Hobbies and Crafts

Hello all,
I haven't looked in for a while....been too busy reading a little bit of enjoyable chic-lit.

For anyone who is a confirmed P&P addict like myself, I have just finished reading, and can thoroughly recommend -
The Confession of Fitzwilliam Darcy by Mary Street.

I have read many P&P adaptations/variations/re-writes and I find far too many of them are poorly written drivel.
However, there ARE a select few which are worth the read, and this is one of them - well written, plausible, a story which reflects that the author has an understanding of the etiquette and propriety of the era :-)

This book follows the P&P story but is Mr Darcy's view of things. Written in the first person it allows the reader to understand all that is going on in his mind, and all the reasons why he says what he says, and acts in the way he does...it gives a charming view of the man he really is, not the man he portrays himself to be.
Yes, of course, we already know the tale, as this book does not deviate from the original, but it gives us delicious insight into a sensitive, caring and thoughtful, often unsure of himself, Mr Darcy. <3 Oh, the sleepless nights the poor man has, fretting over his love for Elizabeth, and oh, the amount of times he kicks himself for doing or saying the wrong thing, or nothing at all, when the opportunity of conversation with her arises.
It's witty, it's sad, and it's an enjoyable light hearted read.

EDIT: forgot to say - the Kindle version is currently £2.99 on Amazon :-)

That one's on my kindle waiting it's turn!

At the moment I'm reading Ken Folletts Winter of the World, # 2 of the Century Triolgy.

It continues the stories of those who featured in Fall of Giants, set in the lead-up and (so far) during WW2. The chapters are dedicated to the next generation of American, English, German and Russians families.

If it were a hardback/paper back book, I'd probably be sketching out family trees just to try and keep track.

Have just read The Nothing Girl by Jodi Taylor. This is very different to Jodi Taylor's Chronicles of St. Mary's books. It's difficult to know how to describe this book - it's a romance but not in the chick lit style. It's quirky and has a dark side. I don't want to give too much of the story away but It opens with a 13 year old girl about to commit suicide and then jumps to her life at age 28. She has been kept in a state of childlike dependence by an aunt and uncle that she lives with and it is the story of how she learns to become independent and take control of her own life with the help of Thomas, a horse visible only to her. Thomas is never fully explained and you can make of him what you will. He could be an imaginary friend, the heroine's alter ego, her guardian angel or........?

