tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60877860201016910822024-02-19T12:07:30.002+00:00Jacques JournalJacqui Chimeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12499876116877754463noreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087786020101691082.post-3940759416713551172013-01-05T20:51:00.002+00:002013-01-05T20:56:01.957+00:00House of the Hanged<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_3_13?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=house+of+the+hanged&sprefix=house+of+the+%2Cstripbooks%2C214"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr3neAb7xelX48U-hc1MRtGpoU4UAluPffTXWs2kurVYfsjkFQ98kv4wdSCYUKcV4t9UoD0dR68HNR85kbE39AQnZI5Rj17qWbKE_YwmGyTPFFKt4tLimto6Bg6RmJqTRGbxEUJxxe3iE/s200/House+of+the+Hanged.jpg" width="125" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">A story set just after the First World War and then sixteen
years later just before the beginning of the second. It is about a
‘retired’ spy who is in his late 30s and how he deals with assassins trying to
murder him for activities that occurred in 1919. At the same time there are various 'love' interests for the protagonist and a </span></span><span style="font-size: 15px;">relationship</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> with his goddaughter that may </span></span><span style="font-size: 15px;">develop</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> that way. The action for most of the
book happens in the South of France whilst he is hosting lavish luncheons,
laborious dinners, bathing parties and scavenger hunts for an extended group of
‘friends’. But who are his enemies and is someone close to him a betrayer? It
should have been gripping but unfortunately, for me, the writing was
‘disjointed’ and the characters not engaging enough. It was just about
interesting enough to finish but then the ending was odd and very unsatisfying. </span></span></span></div>
<br />Jacqui Chimeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12499876116877754463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087786020101691082.post-40905380581775771882012-10-25T12:02:00.002+01:002012-10-25T12:04:15.589+01:00Divided in Death<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Divided-Death-Series-Book-ebook/dp/B003O86FJK/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1351163001&sr=8-3"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOnVBhpeVBSCx_lIvF6KaAvPIEf-B4FRMotH3JoWoiO9SlaLsSUzDfnKfSd2-aSY1N1ZUk2EL2ODZ36wVmIiPYjPplRdtSnBaEVqtVQ-EadgSSf4bSw_avrdS3Q6NOD-Ap4gmSsq7Fd6c/s200/513ZituoDrL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA278_PIkin4,BottomRight,-68,22_AA300_SH20_OU02_.jpg" width="125" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #333333; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I have spent a fair amount of time reading this series of books (this is number 18) but very little time reflecting on them - hence no previous blog entries. They're not books for reflecting on really but they are very good crime genre 'quick reads' with enough depth to satisfy. Nora Robb has a good understanding of the human condition. This one was not the best of this series so far but very readable
as always. I enjoyed the back story more than the murder tale this time, and the
tensions between Eve and Roarke were well drawn and realistic. It was overlong but with a denouement that was
clever and satisfying.</span></span>Jacqui Chimeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12499876116877754463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087786020101691082.post-33478120805392458102012-08-28T15:26:00.002+01:002012-08-28T15:33:00.914+01:00A Judgement in Stone<div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=a+judgement+in+stone"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaca0QN7OzaNdd-YeaubTGs4ST0xWWIbgrp78CpG8byvRhdADBRWtb7Dbr-XlR4w3qPMT0lgnWJ054UgdsJaL1uS19WyJxHtbfGNKWbK8BuRY7Fuo22vka9jxv-cfI0GoW9kbwFii284E/s200/Judgemrnt.jpg" width="126" /></a></div><br />
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</div><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">A Judgement in Stone by Ruth Rendell is, I think, one of her best books even though we know right at the start who has been murdered and by whom. That doesn’t matter – what does matter is why - and in the telling of this story Rendell generates almost unbearable tension and creates a gripping ‘page turner’. The gradual unfolding of the chain of events that led to the tragedy in the opening pages is masterful with its insights into human nature and the consequences of every character’s actions.</span>Jacqui Chimeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12499876116877754463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087786020101691082.post-85761312212566161922012-02-28T15:15:00.001+00:002012-02-28T15:15:50.062+00:00Sharp Objects<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHJ8fzba4jLSZQC8BU0Tep3mB0B7Xp7ai_0lYxDcvhdmTbKHrNJeql8Ign34iAy61rJ_MiBoA8676aerjZh3D8TZbcxCHOt3lB3_EfMtIqmVO7Yenjplt4c2dXFWW8t3Zs_wAPmhfqHQM/s1600/Sharp+Objects.