The Elevenses Reading Group Book Reviews 2010
Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult
This was a very thought provoking book that was enjoyed by the whole group. The characters were well developed and it was easy to empathise with them. This is well worth reading and highly recommended.
This was a very thought provoking book that was enjoyed by the whole group. The characters were well developed and it was easy to empathise with them. This is well worth reading and highly recommended.
Thirteen Moons by Charles Frazer
This was a very interesting historical story about one mans life. The story is set in mid 19th century America and highlights the shocking attitude the settlers had towards the Native Americans during this period.
This was a very interesting historical story about one mans life. The story is set in mid 19th century America and highlights the shocking attitude the settlers had towards the Native Americans during this period.
The book was well researched and the descriptive details of the country and its people were very good and excellent at setting the scene. Some readers thought there was too much detail making this a difficult book to read and the words used to sum it up were ‘hard work’. Despite this criticism most of the group persevered and were glad they had as they did enjoy the story and some readers liked it so much that they are keen to read other books by this author.
Middlemarch by George Elliot
Most of the group did not manage to finish this book in one month and found the size of the print and the length of the story a challenge. The majority found the story was hard to get in to and the descriptions were very wordy. One reader had enjoyed the book and commented that she preferred it to the Jane Austen's she had read in the past.
Most of the group did not manage to finish this book in one month and found the size of the print and the length of the story a challenge. The majority found the story was hard to get in to and the descriptions were very wordy. One reader had enjoyed the book and commented that she preferred it to the Jane Austen's she had read in the past.
A Thousand Splendid Suns by K Hosseini
Everyone agreed this was a brilliant book. It had a well written and gripping story which made this book difficult to put down. It was not a comfortable read but it was interesting historically even though it was set quite recently and was a hymn of praise to the bravery of women. The characters were very well developed and it was interesting to see the enjoyment they found in little things like tea in the garden. This eye opener of a book was enjoyed by all and highly recommended to everyone.
Everyone agreed this was a brilliant book. It had a well written and gripping story which made this book difficult to put down. It was not a comfortable read but it was interesting historically even though it was set quite recently and was a hymn of praise to the bravery of women. The characters were very well developed and it was interesting to see the enjoyment they found in little things like tea in the garden. This eye opener of a book was enjoyed by all and highly recommended to everyone.
Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks
This was a gripping and well written story enjoyed by most of the group. The story made you think and was a good reflection of life in the 1600’s. The characters were all quite damaged and their stories made the reader relate to how awful it really was. The group felt the ending was a bit manufactured and farfetched but overall it was an enjoyable read.
This was a gripping and well written story enjoyed by most of the group. The story made you think and was a good reflection of life in the 1600’s. The characters were all quite damaged and their stories made the reader relate to how awful it really was. The group felt the ending was a bit manufactured and farfetched but overall it was an enjoyable read.
The Savage Garden by Mark Mills
The story didn’t grip you instantly as it was quite complicated but once you were settled in to the story it became easy to read and engaging. The descriptions were good and you could really see the garden in your head. This was a highly intelligent and well told story.
The story didn’t grip you instantly as it was quite complicated but once you were settled in to the story it became easy to read and engaging. The descriptions were good and you could really see the garden in your head. This was a highly intelligent and well told story.
Birds Without Wings by Louis De Bernières
This was a challenging read and most of the group couldn’t get past the first few chapters. Those who persevered found they were beginning to engage with the story and characters. One of the readers did say she really enjoyed it and liked the characters but most had to admit defeat.
This was a challenging read and most of the group couldn’t get past the first few chapters. Those who persevered found they were beginning to engage with the story and characters. One of the readers did say she really enjoyed it and liked the characters but most had to admit defeat.
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson
Everyone in the group agreed this was a fantastic book with a compelling and fast paced story. The characters were easy to empathise with although it was a little hard to keep track of who was who. The writing style flowed well and most people read the book quite quickly. Nearly everyone has or is planning to read the next book in the trilogy, even those that wouldn’t normally have read a thriller. We would recommend this book to everyone it is well worth a read.
Everyone in the group agreed this was a fantastic book with a compelling and fast paced story. The characters were easy to empathise with although it was a little hard to keep track of who was who. The writing style flowed well and most people read the book quite quickly. Nearly everyone has or is planning to read the next book in the trilogy, even those that wouldn’t normally have read a thriller. We would recommend this book to everyone it is well worth a read.
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
The group really enjoyed this book but felt it didn’t quite live up to ‘A Thousand Splendid Suns’. The story took a while to get into but it was beautifully written and the descriptions of graphic scenes were sensitively written and not too graphic. The characters were well developed and one reader found that she really cared about them and found it quite emotional. Most of the group were glad they read this book.
The group really enjoyed this book but felt it didn’t quite live up to ‘A Thousand Splendid Suns’. The story took a while to get into but it was beautifully written and the descriptions of graphic scenes were sensitively written and not too graphic. The characters were well developed and one reader found that she really cared about them and found it quite emotional. Most of the group were glad they read this book.
The American Wife by Curtis Sittenfeld
This book split opinion all agreed the story took a while to get going but some readers found they really enjoyed it while others were left disappointed. The descriptions of the family dynamics were good as was the writing style and some readers enjoyed the parallels between rich and the poor. One reader said she, “found the love scenes ‘a bit toe curling’ whenever she remembered that the story was loosely based on Laura and George Bush!!
This book split opinion all agreed the story took a while to get going but some readers found they really enjoyed it while others were left disappointed. The descriptions of the family dynamics were good as was the writing style and some readers enjoyed the parallels between rich and the poor. One reader said she, “found the love scenes ‘a bit toe curling’ whenever she remembered that the story was loosely based on Laura and George Bush!!
The Love of Stones by Tobias Hill
Three out of the seven people at our meeting had completed this book. Those who were unable to finish the book found it difficult to get into and felt there was too much of everything thrown in. The people who finished reading the book thought it was good and found that once they had persevered past the first 100 pages they got into the story. The book was well researched although slightly farfetched in places. Readers liked the portrayal of the brothers and enjoyed reading about their relationship.
Three out of the seven people at our meeting had completed this book. Those who were unable to finish the book found it difficult to get into and felt there was too much of everything thrown in. The people who finished reading the book thought it was good and found that once they had persevered past the first 100 pages they got into the story. The book was well researched although slightly farfetched in places. Readers liked the portrayal of the brothers and enjoyed reading about their relationship.
The Uncommon Reader by Alan Bennett
This was ‘a nice little book’, easy and quick to read. Most people enjoyed the story liking the relationship with the back room staff. Those who didn’t enjoy this book as they found it was too short and too light hearted a read not giving them enough time or content to get to know the characters or think about the story. We recommend this book to anyone looking for a quaint light hearted quick read.
This was ‘a nice little book’, easy and quick to read. Most people enjoyed the story liking the relationship with the back room staff. Those who didn’t enjoy this book as they found it was too short and too light hearted a read not giving them enough time or content to get to know the characters or think about the story. We recommend this book to anyone looking for a quaint light hearted quick read.
Page Last Updated: 15 November 2011
