Natasha
This is not usually a book I would choose to read, I generally steer clear of romances. But that is what is so great about a book club. It introduces you to genres out of your usual reading zone.
I found the beginning of the book rather slow and tedious and there is not much in the way of a plot at all. However, Heyer won me over when I read the chapter “The Indignation of Mr Manvers” and found myself laughing out loud. From that moment on “These Old Shades” was a joy to read with dazzling dialouge and way OTT characters. I am glad I spent the time on this novel.
What would make a woman with a successful career, a happy family and a devoted husband leave it all behind to start a new life?
Emily Coleman is running away. She leaves Manchester with nothing but a small suitcase and a little money. Her family receives no explanation. In fact they do not know where in the world she is. On the same day, Cat Brown arrives in London with nothing but a small suitcase, a little money and a big secret.
Slowly, Emily transforms her life and identity until she really becomes Cat Brown. But how easy is it to forget your past? Does running away make what you left behind any easier to accept?
One Step Too Far is a compelling read. I had to discover the reason behind Emily's escape. Was I disappointed? No, I might have done the same in her situation. But I do think some readers may find her actions unforgivable and selfish.
The narrative structure of the novel is quite fragmented, and I found this literary technique a bit jarring in the beginning of the book. However, once I became accustomed to switching between 1st and 3rd person narrative, I found it to be quite a clever tool. Emily's voice is in 1st person, while the other character's points of views are always in 3rd person.
While I didn't fall in love with any of the characters, I didn't detest them either. Emily's housemates in London in particular are a quirky, interesting bunch and her aptly named saviour, Angel, while misguided, has a certain lovable quality about her. My only quarrel with the characterisation is poor Caroline, Emily's wayward twin sister. Without spoiling the ending, let's just say her story ended a bit too abruptly and without any sensitivity.
One Step Too Far will keep you guessing and will ultimately pose the question: what would I do if I were in Emily's shoes?
What an absolutely delightful read! If you enjoy heartfelt and uplifting literature with a generous sprinkling of magic on the side, then The House at the End of Hope Street is for you.
I really don't want to give too much of the plot away, because it is completely wonderful to discover all the twists and turns for yourself. There are delicious mysteries to be solved and eccentric characters to fall in love with. The entire novel is peppered with literary references, and for a bookworm this is very exciting.
Even if you are not usually a fan of fantasy fiction (like me), suspend your disbelief for a moment and believe in magic. It is worth it. The book really does leave you feeling hopeful.
This story had so much potential. I loved the idea of Jesus intervening in the lives of mortals. But in the end I was disappointed. The thing is, I can't say exactly why I was disappointed. The book is very well written and, at times, wickedly funny, but the story just didn't resonate with me.
I loved the exchanges between God and Jesus; a troubled Father / Son relationship. However the majority of the novel involved JFK and Castro, so it was a long wait between the clever and humorous dialogue.
I found it a chore to get through, and no book should be that. Having said that, I understand that this is a political satire and I may not be in the correct target audience (a sleep deprived new mother may not have the required concentration and patience).
When I first began reading this book, I found keeping track of all the different characters and relationships to be quite challenging. However, after a little perseverance they felt like old friends.
Rowling is a marvellous story teller, and her characters are quite believable. They were all quite flawed, but aren't we all. I found Fats the worst of the lot - he was an ungrateful bully and a coward, and so pretentious with he search for an ‘authentic' life.
I am a huge Harry Potter fan, and while this novel is completely different, Rowling did not disappoint!
When I began reading this book the characters disgusted me. The world McGregor portrays is so foreign and sinister to what I am used to (thank goodness I suppose) that I found it quite unsettling reading. It is a world of drug users, alcoholics and delinquents; where the most urgent and important need is to make enough money for the next score. By the end of the novel, i can't say i liked any of the characters, but they became more human. I pitied them. I hoped for something positive amongst the ashes and squalor.
