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1471287939
Large print
Year: 2015
Language: English
Interest category: Large Print
Media class: Large print
Publisher: Clipper Large Print
Resource type: Physical
Note: Standard format edition originally published: London: Hamish Hamilton, 2014 This is a novel all about art's versatility. Borrowing from painting's fresco technique to make an original literary double-take, it's a fast-moving genre-bending conversation between forms, times, truths, and fictions. There's a renaissance artist of the 1460s. There's the child of a child of the 1960s. Two tales of love and injustice twist into a singular yarn where time gets timeless, structural gets playful, knowing gets mysterious, fictional gets real - and all life's givens get given a second chance. General adult
352 pages (large print) (pbk)

1471266885
Talking book - CD
Year: 2014
Language: English
Interest category: Spoken Word
Media class: Talking book - CD
Publisher: Clipper Audio
Resource type: Physical
Note: 'Elizabeth is missing', reads the note in Maud's pocket in her own handwriting. Lately, Maud's been getting forgetful. She keeps buying peach slices when she has a cupboard full, forgets to drink the cups of tea she's made and writes notes to remind herself of things. But Maud is determined to discover what has happened to her friend, Elizabeth, and what it has to do with the unsolved disappearance of her sister Sukey, years back, just after the war. General adult
10 CDs (690 min.) (CDs)

"Mum, you don't live here, anymore." At times, “Elizabeth is Missing” is almost an unbearable read, to the extent that the plot, which is so often the source of tension in fiction, in this novel offers some relief from the sheer going-on of daily life and the almost unremitting mental deterioration of Maud Horsham, the main character and narrator. Maud, in her early eighties, has what looks like mid-stage Alzheimer’s Disease and is increasingly troubled by – as she sees it – the disappearance of her friend, Elizabeth, a disappearance that is very closely associated for Maud with the disappearance when she was a girl in post-Second World War England of Suki, her older sister. While not rivaling an Agatha Christie narrator who turns out to be the murderer, Maud’s account of her search for Elizabeth is frequently but not always unreliable. She makes notes but these are a painful parody of a detective’s notes because they add to her confusion and make even sharper the contrast with Mau
19/12/15
0241003504
Hardback
Year: 2014
Language: English
Interest category: General fiction novels
Media class: Hardback
Publisher: Viking
Resource type: Physical
Note: 'Elizabeth is missing', reads the note in Maud's pocket in her own handwriting. Lately, Maud's been getting forgetful. She keeps buying peach slices when she has a cupboard full, forgets to drink the cups of tea she's made and writes notes to remind herself of things. But Maud is determined to discover what has happened to her friend, Elizabeth, and what it has to do with the unsolved disappearance of her sister Sukey, years back, just after the war. General adult
288 pages ; 20 cm (hbk)

This book generated a lot of discussion not least because many of our group are older. We found it interesting and felt sadness at the heroine's circumstances. We liked the way the author kept her family at a distance while she had memory problems, as an example of the isolation people with dementia etc suffer from. The murder element of the story became exciting as the story developed. The author's technique was clever as she drew you into the isolation of her own private world.
24/11/18
1445099128
Large print
Year: 2014
Language: English
Interest category: Large Print
Media class: Large print
Publisher: ISIS
Resource type: Physical
Note: 'Elizabeth is missing', reads the note in Maud's pocket in her own handwriting. Lately, Maud's been getting forgetful. She keeps buying peach slices when she has a cupboard full, forgets to drink the cups of tea she's made and writes notes to remind herself of things. But Maud is determined to discover what has happened to her friend, Elizabeth, and what it has to do with the unsolved disappearance of her sister Sukey, years back, just after the war. General adult
368 pages (large print) (hbk)

Camberley Library Morning Reading Group. The book is an accurate, and often depressing, portrayal of dementia AND THUS WE WOULD ADVISE CAUTION BEFORE READING/RECOMMENDING/GIFTING IT. However we feel the book should be essential reading for all professional carers, and those who are dismissive of sufferers. It is a crime novel reminiscent of Mike Haddon’s ‘The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time’ (but less endearing). Only 275 pages long, it is a small, page-turning, masterpiece. The unreliable narrator is Maud, an 82-year-old with dementia. She is trying to make sense of both her childhood and the present day, in order to solve two mysteries. As the story unfolds, her condition deteriorates and as such it is deliberately misleading. How much does Maud know? Was she involved? Should her ramblings be taken seriously? The novel has flaws including unrealistic events and romanticism of the protagonist, but as with most fiction you have to suspend belief so we overlooked these
02/11/15
0141025204
Paperback
Year: 2015
Language: English
Interest category: General fiction novels
Media class: Paperback
Publisher: Penguin Books
Resource type: Physical
Note: Published outside the British Isles This is a novel all about art's versatility. Borrowing from painting's fresco technique to make a literary double-take, it's a fast-moving genre-bending conversation between forms, times, truths, and fictions. There's a renaissance artist of the 1460s. There's the child of a child of the 1960s. Two tales of love and injustice twist into a singular yarn where time gets timeless, structural gets playful, knowing gets mysterious, fictional gets real - and all life's givens get given a second chance. General adult
371 pages ; 20 cm (pbk)

