FIXATION.

FIXATION by STEVE SMART.

The unexpected death of a facial cosmetic surgery patient appears to result from a post-operative complication. Dr. Celeste Noles, pathologist, finds clues during autopsy which stir the Army hospital medical staff, the Korean populace and the local legal community.

Questions swirl, allegations are made, a trial ensues, and a second death results.

The author fills in unknown portions of a real story with entertaining and suspenseful possibilities that will keep you reading.

- Back cover Blurb

Skirting the perimeter of Quansan US military base, Second Platoon of Company C ran in formation.

- First sentence; Chapter 1

His position among the clergy has not only been a farce but a public cloak for the very evil life that he has been living.

- Memorable Moment, Page 66

SOURCE ... Read for the Arkansas Book Club of which I am an honorary member, thank you to fellow member Kelly for gifting me a signed copy, her 2018 review of which can be found here on her blog.

READ FOR A CHALLENGE? ... No.

MY THOUGHTS ... A fan of well written, interesting characters, I found the characters in Fixation fascinating. 

A real page turner, jam-packed with medical (some of it pretty graphic it has to be said) and military jargon, that benefits from its short chapters, some of them barely a page long. The plot, a story that evolved into this, a fictional novel based in part on an actual event, compelling; though I had my suspicions fairly early the author kept me guessing right up until the end and even then ... well, lets just say I wasn't expecting this. 

Far be it for me to advise Mr Smart to 'give up the day job' (that of an oral and maxillofacial surgeon) but, if he were to do so, he has a promising career as an writer ahead of him if this is anything to go by.

THE ADVENTURES OF TOM SAWYER.

THE ADVENTURES OF TOM SAWYER by MARK TWAIN.

Few books have taken so deep and enduring a hold on the American imagination as The Adventures Of Tom Sawyer. Younger readers delight in the sheer pleasure of following the rollicking, mischievous adventures of Tom, a consummate prankster with a quick wit. Yet older readers recognize the somber undercurrents lurking dangerously beneath the secure and wondrous world of boyhood. Through the novel's nostalgic portraits of life on the Mississippi River and humorous escapades - from the famous episode of the whitewashed fence and the ordeal in the caves to the trial of Injun Joe - Mark Twain explores the deeper, darker themes of the adult world Tom is one day destined to join. 

-Back Cover Blurb

"Tom!"
- First Sentence

- Memorable Moment; 
Please see My Thoughts below

Source ... A present from Mr T.

READ FOR A READING CHALLENGE? ... No. Read for discussion at the Arkansas Book Club of which I am an honorary member. Please be sure to check out Kelly's take on this book which will be posted on her blog, Kelly's Thoughts & Ramblings, tomorrow.

MY THOUGHTS ... Who'd have thought it, a classic that I actually rather enjoyed.

A book I didn't read in its entirety until I was in my ... 30's? And what I now believe was probably an abridged copy perhaps published to appeal more to 'modern sensibilities' as, reading this 2014 edition (with an introduction & notes by R. Kent Rasmusen) I certainly don't remember some of the, shall we say, darker aspects. 

A 'typical lad'; constantly in search of new adventures; of new tricks to play; of new ways to break the rules, all without getting into trouble.

A true prankster; a bit of a rogue; manipulative but lovable with it, his honesty and ultimate sense of fair play making him a truly well rounded character ... it could be argued that Tom epitomises boyhood in a book that celebrates childhood.

A timelessly humorous, exciting, scary read; Tom a character I'm sure many children will relate to (if nothing else how many have wet the soap pretending they've washed OR 'pulled a sickie' in the hope of getting out of going to school?) and yet (not that I'm against children reading it; far from it) arguably a book about children written for adults; despite the fact its largely considered a book for children, I'm not altogether convinced it is.

Based on the authors childhood experiences growing up in Missouri, full of the 'universal truths' about friendship (many of which resonate to this day). Some of the language (notably the use of the word nigger), bigotry and casual sexism ...

"Becky's lips trembled and the tears came to her eyes; she hid these signs with a forced gayety and went on chattering, but the life had gone out of the picnic, now, and out of everything else; she got away as soon as she could and hid herself and had what her sex call "a good cry"

- pg 123

... may however cause offence but personally, thankful that this particular edition is the version as written by the author, I'd urge we remember that this was part of the language/thinking at this time.

