Book Review Year 3 No 2
Jul. 28th, 2017 12:33 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
smallhobbitThree weeks after posting my last review I have another one. The last few books have been much quicker to read - hooray.
The Chilbury Ladies Choir by Jennifer Ryan
A few months ago an American site (I don't remember which one) had a challenge to read the first few pages of certain books and earn points which would be converted into books for children in underprivileged areas. The books were divided into 5, 10, 15 and 20 minute reads. A five minute read earned one point, ten minutes two, etc. It was a quiet day at work - I managed to read a lot of the 5 minute suggestions. And amongst them were a couple of books which I wanted to read more of. It turned out this particular book was available within our county library system, so I reserved a copy. Two and a half months later my reservation was top of the list.
I really enjoyed the book. It's set in Kent early in WWII. The men have been called up and the vicar is planning on disbanding the church choir, until the women say they're perfectly able to sing, and what the village needs is something positive. The story is told by four of the women in the form of letters and diary entries, which gives a number of different viewpoints. There's a strong plot, with a number of strong women, some of whom begin as quite meek and mild, but gain strength through various events. There's drama, there's romance, there were a few late nights when I had to know what happened next. Thoroughly recommended.
Aunt Dimity's Death by Nancy Atherton
aome recommended this book. I wasn't sure, since it's written by an American, but set in the Cotswolds. However, the protagonist is American so, although there were some things which jarred they made sense because the book is written in first person. Again I enjoyed it. It's a light read, but entertaining and I read it quickly. Also, there's a stuffed pink rabbit called Reginald, who reminds me of the daughter's stuffed pink rabbit called Chewed Ears who you can only tell which way he's facing because of the name tape sewn into the back of his neck.
There are a lot more in the series, and I'm looking forward to reading them.
ETA: the very lovelyaome has just sent me the next two books in the series, so I'm really looking forward to reading them :)
The Cheltenham Square Mystery by John Bude
This is another of the British Library of Crime Classics. One of the main suppliers at work offers a monthly quiz. You read their latest online leaflet, answer a number of questions correctly, and get a go on a roulette wheel with a 50/50 chance of winning. I've done it four times and won twice - both times a £10 voucher which I've converted to Waterstone's online tokens. Waterstone's deliver for free if you spend £20. So I ordered Little Master Dickens A Christmas Carol for my granddaughter for Christmas; a children's book The Tudors: Kings, Queens, Scribes (and Ferrets), which is good fun; and this book because it's a detective story set locally.
It's not the best. The Detective Superintendent seems particularly slow and I was shouting at him from halfway through the book - clearly they lacked an amateur detective to solve the crime in half the time. But there were plenty of local references which I enjoyed and I read it quickly enough. I shall pass the book onto my mother - it'll keep her entertained for a little while.
And now I'm back on target for my Goodreads Reading Challenge.
The Chilbury Ladies Choir by Jennifer Ryan
A few months ago an American site (I don't remember which one) had a challenge to read the first few pages of certain books and earn points which would be converted into books for children in underprivileged areas. The books were divided into 5, 10, 15 and 20 minute reads. A five minute read earned one point, ten minutes two, etc. It was a quiet day at work - I managed to read a lot of the 5 minute suggestions. And amongst them were a couple of books which I wanted to read more of. It turned out this particular book was available within our county library system, so I reserved a copy. Two and a half months later my reservation was top of the list.
I really enjoyed the book. It's set in Kent early in WWII. The men have been called up and the vicar is planning on disbanding the church choir, until the women say they're perfectly able to sing, and what the village needs is something positive. The story is told by four of the women in the form of letters and diary entries, which gives a number of different viewpoints. There's a strong plot, with a number of strong women, some of whom begin as quite meek and mild, but gain strength through various events. There's drama, there's romance, there were a few late nights when I had to know what happened next. Thoroughly recommended.
Aunt Dimity's Death by Nancy Atherton
aome recommended this book. I wasn't sure, since it's written by an American, but set in the Cotswolds. However, the protagonist is American so, although there were some things which jarred they made sense because the book is written in first person. Again I enjoyed it. It's a light read, but entertaining and I read it quickly. Also, there's a stuffed pink rabbit called Reginald, who reminds me of the daughter's stuffed pink rabbit called Chewed Ears who you can only tell which way he's facing because of the name tape sewn into the back of his neck.There are a lot more in the series, and I'm looking forward to reading them.
ETA: the very lovely
aome has just sent me the next two books in the series, so I'm really looking forward to reading them :)The Cheltenham Square Mystery by John Bude
This is another of the British Library of Crime Classics. One of the main suppliers at work offers a monthly quiz. You read their latest online leaflet, answer a number of questions correctly, and get a go on a roulette wheel with a 50/50 chance of winning. I've done it four times and won twice - both times a £10 voucher which I've converted to Waterstone's online tokens. Waterstone's deliver for free if you spend £20. So I ordered Little Master Dickens A Christmas Carol for my granddaughter for Christmas; a children's book The Tudors: Kings, Queens, Scribes (and Ferrets), which is good fun; and this book because it's a detective story set locally.
It's not the best. The Detective Superintendent seems particularly slow and I was shouting at him from halfway through the book - clearly they lacked an amateur detective to solve the crime in half the time. But there were plenty of local references which I enjoyed and I read it quickly enough. I shall pass the book onto my mother - it'll keep her entertained for a little while.
And now I'm back on target for my Goodreads Reading Challenge.
no subject
Date: 2017-08-01 02:41 am (UTC)And I'm so pleased you enjoyed the book and I hope you like the rest.
The Cheltenham mysteries sound fun, especially with the contest!
no subject
Date: 2017-08-01 09:27 am (UTC)It was good to be able to visualise where the events were happening in The Cheltenham Square Mystery.