Fiction reviews

The Letter by Kathryn Hughes - overall rating 10/10

(From karenplusfour)

(2013) It was a lovely read. It tells the story of two young people in love and what happens to them.

It is something that could and does happen, even now - very sad really. You hear about the 'what ifs' or 'if onlys'. I had this on my Kindle and could not put it down.

The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood - overall rating 10/10

(From nannyogg)

(2013) Just re-read this book - I had forgotten what a really truly good read it is. My book club really enjoyed it too. I was suprised so few had read it when it was first published in 1985.

The Guernsey Literary and Potatoe Peel Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows - overall rating 10/10

(From SophiesMum)

(2013) Unputdownable! My daughter-in-law in Canada sent me this book as part of my Christmas present. She highly recommended it and I can see why. Written in the form of letters (think 84 Charing Cross Road), this book brings wartime Guernsey to life. Won't say more, don't want to spoil it for you!

The Handmaid's Tail by Margaret Atwood - overall rating 10/10

(From nannyogg)

(2013) Just re-read this book - I had forgotten what a really truly good read it is. My book club really enjoyed it too. I was suprised so few had read it when it was first published in 1985.

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The Otherside of the Bridge by Mary Lawson - overall rating 10/10

(From Hattie64)

(2011) A wonderful book, so well written, unforgettable.

I agree HQ1.I bought lots of copies for friends and family.I think it should be on the national curriculum.

The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt

I waited for this book for 10years.it was definitely worth the wait.Her best so far.

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak - overall rating 10/10

(From GranG)

(2011) This has been one of the most memorable books I have read this year. It is the story of a young girl Liesel who is growing up in a very poor community on the outskirts of Munich during WW2 and it tells the story of her life and her survival during that terrible time. The story is related by Death and by using this device the authur allows you to get close to Liesel and her family and friends, but still keep some perspective. Please don't think this book is full of misery; it isn't. There is fun there as well. Liesel is a normal girl of courage and wit and she and Rudy her friend enjoy their life from within their own experience. Because my parents lived and fought through the war and my mother befriended a young German Jew, the stories in the book are not new to me. As a young British girl, outrage at what had happened during the war was all around me. What was to emerge many years later of course was the effect allied bombing had on German communities too. This is a book which subtly combines the complex historical themes into a remarkable story.
I hope you enjoy it as much as I have.

Snuff by Terry Pratchett - overall rating 10/10

(From goose1964)

(2012) Another Sam Vines story, this time set in the countryside. Sam is on holiday with Lady Sibyl & young Sam (who seems to be based on Chris Packham) but still manges to find crime to solve. Really enjoyed this one, certainly up to the usual standard.

Secrets of the Tide by Hannah Richel - overall rating 10/10

(From Gillx5)

(2012) This debut novel is a gripping story of three generations of women told over a fifteen year period. The disaster which results from the unhappiness and bad decisions of Helen Tide and her husband have terrible and lasting consequences for the whole family. The fractured relationships described by Richell in a beautifull and heart wrenching way are centred around an old house set on the cliffs in Dorset. Hannah Richell, an English writer now settled in Sydney Australia with her husband and two young children is a gifted young writer who has secured a second book deal. I can't wait to read her next book!

Secrets of the Tide by Hannah Richel - overall rating

(From Gillx5)

(2012) This debut novel is a gripping story of three generations of women told over a fifteen year period. The disaster which results from the unhappiness and bad decisions of Helen Tide and her husband have terrible and lasting consequences for the whole family. The fractured relationships described by Richell in a beautifull and heart wrenching way are centred around an old house set on the cliffs in Dorset. Hannah Richell, an English writer now settled in Sydney Australia with her husband and two young children is a gifted young writer who has secured a second book deal. I can't wait to read her next book!

Rivers of London by Ben Aaronvitch - overall rating 10/10

(From ohdear)

(2015) A sort of fantasy/crime cross over involving ghosts,wizards, dogs and puppets! A very good story well told. Made me laugh out loud. I think that grannies are not, perhaps his target audience (!) but I loved it. I have also read the other books in this series and cannot wait for the next. The characters are well drawn and I came to care about what happened to them. Aaronavitch also writes for Dr Who and other sci-fi shows, he is obviously good at his job. If you like fantasy and maybe steam punk then give this a go.

