Romance Books

Lose yourself in Montana with The Horse Whisperer

Advantages: A wonderful read that you lose yourself in
Disadvantages: It comes to and end

...lot! It tells the story of a 13 year old girl who, whilst out riding her beloved horse Pilgrim, is hit by a 40 ton truck. Grace and Pilgrim survive but sadly her friend dies along with her horse (I did say it was sad). Grace loses a leg at the knee and becomes extremely withdrawn. Pilgrim is treated for his injuries but is so traumatised by the whole accident that he won't let anyone near him and turns very aggressive. Grace's mother, Annie, is a ...
...off to Montana to the horse whisperer’s ranch, but Grace is not at all happy about the situation and makes no secret of it.. She makes it very difficult for her Mum and they become even more distant towards each other (in Grace’s eyes her Mum always puts business before her). My Opinion This is a very descriptive book and you easily loose yourself in it. It’s a wonderful story of the courage of a little girl and her horse. The author manages to ...

jinxyjo 12.08.2009 · Read full review
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Review of The Horse Whisperer - Nicholas Evans

A Silent World

Advantages: A great read
Disadvantages: Some chapters too long

...countries. The Story Deafening is set in Deseronto, Ontario pre-World War I. The story is based around Grania O'Neill, a young girl who lost her hearing after suffering from Scarlet Fever. Grania's mother feels guilty so finds it hard to accept this and takes her to see many doctors to try and bring back her hearing. It is Grania's grandmother (Mamo) who helps Grania to acquire and understand the language of the hearing world. The first part of ...
...growing up pre-World War I. The rest of the book is set after the war has started and alternates between Canada and the battlefields of World War I, where Grania's husband Jim is fighting. My Opinion As I am currently learning level two British Sign Language (BSL) I found the sign language elements of this book especially interesting, even though it was based on American Sign Language. The book is written in third person yet I still felt I could ...

bluejules 15.12.2007 · Read full review
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Review of Deafening - Frances Itani

Wise Children By Angela Carter

Advantages: Everything, all outstanding!
Disadvantages: Eventually, like everything else. It comes to an end.

One of the best books I have read! I still re-read it again and again when bored. I studied this book for my English literature AS levels with the majority of the class enjoying the book as much as I did. Yes I am a male and this book will be moreover seen to be targeted towards the women. However, personally as a student with many other males in the classroom it proved that the male's would enjoy this as much as the females. The novel starts of ...
...well... the rest is for you to find out out! I won't spoil the novel for you guys! Angela Carters' use of magic realism and carnivalesque really sets the tone and feel towards the reader and brings out the excitement within the novel by giving all her characters a uniquely 'magical spark'. Sometimes they say things are 'too good to be true', well read this. Highly recommended! ...

gbninet 10.06.2008 · Read full review
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Review of Wise Children - Angela Carter

Destined to keep you turning the pages!

Advantages: Really intricate story, deeply engrossing
Disadvantages: Long and too big to read in the bath.

...under the name Vanessa James. Destiny was her debut novel and was published in 1987. At the time of Destiny's publication Beauman became famous for receiving the highest advance ever for a debut, unfinished novel, a cool million dollars. Since then she has written Dark Angel, a trilogy of books with the same characters - Lovers and Liars, Danger Zones and Sextet, Landscape of Love and, perhaps most famously, Rebecca's Tale. The latter offers a 'sequel' ...
...now! The Prologue of Destiny opens on a Parisian street in 1959, Edouard de Chavigny, an eminent Parisian jeweller, is driving past a church and sees a woman who will change his life. She is a young Englishwoman named Hélène Craig. The woman captivates him and we see them drive off together, the instant they meet a connection is triggered. From here we are thrown back 19 years to Edouard's youth and into wartime London. The story unfolds in the ...

Misslongstocking 20.04.2005 · Read full review
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Review of Destiny - Sally Beauman

Her last and possibly her best novel

Advantages: Gripping saga with warm,sympathetic characters
Disadvantages: None as far as I am concerned

The woman who entered the offices of the distinguished firm of London solicitors Alexander Armstrong & Son one morning in 1955 was clearly a vagrant. Her clothes were filthy and torn, and the rather peculiar hat she was wearing had most definitely seen better days. Furthermore, the creature (for how else could such a person be described?) was evidently simple-minded, for she was unable to speak properly, being able only to mutter the odd word. The ...
...to get her back through the door and back onto the streets, where she so obviously belonged. However, the woman continued to ask for the firm’s senior partner, Mr Alexander Armstrong, and it was the manner of her asking that further puzzled the receptionist. Although the woman had the appearance of a tramp, a down and out, she had the refined voice of a lady. More amazing yet, was the reaction of Mr Armstrong when he learned of the name of ...

Suzan 03.10.2001 · Read full review
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Review of The Silent Lady - Catherine Cookson