Thursday 26 May 2011

Further to my last blog, now to the fiction series

Diana Gabaldon - The Outlander Series

There are currently 7 books in this series, the first is Outlander / Cross Stitch.

The beginning of the whole saga is when Claire Randall and her husband go on holiday to the Scottish Highlands, it is 1946. They have been apart for 6 years because of WW2. Claire was a combat nurse in the war, and they have come away for a 2nd honeymoon. One day Claire goes out walking and finds a circle of standing stones, and she walks through a space in the circle - but - she comes out the other side in 1743.

She is caught up in the wild and dangerous Highlands of that time, meets Captain Jack Randall (who turns out to be distantly related to her husband and a rather nasty man!). She manages to escape from Black Jack (as he is known ), and winds up with a gang of wild Highlanders also trying to escape him. To enable her to stay with the gang, she must marry one of them - Jamie Fraser.
Thus begins the Saga, the story of Claire and Jamie.

I loved this book, the fact that it is tattered and torn due to the number of people I introduced to Diana Gabaldon is testament to this. There are so many facets to the series; there is the time travel aspect, which is terrific; there is the historical aspect, which is fascinating; and of course - the love story.

I don’t want to say too much more as the books cover a huge period of history, both here and across the world. The changes which are the back drop to the story of Claire and Jamie. Adding into the mix, the many dilemmas Claire has - to hide her true origins - having to figure out what to do when she knows the historical outcome of situations, when she potentially has the influence to make changes.

There’s laughter and tears, horror and joy all mixed in together with the history. I have the stack of books sitting to hand as I long for the right time when I can settle down and read the series. I haven’t read the last 2 books yet as it has been some time since I last read one of the series, and I want to have the time to skim through the first few books to remind me of all the characters. Imagine the joy and excitement of settling down (again) knowing you have all the books to look forward to. Bliss!!

Monday 23 May 2011

Deric Longden

I asked myself the question, what books would you take with you if you were told you could only keep 1 series. I negotiated with myself and allowed myself 2, one fiction and 1 non -fiction. I must, of course share this with you all. I will start with the non fiction, just because they are to hand.
Without a doubt the series - the biography of Deric Longden- is superb.

I have never, ever laughed till I cried so often, and sobbed out loud to, as with these books. The older ones are showing signs of wear as they have been read so often. 2 of them have been made into films for TV, and were outstanding, but the books are better, just because there is more in them. If you too like cats , you will love their part in his story.

Book 1: Diana’s Story

This is the story of Deric’s first wife Diana, and her falling ill with ME. For those with chronic illness there are many parts of this story you will be able to identify with, I am thinking in particular to the diagnosis process. (must post this on my other blog for this very reason!) Why is any of it funny you might ask, you have to read it to understand. I had many laughs , but I was howling with tears too, and still do every time I read it.

This was the first book to be televised as “Wide Eyed and Legless” with Julie Waters playing Diana, and Jim Broadbent as Deric.

Book 2: Lost for Words

This is the story of Deric’s mother, a “wonderfully endearing, eccentric lady whose passions ranged from pot plants and her beloved pussycats to Buttercup Syrup which she consumed in vast quantities

I remember reading one part of this book on a bus and embarrassing myself by laughing out loud, I truly could not help myself. This is a really moving story, and tells what it is like for a grown up finding their parent starting on the downward slope where the relationship changes so the child becomes the carer. Don’t forget the tissues.

Also Deric is starting on a new relationship during this period which came with its own complications

This was also made into a film for TV, still called Lost for Words and starred Thora Hird and Pete Postlewaite as the main characters.

 

Book 3 : The Cat Who Came in From The Cold

Deric and Aileen are together and as the title suggests a little cat joined their household. Aileen is registered blind, which will help explain: “ Aileen being Aileen, it was probably inevitable that sooner or later the kitten would be trapped in the refrigerator. And Deric being Deric, the obvious way to thaw him back to life was to make a little coat for him out of a shrunken thermal vest. Thus the cat who came in from the cold got his name - Thermal - and joined the wonderful cast of characters in the ongoing Longden saga”

If you have read the first 2 books and like me become hooked, and love cats , this is seventh heaven, laughing and crying but never bored.



