This book is an exceptionally easy to read piece of fantasy nonsense, in a glamorous gay New York where no one is over 30, unattractive, sick or poor. There is lots of gratuitous (though as another reviewer pointed out, rather dull) sex, and lots of rather implausibly convenient plot devices to move the story along, such as the protagonist 'falling' into becoming an international gay porn star off the back of a chance meeting in a bar when he was at his most drunk and obnoxious. It is an enjoyable enough piece of fluff, easy to read and strangely compelling, but is not in the running for a major literary award.

Despite the rather bland title, this book was an excellent read, which I finished within a few days. The author shows both a real empathy for the predicaments of her characters, and an excellent knowledge of the Brighton/East Sussex setting of the story, painting a vivid picture of the 1950's period. The subject matter of gay love in a period when homosexuality was both socially unacceptable and criminal, was handled both sensitively and convincingly from both the perspectives of Tom's wife and his lover. My only criticism is that the ending seemed to come rather suddenly, tying up less loose ends than I would ideally have liked (a good book always leaves you wanting more!), otherwise I would have scored this 5 stars.

Whist certainly an acceptable enough read, this did not capture my imagination. The three sisters, all extremely different to each other, were described and constructed well, but too long was spent on giving back-histories, and witnessing each of them wallowing in their own brand of self pity. The development of the characters, which should have been the interesting bit, came late in the novel, by which time each of the character's flaws had been rather laboured, and I felt each of their 'character journeys' were rather hastily crammed into the last quarter of the book. The literary allusions made throughout (particularly by the father), especially to King Lear and his daughters, were novel enough, but again became rather laboured and pretentious by the end.
All in all, worth a read, but expect a long hard read before you get to the worthwhile and really enjoyable bit.

After a mysterious family tragedy, sixteen year old Jacob Portman travels with his somewhat vague and distracted father to a remote Welsh Island to uncover the secrets of his Grandfather's childhood. Here, left very much to his own devices, he discovers the ruins of the 'Peculiar' children's home his Grandfather once lived in. Within its crumbling walls, he finds clues as to the past occupants, and unwittingly steps into what at first appears an insulated, idyllic existence, but one which masks something much more sinister beneath.
Having just finished this book, I can wholeheartedly recommend it. Built around the collection of extraordinary (and freakish) old photographs, this is a sometimes touching, always complelling story drawing the reader into a paralel world or time, where Riggs artfully paints his characters and settings, creating a reality that is convincing, whilst as much a fantasy as 'Hogwarts' and the world of Harry Potter.
Certainly a story to appeal to adults and teens alike, and one that is ripe for a sequel.

While the intentions of this book were good, the device of two characters of the present day (drawn very on dimensionally) attempting to uncover a secret of the past, in a beautiful and entrancing country house setting, was clumsily and drearily put together, leaving me with a sense of disappointment and feeling cheated when reaching the end. If you want to read this sort of novel, my advice is to read Kate Morton: The Forgotten Garden or the House at Riverton. Much more cleverly constructed, convincing, and with characters you actually are interested in and care about. Tessarro should also research her material better: having worked in Auction houses for twenty years, I found her attempts at creating a convincing picture of the auctioneers cataloguing the contents of the house laughable at best. Another reviewer suggested leaving the book in an hotel room for the next resident. I'd suggest using it to mop up your coffee.

This pair of stories carry Bennet's signature traits of putting ordinary, often narrow characters into unsusual and often amusing situations and circumstanceas where they learn a great deal, not only of themselves, but also of the other characters they interact with.
'The Greening of Mrs Donaldson', follows the experiences of a lonely widow, trying to augment her income and fill her days by taking a job at the hospital as an acting 'patient' for student doctors, and by taking in student lodgers. Her roles as actress and landlady both take her out of her own comfort zone, and lead her to a different set of experiences and some level of fulfilment, unconventional though that may be.
'The Shielding of Mrs Forbes', which is my personal favourite of the two tales, begins with the snobbery and disapproval of a prospective mother-in-law over her son's choice of bride. As the story unfolds, Bennett gradually drops small bombshells, showing the situation is not what it at first appears, and showing that each of the characters has their own secrets, whilst closely guarding their own illicit knowledge of the secrets of the other characters, creating a situation where pretence and appearances override reality, communication and the chance of real happiness for each of them.
With both stories though, Bennett does not moralise or castigate the unconventional or potentially shocking behaviour of his characters, but focuses in a non-judgmental way on how that behaviour impacts on their life and character.
Alan Bennett's reading is very relaxing listening, with the added delicious thrill for the listener of the seemingly respectable and cultured voice throwing in 'shocking' references to sex and 'rude words' at suitable intervals.
A highly enjoyable and strongly recommended recording.