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHJ8fzba4jLSZQC8BU0Tep3mB0B7Xp7ai_0lYxDcvhdmTbKHrNJeql8Ign34iAy61rJ_MiBoA8676aerjZh3D8TZbcxCHOt3lB3_EfMtIqmVO7Yenjplt4c2dXFWW8t3Zs_wAPmhfqHQM/s200/Sharp+Objects.jpg" width="133" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">An exceptional debut novel. Dark, compelling, macabre, sad, and very well written. The story revolves around Camille, a ‘cub’ reporter who returns to her family home to cover the story of the murder of two children in the town. As she talks to various members of the local population she is also reliving her own childhood and finally begins to analyse and face its horrors. This is a story of mother and daughter relationships at there most destructive and the consequences through the generations.</span></div>Jacqui Chimeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12499876116877754463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087786020101691082.post-51132300023874123182012-02-27T15:13:00.000+00:002012-02-28T15:16:38.356+00:00Beneath the Skin<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNUcP0nAxqjqV6yNz1-tVK2hu5SPuVSOW2onOjxgoGgGBwnVw3w9p00lxxR_Ut28zaBqpvLAIUnTDZg5I37AoHbOtWGK3H6T50qIncv_ximLerR7gKkNjQ-heaRQfCBZeg0MrHvYh5aUg/s1600/Beneath+the+skin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNUcP0nAxqjqV6yNz1-tVK2hu5SPuVSOW2onOjxgoGgGBwnVw3w9p00lxxR_Ut28zaBqpvLAIUnTDZg5I37AoHbOtWGK3H6T50qIncv_ximLerR7gKkNjQ-heaRQfCBZeg0MrHvYh5aUg/s1600/Beneath+the+skin.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This ‘author’ is apparently a husband and wife team writing together. I’m not sure how they organize this, but for me, this book is not as successful as their other novels. The story is told in the first person by three women who are hunted down by a serial killer – how then is it possible for them to relate their stories? This is meant to be a psychological thriller – I remained decidedly ‘unthrilled’ and was irritated by the plot and the way it was constructed. There was no opportunity to warm to any of the characters and the ending was, to my mind, unsatisfying. </span></span></div>Jacqui Chimeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12499876116877754463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087786020101691082.post-44168082525738305502012-02-26T15:26:00.004+00:002013-01-05T20:55:20.705+00:00Testament of Youth<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Testament-Youth-Autobiographical-1900-1925-non-fiction/dp/0860680355/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1330269780&sr=8-1"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnSW9qe0GuOaS6nycskH_Sbw8yRlimX8RG7pfVsglgO3tsaDwxMRy4Eg53fRpJK4uUU8q7QU7TcPoMs5WgDN5RExib4-Ex36n_ac5BOBfyAQISh6h4rPrNKnNwGO4QMjL_yt9QfVwMHgQ/s200/Testament+of+Youth.jpg" width="127" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">This is a long book that repays every effort that is put into reading it. Vera Brittain’s true story is bold, touching, tragic and extraordinary. The story pivots around her experiences in the First World War, contrasting the time before with what came after as she recounts lives that were lost and those, including her own, that were changed so profoundly forever. It is a love story, a political story, a passionate story, a story of loss and a story that needs to be retold to as many people as possible about the futility of conflict.</span></div>
Jacqui Chimeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12499876116877754463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087786020101691082.post-28576106760179426282012-02-26T15:20:00.001+00:002012-02-26T15:20:05.379+00:00Back AgainThis blog needs resurrecting and reviews should follow shortly!Jacqui Chimeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12499876116877754463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087786020101691082.post-35461701501940001562011-03-20T09:37:00.000+00:002011-03-20T09:37:03.222+00:00You're Next<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Youre-Next-Gregg-Hurwitz/dp/0751542113/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1300613238&sr=8-1"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe8sU16WIUj1BQ2eHeJw72n22cNV7gqmCCvrnzL2qTTl850xPXsELxkkVDsXPX0Phz-09sLvE1-KQMaqJN75foVn_FrD5fvqb4QpKhkJjqtNYdQR6o1fBZWL_QvFdBUS-8KKOrDdXSUTE/s200/You%2527re+Next.jpg" width="128" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #333333; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">A very good thriller. If you enjoy a fast paced plot and convincing characterization give this a go – I have already ordered another title by this author. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #333333; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Mike was abandoned by his father when he was 4 years old and spends his childhood in foster care. He beats the odds and builds a good life for himself and his wife and child, but is never able to trace his birth family. Life is good, and then suddenly he is the target of some extremely ruthless people out to destroy him and his family. These people have killed and the police appear to be in on ‘it’ too. Why? We find out in the end and for me the conclusion was pretty satisfying.