Services
Online Book Group
If you like reading but can't manage to get to a book group, then why not join our online group? Every two months we will feature books which our book groups have been reading and post their comments and reviews here.
Click on the book image below to link to the catalogue for more information on the book. You can then request this title and it will be delivered to your local library.
Read by West Calder Thursday Book Group
A mixed reaction to this book:
- Sometimes boring and no great depth.
- Surprised that a film had been made from this book.
- We would not read another book by this author
Read by West Calder Thursday Reading Group
- Not an easy read but an enjoyable one, an excellent vocabulary and some very good turns of phrases.
- A lot of twists and turns, pure violence, ahte, murder ... it has it all.
Read by West Calder Thursday Reading Group
- We all enjoyed this book although we found it quite depressing. It showed the cold and unfeeling middle class father and the son who was so affected by his mother's death.
- The whole village was against him, but in the end we hoped he would be happy after his National Service and meet up with his only friend.
Read by West Calder Thursday Reading Group
- "Death Mask shows a strong knowledge of forensic investigation, so it comes as little surprise that author Kathryn Fox is a general practitioner".
- "The book is rather graphic at times and shows a different side to sport and sportsmen".
- "Brings to your attention how women in general are portrayed in the media".
Review by Helen Vetesse, East Calder Book Group.
"Thoroughly enjoyed the book once I got used to the way it was written - all the direct speech with little indication as to who is speaking. The historical facts seem pretty much in keeeping with other books I've read and the characters are as devious or ill-done to as others have portrayed them, except for More. According to the film "A man for all seasons", he was practically a saint. In this book he was a nasty man with his own private torture chamber who seemed to want to be martyred.
It was the wrong time in history to hold strong beliefs or to express them. Those who kept their heads below the parapet hung on to them for longer. Why was the book called "Wolf Hall"? The only mention was at the end as the home of the D.H. Seymour family."
Read by West Calder Thursday Book Group
We enjoyed the book. It was very thought provoking about how the whites treated their maids. We though their maids were very brave in helping to write their stories. We wonder how far attitudes have changed in the deep South.
"A refreshing story told through the eyes of two children with their perception of life as the girl, an infant, and the maturing views of the boy growing up in an environment of wealth and poverty. A tale of injustice and racism which the politely mannered "better" society of the deep South ignore for political ideology to counter the liberal politics of the North American victors of the Civil War. The "wronged" aggressor - poorly educated and living on benefits - seeking revenge on the polite society lawyer who humiliated and shamed him in court. The tragedy of the victim, poor and uneducated, but with high moral values reflects today's "welfare" social class.
Read by West Calder Thursday Reading Group
- We like the way that the book was written, with each character having their own short chapter.
- We thought that there was too much detail about Asperger's Syndrome, which made it boring and long-winded in parts. Although it does give a greater understanding of Aspergers and how one "sufferer" can affect the rest of the family.
- Many details were repetitive, consequently the book could have been condensed to make a more enjoyable read.
- We quite enjoyed the book but it was slightly spoiled by the abrupt ending and too many loose ends. After reading 555 pages, it would have been nice to know the verdict of the jury and what happened to Jacob. It's not good having to "write" the verdict yourself.
- For some members this was the first they had read a Jodi Picoult and they will certainly read another, but not immediately.
Read by East Calder Group Book Group
"Once you get used to reading the letters from Nettie, it became a very good read. It went the full circle in life and death. I had a very good feeling at the end of the book."
Review by Raye Messer
"I am really glad I read this book as I saw the film first many years ago. I think the Olinka tribe and African Americas were a lot more alike than they thought. There was much more in the book than the film. Whenever I think about Celie I really appreciate how much freedom we have."
Review by Florence Jensen
Read by West Calder Thursday Book Group
- The majority of the group enjoyed the read, but thought it went on too long
- The fairy tales were enjoyable but old fashioned
- Other book clubs may enjoy this book
- A bland book, no real excitement and rather boring to start
- Really a bit of a fairy tale
- Would not encourage us to read any more of this author's books
Reviewed by Broxburn Library Tuesday Reading Group
- It was a potato peel pie kind of a novel, with lots of layers
- I loved it!
- Delightful!
- Nice, easy book to read, but it was not rubbish
- Great book to lift and lay
- Human, with some nice characters, including a nice German
- I smiled and I cried
- I learned a lot about Guernsey during the Second World War and that was very interesting
Reviewed by Almondbank Book Group
- Fun at points, but with a lot of seriously complex medical details
- Gives a real sense of the setting (Ethiopia), very descriptive
- The characters' actions don't seem real/credible, but this could be due to the setting (so different to our lives), and the extremely strict religious context
Tell us what You think -
Why not read the books and tell us what you think? Whether you love them or hate them, would recommend them or not, then let us know and we'll add your views here. Email your comments to : librarywebteam@westlothian.gov.uk .
Customer Book Reviews
If you've read a book you really enjoyed, then why not share it with others? Email your review to librarywebteam@westlothian.gov.uk and we'll add it to the website. Here are a few from readers at Whitburn and Almondank libraries -
Anne Watts - Always the children
Review by Jane Breslin
"A superb thriller. The plot was excellent and the author had you expecting something to happen to Anna Travis' fiance - but what? Excellent read, I could hardly put this down!
Review by M. Ferguson
"Excellence in bringing research and imagination together. This book is worthy of a debate on who was "the wise woman". Was there actual wisdom?"
Review by Louise Reid
"A worthy sequel to the first Blotto and Twinks novel, with even more tongue-in-cheek humour at the expense of the inter-war aristocracy. Brett continues to coin some fantastic slang phrases, fitting the period perfectly, and the plot seems to flow better than in the first novel : their investigation seems more based in reality than the previous leaps of faith and assumptions. More of a comedy than a crime, but with plenty to keep fans of both interested."
Review by Thomas Connelly
"Excellent read, written with beauty and lust for survival of women"
Review by Louise Reid
To find out more about these books and to request a copy, click on the book images above or click here (new window) to visit the online library catalogue.
Updated 30/04/2012
