After Michael
Registered by Heaven-Ali of Birmingham, West Midlands United Kingdom on 9/14/2006
This book is in a Controlled Release!
This book is in a Controlled Release!
12 journalers for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by Heaven-Ali from Birmingham, West Midlands United Kingdom on Thursday, September 14, 2006
A brand new transita book so its onto the TBR
Book Description
"Fiona’s eyes turned to the other people in this small, select group, then paused. Who was that young woman standing behind and slightly to Colin’s right? She knew everyone else gathered here; close friends and neighbours of Michael and herself, but she was quite sure she’d never seen this young woman before."
When Fiona Latimer learns that her husband Michael has died of a sudden heart attack alone in his London flat, she is shocked but not devastated. She and Michael had led increasingly separate lives in their last few years. At the funeral, two people arrive unexpectedly, each of whom will have a great deal of influence on future events. There is Anthea, a girl who knows more about Michael than she will admit, and Simon, a man from Fiona’s past whom she now realises she should have married instead. Gradually, the secrets of Michael’s past are uncovered, and when the final, shocking betrayals are at last revealed Fiona discovers her life with him was not at all what it had seemed.
Book Description
"Fiona’s eyes turned to the other people in this small, select group, then paused. Who was that young woman standing behind and slightly to Colin’s right? She knew everyone else gathered here; close friends and neighbours of Michael and herself, but she was quite sure she’d never seen this young woman before."
When Fiona Latimer learns that her husband Michael has died of a sudden heart attack alone in his London flat, she is shocked but not devastated. She and Michael had led increasingly separate lives in their last few years. At the funeral, two people arrive unexpectedly, each of whom will have a great deal of influence on future events. There is Anthea, a girl who knows more about Michael than she will admit, and Simon, a man from Fiona’s past whom she now realises she should have married instead. Gradually, the secrets of Michael’s past are uncovered, and when the final, shocking betrayals are at last revealed Fiona discovers her life with him was not at all what it had seemed.
Journal Entry 2 by Heaven-Ali from Birmingham, West Midlands United Kingdom on Tuesday, November 21, 2006
A rolicking good read, a hard to put down book. I did guess several of the plot twists along the way - and I wanted to find out if I had been clever enough to guess right or not. The characters are mainly likeable, and you really get to care for them which is always important, although I did question Fiona's naivety, and the speed at which she was willing to embark on another relationship (I sometimes thought her a silly woman) - but then I am an old cynic and completley unromantic these days. Although not my favourite of the Transita books its another good read from what is fast becoming one of my favourite publishers (Transita).
Book ring list:
Notingnothing UK
jillbe - UK -
RubyBlueLady - UK (UK)
WelshHelen - UK (UK)
LindyB28- UK (UK)
scotsbookie -UK (anywhere)
Inver - UK (anywhere)
LindyLouMac -Italy (Europe)
Mallary - France (anywhere) it's here
Beqi - UK (anywhere)
Back to me Heaven-Ali
If you have enjoyed this book please check out the transita website transita dot co dot uk and find out about other wonderful books published by this small Oxford based company, and the authors who write them.
Edit 5/12/06 I have just heard that the author of this book died last night. Very sad news!
Book ring list:
Notingnothing UK
jillbe - UK -
RubyBlueLady - UK (UK)
WelshHelen - UK (UK)
LindyB28- UK (UK)
scotsbookie -UK (anywhere)
Inver - UK (anywhere)
LindyLouMac -Italy (Europe)
Mallary - France (anywhere) it's here
Beqi - UK (anywhere)
Back to me Heaven-Ali
If you have enjoyed this book please check out the transita website transita dot co dot uk and find out about other wonderful books published by this small Oxford based company, and the authors who write them.
Edit 5/12/06 I have just heard that the author of this book died last night. Very sad news!
Journal Entry 3 by Heaven-Ali at A fellow bookcrosser in By mail, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Friday, December 1, 2006
Released 17 yrs ago (12/1/2006 UTC) at A fellow bookcrosser in By mail, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
RELEASE NOTES:
Sent to Jillbe today, enjoy!!!!
edit
oopsie : ) - it seems I got the two books I was sending out muddled up at the writing the address on the envelopes stage and sent each to the wrong person.
Sent to Jillbe today, enjoy!!!!
edit
oopsie : ) - it seems I got the two books I was sending out muddled up at the writing the address on the envelopes stage and sent each to the wrong person.
This arrived this morning. Although I wasn't the intended recipient, I liked the look of this book so am going to sneak onto this bookring ;)
Thank you.
Thank you.
What an idea for a story! Think it's a sign of a good plot when you want to sneak a peek at the ending to see what happens -- I did want to, but managed to resist! Although the plot was intriguing, I found it difficult to engage with the story. I particularly found the language quite stilted and formal which impacted on my ability to get pulled *right* in.
