This is the list of fiction books I read from July to December 2000. For earlier books I read that year, see Jan-June 2000. For books I read most recently, and links to other years, see my books blog.

July 2000

Mary Pearce - Jack Mercybright

Country book - second in the 'Apple Tree' saga.  Jack finds a new position and falls in love.  His days are followed with believable farming characters, but the plot is minimal and time progresses too fast for continuity.   Probably a realistic view of country life of 100 years ago, but I didn't find myself emotionally involved, and the ending seemed rather vague.

Susan Howatch - Glamorous Powers

Sequel to 'Glittering Images' (see below, June).  Another brilliant psychological novel, this time featuring Jon Darrow, the monk introduced in the previous book.  He receives a vision and believes he is called to leave the monastic life, to follow God's will in the world.  We realise that he is not the secure, confident person who was spiritual director to Charles Ashworth, but has insecurities and hangups of his own which are gradually revealed.  His healing gradually takes place alongside a wide variety of realistic people.  I was almost unable to put this book down.

Susan Howatch - Ultimate Prizes

Sequel to 'Glamorous Powers' (see below), this book is written from the perspective of Neville Aysgarth, an Archdeacon in the Anglican Church, during the 1940s.   Neville's habit of 'ringing down the curtain' on all unpleasantness has led to so much repression that he approaches a nervous breakdown in the midst of various crises.   The story unfolds as his life hits rock-bottom;  he has to learn to face his pain before slowly re-forming his life and finding a measure of healing.  Believable, if dramatic, with interesting digressions into the theological debates of the time, and attitudes to World War II, Nazis and pacifism.

Erica James - Act of Faith

Ali and Eliot lost their toddler son Isaac a couple of years before this novel begins.  The book opens at his graveside and reveals the antagonism they have developed since his death.  Gradually they begin to come to terms with their tragedy, partly aided by Ali's friend Sarah.  Ali, meanwhile, tries to help Sarah with her fundamentalist and rigid husband Trevor.  A bit deeper than other books by this author, with high emotion in places. 

Janette Oke - Julia's last hope

The town of Cedar Springs is dying is the lumber mill closes down.   Julia, in her lovely home, suggests turning into a tourist town.  With the help of her twin daughters she starts advertising and taking in boarders, encouraging the few remaining families to stock a craft shop and host other visitors.  There is a strong Christian message of hope, as well as a sense of finding God's will as the story ends.

Susan Howatch - Scandalous risks

Told from the point of view of Venetia, who was introduced as a small girl in the previous book, 'Ultimate prizes' (see below).  She falls in love with Neville Aysgarth, the Dean, in the 1960s when the Church is coming to terms with the revolutionary book 'Honest to God' and the ideals of platonic love.  The developing relationship is explored along with plots and sub-plots involving characters from previous books, including a now 83-year-old Jon Darrow.  Can be read alone, but better read after the three previous books in the series.

Susan Howatch - Mystical paths

Number five in the Starbridge series, this book follows the young adulthood of Nick Darrow in the 1960s.  He is an independent - and often confused - young man who is about to be ordained as an Anglican minister.  Another book full of realistic people having problems in relationships, set in the century's most permissive era with a background of promiscuity and experimentation with drugs.  Powerful emotions run high, as unhealthy parent-child relationships are explored and finally healed.

Susan Howatch - Absolute truths

The last of the Starbridge series.  This novel is told from the point of view of Charles Ashworth, now Bishop of Starbridge, in the 1960s.  The battles he has faced in previous books now come to a head, as he is faced with a life-changing crisis.  His relationships with his sons are explored, along with his long-time enmity towards Neville Aysgarth, the Dean. Although each of these novels is complete in itself, they are most powerful when read in the intended order.  'Absolute Truths' ties together the entire series, mirroring the first one (also narrated by Charles Ashworth) and answering some questions left open in that, and other of the earlier books.  A truly satisfying ending which slots all the pieces into place. Compelling reading!

