General Chat

Please review Grief Encounters and Once in a Lifetime.

I managed to read both the main book and 2 of the other second choices-

Grief Encounters by Stuart Pawson

A great holiday book, light but satisfying reading. I loved the way the different strands of the story linked together. I enjoyed the humour and the weird little facts he drops into the story (from eagle owls to Kandinsky). I shall definitely look out for more of his books.

A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian by Marina Lewycka

I Managed to get this as an audio book so I could listen whilst doing my ironing. Sian Thomas (the reader) really brought the characters to life. I enjoyed the humour, but there was also the underlying sadness of a family which did not talk about their past , with the two sisters allowing events they both saw from different viewpoints to colour their relationship. I was glad that they resolved their problems in the end.

The Independence of Miss Mary Bennett

I hated this book at first- how dare they spoil the satisfying end to Pride and Prejudice by suggesting that the future lives of Jane and Elizabeth could be anything but happy?! But I persevered and once I managed to see it as a stand alone rather than a sequel I did quite enjoy it. The coincidences were rather far fetched though and Elizabeth from P and P would never have forgiven Darcy for treating her the way he did in this book!

Review Grief Encounters by Stuart Pawson
Well. Not a book I would have voluntarily bought, the cover would put me off, it looks like ‘a man’s book’. I don’t usually read detective stories.
However, despite the fact it took a while to get into, I did find it a good read. The sort of book I might read on holiday as it needed a bit more than pick up and put down. There were a lot of characters which I found a bit confusing but it is well written and kept me guessing almost to the end. I liked the fact that there were two stories in one that were actually linked
Would I buy any more of his? Probably not, but if they appear on a holiday book shelf I would read them

Cathy Kelly Once in a lifetime

Her characters are real as are her situations. A book difficult to put down, three stories in one really. The main story being that of Kenny's store and Isobel and David Kenny, then there is Charlie and her search for why she is not as loved by her mother Kitty as her sister is. And finally Natalie and her search for information about her real Mother.
Tying it all together is Star with her mystic qualities and ability to 'know' things.

A great story I really enjoyed it. I think I would have preferred the endings to not be quite so tidy and 'happy', I found that all a bit fairytale. However it was a good read, I have read her books before and will again.
I especially liked the life instructions Dara left for Natalie, revealed at the end which run through the chapters of the book.: Be true to yourself, trust your instincts, be kind to yourself, it's never too late to change the way your going etc etc. Should be printed out and pasted on the wall.

Just need to unearth my note pad with my reviews. Books already returned to the Library.

I enjoyed Grief Encounters, as Ann has said, maybe not one I would have chosen to buy but I got it from the library. Being paper back it was easy for me to hold and as the story was a light read I soon got into it. The only problem I had was that I was watching a detective story on TV each night as well, set in Yorkshire and I kept getting them mixed up, but then that was me, not the author and I shall definitely look for more by Stuart Pawson

I also was able to read Once in a Lifetime which kept me really interested right up to the end I really liked the character Star and would not have been surprised had she been David's other love in later life. I found all the interwoven stories and characters very lifelike and I admired Isobel's strenght through it all.

Read three books this time (all from the Library).

So a shorter review of each -

Grief Encounters by Stuart Pawson.

I hadn't read any of the Charlie Priest stories before, indeed I hadn't read anything by Stuart Pawson.
I enjoyed Grief Encounters and although I deduced/guessed most of the solution (correctly) I wasn't bored. I had to keep reading to make sure that I was right. It continued to hold my interest right to the end.

I will probably read some more Charlie Priest, so that I can feel that I know him, and in each book he will feel more familiar. Till I can greet him like an old friend.


A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian by Marina Lewycka.

I wasn't sure what to expect when I started this book.

I saw on the front cover that it was "Extremely funny" (The Times), but found it rather sad too.
I felt that a lot of the story was ' hidden between the lines'

I found it to be a really good and interesting book, well worth (at least), a second read to get to grips with all the hidden layers of the story.
A good tale too, of family relationships, as well as a modern history documentary.
I will read this again and recommend it to others.


