BABBLING BOOKS

Tigerlily · Posted: Tue May 05, 2009 2:56 pm Post subject: New books for review

I'm soon to receive a batch of books from Headline Review for us to review.

If you'd like to review a book, let me know which of the following titles appeals to you:

The Good Thief by Hannah Tinti
Twelve-year-old Ren, abandoned as an infant at Saint Anthony’s orphanage, is missing his left hand. He doesn’t know why; in fact, the only thing of which he can be sure is that no one will ever adopt him.

Then a young man named Benjamin Nab appears, claiming to be Ren's long-lost brother. Soon Ren finds himself on a strange journey though nineteenth-century New England, entangled with grave-robbers, thieves and murderers, while Benjamin’s stories become more outlandish and Ren’s dreams of a family recede ever further. Should he stay and become one of the gang, or escape and be alone once more? And – if he survives Benjamin’s riskiest scheme – will the truth about his parentage be something he really wants to know?

A Small Part of History by Peggy Elliott
In the summer of 1846 Rebecca Springer and her family join the Oregon wagon train in search of land thousands of miles away. It’s a hard and dangerous journey through blizzards and searing heat, over prairies, desert plains and mountains and, at times, it seems as if it will never end. But an unbreakable bond develops amongst the travelling women as they are tested, physically and emotionally, and their shared experiences of new life and tragic death will bring them closer than blood ever could.

How the west was won and the terrible price that was paid.

A SMALL PART OF HISTORY is an epic, heartfelt story of courage in the face of appalling adversity, and a haunting portrayal of how America was forged. Above all, it is a story of people and how the ties that bind us most strongly are those of friendship, of family and of love.

The Return by Victoria Hislop
Sonia and James are in trouble. Despite the perfect wedding, the big house in Wandsworth and the weekends in the country, they have grown as distant under the surface as their well-heeled friends. James is drinking too much and Sonia seeks escape in her weekly dance lessons.

So when Maggie, Sonia’s oldest friend, announces that she is whisking Sonia off to celebrate her birthday in Granada, Sonia doesn’t demur. In Spain the girls learn the rhythm of salsa and the raw passion of flamenco, and by night practise their new skills in the local bars. It is while Maggie is sleeping off her hangover that Sonia wanders the backstreets and discovers a quiet café, El Barril, and its friendly old bartender, Miguel. Over several visits and café con leche, the two strike up an unlikely friendship. Sonia is intrigued by old photographs of a beautiful flamenco dancer displayed on the wall, and Miguel embarks on the extraordinary tale behind them, of a family’s fight to survive the horror of Spain’s civil war …

Seventy years earlier and Granada, under a new liberal government, is a place of freedom and optimism. In the Ramírez family's café, Concha and Pablo's children relish an atmosphere of hope. Antonio is a serious young socialist teacher, Ignacio a handsome and flamboyant matador, and Emilio a gentle soul and skilled musician. Their sister, Mercedes, has a talent for flamenco. When she meets Javier Montero, a famous young gypsy guitarra, she persuades him to play for her. Her dancing astounds Javier, and they fall deeply in love.

But Spain is a country in turmoil, and in 1936 a revolution begins that will tear their family apart. As Antonio is lured into battle, Mercedes resolves to go in search of Javier and embarks on a journey that will take her through war-ravaged Spain and ultimately to the safe shores of Britain. It is here, many years later, that she meets a new dance partner and begins a life that Sonia discovers is more relevant to her than she ever could have envisaged…

A Secret Alchemy by Emma Darwin
The story of the Princes in the Tower has been one of the most fascinating - and most brutal - murder mysteries in history for more than five hundred years. In a brilliant feat of historical daring, Emma Darwin has recreated the terrible, exhilarating world of the two youngest victims of the War of the Roses: the power struggles and passion that lay behind their birth, the danger into which they fell, the profoundly moving days before their imprisonment, and the ultimate betrayal of their innocence. In A SECRET ALCHEMY, three voices speak: that of Elizabeth Woodville, the beautiful widow of King Edward IV; of her brother Anthony, surrogate father to the doomed Prince Edward and his brother Dickon; and that of present-day historian Una Pryor. Orphaned, and herself brought up in a family where secrets and rivalries threaten her world, Una's experience of tragedy, betrayal and lost love help her unlock the long-buried secrets that led to the princes' deaths.

You can find out much more about the books, including a book trailer for the Victoria Hislop book, here: http://www.readingcircle.co.uk/index.html

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Reading: Miss Smilla's Feeling for Snow by Peter Hoeg
Reading Challenge 2009: 8
2008: 4
2007: 10

Tigerlily · Posted: Tue May 05, 2009 3:02 pm Post subject:

I really fancy A Small Part of History (love the American West) and A Secret Alchemy as was fascinated by the story of the princes in the Tower when I was a kid. Will be interesting to see how the story is done.
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Reading: Miss Smilla's Feeling for Snow by Peter Hoeg
Reading Challenge 2009: 8
2008: 4
2007: 10

Karen · Posted: Tue May 05, 2009 3:16 pm Post subject:

I quite like the sound of The Good Thief and also A Secret Alchemy too.

mummymelly · Posted: Tue May 05, 2009 3:39 pm Post subject:

I like the sound of The Good Thief but it's taking me so long to read books at the moment (if I can get into them at all) so I'd better not, I'll just put it on my wishlist for the future

