'League of Friends' shop, in the local hospital whilst being allowed out of bed to stretch my legs, and I got a double volume of his for 70p. What a bargain.
Happy reading to all
Julia in Derbyshire

DET, you are right about the cooking thing with Cornwall, but she did bring out a book about Scarpetta's recipes. I always prefer to buy in paperback, but twice I bought copies of her 'latest' in hardback, as I couldn't wait to read them. At £9.99, for me they were a waste of money. Your right also about the Bones programme, and it does not cut the mustard for me. Some books do not make into good programmes, but I think this is more down to the producers rather than the books themselves. I have read all the Rebus novels, and whilst I like Ken Stott as an actor, I much preferred John Hannah in the title roll. The Dalziel and Pascoe books are good too, but I tend to get into character when reading, and imagine the part and voice of Warren Clarke, but then I do enjoy watching them on TV.
At the moment in Tesco the 2 for £7.00, has produced some not too bad first timers, which I have read, and I feel some are very up and coming and will look for further books from them instead of just looking for all time favourites.
Have a good read
Julia in Derbyshire

nudge

I bought my mum the two Jennifer Worth books, the midwife and the workhouse one. I must remember to borrow them off her. She really enjoyed them both too.

CURRENTLY READING 'A HOPSCOTCH SUMMER' BY ANNIE MURRAY.
HAVE READ OTHER BOOKS BY HER.

STARTING READING MARTINA COLE'S LATEST, BUT CAN'T GET INTO IT.
HER BOOKS ARE BECOMING REPETITIVE.

I have just finished reading "Missing" by Susan Lewis. I enjoyed it and would read other books by her. Set in the present ,it is a gripping story of loss. Also deals with mental and physical illness. As well as the dramas of everyday life.

About to start "Love Over Scotland" (a Scotland Street novel) by Alexander McCall Smith, the author of The First Womans Detective Agency , books (set in Botswana).


I will be trying to get the Greaders chosen books from the library tomorrow. (See Ann in glous thread) They are always wirth the read, even if it just so you can moan about them on the Greaders review.

Tess

I`ve just read "Tommy`s War " -diary about the daily life of the Livingstone family -illustrated with drawings , couldn`t put it down but won`t appeal to everyone, it is local area to me.His diary was found in a house sale by an auctioneer , Ros x