If you enjoy The Chronicles of St Mary's series I think you will like this book though it is in a totally different style.

~~~~~~s to all of our Kindle Tarts and book worms :-D :-D <3

Mau its always great to hear from you...... <3 <3 <3

Emms glad you liked Liverpool Daisy :-) :-S

Anyone and everyone is welcome to post their reads we all look forward to reading about them.... :-)

Happy Reading <3

DET have now put Joanna Hickson on my list of authors to look out for.



The first chapter of Forbidden Queen is about Katherine's early years in her birth place Hotel de St Pol in Paris and in the convent at Poissy. Rather an unhappy childhood according to Anne O'Brien..
It would be good to read about it from someone elses poin of view.

I read and enjoyed The Kashmir Shawl some time ago it was one of the books suggested on Ann's GReaders Group.

Have just finished Beatrice and Virgil by Yann Martel (author of Life of Pi and Self).

It was interesting, puzzeling, rather strange, challenging, astonishing.

If you want to read something with a pace and setting all of its own, I recommend it.

Prepare to be intrigued! (If you don'tt give up before the end).

Thank you Vera x

Funny, when we start thinking, how events spring to mind.
The guillotine thread was about young Dan Longman who had his article printed in the Family Tree mag. and showed a picture of some of the GR members and BoraBabs wasn't too pleased lol she became the Mafia boss and was on a mission to find young sir ;-) in about 2006 :-D

Mau, I read The Kashmir Shawl a while back. I would never have picked it up from the shelf normally as I wouldn't have thought it my sort of book, but I got it from the library after a couple of recommendations on here and I really enjoyed it. Hope you like it too.

Hi Kindle Tarts :-D thought I'd stick me head through the library door (thrown me hat in first cos it's ages since I was here :-( ... just wanted to say I've finished 'The Goldfinch' found it a good read, although must say the story didn't go at a gallop until a good way through.

Now reading 'The Kashmir Shawl' first recommended book by BC ... I had said 'oh lovely is it about 'factory spinning gals?' doh :-S
But I am now enjoying the story and gasping when reading of the treks made up the steep mountain roads and what a solitary life for missionaries!!

BC is really missed, she has left such memories for us all.
I remember the thread about 'The Revolution' when we took up arms (cannot recall who against lol) and knit banners, while sitting around the guillotine. I was MDF aka Madame de Farge...it all sounds daft now, but as Ann says, you had to be there :-D

Mau XX

Just read on kindle The Villa by Rosanna Ley. A really good read set in sicily and Dorset. :-)

Thanks for that Tessa - You might like to read The Argincourt Bride by Joanna Hickson.

That is also about Catherine de Valois but her life before and leading up to her marriage. The story is mainly seen through the eyes of her nursemaid Mettie.

The sequal 'The Tudor Bride' is on my wish list!

Started reading The Constant Princess by Philippa Gregory

Recently read The Forbidden Queen by Anne O'Brien.

It is about Katherine de Valois - who is a daughter (and later a sister) of Kings of France

She became a Queen of England when she married King Henry V.

She was also mother of Henry V1 (son of Henry V) and grandmother of Henry V11, the first Tudor Monarch.

Set in the early - mid 15th Centuary, this is an interesting story of a woman in a foreign land trying to live up to her perieved role as wife and then mother to Kings of England.
Anne O'Brien brings to life Katherine and the people around her, including, Henry V; his brother, the Duke of Gloucester; Edmund Beaufort and Owen Tudor.

If you like historical novels, this one is well worth reading.




:-) :-) :-)

Finished reading Liverpool Daisy last night.

Enjoyed it a lot and she did make me smile.

Emma
:-)

Cupcakes at Carrington's by Alexandra Brown.

Goodness knows why I downloaded it - it must have been free at the time.

Chick-Lit which really annoyed me. There is a good plot amongst the drooling and simpering which is the only reason it didn't get dumped!
...........

Although I'd seen BC's posts on the boards, I hadn't 'spoken' with her. She'd obviously made a positive impact with those who had close contact with her.

She will always be missed on here, on this thread, on the writers group......... Her stories were so so funny I never knew where she got inspiration from for some of them, and her tales of her life in Ireland were wonderful.

I don't know if others on here can remember way back when we had long running fun threads one of which was based on meeting up in a virtual pub every evening. We often used to leave BC asleep in a corner; one evening she was (supposedly) up a ladder being rescued by a fireman and she had no bloomers on. Tears were streaming down my face I laughed so much. Another time we had a long running pantomime I think she was the old woman who lived in a shoe/mother hubbord. Very funny. doesn't sound funny in the re-telling I can't tell it like she could.

BC thank you for the laughs and the caring <3 <3 <3

She loved to get up to mischief Mers but,
also if she hadn't seen you on the boards
for awhile she PM'd to see if you were OK.

That was BC, caring, funny and definitely knew
how to get you back on track,she was special. :-)

Its so lovely to hear all our little tales of BC ..Some of the posts on here were hilarious Emms.....half the time I wondered where she got her books from pmsl :-D ;-) <3

I remember getting a pm off her regarding an emergency and I was needed straight away......when I contacted her it was for a Kindle Ambulance was needed for Mauonthecoast who needed some help....so funny <3

Talking of BC and calling us Kindle Tarts, she like myself
(a lady of a certain age) had appreciated what we laughing
called eye candy of the younger male species.
I remember calling her a Cougar which she found hilarious,
telling me she had been called a lot of things but never a Cougar.
We both had a good giggle at this.
Always happy fun filled chats with BC which we all shall miss.
<3 <3

Glad you like it Emms, there are a few more of hers that are good as well.....

There are follow up books for Twopence across the Mersey, they are By the Waters of Liverpool / Lime Street at Two / Liverpool Miss......

Just take a look , its along time since I have read them

Started Liverpool Daisy last night and I like her already :-)