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Category Reviews

Book Review: Reading Like a Writer, by Francine Prose

Perhaps it’s because of where I am in my ‘writing career’ but I thought Prose’s book was a complete ‘gift’… for the most part. For the past eighteen months I’ve been dissecting the books that I’ve read, rather than just… Continue Reading →

Book Review: A Place Called Winter by Patrick Gale

Gale leaves his usual Cornwall for Canada in his latest novel to tell the story of Harry Kane, Gale’s great grandfather. Harry’s emigration, disappearing without reason to Canada inspired this story. Gale wondered what caused him to leave the relative affluence… Continue Reading →

Book Review: Playing Mrs Kingston, by Tony Lee Moral

Playing Mrs Kingston is set in 1950s New York, and tells the story of Catriona Benedict, an actress with ambitions.  To the dismay of her boyfriend, she agrees to play the role as the wife of Miles Kingston, a rich… Continue Reading →

Book review: Larkswood by Valerie Mendes

“one house, one family – and a lifetime of secrets” Larkswood was a gift from a friend and I wanted to read it because of this.  If I’m honest, I wouldn’t have finished it otherwise.  The book cover suggests an… Continue Reading →

Book review:  Touching Distance by Rebecca Abrams

Touching Distance is a historical fiction based on the life of Alec Gordon, the man who in 1790 discovered the truth behind the spread of childbed fever, or puerperal sepsis, a disease more deadly than plague.  It is an absorbing… Continue Reading →

Book Review:  The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins

Rachel takes the same commuter train every morning, which often stops at the same signal.  She sees a couple in a house from the train, “Jess and Jason”.  Their life is perfect, not like hers, but more like the one… Continue Reading →

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