Sample Saturday is when I wade through the eleventy billion samples I have downloaded on my Kindle. I’m slowly chipping away and deciding whether it’s buy or bye.
The Midnight Watch by David Dyer
Why I have it: No idea.
Summary: As eight distress rockets were fired during the last, fatal night of the Titanic, crew on the nearby SS Californian saw but did nothing. And then tried to cover their role in the disaster.
I’m thinking: Yes – the opening scene was simple but powerful.
Death of a She Devil by Fay Weldon
Why I have it: I recall quite enjoying Weldon’s work when I binged on it in the nineties.
Summary: Ruth Patchett, the original She Devil, is now eighty-four and keen to retire – who will take over?
I’m thinking: No (I’d read it if it was on the shelf at a holiday house but otherwise, no).
Flora by Gail Godwin
Why I have it: Because it has a testimonial* from John Irving on the cover.
Summary: Ten-year-old Helen and her summer guardian, Flora, are isolated together in Helen’s decaying family house during the final months of World War II.
I’m thinking: Yes.
*“A luminously written, heartbreaking book.”
I enjoyed Flora. Reminded me a little of Atonement.
That’s a very good advertisement for the book then!
Flora sounds really tempting! And I trust John Irving’s opinion 🙂
Yes, I was completely sold on the testimonial.
I am reading Death of a She Devil at the moment….
I’m quite enjoying it, partly for the nostalgia factor, I think…
Will eagerly await your review!
Coming up!
I’m a Titanic nut, so The Midnight Watch is going on my wish list.
Being a Titanic nut you probably already knew about the SS Californian – I had no idea!
I’m curious to see how it’s explained in this book. I’ve read in other books that they thought the distress flares were fireworks, and thought that it was just part of the celebrations on the Titanic. You’d think that people working on ships would know the difference between distress flares & fireworks.
*drumroll* https://anzlitlovers.com/2017/09/18/death-of-a-she-devil-by-fay-weldon/