THE NO.1 LADIES' DETECTIVE AGENCY.

An honorary overseas member of the Arkansas Book Club (hello ladies) of which Kelly over at at Kelly's Thought's & Ramblings is also an member, I'm delighted to be able to join them in their get together tonight with my review of the book for which Alexander McCall Smith is perhaps best known. 


THE NO.1 LADIES' DETECTIVE AGENCY by ALEXANDER MCCALL SMITH.

Meet Mma Ramotswe, the endearing, engaging, simply irresistible proprietress of The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency, the first and only detective agency in Botswana. With persistent observation, gentle intuition, and a keen desire to help people with the problems of their lives, she solves mysteries great and small for friends and strangers alike.

- GoodReads Blurb

SOURCE ... A library book. (Apologies, Doh! I returned the book before making note of either the First Sentence or my Memorable moment. TT)

READ FOR A CHALLENGE? ... No.

MY THOUGHTS ... Whilst I have dipped into the series over the years (though not since I started Pen and Paper), I had yet to read this, the first book, in the series. Would I change my mind having begun at the beginning? 

Do you know its funny but what actually brought the books (and in particular the characters) to life for me was actually NOT the reading of this book but two recent Radio 4 dramatisations.* But I digress ...

{Sighs} An OK read, I guess I'm just a little bit disappointed that I can't get into this series (or indeed this author's other books) in the way that all my friends seem to.

Ironic when its probably the very thing that makes the series so easy to dip in and out of BUT perhaps the main problem for me is that this reads less like a novel and more likely a series of incidents. A series of 'mysteries' (I use the term loosely) to be solved; mysteries that alas, with little common thread to hold them together and, having been resolved more by chance than any real detective work, over all too quickly, I found unsatisfying.  

But what of the characters?

Mmm! I find myself vying between finding Mma Ramotswe quite the feminist AND a bit of a cliche.{Sharp intake of breath} Dare I suggest I found the writing of her a bit, well, patronising? 

Convinced more than ever that this isn't a series for me, there just isn't enough to get my teeth into so to speak.

* Where/whilst available listen to here and here .

(THE MIDWIFE SERIES #1): THE MIDWIFE'S REVOLT.

A book read by Kelly (see her review here) and fellow members of the Arkansas Book Club way back in 2016. I'd like to thank North Tyneside Libraries for purchasing a copy of the book along with others in the series.

THE MIDWIFE'S REVOLT by JODI DAYNARD.

BACK COVER BLURB: On a dark night in 1775, Lizzie Boylston is awakened by the sound of cannons. From a hill south of Boston, she watches as fires burn in Charlestown, in a battle that she soon discovers has claimed her husband’s life.

Alone in a new town, Lizzie grieves privately but takes comfort in her deepening friendship with Abigail Adams. Soon, word spreads of Lizzie’s extraordinary midwifery and healing skills, and she begins to channel her grief into caring for those who need her. But when two traveling patriots are poisoned, Lizzie finds herself with far more complicated matters on her hands—she suspects a political plot intended to harm Abigail and her family. Determined to uncover the truth, Lizzie becomes entangled in a conspiracy that could not only destroy her livelihood—and her chance at finding love again—but also lead to the downfall of a new nation.

FIRST SENTENCE {CHAPTER 1}: October 18, 1818. My father once told me I had the mind of a man

MEMORABLE MOMENT {PAGE 27/28}: Rumours abounded, as well, about my mother and myself: that she had practiced in the alchemical arts, and that I myself grew strange plants in my garden and made powerful potions and poisons. This last is partly true. I grew deadly nightshade, whose derivative belladonna, served me well for stubborn cervixes. I enjoyed delicious tomatoes as well, the seeds of which a friend of my mother's sent her from Europe.

SOURCE: A library book.

READ FOR: Not applicable.

MY THOUGHTS: Wow, an epic read. A little lightweight when compared to other books of this genre that I've read and it didn't always draw me in as it might have but still ...

Kind, gentle, knowledgeable in the healing arts and able to ride like a man when needs must. Alas, despite this, I found Lizzie, the Midwife of the title, a bit, well, wishy-washy, her revolt somewhat lacking.

