This is the list of fiction books I read from January to June 2000. For the rest of 2000 see the July-Dec 2000 page. For books read this year, see my book reviews blog
January
2000
Anthony Lynn - Yes Prime Minister
The supposed diaries of Jim Hacker in his role as British Prime Minister, interspersed with letters and memoirs. Brilliant insights into the Civil Service and government, with plenty of humour, although rather too close to the truth at times! I'd read this before, years ago, but thoroughly enjoyed a re-read.
Maeve Binchy - Light a Penny Candle
The story of two ten-year-old girls, Aisling and Elizabeth, who are thrown together by the war and develop a lifelong friendship. Believable people portrayed in realistic settings in England and Ireland. This is a well-written and fast moving book, but there is a gradual and rather depressing ending with too many broken marriages and deaths for my taste.
Georgette Heyer - The Black Moth
An exciting historical novel. An Earl's son takes the blame for his brother's cheating at cards, and is forced to flee, eventually becoming a highwayman. He keeps his chivalry and rescues a pretty girl, at risk to his own life. Romance ensues and the climax includes a sword fight before a typical cleverly written tidy Georgette Heyer ending.
Georgette Heyer - Venetia
Superb characters in Venetia, a free-thinking and independent girl who is still unmarried at 25 - an 'old maid' in Regency times! She meets and is charmed by Dameral, a rake of some years older. Delightful conversations and realistic settings with a most satisfactory ending.
Maeve Binchy - Dublin 4
Four mini-novels set in Dublin. A dinner party is planned to break up an affair; a girl in a flat is worried about her neighbours; a pregnant teenager deals with her worries; finally a story about a not-quite reformed drunk. Good characters and interesting converssations with fast-paced plots, although all had rather unsatisfactory endings in my opinion.
February
2000
Adrian Plass - Father to the Man
Lots of short stories about family life and relationships from this excellent modern Christian writer. Moving, thought-provoking and eminently readable!
Joanna Trollope - The Choir
A fascinating story revolving around a Cathedral choir and the people involved. Realistic characters and setting, with a likeable boy, Henry, caught up in various dramas. Reasonably satisfactory conclusion.
Maeve Binchy - Tara Road
A long saga starting with Ria, who falls in love with and marries Danny, a smooth businessman. They buy an old, huge house and slowly renovate it. Gradually tensions creep in, and the mid-saga crisis is not unexpected. We then meet Marilyn, an American, who does a house-swap with Ria for two months. Each discovers new things about the other. Superb intricate plots and sub-plots, surprising (although believable) revelations, and delightful characters.
March 2000
Jan Karon - At home in Mitford
The delightful story of 60-year-old Father Tim, an Anglican priest in a small village who's feeling a bit unsettled. Through his eyes we get to know his neighbours as he houses a scruffy boy, finds stolen jewels in his church, and falls in love for the first time! It took a few chapters to get going, but is a wonderful and relaxing book.
Janette Oke - The Tender Years
Virginia, granddaughter of Marty who starred in the 'Love came softly' series, is starting to grow up and discover the temptations of peer pressure. The story follows her path to understanding about love, a commitment to God, and greater responsibility. Gentle and pleasant.
Erica James - Airs and Graces
Ellen lives alone since her husband deserted her, and has pleasant weekly chats with her friend Hermione. Then Jo-jo, a pregnant teenager, runs away and enters her life. She considers marrying Duncan, her divorce lawyer, and meets Matthew, Hermione's godson. Fast- moving and enjoyable with sympathetic, believable characters.
April 2000
Jan Karon - Light in the Window
Excellent sequel to 'At Home at Mitford'. Father Tim falls in love with his neighbour, but is continually plagued with doubts. Village life continues seen through his eyes, as he continues his friendships with a variety of people from all walks of life. The teenage Dooley starts to grow up. Brilliant characters and conversations.
Jan Karon - Those High Green Hills
Third in the series about Father Tim and Cynthia, amongst the delightful friends from previous books. Various crises develop, all of which are dealt with in gentle humour and love. Relaxing and enjoyable with good insight into a contented community in small-town America, each individual becoming more realistic the more we see them.
Anne Baker - A Liverpool Lullaby
Evie, the only daughter of a dour and strict chauvenist is shocked to see her mother just before her mother dies. She had been told that her mother died many years previously. Evie falls in love with Ned, a local boy, but her father disapproves, so she runs away. She is happy for a while with two children, but then a crisis happens and she is rescued by her employer. Fairly believable people in often sordid situations; the ending was rather too organised and unlikely, with bits and pieces of conclusion rather than being tied together neatly.
Aldous Huxley - This brave new world
A world 500 years in the future where all babies are born from test-tubes, people are completely conditioned to various careers, and free-thinking is strongly discouraged. But a few people feel that there must be more to life than structured work, scheduled play and the 'soma' tablets that remove all unpleasant emotions. John, a 'savage' from a so-called uncivilised part of the world, is brought into London where he eventually sees it for what it is. Some satirical humour, and a shocking ending.
Jan Karon - Out to Canaan
Yet another brilliant year in Father Tim's life as minister in charge of an Episcopalian Church in the USA. He ponders on his eventual retirement, and wonders what to do with the large, rambling old house which was left to the church, while relating in his unique way to his delightful parishioners. (4th in the series by this author).
