The Dress Diary of Mrs Anne Sykes - Kate Strasdin

 

Description

The hidden fabric of a Victorian woman's life - from family and friends to industry and Empire - told through her unique textile scrapbook.

In 1838, a young woman was given a diary on her wedding day. Collecting snippets of fabric from a range of garments she carefully annotated each one, creating a unique record of her life and times. Her name was Mrs Anne Sykes.

Nearly two hundred years later, the diary fell into the hands of Kate Strasdin, a fashion historian and museum curator. Strasdin spent the next six years unravelling the secrets contained within the album's pages.

Piece by piece, she charts Anne's journey from the mills of Lancashire to the port of Singapore before tracing her return to England in later years. Fragments of cloth become windows into Victorian life: pirates in Borneo, the complicated etiquette of mourning, poisonous dyes, the British Empire in full swing, rioting over working conditions and the terrible human cost of Britain's cotton industry.

This is life writing that celebrates ordinary people: the hidden figures, the participants in everyday life. Through the evidence of waistcoats, ball gowns and mourning outfits, Strasdin lays bare the whole of human experience in the most intimate of mediums: the clothes we choose to wear.

Review

I loved the beginning of this book and the story of how the dress book came into the author's possession. It was certainly fortuitous, as the author was obviously the right person to own the book and share it with us all. 

I found out a few things that I previously had no idea about. Such as the ban on cotton imports when the trade in England was suffering. The book is littered with not just the story of the dress diary but research by the author of the textile trade and fashion throughout this period.

The book I found to be one that is to be dipped in and out of, although in sequential chapter order to fully appreciate the timeline of events. 

I'm giving this book 4 out of 5 stars. My thanks to netgalley for this ARC to review. 

Must Love Books - Shauna Robinson

 

Description

‘A heartfelt and exciting debut . . . a wise and honest story of how it feels to be a young woman in search of yourself’

Taylor Jenkins Reid, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo

Meet Nora Hughes – the overworked, underpaid, last bookish assistant standing. At least for now.

When Nora landed an editorial assistant role at Parsons Press she thought it would be The Dream Job. But after five years of admin and taking lunch orders, Nora has come to the conclusion: Dream Jobs do not exist.

With her life spiralling and unable to afford her rent, Nora does the only thing she can think of and starts freelancing for a rival publisher.

But when Andrew Santos, a bestselling author (who also happens to be quite attractive), is thrown into Nora’s life, she must decide where her loyalties lie, and whether she’s ready to choose herself and her future over her job…

Your next book club read touching on mental health, happiness and the ups and downs of being a young woman trying to figure it all out.

Review

I've really enjoyed being a part of the #MustLoveBooksReadalong with @onemorechapter this week, thanks for the invite.

This is not your usual romcom read. It's so very down to earth - in the main - and has some very real and relatable characters, especially in the office.

We join Nora recruiting a new member of staff. This gets her thinking about her own journey into publishing, and the not so rapid ascent within it. She's been at the publishing house for 5 years and is still taking lunch orders while all around her people are being laid off and she's lumbered with some of their work. She has an idea to get her ahead and stay afloat by working for two publishers at the same time. This had the makings of a disaster written all over it and I could hardly bare to read, waiting for a car crash. Actually it worked pretty well until it didn't! Can't say more on that one.

With witty repartee between Nora and one of the authors and some great friends (if only she realised) the book bounces along nicely in between the fractious thoughts of how Nora is going to get promoted, find her life purpose and pay the rent.

Nora has a lot going on in her head and part of that is a reoccurring thought that she might not need to live anymore. I was really willing Nora to hang on in and find someone who she could really connect to and help her through all her issues. The ending wasn't one I was expecting, but it's maybe the right one considering how complicated Nora and her life choices are.

I'm giving this book 4 out of 5 stars. My thanks to netgalley and onemorechapter for the ARC to review.

Mrs P's Book of Secrets - Lorna Gray

 

Description

Mrs P’s Book of Secrets will be published in the US as The Book Ghost.