Well researched if the end notes are any kind of testimony. It's just a shame that to me it was this very attention to detail that in some ways let the novel down.These at times wearisome details that slowed the pace of the novel. 

Given these statements it may surprise you to learn that I actually enjoyed this novel, not as much as I might have and certainly not enough that I wanted to continue with the series but enjoy it I nevertheless did. 

COMMONWEALTH.

Hello fellow bloggers, hello Kelly (you can find her review of the book on her blog tomorrow) and our fellow readers at the Arkansas Book Club whom I'm delighted to be 'joining' tonight with my thoughts on  ...

COMMONWEALTH by ANN PATCHETT.

BACK COVER BLURB: It is 1964: Bert Cousins shows up at Franny Keating's christening party uninvited and notices a heart stoppingly beautiful woman. When he kisses Beverly Keating, his host's wife, he sets in motion the joining of two families, whose shared fate will be defined on a day seven years later. In 1988, Franny Keating, now twenty-four, is working as a cocktail waitress in Chicago. When she meets the famous author Leon Posen one night at the bar, and tells him about her family, she unwittingly relinquishes control over their story...

FIRST SENTENCE {1}: The Christening party took a turn when Albert Cousins arrived with gin.

MEMORABLE MOMENT: Oh dear! I seem to have returned the book along with the post-it-note denoting my Memorable Moment before actually making a note of that very Memorable Moment. TT

SOURCE: A library book.

READ FOR: Not applicable.

MY THOUGHTS: Summed up, reading Commonwealth felt like having one of those one-way 'conversations' with an acquaintance that, despite your having tried your best to avoid them, now that they have you cornered, are boring you silly relating stories of family members and events that, reverberating back and forth over the generations, you have trouble keeping track of.  

Alas, this wasn't a book for me. My stubbornness to give up on a novel/my fear that, like some readers I'll pick a pre-determined number of pages beyond which, if I'm not enjoying a book, I'll give up on it, only to find that I have in fact missed out on what turns out to be an amazing read the only thing that kept me going until the end.

THE NIGHTINGALE.

Not always able to get hold of a copy of the book that they are reading, I was delighted that not only had I previously read last month's book, Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children (see my post here, Kelly's, here) BUT that I was able to reserve a copy of this months book which actually came in plenty of time for me to read and review ...

THE NIGHTINGALE by KRISTIN HANNAH.

BACK COVER BLURB: Bravery, courage, fear and love in a time of war.

Despite their differences, sisters Vianne and Isabelle have always been close. Younger, bolder Isabelle lives in Paris while Vianne is content with life in the French countryside with her husband Antoine and their child. But when the Second World War breaks out and Antoine is conscripted to fight, Isabelle is sent to the country by their father to help Vianne.

As war develops, the strength of the sisters' relationship is tested. With life changing, and confronted by unbelievable horrors, Viann and Isabelle will find themselves responding in ways they never thought possible, as bravery and resistance take differing forms in each of the two sisters.

FIRST SENTENCE {ONE ~ APRIL 9, 1995, THE OREGON COAST}: If I have learned anything in this long life of mine, it is this: In love we find out who we want to be; in war we find out who we are. 

MEMORABLE MOMENT {PAGE 267}: Rachel stood in the black, yawning entrance of a cattle car, her face and hands still smeared with her daughter's blood. She scanned the crowd, saw Vianne, and raised her bloody hand in the air, and then she was gone, shoved back by the women stumbling in around her. The door to the cattle car clanged shut.

SOURCE: A library book.

READ FOR: Not applicable.

MY THOUGHTS: First things first, why oh why the minute print?

Though I can't obviously comment on every edition, the size of print in this 2015 Pan edition was ridiculously small.

OK, so perhaps not ALL of the themes/situations covered in The Nightingale (it is after all an epic novel, its 400 plus pages packing in a lot of history) will have featured in every book of its kind but nevertheless I didn't find anything here that I hadn't read in countless other books. 

Set largely in the small French village in which Vianne resides, for such a rural village there did seemed to be an awful lot occurring, including a lot of SS 'top brass' stomping around - indeed, as a friend of mine who was reading the book at the same time commented, she was only surprised that Hitler himself wasn't billeted with Vianne and her daughter at some point.

