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You are commenting using your Facebook account. Notify me of new comments via email. Notify me of new posts via email. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed. Our small family living in a 5th wheel following Dads work as a rock fall technician I'm a bilingual teacher, and have decided that this summer I wanted to get back into the world of reading.

I needed an outlet to share some of the books I have been reading that have been by far amazing reads. I hope I can help spread the interest of good books with others like myself. Leave a Reply Cancel reply Enter your comment here Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: Email required Address never made public. The Haunted Wordsmith Winter Wonderland. Northwoman's Blog Just another Eric Northman lover. RoughBandit joke lol haha funny hilarious. Reader Witch Books live here. What's Inside a Madman's Hat? The Naptime Author Anne Clare explores the world of writing, one stolen minute at a time.

Journeyman's Legacy Letters from Outpost Platform Number 4 Becky Ross Michael: Spine Cracker Love your books, break their spines. W R Daniel Author. But Reggie is wholly unsuited to become a soldier, and is also deeply in love with Frank. He cannot face the prospect of being separated from him.

Valentine sees an opportunity: Despite, some close calls, her masquerade goes undetected, and at first the freedom is exhilarating. But when Valentine and her regiment finally face actual battle, and the casualties mount up, the horrors of war mark her irrevocably.

Though their idyll together proves to be all too brief, and they endure a personal hell, not dissimilar to war. This is an extremely well-written novel: The novel does become increasingly grim and unsentimental, but this is wholly appropriate given the background of war and is finely judged. Valentine Grey is also one of those rare novels which will appeal to both gay men and lesbians, as well as the general reader. Dec 15, Johanne rated it it was amazing.

Its about time someone related the horrors of the Boer war - it had so many hideous firsts including the first use of concentration camps. The description of the horrors that the largely volunteer army went through are eye-opening. As is is the reminder that wars are generally over power, resources and wealth; whoever actually lives there is just a background inconvenience. There are no good guys in this story - individual Boers and British are decent but neither care about t Really interesting.

Sandi Toksvig's 'Valentine Grey' is a compelling novel of love and courage during wartime

There are no good guys in this story - individual Boers and British are decent but neither care about the people whose land it actually is. Those bits are equally well but grimly done and draw a picture of Victorian London with its music halls, opium dens, asylums, atmosphere of violence and utterly constrained lives for women of all classes. Its well written, the dialogue is generally convincing, the plot is a little dodgy at first but has to be I think, to set up the bulk of the book although women disguising themselves as male soldiers is as old as war itself. Valentine's story is written in the first person and this really brings home the horrors.

Occasionally the transitions feel clunky and I wonder if that was an over heavy handed editor or just the realisation that actually this could probably have been two books.

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Not a feelgood read but a hugely recommended one. Mar 27, Lucy Raby rated it it was amazing.


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  4. by Sandi Toksvig?

A fabulous story about a young Victorian girl who is orphaned. She has grown up in India where her father has a plantation. She comes to live with her straitlaced aunt and uncle in London. She loves her cousin Reggie who is gay when it was the love that dare not speak its name and takes his place as a volunteer in the Boer War.

Valentine Grey

Incredibly well researched, Sandi's bibliography is staggering and includes letters and diaries at the British Museum as well as history books it deals effortlessly and A fabulous story about a young Victorian girl who is orphaned. Incredibly well researched, Sandi's bibliography is staggering and includes letters and diaries at the British Museum as well as history books it deals effortlessly and seamlessly with a number of issues that are still current today - imperialism, greed, power, intolerance, gays, feminism, social and sexual equality, war, love, life and death, without seeming heavy handed and obtrusive.

It is a gripping story and you really engage with Valentine and the characters she meets. The story follows her journey and that of her cousin and the vast sweep of history, when the British Empire was at the height of its power. Sandi is one of the most talented women around today and always worth a read.


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  • Oct 18, CF rated it it was amazing Shelves: A moving and touching story of life in the late Victorian period. The Boer war is raging, and Valentine, fresh from India, has the pleasure of meeting her jovial and bright cousin Reggie. Her Uncle, who is stoic but well meaning, in the heat of the patriotism from the war, makes a decision that will change their lives forever. A beautiful and tragically sad tale that is so visual, I kept thinking how well it would adapt to a BBC mini-series.

    I'd love to watch this. Toksvig's style is so detailed A moving and touching story of life in the late Victorian period. Toksvig's style is so detailed you can almost see the hills of South Africa or smell the smog of London in the late 19th century. Valentine Grey is infinitely likeable and brave, and her friends from all walks of life shape her view, making the character development deep and descriptive. I thoroughly enjoyed this. The sadness of war and outdated views are visceral, stirring all kinds of emotions from anger to pity.

    The twists and turns are sudden and unexpected, making it a book that is hard to put down. Very, very well written. Aug 30, Erica rated it it was amazing Shelves: Most of Valentine Grey is set in the time of the Boer War Although I have read other books by Sandi Toksvig, I read this book as I have had an interest in the Boer War since finding out that my great grandfather fought in the war and was captured at Klip River. Sandi mentions in her book that she wrote Valentine Grey as she feels there is not enough coverage of the Boer War in comparison to the First and Second World Wars, and I have certainly found this to be the case when doing ba Most of Valentine Grey is set in the time of the Boer War Sandi mentions in her book that she wrote Valentine Grey as she feels there is not enough coverage of the Boer War in comparison to the First and Second World Wars, and I have certainly found this to be the case when doing background research myself.

