Who's Sleeping in my Bed by Keren Smedley
Reviewed by Sue Daubney from Wareham
"Five out of Ten. She has approached this as an academic work and has obviously done a huge amount of research to back up her facts and figures and followed it through with additional resources so people can find extra help. I found some of the phrases trite. "If you believe in yourself, you can do anything"
Being over 50 is, thankfully, not what it used to be: it does not mean giving up on sex and love.
Keren Smedley, an accredited life coach, has been asked every question you could imagine - and some you couldn't - about the relationship issues of today's baby boomer.
House of Special Purposes by John Boyne
Reviewed by Josie Heppleston from Ropley
"Ten out of Ten. Brilliant, absolutely brilliant. Words fail me. I couldn't put it down."
You will know John Boyne as the author of The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas....his new novel, The House of Special Purpose, is about a young man ripped from a loving home and thrust into the heart of a dying empire.
Forces of Nature by Sue Cook
Reviewed by Pauline Hand of Southampton
8 out of a 10 - "Couldn't really think of anything I didn't like about it. I cared about the characters. I was left wondering at the end how they would continue on. I found it interesting that the person bearing the main dilemma was the father and not the mother."
After three failed attempts at IVF, Jenny and Mark, are overjoyed when their fourth attempt is a success. The arrival of their beautiful daughter, Chloe, marks the beginning of a new chapter in their lives.
When Chloe is two years old, however, Mark suddenly starts behaving very strangely. Nothing can prepare her for the shattering truth as to why Mark is being so secretive.
Three Ways to Capsize a Boat by Chris Stewart
Reviewed by Sue Witt from Totland Bay
6 out of a 10 - "Main highlight was description of the storm on the way to Norway - the description of fear was amazing. If you weren't a sailor there were some things that people probably wouldn't understand (a glossary of sailing terms would probably be appreciated)"
England was once again in the grips of economic gloom and Chris's sheep farm had failed.
He seized the chance to escape to the Greek islands as skipper of a Cornish Crabber. It didn't matter that he'd never sailed a boat before - just that sunshine and adventure beckoned...
Just a Phrase I'm Going Through by David Crystal
Reviewed by Val Knight from Chandlers Ford
8 out of 10 - "This is a really good book - very interesting for me because I'm a speech and language therapist. I loved it so much I had to limit myself to a chapter a day, otherwise I'd have whizzed through it and forgotten what to say when I come into review it! I will lend it to a couple of friends next, who are eager to read it."
David Crystal is a lover of language and his book is part autobiography, part introduction to the fascinating field of linguistics. David reflects not only upon his own life working with words, and also on the foundations of language and learning.
The Drowning Girl by Margaret Leroy
Reviewed by Josie Hepplestone from Ropley
10 out of 10 - "I really enjoyed this book - I couldn't put it down! I felt really sorry for the character of Grace - being the mother of a troubled child - and it opened my eyes to how people are treated in this situation. Going on this novel, I'd like to read Margaret's books again. Highly recommend it!"
The Drowning Girl is about the relationship between Grace and her daughter, Sylvie, a little girl who seems to be haunted by a past life.
Margaret draws on her own experience of having difficulties with a child. One of her daughters, Isabel, has been ill with something similar to ME for the past ten years, during which time Margaret home schooled her. In the book, Grace struggles to make things better, but nothing she tries seems to work – an experience Margaret consistently had herself.
Some of last year's reviews -
The Return by Victoria Hislop (wife of Ian!)
Reviewed by Julia Smith from Stubbington
12 out of 10 - "I found this book exciting, dramatic and passionate - I got angry with one character and I fell in love another - it was completely enthralling" says Julia
This is Victoria Hislop's second book - set in Granada - it tells the story of a family ripped apart by the Spanish Civil War.
Julie had high expectations for this book - having read Victoria's first novel - and she wasn't disappointed!
Wife in the North by Judith O'Reilly
Reviewed by Sue Daubeny from Wareham
9 out of 10 - "A good deal of this book made me smile, but I also despaired for her, got cross with her, almost wept for her and finally hoped for her future. A great emotional read" says Sue.
This book is about Judith, wife and mother of three young children, who was persuaded to move "Up North" by her husband. This book is her witty tales of struggling to cope with moving to a new place.
Gypsy by Lesley Pearce
Reviewed by Josie Hepplestone from Ropley
10 out of 10 - "The book takes you on a great journey - you're there with the characters all the way. It's a fantastic read." says Josie.
Gypsy is the story of Beth and Sam Bolton who, newly orphaned, set sail for a new life in America. On board the steamer to New York, they meet charismatic gambler, Theo, and quick-witted Londoner, Jack, and the four band together to seek their fortunes.
Josie from Ropley leapt at the chance to read and review this book, as Lesley Pearce is her favourite author! She was thrilled (and a little nervous!) to be able to speak to her on the Charlie Crocker Show.
Where the River Ends by Charles Martin
Reviewed by Pat Joyce from Southsea
10 out of 10 - "I've had breast cancer myself and this author really understood the illness and hit the nail on the head when it came to how you feel as a woman going through this. It was an emotional ride - but one I'm glad I took"
This is the story of Chris Michaels and Abbie Colman. They marry quickly and secretly with much opposition from her family.
Out of the blue, Abbie is diagnosed with breast cancer and her case is now terminal.
Armed with Abbie's wish list of ten things she wants to do before she dies, her and Chris run away in the middle of the night to try and complete them before it's too late.
The Gap Year for Grown-Ups by Annie Ashworth and Meg Sanders
Being reviewed by Dominique Jubien from New Milton
8 out of 10 - "I'm French, so loved how the author captured the French scenes that I'm familiar with - she was good at making that connection. I understood how the character of Sarah felt - stifled, thinking her life had revolved around looking after her husband, home and raising her children. So I loved her for then fulfilling her musical dream (and for thinking that a new hairstyle would change her life!) "
The grown-up gap year is thriving. Journalists Annie Ashworth and Meg Sanders have been inspired by the phenomenon in their fifth novel.