In fact, all rather cliched. The author's writing cleverly if blatantly (I'd argue perhaps too blatantly) calculated to elicit certain responses (typically that of sadness or anger) rather than letting the author explore their own feelings.

Though told from the point of view of the two sisters (and therefore jumping around in both time and place) essentially the plot was easy enough to follow. The sisters, and in particular some of their actions, however didn't always ring true, at times seeming contrived merely as a way of manipulating the reader in much the same way the eliciting of certain emotions did.

Why then (to use GoodReads star rating system) my rating of 4 stars/'I really enjoyed it'?

A sucker for this genre. 

Despite my misgivings, there are no two ways about it, if not necessarily the best of writers of this kind of fiction, a good story-teller. I found myself totally caught up in Vianne's and Isabelle's world, moved by their plight, as well as that, of course, of their family, friends and co-conspirators. 

PLEASE NOTE ... As always please be sure to look out for Kelly's review which she typically posts the day after the group meets which is tonight.

WELCOMING 2017 WITH MY ARKANSAS FRIENDS ... AND MORE.

As many of you will know Kelly invited me to join her and her fellow readers as an honorary member of the Arkansas Book Club.

Unfortunately not always able to obtain the book they are reading, I was delighted to have already read their recent read ....

Good evening ladies and best wishes for 2017. 

I'm looking forward to hearing your thoughts on one of my favourite reads of 2012 - I'll be reading book 2, Hollow City which I received from niece #2 for Christmas later this month - as well, as of course, learning what you will be reading over the coming months when, hopefully, I'll be able to join you. 

'Combining a wonderfully eerie novel with some old, even eerier photographs, this is a truly unique read that is scary enough to send shivers down the spine without being scary enough to warrant sleeping with the light on.' 

- For my full review click here.

Yet to post her review, visit Kelly's blog tomorrow to read her thoughts on Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children.

Hopefully a case of better late than never, sadly unable to join Sheila over at Book Journey on New Year's Day in her First Book Of The Year (see here and here for others sharing their first reads), today I'm bringing me reading my first book of 2017 ...

(The Eye Of Nefertiti by Maria Luisa Lang)

And lastly ....

For those of you who haven't already seen this on my FaceBook page, here is me with Buzz, our great-nephew's bunny ..

CHRISTMAS IN NEWCASTLE.

Dear Kelly and fellow members of the Arkansas Book Club, 

I can't tell you what a pleasure it is to be 'joining' you (albeit as I'm tucked up in bed here in the UK) as you enjoy your Christmas meeting.

Asked to share a Christmas memory, I've racked my brain.

Should I share the Christmas mornings of my childhood when, after opening presents with my parents and (naughty) little sister, we'd walk the short distance to my grandparents home where we'd have a breakfast of tinned hot dogs in buns eaten watching an episode of Flash Gordon before opening yet more presents?

Should I explain the tradition of pantomime?

Should I share some of my favourite Christmas reading?

Ah, I know.

A big part of my childhood, for me Christmas began with Fenwick's Christmas window which has featured everything from Father Christmas to this years Beatrix Potter theme by way of the notorious window featuring little green men.

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas. Enjoy a cookie for me as you share your Christmas stories.

(SUMMERS OF THE SISTERHOOD #4): FOREVER IN BLUE.

Whoops! A book I reserved at the library thinking it was the October read for Kelly's Arkansas Book Club of which I'm an honorary member when the book being discussed at their November get-together was in fact the fifth book in the Summers Of the Sisterhood series, Sisterhood Everlasting. 

FOREVER IN BLUE by ANN BRASHARES.

BACK COVER BLURB: The travelling pants are back for one last, glorious summer!

Lena: Immerses herself in her painting and an intoxicating summer fling.

Carmen: Falls under the spell of a sophisticated college friend for whom the heritage of the Pants means nothing.


Bridget: Joins a dig for an ancient city on the coast of Turkey and discovers that her archaeology professor is available in every way except one.

Tibby: Leaves behind someone she loves, wrongly believing he will stay where she has left him.