Book 4: I’m a Stranger Here Myself

This book is mainly concerned with the move of the household to Huddersfield. A household including a blind wife and several cats who all have to get to know the new home in their own particular way.

There is also a host of new characters as they settle into their new home, and town. Superb

Book 5: Enough to Make a Cat Laugh

This book is centred round the cats, Thermal, Tigger, Frink and Arthur . If you love cats then you cannot not read this book .Again you do need the tissues for the tears of all kinds.

Book 6: A Play on Words

This is the continuing story of the life and times of Deric and Aileen and the cats, but with the addition of the story of the filming of “Lost for Words”

“ In A Play on Words he describes the unique experience of seeing at close hand his book - and an important part of his own life - turn into a film amid the continuing chaos of his private world. Somehow or other, despite the usual hilarious interruptions, his own brand of literary work gets done, influenced by such matters as rag-and-bone men, the Moscow State Circus and crinkle-cut beetroot - and the usual cast of characters



Book 7: Paws in the Proceedings

As the title suggests this is more cat stories. Funny and sad, as a small gang of cats rules the household one way or another. Every bit as readable as the other books. We are also brought up to date on Deric and Aileen’s life.



These books are a joy, a wonderful story told by a master story teller. Every emotion is there, the most predominant one being laughter. My only warning is if you read any of these books in public, be prepared to laugh…….. loudly, which when you are on your own in a public place does mean you will get some very strange looks, but even with this pre warning you will not be able to stop your self.

I have the books all beside me now, and guess what, yep, going to have to read them yet again. Sometimes, if I am feeling down, I will read one of them just to laugh, to feel joy and lift me up again.









 

Sunday 22 May 2011

Charlaine Harris: The Harper Connelly Series
 
Charlaine Harris has become known by a huge audience because of the True Blood series on TV. I have, and have read, every Sookie Stackhouse book, but she has several other series which are every bit as good.

The Harper Connelly series being one of them. I have and have also read all of this series of 4 books. It is an interesting twist on her tales of the supernatural:

“When she was 15, Harper Connelly was struck by lightning. She’s left with headaches and episodes of muscle weakness. Sometimes her right hand shakes.
And she can find dead people.”

Harper and her stepbrother Tolliver, set off using her skills at finding dead people as a business. He is her manager, she finds the bodies.

Of course if bodies need to be found, the reason is not usually a good one. Often people will try to stop her, by whatever means. Most of her work is found by word of mouth as there are many sceptics out there, at least until they see her in action!

The secondary plot line is to do with the reasons why they are on their own, the family situation they left , and their unconventional relationship.

This is an easy, comfortable read, hugely entertaining, and although not quite a full on “supernatural” story, it obviously is on the periphery.

I would happily recommend this series to anyone, I certainly wait for each new book to be released.

Saturday 21 May 2011

Every Last One by Anna Quindlen




This is a book from Richard and Judy’s Summer Book Club

On reading the blurb on the back this book appealed to me:



“ The Lathams seem to have it all: wealth and a vibrant family life. As Mary Beth Latham contemplates a life built around home, friends and community, she has every reason to feel fulfilled and content.
Then, for one of her sons, a process of unravelling begins. Mary Beth starts to focus on him, only to find that the comfortable life she has spend years carefully constructing is shattered in a single moment………….”

While I didn’t hate this book, I was disappointed. It is difficult to say too much with out giving too much of the story away. Anna Quinlan is described as an author of 5 bestselling novels, so she is obviously successful, but I felt the book just trotted a long at the same pace the whole way through, I was waiting for the build up to whatever was going to shatter her comfortable life, however it arrived and happened and then there was the aftermath all still at the same trot.

I felt cheated, instead of an “Oh my God” it was just an “Oh! So that’s what happens” In honesty I could have put the book down at any point and forgotten to pick it up again and would not have missed it much. It was well written and much of it was enjoyable, I just felt it was missing the build up and the drama I was looking for.

Jackie

21/05/2011

My first Book review