General Chat

Please review the books you read this time

Hannah’s List Debbie Macomber
In the Woods - Tana French
Divorced and Deadly Josephine Cox
The Kashmir Shawl by Rosie Thomas
The King's Mistress by Gillian Bagwell


And any others off the list you may have read if you were unable to get the above.

From Helen who was unable to get any of the main books from the library.

The Singapore Grip by JG Farrrell

I found this very difficult to get into: so much information and so much detail. Then after a chapter or so of perseverance I realized it was a delightful story of a British family and their friends and colleagues in the years before and during WW11 and the fall of Singapore. To be fair, as I lived in Singapore for a few years as a child, many of the places were familiar to me but I think anyone would enjoy the comedy of a father trying to marry off his daughter to any wealthy, suitable young man while trying to maintain his family, business empire and status in a time of great danger and upheaval. A bit of an epic but recommended.

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

A very strange novel!! A tale of two rival magicians – or were they? – and their prodigies - involved in a mysterious competition. A circus coloured entirely in black and white with magical properties where illusion is everything and everywhere. Or is it real? You really have to “suspend disbelief” as Shakespeare said to get into this story but it was a great experience to read it and the characters are all weird but interesting!! This is a hopeless review, you will just have to read it yourself to see what I mean!

review Hannah’s List by Debbie Macomber Aug 12
Not really one of the Blossom Street books but there is a link to the street and mention of some of the characters; one in particular.
This is really four love stories in one book. The love story that Dr Michael Everett is reluctant to let go, the problems in the relationships of Winter and Pierre and Leanne and Mark and the love of Macy for her elderly next door neighbour Harvey and her dog and three cats.
Hannah has sadly been dead for a year and on the anniversary of her death her brother gives Michael a letter. This tells him she wants him to marry again and gives him three likely women. Michael knows two of them but has never heard of the third.
The book charts his reluctance to follow his wife’s instructions because he is still in love with her. It then follows his exploits as he tries to do what Hannah wanted.
I thought the characters and scenarios were very well written. I particularly liked the character of Macy and the description of her little house, eccentric and colourful, she made me smile. And Harvey is well written as a gruff old bear with a Victor Meldrew like character, hard on the outside with a soft centre kept well hidden but especially for Macy.
A good read, not very complicated, not very deep. It would make good holiday reading or something to read on a plane. I have read some of her Blossom street Books and liked them and this one didn’t disappoint.


the King’s mistress by Gillian Bagwell. Aug 12
I didn’t know a lot about Charles 11 except for the fact that he hid in an Oak tree when hunted by Roundheads. This book was really well researched and taught me a lot about the period and about Charles. I had never heard about Jane Lane so the whole story was intriguing and I really enjoyed it.
I think I should have given up on Charles long before she did, but that is easy to say from a distance and not being of that time. I didn’t get the impression that he was actually cruel to her, or that he even took her for granted. I think that in his mind she was happy always being there for him, he just didn’t think.
I found the piece at the end detailing how the story was written interesting. It helps to know that it was not all fact, that some parts had to be imagined, but it was all seamlessly put together and made an excellent (for me) read.
I had read varying reviews on the book and admit to being pleasantly surprised. I would read other books by this author.

The Kashmir shawl by Rosie Thomas

I have never read a book by this author that I haven’t enjoyed and this was no exception.
She weaves a fantastic story which starts with the finding of a beautifully woven shawl among the possessions, found in the house of Mair’s parents, when she and her brother and sister are clearing it out. Mair decides to find out the significance of the shawl. And later of the lock of hair she finds in an envelope
To do this she travels to Kashmir and the story unfolds on two levels. Part of the story being told back in the time of Nerys, Mair’s missionary wife Grandmother’s time in Kashmir before and during the war. And part of it being told through the travels of Mair as she uncovers the story.
It is an intricate story, a treasure hunt which can be compared to the unravelling of a bloodline in our own family history. Who was Zahra and why was the shawl her dowry?
Rosie Thomas is much travelled and to write the story she travelled the same route that Nerys and Evan (the missionaries) took and that later Mair took and did extensive research in India for the background.
It was interesting to read about the early social life in Kashmire and the troubles after the insurgence. RT made it all come alive for me and taught me much about the place and the times.
I have read six of her books and will seek out those I have not read. A truly gripping story.

