A good read

I've read three good books recently.

Godmersham Park

Gill Hornby

4*

Anne Sharp's easy life comes to an end when her father disappears and she and her mother are left bankrupt. Anne takes a job as a governess to the daughter of Edward Austen and through this connection finds herself in a relationship with both Jane and another brother Henry. 

Based on diaries and letters it is an intriguing and entertaining tale.

The Girl in the Red Coat

Kate Hamer

4.5*

Normally I avoid any book dealing with child abduction but once I'd been reassured that there was no sexual abuse or murder I decided to give this one a try. And it was worth it.

I don't even want to imagine losing a child in this way but it was fascinating to see how the mother reacted, developed, changed through the story. Life does go on even when you have a lost child - impossible though that is to believe.

The Mad Women's Ball

Victoria Mas

5*

Set in Paris in the late nineteenth century the story leads us to the highlight of the year for French society: the annual ball held in the state asylum, at which inmates were allowed to dress up and mingle with the elegant ladies and gentlemen who paid good money to see them. If an inmate had a seizure during the ball it was considered an especially good year. 

I was going to say it's unbelievable these days to think this went on (it's based on fact) but maybe it's not that far removed from us watching 'celebrities' in reality shows.

Although the tale leads us to the ball the story revolves around three of the women inmates and the matron. Really excellent.