I enjoyed reading this book while in my mind categorizing it as a beach read--not at all a heavy read. The story unfolds in a three person narrative but the first part was a bit difficult to get into. It picks up considerably with Aviva's story and is generally interesting until the end. The ending wasn't particularly satisfying perhaps leaving an opening for a sequel. All in all, I was happy to have read it.

I was prepared to really enjoy this book as I've enjoyed Ms. Gable's previous books. However, the book was all over the place with multi-generational family history, the personal histories, the summer house they are trying to save, consequences of war and dangers of having deep secrets. The book just tried to do too much and became tiresome and predictable. Some of the characters were interesting while others fell into stereotypes. While not unhappy to have read this book, it was not a favorite.

We've heard and read about Queen Victoria in her formidable later years. This book explores her early years and her early days as a young queen. Her obstacles were many. This book tells her story well, is informative, highly entertaining and sure to be enjoyed by people who enjoy historical fiction.

Having been intrigued by the Mitford sisters for a long time, and having already read a great deal about them, I was anxious to read this new book. It didn't contain a great deal of new information. I didn't care for the organization of the book plus a great deal of emphasis was given to Nancy whose books were referenced quite a lot (perhaps too much). However, Anglophiles who know little about the family will likely enjoy this read.

Finding the truth about Gladys Spencer-Churchill is the premise of the book and that section begins in the early 1970s. The parallel part is finding the 1970s research in the early 2000s by Annie and we are off on a dual discovery trek. The book was well researched and the second half was difficult to put down. The first section was a bit confusing as characters and timelines were sorted. Hopefully readers will persevere through the early parts and will enjoy a compelling story about an eccentric woman and the fictional people who researched her life. Perfect for Anglophiles, historical fiction readers and book clubs.

I requested this book because I really enjoyed reading The Aviator's Wife. While The Swans was well researched and a snap shot of the glamorous high society of 1960s New York, the main characters left me cold. Superficial, snobbish,dishonest with each other, and seemingly quite vacuous, it was difficult to even want to know them. The "swans" were the society wives with Babe Paley at their center. Enter Truman Capote into their group and the story spins. This book will likely be of interest to many readers -- and book groups will have lots to discuss --but the people didn't do a thing for me and I was happy to leave them behind when I finished reading it.

Beryl Markham was a remarkable woman, not afraid to make her own way in a man's world. Her story is compelling and is well told by Paula McClain. Beryl's hardships in her early life, her tenacity when there was a goal she wanted to reach-- no matter how unconventional -- her unhappy marriages were relayed with a sympathetic but fairly objective eye by Ms. McClain. There is a great deal of information written about Karen Blixen so Beryl's story has seemed secondary. It is good that this book will give this brave and pioneering woman a great deal of well-deserved visibility.

How often have we heard the line "you can't make this up?". In the case of the Bloomsbury Group, the question seems to answer itself. Vanessa and Her Sister is the story, not only of the two young ladies, but also of the circle of friends who surrounded them with all their foibles, eccentricities, self-indulgence and betrayals. Told through a variety of methods -- journal entries, letters, and telegrams -- the story grabs and holds and the pages seemed to sail by. Virginia's and Vanessa's story was particularly disturbing (but compelling) but I did think that there were too many parallel stories making it difficult to keep all the characters straight. However, that is a minor complaint and overall think the book is a great read about a hugely interesting group and an interesting time in literary and artistic history.

I suspect that the good people of Wigtown in Scotland should prepare themselves for an onslaught of tourists when this book becomes widely available. A quirky, friendly, interesting small town, Wigtown will go on bucket travel lists everywhere. This book was a great, fun read and will appeal to those of us who love a good memoir and who love a good travel story. Three Things has both and more. Ms. Fox is a very good writer and her life-experiences belie her 26 years. The release of this book hasn't occurred in the US and I'm already looking forward to reading the next chapter in her story. Perhaps in the meantime, we should just visit Wigtown and enjoy their book festival.