Book Blog :: Reading the Printed Word

I made a decision today to separate out my reading and book reviews and everything else. So I now have a dedicated book blog called Reading the Printed Word. It's available at http://reading-the-printed-word.blogspot.com/

Book Review :: Pursuit of Love by Nancy Mitford

The Pursuit of Love by Nancy Mitford

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I really enjoyed this read. I was interested in reading it as I'd just read The Bolter: Edwardian Heartbreak and High Society Scandal in Kenya which, in the further reading section, referred to this novel commenting that Nancy Mitford had based one of her characters on Idina Sackville (the original Bolter).



Set in England and Paris this novel charts the life of Linda, an upper class woman living in the 1920s / 1930s. I've read that much of the early parts of the novel are based on the home life of the Mitfords (so I will be interested in reading a biography / autobiography), whereas the later parts of the novel certainly seem to follow some of the Bolter's story. The narrator for this novel is Linda's cousin who lives with the family in the holidays but is looked after by her aunt because her own mother has abandoned her (again similar to the Bolter).



Linda is a romantic and wants a man and marriage and does get men and marriage which unfortunately are unsuitable. Eventually she makes a better choice...



Like others I found the novel very witty and an easy read. I read it over two train journeys and one night in the bath. It was that type of book. Un-put-down-able in some respects, and especially if you are interested in 1920s / 1930s age of excess. But, like others have commented, the ending is a little sudden and an little weak. My younger brother used to write stories in school, he'd get bored and then say "and then they died" and this novel by Nancy Mitford had something of that. I guess it was the choice she made but also meant there could be no follow-ups.



I'm looking forward to reading some of her other novels like Love in a Cold Climate and Wigs on the Green but at the moment I am interested in knowing more about her family so am reading an autobio by Diana Mitford Moseley (of the meeting Hitler fame).



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Book Review :: The Bolter by Frances Osbourne

The Bolter: Idina Sackville - The Woman Who Scandalised 1920s Society and Became White Mischief's Infamous Seductress by Frances Osborne

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I really liked this book. My mum recommended I read it, I dismissed the idea but then got hooked on all things "between the wars" and read some reviews, remembered she had the book so started to read.



What a woman Idina was. Scandalising British upper class society with 5 marriages, she certainly led an "interesting" lifestyle. I can't imagine what her parties were like. Descriptions of them being cocaine and morphine induced, guests being greeted by a naked host and bathing in champagne are far beyond my sphere. It was the days of excess - well for those with land and privilege.



After Idina's first marriage and having had two children she disappears off to Kenya with new husband in tow. Sadly her two sons aren't allowed to join her and she doesn't see or contact them for another 15 years. Kenya is possibly the main focus of the story. To be honest I knew next to nothing about The Happy Valley set (I was more familiar with life in the Raj and Indian subcontinent where similarly the English upper class led a life of interesting times, in a similar time frame). It was quite illuminating to understand another aspect of British history. I also knew nothing of The White Mischief storyline and that fact that Joss was one of Idina's husbands. I will be reading The Temptress which describes in more detail some of the characters surrounding Joss and his murder. As the story progressed there were a number of sad incidents, not including her own demise. Quite tragic really.



Overall I suppose I like Idina. I think she had "balls" to break with convention. She might not have been party to women getting the vote, and I don't especially agree with her leaving her children as she did, but the "not giving a damn" attitude is kind of interesting.











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Book Review :: The Group by Mary McCarthy

The Group by Mary McCarthy

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


I took this book out of the library and thought I would really like it but made it to 100 pages and didn't really enjoy the read. I actually found the text slightly difficult to follow. I'm not sure whether it's the mix of 7 main characters or just the writing style. Maybe it's a book I have to return to at a different time in my life...



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Book Review :: Short Stories of F Scott Fitzgerald

The Short Stories of F. Scott Fitzgerald by F. Scott Fitzgerald

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I read three short stories in the bath tonight. They came from this book but were actually in a small gift sized book which came with the weekend newspaper a while back.

I'm not really a fan of short stories. I don't like that you don't get to engage with the characters. But, these stories did work and were all very good. My favourite was possibly The Cut Glass Bowl.



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Books :: Reading - Update

Have added a couple of sections to my Books :: Reading page. I'm participating in a couple of challenges on Goodreads so thought it might be good to document them.

Book Review :: The Unfortunates by Laurie Graham

The Unfortunates by Laurie Graham
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I love Laurie Graham as an author - have read many of her books and found them very funny and this was no exception. This is a light-hearted review of the last century but the references to 1920s - -1930s I particularly liked. What I particularly liked was the way the book was written in what I assume is authentic language of the day.

