A beautiful, uplifting film. Megan Followes is outstanding as Anne Shirley, the fiery, lovable red-head, full of love and laughter.

Such a humourous script, Anne's personality warms even the prickliest characters, the grand dame, Mrs Margaret Harris, and the severe Katherine Brooke who softens into a floating kindred spirit.

Loved it! Entertainment that genuinely raises the spirits.

After enjoying previous adaptations of Jane Eyre immensely I was so looking forward to this new movie. I was thoroughly disappointed to find this version devoid of the deep passion and stirring emotions that is signature to Charlotte Bronte's 'Jane Eyre'.

I also disliked how the sequence of events were choreographed, they detracted rather than enhanced the tale. The relationship between Jane Eyre and Edward Rochester was without wit and repertoire, there was no building of intimacy; jumping from acquaintances to betrothed. The essence of true love was lost, falling flat like my deflated expectations.

A big thumbs down...

Barbara Hambly brings to life a vivid portrait of Mary Todd Lincoln in all her elaborate shades. While Mary relished in the life of a Southern belle, she relinquished her wealth for poverty to marry the man she loved. Her political astuteness was a unique trait for a woman of the time however she was constantly unbalanced due to a blinding fury and debilitating headaches. Her problems were put down to the normal female condition of nerves and being left untreated caused her great torment.


The politics of the story can be tedious at times however issues regarding the emancipation of slaves are very interesting. Beautifully written, I found the tragic tale of Mary Todd Lincoln enthralling and would highly recommend this novel for reading.

More historical fiction than historical romance, an absorbing novel drawing out the life of Lady Jane Grey; a life of great tragedy...

After overcoming a beginning of slight confusion as to which character the author was pertaining to I was sucked into the cut-throat world of the Tudors. Jane Grey, bears the cross of being born a girl, and begins a life dedicated to pleasing her parents, a quest that will bring her unending pain and consistent torment. Jane is a victim to the ambition of more than one power-playing individual, her lineage becomes her enemy as do her own religious beliefs.

I was interested in Alison Weir's interpretation of this story, as she herself is known as a historian, it was a bit of a surprise then to find some phrases which seemed a touch contemporary -

'get my drift' - apparently Shakespeare used the word drift in this context so seemed ok?
'face the music' - it is thought this may have originated in 19th Century America?
'let go a fart' & 'Oh, go f*** yourself' - seemed odd wording for this era?

Anyway, I was enthralled by the sad life of Jane Grey and appalled by those who used her, a great read.

A dark and compelling novel that might not be everyone's cup of tea, but had me turning the pages and finished in one sitting.

I found this novel thought-provoking. The main character, Ralph Truitt, was a man of extreme sexual desires yet had lived a life of extreme loneliness. The female character, Catherine Land was of a similar disposition, using her body for survival yet never really being truly loved.

It made me think about loneliness and how desolate life would be to forever crave real human contact, love and affection.

While sometimes far-fetched and at times unbelievable I found this to be a raw, gripping read that sat outside the realms of the norm.

Author 'Sophie Gee' draws on her extensive knowledge of eighteenth century London to present readers with a light, comical and sexy story of dangerous liasons, masquerade balls, political intrigue and literary history.

The novel is inspired by a poem 'The Rape of the Lock' written by one of England's most famous poets - Alexander Pope. An unlikely celebrity of his times; bearing a hunchback and a brilliant mind.

Despite its literary foundations I raced through this book, which was extremely well written and wonderfully interesting.

A nice, easy read. Something you can dive into without having to think and finish front to back in a few sittings.

A powerful novel that had an impact on my senses from the very beginning. I emphathised with the young Margaret, feeling the coldness of her mother and the brutality of her situation as she was married off, her virginal aspirations sacrificed for a Lancaster heir.

Gregory writes with sharp-edged speed, penning historical events of The War of the Roses with vivid detail, the characters taking on strong shapes that breath a life of their own. I enjoyed the wisdom and gentleness of Margaret's third husband, Henry Stafford, a rarity in the medieval world. I marvelled at the unwavering tenacity of Jasper Tudor and Margaret to put a Lancaster on the throne.

Drawing to the end of the novel, Margaret's piety was getting a little hard to bear, only once did she ever question her interpretation of God's will, her faith however, proving a worthy companion, for a life dedicated to only one outcome.

Marriage as a political strategem is much the highlight of this novel. James I is determined to be a Peacemaker and this means marrying his children to the religious factions of both Protestant and Catholic faiths.

Christie Dickason gives us a clear, cold view of how little ties of blood mean when a crown is at stake. To think that children fear the axe of treason from their own father is a frightening concept.

Elizabeth is a likeable character and interesting to read of the woman who is the creator of the current Hanoverian line. Though at times a little drawn out, entertaining and well-written.

Have you read The Other Boleyn Girl? Jean Plaidy gives us another slant of the lives of the Boleyn Sisters and raises some questions of historical truths and inaccuracies...