Joyful and artful. Having been told that either half can be read first I ended up reading the whole book twice. The two halves are not predictably interwoven and each perspective is plausible and uplifting. The book addresses parenting, loss, compassion and, indeed, how to be both. Recommended.
03/08/19
1471277240
Talking book - CD
Year: 2014
Language: English
Interest category: Spoken Word
Media class: Talking book - CD
Publisher: Clipper Audio
Resource type: Physical
Note: This is a novel all about art's versatility. Borrowing from painting's fresco technique to make an original literary double-take, it's a fast-moving genre-bending conversation between forms, times, truths, and fictions. There's a renaissance artist of the 1460s. There's the child of a child of the 1960s. Two tales of love and injustice twist into a singular yarn where time gets timeless, structural gets playful, knowing gets mysterious, fictional gets real - and all life's givens get given a second chance. General adult
9 CDs (600 min.) (CDs)

024114521X
Hardback
Year: 2014
Language: English
Interest category: General fiction novels
Media class: Hardback
Publisher: Hamish Hamilton
Resource type: Physical
Note: This is a novel all about art's versatility. Borrowing from painting's fresco technique to make an original literary double-take, it's a fast-moving genre-bending conversation between forms, times, truths, and fictions. There's a renaissance artist of the 1460s. There's the child of a child of the 1960s. Two tales of love and injustice twist into a singular yarn where time gets timeless, structural gets playful, knowing gets mysterious, fictional gets real - and all life's givens get given a second chance. General adult
371 pages ; 23 cm (hbk)

0241968186
Paperback
Year: 2015
Language: English
Interest category: General fiction novels
Media class: Paperback
Publisher: Penguin Books
Resource type: Physical
Note: Published outside the British Isles 'Elizabeth is missing', reads the note in Maud's pocket in her own handwriting. Lately, Maud's been getting forgetful. She keeps buying peach slices when she has a cupboard full, forgets to drink the cups of tea she's made and writes notes to remind herself of things. But Maud is determined to discover what has happened to her friend, Elizabeth, and what it has to do with the unsolved disappearance of her sister Sukey, years back, just after the war. General adult
274 pages ; 20 cm (pbk)

Recommended. An interesting view of how Alzheimer's affects short term memory and family relationships. Funny and sad at the same time.
02/06/16
1444823795
Large print
Year: 2015
Language: English
Interest category: Large Print
Media class: Large print
Publisher: Charnwood
Resource type: Physical
Note: Standard print edition originally published: London: Windmill Books, 2014 Sometimes however much you love someone, you can't understand them. Ian used to think that his life had been disappointingly easy, compared to the pioneers. He had a happy marriage, four children, a satisfactory job and, for just over a year, he has served the church in his role as Bishop of the local congregation, an enormous responsibility. And then Issy died. Now his wife, Claire, won't get out of their dead daughter's bottom bunk and she won't speak. General adult
448 pages (large print) (hbk)

0091954371
Hardback
Year: 2014
Language: English
Interest category: General fiction novels
Media class: Hardback
Publisher: Hutchinson
Resource type: Physical
Note: Sometimes however much you love someone, you can't understand them. Ian used to think that his life had been disappointingly easy, compared to the pioneers. He had a happy marriage, four children, a satisfactory job and, for just over a year, he has served the church in his role as Bishop of the local congregation, an enormous responsibility. And then Issy died. Now his wife, Claire, won't get out of their dead daughter's bottom bunk and she won't speak. General adult
399 pages ; 23 cm (hbk)

I was so frustrated with this book and struggled understand all the rave reviews. I know I should respect other people's religion but Ian's unshakeable faith to the point where he puts religious meetings before his own family, the mental bullying to make zippy accompany her mum to the mortuary when she clearly didn't want to, of Al to go and clean the church, he made me so cross and irritated. This wasn't for me, with respect and apologies to everyone who loved it only a two star.
05/11/15
0099591871
Paperback
Year: 2015
Language: English
Interest category: General fiction novels
Media class: Paperback
Publisher: Windmill Books
Resource type: Physical
Note: Sometimes however much you love someone, you can't understand them. Ian used to think that his life had been disappointingly easy, compared to the pioneers. He had a happy marriage, four children, a satisfactory job and, for just over a year, he has served the church in his role as Bishop of the local congregation, an enormous responsibility. And then Issy died. Now his wife, Claire, won't get out of their dead daughter's bottom bunk and she won't speak. General adult
399 pages ; 20 cm (pbk)