<o:p></o:p></span></div>Jacqui Chimeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12499876116877754463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087786020101691082.post-70347850577356593642011-03-18T17:15:00.000+00:002011-03-18T17:17:05.706+00:00Sleepwalking<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sleepwalking-Julie-Myerson/dp/0099494159/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1300468499&sr=8-3-spell"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivXozKUY2gcBSHo5lkRztUzgI2qUAqHJbujq1KvxZx0a4qfd0yXSHJDkxjd33BkHdgzO6TRIgydvWUs-gYiCo1Pn3IWzkycTeW3y4YZInQiltJT93LUcHilUv1gO_CFKFf3mb0VNzrAno/s200/Sleepwalking.jpg" width="127" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #333333;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #333333;">A short but powerful and well written novel with a </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;">surprising amount of depth for</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"> just over 200 pages. Susan’s relationship with her father has damaged her life and she only begins to come to terms with his treatment of her and her sisters after his suicide. This ‘tragedy’ happens while she is pregnant with her first child and as she is ‘sleepwalking’ through life. Susan’s relationships with her birth family, her husband, with her unborn child and with her lover (she embarks on a love affair while she is pregnant) are explored. Other pivotal characters include Queenie, her father’s abusive mother and a ghostly child, a little boy who is haunting her. </span></div>Jacqui Chimeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12499876116877754463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087786020101691082.post-26894173128306954242011-03-17T15:36:00.000+00:002011-03-17T15:36:11.793+00:00Room<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Room-Emma-Donoghue/dp/0330519026/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1300375948&sr=1-1"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk1YdxojTYypdAOHiidpqngYSeiIM7KkbhLg3Ulf5pQgomWj3mGEUkeGHVYsGKOpFkg8R5j1LBhR9QFKgoYKRzHumxRVRaN-9_srzK9q8IXxZFGjSaB47umLseMFuwWn7vqtnkYkBBO2Y/s200/Room.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #333333; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">What a very good book this is. There are many reviews out there and most are full of praise for this novel. It is an extraordinary story that is told in the voice of Jack, a precocious but also unworldly five year old whose development has been shaped from being locked in a small room with his mother for the first five years of his life. She was kidnapped before Jack's birth</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"> and kept as a prisoner by a man with motives of the worst kind. The book is, of course, quite horrifying, but also ultimately uplifting as Jack and his mother discover how to live with their situation and their pasts. It’s a story I will remember for a long time.</span></div>Jacqui Chimeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12499876116877754463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087786020101691082.post-56129986903431558142011-03-05T17:47:00.001+00:002012-02-28T15:10:04.842+00:00Chess<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Chess-Penguin-Mini-Modern-Classics/dp/0141196300/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1299346482&sr=8-2"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDYBinz-v5FjwuqlZVh4rWm8ZdEe4QgkHffkQ1rp1Qvtby2PvJNp1D-rFdAXP04DUdz4A3Gq0Qk_0uViWPDd7VI5DowwdHO1we5fI8j1ZLRTqKbzLlmf2oTC24ATCBFtH_B2CZwRB31Dc/s200/Chess.jpg" width="153" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span lang="EN-GB"><span class="apple-style-span"><span lang="EN-GB">I read</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span lang="EN-GB"> </span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span lang="EN-GB">Ch</span></span></span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span lang="EN-GB">ess<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none;"> </span></span>following a recommendation from Jackie over at</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span lang="EN-GB"> </span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span lang="EN-GB"><a href="http://www.farmlanebooks.co.uk/">Farm Lane Books Blog</a>. She is a great reviewer and I have tried a lot of her suggestion: book blogs are great way to find and enjoy new titles. Chess is a novella and a probably not something I would usually pick up but what a little gem it is. It is the story of an encounter between a morose and reclusive world chess champion and a stranger, who meet aboard an ocean liner and engage in a chess tournament at the behest of the narrator of the tale. The stranger has a past which has allowed him to play the game at a level to match the champion and the main part of the story is the revelation of his history to the narrator. The book is a powerful and moving commentary on the strength of the human spirit and mind and is a beautifully written observation.