Double Book Review..

The Boleyn Inheritance by Philippa Gregory

This was my second Tudor Court novel by Philippa Gregory and although I knew the ending of this book.. everyone does after learning the rhyme at school (divorced, beheaded, died, divorced beheaded, survived!) this book kept me hooked right from the start and the suspense was worked up throughout. 

The story is of Henry VIII 4th & 5th wives and Jane Boleyn. (Anne of Cleves, Katherine Howard and Jane Boleyn) 

Each chapter is told from the perspective of each of the women, and you really get involved with how what they felt. I felt I was able to create a really realistic picture in my head of all three women, and the personalities were just what I would imagine. 

It was good to learn a little more about these three women as I think they are the ones we know least about, and the Tudor court, which I felt was really bought to life. I love the corruption and the drama that went with living in close proximity to Henry VIII.

This makes for a very entertaining read, and I will definately be reading the rest in this series. So far, I have not read them in chronological order - I do not think that this really matters as they do relate to an actual period in time, but I know a lot of people do like to read them in order.

The Divide by Nicholas Evans

This book was excellent, as are all of the Nicholas Evans books I have read so far. 

The story starts with a body of a young girl discovered, but it is not a murder mystery, instead of tracking the killer (if there was one) we learn all about the family and their problems, and how the young girls life changed so much and what eventually led to her death. 

Evans deals with each individual family members feeling, like he is that person and makes a really interesting, he can go from being a teenage boy, to a 40 year old Mother, and make a really believable family. 

There isn't much 'action' in this book as such, but that doesn't matter - I was glued from the start learning about the family. I recommend this book, and will be reading all of his others very soon

Gemma xxx

Book Review - Before I go to Sleep

I have just finished reading an absolutely brilliant book;

Before I go to Sleep, by S.J.Watson

'As I sleep, my mind will erase everything I did today. I will wake up tomorrow as I did this morning. Thinking I'm still a child. Thinking I have a whole lifetime of choice ahead of me ...' 

Memories define us. So what if you lost yours every time you went to sleep? Your name, your identity, your past, even the people you love - all forgotten overnight. And the one person you trust may only be telling you half the story. 

Welcome to Christine's life 

The main character, Christine is really well written and believable I really felt her emotions and frustrations throughout. You really get involved in the nightmare she is living, going to sleep each night and forgetting everything that has ever happened, to be reminded the same things every day. I like how the author brings in the emotions of her family too, and you understand how difficult this situation is for everyone around her.

I felt that the opening chapter was really powerful, and really hooks you in from the start, to avoid spoilers I won't say too much but I think it would be difficult for anyone to read the first chapter, and not want to continue. I really could not stop reading!

The story is told through the perspective of Christine, through her journal, which was really unique and worked really well with her unraveling bits of her life as the story continues.

There are lots of twists and turns and I found myself gasping out loud quite a few times, I did not expect the ending. It does not come to an end too suddenly either which I liked, it builds up to the ending brilliantly.

I found this quite similar to Rosamund Luptons, Sister - not the subject, but the suspense and the feeling you get from the book. I would recommend this book to anyone, and I will be! It was an excellent read. 

Gemma xx

Book Review: Agent 6

I have just finished reading this book by Tom Rob Smith. It is the third and final installment of the Leo Demidov series.

I have read both of the other books in the series, Child 44 & Secret Speech. Child 44 was excellent, but Secret Speech I didn't enjoy so much, as it seemed to turn the character into a super human type figure, but this made up for that!


In this book, it starts off in 1950 when Leo was sill a secret agent in the KGB, it describes one of his missions and also how he met his wife, Raisa. I really liked this, because in the books before it touches on their relationship, but not in detail so I enjoyed this part of the story. 

Fifteen years later, Leo's family all travel to New York on a 'Peace Tour' but because he is no longer in the secret service and refused any dealings with them, he cannot go with them. During the tour, a 'tragic murder destroys everything he loves' Leo is distraught and then goes about finding out exactly what happened, and embarks on a mission to find out who is Agent 6?


One thing I loved about this book, was that you really get to understand Leo, and what he lives for. Which I didn't get from the other books, especially Secret Speech. The book keeps you gripped from the beginning and  I liked the ending too.


I do like Tom Rob Smith's writing style, the way he formats chapters and also doesn't use speech marks, the speech is in itallics and inverted, I have not seen this style before. 


I would recommend this book, and if you haven't read the other two, you definately should...although, you could get away with reading this one on it's own.

The others in the series 

Gemma xx

Book Review: Operation Mincemeat

I can't get this book out of my head, it was absolutely brilliant...

First of all, I'll start by telling you why I read this book - I had run out of things to read! My brother gave George this book amongst others to read while we were away, George read it in I think our first week here and loved it. i didn't fancy it at all, i thought it was a 'boys' book about the war, fighting and spies etc. But I was completely wrong..

Plot...

One overcast April morning in 1943, a fisherman notices a corpse floating in the sea off the coast of Spain. When the body is brought ashore, it is identified as British Soldier, Major William Martin of the Royal Marines. A leather attache case, secured to his belt reveals an intelligence gold mine: top secret allied invasion plans.

But Major William Martin never existed. The body is that of a dead Welsh tramp and every single documetn is fake. Operation Mincemeat is the tru story of the most extraordinary deception plan ever planned by Churchill's spies - an outrageous lie that travelled from a Whitehall basement, all the way to Hitlers desk. 

The plot reveals the whole story, but the book goes much deeper. It tells the story of each character involved, detailing their background, what their part was in the operation and why they were chosen for their particular part. Which took this story away from my first perception of a 'boys' book, and turned it into one of the best books I have ever read. 


The plan doesn't always run smoothly, and although from the synopsis you know the Operation is a success, it keeps you right on the edge of your seat and you go through the emotions with the men and understand how they must have been feeling at each stage, the nerves, the suspense, the elation! 


The book is well written, well researched and easy to follow. My copy had a postscript at the back too where the author talks about letters he received, following the release of the book which I found interesting.


I had no idea really that spies did this kind of work - I thought a spy simply got into the enemies camp and fed information back, but no, that is just one small part. 


It reminded me of when I went to the Imperial War Museum in London a few years ago. I really didn't appreciate the museum as much as I would now being a little older. I think I was 18, I had been out the night before and had to borrow some of my cousins clothes which didn't fit as I hadn't packed appropriately, the last thing I wanted to do was go to a museum! One of the main memories of the museum, was in the submarine section; you could lie on one of the beds which showed you just how small and cramped it was for the men. I lay on a bed, and when I moved a man jumped out of his skin thinking I was part of the exhibition...although that story still makes me laugh, I think it shows that I need to re-visit the museum. I remember rushing through the spy section, that was too boring! I wanted to get to the part where they simulated an air raid! But, that could also be partly blamed on School - we were only really taught about the home front, rashions etc..


I have digressed slightly, but this book will definately stay with me for a while and has encouraged me to read & learn more about WW2, and i definately want to visit the Imperial War Museum again!!


Highly recommended, to anyone really. Those with an interest in WW2, or even those who don't, as I think this could change your mind - it has changed mine. 


Gemma xx