Books - The Greatcoat by Helen Dunmore
Well this was unexpected... yeah, I've had a fairly lazy, cosy Saturday in today... *vbg*
Book Bingo Masterpost
It is the winter of 1952, and Isabel Carey is struggling to adjust to the realities of married life in Yorkshire. Isolated and lonely, she is also intensely cold. And her husband - a doctor - is rarely home. And then one night she discovers an old RAF greatcoat in the back of a cupboard. She puts it on her bed for warmth - and is startled by a knock at her window. Outside is a young man. A pilot. And he wants to come in...
This is our bookgroup book for February's meeting, and I wouldn't normally read it so soon but my friend just read it and wanted to hear what I thought, because she hadn't really liked it - partly because she was confused by what was going on. So I thought I'd read it now - and as it turned out, I just kept reading until I finished it! It's 239 pages, but an easy read, but I think it's also a testimoney to the fact that (again this year!) it's a good book. Real, sympathetic characters, interesting story, good atmosphere - I felt like I was there with Isabel.
Someone at bookgroup who'd already read it said they found it really creepy and wouldn't read it at night, or if they were alone - but I didn't find it anything like that. I'd go so far as to say I wouldn't at all mind if this sort of ghost turned up in my house! *g* There was a character that I found a bit creepy, but more because she was kept a shadow-y background figure than for who she was - and I had sympathy for her at the same time. Which, when you think about it, must again be a mark of a good writer, if they can evoke positive emotions about characters who are perhaps supposed to be slightly villainous. Or maybe that's just me, I suppose... *g* Anyway - another goodun, if you're looking for soemthing to read!
And it also fits the Sci-fi/Fantasy/Paranormal square on my Bingo card - a square I find really annoying, because it's three of my favourite genres on a single square instead of separately! Oh well... So now I have three squares in a line, but actually I might have trouble with the last two here - well, not trouble exactly, but... it's only January so Books published this year are relatively limited (although I'm sure a trip to my local bookshop would turn up something *g*) And I'm not really into Comics/Graphic Novel - I like words best. I keep thinking that I should be more open about them, and I'm not snobby about books with pictures or anything - it's just that I like words. So... I might use a category substitution or wild card for that one. I'll see what I fancy on my shelves for next... *g*
Isn't it bliss to be choosing the next book to read! *vbg*
Booklist 2019
1. Mothering Sunday by Graham Swift (bookgroup)
2. You take the Hippy, I'll take Goldilocks by Gil Hale (fanfic re-read)
3. In a Land of Shadows by Gil Hale (fanfic re-read)
4. The Dressmaker by Rosalie Ham (MountTBR, LjBookBingo)
5. A Walk on the Beach by E.T. (fanfic re-read)
6. Chasing the Light by Jesse Blackadder (Mount TBR, LjBookBingo)
7. November by Sebastian (fanfic re-read)
8. Time Travelling with a Hamster by Ross Welford (Mount TBR, LjBookBingo)
9. The Greatcoat by Helen Dunmore (Bookgroup, LjBookBingo)
Book Bingo Masterpost
It is the winter of 1952, and Isabel Carey is struggling to adjust to the realities of married life in Yorkshire. Isolated and lonely, she is also intensely cold. And her husband - a doctor - is rarely home. And then one night she discovers an old RAF greatcoat in the back of a cupboard. She puts it on her bed for warmth - and is startled by a knock at her window. Outside is a young man. A pilot. And he wants to come in...
This is our bookgroup book for February's meeting, and I wouldn't normally read it so soon but my friend just read it and wanted to hear what I thought, because she hadn't really liked it - partly because she was confused by what was going on. So I thought I'd read it now - and as it turned out, I just kept reading until I finished it! It's 239 pages, but an easy read, but I think it's also a testimoney to the fact that (again this year!) it's a good book. Real, sympathetic characters, interesting story, good atmosphere - I felt like I was there with Isabel.
Someone at bookgroup who'd already read it said they found it really creepy and wouldn't read it at night, or if they were alone - but I didn't find it anything like that. I'd go so far as to say I wouldn't at all mind if this sort of ghost turned up in my house! *g* There was a character that I found a bit creepy, but more because she was kept a shadow-y background figure than for who she was - and I had sympathy for her at the same time. Which, when you think about it, must again be a mark of a good writer, if they can evoke positive emotions about characters who are perhaps supposed to be slightly villainous. Or maybe that's just me, I suppose... *g* Anyway - another goodun, if you're looking for soemthing to read!
And it also fits the Sci-fi/Fantasy/Paranormal square on my Bingo card - a square I find really annoying, because it's three of my favourite genres on a single square instead of separately! Oh well... So now I have three squares in a line, but actually I might have trouble with the last two here - well, not trouble exactly, but... it's only January so Books published this year are relatively limited (although I'm sure a trip to my local bookshop would turn up something *g*) And I'm not really into Comics/Graphic Novel - I like words best. I keep thinking that I should be more open about them, and I'm not snobby about books with pictures or anything - it's just that I like words. So... I might use a category substitution or wild card for that one. I'll see what I fancy on my shelves for next... *g*
Isn't it bliss to be choosing the next book to read! *vbg*
Booklist 2019
1. Mothering Sunday by Graham Swift (bookgroup)
2. You take the Hippy, I'll take Goldilocks by Gil Hale (fanfic re-read)
3. In a Land of Shadows by Gil Hale (fanfic re-read)
4. The Dressmaker by Rosalie Ham (MountTBR, LjBookBingo)
5. A Walk on the Beach by E.T. (fanfic re-read)
6. Chasing the Light by Jesse Blackadder (Mount TBR, LjBookBingo)
7. November by Sebastian (fanfic re-read)
8. Time Travelling with a Hamster by Ross Welford (Mount TBR, LjBookBingo)
9. The Greatcoat by Helen Dunmore (Bookgroup, LjBookBingo)