Category Archives: Miscellaneous

This chapter I’ve found extremely visual – I could picture the cold light, the snow, the awful home for the ‘feeble minded’. I’m still wondering what on earth these people are thinking? Is Caroline planning on returning the baby to the doctor? Why hasn’t he rung ahead and warned them of Caroline’s arrival?

Also, it’s intriguing how bad weather can alter three peoples lives … What would have happened if Phoebe was born in a hospital?

I was keen to read this book because it was mentioned on Dovegreyreader and I do like a good 1950s domestic drama.

The blurb …

In affairs of the heart the race is not necessarily won by the swift and fair.

Imogen, the beautiful wife of a distinguished barrister Evelyn Gresham, is facing the greatest challenge of her married life. Their neighbour Blanche Silcox, competent, middle aged and ungainly – the very opposite of Imogen – seems to be vying for Evelyn’s attention. And to Imogen’s increasing distress, she may be succeeding.

The story is set just after World War Two. Imogen and Evelyn have a house in the country and a flat in London. Evelyn spends the week in London (working as a Barrister) and weekends in the country. They have one son, Gavin. Evelyn is a disciplined, hard-working man who wants his domestic life to run smoothly. Imogen is, however, forgetful and needs to be reminded about certain arrangements.

Then their is Blanche – a wealthy, middle aged neighbour. She is everything Imogen is not – organised, practical etc. She is definitely not the person one pictures as the mistress of a successful barrister. However, as Imogen’s friend Paul says

‘Are you sure you know what men fall in love with?’

Blanche insinuates herself into their lives – driving Evelyn to London, organising everything at both houses (things like gravel for the drive), joining Evelyn on his holiday with his colleagues (Imogen has never been invited). Imogen is terrified of upsetting Evelyn of annoying him. As her self confidence plummets, she becomes more and more withdrawn and Evelyn chooses to spend more time with Blanche. He chooses to become a paid border in Blanche’s London flat.

A crisis occurs at Gavin’s school. Evelyn’s presence is demanded by the head master, but he is in court and Imogen can’t bear the thought of interrupting him – she sends Paul instead. The crisis is averted.

At a later date Imogen tells Evelyn she didn’t know what to do or who to send. Evelyn suggests Blanche and Imogen has, what can only be called, a meltdown and all at once the marriage is over. Imogen has lost everything – including Gavin. Although we are made aware that the break up will affect Gavin in later years.

This is a beautifully written understated story that turns convention upside down. Women are encouraged to be like Imogen – beautiful, gentle compliant and helpful and yet it is the masculine, plain Blanche who wins the man’s affection.

I’m very keen to read more by Elizabeth Jenkins.

I bought this book for my Dad for Christmas – imagine my surprise when he had already read it! I decided to keep it and read it myself.

I liked it. I thought the quality of the writing was a bit poor, but it was definitely a compelling page turning read (more like a screenplay than a novel). I liked the premise between Bella and Edward – I love you, but I also want to drink your blood and kill you. I was disappointed with the ending though – a bit like a bad Buffy episode.

This is a very easy read, so read it if you want to know what all of the hype is about.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twilight_(novel)

I’m an enormous L.M Montgomery fan – her books were an escape when I was a child and even now as an adult they’re my guilty pleasure. So I couldn’t resist a biography! I’ve read all of the journals and like many people was shocked to discover that her life was so dark (and depressing).

As Mary Henley Rubio (along with Elizabeth Waterston) edited the journals, I thought she would really know her subject – and she did. She interviewed people (in the 1980s) who remembered Maud, spoke to her children and grand children (and obviously carefully read the journals!).

I was fascinated by this biography – read it in a couple of days – particularly the bit about Herman Leard and about Ewan and Maud’s drug taking (later in life they both became dependent on bromides and barbiturates) and the end of her life.

I don’t want to ruin it for anyone, so I’ll just say if you’re at all interested in the author of Anne of Green Gables, then you should read this book.

Reviews of The Last Anniversary by Liane Moriarty, The Secret of Lost Things by Sheridan Hay, Three Wishes by Liane Moriarty, Digging to America by Anne Tyler and First Among Sequels by Jasper Fforde to follow – soon.

This blog will contain reviews of the books I’m reading. I read a lot, but I’m certainly not literary – I liked Harry Potter (unlike Harold Bloom). I’ll write about what I like and don’t like, whether I would read it again or whether I’ll sell my copy on Ebay!

My next post will be about ‘The Sea’ by John Banville 

(Winner of the 2005 Man Booker prize).