0670918148
Hardback
Year: 2014
Language: English
Interest category: General fiction novels
Media class: Hardback
Publisher: Viking
Resource type: Physical
Note: Radio tie-in It is the 1960s and Nora Webster is living with her two young sons in a small town on the east coast of Ireland. The love of her life, Maurice, has just died so she must work out how to forge a new life for herself. As Nora returns to memories of the happiness of her early marriage, something more painful begins to intrude: memories of her own mother and what brought about the terrifying distance between them. General adult
310 pages ; 25 cm (hbk)

Extremely well written with some beautiful descriptions. A realistic portrayal of family life in 1960’s Ireland. There are hidden depths to novel multi-layered, thought provoking writing. It is a study of the emotions of a family living through the bereavement of the husband and father. It describes the development of ‘Nora’ and the journey she takes to becoming an independent person after her husband’s death. At the same time there is a growing awareness by the family of the current political situation ie Irish Troubles in the 1960’s. Lots to discuss. Wide ranging opinions in the group. Rated 7/10 Horley reading group
06/04/16
0141041757
Paperback
Year: 2015
Language: English
Interest category: General fiction novels
Media class: Paperback
Publisher: Penguin Books
Resource type: Physical
Note: Radio tie-in Published outside the British Isles It is the 1960s and Nora Webster is living with her two young sons in a small town on the east coast of Ireland. The love of her life, Maurice, has just died so she must work out how to forge a new life for herself. As Nora returns to memories of the happiness of her early marriage, something more painful begins to intrude: memories of her own mother and what brought about the terrifying distance between them. General adult
310 pages ; 20 cm (pbk)

Reading Group review. I found it rather disappointing. Having read Toibin's 'Testament of Mary', which was brilliant and thought-provoking and made a real impression on me, this novel didn't reach the same heights. It is, nevertheless, well-written and clearly parts of it are autobiographical, but it lacks passion and it is a little pedestrian.
12/10/17
0571310958
Hardback
Year: 2014
Language: English
Interest category: Stories for older children
Media class: Hardback
Publisher: Faber & Faber
Resource type: Physical
Note: Based on the novels written by Edith Nesbit Have you ever wondered what happened to the 'Five Children and It' characters when the First World War began? Cyril is off to fight, Anthea is at art college, Robert is a Cambridge scholar and Jane is at high school. The Lamb is the grown up age of 11, and he has a little sister, Edith, in tow. The sand fairy has become a creature of stories - until he suddenly reappears. Ages 5 - 12
318 pages ; 19 cm (hbk)

1471286681
Large print
Year: 2015
Language: English
Interest category: Large Print
Media class: Large print
Publisher: Clipper Large Print
Resource type: Physical
Note: Standard print edition originally published: London: Viking, 2014 It is the 1960s and Nora Webster is living with her two young sons in a small town on the east coast of Ireland. The love of her life, Maurice, has just died so she must work out how to forge a new life for herself. As Nora returns to memories of the happiness of her early marriage, something more painful begins to intrude: memories of her own mother and what brought about the terrifying distance between them. General adult
464 pages (large print) (pbk)

0241000009
Hardback
Year: 2014
Language: English
Interest category: General fiction novels
Media class: Hardback
Publisher: Viking
Resource type: Physical
Note: Two months behind on his rent, young graduate Monocle swallows his dreams and takes the only job he can find: the lowest-rung chef in a gastropub in Camden. Here he finds himself surrounded by a group of deranged hoodlums (his co-workers) and at the mercy of an ingenious sadist (the head chef, Bob). General adult
326 pages ; 21 cm (hbk)

0857560581
Hardback
Year: 2014
Language: English
Interest category: Young adult novels
Media class: Hardback
Publisher: David Fickling Books
Resource type: Physical
Note: Meet Garvie Smith - charming, brilliant and completely bone idle. If anything can get his attention, it might just be a murder. What sort of girl was gorgeous Chloe Dow? Not the sort to disappear without a trace. What sort of policeman is workaholic Detective Inspector Raminder Singh? Not the sort to rush his first murder investigation. What sort of boy is Garvie Smith? Don't ask. At least, don't ask his mother. When Chloe's body is pulled from Pike Pond, the hunt is on for her killer and DI Singh has a chance to prove his worth. He doesn't need any 'assistance' from notorious slacker Garvie Smith, the boy with the highest IQ ever recorded at Marsh Academy, and the lowest ever grades. Or does he? Teenagers
Title series: A Garvie Smith mystery
437 pages ; 22 cm (hbk)