I found it to be a rather cautionary tale; nothing good comes from this lifestyle, and most of the characters come to a rather gristly end. Yet it gives the addicts; the homeless; the forgotten people in society a face and a voice - even if what that voice says is something that makes us uncomfortable, and we would rather be deaf to it.
Well written and thought provoking.
What is the price of stability? The loss of individuality? To sacrifice truth and beauty? To give up a family, God and even the possibility of romantic love?
Huxley paints a rather sinister dystopian future where rampant consumerism and the ‘good of the community' trumps passion, families, science and even reading good books. The civilised world is in a perpetual, drug induced state of ‘happiness'. Everyone is made to fit a particular mould; to know their place and to not deviate from their social conditioning. Into this world, Huxley introduces a Savage who has read Shakespeare, believes in God, loves his mother (scandalous!) and wishes be monogamous.
It is a thought provoking read. The arguments for this type of civilisation do actually make sense, but at what cost? No thank you. Send me to an island!
I really wanted to LOVE this book, but in the end I probably Really Liked it. The structure and storytelling is so different to anything else I have read. I loved the use of colour and grammatical errors; of pictures and paragraph spacing, but in the end I felt that this book just tried too hard. It's definitely worth a read but will not go onto my most memorable list.
This book was way too long winded for my liking. I found i could easily just gloss over pages (something i don't usually do) and not lose track of the plot. The story itself was ok, but for me the characters never really developed. The only reason I finished the novel was to see vile William meet his inevitable comeuppance - horrible man with no redeeming qualities at all. Think I will give the sequel a miss.
This is not a novel to read if you desire a complex plot, however if (like me) you delight in absurdly hilarious characters, then do spend a night or two with Ms Mitford. Although Polly (and even to some extent Fanny) seem quite vacuous, most of the other characters are wonderful. I love Davey, uncle Matthew, Lady Montdore and Cedric (naturally). Bravo!
I really struggled to get into this book. I found the narrator's refusal to use a first person pronoun (I, my etc) really distracting at first, however after 100 pages or so the prose began to flow. By the end of the novel I loved it. I felt completely outraged by the injustices Harrison had to face, and a book that made me feel that strongly about a fictional character must be worth reading. Stick with it, and it will reward you.
While this book will never win any literary awards, it is a light, entertaining romp through an almost believable Dickensian England. It is straight forward black and white spy story - the baddies are ugly and Russian, the goodies are handsome and English. Very clear cut with nothing too unpredictable or mind blowing. I did enjoy the witty narration and the character of India Black. Enjoyable yet probably forgettable. Two and a half stars.
An interesting and magical glimpse into circus life. I loved the ending and really enjoyed ‘old Jacob'. The character of Marlena, however, I felt never truly developed. She remained, in my mind, a whimsical Marilyn Monroe figure. I also deplored the abuse of the animals (which I know was kind of the point). A good read, now, off to see the movie....
Why Heathcliff has become one of our ‘great romantic characters' is beyond me. He is selfish, vindictive, abusive, moody and cruel. Now you can blame these character traits on his tortured and enduring love for Cathy, but really he is just a miserable sod.
As for Cathy, I have seldom encountered a more spoilt and mean character. The way she teases Isabella about her feelings for Heathcliff reminded me of school-girl bullying.
However, at least these two characters had a bit of fire and passion within them. The most detestable character in Wuthering Heights has to be Linton - Heathcliff's spineless, insipid excuse for a son.
I didn't really like any of the characters in this novel (Cathy Jnr and Hareton turn out ok in the end), but maybe that is the point. I respect that not all works of fiction need a ‘goodie' and a ‘badie', and applaud Bronte for not making these distinctions at all.
I found the majority of the book a bit of a chore to read, but admit that I was satisfied in the end. I understand why Wuthering Heights is a classic, but think I will rather side with her sister and the delectable Mr. Rochester.
Oh, and did anyone understand anything Joseph said?
