General Chat

Having read everyone elses reviews, I feel I have nothing to add except, that Mr briggs Hat both enthralled and annoyed me, but it was covered well by the TV coverage.

The Daisy Picker, typical feel good novel from an Irish writer, they really know how to spell out a story, which usually carries you along, this was no different. Will read it again and probably again

Jan

I haven't managed to get hold of the Daisy Picker yet (apparently there isn't a copy in the whole Essex library system!) but I did manage to read 3 others and the library got My Secret Sister in from last time so I read that too.

My Secret Sister

I found this book fascinating, especially as Genes Reunited had helped them to find each other. I found Helen's story very uncomfortable to read. I couldn't understand how her dad could be so violent until I read that not only had he been a prisoner of war of the Japanese but that he was not Helen's father (reasons but NOT excuses!) but I never really did work out her mother. Just as you thought you had found out the worst another event or sibling appeared, how she managed to get the family to keep quiet I don't know. The saddest thing was that the girls will never know why their mother and father did not get together. Jenny's story is far more 'normal' but it was intriguing the way the twins' lives had overlapped, on the beach at Embleton and Jenny's operation by the surgeon Helen worked for, without them knowing. I am so glad they found each other.

The Murderer's Daughters

Another book about two sisters and how early family life can affect you throughout your life.
After their father murders their inadequate mother Lulu and Merry face the aftermath in very different ways, each tied to their private pains and guilts. Lulu wonders if she could have stopped the murder if she had fetched help sooner and forbids Merry to tell anyone about their history. Merry feels that she has to visit her dad in prison but can't ask him why he attacked her as well. The story covers some thirty years and way the shadow of the murder dictates their behaviour is brilliantly told. Although the book does hold out hope that the daughters have begun to work out their problems as Persie says their are untold further worries they have not faced.

Two more reviews to follow

River of Destiny

Barbara Erskine always crafts an intriguing story and this is no exception. She is so clever to entwine the three time lines together (now, Victorian and Anglo Saxon) without you either losing the plot or getting annoyed at the chopping and changing, it all seemed to flow effortlessly. Right from the beginning there are omens of doom, it's just a case of how much is going to end in tears! Although it is not definite she leaves us with the hope of a happy ending for Zoe and Leo.

The Kingmakers Daughter

I am really looking forward to the White Queen on TV and seeing the way they link the three cousins at war stories.
In other books I have read about Anne she is portrayed as a cipher, someone to whom things happen, but in this book she has more character, although many of her actions are dictated by her love for her father, the Duke of Warwick (that's three out of the four books I have read this time with a less than happy parental influence!) The ending is sad but at least Anne died before Richard met his gruesome fate. I just wish we knew what happened to the princes in the Tower – I blame Margaret Beaufort, mother of Henry VII.

Lots here I like :)

The Kingmakers Daughter
I really enjoyed reading this after reading the White Queen and the Red Queen, and as always in those days, daughters are just pawns in the power struggle. Even though she married Richard for love, I was not sure if just another marriage to help in the struggle for the crown and money on Richards part, Would like to think he was in love with her and felt more for him now his remains have been found, So sad that her son died so young and love the way the White Queen was portrayed.
Her books are very easy reads which I need during a very busy few weeks.

I think we are missing Mersey's reviews if she has any this time.

I do im sorry for letting the team down :-(

You aren't letting us doen Mersey, there is no time limit to adding to the reviews. Just don't want anyone to miss the thread as it was down on page 4. Also trying to tidying up all the ends as I am going away on Thursday and probably won't have internet access.

In your own time!! xx <3