Already have Jillbe's address so will get this sent on asap.
Thanks for letting me sneak onto the ring :)
Already have Jillbe's address so will get this sent on asap.
Thanks for letting me sneak onto the ring :)
Journal Entry 6 by notingnothing at Controlled Release in Controlled Release, A Bookcrossing member -- Controlled Releases on Sunday, January 21, 2007
Released 17 yrs ago (1/22/2007 UTC) at Controlled Release in Controlled Release, A Bookcrossing member -- Controlled Releases
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
RELEASE NOTES:
Off to Jillbe. Enjoy :)
Off to Jillbe. Enjoy :)
Received in the post today, thanks notingnothing, will read it quickly and then pass onto rubybluelady.
I'm afraid I agree with most of the remarks already made. I found the writing quite stilted and some of the story quite unbelievable, however, thanks for giving me the chance to read this book, now sending onto rubybluelady.
Released 17 yrs ago (1/31/2007 UTC) at
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
RELEASE NOTES:
Now sending onto rubybluelady, hope you enjoy it!
Now sending onto rubybluelady, hope you enjoy it!
The book has arrived safely, thanks. I have two thin Bookrings to read first, but that shouldn't take me long.
Journal Entry 11 by RubyBlueLady from Avebury, Wiltshire United Kingdom on Thursday, February 8, 2007
Sorry for what I am about to say :0(. I really struggled to finish this book. Fiona irritated me (can't really say why without spoiling the plot) in fact I don't think I liked anyone in this book. Like others have already mentioned, the writing is stilted, the dialogue, I felt was a bit like watching an over-acted amateur dramatics performance. There was no real suspense for me, and the ending was predictable and not worth the effort. Can you tell I didn't like the book? LOL
All this is, of course, only my humble opinion and I would much rather have loved the book like others undoubtedly will.
Will post to WelshHelen
Arrived safely today - thanks RubyBlueLady. I'll add it to my growing pile of ring books but should get to it pretty soon :-)
Life has become a bit complicated over the last week or so and I'm hardly doing any reading. Rather than hold this book up I'll pass it on unread. I've requested LindyB28's address and will get it in the post to her asap.
Thanks for the chance to read the book, Heaven-Ali :-)
Thanks for the chance to read the book, Heaven-Ali :-)
Both LindyB28 and Lyzzybee asked to be skipped so I've posted the book on to scotsbookie.
Oooops sorry this book arrived with me on Friday & I forgot to journal it.
I found this a quick & enjoyable read, others have commented on finding the language stilted but I didn't really notice that. Although I didn't really like or engage with Fiona much I did like the characters of Simon & Colin, I had my doubts about Simon's motivations but not to give any spoilers you'll hve to read the book to find out if I was wrong or right. Not my favourite Transita.
Just going to PM Inver & will get it n the post after the Easter break.
Just going to PM Inver & will get it n the post after the Easter break.
Popped in the post to Inver this morning. Happy reading!
Arrived today with a lovely choccie surprise inside. Thanks Scotsbookie. It will be a while until I get to this. Reading a bookring and another two in front of this one. Will do my best to get to it as soon as I can. Why do all your bookrings arrive together!?!?
25/4/07 Still 1 and a half bookrings to get through before I start this one I'm afraid.
8/5/07 One book ahead of this one.
25/5/07 Started reading and nearly half way through already.
25/4/07 Still 1 and a half bookrings to get through before I start this one I'm afraid.
8/5/07 One book ahead of this one.
25/5/07 Started reading and nearly half way through already.
Simply written and easily read, but not my favourite Transita read I'm afraid. Most of the story was fine but I found the last couple of chapters a bit like the author couldn't think of an ending and wanted to finish it quickly. I had figured out quite a bit of the plot but not the ending completely. I know what you mean Rubybluelady about the amateur dramatics...lol. Thanks for passing it on as a bookring though Heaven-Ali.
Will be posting on to LindyLouMac in next day or so.
Will be posting on to LindyLouMac in next day or so.
Posting on to LindyLouMac today.
Arrived today,goody another Transita! Thanks Inver for sending on along with the little note and bookmark you enclosed for me. Also to Heaven-Ali for signing me up to her ring for this title.
I will also take this opportunity to plug my own Transita Bookrays, half a dozen just about to start the rounds. They are listed on My Profile page so do take a look maybe they are titles you other Transita fans here have still not read??
I will also take this opportunity to plug my own Transita Bookrays, half a dozen just about to start the rounds. They are listed on My Profile page so do take a look maybe they are titles you other Transita fans here have still not read??
In the author information of this book we are told that Betty O’Rourke has mainly written romantic novels with a thread of mystery. With ‘After Michael’ she wanted to reverse the balance of mystery and romance.