    Sandi has created a moving piece of fiction based on Valentine Grey's life, yet it is apparent that Sandi has done her research. And for me this was the first book, fiction or not, that includes the battle at the Klip River. A very good read and a good introduction to the events and conditions at that time. I wanted to like this book! There are pacing issues, especially with Reggie's story.

    I honestly think the book would have been much more strong if his chapters had been cut, and then more time given to him and Valentine catching up on her return home. The shifting between the two perspectives wasn't great, and I felt more connection between Sarel and Valentine then I did Regg I wanted to like this book!

    The shifting between the two perspectives wasn't great, and I felt more connection between Sarel and Valentine then I did Reggie and Frank.

    Valentine Grey by Sandi Toksvig

    We are told a lot of what without the why. Because of the writing issues some of the emotional gutpunches fall short and I found myself rolling my eyes in the last 40 pages, but the fact that I got there shows you it's probably worth a read if you're looking for something easy and set in a fairly uncommon time period.

    Nov 08, Robin rated it did not like it. Having read Hitler's Canary by same the author, which was brilliant, I have been very disappointed by this book.

    It is far too stagy and contrived and the story as it unfolds on the veldt of South Africa becomes ever more grim. I have not quite finished the book yet but there is little sign of any redemption of any of the characters so far. I might add that all the characters are slightly unbelievable and the book is continually drab and bleak and increasingly I wonder why I am reading this as it Having read Hitler's Canary by same the author, which was brilliant, I have been very disappointed by this book.

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    I might add that all the characters are slightly unbelievable and the book is continually drab and bleak and increasingly I wonder why I am reading this as it is a very depressing story. I will redress the above comments if, on completion of the book I feel so uplifted as to feel a change in rating is warranted but being within spitting distance of completion that looks unlikely. Sep 09, Justin Neville rated it really liked it.

    Without wanting to spoil the story in any way, I will just comment on the general reading experience. It starts off very lightweight with some predictable and unsophisticated characterisations, and the seeming implausibilities in the plot start to pile up. However, if you stick with it and go with the flow, you or at least I soon become gripped, involved, educated, entertained and, most of all, moved. What more could you want? I've had enough of over-ambitious historical n Perhaps even 4.

    Valentine Grey

    I've had enough of over-ambitious historical novels that fail to engage and fail to convince. This one won't be for everyone but it's one of the best reads of the year for me. Nov 23, Dew Yothanant rated it it was amazing Shelves: I was assigned to read this book in English Reading Skill course. At first, I don't really like it. I found the book very boring. The narration just goes on and on and on with no twist and turn, no up and down for the first half of the book. However, in the second half, the book has become much more interesting. This book has to be read more than one.

    At first glance, it seems like a typical YA historical novel but if you read it carefully, there're many hidden messages, symbols and issues that I was assigned to read this book in English Reading Skill course. At first glance, it seems like a typical YA historical novel but if you read it carefully, there're many hidden messages, symbols and issues that are discussed about.

    Some of the issues raised in this book are still true today. Jul 10, Angie rated it liked it. An insight into the 2nd Boer War and into difficulties of being a homosexual at the turn of the 20th century. These 2 aspects are brought together when Valentine, female cousin to gay Reginald, decides to take his place as a soldier enlisted for fighting in Africa. While Valentine deals with the difficulties of keeping her sexuality hidden plus the horrors she faces in fighting on the veldt, Reggie fights his own private war trying to keep his homosexual relationship hidden as well as dealing wi An insight into the 2nd Boer War and into difficulties of being a homosexual at the turn of the 20th century.

    While Valentine deals with the difficulties of keeping her sexuality hidden plus the horrors she faces in fighting on the veldt, Reggie fights his own private war trying to keep his homosexual relationship hidden as well as dealing with his feelings of guilt allowing his female cousin to take his place in the army. Nov 06, Penny rated it really liked it. I really enjoyed this book about Valentine Grey who went to fight in the Boer war instead of her cousin. She was a very strong brave woman, who endured the hardships, terrors and privation and suffering that wars inevitably bring.

    She fought alongside the men without detection she thought! It shows the absolute futility of war, but also shows us that it was the ordinary South African that paid for the British pig headedness about being this I really enjoyed this book about Valentine Grey who went to fight in the Boer war instead of her cousin. It shows the absolute futility of war, but also shows us that it was the ordinary South African that paid for the British pig headedness about being this great powerful nation and wanting to conquer all in it's path. At almost no point in this book, was it at all what I had expected.

    Overall, I enjoyed it, although there were one or two scenes which I had to read through twice. The plot twists and turns in unexpected directions almost continuously. Although Valentine is the main protagonist, the book alternates between Valentine's point of view, and Reggie's. This is not a feel-good novel, this is, in parts, a dark novel, but it's depicting a war, not glorious, but dark, dirty, unpleasant, and painful.

    Which At almost no point in this book, was it at all what I had expected. Which it does well. Oct 30, Trish rated it really liked it. A bookclub book I really quite enjoyed. I initially thought it was going to be a jolly-hockeysticks-I-dressed-up-as-a-man-and-had-a-grand-adventure type of book but it was way more than that. The depiction of the Boer War was horrific - and a period of history I knew very little about beyond Breaker Morant I really liked the way Toksvig explored themes of freedom, gender, sexuality, war, power while crafting a great read Jun 07, Alison Smedley rated it it was amazing.

    Amazing book incorporating many issues from the turn of the 20th centrury. I previously knew very little about the Boer war and was quite shocked. The homophobic laws and attitudes as well as the restrictive gender roles were really brought to life by a great cast of characters.