The Cotswolds, Christmastime 1946: A young widow leaves behind the tragedy of her wartime life, and returns home to her ageing aunt and uncle. For Lucy – known as Mrs P – and the people who raised her, the books that line the walls of the family publishing business bring comfort and the promise of new beginnings.

But the kind and reserved new editor at the Kershaw and Kathay Book Press is a former prisoner of war, and he has his own shadows to bear. And when the old secrets of a little girl’s abandonment are uncovered within the pages of Robert Underhills’s latest project, Lucy must work quickly if she is to understand the truth behind his frequent trips away.

For a ghost dwells in the record of an orphan girl’s last days. And even as Lucy dares to risk her heart, the grief of her own past seems to be whispering a warning of fresh loss…

There are no white shrouded spectres here, no wailing ghouls. Just the echoes of those who have passed, whispering that history is set to repeat itself.

Review

Set in 1946 this novel reads as if the characters just left the film Brief Encounter. You need to be prepared to read a very stylised form of writing.  

Lucy is a widow at 26 and has left Bristol to work and live above the printers her Uncle owns. She has publishing experience but does not get to use it, as a newcomer is the editor and she types, does the books and makes tea.

A lot of the book is taken with the inner thoughts of the main character Lucy - Mrs P. She also describes the inner thoughts of other characters which I found a little over the top. Although she does have some sort of sixth sense, so maybe she did know what everyone else was thinking.

There were glimpses of an intriguing plot and I did finish to find out how it all ended.  Reading more like a gothic novel to me than one set post war I found it very hard going. Veiled romantic interactions and yet then an outright relationship between two unmarried people in a small village in this time felt unrealistic.

It wasn't really for me. I never became invested in the characters and Lucy herself was so dramatic and I thought belonged in a Wilkie Collins story.

I'm giving this book 3 out of 5 stars. My thanks to netgalley for the ARC to review.

The Open House - Sam Carrington

 

Description

Everyone’s welcome. But not everyone leaves…

Nick and Amber Miller are splitting up and selling their Devon home. But despite the desirable location, the house isn’t moving. Not a single viewing so far.

When their estate agent suggests an open house event, Amber agrees, even as she worries about their gossiping neighbours attending and snooping around their home.
 
But Amber has more to worry about than nosy neighbours. Because thirteen people enter her house that afternoon, and only twelve leave.
 
Someone doesn't want the house to sell, and is willing to do anything to stop it…

Review

Wow - this is a page turner.

This book begins with Amber having split from her husband and now selling what was his family home. An interfering Mother In Law who doesn't want her to move and take the grandchildren with her or sell her old family home. Pretty pedestrian stuff until the house isn't selling and the estate agent encourages Amber to hold an open house.

Soon after the open house things begin to happen that can't be explained. Amber was watching the open house through her ringapp door bell and saw 13 people enter and only 12 leave, except no one is left in the house. Scary stuff.

There's a few threads running through this story. For once I did try and work out what was happening in a break from reading, it was really in my mind.  I only figured out a tiny bit and then I found myself saying out loud - "what is going on here"? I couldn't turn the pages fast enough to get to the end. 

Believable characters and so many plot lines you end up suspecting everyone of everything.

I'm giving this book 5 out of 5 stars. My thanks to netgalley for the ARC to review.

What July Knew - Emily Koch

 

Description

Summer, 1995.

July Hooper knows eighteen things about her mother.

Like number thirteen: she loved dancing on the kitchen table. And number eight: she was covered in freckles.

And then there's number two: she died after being hit by a car when July was small.

She keeps this list hidden in a drawer away from her father. Because they're not allowed to talk about her mother. Ever.

But an anonymous note slipped into July's bag on her tenth birthday is about to change everything she thinks she knows about her mum.

Determined to discover what really happened to her, July begins to investigate, cycling around the neighbourhood where her family used to live. There she meets someone who might finally have the answers.

