General Chat

Review Past Imperfect by Julian Fellowes.

I found it difficult to get into this book but once I did it was worth it.
Damian Baxter is dying and he calls on an ex friend to carry out a last request. He has a lot of money to leave and is sure he has a child by one or other of his previous conquests. The story follows the ex friend, the narrator whose name we are not told, as he follows up all the ex girlfriends.
The story flashes back each time to when they were younger, the girls all being debutantes. It is a good piece of writing about social history, it tells of the ending of the Coming out balls when debs were presented to the monarch and how they carried on with their own form of coming out. It documents the differences between the classes and also how the 60s changed attitudes. It was quite a hard book to read, quite ‘wordy’ but I did enjoy it.
One particular sentence caught my eye as a question to think about. “At what point does optimism become delusion?”

I have now finished Secret Scriptures, as I suspected, Dr. Grene was Roseanne's son. It took me a lot long to work out who John Kean was though, the penny didn't drop even when John Lavell told Roseanne the name of his son and the request to look after her.
In some ways John Kean turned out to my hero of the story.

I'm not sure that "enjoy" is the correct verb to apply to this story, but I am pleased that I read it. Much food for thought and well written.
I would even read it again in the future, perhaps I would pick up on some of the nuances I missed first time round.

Will also look out for other books by this author.

"The Secret Scripture"

I am still reading The Secret Scriptures which was the last book the Library found for me.

So far it is not what I expected but interesting nevertheless.

I have a theory about the real relationship between Roseanne and Dr. Grene (but also wonder if this is the author teasing us!), - I'll let you know when I have finished reading it....

By the way, one of the reasons I voted for this book was that in 1965-66 I worked (as a Cadet Nurse) in a large General Hospital. We sometimes had patients from a nearby Mental Hospital (as it was then called).

One of these ladies, now in her seventies had been incarcerated when she was fourteen. I was able to read what the family doctor had said about her at that time. Was shocked, dismayed and upset that at fourteen this young girl had answered back, slammed doors and stammped her feet!! Around sixty years later she was still "incarcerated.
In fact I didn't find anything in the report I read about her, that I hadn't done myself! A very difficult thing to take on board when you are only 16-17.

She is someone that I will never forget.

"Past Imperfect" by julian Fellowes was the book I had suggested. I hadn't previously read this book, or any other by this author.
Having read the blurb on the net about the book I expected it to be manily about the search for Damien's heir. However, I soon found it to be more about the un-named narrator, the search of his past, his feelings and opinions.
I found the 'past' in the story to be interesting, especially as I am about the same age as the narrator - (but from a very different background). Some of the things/music in the story I remember clearly, other songs seem to have passed me by.
The narrator, for the most part, seems to have a low opinion of the people he tells us about, (even his girlfriend, Bridget), especially the men.
he calls himself "ugly" so maybe back in 1968 he had a low opinion of himself too.
I was eager to find out what was the event in the past that was so life changing and had such a long term effeat- and felt rather sorry for him when I found that it was verbal abuse (or maybe a tongue lashing would describe it better).

The story about the heir was happily resolved, with Serena and Damien able to resurre each other of their undying love

Meanwhile the nattators voyage of self-discovery (including his nterlude with Serana), perhaps helped him to move on with his life without the past memory overshadowing it.

For me, the hunt for the heir (although resolved), became a side issue.

I am still not sure if this was meant to be the case.

Having voted for two of the books on the shortlist and suggested another, I have attempted to read and review three books this time.

My Best friends Girl.

I enjoyed this well told story by Dorothy Koomson. It covered so many facets of life including death and loss, love and betrayal, friendship, trust, abuse, bullying and injustice.
It was also funny at times and these serious subjects were written with a light touch.
The friendship of Kamryn and Adele, which had seemed so strong was damaged by a moment of betrayal. However, it was strong enough to survive in the end, which was a heart-warming part of the story.

I was disappointed that Adele's father and step-mother did not get their just deserts - but of course this was not a fairy story.
Kamryn and tegan had a very strong relationship which was great to read about and to feel their strenght coming off the page.
Ryn became a happier woman too.
Their future seems full of hope.

I wonder what they called the cat?

Sometimes it does us good to step outside of our 'comfort zone' and read books we would not have chosen ourselves doesn't it?

I have to say that I found this book hard to get into, However I liked and felt sympathy for Roseanne, and felt her version was the believable one, and felt she had courage for writing her story and keeping it hidden, I was glad she had Dr Grene to share things with and he also had a troubled past.
I felt it sad that rosanne had spent nearly all her life in the mental hospital,
and like others, I guessed the outcome.
Hard book to read, not my usual sort of book, but I am glad I read it.

n

Sorry Ann,
will review the books tomorrow.

Thank you Pammy, pity you didn't read the first choice as I would have appreciated your views

I only had time to read one book this time but I am glad I chose this one.

My Best Friend's Girl by Dorothy Koomson

This book covered such a range of issues – child abuse, bullying, racial issues to name a few - that I was surprised how enjoyable I found it. The way the author describes Kamryn’s emotional development is very well characterised. The book made me laugh (especially at the well observed child sayings) and cry (quite a lot!).
I shall certainly try to get more of her books.

any more reviews?

n

n

n

I read Secret Scriptures and I was hooked from the start and like Ann has said, it was a book that needed to read and not left a few days then back for another read of a few pages. I was taking the book with me around the house as once I started reading I couldn't put it down.Felt Roseanne told the truth more than Fr Gaunt as seemed his was twisted to be the best to serve his thoughts on his religion, how awful to think back then that the church could be used to get rid of any problems and a person could be shut away .
Did guess quite early on how the ending would be but still enjoyed it and have been to Roscommon so that made it all the more interesting.
x Jill

N

Past Perfect – by Julian Fellows.
This book had a good plot. It did need to describe the type of people as they were forty years ago, and as they are to-day. However, I feel that the writer drifted off a little too much onto descriptions of other types of people. A little too much and unnecessary, as well as confusing at times. I did enjoy it though.

The Secret Scripture –
Again, the theme was good, but it lacked something. I found it hard to get interested in it, but read it through to the ending which became predictable once the doctor made the trip to England.

I only read The Secret Scripture as I knew work would be to full on in the prelude to Christmas to try for any more that one.

This was a okay book, nothing overly great IMHO. I found I liked the first half of the book and struggled to finish it once I got halfway. It was interesting that two different people could have such different recollections of a life. Rose came across as likeable character and I think that made her account more truthful (or appear so) that Fr. Gaunt's.

There was a passage in the book that went something along the line that History was not what happened but a fablolous arrangement of surmises and guesses.

Review the Secret Scripture by Sebastian Barry

Not an easy book to read, I found the style of writing needed a lot of concentration and at first I thought I was not going to enjoy it. Quite technical in places, a sort of detective story. A sad story and an indictment of what no doubt went on in the pre war and early post war years in both UK and Ireland.

Roseanne MvNulty at nearly a hundred has her character well drawn and quickly gains the sympathy of the reader, well of me anyway. I have to admit to guessing the outcome by about page 172 but it was a still a very clever, thought provoking piece of writing. It is a story that can't be read in small chunks though, it is not a 'pick up, put down' book, it needs to be sat at for longer periods or else you lose the momentum.

Anyway, all in all it was a worthwhile read, I don't think enjoyable is a word I would use as I found it quite gruelling in places, but a good read.