</span></span>.</div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #333333;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>Jacqui Chimeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12499876116877754463noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087786020101691082.post-63321400144027131352011-02-27T16:21:00.001+00:002011-02-27T16:23:29.572+00:00Midnight Fugue<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Midnight-Fugue-Reginald-Hill/dp/0007252722/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1298823761&sr=1-1"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbRvQ1_ow1jacN0wObyUnpVEhbkRlO9PEK-oOvdH8DS69VE_et7bcXiKiu2NXMTxFDxMQB56dyf-e9bT1coVY14Lt-UUPhpOXnE4ZRvEXFCBJWmHDyIEb_Dqm7oOKEziqfEHRulzyXXsU/s200/midnight+fug.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #333333;">A new Reginald Hill is always a treat and <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Midnight-Fugue-Reginald-Hill/dp/0007252722/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1298823761&sr=1-1">Midnight Fugue</a> is no exception. Dalziel and Pascoe feature again and their relationship takes on a new twist. This story takes place over 24 hours and the mystery is thoroughly entertaining and absorbing. The book is shorter than recent novels but this suits the timeframe of the story. Corruption is rife and the interplay between the characters is cleverly done. <o:p></o:p></span></div>Jacqui Chimeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12499876116877754463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087786020101691082.post-30494268753774035482011-02-22T12:20:00.001+00:002011-02-22T12:20:00.107+00:00Katherine<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=the+birth+of+venus&x=0&y=0#/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=Katherine&rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3AKatherine"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguCgAyRFVD0rySKWgQaEBg5gkAM-MDKNf-ia4LkjDpPU92vgnjxOF03PAt_HD0_L5WL9dxaDpURLGfZktYzlHtjDtyt0M__tG3EPblj6d6dCXovSyEP_7T-HfPdPhzn3CVgL7pY0oHnBM/s200/Katherine.jpg" width="130" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;">Another re-read of a book I first came across over 20 years ago. This is a fictional interpretation written by Anya Seton, of </span><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=the+birth+of+venus&x=0&y=0#/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=Katherine&rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3AKatherine" style="color: #333333;">Katherine</a> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;">Swynford’s story as mistress and then wife of John O’Gaunt. In my opinion Seton is an underrated writer of fiction and as well as being well written this book appears to be based on very thorough research and many sources are cited. Katherine’s story is fascinating and as well as being a direct ancestor to the Tudors and therefore the current royals she was also sister-in-law to Geoffrey Chaucer. Some artistic license and a considerable amount of 'romanticising' has been employed in the writing however, and it is worth reading Alison Weirs biography of </span><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Katherine-Swynford-Story-Scandalous-Duchess/dp/0712641971/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1298204636&sr=8-3" style="color: #333333;">Katherine</a> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;">to redress this. But if you enjoy good writing, interesting and memorable characters and historical fiction give this story a go – it is well worth it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>Jacqui Chimeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12499876116877754463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087786020101691082.post-56441108263686371242011-02-21T12:10:00.000+00:002011-02-21T12:10:00.960+00:00The Birth of Venus<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=the+birth+of+venus&x=0&y=0"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoHFv_i-yVEVjEQlsI5kdUgd9Pd2rge9WRlduo4KJCWo2GkIi_FjVT9xqEKsoK_Bj59NlSQbziAVIAmhNWzuo84iBKHK8oLjUCbsBcqoMxjGoQLt5STf_RDvzZqlgFNAICVbW17rBC9iA/s200/Venus.jpg" width="122" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #333333; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I really enjoyed Sarah Dunant’s Mapping the Edge (review <span style="color: #da1071;"><a href="http://jacquesreadingjournal.blogspot.com/2011/01/mapping-edge.html">here</a></span>) and went on to read <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_c_1_18?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=the+handmaids+tale&sprefix=the+handmaids+tale#/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_0_31?