I think she has done so; neither finding it stilted or unbelievable, apart from one scene, leave you to guess which so as not to spoil! Sadly this is one of, if not her last novel as she died in early December last year.
I sat down to read this one afternoon, intending to have half an hour in the sunshine before getting on with other things, 11 chapters and 200 pages later, difficult to put down once started!
I did guess some of the plot before it was revealed, but did not anticipate it ending quite how it did, though thought it would be along those lines!
How sad that there will not be another mystery with a touch of romance from the pen of Betty O’Rourke.
I think she has done so; neither finding it stilted or unbelievable, apart from one scene, leave you to guess which so as not to spoil! Sadly this is one of, if not her last novel as she died in early December last year.
I sat down to read this one afternoon, intending to have half an hour in the sunshine before getting on with other things, 11 chapters and 200 pages later, difficult to put down once started!
I did guess some of the plot before it was revealed, but did not anticipate it ending quite how it did, though thought it would be along those lines!
How sad that there will not be another mystery with a touch of romance from the pen of Betty O’Rourke.
Journal Entry 23 by LindyLouMac at by mail in To the next participant, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Friday, June 15, 2007
Released 16 yrs ago (6/18/2007 UTC) at by mail in To the next participant, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
RELEASE NOTES:
En route to the next participant in France.
En route to the next participant in France.
Arrived safely, many thanks!
I'm looking forward to reading this one.
The Sorrow of Sisters is now on it's way to you LindyLouMac, hope you enjoy it!
I'm looking forward to reading this one.
The Sorrow of Sisters is now on it's way to you LindyLouMac, hope you enjoy it!
Gosh I hadn't realised I'd forgotten to do my final journal entry!
I will pop it in the post tomorrow to Beqi.
I did enjoy this book even though, like others, it wasn't my favourite Transita. It wasn't the worst though (I disliked Blood Precious more) but I found the story too far-fetched and I didn't get drawn in as with other Transitas. I honestly thought for some of the story that Simon was an undercover police officer until a certain point when I realised he couldn't possibly be!!
Anyway, thank you for sharing this book.
On it's way to Beqi.
I will pop it in the post tomorrow to Beqi.
I did enjoy this book even though, like others, it wasn't my favourite Transita. It wasn't the worst though (I disliked Blood Precious more) but I found the story too far-fetched and I didn't get drawn in as with other Transitas. I honestly thought for some of the story that Simon was an undercover police officer until a certain point when I realised he couldn't possibly be!!
Anyway, thank you for sharing this book.
On it's way to Beqi.
This arrived safely in the post today. Many thanks to mallary for sending it to me, and also to Heaven-Ali for letting me join this bookring. I''m so looking forward to starting this, and I''m just about to finish a book, so this was a very well timed arrival. This will be my first Transita book. Looking forward to working my way through a few others after this one! :-)
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was so easy to read and held my attention throughout. I had a few suspicions about some characters, and even had a sneaky look at the end (I wish I could stop myself from doing that!) and was happy to know I was right about them. Luckily I didn't totally spoil the book for myself by sneaking a look further on, as there were still some surprises I hadn't seen coming. This was my first Transita book and I'm really looking forward to reading more in future. I'm going to PM Heaven-Ali right now as to where to send this book on to next.
UPDATE! The book was a RAY not a ring, so I'm planning on taking this to the next Salcey Forest meet-up and perhaps using it in the book swap game (hence being marked 'reserved'), as it comes highly recommended by me!
UPDATE! The book was a RAY not a ring, so I'm planning on taking this to the next Salcey Forest meet-up and perhaps using it in the book swap game (hence being marked 'reserved'), as it comes highly recommended by me!
Journal Entry 28 by Beqi from Daventry, Northamptonshire United Kingdom on Wednesday, March 26, 2008
I noticed this on Molyneux's wish list. Will give to her on Saturday, at Daventry meet-up, if she'd still like to read it.
Well what a well travelled book! It's been on my wishlist a while so I was delighted when Beqi handed it to me at the meet today in Daventry. Lovely to meet you at last, Beqi!
One of the transita books I'd not heard of so picked up today at the meet up and may have a read of it some time.
I'm doing a journal now as I intend taking this on holiday with me for a spot of round-the-pool-reading. It will either get wild released when I'm on holiday or brought home and passed on. (Depends when I get it finished.) In case it does get wild released and caught I thought I'd do this journal and then I can update this when I get back as to what I thought of the book.
This made easy holiday reading as it didn't require much effort and thought and it was obvious what was going on a mile off. That said I liked all the characters and enjoyed this book. Quite an interesting, if a little improbable story - would they have really tried to dig up the body?
Given to my sister in law as I think she'll enjoy this. She'll either return it or wild release it.