August 2000

Joanna Trollope - Other People's Children

Josie marries Matthew as the book opens, amidst doubt and disappointment.   She has left the ultra-nice Tom, and Matthew has left the bohemian and angry Nadia.   They try to build a new life together with their four children, while Tom falls in love with a young friend called Elizabeth, and Nadia lives in a dump, trying to make everyone else feel guilty.  Fast-moving plot and sub-plots intriguingly interwoven.   Some high emotion as the children's feelings are explored during their parents conflicts.  Realistic and reasonably happy ending.

Mary Wesley - The Camomile Lawn

A group of cousins have a holiday every year with their aunt and uncle, by some cliffs in Cornwall.  The book opens on their last such holiday before the war starts; we quickly learn about their hopes and fears.  They mostly move to london, and their lives remain entangled as they discover the realities of war and adult relationships.  The book is cleverly interspersed with 'flash-forwards' of various groups on their way to a funeral; we don't learn until late in the book whose funeral it is, however.  The book ends in a satisfying way with all the ends tied together.

Mary Wesley - Not that sort of Girl

Rose, staying at a hotel after her husband's funeral, reflects on her past life.  She remembers the side of her life that everyone else saw, and also her secret life and thoughts.  Clever and effective flashbacks alternate with the present.   Rose decides her future in a hopeful ending.  Believable people, though rather too much bad language for my taste.

Penelope Lively - Treasures of Time

Tom, an academic,lives with Kate, whose father was a famous archaeologist.   A BBC programme is to be made about Kate's father, and Tom is drawn into the family: the lively, self-centred mother Laura, and her sister Nellie who is in a wheelchair.  As the past and present intertwine, we leran more about each person, with Tom involved emotionally and Tony, the TV producer, involved in other ways.   Skilfully  written with realistic ending.

Marcia Willett - Thea's Parrot

George falls in love with Thea, frustrating the hopes of his long-term mistress Felicity.  Thea inherits a parrot who inspires her to become more independent, and makes friends including various people who appeared in other novels by this author.  Good characters studies and clever plotting, with a satisfying conclusion after a tragic - but not unexpected - climax.

Joanna Trollope - Next of Kin

Robin's American wife Caro has died, and their adopted daughter feels estranged from him.  She meets and befriends Zoe, who becomes intrigued by Robin, his farm, and his various relatives.  As financial problems loom, Zoe provides a breath of fresh air and tries to help them unburden their emotions, particularly after the family is hit by tragedy.  Realistic and hopeful conclusion.

Jan Karon - A New Song

Fifth in the 'Mitford' Series (see below for the first four).  Father Tim, now retired, is invited to fill a temporary minister's slot some distance from his home.  He and his wife move there and are immediately embroiled in the various characters in the new congregation.  However their friends in Mitford haven't forgotten them and there is plenty of action as they try to resolve the conflicting demands of old and new friends.  A relaxing and refreshing book.

Marcia Willett - The Courtyard

Gussie and Nell make friends unexpectedly in a tea-shop, and their lives are fated to intertwine from then on.  Gussie's young cousin Henry has converted his stable block into cottages, and they are amongst the first residents.  Romances develop and friendships grow, and the reader is caught up in the hopes and fears of the people as they face the recession.  Satisfactory conclusion.

September 2000

Joanna Trollope - The best of friends

Told from the point of view of Sophy, a teenaer whose fither decides to move out. her hurt is clearly described alongside her mother's pain, which then infects their closest friends. These include Lawrence, who has been Sophy's mother's closest platonic friend for many years. A realistic book with cleverly interwoven sub-plots to heighten the emotions, and a satisfying conclusion without tragedy.

