'Running Away' is a pleasant light read by Titia Sutherland, no longer in print but available second-hand. It's about Laura, a mother in her early 40s who feels the need to take a few weeks' break from her family. She feels overwhelmed by her husband's constant caring, which seems to suck away her individuality.
Laura's husband refuses to believe that she needs time away by herself, thinking that what she really needs is time away with him, apart from their two teenage daughters. So Laura has to make her escape without telling her husband when and where she is going.
The novel then follows Laura's experiences in a village cottage in Cornwall, and that of her family as they manage without her for a time. Laura finds that it's impossible to be truly on her own. She is besieged with over-inquisitive neighbours, and finds herself befriending a struggling young man with serious health problems. Meanwhile her husband and their daughters go through crises of their own back home.
It's character-driven, well-paced and generally enjoyable. I wasn't sure where the plot was going, right up until the last chapter, but found the ending satisfactory and encouraging.
All in all, a good read. Recommended.
'Thornyhold' is a fairly short novel by Mary Stewart, an author I generally enjoy. She often writes fast-paced light thrillers with a romantic thread, and this is no exception.
It's told in the first person by Geillis, describing at first her lonely childhood which was enlivened a very few times by her mother's cousin, also called Geillis, who appeared unexpectedly when most needed, and paid her young relative the compliment of taking her seriously.
After the first few chapters, the story moves forward to Geillis's young adulthood, in the early 1950s, and her inheritance of the secluded home called Thornyhold. There she gradually gets to know the locals, who are under the impression that she might be a witch...
The book is cleverly written, describing Geillis's experiences as they happen, so we're not sure at first what is real, what is a dream, and what is more prosaic than it appears. It's also not immediately clear who can be trusted, and this leads to some suspense. This is never enough to be heart-thumpingly unpleasant, but sufficient to make it difficult to put the book down at times!
There are some delightful characters, including 11-year-old William whose manner and understanding are often more like those of an adult. The romantic thread doesn't appear until over half-way through, and is also tinged with a bit of suspense and mystery - it's very low-key but (as ever) all is resolved at the end. Perhaps a little rapid in its conclusion, but on the whole an enjoyable light read.
Recommended.
'The Life You've Always Wanted' is the first book I've read by John Ortberg (best known for 'If You Want to Walk on Water, You've Got to Get Out of the Boat) and I found it enjoyable to read, inspiring and thought-provoking. It's the most straightforward book I have ever read on spiritual disciplines, written for ordinary Christians wanting to grow, without the need for guilt or pressure.
The author first looks at what discipline is - ie training for long-term benefits or goals, as in sports or learning to play a musical instrument. The results aren't things we can naturally do, and they won't be easy - otherwise we would not need to persevere and train. There are plenty of Biblical examples given, some of which use sporting analogies of the need to keep going, whatever we feel like, as we look towards Jesus.
Ortberg also explains that our goals must depend on our circumstances, and that all our lives should be considered spiritual, not just certain things like Bible study or prayer. A mother with small children may need the discipline of patience, and spending time with her children whatever she feels like, with the goal of being a good mother.
Then several disciplines are outlined, with examples and anecdotes, occasional jokes for light relief, and strong Scriptural references. These are not 'proof-texts' but reference points for the practical suggestions given to aid us in our growth.
It's not really a book for one sitting, as there's a lot to think about. I read a chapter or two each day for a week, and found that about right. The style was easy to read without being at all condescending; the author's character came across clearly without being intrusive.
All in all, highly recommended.
I do love Georgette Heyer's historical novels! I re-read them all periodically, each one about once every six or seven years, and enjoy them afresh every time. Despite a busy time I re-read 'False Colours' recently in just two days, picking it up every spare moment!
The story mainly concerns Kit Fancot, and his absent identical twin Evelyn. Kit arrives at his mother's house in the middle of the night, only to find that his brother has a very important dinner to attend the following day, but has not returned from a trip away.
He is persuaded - against his better judgement - to masquerade as his twin just for the one evening, to save a great deal of embarrassment. But Evelyn does not return, and Kit is forced to continue...
As ever, the characters are quite delightful, cleverly drawn and realistic, and there is plenty of subtle humour and irony. There are one or two caricatures - like the grossly overweight and unbelievably wealthy Bonamy Ripple, or the tedious rule-driven cost-conscious Cosmo.
But Kit, his mother, and her goddaughter Cressy are very well-rounded and likeable people. They are by no means perfect (indeed, the main problem faced by Evelyn is related to his mother's folly in the past) but all the more human for that.
Very enjoyable, and I already look forward to reading it again in another few years.
'Rich Hours' is a complex tapestry of a book by the relatively unknown Magda Sweetland. She doesn't seem to have a web-site although I see from Amazon that she has written a few other books too. This book covers a year, one month at a time, with the main protagonist being Morgan, an art dealer. He has recently separated from his wife after the tragic loss of their student son.
It also features Else, a painter, and a vast number of not-quite-minor characters - more dealers, designers, writers, and general friends and neighbours. I had a hard time remembering who was who, although much of the time it didn't seem to matter. The backdrop is mainly London, with some forays into the countryside. It's well-written, but rather too full of detail and business for my tastes.
