https://theburgeoningbookshelf.blogsp... The Tea Ladies of St Jude's Hospital is the perfect read if you want something light and uplifting that also chttps://theburgeoningbookshelf.blogsp... The Tea Ladies of St Jude's Hospital is the perfect read if you want something light and uplifting that also contains a bit of substance.
Inevitably at some stage in your life, whether as visitor or patient, you will come across the wonderful women who volunteer their services at local hospitals, serving tea and providing a listening ear for patients and their families.
Hilary is the militant manageress of The Marjorie Marshall Memorial cafeteria situated in St Jude's Hospital. Hilary, now separated from her husband Jim and his lucrative income, is living in her sister's spare room. With Hilary it is all about keeping up appearances and she battles on with no idea how she will manage her future. New recruit Joy is vivacious, colourful and full of life. She was encouraged by husband Len to take up some volunteer work outside the home. Chloe is an anxious seventeen-year-old volunteering at the cafe to complete her Duke of Edinburgh Award. Chloe neglects her own wants in the aim to please her hard-working and ambitious parents.
I loved Joanna Nell's eclectic group of characters. I like the way Joanna uses older characters that are vibrant and break the stereo-typical role of older people. They all had problems they kept to themselves whilst putting on a brave front. When the very existence of the cafe is jeopardised in the name of progress the three unlikely friends band together to try and save the little cafe.
The Tea Ladies of St Jude's Hospital is a heart-warming story, filled with humour and pathos, that celebrates unlikely friendships and standing up for yourself....more
Set over the twelve months of 1998 Sophie Green’s latest novel, The Bellbird River Country Choir is a totally immersive read about the importance of f Set over the twelve months of 1998 Sophie Green’s latest novel, The Bellbird River Country Choir is a totally immersive read about the importance of female friendships.
Five women from different backgrounds and age groups become unlikely friends when each of them, for different reasons, join the local country choir.
At first the women are quiet and even a little judgy however they soon start supporting each other to face their challenges allowing them to grow in self-confidence.
Single mother Alex, who has moved to the country from the bustle of the city to spend more time with her young daughter, joins the choir to make friends. Janene has lived in the town all her life. She works in her parents bakery and the choir is her social outlet. Debbie, who is a house-keeper and nanny on a local farm, is encouraged to join the choir to foster some self-confidence. Famous opera singer Gabrielle is back in Bellbird River staying at cousin Victoria’s family home. She needs to rebuild her confidence after surgery affected her singing voice. Victoria, a stalwart in the local community, joins the choir, not due to loneliness since her husband left her but to support her cousin Gabrielle. Each of the women are at a cross-roads in their life and find that confiding and trusting in one another gives them the confidence to move forward. Sophie Green includes themes of single parenthood, life after prison, mental illness, bullying, gaslighting and regaining self-confidence. These themes flow around a centric topic of love; for children, in marriage, forbidden love, self love, love for family and friends.
The Bellbird River Country Choir is an easy read with likeable characters with relatable problems and realistic solutions. Well worth a read! *I received a copy through Better Reading Preview ...more
3.5 stars I love Natasha Lester’s books so I didn’t even read the blurb. I just jumped straight in. I immediately became engrossed in Estella’s story a3.5 stars I love Natasha Lester’s books so I didn’t even read the blurb. I just jumped straight in. I immediately became engrossed in Estella’s story and was quite shocked when the story jumped to 2015 and Fabienne. I think this, in turn, made me a little less interested in Fabienne’s story.
The Paris Seamstress is a look at fashion during the 1940’s and how many companies copied designs from the big Parisian fashion houses and reproduced them. Paris was the fashion capitol of the world. The story moves from war-torn Paris to New York where a very outspoken and opinionated Estella finds it hard to break into the fashion industry. She has her own distinct ideas on fashion but are the American women ready for these ideas.
I found the overall plot of The Paris Seamstress to be quite complex and I had trouble keeping up at times. Just as I became totally engrossed in one timeline the story would switch over and I felt a resentment at being pulled away from my story. For me the gap between each switch was too large.
What I loved about the story was the strong female characters and the two burgeoning love stories. The Paris Seamstress is filled with mystery, love, hope, optimism and loss. All centred around the fashion industry.
The problem with holding A Kiss from Mr Fitzgerald up as one of my favourite books ever is, it’s a hard act to follow. *I received a copy of the book from the publisher via Netgalley...more
*https://theburgeoningbookshelf.blogsp... It’s Callie’s 50th Birthday. The day her whole life will implode and she, and her rebellious 14 year old daug*https://theburgeoningbookshelf.blogsp... It’s Callie’s 50th Birthday. The day her whole life will implode and she, and her rebellious 14 year old daughter, will need to completely reassess their lives.
It is also Sam’s 40th Birthday. A day that will see all Sam’s dreams come true but will slao open up every insecurity she has ever felt.
Ginger should be celebrating her 30th Birthday but instead she is attending best firend Liza’s wedding. She really doesn’t mind, her birthday can wait and there is a cute guy that has been very attentive. A chance overheard conversation has Ginger’s whole idea of friendship, and her own self image, shattered.
Told in alternating point of view of Callie, Sam and Ginger. Three complete strangers all sharing the same birthday and all found their lives changed forever in The Year That Changed Everything.
This is not only a story of how these three women fell apart and slowly rebuilt their lives and their confidence but also about family and finding true friendship where you least expect it. Each of the women, in their time of need, were supported by loving family.
I really enjoyed each woman’s journey and the anticipation of how they were going to meet but it is hard not to connect more with one character than another and Ginger was definitely my favourite. We see, through Ginger, that body image is a real threat to someone’s self esteem and viscous comments by people posing as friends can reinforce this but when she has supportive people around her Ginger’s confidence soared.
There were also many wonderful supporting characters that were there to provide comfort, humour and even a love interest throughout the book.
The Year That Changed Everything is a feel good story of self discovery. ...more
*https://theburgeoningbookshelf.blogsp... I was quite torn by this book. It was funny and entertaining but I also found it easy to put down. I was easi*https://theburgeoningbookshelf.blogsp... I was quite torn by this book. It was funny and entertaining but I also found it easy to put down. I was easily distracted by other things and it ended up taking me a week to read. I wasn’t drawn into the story or the characters, just a mere bystander.
I couldn’t relate to Peggy, a frail 79 year old. My mother at 80 and my mother-in-law at 89 are both active, vibrant and extremely self reliant people.
I really enjoyed the politics of the retirement village which elicited quite a few giggles and Peggy’s crush on Brian was sweet and this was one plot line I was eager to see through to the finish.
At times I felt quite saddened by Peggy’s circumstances and her inner thoughts and at other times she had me in fits of laughter.
Nell covers many women’s health issues in a humorous, but never demeaning, way.
Peggy’s constant thoughts of “looking after” Brian, ironing his clothes, cooking his meals had me rolling my eyes and wondering if Peggy really wanted to gain any independence.
The introduction of Angie, Peggy’s best friend from school days, was a breath of fresh air; at last salvation. Angie had lived a wild, crazy life and the two hadn’t seen each other for 50 years but they instantly reconnected, old friendships are like that. I loved Angie....and then I didn’t! You will have to read the book to find out why.
Even though I struggled to love this book I would suggest you read it if you have an ageing parent, you may learn some empathy, or if you are approaching the retirement home stage, you will learn to speak up, play up and never stop having fun.
Veronica ⭐️
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