General Chat

Please review whichever of the books you read
Gervaise Phinn The Heart of the Dales
Kate Moss The Winter Ghosts
Celia Ahern PS I Love You

Hello Ann, I read P S I love You and thorougly enjoyed it, could relate to the young wife's grief and impatience to reach the next month for another letter, that was a brilliant idea. The closness of the three friends was great any their continued care and tact was wonderful. I must confess I expected the heroine to end up with the Irish club owner. Sorry, but I finished these books over a fortnight ago and can't remember any of the character's names.
I also read Winter Ghosts but found this hard going, I mentioned this to our local librarian who is a fan of KAte Moss and she said she had to admit she was disappointed with the end. I feel that had the time span been less then I could have maybe believed the story. Very disappointed.

Hi Ann, I read PS I love you and will be writing the review tomorrow. I ordered Winter Ghosts (on CD as that was all that was available in the forseeable future in Kent) and picked it up today! I'll try and listen to it tomorrow!

The Winter Ghosts by Kate Mosse

When I first handled my hardback copy of Winter Ghosts, it reminded me of The Readers Digest Books, being a simular size and the covers having the same texture.
This perception was increased when I saw the book was illustrated. - I even checked to make sure that I wasn't reading an abridged version.
Although I enjoyed the story of Freddie Watson and his meeting with Fabrissa, I was a little disappointed. I have read Kate Mosse books before and was expecting an intricate and meaty plot.
The story gave all the clues you needed quite early on. So when Freddie met Fabrissa , it was fairly clear what was really happening. i.e. that Fabrissa was a girl from the past, who had suffered religious persecution. (Even the sect she belonged to had been named).
So there were no big surprises, except of where Fabrissa and her friends were entombed.
If I hadn't read Mosse books before I would have been satisfied with a good story, well told.
However, as I had read some Mosse books ( thanks to GReaders), I was expecting more. Compared with her other books, this was lightweight.

PS, I Love You
Although not my usual style, I really enjoyed this book. The giggles and mishaps kept it lighthearted. At the same time, it showed what Holly was going through without her soul-mate as she slowly learned to face life on her own.

I ordered the other book and it was put on Backorder - reason "out of print". I'm STILL waiting for it! Will cancel and replace order with new books after voting.

The Heart of the Dales by Gervase Phinn

I couldn't find this book on the Library shelves, so put in a request, only to be told that it was a biography (autobiography) so was not with the fiction books!
I have a feeling that if it WAS a biography (i.e. fact not fiction), some of the people he writes about would sue!

This is a delightful book, easy to read and very entertaining. I particularly liked the mnemonics - especially the one that begins "Dash in a real rush ------- .
I wish that I'd had a teacher like Mr Hornchurch - maybe I should start a note book of "little wrinkles"

The poem at the front of the book "Remembering Mr Firth" was inspiring.
I am sure that any teacher would be flattered to have a poem like that written about them. I also liked the version of "Mother to Son" at the back of the book.
In fact a lovely prose sandwich between two slices of peotry.

Sometimes though, I had to suspend belief, especially over the timeframe of the sale and refurbishment of the pub. However, this isn't a book to be taken too seriously - and it didn't deflect from my enjoyment of the story.

Now that I know that I will find Mr Phinn's books in the biography section , in the Library, I will probably read more of them.

I have not read a book before by Gervaisse Phinn, and did not know he had one out at the moment. But, he is a regular on our local Radio station, and is a very eloquent speaker. The tales are of his time as a Schools Inspector (I think that was his title), and are so hilarious. You can readily imagine a snotty nosed little lad in short trousers and socks at half mast, wearing milk bottom NHS specs. creating mayhem in the school yard. The head lice and the 'nit nurse' easily come to mind.
The next time I am near W.H. Smith, I will make a point of looking for this book.
A good choice there Ann
Happy reading
Julia in Derbyshire

