Friday, 31 January 2025

Book Talk

  The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah is another excellent well written story from this author. I picked up my copy from a jumble sale, grabbing it quick when I spotted it in a pile of books. 



This is the Amazon blurb

This story is about what it was like to be a woman during World War II, when women’s stories were all too often forgotten or overlooked . . . Vianne and Isabelle Mauriac are two sisters, separated by years and experience, by ideals and passion and circumstance, each embarking on her own dangerous path towards survival, love and freedom in war-torn France.

It was an excellent story, well written and researched and especially thought provoking as I was reading it just prior to National Holocaust Remembrance Day.

The library have more Kristin Hannah books than they had a while ago but still none of the earlier novels - pre 2003. The books they do have in stock have good sized waiting lists so she's become a very popular author this side of the pond, with over fifty people still waiting for her 2024 publication - The Women.
I've now read five  of her most recent seven books because for some reason I didn't read Home Front when I had it on loan and have reserved True Colours (2009) and can reserve Another Life, Between Sisters and Wild.
Has anyone read her earlier books? I'm wondering if they are worth looking for on Abe books or Amazon or is she an author who's got better with time?


A few weeks ago I'd got down to only half a dozen books on my library reserved list and went through my 'Book of Books Read' to see if any of my favourite authors had had books published without me knowing! 
I was able to reserve Murder at St Paul's Cathedral, Murder at Whitechapel Road Station and Murder at Lords Station all by Jim Eldridge who seems to write about 3 books a year - pretty good going........that's what I call prolific, although they are not 'classics' they are quite readable. 

Somehow I'd missed hearing about the new series by Elly Griffiths, starting with The Frozen people so I'm 235th on the waiting list, luckily they've got 80 copies so should be a few months rather than years. I also found a new book by Alys Clare - The Chrysanthemum Tiger in her Gabriel Taverner series and Spoilers Prey by Robin Blake the most recent in his Titus Cragg series.

Now there are already  six books on the way for February mobile library visit and another 13 reserved, which looks much more promising.

In the meantime, the book I've been reading this last week is  Arthur Ransome's Winter Holiday - The Swallows and Amazons plus two extra children. Only my 3rd Winter book for the Reading The Seasons not-really-a-challenge which has just 4 weeks left.

Back Tomorrow
Sue

32 comments:

  1. I read somewhere they're making a film of The Women

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    1. They might also make a film of The Nightingale - that will have some harrowing scenes if they do.

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  2. I like your book reviews Sue .I shall look out for the Elly Griffiths one .I have enjoyed the Ruth Galloway books and hadn't realised she'd written something else .Thanks .Helen

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    1. Elly Griffiths is such a good writer, her Brighton series is also good . Fantastic Fiction is the website to find the series order

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  3. I've not come across Kristin Hannah before. Just checked on Ebay, and she is obviously popular as the books hold their prices. That's a long waiting list for the new Elly Griffiths. I'm nearing the end of A Snowball's Chance in Hell by JD Kirk, and also the Anne O'Brien book, The Virgin Widow. She has been spinning out the marriage of Anne and Richard III for several chapters now. I don't think Anne would have put up that much of a fight over her lands had she truly loved him.

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    1. It's taken a while for KH to get noticed over here but now very popular. I keep trying JD Kirk but don't like them - can't remember why!

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  4. I really enjoyed reading the Swallows and. Amazons books as a child. Arthur Ransome was a great author. Winter Holiday was one of my favourites from the series.
    Arthur Ramsome and Captain Flint’s Trunk by Christina Hardyment contains lots of interesting background information about the books.
    NZ Nana

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    1. A copy of the Christina Hardyment book is on my shelves too along with Nancy Blackett Under Sail by Roger Wardle. Son read all the books when he was small but I still have a few I've not read

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  5. Thank you for the review, love WW2 fiction.

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  6. Thank you for sharing the books - I treat as recommendations.

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  7. I haven't read any of these, so will keep a look out for the authors.

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  8. I keep hearing about Kristin Hannah, so must read something by her. Which one would you recommend? And yes, Elly Griffiths has started a new series, I'll wait for the price to come down and then grab it for my Kindle I expect. Unless I see it in the library but I think that's unlikely as the reserve list in Devon is likely to be every bit as long as yours in Suffolk!

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    1. Have a look on Fantastic Fiction at what they are about is the best way to choose whichever you like the sound of

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  9. I’m glad you enjoyed The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah-I enjoyed it too and am sorry that I passed it on during my huge book clearout! I finally finished The Figurine by Victoria Hyslop which was an easy read. Catriona

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  10. Elly G. has a new series? New to me -- I must check it out. And the Eldridge sounds good too. I loved "The Nightingale." One of my favorites.

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    1. Eldridge is very prolific - some series are better than others I found

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  11. I really enjoy your book posts. I have read a few Kristin Hannah novels, but not many.

    God bless.

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    1. I hoped someone would know about the early ones she wrote

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  12. Thanks for the heads up on Elly Griffiths' new book. They don't have that one at my library yet but I noticed there are a few others of hers I haven't read yet so I have placed them on hold.

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  13. You know you're wanting to read a very popular book when you are 235th on the waiting list. I hope all those in front of you are quick readers. :-)

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    1. An amazingly long list - proves a lot of people still use the library thank goodness

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  14. I enjoyed The Women by Kristin Hannah, and admit to buying my copy from Amazon, but its doing the rounds of friends and friends friends now. I've just picked up The Dragons of Archenfield by Edward Marston from a local charity shop. Although I've read several by him, never any of this series and at only 50p it won't break the bank. Xx

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    1. I have that whole series of Marston books on my shelves waiting for the day I have absolutely nothing to read!

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  15. I do not read nearly as much as you do but I have read all of the K Hannah books. She got better as she has written more. I just picked up her book 4 winds the only one of her books I haven't read.
    Cathy

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  16. I've read some KH and she is a wonderful writer. She never disappoints.

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  17. She is very popular. I've read some of the early ones, but not recent ones

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  18. I read several hundred books a year and review for Netgalley. The Women is (I maintain) her Opus. Of all the books I read in 2024, it and one more are my favorites by far. I do not love her books except. Did like Nightingale. The Women surprised me. Brenda

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