7/10/05
It’s a nice quiet Sunday morning here. Hubby and I woke up at six O’clock AM. I got up and went to the kitchen, put the kettle on and made myself a cup of instant coffee, tidyed up the kitchen, washed the few dishes in the sink and then went back to bed to read my book. I am becoming a much avid reader now that I have the Library across the street in back of the park. I go every other Thursday. I have borrowed and read seven novels since I arrived here! Here are a few of the books that I’ve read here so far and my personal rating of them:
Books I’ve Read:
Two For Joy by Patricia Scanlon
Publisher: Thomas Dunne Books (June 1, 2004) Language: English ISBN: 0312328958
Synopsis: Noreen and Oliver Flynn’s wedding is a big event in the small town of Kilronan outside Dublin, Ireland. Noreen left her successful career as a nurse in London to take care of her dying mother, and consequently met Oliver, a successful builder. Both were lonely, and Noreen, a take-charge kind of woman, asked Oliver to marry her, leaving her uncertain if he would ever have asked her. Cousins Lorna and Heather envy the pageantry of the wedding, and embark on a new life of their own in Dublin. Lorna loves city life, but Heather misses their small town, and problems develop in each of their lives as their expectations are not met. Readers will form an attachment to all of Scanlan’s extraordinarily believable characters, making this an exquisite gem of a novel about human foibles and happiness. Scanlan should have wide and increasing appeal as word gets out about her books. Patty Engelmann
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
My Rating: B-
Although the storyline is consistent and the diverse characters’ plot mingled with that of the main characters the book was a bit disappointing.
Johnny Angel by Danielle Steel
Publisher: Dell (June 1, 2004) Language: English ISBN: 0440236789
From Booklist
With this brief foray into the world of a family devastated by the death of their teenage son, Steel moves away from the contemporary romance stories she is famous for, although her fans likely won’t complain. Handsome, tall, polite, college-bound, hardworking, and the backbone of his fragile family, Johnny Peterson also is a star athlete and class valedictorian. All in all, his future is looking pretty bright when a terrible accident on prom night kills him and shatters the already tenuous relationships of his parents and siblings. Of course, Johnny, being the great guy that he is, returns as a vision/ghost/angel and begins to repair the damaged lives of his family and friends. Before we know it, his mute and semi-autistic brother is speaking, his father has laid off the booze, his girlfriend gets a scholarship to attend college, and his heartbroken mother gains the fortitude to let go of her grief and embrace life once more. Despite its sad story line, Steel ties it all together with a neat and somewhat happy ending. Librarians should stock up; this one will be hot this summer. Kathleen Hughes
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved–This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
With this brief foray into the world of a family devastated by the death of their teenage son, Steel moves away from the contemporary romance stories she is famous for, although her fans likely won’t complain. Handsome, tall, polite, college-bound, hardworking, and the backbone of his fragile family, Johnny Peterson also is a star athlete and class valedictorian. All in all, his future is looking pretty bright when a terrible accident on prom night kills him and shatters the already tenuous relationships of his parents and siblings. Of course, Johnny, being the great guy that he is, returns as a vision/ghost/angel and begins to repair the damaged lives of his family and friends. Before we know it, his mute and semi-autistic brother is speaking, his father has laid off the booze, his girlfriend gets a scholarship to attend college, and his heartbroken mother gains the fortitude to let go of her grief and embrace life once more. Despite its sad story line, Steel ties it all together with a neat and somewhat happy ending. Librarians should stock up; this one will be hot this summer.
My Rating: A+ The book made me turn the pages swiftly and filled me with a sense of sadness mingled with joy and hope and a sense of awe.
Baby Love by Martine Oborne
Publisher: Piatkus Books (March 8, 2001) ISBN: 074993235X
Caroline has a good job, a loving husband and a beautiful house; but the one thing that would make her life complete is a baby. She and her husband Richard have tried every position, potion and old wives’ tale under the sun but with no success. Meanwhile it seems that her fecund sister only needs to look at a man to get pregnant. It just insn’t fair. And then Caroline meets Alex. She knows her illicit attraction to him is dangerous. But she can’t help feeling that Alex may be the answer to all of her problems…
My Rating: A
I enjoyed this fast-paced novel full of expectation, hope, disappointment and it had a miraculous ending!
I took a little walk through Headington this afternoon. I went to Sommerfield and did a bit of comparison shopping and bought Hubby and I two tins of spahetti at £.26 each! The children were out and about and the Town was quite busy. I am now about to hang a load of wash on the clotheline to dry. Alex should be home by 5:30. We’re having steak in a mushroom with wine sauce.