How I enjoy Georgette Heyer's historical novels! I have a large collection which I re-read periodically. There's nothing like relaxing with a Heyer book on a cold afternoon, or after reading a particularly frustrating or depressing book by someone else.
For the last couple of days, it's been the turn of 'Friday's Child' which I've read two or three times before, and remember with great affection.
The story opens when a young man, known to his friends as Sherry, proposes marriage to the beautiful (albeit rather cold) Isabella. To his dismay, she turns him down. In a fit of exaggerated anger, he declares that he will marry the first female he meets.
This turns out to be Hero, his childhood friend, who has nursed a secret adoration for him for many years. Moreover, she is an orphan who is about to become a governess, and - being quite shy - is dreading it.
Sherry has no idea that she's always loved him, but realises that he can rescue her from her predicament if he does what he declared in pique that he would do - so he and Hero get married. They embark on married life light-heartedly, with little idea what it involves, and both find that they have to grow up and take responsibility a little more rapidly than they would have liked.
Delightful characters, fast-moving plot, and the required happy ending. Highly recommended. Still in print in the UK, as well as being widely available in charity shops.
(You can also read my longer review of 'Friday's Child' after re-reading nearly six years later in 2008)
The author Charlotte Bingham is quite a prolific writer, in a variety of genres within the broad women's fiction category. I have very much enjoyed some of her books, but not all of them. I tend only to buy them second-hand, since I'm never entirely sure what to expect.
'Change of heart' is about Freddie, who is on a rest cure in the UK. He falls in love with Fleur, who turns out to have been a child prodigy violinist.
I thought the book was well-written and interesting, with some believable characters and a few quite moving sections. However, there was a rather odd ending which confused me. It left me wondering how much of the story was supposed to have been 'real'. I found that disappointing, so although I enjoyed most of the book I doubt if I'll read it again.
Not currently in print but often available second-hand.
I do like Adrian Plass's writing. It's succinct, uses plenty of irony and other humour, and makes some excellent, thought-provoking points. He uses a wide variety of styles, too - from his brilliantly funny diaries to family fiction, and even a parable using an alien.
So I wasn't quite sure what to expect from a book entitled, simply, 'Ghosts'. It turns out to be a character-driven story based around a youth group reunion in a supposedly haunted house.
David, a Christian speaker, is invited to this reunion shortly after the death of his young wife. Five or six old friends join him, and in the evening they decide to let each other in on the secret of what they find most frightening. During the course of this, David begins to find the courage to go forward with his life.
I thought there was rather an excess of sentiment in this book, although in some places it was very moving, and that the whole was a little unlikely. Perhaps that shouldn't have mattered since most of Adrian Plass's novels are extremely unlikely, but in this the setting was realistic and the people not particularly caricatured. So I felt it unrealistic that they would suddenly start sharing their deepest secrets and fears after so many years of being completely out of touch.
It was very well-written, and I'm glad I read it, but it won't rank as one of my favourites.
Not currently in print, though sometimes found second-hand. This title was also published as 'Silver Birches'.
Adrian Plass is one of my favourite modern Christian writers. He combines humour, irony, and clever observations to poke gentle fun at himself and the evangelical church culture, while making some very thoughtful points and asking the kinds of questions that many people within the Christian church don't even think of asking.
In 'The Horizontal Epistles of Andromeda Veal', Adrian's wife's niece Andromeda is in hospital with a broken femur. Her parents are very progressive, but rather neglectful, and Andromeda is lonely.
So starts a lengthy correspondence with Adrian, his son Gerald, various members of the church, and some politicians. Funny in places - spelling is not Andromeda's strong point, and she makes some amusing errors in names and understanding of events. Also extremely moving.
Recommended. Not currently in print on its own, but can often be found second-hand. Also published as part of the 'Sacred Diary Trilogy', or 'Sacred diaries of Adrian, Andromeda and Leonard'.
What a breath of fresh air Adrian Plass is, in the Christian writing world. He started as a columnist for a magazine, producing a humorous (but thought-provoking) monthly diary. That expanded into this book, which was a huge success in the UK, and further afield. It's stayed continually in print for nearly twenty years.
'The Sacred Diary of Adrian Plass' is written in diary form, outlining Adrian's thoughts about his family, friends and church, and the Christian life in general. It's by no means cynical, but frequently honest.
He doesn't criticise or complain, but pokes very gentle fun at some of the oddities of today's church, caricaturing some well-known types of people and throwing in jokes and one-liners that can still make me laugh aloud, even though I must have read it at least three or four times before.
The humour isn't slapstick, or cruel in any way. And in between the funny parts, there's a great deal that's thoughtful, prompting me to think in new ways about life and relationships, and why we do what we do in church services.
Highly recommended. However, those outside the UK please note that this is VERY British humour.
I haven't read much by Rosie Thomas - I started reading her books when a relative recommended them. She's not one of my favourite authors, but every so often I pick up one of her books.
'Celebration' is about Annabel. She is a wine editor, who first falls in love with a French baron, and then finds herself attracted to an American wine-grower. She wants to be committed to the baron, but is tempted by a celebratory fling with the American...
This leads to high drama, as the two winegrowers are already enemies.
I thought the book well-written, though I got a bit bogged down at times. There's a reasonably happy ending. It made pleasant enough light reading though I'm not sure I'll read it again.
Not always in print, but often found second-hand.
Mary Sheepshanks is one of those authors I came across by accident, picking up one of her books in a second-hand shop, and thinking the blurb looked interesting.
I was so impressed I have got hold of her other books - not very many, sadly - and have just discovered that she also writes under the name of Mary Nickson.
'Facing the music' is a delightful book. Flavia, a brilliant flute player, collapses in an important concert, much to the horror of her boyfriend Antoine, who is the conductor. He's not so much concerned for her health, however, as for his reputation. He drops her, and - on the rebound - she decides to go and work at a boys' school. Moreover, she accepts a marriage proposal from Gervaise, the Head.
Unfortunately they are not at all suited, and she falls in love with the father of one of the school students. Crisis occurs when someone runs away...
Fast-moving and very well-written with lovable and believable characters. I felt that Gervaise got rather a raw deal, unfairly, but other than that I thoroughly enjoyed the book.
Definitely recommended, if you can find it. Unfortunately it's out of print, but 'Facing the Music' can often be found second-hand.
I can't quite make up my mind about the books by Jean Stubbs. I find them intriguing, and the characters well-developed, but the plots tend to have just a bit too much 'gritty reality' in them for my tastes. And they tend to be set in the early or late twentieth century, which is not my favourite time for historical novels.
Yet whenever I see another in a charity shop, I pick it up. Hence why I read 'Like we used to be' immediately after another of her novels.
As the story opens we're introduced to Leila and her boyfriend, at Leila's sister Zoë's marriage to Matthew. Leila does not like Matthew. Zoë is much more traditional than her sister, who is unconventional with no intention of settling down to marriage and motherhood.
As the book progresses, the viewpoint alternates in sections between Leila and Zoë, building up a picture of their family and Zoë's growing unhappiness.
Cleverly written, with a hopeful ending. I thought it made pleasant light reading.
No longer in print, but it's the kind of book that often turns up second-hand.
