tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19307003.post5720042358497736205..comments2024-03-12T06:01:22.059-05:00Comments on Reading the Past: Book review: Letter from a Stranger, by Barbara Taylor BradfordSarah Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13340312953393474963noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19307003.post-57784709770685416302015-10-05T20:40:02.831-05:002015-10-05T20:40:02.831-05:00I agree, it's a trendy thing with fiction thes...I agree, it's a trendy thing with fiction these days - people finding an old letter that encourages them to look into their family history. Sarah Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13340312953393474963noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19307003.post-1495193057506906322015-10-05T20:01:30.638-05:002015-10-05T20:01:30.638-05:00This is the first time I've ever heard of this...This is the first time I've ever heard of this book, but I have read many stories that revolve around a mysterious letter. Someday I would be interested in reading this novel.HannahWhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17207440790475862052noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19307003.post-5555227895236912272012-09-22T12:02:00.725-05:002012-09-22T12:02:00.725-05:00Since this one takes place mostly in the present, ...Since this one takes place mostly in the present, you may want to try another book of hers first if you end up reading any - like A Woman of Substance or The Ravenscar Dynasty, in which the story behind the Wars of the Roses is recast as a glitzy Edwardian saga. I haven't read that one, but the premise interests me.Sarah Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13340312953393474963noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19307003.post-11977975410834388932012-09-22T11:47:47.917-05:002012-09-22T11:47:47.917-05:00I haven't had the chance to check out any of t...I haven't had the chance to check out any of this author's work before - it sounds interesting, but I tend to stay away from books that shift time period - and I would also prefer it to be more historical that present period if I do. Thank you for the review.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16609161113240681299noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19307003.post-31524536099746658222012-06-01T14:20:14.743-05:002012-06-01T14:20:14.743-05:00@Judith - yes, that's it exactly. I can read n...@Judith - yes, that's it exactly. I can read novels on my Kindle but find it much harder to review them in that format. I know what you mean about the bookmark tool - I know how to do it but often forget, and I'd rather just write my notes down (though without a page number to go by, it's not as simple). I've been testing out an iPad, and that may be the perfect solution for reading and having a meal at the same time!<br /><br />@Danielle - thanks, I appreciate your comment! I haven't seen the related miniseries of Bradford's novels yet either, though should. I wonder if her earlier books were less coincidence-heavy than this one was. Your comment about British sagas rings true for this particular book also, even though the characters are American (Deborah is of English birth, but I don't think that explains everything). It reads British to some degree. I caught some terms that aren't typically American - advert for ad, for example.Sarah Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13340312953393474963noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19307003.post-37946149256353593572012-06-01T13:16:48.694-05:002012-06-01T13:16:48.694-05:00There's an author I haven't seen reviewed ...There's an author I haven't seen reviewed in a while (or with such grace). I am not certain whether I have read any of her books, but I do remember loving the mini-series based on <i>A Woman Of Substance</i> back in the eighties. Jenny Seagrove and Deborah Kerr really made an impression on me playing the principal character, Emma Harte. Perhaps I should give that novel a whirl. I haven't read a British saga in a while, and I think it got favourable reviews in its time.Daniellehttp://romanticarmchairtraveller.typepad.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19307003.post-16133480811253752242012-06-01T12:41:24.223-05:002012-06-01T12:41:24.223-05:00I agree about print. It's always a challenge t...I agree about print. It's always a challenge to put my thoughts together about a book to review it on my ereader unless I've remembered to leave bookmarks (getting better about that, old dog, new tricks...). With a paperback I can always quickly find all the spots I wanted to think about again, not so in the frustrating "search" tool. Although an ereader is ideal both for slipping in the purse for easy carrying and for staying flat when I'm reading and eating simultaneously. No more balancing the salt and pepper shakers on the edges to keep the book open. :) Technology has a few advantages, but only a few....Judith Starkstonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06051933235718619192noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19307003.post-29214145675690033552012-06-01T12:32:15.765-05:002012-06-01T12:32:15.765-05:00Yes, I'm on NetGalley, and good to know there&...Yes, I'm on NetGalley, and good to know there's an option if it doesn't work out at BEA. (I have a whole list of books to try to obtain there, and I prefer print, but inevitably there's something else going on at the time, I can't be in two places at once, etc). I've been meaning to read one of Kanon's novels for a while now.Sarah Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13340312953393474963noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19307003.post-45947258174191193992012-06-01T11:24:30.954-05:002012-06-01T11:24:30.954-05:00I'm guessing you have a netgalley account. Ist...I'm guessing you have a netgalley account. Istanbul Passage is available there if you don't snag one at BEA. I'll let you know when I post my review. I listened to an interview with the author--very smart and got me even more intrigued to read the book. I do love hearing what authors have to say, especially with an intelligent NPR interviewer!Judith Starkstonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06051933235718619192noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19307003.post-19571097076576159102012-06-01T11:21:04.935-05:002012-06-01T11:21:04.935-05:00Oh, I look forward to hearing more about Istanbul ...Oh, I look forward to hearing more about Istanbul Passage. I hope to get a copy next week at BEA. This novel made me want to book a trip to Istanbul now.Sarah Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13340312953393474963noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19307003.post-24988798184123212392012-06-01T11:02:40.089-05:002012-06-01T11:02:40.089-05:00I love books set in Istanbul, so I'd thought o...I love books set in Istanbul, so I'd thought of reading this one. Thanks for the commentary. I've got Istanbul Passage lined up next, another historical set in that wonderful city.Judith Starkstonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06051933235718619192noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19307003.post-50567887798920431392012-06-01T07:21:53.274-05:002012-06-01T07:21:53.274-05:00I own several of her big sagas, but often find it ...I own several of her big sagas, but often find it hard to get to older books with so many new ones on my plate!Sarah Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13340312953393474963noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19307003.post-20022410416069962932012-06-01T06:49:06.129-05:002012-06-01T06:49:06.129-05:00I read quite a few of her big famous sagas when I ...I read quite a few of her big famous sagas when I was a teenager and loved them, but I haven't read any of her books for years!Marghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13508430635744720721noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19307003.post-43791035484169226372012-05-31T20:57:00.116-05:002012-05-31T20:57:00.116-05:00This was my first novel by her; she's very goo...This was my first novel by her; she's very good at setting scenes and describing the lives of the affluent.Sarah Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13340312953393474963noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19307003.post-51336466454257297972012-05-31T18:34:08.242-05:002012-05-31T18:34:08.242-05:00I have never read Bradford before. I really should...I have never read Bradford before. I really should one day...Kailanahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11136262232046813471noreply@blogger.com