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We are in the process of adding our comments and a rating
for each book.
Books are arranged alphabetically by author's surname.
Ali-Evaristo Faulks-Grenville
Harris-Quinn
Rowling-Zola
Tip: If you hold your 'shift' button when you click on a link, it will open a
new window which might make it easier to keep track of where you are
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Our
Comments:
Disliked it on first reading. Liked it better on second
reading. Definitely a book of separate parts.
One of those life changing books…will remain with me always
Wonderfully descriptive, harrowing book
Good but harrowing |
Sebastian Faulks
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Our
Comments:
Interesting slant on the war in France
Disappointing after Birdsong |
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Our
Comments:
OK
Enjoyed the way the different threads were pulled
together
Difficult to sympathize with the characters but ok read |
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Our
Comments:
Good to read about a woman ahead of her time
Interesting; love the detail
Didn't think I'd enjoy this but found it fascinating |
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Our
Comments:
Although I wish my mother had left me a Memory
Box, I thought this an unlikely story and did not sympathise with
the main character
Couldn’t get in to it
Good idea for a story
Made me wonder what my children will remember about me and what I'd
put in a box. Couldn't connect with main character |
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| Our Comments: We found this a very
academic book - perhaps too scholarly for the ordinary woman? Some
had given up half way - others had made it to the end. In general,
we were confused by the vast number of characters described in the
book. We were all interested in the story of Marie Antoinette - most
of us knew very little about her (apart from her grisly end and her
famous catch phrase - which, it turns out, she didn't utter). We
found her story very interesting and a fascinating tale of life in
the French Court. We hadn't appreciated how open to public scrutiny
her life was. In general, hard going but worth it in the end.
Several who had got only half way thought they might want to finish
the book. Score 3.5/5 |
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Our
Comments:
Excellent, beautifully written, very sensitive
A tough start to our book circle! Loved it once I got over the first
50 or so pages - worth persevering with
Long winded and spent far too much time
on describing the countryside instead of the characters. I got the
ending wrong, but they did make a beautiful film out of it! |
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Our
Comments: We all enjoyed this book and thought that it was well
written, humorous and had a good style. We liked the way that you
could delve straight into Old Filth's character and it was
interesting and very sad to read about the plight of the Raj
orphans. We thought it would make a good film and many decided to
find some of her other books. Some found the jumping around in time
a bit confusing. Overall score: 4/5
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Our
Comments:
Got half way through and then bought DVD.
Disappointed that it wasn't an easier read.
Hard work.
Not a holiday read.
Gets much better when you are halfway through. Couldn't put it down
towards the end.
Struggled with reading - had to think - less readable than Austen
Structure showed that it was written in installments.
Thought I'd hate it and set myself 25 pages a day, glad to have read
it.
Where was the passion?
Enjoyed the contrast between Margaret and lots of the other wimpy
female characters who had to go and lie down after the effort of
choosing a new shawl.
Interesting social history.
Wanted more reaction to final denouements.
Final verdict 3/4 out of 5
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Our
Comments:
Good mix of fact and fiction
Brilliant story, interesting view of period of history for children
Good story for older children, well written and researched
Thought provoking
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Our
Comments:
Utter drivel!
I agree with utter drivel! I thought
the book was pointless although easy to read. You never
really got to know what you wanted to know - just what did she see in
the woodshed?????
A very visual book, some funny bits but heroine too annoying
Flora is
really conceited and annoying. It is a good yarn in many ways and romps
along but seems kind of dated now. The weirdness of the family is
well done, though! There are some great 'set pieces' and the
countryside descriptions are quite brillliant at times.
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Our
Comments:
Boring
Very intricate plotting, lots of twists - I enjoyed this and
have read several others of his since |
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Our
Comments:
Really enjoyed this book – felt I had been
transported to another time
A moving tale, spanning a long life of many adventures and much self
sacrifice
Fab…but felt conned by twist at end. Hard to believe written by a
man
A glimpse into another world - great story of revenge! |
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Our
Comments:
Funny, beautifully written and wry.
I love this book – it is so understated!
Very descriptive |
 
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