Erica James - A breath of Fresh Air
Charlotte loses her husband and buys a house in the small village where her sister lives. Alex, her tenant, is attracted to her but both have a lot to learn about pain and expressing feelings. Likeable people: minor characters somewhat stereotyped, but all the more memorable for that. Fairly predictable ending after some surprises.
Erica James - A sense of belonging
Four new houses become occupied: two couples, a female writer, and a rather strange young man. Friendships develop and tensions arise as these people inter-relate. Good conversation and well-woven plot lines. Predictable but believable ending; pleasant, relaxing book.
May 2000
Susan Howatch - A question of Integrity
The first book I've read by this author. Amazing novel! Set around an Anglo-Catholic 'healing centre' in London. Alice, an overweight cook with terrible self-esteem, is helped by Nick the leader, and other members of the healing centre team. Lewis, Nick's elderly assistant, provides some light relief and lots of thought-provoking comment. Characters are carefully developed; conversation very believable, and sub-plots cleverly woven together to arrive at the dramatic crisis. I felt the ending was a bit too sudden and tied the threads just a touch too tidily, but will certainly read more of this author.
Susan Howatch - The Rich are Different
Dinah Slade, an ambitious but impoverished young British woman, propositions Paul van Zale, a rich American banker, in the hope of saving her family home. An affair develops until circumstances return Paul to his wife, and the plot moves to the USA. Paul's right-hand man Steve and nephew Cornelius take increasing roles and the plot revolves around high finance, including the infamous Wall Street crash. Each section is written from the perspective of a different character, which aids understanding and gradual revealing of personalities. Fast-moving, tough characters and well-woven plots with fairly satisfactory ending.
Adrian Plass - Stress Family Robinson II (The Birthday Party)
Written from Kathy Robinson's point of view, this book covers the week up to and including her 50th birthday party. The same enjoyable larger-than-life characters who were introduced in the first Robinson book, with their down-to-earth approach to the Christian life. A few moments of humour and some of sadness. Rather unusual sub-plot as the Robinsons' friend Dip reveals a 40-year-old secret out of the blue, and begins to find healing.
Erica James - Time for a Change
Hilary finds evidence that her husband David is having an affair, and her world turns upside-down. Good sequel to 'A breath of Fresh Air' (see below, April) featuring the same neighbourhood from a different perspective. Hilary's character is well developed and she becomes more believable. Rather predictable ending but well-written: an enjoyable relaxing book.
Susan Howatch - The Sins of the Fathers
Sequel to 'The Rich are Different', set ten years ahead. Again written from varying perspectives, which works well to develop the different plot-lines. The book mainly revolves around Cornelius, however, now head of van Zyle banking, and his various relationships. Fast moving and gripping despite being set again in the potentially dull world of high finance. Bleak ending, though probably the right one, and with hope of a happy future for his daughter, Vicky.
June 2000
Marcia Willett - Those who serve
This book features Kate and Cass, close friends who are very different in outlook. Kate's marriage is unhappy, yet she stays faithful to her husband, while Cass has many affairs, playing 'Russian roulette' as she puts it, despite having a happy family life. Yet the first chapter is a 'flash-forward' to tragedy in Cass's life, and clearly overshadows the whole book. Well-written, believable people and plotlines, with a hopeful ending in the midst of pain.
CS Lewis - The Screwtape Letters
Classic fictional account containing letters from a senior demon to his nephew, advising how to administer temptation most effectively. Clear Christian message presented in an unusual form. I read this before, many years ago, but found it thought-provoking and enjoyable nonetheless.
Frank Peretti - This Present Darkness
Brilliant story revolving around the small American town of Ashton. Hank, a pastor, wrestles in prayer against the forces of darkness as a New Age conspiracy tries to take over. Angels and demons are involved and we see the spiritual battle alongside the earthly one. Convincingly realistic, satisfactory conclusion. I read this before, about eight years ago, but still found it gripping and difficult to put down!
Rosamunde Pilcher - Snow in April
An early book by this author. Caroline, who is about to get married, drives to Scotland with her younger brother to try and see their long-lost elder brother. They are stranded in a snowstorm and take refuge in a mansion with an unhappy young man. An enjoyable light read with the author's usual excellent style, believable people and a happy - if predictable - ending.
Susan Howatch - Glittering Images
This book takes a while to get going, but is an incredibly powerful novel set in the 1930s in the UK. Charles Ashworth is sent by the Archbishop of Canterbury to see if a Bishop is potentially causing scandal by indiscretions. He gets caught up in the strange household he discovers, and various crises start to unravel his own past and hang-ups. He meets Jon Darrow, a psychic high Anglican monk, who becomes his spiritual director; we are taken right into the ministry of pschological healing as Jon helps Charles to re-look at his upbringing and understand his repressed emotions. Exciting, fast-moving plot, believable people.
Susan Howatch - The Wheel of Fortune
The saga of the house of Oxmoon and the power it weilds over the family. This novel extends over several decades, as the past is slowly uncovered, emotions laid bare, and power struggles tear people apart. Gripping, but probably my least favourite of this author's books so far.