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Swap List: http://tinyurl.com/33pg6r
Currently Reading "Switchcraft" by Lowri Turner

eightlegs · Posted: Tue May 05, 2009 6:29 pm Post subject:

I too would be interested in A Secret Alchemy Glynis, sounds fabulous.

annecater · Posted: Tue May 05, 2009 6:48 pm Post subject:

I'd love to read Secret Alchemy if there are any left. I've already read The Return and have The Good Thief on TBR
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Currently reading: The Tent The Bucket and Me by Emma Kennedy and Granny The Pag by Nina Bawden

1001 Challenge Books read in 2009 - 3
1001 Challenge Books read in 2008 - 8
1001 Challenge Books read in 2007 - 13

ejb76 · Babblers First Words Joined: 28 Dec 2008 Posts: 46

I would love to read The Return if there are any left

I am kind of new at this Tigerlilly what do i need to do?

Tigerlily · Posted: Wed May 06, 2009 12:52 pm Post subject:

Hi everyone and thanks for your feedback. I haven't received the books yet, but they are on their way. I don't know how many of each I'm being sent but will let you know here once I receive them. They usually send 2-3 of each so fingers crossed.

ejb - what usually happens is I send the book to you and you mail me your review which I then email to Headline, the publisher sending us the books. You don't have to write the perfect review if you don't want to. You can jot down your thoughts, pretty much as we post our thoughts to our books of the month in the main book forum here. Hope that helps. Let me know if you need more info.
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Reading: Miss Smilla's Feeling for Snow by Peter Hoeg
Reading Challenge 2009: 8
2008: 4
2007: 10

ejb76 · Babblers First Words Joined: 28 Dec 2008 Posts: 46

Hi Tigerlilly thanks for the tips! if i do end up getting one and am struggling in will get in touch .......

fingers crossed!!!!

blueflower · Posted: Wed May 06, 2009 8:43 pm Post subject:

The Good Thief or A Small Part of History sound good so I wouldn't mind reviewing either of those. I already have the other two books but I hadn't come across either of the first two before now.

Tigerlily · Posted: Fri May 08, 2009 1:05 pm Post subject:

Received the books today - only received one of each copy so I don't know how to go about deciding who gets which book! Unless we share the books? What do you think?
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Reading: Miss Smilla's Feeling for Snow by Peter Hoeg
Reading Challenge 2009: 8
2008: 4
2007: 10

Karen · Posted: Fri May 08, 2009 1:47 pm Post subject:

Sharing them around is a good idea I think Glynis. I have my reading group pick and a Waterstones proof copy I need to read in the next couple of weeks, so I would be quite happy to take a later turn if that helps you out in deciding where to send them first.

Tigerlily · Posted: Fri May 08, 2009 2:55 pm Post subject:

Thanks Karen

From the list Sarah, Anne and Karen would like to read The Secret Alchemy. Karen and Gwen would like to read The Good Thief. Gwen would like to read A Secret Part of History and ejb, The Return.

So I'll start by posting The Return to ejb - could you PM me your address details please ejb?

I've started reading A Secret Part of History, so could I mail that to you when I've finished it Gwen? I won't crease the spine so it'll come as new to you!! I'm enjoying it so far.

How about I send The Good Thief to Karen who can then forward it to Gwen? (I had a sneak peek at this book and it looks fab. I'm going to add it to my wish list).

And re The Secret Alchemy - I have a couple of books to send to Sarah (eighlegs) so perhaps I can send it to you Sarah now, and you then send it on to Anne (and then Anne to Karen).

How does that sound? Hope I haven't missed anyone out?
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Reading: Miss Smilla's Feeling for Snow by Peter Hoeg
Reading Challenge 2009: 8
2008: 4
2007: 10

Karen · Posted: Fri May 08, 2009 3:30 pm Post subject:

That sounds like an excellent bit of juggling!

eightlegs · Posted: Fri May 08, 2009 3:54 pm Post subject:

That sounds great Glynis, I will sort out my reading schedule (!) so that I can pass it on quite promptly.

Are there any without takers that need reviewing? I might be able to do another if you need me to.

And do you want us to pay for postage? If so, just let me know how much and the best way to do it.

Thanks!

Karen · Posted: Fri May 08, 2009 4:51 pm Post subject:

Yes, glad you remembered to mention postage Sarah. Please let me know how much you need Glynis.

Tigerlily · Posted: Fri May 08, 2009 5:58 pm Post subject:

I'm glad it seems to be working out ok, just disappointed they only sent one of each so not everyone gets to keep a copy. Oh no don't worry about postage, but thanks for offering! I will start mailing them on Monday if that's ok.
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Reading: Miss Smilla's Feeling for Snow by Peter Hoeg
Reading Challenge 2009: 8
2008: 4
2007: 10

blueflower · Posted: Fri May 08, 2009 6:34 pm Post subject:

That's fine by me. I have three big library books to read before the 28th May! And I am reading Shantaram which isn't exactly a thin book. So I don't mine the wait or creased spines.

eightlegs · Posted: Fri May 08, 2009 6:35 pm Post subject:

If you are sure Glynis, thanks. I will look forward to its arrival!!!!

Tigerlily · Posted: Thu May 21, 2009 11:29 am Post subject:

Sorry for the delay - I am sending the books out this afternoon. They are all packed and ready to go.

Hope you all enjoy them x

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Reading: Miss Smilla's Feeling for Snow by Peter Hoeg
Reading Challenge 2009: 8
2008: 4
2007: 10

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