The Man Who Forgot His Wife by John O'Farrell

The Man Who Forgot His Wife by John O'Farrell

I saw this title in a second hand book shop and just had to buy it!

Lots of husbands forget things: they forget that their wife had an important meeting that morning; they forget to pick up the dry cleaning; some of them even forget their wedding anniversary.

But Vaughan has forgotten he even has a wife. Her name, her face, their history together, everything she has ever told him, everything he has said to her - it has all gone, mysteriously wiped in one catastrophic moment of memory loss. And now he has rediscovered her - only to find out that they are getting divorced.

The Man Who Forgot His Wife is the funny, moving and poignant story of a man who has done just that. And who will try anything to turn back the clock and have one last chance to reclaim his life.

From page one this book had grabbed me.  Vaughn is now seeing his life through different eyes - will he be able to change the inevitable outcome, or has his old self ruined that?  

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Damage by Josephone Hart and Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay

May 2013

Damage by Josephine Hart

Damaged people are dangerous. They know they can survive.'

Damage is the gripping story of a man’s desperate obsession and scandalous love affair. He is a man who appears to have everything: wealth, a beautiful wife and children, and a prestigious political career in Parliament. But his life lacks passion, and his aching emptiness drives him to an all-consuming, and ultimately catastrophic, relationship with his son’s fiancée.

We chose this book partly because it was Amanda's book that she distributed for World Book Night 2013

Liz's opinion - not overly impressed.  I felt that there were several holes in the whole scenario.  Why did Martyn break the door down? Surely he would have knocked?  I am not sure that anyone would accept this way of living without question?  Did Anna have to let her other life end before she could settle down?  Was Martyn a replacement for Aston?

Overall Opinion:

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Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay

Paris, July 1942: Sarah, a ten year-old Jewish girl, is arrested by the French police in the middle of the night, along with her mother and father. Desperate to protect her younger brother, she locks him in a cupboard and promises to come back for him as soon as she can.
Paris, May 2002: Julia Jarmond, an American journalist, is asked to write about the 60th anniversary of the Vel' d'Hiv'--the infamous day in 1942 when French police rounded up thousands of Jewish men, women and children, in order to send them to concentration camps. Sarah's Key is the poignant story of two families, forever linked and haunted by one of the darkest days in France's past. In this emotionally intense, page-turning novel, Tatiana de Rosnay reveals the guilt brought on by long-buried secrets and the damage that the truth can inflict when they finally come unravelled.

Liz's opinion - Fantastic!  I read this book mainly in 2 sessions!  I could not put it down.  It is very well written and the short chapters at the beginning make it easy to relate the past with the present.  The story itself is heartbreaking but beautifully written.  I will now seek out the film to see if justice is done to this wonderful book.

Overall Opinion: Everyone loved this book

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Two Brothers by Ben Elton and A Special Relationship by Douglas Kennedy

April 2013

Two Brothers by Ben Elton

Berlin 1920

Two babies are born.

Two brothers. United and indivisible, sharing everything. Twins in all but blood.

As Germany marches into its Nazi Armageddon, the ties of family, friendship and love are tested to the very limits of endurance. And the brothers are faced with an unimaginable choice....Which one of them will survive?

Only a couple of people had found time to read this book, but others were still wanting to read it.  A brilliant piece of writing by Ben Elton.

Overall Opinion:
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A Special Relationship by Douglas Kennedy

Sally Goodchild is everything you'd expect of a thirty-seven year old American journalist - independent, strong-willed and ambitious. That is until she meets Tony Hobbs, an English foreign correspondent, on assignment in Cairo. After a passionate but uneasy romance, Sally's life is turned upside down when she unexpectedly finds herself married, pregnant and living in London. Married life in a foreign place is a far bigger adjustment than Sally and Tony could ever have imagined - and as their lives shift from freedom and adventure to responsibility and hard work, everyday problems soon spiral into nightmares. After the birth of their son, Sally finds herself trapped in a downward spiral over which she has little control, whilst Tony's life returns to relative normality. Filled with resentment and unable to cope with the cards life has dealt her, Sally is shocked when the man she trusted above all others turns against her. As her world begins to fall down around her, Sally quickly realises she must fight before she loses everything. In this authentic and compelling novel, Kennedy explores the misunderstandings that can occur when two people speak the same language but miss all the vital signs.

It is hard to believe that this book is not written by a woman.  The description of the feelings Sally goes through with her post natal depression is so vivid.  This certainly was a compelling read!  I certainly had not expected the twist in the tale and kept having to turn another page to find out what happened next.  I would not class it as a heavy read, nor chic-lit.  It is a good read  well written and makes me want to read more by this author.

Most people read this book and thoroughly enjoyed it.  

Overall Opinion:  fantastic book


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