It's a summer that will forever change the lives of four best friends with a bond far beyond their pair of magical jeans.

FIRST SENTENCE {Prologue}: Once upon a time there were four girls.

MEMORABLE MOMENT {Page}: Sorry, come the typing of this post I seem to have misplaced the piece of paper with my Memorable Moment written on it and, having already returned the book, am unable to share a Random Moment. TT

SOURCE: A library book.

MY THOUGHTS: A book that I'm led to believe is suitable for those aged ten to twelve years of age and upwards which surprises me.

A 'mature' reader myself at this age, I should think that certainly aged twelve I was probably reading books aimed at a slightly older market BUT with its sexual content (first time sex, a burst condom, etc) I'd personally question the suitability of this book for all but the most mature of pre-teens.

Not a novel I enjoyed. To give Forever In Blue the benefit of the doubt, I'd love to be able to say that not having followed the 'pants' from the beginning I found myself unable to engage with Lena and co, though I doubt very much this is the case. Characters I couldn't relate to (and I don't see my having read the previous books changing this) but more than this I felt quite saddened.

OK so a novel of strong friendships, largely lacking the 'frienemies' so typical of this genre, which I thought both refreshing and admirable ... but then the girls did spend more time apart than I had anticipated (perhaps a sign of them growing-up). However, whilst arguably something many young women will relate to, though not exactly promoting teenage sex, with so much pressure on teens, I felt a bit disappointed that the author chose to go down this route.

To see Kelly's thoughts on books 1 to 4 in the series click here and for her thoughts on book 5, Sisterhood Everlasting, here.

A MAN CALLED OVE.

A MAN CALLED OVE by FREDRIK BACKMAN.

BACK COVER BLURB: AT FIRST SIGHT ..

Ove is almost certainly the grumpiest man you will ever meet. He thinks himself surrounded by idiots - joggers, neighbours who can't reverse a trailer properly and shop assistants who talk in code.

But isn't it rare, these days, to find such old-fashioned clarity of belief and deed? Such unswerving conviction about what the world should be, and a lifelong dedication to making it just so?

In the end, you will see, there is something about Ove that is quite irresistible ...

FIRST SENTENCE {1: A man called Ove buys a computer that is not a computer}: Ove is fifty-nine.

MEMORABLE MOMENT{Page 242}: From a purely objective point of view, the fact Ove was wielding a gun was something two other hooligans, Adrian and Mirsad, would ideally have been aware of before they unconcernedly trotted up to Ove's front door a few seconds later. They would then quite likely have understood that when Ove heard their creaking steps in the snow he would not immediately think to himself, 'Guests, how nice!' but rather, ' Well I'll be damned!' And they'd probably, also know that Ove, wearing nothing but socks and underpants, with a three-quarter-century-old hunting rifle in his hands, would kick the door open like an ageing, half naked, suburban Rambo.

SOURCE: A library book read for Kelly's Arkansas Book Club (see her review here) - good evening ladies - of which I'm honoured and delighted to be an honourary member. 

MY THOUGHTS: A Pen and Paper review that has the potential to be the shortest ever. Of the 83 books I have read this year, my favourite ... so far. How I long to tell you all to go out and buy a copy, to see for yourselves but as it is ...

'In the end, you will see, there is something about Ove that is quite irresistible ...' concludes the synopsis.

In the end? 

Right from the beginning I was captivated by the delightfully grouchy, querulous and yet lovable character that is Ove.

Not that he's the only captivating character. Human or feline, major or secondary, all are wonderful well observed.

And as for the plot?

I laughed, I cried, I railed against the injustice of it all. I laughed, I cried, I railed against the injustice of it all some more. 

With a house fit to burst for want of space for yet more books, it isn't very often that I buy a book but without a doubt I simply have to have a copy of this.

THE LANGUAGE OF FLOWERS.

THE LANGUAGE OF FLOWERS by VANESSA DIFFENBAUGH.

BACK COVER BLURB: The Victorian language of flowers was used to express emotions: honeysuckle for devotion, azaleas for passion, and red roses for love. But for Victoria Jones it has been more useful in communicating grief, mistrust and solitude. After a childhood spent in the foster-care system, her only connection to the world is through flowers and their meanings.