The Other Queen by Philippa Gregory

Mary Queen of Scots in flight from rebels in Scotland. The story is told through the thoughts of the three main characters . Bess of Hardwick, her husband George Talbot and Mary herself. I am so glad I did not live in those times, imagine not knowing who to trust at any given time and people changing all the time to save their own skins.
I knew nothing about Bess and George but she seems to be like a forerunner for Women’s lib. A strong woman who, having inherited money and property is determined to save it for her children and who is appalled when the enforced imprisonment of Mary in her home not only saps their (her in her eyes) wealth, but seems to be attracting her new husband away as he falls under the beautiful Mary’s spell.
I didn’t know whether to feel sorry for all three characters or irritated by them. Mary because she was so selfish that she insisted on all the trappings due to her as a Queen, yet she was so sad because she was missing her young son and her home. George because he was weak and let Mary take advantage; because he thought by helping her it would be an advantage to them if she returned to the throne and then she used her charms on him so he didn’t know whose side he was on, yet he knew he could not betray his real Queen Elizabeth. Elizabeth because she thought she was going to lose her home, yet she was causing more problems by betraying Mary and George to William Cecil whose only interest was himself.
It is a well written book, informative and entertaining and easy to read. But then I do like PG’s style of writing and usually enjoy her books.

My Reviews.


Divorced and Deadly Josephine Cox.
I had read some Josephine Cox before but this was a lot more light hearted than the others I've read.

It's about the aftermath of a divorce, told from the husbands point of view. -
A rather immature and sometimes shallow man grows up!
Follow his story
as he makes his way in his new (independant) life.

A nice light read for when you are on your holidays or when you want a laugh.
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The Singapore Grip by JG Farrell
Although not on the final list I chose to read this book because -
1) I could get it from the library
2) I used to live near Singapore - and sometimes went there.

I found the story interesting and informative and was often dismayed by the attitude of the "British" to the local population - no wonder they wanted their independance.
It is the story of the years coming up to the fall of Singapore to the Japanese army -
Having read a few books about wartime in the UK and the Far East, this told the story from a different angle - i.e. mainly from a civilian point of view.

As Helen said, even as life around them was changing, and the Japanese coming closer, one of the "Chief" civilians is trying to arrange an advantagous marriage for his daughter!

Would recommend to my friends and will try to get more books by this author, who died tragically.

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The Kashmir Shawl by Rosie Thomas

Another book set partly in the East - a gripping story - but I sometimes felt it difficult to keep up with the change fron Nerys to her granddaughter Mair.

My father was in India during WW11 so would have been there during Nery's time.

I sometimes felt that her story seemed to have come from an even earlier period but thinking about it again realise that times have changed rapidy since 1941, so perhaps not really off the mark.

Don't want to give away the plot to anyone who hasn't read it yet- but a very good tale well told.

I have high expectations of Rosie Thomas, and she hasn't let me down.


Hannah's List by Debbie Macomber

I enjoyed this love story. Even the picture on the cover of the paperback was lovely.
Hannah of the title must have been a caring person - trying to look after her husband and her friends, even after her death.

I can see this being made into a film (if it hasn't already) a great chick-flick come love story
(I wonder who will play Macy?)

If you like love stories you will love this.
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Annin Glos you say it so much better than I do ( Review for Kashmir Shawl)
You do the book justice!

I enjoyed The Kashmir Shawl and liked the way it went between Mair and her Grandmother Nerys, as Mair journeyed to India to trace the story of the shawl and lock of hair. Did wonder what was the reason behind Lotus and her death, was it only to link her Father with the story? The link could of still be used without using Karen and her child, I wanted to read more of them but they seemed to be added just to pad it out a bit.

Divorced and Deadly, I gave up after four chapters, will try again when nothing better to read---might be awhile :-D

I wish I could do a review as well as both of the above :-)

xx Jill

No problem with your review Jill, and you are right about Lotus, she didn't need to die really, not for the story.

From Perse
I read the two I voted for and one I put up which no one voted for but
I think it was the best of the three.


