Murder on Mistletoe Lane
9.0
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American heiress Stella Kendrick and her husband, British aristocrat Viscount “Lyndy” Lyndhurst,...
Initially, the author shows their 'upper class' voice a little too often but as the story progresses and you begin to engage more with the people involved, it becomes less obvious, therefore making the book much more easy to read and enjoyable.
As an avid Downton Abbey fan from day one, I was engrossed with learning the true history of the actual house, and can honestly say that the connections between Downton and Highclere are not limited to merely the house. The Carnavons are a wonderful and very energetic family with fingers in so many pies and so rich a history that they truly deserve the accolade this book should give them. They do not come across as typical aristocrats at all, rather 'real' human beings who are committed to the improvement in lifestyle of all they are connected with, true philanthropists and dedicated historians.
I can honestly say that this book reads like a fiction story, and you have to pinch yourself at times to realise that these were real people who lived and breathed and carried out all of these wonderful acts. Truly, it is a fantastic read which is fully deserving of more than 5 stars and something that anyone interested in either Downton, late Victorian/early Edwardian society, the First World War and it's aftermath, or even the tomb of Tutankhamen should most definitely add to their 'to read' list.
Fatal Glamour: The Life of Rupert Brooke
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Rupert Brooke (b. 1887) died on April 23, 1915, two days before the start of the Battle of...
Going to Extremes: The Adventurous Life of Harry de Windt
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Harry de Windt (1856-1933) was a man who, by any standards, was a personality, a marked presence in...
The Last Hours: Chain of Gold
7.0
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First print edition contains special content, including bonus art and a new short story! From #1...
Sarah (7798 KP) rated The War of the Worlds in TV
Dec 6, 2019
The first episode started off slowly but well with quite a decent build up. Even when the martians appeared it was rather tense and exciting, with a great sense of foreboding. The problem with this is the main George & Amy storyline. Despite it being set in the Edwardian period, slightly earlier than the book (but still a lot closer than that Tom Cruise abomination) they seem to have decided to ignore the majority of the book's storyline and instead include a rather convoluted and modern storyline about George and his mistress. It's entirely unnecessary and is the main focus of the series, despite it being a complete bore. This is the main issue with the 2nd and third parts of the series, they're so dull and there's no interest or excitement because it concentrates solely on George and Amy. The martians are almost an after thought. It doesnt help either that they try and explain the subtleties and intricacies of the book with all the subtlety of a sledgehammer.
Even the cast can't save this, as they seem to have given up on trying to put in believable performances. And what was with the flitting between different time periods? Trying to include a bit of intrigue with a storytelling mechanism that has worked so well with other films but fails miserable in this, as it spoils the entire ending and resolution of the story.
A classic case of looks good, starts off well but falls completely flat. Such a disappointment.
Tomorrow is D-Day: The Remarkable War Story of Supermarine's First Draughtswoman
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At 10.15 a.m. on Saturday 3 June 1944, a shaft of sunlight fell across my board, sending a brilliant...
Gardens of the Italian Lakes
Marianne Majerus and Steven Desmond
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The gardens of the Italian Lakes are a favourite destination for garden lovers and groups. The...
The Great Interior Design Challenge: Decorate Your Home with Style
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The Great Interior Design Challenge is the official tie-in to the prime-time BBC Two series....
Exotic Planting for Adventurous Gardeners
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"Exotic Planting for Adventurous Gardeners" is about the most exciting plants grown by Christopher...