Now eighteen, Victoria has nowhere to go and sleeps in a public park, where she plants a small garden of her own. When her talent is discovered by a local florist, she discovers her gift for helping others through the flowers she chooses for them. But it takes meeting a mysterious vendor at the flower market for her to realise what's been missing in her own life, and, as she starts to fall for him, she forced to confront a painful secret from her past and decide whether it's worth risking everything for a second chance at happiness.

FIRST SENTENCE {Part One ~ Common Thistle: 1}: For eight years I dreamed of fire.

MEMORABLE MOMENT {Page 127}: I held fistfuls of the small yellow flowers to my face as if discovering water after many days in the desert. Pollen clung to my cheeks, and petals rained down on my chest and stomach and thighs.

SOURCE: A library book read for the June gathering of the Arkansas Book Club - Hello ladies - of which I'm an honorary member. For Kelly's review of The Language Of Flowers visit her Thoughts & Ramblings blog here. 

MY THOUGHTS: They say its common for children in the care system to test people. To push their foster carers/adoptive parents in an attempt to prove that they are right in their belief that they are unlovable, that there will come a time when they will be rejected. Something that came across loud and clear as Victoria struggled with placement after placement pre Elizabeth from whom she discovers her passion for flowers.

Such memorable characters. Well rounded, whilst I can't say I always liked Victoria (or Elizabeth come to that) I came to understand and love them warts and all so to speak.

With a two fold narrative and events that see the story move back before the strands eventually come together The Language Of Flowers could have proved confusing but instead proved a well crafted read, the various relationships and themes of communication (or lack thereof), motherhood and redemption ... I could go on ... coming together in a richly interwoven tapestry.

Then there's the bonus of the 'flower dictionary' at the back of the book in which the reader is enlightened as to the almost forgotten meaning of the language of flowers.

Verging on ***** ('It was amazing') as opposed to the **** ('I really liked it') I eventually decided on (I don't use the star system on my blog and would prefer not to use it at all but certain sites such as GoodReads require it), it is this, the secret language of flowers, that I personally would have liked to have seen featured more prominently than it was. To perhaps have had more people visit the florist where Victoria first came to ply her craft.

THE MARTIAN.

THE MARTIAN by ANDY WEIR.

INNER FRONT COVER BLURB: I’m stranded on Mars.

I have no way to communicate with Earth.

I’m in a Habitat designed to last 31 days.

If the Oxygenator breaks down, I’ll suffocate. If the Water Reclaimer breaks down, I’ll die of thirst. If the Hab breaches, I’ll just kind of explode. If none of those things happen, I’ll eventually run out of food and starve to death.

So yeah. I’m screwed.

FIRST SENTENCE {Chapter 2: Log Entry: Sol 7}: Okay, I've had a good night's sleep, and things don't seem as hopeless as they did yesterday. 

(Please excuse me for not sharing the first sentence of chapter 1 with you but I choose not to share expletives here. TT)

MEMORABLE MOMENT {Page 148}: They say once you grow crops somewhere, you have officially "colonized" it. So technically I colonized Mars.

SOURCE: A library book read read for the Arkansas Book Club of which I'm an international member (Read Kelly's account of the meeting here, her thoughts on the book here). Sadly I was unable to get hold of the book in time for the meeting but still decided to read/review it.

MY THOUGHTS: I hate to use the word bored but alas its the only word that adequately sums up my thoughts on what I thought was one of the dullest books I've read in a long, long time. 

The author's tendency to run and run and run with an idea incredibly tedious. 

The repetitiveness of 'the martian', main protagonist, Mark Watney's 

• finding a problem, 
• worrying about his imminent death - and my goodness, with so many sentences (especially in the early chapters) beginning with a certain four lettered profanity followed by 'I'm dying' (or words to that effect) I quickly found myself praying for his demise 
• only, after much mathematical calculation and chemical periodic tables, to find a solution (one which funnily enough often seemed to involve duct tape as as we are informed 'turns out even NASA can't improve on duct tape') 

almost more than I could endure.

Altogether badly written, I don't know if it was only this edition (published in 2011 by Del Rey) but I found myself quite surprised by the number of typing errors etc. And that's to say nothing of the repetitive use of language - for goodness sake the author didn't even vary in his choice of swear words.