Pigs in Heaven by Barbara Kingsolver - overall rating 10/10

(From YellowRose)

(2013) This was recommended at the same time as The Poisonwood Bible by the same author. This book focuses on a mother and her adopted child, who is American Indian. I absolutely could not put it down. It deals with identity, mother love, race and all against a backdrop of an America, we in England don't see that often. Superb.

Northern Lights by Phillip Pullman - overall rating 10/10

(From SueQue)

(2011) First book of the "His Dark Materials" trilogy. A series of books equally suited to adults and teenagers. It is fiction based on some scientific fact and theory. Lyra, the heroine, is drawn into dark secrets about life beyond the 'Norther Lights'. Along the way she encounters a talking, fighting, polar bear and flying witch-queens. She is accompanied by her 'daemon', Pan. This book takes me to places I would actually like to visit i.e. The Arctic circle and beyond.

Mia's Scandal by Michelle Reid - overall rating 10/10

(From smeeth)

(2012) Well I've never really got into the idea of reading Mills & Boon books, but this was free to download to my kindle, so I thought well why not! Don't judge a book by it's cover and all that (or in this case it's publisher!). And I have no qualms about saying that it is one of the best books I have read in a very long time! The story was captivating, I just didn't want to put it down, I kept telling myself after this chapter I'll go and do some cleaning, but then I found I just kept reading on and on! The story is about this young Italian woman who discovers she is the estranged daughter of a very rich English man. Her father gives his young friend, a Greek billionaire, the task of getting her acquainted with English life, and surprise surprise they fall in love! With many twists and turns along the way! It's a brilliant piece of writing, and although slightly raunchy ;) it doesn't centre entirely around that! Overall it is a brilliant book, and I well recommend you all read it! It might be best if you do so when you have nothing else planned for a few hours though!

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Me Before You by Jojo Moyes - overall rating 10/10

(From eGJ)

(From 2012) This has to be my favourite of 2012 and I have read quite a few even though we're only in January!

This book is a really good read. I won't reveal the plotlines; you read it yourselves! You will want to read until the last full stop and not put it down. It will make you laugh out loud, but cry as well. This is one of those books that will stay with you long after you've read it. Me Before You is more than a romantic tale as it is a tale of courage, life and making choices in life.

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Longbourn by Jo Baker - overall rating 10/10

(From trisher)

(2014) A joy of a book. It tells the story of the servants in the Bennet household. If you are a Pride and Prejudice fan it follows the story precisely, if you aren't, don't worry it is still captivating. You'll be hooked by the details of life below stairs. Beautifully written it is a love story, with a mystery (who is James and what happened in his past?) You stay enthralled to the last page, and the characters live on in your memory. With a wealth of historical details you are transported to Georgian London, the Spanish Peninsula and of course Longbourn, where the harsh working conditions are vividly described. A truly captivating read.

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Josephine: Desire, Ambition, Napoleon - overall rating 10/10

(From wallers5)

(2014) Historian Kate Williams tells the story of Napoleon’s consort Josephine from her time as a young woman in Martinique, so you get to read the bits others have left out. The struggle Josephine goes through written is a brilliant biography for those interested in history, telling us of her scary story, of sexual obsession, politics and surviving in a man's world.

Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese - overall rating 10/10

(From glitabo)

(2012) This excellent book is the story of twin boys who are the result of an illicit union between an Indian nun and a British doctor. It is set in Ethiopia in the 50s and the USA. It is a brilliant read. This is a book with a gripping story. I really cared what happened to the characters. One of my all time favourite books.

Bringing up the Bodies by Hilary Mantell - overall rating 10/10

(From BoomerBabe)

(2013) A great sequel but also stands alone. This story is not just about the extraordinary historical figure Thomas Cromwell, but also brings to life the character of Henry VIII and the politics of his court. The role of the women, sold and bartered in marriage to suit the aspirations of their male relatives, is particularly fascinating. Exquisitely written in the present tense, it's not surprising that she won those awards!

Between a Mother and her Child by Elizabeth Noble - overall rating 10/10

(From eCJ)

(2012) A page-turner of a novel charting the complex relations in a family. Tantalising from the start as names are mentioned very early, but you are not sure how they will come into the story. It is heart warming in its romance, but tear jerking too as the characters take you from one emotion to the next. A solid story and a great read.