General Chat

My Reviews.

Lost Alice Lichtenstein.

I voted for this book so was very pleased when it was chosen.
A theme that is relevant to a lot of people , the story was sad and funny by turns - very moving.
A story about relationships and the effect they have on our lives.
I felt connected to Susan. worrying about her husband and felt very sorry for Corey, as life had dealt him a terrible hand.
I felt the cold of the landscape during the search and so wished that everything would turn out okay for everyone.
Realistically there are perhaps no happy endings for people with dementia.

I would recommend this book to others and would even read it again - especially as I read it rather quickly this time as I wanted to know what happened.
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The White Queen Philippa Gregory

I used to read a lot of historical novels including ones about the times of the Plantagenets and the Tudors.

However, thius is the first time I have read a book from the point of view of Elizabeth Woodville (previously portrayed as a villain)
It therefore made interesting reading. It also gave more details of the battles and the politics involved. A well researched book that went quite deeply into the issues.
I enjoyed the story immensley - it was good to hear an alternative view of what happened to her Royal sons, the Princes in the Tower. There was of course mention of Perkin Warbeck, I had jheard of him in my history lessons (long ago). Now I wish I had paid more attention to my lessons at school.
This book had renewed my interest in the history of the time.

Tess

Really enjoyed the White Queen, I'm glad she has extended her interest from the Tudors to another era, I was worried she would run out of stories. I love the way she takes a story I think I know well and reflects it in a mirror so that I have to look at it from a different viewpoint. I enjoy historical novels which have a good basis in truth (at least as we think we know it!) and use that base to extend into fiction. I've always been fascinated by the mystery of the 'Princes in the Tower' and Philippa Gregory makes a plausible suggestion as to their fate. Like Ann and Helen I'm looking forward to the Red Queen.

Tried to get 'Lost' but the library would have had to order it in from outside which would have taken at least 6 weeks so I left it.

The White Queen.
Although this is not the type of story which takes my interest, I read it right through and felt sorry for the women of that time. Husbands, brothers and sons always going to war and the women waiting to see if they come home or die on the battlefield.

The Lovely Bones
Unable to obtain both of the elected books, I opted for The Lovely Bones, which was late arriving and I still have not quite finished it.
This is the first time I have read a book which tells the story from the victim’s view. I found it very interesting how she tells of the murder; how friends and family were affected and gradually came to terms with her death.

I wasn't able to get Lost but was informed by phne today that the libeary now had it in an it is ready for me to collect, after being on order a month.

I read the one about a doctor and his family and the affect his wife having twins, one of which was Downs Syndrome, had on him, and his nurse. I thought it was very sympathetically written and although I was horrified at the thought of him giving a baby to be housed in a care home he new next to nothing about, think that the child was better off as it turned out with her adoptive parents. The whole incident affected the rest of his family with out them knowing his secret, but I felt that it was a pity the good ending came late. Sorry, it's been so long now since I read it I can';t remember the title.

Will be back tomorrow with reviews for Lost and The White Queen.

Tess

Well I must've been feeling cantankerous when I read

The White Queen

I enjoy this period in history but I am not keen on fantasy and history being mixed together. I like mythological/legends as in King Arthur, and I loved Hans Christian Andersen and the Brothers Grimm. People complain about the actions of people today but they were very much a blood thirst lot when we delve back into history. So while Philippa Gregory weaves a good tale it was not really me.

Intimate Strangers

I got cross with a lot of the characters in this. Andraya way over the top but then so are a lot of movie actors if you believe what you read. I should have made notes as I have forgotten the characters names but Elliott's wife to be seemed to overplay her feelings very early in the piece she seemed to be at odds with herself. Critical of him to herself but when it came to the crunch she didn't want to lose him. People trafficking is very real and I can well believe that part. However, I got bored and it didn't quite do it for me.

As I said must've been feeling cantankerous this month.

Persey

Nudge

Lost

I loved this! It was very cleverly written, I thought, with the sad story of the old man linking to the stories of the other varied characters who were all lost in one way or another. I agree I can't remember anyone's name now but I found it a good read.

The White Queen

This was great. The Plantagenets and the Wars of the Roses have always defeated me so it was interesting to read something about these. Elizabeth Woodville was obviously a very strong lady and the story of the princes in the tower was intriguing. I always said I learned more about history from historical fiction and I know Philippa Gregory spent a lot of time researching this period because I went to an audience with her and she said so! I would definitely like to read The Red Queen.

n

Glad I didn't lash out to buy lost then Michelle.

The White Queen - Phillipa Gregory

I really enjoyed this book as it is set in my favourite time in history and I did enjoy this book more than some of the others I have read by this author, probably due to the stronger main female character and that there was a lot of facts woven into the story and less emphasis on the romantic part of the story. I had forgotten about the story about the princes in the tower, which means I spent some time reading up on this subject while reading this book.

Lost by Alice Lichtenstein

Only good thing I can say about this one, was at least it was short. The blurb on the back stating it was a 'taunt pyschological (sp) read' certainly didn't have that effect on me, I actually found most of the characters annoying (and can't even remember their names now).

I didn't get to read Lost as I went away before I could get hold of it so I read instead

Greaders review Intimate Strangers by Susan Lewis
A powerful page turner. Lots of twists and turns, some of which were unexpected. Romance, human trafficking, violence. Very well written believable characters. Investigative journalism, undercover journalists. I wanted to slap Elliott and Andraya – in fact she was the only character I found unbelievable, somehow she was just too over the top. A good holiday read and recommended

Review The white Queen by Philippa Gregory
This is not an era that I am familiar with except to know about the mystery of the Princes in the Tower. I found her explanation re Prince Richard extremely plausible. It seemed to that Elizabeth Woodville was a strong Mother and that is what she would do. It is an interesting historical novel very well written and, to me, very enjoyable. I was intrigued by the story of Melusina and thought when reading that it bore a resemblance to The Little Mermaid. I find Philippa Gregory’s ability to meld fact with conjecture extremely clever and believable. A good read and I am looking forward to The Red Queen.

Please give your reviews of the books you read.
Lost
The White Queen
any others on the list

As has been pointed out by Jill, and she is correct, I originally said the 5th, sorry I am a day ahead of myself.