Hobbies and Crafts

The Island is an excellent book Vera, I agree, read it quite a while ago. I do like her books.

OH and I both like Terry Pratchett and we have a shelf full of his books. OH has just spent a Christmas Amazon voucher on another four.

I've been working my way through a series of books from the library.

Murder on High Holborn by Susanna Gregory. This is one of her Thomas Chaloner mysteries. If you haven't come across him before, he is a sort of spy cum detective in the 1600s. Quite well written and enjoyable if you like this genre.

The Detective's Daughter by Lesley Thomson. "A woman follows in her father's footsteps by taking on the murder case he couldn't solve." It was an interesting story but I didn't find any of the characters likeable and most of them were not very believable.

The Girl Next Door by Ruth Rendell. "When the bones of two severed hands are discovered in a box, an investigation into a long buried crime of passion begins. And a group of friends, who played together as children, begin to question their past." Not really a whodunit as we know that from early on, more why and how everyone was affected by it. Very well written as you would expect from Ruth Rendell.

Miss Carter's War by Sheila Hancock. Easy to read. It is the story of Marguerite Carter. She lost her parents in sad circumstances and had a past in SOE. She then qualifies as a teacher. This is the story of her life until she is in her 70s. Interesting as it covers a lot of changes in education, including the introduction of the comprehensive school, and was a bit of a trip down memory lane. But I did find the tying up of a couple of loose ends and the ending too pat.

The Island by Victoria Hislop. "A dramatic tale of four generations rent by war, illicit love, violence and leprosy, from the thirties through the war to the present day." If I had read that blurb first I wouldn't have picked the book up and would have missed a well written, good story.

Happy reading folks

Loads of free kindle downloads but the latest was one of OH's Christmas Books (I have to wait until he's finished them before I can start)

The Shepherd’s Crown by Terry Pratchett featuring the young witch Tiffany Aching.
This 'young reader's' book was published postumously earlier this year.
The story starts with the death of Granny (Esmeralda) Weatherwax who was the crabby senior witch with a heart of gold. Despite opposition Young Tiffany is confirmed as her successor. The plot describes how she grows into the role and defends not only her 'Chalk' lands but the Ramtops from an invasion by the feared Faeries. They are the total opposite to the benevolent creatures of Fairy Tales!

The book touches on equality of the sexes; Tiffany and her 'boyfriend' both love the work they do, he in the city training to be a doctor, she in the country helping the villagers and protecting them. Neither are able to give up what they love to be together. TP also introduces a male who wants to become a witch. Until this point in the Discworld series, Males were Wizards and only women could be Witches.
The theme might have developed further if TP had the opportunity to continue the series.

Terry Pratchett's books may not stand the test of time but, for those of us who enjoy them, he will be sorely missed.

Reading The last letter from your lover by Jo Jo Moyes. Really enjoying it, beautifully written and very readable.

Finished Lady Katherine Knollys and
have just downloaded George111,Queen Charlotte
and the Hanovarians.

Merry Christmas + Happy New Year.....to all bookworms and kindle readers <3 <3 <3

Had time to read a few books in the last few weeks so will post tomorrow and read back the last few posts :-D <3 <3

Got a few Amazon vouchers for Christmas so will be looking for some good reads :-D :-D

Happy Reading !! <3 <3

Have just downloaded for my kindle
Lady Kathetine Knollys:The Unacknowledge Daughter
of King Henry V111 by Sarah-Beth Watkins priced £3.59

It is the story of Mary Boleyn's first child who Henry never acknowledged.
She did however serve as maid of honour to two queens

Katherine married at sixteen and had several children who
became famous.
Her daughter Lettice caused a scandal, but I'll say no more.

Merry Christmas to you Vera <3

Happy Christmas to all you readers <3

Have now got some off the shelf reading glasses, so am able to read without a magnifying glass now!
Except for books of instructions, which seem to be printed in small, grey writing.

Have just finished. The Little Old Lady Who Struck Lucky Again! by Catharina Ingelman-Sundberg.

