Captain Blood by Rafael Sabatini is an exciting adventure story which begins around 1685 when King James II was on the throne of England.Peter Blood was a thirty-two year old Irish physician who had taken service with the Dutch under the great admiral de Ruyter and fought against France. He spent two years in a … Continue reading Captain Blood by Rafael Sabatini (1922)
Authors for Teens
Ten Favourite Books of a 15 Year Old
I asked my 15 yr old daughter to write a few words about the books she's enjoyed - she reads A LOT, so the following are books she's read or re-read recently or those that first came to mind about an hour ago when I asked her. Seven Daughters and Seven Sons - Barbara Cohen … Continue reading Ten Favourite Books of a 15 Year Old
Sick Heart River by John Buchan (1941)
Sick Heart River was John Buchan’s last novel. He dictated the story to his long-serving secretary, Lilian Killick, who told his wife that the book was ‘odd,’ and ‘so unlike him, so introspective.’ It is a very philosophical book but it is also an adventure and a spiritual quest.The main character is Sir … Continue reading Sick Heart River by John Buchan (1941)
The Franchise Affair by Josephine Tey (1948)
Josephine Tey has just shot to the top of the list of my favourite authors. Inspector Alan Grant of Scotland Yard was already up there as the most humane and likeable literary detective of my reading to date, but although he does play a (very minor) role in this novel, it is an unqualified, unlikely, … Continue reading The Franchise Affair by Josephine Tey (1948)
The Singing Sands by Josephine Tey
Josephine Tey is the pseudonym of Elizabeth MacKintosh, a Scottish author, who also wrote numerous plays under the name of Gordon Daviot. She was one of the great British writers who wrote during the Golden Age of Crime and is best known for her mystery novels.The Singing Sands was published after Tey's death in 1952, … Continue reading The Singing Sands by Josephine Tey
Nothing Else Matters by Patricia St John (1919-1993)
Patricia St John has been called 'a poet of forgiveness,' and you don't have to look any further than the wonderful stories she wrote for young children to understand why. Tanglewood's Secret (1948), Treasures of the Snow (1950), Star of Light (1953) and Rainbow Garden (1960), are just a few of the powerful, engrossing and … Continue reading Nothing Else Matters by Patricia St John (1919-1993)
The Man in the Brown Suit by Agatha Christie
The Man in the Brown Suit is the fourth book I've read by Agatha Christie, the 'Queen of Crime.' I read Murder on the Orient Express and Death on the Nile years ago and wasn't inspired enough to read any more of her novels but a couple of my children really liked The … Continue reading The Man in the Brown Suit by Agatha Christie
Authors for Teens – Part 1
The books by authors I've listed here are those our children enjoyed reading in their spare time when they were in their teens. An asterisk means some of my children read it before their teens or that it's suitable for a younger age level. Just be aware that this is only my opinion & even … Continue reading Authors for Teens – Part 1
Greenmantle by John Buchan
John Buchan (1875-1940) is one of my favourite authors. I enjoy his dry humour, the sense of mystery in his stories, his exotic characters and the many allusions to Biblical characters and places throughout his books which add a richness and depth not found in more recent books. Greenmantle is the second book which features … Continue reading Greenmantle by John Buchan
journey & destination 