It follows the ups and downs of a woman who walks away from it all, leaving family, friends and her life in suburbia to try something completely new.
Picking Up The Brass by Eddy Nugent
Reviewed by Patrick Wright from Whiteley
6 out of 10 - "As an ex-army apprentice I was interested in making the comparison to my own time in the forces. This book had a slow start (and colourful language!) but picked up in the middle and end sections and was humorous and interesting overall"
Eddy Nugent is the pen name of two ex-soldiers, Charlie Bell and Ian Deacon.
Each served in the Army for a decade, and the book mirrors closely their own service and that of friends - the anecdotes and incidents related, all actually happened to them or people they know.
The English Harem by Anthony McCarten
Reviewed by Val Thorpe from Burley
8 out of 10 - "This was very moving and very funny. The characters were really well described and you felt for them during their highs and lows"
A young London working class checkout girl falls for a middle aged Iranian restaurant-owner when she goes to work for him.
She experiences a clash of cultures, languages and religions. Will she end up being one of his three wives against the wishes of her parents and racist ex-boyfriend?
The Secret Diaries of Abigail Titmuss
Reviewed by Sue Daubeny from Wareham
6 out of 10 - "I wanted to give her a big hug at times and warn her how self destructive she is being, and indeed towards the end, she admits to being spiritually bankrupt. I still found it an interesting story and very thought-provoking"
Once upon a time Abigail Titmuss was a hard-working NHS nurse, trying to pay her way through acting school.
The man she had been in a relationship with for the last four years just happened to be the TV presenter John Leslie. And then suddenly, out of the blue, this ordinary girl next door was rocketed straight onto Planet Celebrity.
Captivated - JM Barrie, The Du Mauriers and the Dark Side of Neverland - By Piers Dudgeon
Reviewed by Dale Beasley from Seaview
5 out of 10 - "It's a very dark and tragic book, which is hard work at times. JM Barrie was a very scary character and I got very cross at how controlling he was allowed to be. Knowing what Barrie was supposed to be like put me off the story of Peter Pan"
This controversial biography exposes J M Barrie's obsessive nature and the first to associate a link with the Du Maurier family.
The book depicts Barrie as a stalker, a player of mind games and a dangerous man to know.
Instructions for Living Someone Else's Life - By columnist Mil Millington
Reviewed by Lani Gallegos from Washington, USA
7 out of 10 - "I did like many of his poignant thoughts. He realized early on that he needed to change the 'Old Chris', physically and in relationships. I thought it was sweet when all through his experiences, he always referred and compared things to his wife. When he told her that she was beautiful, he realized he rather be with her than any other woman. I can visualize a great chic flick with perhaps a gracefully aged Michelle Pfeifer as Trudie."
A book about male mid-life crisis'. Mil thinks it's unfair that men and women are treated differently when they make changes to their lives.
He thinks a middle-aged women are praised for "taking control of their lives".
Whereas, men get ridiculed if he takes up running, gets a new haircut and buys a sports car.
There's Something Wrong With Me by Nigel Smith
Reviewed by Susan Morris from Lordswood
8 out of 10- "A real eye opener and VERY funny - I loved it. I was astonished at how much people have to suffer sometimes, and at how little knowledge some doctors have - often they have no idea what's wrong. But I laughed out loud many times. The swearing was a bit gratuitous but I understood his frustrations and why it was included."
In November 2001, comedy writer Nigel Smith was rushed to hospital with a potentially fatal brain lesion. For the next few weeks his future was on a knife edge.
This book is Nigel's personal account of how he, and his family, coped throughout the rollercoaster ride of their lives during those first few perilous months of his treatment.
Retails of The Unexpected by Mark Bradley
Reviewed by Jo Clark in Southampton
7 out of 10 - "Whilst I found the stories of appalling service laugh out loud funny, I knew the area Mark was talking about and felt that some-one who couldn't visualise the places described might not enjoy it quite so much".
Mark Bradley is the Bill Bryson of customer service - he thinks with a few notable exceptions, businesses give such crummy service it's time someone threw the book at them - and this could well be the book.
It's an irreverent anthology of his own essays, diaries, newspaper columns and retail travels.
He says we, as consumers, are letting retailers treat us shabbily because we're just too polite to complain. Do you agree? Have a read of this book...
How (Not) To Murder Your Mother by Stephanie Calman
Reviewed by Sue Daubeny from Wareham
8 out of 10 - "I thoroughly enjoyed this book and think it must have been cathartic to get down her anger but it was so evenly balanced by humour and love, it made a really good read."
Stephanie says her mother and her are like olive and magenta: each fine in its own way but not on the same sofa.
She says "We have some things in common. For example we both make our scrambled eggs without stirring them and we've both dated heroin addicts. But, it's not really enough to get us through a weekend…"
In the book she addresses strange, often dark nuances that surround their relationship, whilst capturing the thoughts of a generation which finds itself parenting its parents while still trying to haul up its children…
The Supper Club by Sophie King
Reviewed by Jenny Helyer from Branksome
6 out of 10 - "I found the characters very interesting and I loved their various confessions that came out at the last supper club - a lot of them I wasn't expecting at all. It was a book with many twists and turns which made it an enjoyable read."
Bored with your social life? Supper clubs are the new trend. Take two friends and get them to bring along another guest - ideally someone you don't know.
Mike and Lucy have been together for 15 months and Lucy still can't quite believe her luck.
When Lucy arranges a dinner party and invites her friends, the evening unravels in a totally unexpected.