057128454X
Hardback
Year: 2014
Language: English
Interest category: Literature & languages
Media class: Hardback
Content type: Poetry
Publisher: Faber & Faber
Resource type: Physical
Note: When Chaucer composed 'Troilus and Criseyde' he gave us, some say, his finest poem, and with it one of the most captivating love stories ever written. 'A Double Sorrow' takes its title from the opening line of that poem in a fresh telling of this most tortured of love affairs. General adult
217 pages ; 21 cm (hbk)

1445048833
Talking book - CD
Year: 2015
Language: English
Interest category: Spoken Word
Media class: Talking book - CD
Publisher: ISIS Audio Books
Resource type: Physical
Note: 'In real life, goshawks resemble sparrowhawks the way leopards resemble housecats. Bigger, yes. But bulkier, bloodier, deadlier, scarier, and much, much harder to see. Birds of deep woodland, not gardens, they're the birdwatchers' dark grail.' As a child Helen Macdonald was determined to become a falconer. She learned the arcane terminology and read all the classic books, including T.H. White's tortured masterpiece, 'The Goshawk', which describes White's struggle to train a hawk as a spiritual contest. When her father dies and she is knocked sideways by grief, she becomes obsessed with the idea of training her own goshawk. She buys Mabel on a Scottish quayside and takes her home to Cambridge. This book is a record of a spiritual journey - an unflinchingly honest account of Macdonald's struggle with grief during the difficult process of the hawk's taming and her own untaming. General adult
10 CDs (10 hr., 25 min.) (CDs)

Extraordinary book. Wonderfully evocative, poetic writing, so many connections made between smaller events and their wider significance. Amazingly perceptive, deeply personal and honest account of the grieving process which resonated with me. She explores the "archaeology of grief". Very interesting biographical information about the novelist T H White, also author of "The Goshawk". The subject of hawking was new to me but I found it very compelling reading. The history, terminology, mythology and moral issues are all explored. Highly recommended.
05/06/15
144726343X
Paperback
Year: 2014
Language: English
Interest category: Literature & languages
Media class: Paperback
Content type: Poetry
Publisher: Picador
Resource type: Physical
Note: 'The Whole & Rain-domed Universe' is Colette Bryce's much-anticiapted follow-up to 'Self-Portrait in the Dark.' The book presents the reader with an extraordinarily clear-eyed, vivid and sometimes disturbing account of growing up in Derry during the Troubles, with many ghosts both raised and laid to rest. General adult
48 pages ; 20 cm (pbk)

1781721629
Paperback
Year: [2014]
Language: English
Interest category: Literature & languages
Media class: Paperback
Content type: Poetry
Publisher: Seren
Resource type: Physical
Note: This title introduces a vibrant and unique new voice from Wales. The superheroes in question are a motley crew. Evel Knievel, Sophia Loren, Ian Rush, Marty McFly, a bicycling nun and a recalcitrant hippo. General adult
72 pages ; 22 cm (pbk)

1471289885
Talking book - CD
Year: 2015
Language: English
Interest category: Spoken Word
Media class: Talking book - CD
Publisher: Clipper Audio
Resource type: Physical
Note: Calcutta, 1967. Unnoticed by his family, Supratik has become dangerously involved in student unrest, agitation, extremist political activism. Compelled by an idealistic desire to change his life and the world around him, all he leaves behind before disappearing is this note. The ageing patriarch and matriarch of his family, the Ghoshes, preside over their large household, unaware that beneath the barely ruffled surface of their lives the sands are shifting. General adult
19 CDs (1320 min.) (CDs)

147128994X
Talking book - CD
Year: 2015
Language: English
Interest category: Spoken Word
Media class: Talking book - CD
Publisher: Clipper Audio
Resource type: Physical
Note: A collection of poetry by acclaimed Jamaican novelist and poet Kei Miller. General adult
1 CD (75 min.) (CD)

1847772676
Paperback
Year: 2014
Language: English
Interest category: Literature & languages
Media class: Paperback
Content type: Bibliography, Poetry
Publisher: Carcanet
Resource type: Physical
Note: In this collection, acclaimed Jamaican poet Kei Miller dramatizes what happens when one system of knowledge, one method of understanding place and territory, comes up against another. General adult
72 pages ; 22 cm (pbk)

1782393528
Paperback
Year: 2015
Language: English
Interest category: Living & learning
Media class: Paperback
Publisher: Atlantic Books
Resource type: Physical
Note: In 2008, Marion Coutts' husband, the art critic Tom Lubbock, was diagnosed with a brain tumour, and told that he had not more than two years to live. Tom was 53 when he died, leaving Marion and their son Eugene, just two years old, alone. In short bursts of beautiful, textured prose, Coutts describes the eighteen months leading up to her partner's death; an account of a family unit under assault, and how the three of them fought to keep it intact. General adult
294 pages ; 20 cm (pbk)