Hannah's List by Debbie Macomber
Easy to read and yet I don't think it is entirely plausible...not
sure whether I liked the three stories rolled into one... fairly
predictable in that one knew that Michael wouldn't end up with Winter
or Leanne who both had their own relationship hassles to keep them
going. Of course he is going to end up with Macy who is the fun person
who lives next door to "Walter Matthau. "..
Not a lot to it.. maybe a little on the warm fuzzy side but on the
other hand I don't believe it would happen.

Kashmir Shawl by Rosie Thomas

I will say this for her she is a good writer and really researches the
places that she takes us.. I enjoyed Nerys and her friends and the
relationships formed... Mair just seemed to serve as a means to tell
Nerys's Story.. I would have liked a bit more on Nerys and Myrtle..
their story just petered out and we are left with Mair and of course
as one would predict she ends up with Bruno. Sad about the child being
attacked by a dog and dying but this is common place of the area so it
made sense for it to be there.
It is still a good book. I have liked nearly all I have read of hers
with "Sun at Midnight" being my favourite.. and I enjoyed Iris and
Ruby and Follies... Lovers and Newcomers would be bottom of the pile
and Kashmir Shawl would be grouped with several in the middle.

A Small Town Affair by Rosie Wallace

To look at the cover it looks like one of Miss Read's books about
Thrush Green.. but there the similarity ends.

Very amusing.. about two wives coping with their lives, neither of
their family relationships are what they seem on the surface. Both
husbands have lost the plot but for different reasons. The MP's
child's word usage gets misconstrued by others and as words get
bantered around the town, the child's language difficulty becomes more
serious in their eyes. There is a neat little twist to it all, that
all is not right behind the twitching curtains and those that think
they are superior find that life is not what it seems in their own
households. The relationships and the prejudging of others etc are
all pretty much spot on. You can see it happening and have probably
witnessed some of what goes on as being similar to what happens in
your own neck of the woods. As Jeanette Winterson's character in
"Oranges are not the only Fruit" would say "it is enough to make you
say bum in church"

Hannah's List

It was an easy read, that tackled I thought the issues of love and loss in an easy way.But I felt the women having had past entanglements, seemed unable to move on and that I found frustrating. Unfortunately, there are women like this and maybe they should get a life ! Especially as they told their exes about the new man, as if they could not let go...a bit of a chick lit read, which I agree would probably make a good film

In the Woods

This is an excellent read, I have read Tana French before. I like the way the narrator tells us he is a liar, but you are transfixed by the fact that you do not know whether he is or not, or if he is deliberately leading you on. You have to think back into his past life to find answers. Although Tana's characters are always complex she also has a great empathy with them. It is essentially a story of two fragile people, who are drawn together...an Intriguing read

Hannah's List

I enjoyed reading this and I agree it would make a great holiday book. I did find it fairly predictable, as soon as I read about the first meeting between Michael and Macy when she really annoyed him I knew they were destined for each other and I was sure Winter and Pierre and Leanne and her exhusband were going to get back together. I found the descriptions of Michael's feelings as he coped with his loss and guilt seemed very true to life. A definite feel good book.

The Kings Mistress

I usually love historical 'faction' books but I found this one dragged a bit. I got annoyed with Jane and her unrealistic expectations from her relationship with Charles.

The Other Queen

I've always been fascinated by Bess of Hardwick – what a woman! - so it was interesting to read about her part in Mary Queen of Scots history. Mary seems to have been a woman who found it hard to control her desires and whims, in fact I'm not sure she even tried. Gregory always manages to bring her historical characters into vivid life which I think is part of what makes her books so enjoyable for me.

Divorced and Deadly

I started to read this twice before I decided life was to short to bother any more. Puerile and superficial :-\

Divorced and Deadly

Didn’t like this at all. I thought it was rubbish. It seemed like a lot of small articles from a trashy magazine, bundled together.

Hannah’s List

I liked this book very much. Very typical of a young man faced with a year of hope and sadness, then when his wife died, another year of grief – no longer interested in pastimes which he used to enjoy – and yet, still young. The letter which his wife left for him showed how well she knew him and knew when it would be time for him to ‘move on’.

In The Woods - Tana French

I finally finished this the other night and actually remembered to take it back to the library today and pay my overdue fine :-P it was a rather intriguging book, the main character tells us from the beginning that he lies, I did get a bit miffed that the story from the main character's past was not brought to a conclusion.

nudge for Jan

Sorry ignore this one Jan I forgot it had been nudged up.