This was on the whole a very enjoyable read. The basic premise was convincing, though I felt life as an evacuee at Ashton Park seemed an existance rather unrealistically insulated from the war and the rest of the world. Rosie Allison got inside the head of an overawed evacueee miles from home extremely well. The picture of the Ashton's marriage was both touching and believeable, though its dramatic denouement did all happen and was over and done with rather fast, where perhaps a more gradual build up might have made its outcome a little less sudden and drastic, and perhaps more plausible. My main disappointment with the story was the rather hurried final chapters, racing through Anna's later life up to the point where the reader entered in, threading in a slightly baffling thread of storyline which did not quite seem to sit comfortably with the earlier descriptions of events.

The Wickedest Witch is an imaginative and highly amusing book, following the story of orphan Sam on her quest to become a proper witch. She soon finds a suitably wicked witch in Esmelia Sniff to become apprenticed to, but must keep her wits about her not to end up becoming Esmelia's supper. The names and characterisation of the various witches are inspired (Diabolica Nightshade, Biddy Vicious etc), and though a children's story, this book displays a wicked line of humour that will be enjoyed by adults as well as children. A book about witches could potentially frighten younger children, but this is handled in a humorous and tongue in cheek fashion that averts any of the stuff of nightmares. I only give it four instead of five stars because the very end of the book was slightly disappointing and not as well crafted as the main. Still a very good read and an imaginative twist on the centuries-old theme of witchcraft in childrens fiction.

The basic premise of this book is similar to dozens of others... dilapidated but much loved country house, a family secret, modern day parallels, etc etc. But Marshwood is no Thornfield or Manderley, and this type of story has been much more successfully attempted both by Kate Morton in The Forgotten Garden, and by Diane Setterfield in The Thirteenth Tale. The characters here are drawn with varying degrees of success: Bella, while fitting the role of the stubborn matriarch is rather annoying at times and seems very inconsistent; her Grand-daughter Isla bogs the reader down with her tedious and commonplace marital and domestic problems, moving the book more to the category of an "Aga Saga" than a "Family Saga"; and Callie (the middle generation, who is pleasantly vague and unconventional, and unafraid to put herself first. Bella's coven of women friends, while diverting enough, are fairly one-dimensional and lack substance (A "Gaga Saga" perhaps?!!)
There are also gaps in the narrative: while Bella miscarries her husband's child, and thereafter fails to conceive, it is also made clear that the "relationship" with the French airman never reaches a sexual level, leaving the reader none the wiser as to how Callie's conception came about. The turnaround of events at the end of the book all seems to happen in rather a hurry, as if the author had had enough and just wanted to be finished.
All in all, a pleasant, but unchallenging read, leaving more of a sense of a job half done than a thoroughly satisfying read.

Many films based on books can be a great disappointment. The weight of expectation lies heavy, and subtleties can be overlooked. I watched Atonement with trepidation, dreading the possibility of it not living up to the book or worse still, ruining and debasing it. But Joe Wright's adaptation was both sensitive and true to one of the most simply touching and understatedly tragic books I have read.
The settings as well as the actors were perfectly cast, and the languid, suffocating heat of the summer was set perfectly as a background to the misunderstandings, love and deceit that form the main action of the story.

Saiorse Ronan was excellent as the young Briony, a captivating and complex character, her understanding/misunderstandings of events convincingly drawn, and shaping the lives and destinies of the other characters.
The blossoming romance between Keira Knightly as posh girl Cecilia and James McEvoy as working class but educated Robbie is charming.
The other supporting characters give performances of an equal standard, especially in displaying the role that class still had in 1930's England, as the privilged begin to close ranks against the educated but expendable son of the cleaning lady. Harriet Walter is excellent as Emily, the withdrawn, slightly distant mother who suffers from her migraines. Benedict Cumberbatch captures the character of Paul Marshall, the crass, slimey chocolate magnate to a tee; and Juno Temple as the manipulative Lola leaves the viewer in no doubt of her part in events.

The second part of the film which finds Robbie in Dunkirk is horrific, but complelling, and provides a stark contrast to the privilege of the pre-war scenes that open the film. I'm not sure whether much set building or clever camera angles were necessary to turn Redcar into a simulation of bombed out 1940's Dunkirk, but it proved a convincing backdrop.
Romola Garai's performance as Briony as a young adult provides the important linking piece of the jigsaw to lead us to the heartbreaking conclusion of the film with Vanessa Redgrave giving a touching cameo as Briony as an old woman, revealing the full picture of cause and effect of her childhood actions. The ending, and Briony's atonement is sublimely moving, and illustrates almost as well as the book, how our actions can shape our destinies, and how life (especially against the backdrop of war) can literally hang by a thread.