July wants her family to stop lying to her, but will the truth be harder to face?

Review

I absolutely loved this book.This book is not like anything else I have read before, and these days that's getting rarer for me.

Set in the summer of 1995 we follow July, whose turning 10 years old. She knows 18 things about her dead mother and she is desperate to know more. She has a step sister and step mother who have an on off relationship with her emotions and a Father who doesn't want to talk about his dead wife. She craves affection from her Father, but it's given out in very small doses.

Covering domestic violence this book deals with the issues in such a way that it isn't a terrifying read, but the danger is obviously present. July becomes a bit of a detective which is enabled when she receives a bike for her tenth birthday. Now she can go further afield to find out more about her earlier life and her Mother. Unfortunately that knowledge brings her into more danger.

I raced through this book, especially when it was getting nearer to finding out what had happened in the past. There was a bit of a twist which I didn't immediately understand. At first I found this additional information irritating, but as more was revealed it all became clear.

A brilliant read with down to earth everyday characters. July's voice is amazing and so well written, you can't help but fall in love with her. The story is evenly paced throughout the book and flows with beautifully descriptive writing.

I'm giving this book 5 out of 5 stars. What July Knew is published on 9 February 2023. My thanks to netgalley for the ARC to review.

A Vintage Friendship - Cathy Hopkins

 

Description

Another warm and uplifting book from the author of The Kicking the Bucket List ‘Feelgood’ Good Housekeeping

Has their friendship stood the test of time?

The Class of ’72, Sara, Ally, Jo and Mitch were as close as sisters, then life intervened and the four friends lost touch. Now in her sixties, Sara has realized – late in the day – that those women were the best friends she’d ever had and is determined to get the gang back together.

Ally is facing a huge turning point in her life and Jo, after years of being chief cook and bottle washer, needs to put herself first after a wake-up call.

None of them know what happened to Mitch. The coolest and most enigmatic of the foursome doesn’t want to be found and it seems that even after all these years, the women are still keeping a few secrets from each other…

Review

Nice to read about a group of friends who are mature ladies.

I loved the beginning of this book. A mature lady who works in daytime TV and is being let go, what will she do now? She searches around for friends and realises unfortunately her closest friend passed away and her oldest friends she hardly has contact with.

When Sara begins to look for work and friends she hits on the idea for a new TV show. One of her group of oldest friends lost touch with them in the 70s, and no one has heard from her since. What about a show to find long lost friends she thinks. So begins the journey to find a long lost friend and the rekindling of school friendships.

I liked the stories of each of the women and the flashbacks to Mitch and what became of her. But overall I found the writing voice to be trite and a little irritating. I kept getting two of the women mixed up and there wasn't any depth to there characters.  I wanted to know what had become of Mitch and so I read on, but not with the gusto I had first started with.

I'm giving this book 3 out of 5 stars. My thanks to netgalley for the ARC to review.

A Night on the Orient Express - Veronica Henry

 

Description

The Orient Express. Luxury. Mystery. Romance.

For one group of passengers settling in to their seats and taking their first sips of champagne, the journey from London to Venice is more than the trip of a lifetime.

A mysterious errand; a promise made to a dying friend; an unexpected proposal; a secret reaching back a lifetime...As the train sweeps on, revelations, confessions and assignations unfold against the most romantic and infamous setting in the world.

Review

Just perfect.

It's taken me a long time to get around to reading this book but I am so very glad I did. It was just delightful. 

It took a while before we boarded the Orient Express. The actual trip on the Orient Express is not taken up by that much of the book, but the descriptions of both the train and the views were so worthwhile.

The book begins in the past and I settled right into it.  Despite having quite a large group of characters who all end up on the train, each of the backstories was so well written and interesting. I loved all the characters. It never felt tedious when the book flip flopped between the present day and the past.

Once the train departed we had a fairly good idea of why everyone was on the train but there were still some surprises in store.

I'm giving this book 5 out of 5 stars.