The Independence of Miss Mary Bennet
by Coleen McCullough

A thought provoking story of the under belly of Jane Austin's stories.
Gripping in it's own right, but its links to Pride and Prejudice is interesting. I may even read P + P alongside this book to compare notes of the personalities involved.

Some suprises in how twenty years had changed the main charecters, but as it was written by Coleen McCullough, I didn't expect a nice little story.
Some suprising issues were raised too. Well done Coleen, for being brave enough to tackle the "twenty years later" story. Think though that many Austin fans will not like what she has done.

Grief Encounters by Stuart Pawson

I have never read a Charlie Priest story before and, as a great fan of the morose Rebus crime stories by Ian Rankin, I was interested to see the differences in style.

“Grief Encounters” is written in quite a light-hearted way, although the subject matter is serious, and I found the emphasis on jokes and humour really refreshing. Charlie seems to be a nice bloke!

I thought the story linked the various plotlines very carefully and I enjoyed reading it right to the end, with it’s twist. But someone please tell me, are there really nasty people about like Fiona, Tristan, Richard and Terri? Apart from these four all the characters are fairly easy to like, even some of the baddies, and if you didn’t get around to reading this book, I’m sure you would enjoy it.

Grief Encounters
I enjoyed this book. I like detective novels, and it showed the need for keeping computers secure. Yes, I would read more by this author.

The Independence of Mary Bennett
I felt that there was no need to make this a continuation of Pride & Prejudice. As a story about a family, it had interest of its own without intruding on Jane Austen's imagination. It was a little hard to imagine how people lived in caves without contact from the outside world but it held my interest, if only to wonder what was coming next.

Cathy Kelly – I had only read one of her books “Just Between Us” before – it was given to me with points earned at my bookseller. I enjoyed that and found “Once in a Lifetime” a good page turner – it’s a book for those that believe in love but she does not get too schmaltzy lots of misunderstandings and anger etc though it does all end up a bit not quite true to life. I shall probably read more of her now – and to think she originally did not appeal to me when I first saw her books in the stores – sometimes the blurbs they do on the backs of books are quite off putting.

But most of all I have to say:
Wow - I am impressed with the feedback on Charlie Priest.
Unlike Ann I am a keen detective reader - but very rarely buy one - I have managed to chomp my way through all his books from the library.

I am so pleased that you all gave him a go.

Cheers

Persey

I just read the main book, Grief Encounters, and by the time I received it I had to
get stuck in to get in finished.
I got a bit confused at the start as it was jumping about a bit but then saw the way it was going and how they were all linked. I am still confused about the supermarket hold up, did I miss something ? How were these men linked or was it just added to bring in the lady who saw by voice colour? Might have to reread at some point :)
I might try giving another of his books a go if a friend has it but do not think I would buy another.

x Jill

I'll be back tomorrow with my reviews - to tired tonight to think straight :-)

n

First up I tried to read Once In A Lifetime over Easter but have given up as found it to dull for my taste.

Grief Encounters - I enjoyed this, Charlie was a likeable character. I had figured out who Teri was early on in the book. I did have an issue with the conversation Charlie had with what seemed to be another high ranking officer regarding whether or not a person could hijack someone's computer - I actually found myself checking the copyright date of the book to see how recent it was, as no police officer I know would have made the comment that they didn't think it was possible.

A Brief History of Tractors of Urakairian - I wasn't to sure about this when I first started on it - , but enjoyed the different layers to the story. All the characters were likeable. I did get a little confused at times when different names were used for the same character. I like the quote at the end of Mr Mayevskyj' book about not letting technology becoming your master or using it to master over anybody else.

As an aside I"ve encountered someone very much like Valentina indirectly through work and seen the destruction to a person's life that can be left behind once they get what they want and move on to their next goal.