Hobbies and Crafts

It isn't what I'd call 'Historical' like Citadel etc if that makes sense, but is definitely gruesome in some parts! Part Victorian melodrama, there is a lot of symbolism in the story - the birds, and the rhythm of waves of stormy weather which pass over the area.

There is a pretty accurate review here from the Guardian
http://tiny.cc/uuz8px

I have loved her other books, are you saying this one is not as good?

Bridget - who is the author please? Then we can look it up.
............

The Taxidermists Daughter by Kate Mosse (she of Labyrinth, Citadel etc fame)

It “is set in Sussex in 1912 and filled with grizzly murders, stuffed birds and suspicious villagers.”
Connie lost her memory after a serious fall 12 years previously and now suffers from Petit Mal seizures. These episodes trigger memory recall of various incidents which make her doubt what she had been told of her past.

The Sussex marshland/water meadows south of Fishbourne are threatened with flooding throughout the 3 day action packed period, which adds to the tension as does the unnatural gathering of rooks, crows and magpies.

This book was a gift – I’m not sure if I would have bought it myself, but its still worth a read.

I have read just read Magnolia Street, I recomend this to every one who enjoys
"A beautifully written Atmospheric Tales.

Stephen King and Peter Straub shows how good and evil can be used.

Bridget

Thanks Vera will keep it on the list.

family problems at the moment prevent us fro actually booking or even planning holidays for 2015 but we will bear that in mind for when we are able to go. :-)

Just finished Broken Homes by Ben Aaronovitch, the fourth book in the Rivers of London series. I liked it better than the third book. Good books if you like a bit of fantasy but I think this series is best if the books are read in order - they make more sense if you know the back story.

Ann, I'm sure you would enjoy Sorrento. Six of us went a couple of years ago and we all loved it. Our deal did include transfers from airport to hotel and we did take an organised coach trip along the Amalfi Coast but the rest of the time we used public transport. Organised trips to Pompeii are expensive but we did our own by getting the train from Sorrento and hiring our own licensed guide when we got there and it worked out quite cheap. There are buses and ferries. We loved it and would like to go back

Thanks Det that is useful information. Sister is going there next year but I think her holiday included transfers. Bet the chaffeured car is a white knuckle ride.

When we went to Italy We picked up a hire car in Pisa (OH was there on business), we drove to Florence, located the hotel avoiding mopeds, Parked outside the hotel, unloaded luggage and OH held the keys out and said to reception "You park it". They thought it was hilarious.

OH won't drive when we are abroad, and he's a lot younger.

Fly into Naples
Chaffeured car to Sorrento c E70?
OR
Taxi to Naples station - the airport is v close to the city
Train to Sorrento - can't recall how much, but say E10?
Taxi at the other end to your hotel.

There are loads of bookable coach tours out of Sorrento, and a public bus along the coast to Amalfi. Even if the fares have gone up, they are still considerably cheaper than in the UK

Just finished the Story of Us by Dani Atkins. A rollercoaster of emotions and a very good read.

Det that book sounds good, although a bit of a marathon, a bit heavy to hold for bedtime reading I think!!


Sorrento, yes, all sounds great but the getting there doesn't. OH hated driving in Italy 20 years ago and at 76 I am not sure he'd cope with the winding roads to sorrento now, he also doesn't like heights and I know from people who have been that there is a steep drop off some roads. Still it is good to have a dream. :-)

Lamentation by C J Sansom is over 640 hard back copy pages long but well worth it.

This is the 6th book in the Shardlake series, Shardlake being a Lincoln’s Inn Lawyer in the summer of 1546. Henry V111 died in Jan 1547.

The story revolves around the theft of a book ‘Lamentations of a Sinner’ written by Queen Catherine (Parr) & his efforts to retrieve it before it can be used against her.
Although it is over 10 years since the split from Rome, religious practices are still subject to charges of heresy, not helped by Henry’s vacillation between traditionalism and reform.

Although Henry dies at the end of this novel, the author has primed us for another in the series. :-D
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Ann - Sorrento is a great holiday destination and a base for trips to Amalfi, Capri, Vesuvius, Pompey and several other archeogical sites. The local train line from Sorrento follows the coast all the way to Naples and is (was?) really cheap.

The one we enjoyed most was Villa Poppaea at Oplontis. When we visited there was one other couple and 4 American archeologists on a summer Dig. And that was it!! :-D

If you ever make it there, the 'must' place to visit in Sorrento is Gelateria Davide with allegedly over 100 flavours of icecream to sample ;-)

Just finished Love and Limoncello by Alexandra Sage on kindle. (free at the moment)

Disgruntled City lawyer Alessia accepts her cousin’s invitation to spend the summer in Sorrento where she soon discovers passion, romance and the joys of limoncello-making, but will a disturbing family secret threaten her chances with ‘the one’ and even prove fatal?

An atmospheric, witty, escapist read about one woman's search for happiness and love amidst the beautiful scenery of Sorrento, Italy. An easy-reading, feel-good novel, with a surprising element of mystery. Ideal for those cosy winter nights on the sofa, or on holiday by the pool. Perfect for fans of Sophie Kinsella, Victoria Hislop and Elizabeth Gilbert.

I loved it, love Italy and would so like to visit sorrento. a very good read.

Thanks for that Det. so beautifully spoken.

Ann - that's two of us :-0

The life that I have
Is all that I have
And the life that I have
Is yours.

The love that I have
Of the life that I have
Is yours and yours and yours.

A sleep I shall have
A rest I shall have
Yet death will be but a pause.

For the peace of my years
In the long green grass
Will be yours and yours and yours.

If you want a really good weep
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=es6NIt-Oye8

Love the poem *sob!!

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Life_That_I_Have

It's a poem by Leo Marks which, according to his biography, he gave to Violetta. He was a wartime cryptographer.

(goes off to find the tissues) sob, sob

Vera I remember seeing and loving the film of Carve her name with Pride in the 50s. I think "The Life that I have is all that I have........" Comes from that book/film doesn't it?

Vera I have read the book Carve Her Name with Pride, was a while ago but thoroughly enjoyed it......I really do like those of books, makes you think what
type of people they were/are, heroic and inspirational......they literally believed in what
they were fighting for and stood amongst the enemy to give us a voice.....

I regularly re-read books, though not so much modern novels. I've read most of Bill Bryson more than once, Terry Pratchett, Jane Austen and J R R Tolkien are favourite re-reads.

Dermot - there must be so much information in your books that its difficult to retain all of it at one read-through!

Although not in the same class, I'll re-read the Terry Pratchetts Disc World books. At the first read I'm galloping through to follow the story-line; on subsequent reads I spot the allegories he wove into it. ;-)