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=the+birth+of+venus+sarah+dunant&sprefix=the+birth+of+venus+sarah+dunant&rh=n%3A266239%2Ck%3Athe+birth+of+venus+sarah+dunant">The Birth of Venus</a> with great expectations. It didn’t disappoint although, for me, the thriller genre always has the edge.</span><span style="color: black; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #333333; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #333333; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">This story evokes 15th century <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Florence</st1:city></st1:place> wonderfully well, with the uncertainty and horror of life there appearing to be admirably researched. Alessandra, the central character, is a teenage girl growing up in the city. She is very bright and artistically talented and is born into a wealthy family but there are few opportunities for women in these times. Her merchant father brings a young painter of frescos into the family home and she becomes fascinated by him and his artistic ability. But who is he, and what is he doing during his nightime ‘walks’? <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #333333; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Alessandra marries an older man, (a ‘friend’ of her hated brother), in haste to gain the freedom she desires, but, as Florence is taken over by Savonrola, the ‘Mad Monk’and becomes a city full of people to be feared she discovers family secrets and lies that have consequences for her for the rest of her life.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #333333; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #333333; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I learned a great deal reading this novel and would recommend it to any one who appreciates good writing, characters that remain in your head – Alessandra is wonderful – and historical interest.<o:p></o:p></span></div>Jacqui Chimeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12499876116877754463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087786020101691082.post-79093834705808052992011-02-20T12:08:00.000+00:002011-02-20T12:09:59.944+00:00The Handmaids Tale<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_c_1_18?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=the+handmaids+tale&sprefix=the+handmaids+tale"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidKUgTh2EJ0AzBpb6zo5w1ugE64a6DPfvGZzM0HLlX5vns8t5x0-axAqvB5JHuAab0AR6jEeoAJxfSitorrYf7B7qrfzwmmFF8tmhGSVbbcCZrzvZEhrbEOnWLuc3qcNWZQh67hKPLGPA/s200/Handmaid.jpg" width="136" /></a></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #333333;">I recently reread <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_c_1_18?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=the+handmaids+tale&sprefix=the+handmaids+tale">The Handmaids Tale</a> after around 20 years and was just as impressed this time as I was then. Margaret Atwood is a suberb writer and this book set in a future where infertility is threatening the survival of the human race is wonderfully imagined. It is a very dark tale with a gripping storyline and believable characters. The story is many layered questioning the way we live our lives and commenting on power, gender, rebellion, sexuality, friendship and betrayal (really these are just a few of the themes that run through this book). It is a horrifying account of ‘what could happen’ and is definitely a 5 star read.</span><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>Jacqui Chimeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12499876116877754463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087786020101691082.post-47005815691984127072011-01-31T17:01:00.000+00:002011-02-08T17:05:53.604+00:00The Moving Finger<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Miss-Marple-Moving-Agatha-Christie/dp/0007120842/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1297184551&sr=8-1"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdGnG2uwcd3zbDUGt1vVAvugRZsFArXSoUJmKhn04ae_oZJtQ1NavyowuuTWxs0ZcmWwkzfkOX0nFWkDj2eXXH_6lFtICfWdKvv7PSTGcOlj03AyAiv_fwVgIkvGYENssYMbJgo0VrvU8/s200/Finger.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #333333; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I have always had a soft spot for Agatha Christie, ever since 'devouring' most of her books in my teens. This remains one of my favourite stories - I'm not sure why - it could be the ugly duckling love story that lurks amongst the murder and mayhem. It is far from her best mystery but somehow the main characters are (for me anyway) very ‘real’. The back story is a lovely little romance and there is one chapter near the end that is nothing to do with the crime but is extremely appealing (if a little cliched!). The denouement is as satisfying as usual and I like this book a lot.