Friday, September 6, 2013

book club



The last couple of weeks I have read:

The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling

When Barry Fairbrother dies unexpectedly in his early forties, the little town of Pagford is left in shock.
Seemingly an English idyll, with a cobbled market square and an ancient abbey, what lies behind the pretty façade is a town at war.
Rich at war with poor, teenagers at war with their parents, wives at war with their husbands, teachers at war with their pupils…Pagford is not what it first seems.
And the empty seat left by Barry on the parish council soon becomes the catalyst for the biggest war the town has yet seen. Who will triumph in an election fraught with passion, duplicity and unexpected revelations?
Blackly comic, thought-provoking and constantly surprising.
(thanks to her website)

I was utterly disappointed with this novel,I knew it wasn't going to be like the Harry Potter novels,but this story was still bad. Nothing happy or moving,it was all rather strange and boring! And too long...I couldn't stand all the darn characters,too,it was hard to keep track of them all,even at the end. I didn't see the point of this story at.all.and.I.was.not.impressed.with.her.writing. I hope her other novel (the one she wrote in another pen name) is much better and interesting. I give this a D.

The Kingmaker's Daughter by Philippa Gregory

Nearly named the Kingmaker's Daughters, this is the story of Isabel and Anne Neville, daughters to the Earl of Warwick who fought for both York and Lancaster, but always for himself. Anne is married to Prince Edward and could easily have been a Lancastrian Queen of England but for the fortunes of war which meant that she married Richard III and became a York Queen of England. It's a story about ambition and the price that has to be paid.
(thanks to her website)

I haven't read one of her books in awhile so this was a nice change;but I forgot that her books deal with the real,old English royal family and it is sometimes confusing to keep all the characters straight. I liked this story, Anne was a tough girl/woman and it was a unique part of history to learn more about and how the Royals deal with people and situations. I give it an A.

7 comments:

  1. I loved the Harry Potter series. I was one of those people that pre-ordered the books and picked them up at midnight.
    I have stayed away from this one for that reason. I was afraid that it will not live up to the standard.

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  2. Ha, I also reviewed 'Casual Vacancy' today but I actually enjoyed it. Though, I totally understand where you're coming from b/c in the beginning, I was sure it was going to be a let down. Somehow, it managed to redeem itself for me :)

    Happy Friday!
    dkeveryday.blogspot.com

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  3. Love reading! Thanks for the reviews. I'll have to join this linkup at some point.

    ~Ashley @ A Cute Angle
    http://acutelifestyle.blogspot.com

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  4. Thanks for sharing your book recos. I'm always up for a good read!

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  5. Thanks for your honest review of the Casual Vacancy. I haven't read it and I don't think I will, but if you like crime and murder mysteries The Cuckoo's Calling isn't that bad. I gave it a 3.5 out of 5 stars.

    Check out my Book Club Friday

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  6. I still have to read Greggory's book before the King Maker's Daughters, but I'm sure I'll be picking it up soon. Although I'm probably most excited for her newest, The White Princess.

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  7. Casual Vacancy went on my TBR because it was Rowling and then quickly left when everyone said about the same thing you did.

    I have been meaning to read some historical fiction, but just haven't gotten around to it. Greggory is high on my list for that :)

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