Lorraine > Recent Status Updates

Went to see this play starring Minnie Driver. I laughed, I cried! Beautifully written. Beautifully acted by Minnie. Even though about suicide I didn’t realised the darkness behind the play, until after, due to the superb acting.

Skim read. This book has taken me ages to finish. Just not my type of book.

A funny read. Enjoyed the story more as referred to Whitstable and the surrounding areas where I was bought up most of my childhood and still visit regularly.

Remarkably interesting historical fictional story which had me glued from the beginning. And it just got better. Wonderful writing of survival during the Great Depression. Heartbreaking yet wonderful to cheer on such strong women.

Found this very hard throughout to captivate me. Quite depressing, yet boring. I did feel I learnt about the troubles in Ireland, but nothing more than I hadn’t already learnt in other books.

I really enjoyed the history within this book. I recently went on vacation to Cyprus and fell in love with the country.
I found parts quite moving and really enjoyed the Cypriot history. Strangely I warmed to the voice of the ‘Fig Tree’. I felt emotion and understanding through the narration. Very different read.

An easy read psychological thriller. Struggled with a couple of characters. Just an ‘okay’ read

This book was definitely too long! I felt the second book could of been condensed. Now looking back over the three books, I definitely think that these books could have been written as one or at most two! Felt it repeated itself a lot. But it did finish off the Beartown story so pleased I read this one too

Still a little too much hockey talk! Enjoyed the storyline - feel these books could of been condensed massively

This book took me by surprise. Fascinating pre Civil War history. Little slow to start but I really warmed to the characters and felt a little emotion towards the them by the end. Well written

This story is about loss and grief…..was a lot more intense than I imagined and probably not the best book for me at the moment going through my own grief but I couldn’t put it down. A lot of tears and heartache. A well written book which I found out after was written through the author’s experience of losing a sibling.

Such a beautiful read, a real page turner. Strong writing with powerful characters who I liked a lot. Thought the author described the Paper Palace, Cape Cod and surrounding areas perfectly.

Well written story of the Shakespeare family, mostly Agnes. A lot of heartache , quite an intense read of love and grief.

Quite enjoyed the book. Well written. Just lost me a little halfway through

Honor is one of those books that will stay with you got a very long time.
A tough subject of caste, religion and women’s rights in India.
An unbelievable story inspired by real life events. I just could not put this book down.
Quite depressing at times, but extremely well written and an eye opener into life in different parts of our World…One I do hope has changed for these women.

2.5stars
A book I needed to read due to all the hype.
Older divorcee mother falls in love with a famous 20year old singer of a boy band……so who did I think of?! ….Harry Styles throughout!!!!!! And I think the author did too as Hayes was very much like Harry!
The book was well written. Kept me entertained.

I wanted to love this book more than I did. Well written but I just couldn’t connect to the characters. A horrible historical event, a heartbreaking time for many. I just was a little disappointed. Sorry.
I will continue to read through Sepetys other novels as do enjoy her writing.

I read this book a long time ago but felt the need to read it again after a family holiday recently to South Africa and visiting Robben Island.
A very interesting, historical read. Nelson Mandela changed so much for his country and around the world.

A very well deserved 5stars!!!!!
This beautiful book is a very powerful, enchanting, mystical yet tragic story of family life.
Extremely well written by the author, who took me on the most amazing emotional journey.
This wonderful story of Raven and Ellis encapsulated me from beginning to end…..I actually didn’t want the book to end!

3.5stars
Well written story of Marissa, Jake and Kate and how their lives entwine. Personally I didn’t feel it was a thriller though. A good twist. A quick read.

Unfortunately not for me at all.
Quite a good plot, but I didn’t like the characters or much of the writing.

2.5stars
Reece Witherspoon recommended this book on her Book Club.
Best friends go backpacking but it all ends very differently than they planned.
Good start but felt the story dragged on a little.
Can imagine this becoming a movie at some point though.

I absolutely loved the history behind this novel. Very well written by Sepetys, I loved all the characters in this book. The romance felt so real, the emotion was powerful. A great historical read.

Recommended this book and I too would recommend for a good read.
Story of two daughters of a cheating father. Each mother knows about the ‘secret’ family, but life for the daughters soon change when they become friends.

Sorry just didn’t grab my attention. Found the story too slow.

Didn’t enjoy this book at all unfortunately

Good to read this amazing diary again. My daughter also read it.
Appreciate what you have.....their lives in such a confined space was a touching read.

3.5 stars
Well written, good amount of suspense. Didn’t like Emma much though. Look forward to the sequel.

Enjoyed this book, written well, great story, likeable characters

Aimed at young adults, this book was preferred more by my 12year old daughter than myself. I personally didn’t warm to the characters