</span><span style="color: #444444; letter-spacing: -.75pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>Jacqui Chimeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12499876116877754463noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087786020101691082.post-15849731373887755722011-01-27T16:26:00.000+00:002011-02-08T16:42:20.086+00:00D is for Deadbeat<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.abebooks.co.uk/servlet/SearchResults?bt.x=0&bt.y=0&sts=t&tn=d+is+for+deadbeat"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPD24f9QvNEawJjupfu88nAiNFIoDQHqomK6aWtxnaa5_L_kwjC8Ohu5dCa8CEGq4mY0E4AeigMt-Qi2b9kWLBmUMBVU7iVUsrXic6js-JosxvXEHvMWY0xawOie4vbG_b127zqbo_mx8/s200/D.jpg" width="121" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #333333;">My favourite genre is crime/mystery/thriller and I love the</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"> alphabet series by Sue Grafton. The characters appeal and Kinsey Millhone (the 30 something PI and solver of crimes) is a feisty single woman with strong morals, a sense of humour and a penchant for trouble. I enjoy the predictability of her lifestyle and the details of the lives of those closest to her. The series is now 21 books strong so if you enjoy her you have a lot to look forward to. I had somehow missed <a href="http://www.abebooks.co.uk/servlet/SearchResults?bt.x=0&bt.y=0&sts=t&tn=d+is+for+deadbeat">D</a> so when I saw it recently in a second hand bookshop it was a must. Her later books have become more complex, but going back to one near the beginning was very refreshing. Good story, brilliant characters and a satisfying ending – what more can you ask. I can’t wait to read book 22 – and there should still be 4 more to go!</span></div>Jacqui Chimeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12499876116877754463noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087786020101691082.post-50301743539567086322011-01-25T14:12:00.000+00:002011-02-08T16:36:39.563+00:00Trouble<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><s><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Trouble-Jesse-Kellerman/dp/0751540803/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1297174408&sr=8-3"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh15KtGH5-2UHbx820ZAknKxGeo2cUwBRsnsMJj62ssBYgSuMy4Iv9ZyDOQDxkLVTcAT4jfRDSqT1wEgMRClIBHK7WlQplLy4Nm4AIlJfgpmJI3DOLKOGr5Expg2a9z0rOy4XZDCi1KgIM/s200/Trouble.jpg" width="117" /></a></s> </div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="letter-spacing: -1px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #333333;"><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Trouble-Jesse-Kellerman/dp/0751540803/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1297174408&sr=8-3">Trouble </a>was a charity shop buy. I haven’t read his parents novels (Joanathan and Faye Kellerman) but had read a reasonable review somewhere of this story. Unfortunately this book wasn’t for me. The writing style was too terse for my taste and I didn’t engage with the characters at all. I did get to the end but found this as unsatisfying as the rest of the book.<o:p></o:p></span></div>Jacqui Chimeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12499876116877754463noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087786020101691082.post-6534839327344054292011-01-24T19:52:00.000+00:002011-02-08T16:36:23.998+00:00Next<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Next-Michael-Crichton/dp/0007241003/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1295898734&sr=8-8"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgucLz85Jy4fQY2oT4DnGDKo6tQTDObkLYWJg_wCO4dIxLIu0zgSfkN8ilm7ZzxyWKIIyMFrQjXy40L4OOT1_DsZJWONIjVgD8ymlKIIpU8K00tG3NfCCSZoSBB4YD6gNDNbZfffvDbMlQ/s200/Next.jpg" width="123" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have enjoyed a number of Michaels Crichton’s thrillers although not enough to buy them new (this was another charity shop purchase) but, sadly, this book was a bit of a let down. The author was obviously passionate about his subject – the unethical use of genetic material by large corporations and the patenting of individual genes – but this novel was unfocused with characters I had little interest in. The plot began to seem non-existent and about two thirds of the way I had had enough. I did skip read to the end but couldn’t really tell you what happened.</span></span><span style="color: #444444; letter-spacing: -0.75pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>Jacqui Chimeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12499876116877754463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087786020101691082.post-41071891846509530702011-01-23T11:02:00.000+00:002011-02-08T16:36:03.759+00:00The Behaviour of Moths<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Behaviour-Moths-Poppy-Adams/dp/1844084884/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1295780318&sr=1-1"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF0GOLASArsEIpM42pe50xPu_a_8B1cEzkYLruMRWq04UrKlV7P81cfC5rxjcia0sNzLCpIfKHD_FTXSc0rw9si1LZFPx7cz2Y8cjnHBO8PUZ44AS0K_s0S1320QpxelKre8nWcuBymxk/s200/Moths.jpg" width="126" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I loved this book. It is the story of two sisters who have been apart for all their adult lives. One sister has stayed reclusively (autistically?) in the family mansion to continue her father’s ‘work’ studying the habits of moths and the other returns after 47 years. Why did she leave? The book concentrates on how these two lived together as children and young women and how their relationships with their parents ‘worked’. It looks at their differing views on events in those childhoods and through their lives; how these have affected them and how their personalities and characters affect their memories and views on events. The family is a little creepy and very dysfunctional. The main outcome after the 47 years is quite easy to guess but this didn’t distract from the story for me and there are plenty of surprises – I loved the details about moths too.