It is a follow up book to. The Little Old Lady Who Broke All the Rules. (which I haven't read).

An amusing story, about a group of pensioners who "turn Robin Hood". and rob the rich, to give to the poor!

A case of Power to the Pensioners. - where they outwit younger people, as well as sophisticated security systems. The five main characters have years of experience in all sorts of fields, and use this accumulated knowledge to achieve their aims.

I enjoyed the story, it was rather action packed, which made me think that it would make a good film. In fact, the author says that she has watched. The Ladykillers. and. Whisky Galore.

Not a great book, but a really good yarn. Light reading, which may have you cheering on Martha and her friends as live life to the full.
Beware! Don't read in a public place in case you laughter out loud!!

MM. I am on the waiting list at the Library for The Throwaway Children. When I saw it on the Greaders list I realised that I had already heard of it. Now, while checking this thread, I know why it was familiar!

I am part way through my first audio book. "Meet me at the Pier Head" another book from the GREaders list.
I won't comment on it here at the moment, as I haven't done my review yet.
However, I have had to get used to listening to my computer to hear the story, instead of reading while snuggled up in bed. It is quite a change.

I have recently got myself a DVD player, which can be hooked up yo the t.v.
Should be able to listen to CDs too, (which I hope to do when lying down). but need help to set it up. Son will do it for me when he visits.

My review on the marriage certificate included the following: quite a good read, not a really great book but it passed a few hours pleasantly enough. I enjoyed it but it was a bit drawn out in places.

Thought the Book's name The Marriage Certificate sounded familiar - I'd ordered it about 18 months ago. Several of us from the thread read it at the time. Its a good tale, with a twist at the end! ;-)

Oh, yeah. It didn't occur to me until you mentioned it :-D

I've never read any Stephen King but having read lots of reviews etc. I don't think he is for me. I do fancy reading The Marriage Certificate and have been meaning to get it for a while.

I didn't know Steve Robinson but I googled and I like the sound of his/her? books so I'll be looking out for them. I hope this thread keeps going because it's introduced me to one or two authors that were new to me.

Stephen, how come all your chosen authors are also Stephens? Perhaps you are just a naturally creative lot :-D :-D

Thanks MM.

I've just finished Stephen King's Dark Tower book 'The Wind Through The Keyhole', a great read as always. Three more Dark Tower books to go then it's on to something different.

Just bought 'The Marriage Certificate' by Stephen Molyneux which I'm looking forward to reading and I've got four Steve Robinson books in my Amazon 'Save for Later' basket to buy with my 'hope to receive' gift certificates.

Tess I wrote a small piece about Margaret
Pole on Feb 28th. post.

Just finishing Carstairs book and have downloaded
Famous Crimes The World Forgot by Jason Lucky Morrow
and Virginia Hill...Mafia Molls by Joe Bruno both priced £1.99 each

The name 'Margaret Pole'. is ringing a bell, I know that I have read something about her, just can't remember what! The info is hidden in the depth of my brain somewhere.I hadn't heard of the John Soane Museum before I will have a quick look online soon.

Hi
I've just read Bryant and May -The Invisible code by Christopher Fowler.

One of the victims is found in the John Soane's museum in Holborn.
Last week we decided to visit the museum. A fascinating place adding to the enjoyment of the book.

I hope your eye is much improved Tess.

I've been reading a couple of good books:

Just One Evil Act by Elizabeth George. This is an Inspector Lynley novel and is up to the standard of her previous books. I don't want to give any of the story away but it takes place in London and in Italy and is quite complex. There are moral issues at stake on the lines of 'can the end justify the means?' and the book kept me guessing. If you like the detective novel genre you will probably enjoy this.

The King's Curse by Philippa Gregory. Again if you like other Philippa Gregory historical novels you will enjoy this. It is another book in the Cousins' War series and set in the Tudor era but this one is about Margaret Pole, a Plantagenet by birth. While the period, the events at court etc are meticulously researched, the author's notes do make it clear that it is a novel and written from a particular viewpoint. A good read.