Susan Howatch - Cashelmara

Edward, a 60-year-old widower, falls in love with Marguerite, a 17-year-old American distant cousin. He brings her to the UK to marry her. His home is Cashelmara, an Irish estate, during the Irish potato famine of the 19th century, giving a background to the book of tragedy and raw anger. Edward's son Patrick inherits the estate and similarly marries a young American girl, but there the similarities end since Patrick turns out to be a gambler who should never have married. Some very unpleasant scenes and violence made this book rather distasteful in places, although I still found myself eager to keep reading. This is one of Susan Howatch's earlier (and longer) books, written in her distinctive style with each section written from a different viewpoint, gradually revealing more as the novel progresses.

Maeve Binchy - London Transports

Short stories, some of which I enjoyed, but mostly seeming almost unfinished with no real resolution or conclusion. Likeable and believable characters and interesting ideas, but - especially in the earlier stories - rather frustrating.

June Francis - For the sake of the children

Set in war-torn England. Amelia, who gave up her chance of marriage to look after her father and younger sister, is suddenly landed with her orphaned neices and nephews, and her best friend's twin sons. How she copes, and grows from being cold and dutiful to warm and caring is the focus of the book, along with teh trials of the children as they learn to live together, to trust each other, ann to grow up and develop new and lasting relationships. Enjoyable.

October 2000

Marcia Willett - Starting Over

Another book following the lives of people introduced in 'Those who serve'. Several sub-plots intertwine: Pippa is in an unhappy marriage and needs advice from her godfather's widow, Annie; Hugh has irrational guilt over the death of Charlotte; Frances worries that her husband is being unfaithful. The characters are cleverly woven together, and the conclusion is satisfying.

Joan Aiken - Castle Barebane

A well-written opening, as Valla, newly engaged in the USA, realises how unfitted she is to her fiancé's family and expectations. Her half-brother arrives with an urgent message to travel to take care of his children in the UK. When she arrives, she finds the children abandoned with an unplesant woman, and rescues them, eventually taking them to Scotland. By this stage, however, it became clear that the book was going to take an unpleasant turn, so I read the last chapter and discovered that it revealed several deaths and murders, and a most unpleasant plot. So I didn't read the rest.

November 2000

Louise M Alcott - Little Women

The classic story of four sisters whose father is away at war. Each has a unique character, and as they grow up and make firends with Laurie, the boy next door, we see a pleasant picture of middle-class America 100 years ago. Soem old-fashioned moralising, but delightful people with enjoyable, gentle family humour and some moving scenes. Meg finally grows up at the end of the book.

December 2000

Jean Bowden - Nanny

The book that started the TV series. Barbara works as a nanny after her divorce, but her ex-husband is never quite out of her mind or heart. In the aftermath of World War I, divorcees are not respected, and she struggles to build her new life, while not becoming too attached to the children she's minding. Often moving.

Tim LaHaye & Jerry Jenkins - Left Behind

(first in the 'Left Behind' series) Fictional account of people left behind on earth after the Rapture. Fast-moving, believable, interesting mixture of people. Theology and preaching cleverly interwoven with the plot, as bereaved people make commitments to God and prepare to undertake the most difficult and traumatic years of their lives.

Tim LaHaye & Jerry Jenkins - Tribulation Force

(second in the 'Left Behind' series) The new believers gradually learn to trust ech other,and also to realise just what they are up against. The antichrist is clearly revealed as a charming, plausible, yet cold-blooded world leader. Exciting and believable, although the characters are a little flat.

Tim LaHaye & Jerry Jenkins - Nicolae

(third in the 'Left Behind' series) The Tribulation Force are beginning to work together, and the world gets going on unpleasant events in the final seven years before the end. A romantic thread is included, as Buck tries to woo Chloë, and they question whether a relationship is a good idea in such fraught times. Prophecy and fiction well-mixed in another exciting episode.

Marcia Willett - Holding On

(second in the 'Chadwick' series) Freddy's grandchildren are now grown up. Fliss must go abroad with her rather insensitive husband; Mole is in the Navy; Susanna falls in love. Ohter children rae introduced, and adult life is well-portrayed through their eyes. Moving and realistic.

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