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>Jacqui Chimeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12499876116877754463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087786020101691082.post-24821320266102614672011-01-22T10:50:00.000+00:002011-02-08T16:35:44.870+00:00Mapping The Edge<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mapping-Edge-Sarah-Dunant/dp/1844081761/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1295779993&sr=1-1"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXtZntcs1aDyibu6C7g3YVkQgtRPPKrO4Tw9LolnOUJndqn6RUKyc2I2qt4cnVZT9MdePhdl3HR-QFQzRHCxSaxKIG4RXw3srZ6KnJKiBJMAhjGaqikfHACsTD_vTpYtt2pXqMCFYuVP8/s200/Mapping.jpg" width="126" /></a> </div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sarah Dunant is a relatively new author to me and I am very glad to have found her. I have seen reviews of ‘The Birth of Venus’ trilogy but not really considered reading it despite enjoying historical fiction from time to time. I recently read an interview with Sarah Dunant that was interesting so when I saw a copy of ‘Mapping the Edge’ in a charity shop I bought it and started it almost straight away. It is very, very good.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It’s the story of Anna who goes missing on a trip to <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Italy;</st1:place></st1:country-region> of what happens to her (or may have happened to her); and of the ‘family’ she leaves behind. The structure of the book is fascinating and was a bit strange to start with but just a few chapters in I could not put this book down. It works as a tense thriller (at times I was almost literally on the edge of my seat), and as a story of intricate relationships. I loved it and can’t wait to read her other thrillers and the historical trilogy.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>Jacqui Chimeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12499876116877754463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087786020101691082.post-64501128119746551022011-01-20T10:46:00.000+00:002011-02-08T16:35:30.159+00:00The Lost Art of Keeping Secrets<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Lost-Art-Keeping-Secrets/dp/0755325508/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1295779640&sr=1-1"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrsG1d8VKXuNHyoVL4ttBEucDfqFk5YnEHmQCP-qaCMWQmMu68M4JmT2YtWOVpM9SDFlhMxNTf3X7TqE7xbX58r3xJn9vvRuqftZr7yHdi6Ys1ZyyqR0LeNRmELDmkgfgnkBM8ELi24ns/s200/Lost+art.jpg" width="130" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Set in the early 50′s this is the story of Penelope and Charlotte, impoverished society girls who are looking for love and adventure but are seemingly hampered by their families, their decaying homes and their height! This is, of course, far from the truth and these two create a stir wherever they go. This is a simple story that evokes the era beautifully (my mother’s era though not mine!). For me, however, the writing was a little laboured at times and the story a bit too frivolous and I found myself skipping bits towards the end. The ‘secret’ was all too obvious and not really very interesting. A pleasant read nonetheless.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>Jacqui Chimeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12499876116877754463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087786020101691082.post-29539414699275917282011-01-18T10:35:00.001+00:002012-02-26T16:04:51.090+00:00Mr Pip<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mister-Pip-Lloyd-Jones/dp/071956994X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1295779195&sr=1-1"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX5ObHS5_tTwXXHCwhLblA3Ti-Y_RFB4petWj3NIgSSEZE6EZB9IjZbWy9Sauf4B_o24uCdsbCNFs77QKZ-u_6BxLectPuAoFgrRK7LGrVvXaaPLdFjBqoYv_ZnHezrP8J0ot4VzlNXEY/s200/Mr+Pip.jpg" width="131" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333;"><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mister-Pip-Lloyd-Jones/dp/071956994X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1295779195&sr=1-1">Mr Pip</a> by Lloyd Jones is an extraordinary book. I didn’t really know what to expect from it after seeing it reviewed on several blogs, except knowing it is used as an exam text in schools I did expect good writing and some kind of ‘message’. Both were evident in a powerful and shocking story which is very hard to leave behind. I find myself still thinking about it several days later.