Edited to say, look for him on google, it tells you all about him

The Winter Ghosts by Kate Mosse

I have previously read and thoroughly enjoyed both Labrynth and sepulchre by this author so had great hopes for this book.
At first I was disappointed as I couldn’t get into it at all and couldn’t see where it was going. However, once Freddie started telling his story to M Saurat I was hooked. Kate Mosse is a great story teller and she has obviously researched her subject well. I liked the time slip feel to the story and the not knowing what was real and what was not. I found it interesting to learn about the Cathars and felt that it must be based on fact. Something made clear in the author’s note. How horrific to be shut up inside a mountain to die.
I did enjoy the book, I wont say it was as good as either Sepulchre or Labrynth, but then Sepulchre is over 700 pages and this one is only 245, but it was a good read.

Review The Heart of the Dales by Gervaise Phinn

I love his books they are so well written and so humorous. I am always sorry when I finish one. Sometimes difficult to imagine it is all absolutely true but I guess he uses artistic licence sometimes, I saw him on TV the other day and he was extremely entertaining. No story really but very easy to pick up and put down, just right for bedtime reading. I enjoyed it.

PS I love you

I didn't re-read this book as I have read it before and I have too many other books waiting to be read to re-read at the moment.
I do remember that it was a well written, warm book, the story sticks so it must have been good (my memory is such that I often forget what I have read a few months afterwards.) When I read it I enjoyed it.

n

Winter Ghosts by Kate Mosse
I too was surprised that the book was illustrated, I wonder why we expect illustrated books to be for children? However I did enjoy the story. Kate Mosse always seems to include some aspect of the supernatural and I don’t enjoy straightforward ghost stories but she seems to be able to link the mystic touch with history.
Not as intricate as Labyrinth and Sepulchre but still interesting

The Heart of the dales by Gervaise Phinn
I always enjoy Gervaise Phinns books, as an ex teacher they definitely strike a chord with me, having experienced similar funny situations myself. They have that ‘feel good factor’ that gives me that satisfying feeling when I have finished the book. Friends have seen his live performances and say that they are really funny but I always seem to miss them!

Any more reviews?

Still some reviews missing

I tried to order Winter Ghosts but paperback was not available until June ?? and the hardback was a silly price plus added postage on top.
PS I did enjoy this and having seen this on TV was expecting something quite different. Film was set in USA and family very different to the book which I found far better. I liked the way the letters not only helped Holly but also her sister and brothers lives were changed.There were lots of fun moments as well as sad with her outings with her friends and it was good that it had a different ending in the love department to what you expected.

x Jill

Not a regular Greader any more but as I've just read 'PS I love you' I thought I'd add a review.

I reallly enjoyed this book which was very easy reading. The reader was drawn into Holly's moods - her ups and downs as she came to terms with the premature death of her husband. There was a blend of light heartedness and sorrow. I felt the author developed the characters well and the story line was both original and entertaining.

I tried to get the Gervase Phinn book as I've read several of his and really enjoyed them but haven't managed to get it so far.

Kate

thanks for your input Kate.
Jill I got Winter Ghosts off amazon and postage was free but I suppose that doesn't apply to France.

Ann, no, postage is around another £4 plus could only see hardback and could only get the paperback on the french site but after I popped it in basket and got to checkout, saw delivery date was June !! Thought I would read the reviews and see if I still wanted to get it for a later read as felt the price was too steep for a one off read esp if I didn't enjoy it

x Jill

Not worth paying extra for Jill.

PS I love you

I had originally seen this at the cinema and enjoyed it and the film is fairly true to the original story.

The idea of the notes written by Holly's husband to help her through the grieving process was very touching and I thought her emotions, both sadness and happiness, were described realistically.

Holly's parents and brothers and sister were all hilarious and added a lot of humour to an otherwise sad subject and I particularly liked her brother secretly tidying the garden for her!

I liked the book and thought others would enjoy it.