I've got a bit of a thing for the 1920s - 1930s at the moment so this book was perfect for me. It told the story of a woman and her family who were Jewish, living in NYC. She was born pre-war, bit of a rebel, parents sort of practicised Judaism but were a bit lax (but later some members were much more dedicated). They are a wealthy family and so she enjoys the trappings of this wealth, travelling to Paris, the UK, becoming an aviatrix. References are made to various historical events including the sinking of the Titanic and WW1 / WW2 and effect it had on home front in NYC. The story then continued into the 1950s / 1960s / 1970s documenting the ups and downs in the life of the main character.



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Book Review :: The Inheritance of Loss by Kiran Desai

The Inheritance of Loss by Kiran Desai
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

I know a lot of people have liked this book but I couldn't get into it.

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Book Review :: Stalin's Ghost by Martin Cruz Smith

Stalin's Ghost by Martin Cruz Smith
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

This is part of a crime series set in Russia post WW2 / pre end of Communism. Good easy reads.

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Book Review :: Everything is Illuminated by Jonathan Safran Foer

Everything is Illuminated by Jonathan Safran Foer


This just didn't appeal. It was bought as gift and now is being recycled on Read it / Swap it...

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Book Review :: The River King by Alice Hoffman

The River King by Alice Hoffman
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

I've never read Alice Hoffmann before and I tried to read this novel but struggled and gave up. I have another of her novels waiting for me to try so I haven't completely given up....

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Book Review :: Noah's Compass by Anne Tyler

Noah's Compass by Anne Tyler
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

I normally like Anne Tyler's book but this one didn't strike a chord with me and I didn't finish it.

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Book Review :: The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas by John Boyne

The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas by John Boyne
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I read this in a single sitting - kind of got engrossed in it. I had seen many recommendations that it was one of those books that ought to be read, and yes, I agree.

I thought it would be interesting to see how a child interpreted this book compared to an adult. There was lots of unspoken messages which I think an adult would pick up, and likewise, knowing what we most know about history, it was perhaps clear where the book was going to end once Bruno made the decision he made. I could forsee the inevitable, and in some respects I did forsee the decision he made, because of the friendship he had made.

I suppose I have one slightly nagging doubt - in reality would a child have been so niave? So unknowing about what was happening? Especially the Father's Commandant position...I understand how it works as a story (and it works beautifully) but... I dunno, perhaps it was just an era where you didn't question your parents like today's 9 years old do (or at least I did as a 9 year old)?.


Overall though I thought the book was a wonderful portrayal of innocence and friendship and would recommend it to anyone.


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Book Review :: Go the F*ck to Sleep by Adam Mansbach

Go the Fuck to Sleep by Adam Mansbach
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I admit...I haven't read the book but I did Youtube the audio version and yes it is very funny. I don't have kids but many friends do so I know their frustrations :0)

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Book Review :: Disconnected by Sherry Ashworth

Disconnected by Sherry Ashworth
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I have to admit that I don't tend to read YA books. When I was a teen 20 years ago I'm not sure this genre was as big as it is now. Yeh we had Judy Blume or Sweet Valley High but it seemed there were less YA books than there are now...praps it's just me? Anyway, I digress - I don't tend to read YA because I sort of feel I have "been there, done that" and now it's time to move on. But, out of curiosity and giving things a go I decided I'd take a look at my local library.

I picked a couple of YA books, this included. What appealed was that it wasn't about fairies, Vamps, wizards and the paranormal. Just not my thing but seems to be very popular.

This book is about 'real' teen life, although it didn't portray my life! I liked the way the book was written - the lead was essentially writing letters back to all the people who were involved in a particular period of her life when she (in modern parlance) was discovering herself. She was studious but sat in class and realised it was all too constricting. At a party she happened to meet a lad who was also discovering his identity and who he was. They hooked up and hung out, although it wasn't quite as simple as boyfriend / girlfriend. Hanging out with him introduced her to a new set of friends and one girl particularly, but she had issues.

The story reveals the main characters relationships with the other characters and discovery that they all had secrets to hide. The ending was a little "safe" but I suspect this might be due to the market.

Whilst I thought the book ok it was full of teen angst and like I say "have been there, done that" so it became a little, not exactly irritating but like I was glad the book was short and with big writing!







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Book Review :: Fly Away Home by Jennifer Weiner

Fly Away Home by Jennifer Weiner
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was my first read of a book by Jennifer Weiner and I really enjoyed it - so much so I have another couple list on my Xmas list :-)

The story concerns three women - one mother and her two daughters. As the blurb says on the back of the book the girls father, a US Senator, is revealed to have had an affair with a much younger colleague. The mother / wife finds this out live on TV, as do the daughters. The eldest is a Doctor and going through her own unhappiness and seeks solace elsewhere. The younger daughter has her problems but she is recovering from them. All three women face some interesting choices and I enjoyed the twists and turns. I like the characters and felt sympathetic for them. There was one occassion where I did think "that could only happen in a book / film" but otherwise the story seemed plausible.

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