Character wise. 

I'm always impressed with authors that rely on one character (and lets face it though there are other characters The Martian is largely reliant on, well, 'the martian') and manage to do it well but I'm afraid for me Andy Weir didn't quite pull Mark Watney (or indeed any of the secondary characters) off. His failure to even attempt to channel any real human emotions into Mark disappointing to say the least.

THE VILLA IN ITALY.

"I've always wanted to belong to a book club and was thrilled when the opportunity presented itself just over a year ago.  They were just getting started at the time (I only missed out on the first book ) and it's grown to a group of sixteen people - all women, all ages, and from all walks in life.   We meet once a month with the hostess selecting the book and the meeting place and it always consists of wonderful food and fellowship and, of course, a lively discussion of the chosen book (none of which has been a "dud", in my opinion).  It's been a great way to deepen old friendships, make some new friends, and often step out of my "reading comfort zone"."  

- Kelly.

Isn't the internet a wonderful thing? Who would have thought I'd be 'joining' my good blogger buddy and friend Kelly in Arkansas as she meets with her fellow readers?

Due to international times zones whilst it will be 6.30 pm on the third of December their time when they meet, given that we are six hours ahead means it will be 12.30 am on the fourth of December here in the UK .... I think!

Anyway, hello ladies, here's my thoughts on your November read ....

THE VILLA IN ITALY by ELIZABETH EDMONDSON.

BACK COVER BLURB: An irresistible invitation to a magical place ...

Four strangers are summoned to the Villa Dante, a beautiful but abandoned house above the Ligurian coast. Each has been named in the will of the intriguing Beatrice Malaspina, but not one of them knows who she is or what the connection might be: Delia, an opera singer robbed of her voice; George, an atom scientist unable to face what his skills have created; Marrjorie, a detective novelist with writer's block; and Lucius, a Boston banker whose personal life is in chaos.

As they wait to find out why they're all there, the villa begins its seductive magic. Amongst the faded frescoes, overgrown garden and magnificent mediaeval tower, four determined characters slowly begin to change - the sorrow of their wartime experiences growing into hope. But the mysterious Beatrice has a devastating secret to reveal that will affect them all ...

FIRST SENTENCE {Prologue}: The package from the lawyers arrived early one foggy April morning.

MEMORABLE RANDOM MOMENT. Apologies the post-it note indicating my Memorable Moment seems to have fallen out of the book so instead I'll share a Random Moment selected by my opening the book at a random page. {Page 271}: Eyes looked out at them, writhing figures, floating aimless shapes, burning fires. The figures had a picturesque, formal quality, and in and around them planes fell blazing out of the sky, houses burned, gaunt and hungry faces gazed hopelessly through brutal barbed-wire barriers. Delia felt as though she had been punched in the stomach as the dreadful images seemed to surround and enclose her within them.

Lucius's voice, wary and alarmed, came out of the gloom. "It's a collage."

"It's Hell," said Marjorie.

SOURCE: A large print, hard back copy published by Isis Publishing Ltd, borrowed from the library.

MY THOUGHTS: Beginning when a group of strangers, the beneficiaries of a will of a woman none of them know, are summoned to the Villa Dante. It was only after a slow, what I felt was a painfully slow start, the individuals having arrived at the villa, that I felt the story truly found its pace in a book that if you
take it at face value and don't dwell too much on the numerous coincidences you might just find passes away the hours enjoyably enough.

A novel with a more promising plot than characters who for the most part I felt stereotypical despite the author reassuring us 'Mrs Wolfson was no one's idea of a typical American grandmother'. With better executed characters than dialogue which at best I found rather stilted and, at worst, well, unconvincing. If I had to sum up my thoughts on The Villa In Italy in one word that one word would probably be .... intriguing. 

Intriguing and satisfyingly mysterious as thankfully for us it wasn't quite so simple as the characters travelling to Italy, hearing the reading of the last will and testament of what was essentially a total stranger - a stranger who to all intents and purposes dominated the story from beyond the ground - before going home again.

Essentially pure escapism that I suspect might particularly be enjoyed by fans of the late Agatha Christie such was the style of the writing.