</span><span style="color: #444444; letter-spacing: -0.75pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The story concerns Matilda, a girl living on a tropical island and how the conflict in the civil war going on in the area affects her and the other people in her village. This includes Mr Watts, the only white man in the village, who uses Dickens’ Great Expectations to ‘teach’ in the village school. Unforgettable and definitely one to be re-read.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>Jacqui Chimeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12499876116877754463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087786020101691082.post-44968956478463408672011-01-17T19:22:00.000+00:002011-02-08T16:35:15.199+00:00The Devil's Feather<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Devils-Feather-Minette-Walters/dp/0330436481/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1295779486&sr=1-1"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBbS3H2HjQjnbBn4StKWUOPf1RZnpZgRkzHl8IfZvY_8iCLDWvC-Cr5bk3Rskc9BpYc64yEowaShDP1dCxOs4Lstdjakjp-acfGVYUxN5fZ5xtt5BG_RMDZWg-yLk1yritA7qNvbIdZzc/s200/41iX7N3ICLL._BO2%252C204%252C203%252C200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click%252CTopRight%252C35%252C-76_AA300_SH20_OU02_.jpg" width="120" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 13px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 13px;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If I had to choose one crime writer to read it would be Minette Walters. I think she is a brilliant story teller and inventor of really appealing characters - and some not so appealing - but all fascinating. I love all her books but <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Devils-Feather-Minette-Walters/dp/0330436481/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1295291362&sr=8-1">The Devil's Feather</a> would probably be my first choice … only 'probably' though.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This one introduces Connie, a hard hitting journalist working in war torn <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Sierra Leone</st1:place></st1:country-region> and other war ravaged countries. She is kidnapped and humiliated while working for Reuters after she has tried to expose a suspected serial killer. Connie returns to the <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">UK</st1:place></st1:country-region>, terrified and suffering from panic and anxiety. How she confronts her fears and the help she receives from new ‘friends’ makes for a tension filled thriller with a wonderful ending (in my opinion anyway). For me this book is compulsively readable and sits firmly on my ‘favourite’s’ shelf.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>Jacqui Chimeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12499876116877754463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087786020101691082.post-30344566172316240252011-01-16T21:07:00.002+00:002012-02-26T16:44:48.458+00:00The Little Stranger<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 3;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Little-Stranger-Sarah-Waters/dp/1844086062/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1295779544&sr=1-1"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjePBxyIbVfGrZ_vVw-6E8Cl7ROzi3OwK_B1dPtdtFtOUnGEaBIQeZpywnVF9-1ptS0MSDhx8puHw67-786oxn99-xKaTb_PwbhBroPSBeHMnriiSeuRWMeGgu62nBuUzAULMVmZpLpSD0/s200/5174RLSwNlL._BO2%252C204%252C203%252C200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click%252CTopRight%252C35%252C-76_AA300_SH20_OU02_.jpg" width="130" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">I expected </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1844086062/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_1?pf_rd_p=103612307&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=1844086011&pf_rd_m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_r=12BM7B5PTRQXQZBE8NKQ">The Little Stranger</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"> to be better than it was. I enjoyed the first half of the book very much but felt it ‘tailed off’ quite drearily in the end with no real surprises. The book felt too long and as though Sarah Waters didn’t quite know what to do with her story. I am surprised that this was in last years Booker shortlist. I need to read some more Sarah Waters. Fingersmith and The Night Watch are on my ‘to be read pile’ so hopefully will get to</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"><span id="goog_1495180664"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"><span id="goog_1495180665"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/"></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"> them soon.</span></div>Jacqui Chimeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12499876116877754463noreply@blogger.com0