Book Review - 'On Chesil Beach'

                                                         ON CHESIL BEACH
                                                             by Ian McEwan

I had heard many good things about Ian McEwan but, until this week, had never read any of his books. My husband and daughter had both read this one and told me it was excellent so it has been on my radar for a while. A few weeks ago I saw a trailer for the film and being a firm believer in 'Never judge a book by its movie' decided it was high time I read it.

On Chesil Beach is a superbly written tale analysing the relationship between two innocents, Edward and Florence. It analyses their romance throughout their courtship to present day, told in flashback and current situations. There is one detailed sex scene in the book but it is totally relevant to the plot.

Ian McEwan gets under the skin of his characters and doesn't hide their flaws, from us or themselves. There are some very endearing scenes in this book and you certainly feel for the protagonists. The novel is quite short and you won't want to put it down. I will definitely be going to see the film.

So, should you read it?
8/10 - a good read, with interesting characters, tugs at your heartstrings at times.

Book Review - The Swiss Family Robinson

                                             THE SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON
                                                         by Johann R Wyss

This book was my Mother's favourite book and the copy in the photograph is her copy. She told me how she would read it over and over. Looking back I don't actually remember her reading it, I saw her read many books but not this one, yet, whenever I asked what her favourite book was, this was always her choice. This fact never occurred to me until I began to read it for myself recently.

When I first began the book I was a little disappointed. I think this was because I was reading it with a cynical adult's eye. 'Oh for goodness sake how many different animals are there on this island?', 'I don't believe they could find all that' were frequent complaints coming from me as I read successive chapters.

Seven chapters in I was really beginning to wonder how this could have been my mother's favourite book because I was struggling. Then I began to think about it and I realised that when Mum used to talk about reading it over and over again she often referred to the winter nights of her childhood. Then I saw my problem. I was reading it from the wrong perspective. Remembering sharing books with my children as they grew up I began to read it from a child's point of view. Now I saw the short chapters as a boon, each succeeding chapter as a new adventure, wondering what would happen to the family next. I employed what my English teacher termed 'The willing suspension of disbelief'.

So what happened with this new approach? I began to fall in love with the book. I loved the language (I always do with classics), I loved the adventure and I loved the characters. When I reached the end of the book I was sad to let it go. It had become a friend.

So should you read it?

I give it 8/10 and would say it is a fine read so long as you are willing to suspend your disbelief
and just take part in a jolly good adventure.