There are a lot of subplots all interwoven, some of them cleverly spread out through the book. But having finished it I'm not entirely sure what it was really about. The art world, wheeling and dealing, dishonesty, personality clashes, privacy and openness.... all these themes appear, but none of them is over-riding.
I read the book slowly, just half an hour or so each day for a couple of weeks, and didn't find it gripping at any point. It was actually quite useful in a busy period, since I had no compulsion to sit down and read when there were other things to do. Indeed, sometimes I could barely find the energy to pick it up again: it's not an easy read. No horror, nothing too extreme, although there are hints of pain and unpleasantness throughout. But I couldn't really feel rapport with any of the characters, or even much sympathy for them.
Probably not one I'll read again, but it might be enjoyed by people interested in the art world, who like relatively slow-moving books full of fine details and observations.
We have several books on marriage, which I delve into from time to time, but I count 'Loving Against the Odds' as one of my favourites. This book by Rob Parsons was apparently written after a series of videos (in the 1980s) but is entirely complete in itself. He speaks from experience, both in his own marriage and in speaking at seminars, and counselling numbers of people going through difficulties.
It's not really a book for those just starting out, and while it would be ideal for those having immense problems, perhaps even considering separation, I doubt if many in that category would resort to a book. But for those in the majority or marriages, with some good and some not-so-good, this is a down-to-earth, encouraging and inspiring book.
Parsons takes as his main theme the idea that communication is of supreme importance in any relationship. This is nothing new, but he presents his suggestions alongside personal anecdotes, and also some examples given (with permission and name changes) by those he has met, or who have written to him.
He not only gives advice about how to improve communication, but examples of what can go wrong, and why. He is never condemning, acknowledges that in some degree communication difficulties can (and probably do) happen to anyone, and yet strongly believes that with only a few minor changes, any marriage can grow more positive.
There are chapters on fighting and arguing (which he encourages, rather than holding in resentments), a chapter on finance and how to begin to cope with debt, chapters about intimacy and the dangers posed by affairs. He even describes how easy it can be for even a reasonably contented person to fall into danger, beginning with an apparently innocent friendship.
The author is a Christian, and quotes Biblical examples and principles from time to time, but only in context of what he's saying and without any 'preaching'. I doubt if what he says would be offensive to anyone, as it's all written from such a personal and encouraging viewpoint, acknowledging many failures and mistakes in his own marriage.
All in all, highly recommended.
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The Hot Line' was published in 1990 by Peter H Lawrence, who was at the time the minister of the Anglican church ChristChurch, Burney Lane in Birmingham (UK).
The book charts Peter's learning, and his experiences as he begins to learn about and take part in ministry of the charismatic gifts. He writes in a fairly informal way, clearly explaining his thought processes, and using frequent references to Scripture. Not 'proof-texting', but in a clear and structured way. He was clearly concerned to ensure that he did nothing out of line with the Bible.
It works well because it's mainly written chronologically, beginning with the author's first inklings that there is something more to the Christian life than he was aware of. There are many anecdotes, by permission of those involved, which illustrate the points well.
He includes several when he made mistakes, or misunderstood, or even when he became a little arrogant. These make the book all the more readable and encouraging - this is no super-saint, highly experienced and successful. On the contrary, it's the story of an ordinary, likeable man who was open to learning more of what God wanted to give him and his church.
I first read this many years ago but it's well worth re-reading.
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Five Quarters of the Orange' is the third novel I've read by Joanne Harris. Like the others, it's set in rural France and there's a lot of cooking in it. Unlike the others, it's a complex and sometimes dark story with frequent flashbacks to World War II when France was occupied by the Nazis.
The main character, Framboise, is in her sixties as the book starts. She tells us that she's settled into her old family house, but under her married name, without any of the neighbours knowing who her family was, because of some terrible event in the past that made her an outcast. As the book gradually unfolds, with scenes from present intertwined with the past, we learn what the secret is, and how she eventually deals with it.
It took a while to get going, but by the time I was half-way through I was very involved in both the plot and the people. It was cleverly written, with information revealed a little like that of a mystery story, and the eventual climax working well.
Thought-provoking in places, a book I will probably think about from time to time for a few weeks.
Recommended.
'Out of the Shadows' was the second novel written by Tita Sutherland, but mostly it reads as if written by a long-established author. The story is about Rachel, recently widowed, who decides to research some of the history of her house in London. As she does so, she encounters some surprises, including a few ghosts...
The characters are all beautifully drawn. I particularly liked Rachel's young granddaughter Emily, a serious and sensitive child. Conversations are realistic, family dynamics perhaps a little exaggerated but none the worse for that.
A sideline involves Rachel's decision to take in a lodger rather than move from the house. Although this works reasonably well as a subplot, I felt it was included simply to provide some romance.The character of Tom, the lodger, isn't nearly so well developed as those of Rachel's family, and their relationship seems very muddled and not quite believable at times.
Still, overall it was an excellent read.The ghosts are dealt with sensitively, with the story behind their appearance built up skilfully. Some of the minor characters are delightful, and in the last few chapters I found this book impossible to put down.
Recommended to anyone who likes 1990s character-driven books.
