Last Friends by Jane Gardam ****

This is the final novel in the Old Filth Trilogy, and it tells Veneering's story- his mother, who collected coal, and his father, a former Russan spy- his marriage to Elsie, but not much about Betty, who was really the love of his life. The story of how Veneering and Filth become friends is in this novel, as well as the connection between poor old Fiscal-Smith and Dulcie, who was mainly a piece of fluff. 

I've really enjoyed this series, and I must read more of Jane Gardam's novels. She has a dry sense of humour and is able to say a lot in just a short scene or conversation.

The Man In The Wooden Hat by Jane Gardam****

Volume 2 of the Old Filth trilogy tells the story from Betty's point of view( Eddie Feathers' wife, who has died when Volume 1 has just begun). I enjoyed this story much more than the first volume. Much of what we learned about Betty in Volume 1 is explained more fully, especially her relationship with Veneering, who as we know was a long-time rival of Eddie's. We don't learn as much about her childhood, mainly I think because it was not important to the story of meeting, marrying and living with Eddie Feathers.there are a few coincidences in this novel, like Isobel Goldenby being a friend of Betty's, and Eddie never finds it, even though he also has a relationship with her.

I'm going to move right on to Volume 3- Lost Friends

Be Careful What You Wish For: volume 4 The Clifton Chronicles y Jeffrey Archer

Sebastian goes involved in banking, Giles gets a cabinet post, Don Pedro Martinez is still trying to get rid of the Barringtons and the Cliftons. This volume ends with the newly opened- launched Buckingham cruise ship with many of the B-C family on board, plus a team of men with a ticking bomb on board.

Best Kept Secret by Jeffery Archer ***

Book Three of the Clifton Chronicles.

Giles Barrington is re-elected as MP, with assistance from Harry Clifton son, Sebastian. Sebastian has a friend, Bruno, whose father turns out to be a mafia type fellow, who sends Seb to Argentina on a money- laundering mission,,without Seb ever finding out what it was all about - no, really- there is so much in these stories that is so implausible- there are potentially dangerous or scandalous situations that hold your interest, but it all ends up so disappointedly neutral. Giles' wife is so evil, but Giles never realizes it. Seb never knows what was in that statue. And I think Seb's going to fall in love with his step sister. But they are light reading, and always a cliff hanger ending. in this one, Sebastian and Bruno are in a sports car, being followed closely by a lorry. there is a collision and someone is killed, but we don't know who. I say it's Bruno, because Seb has to survive, he's a main character! Stay tuned.

China Dolls by Lisa See ***

This novel traces the lives of three girls, Helen, Ruby, and Grace, who meet in San Francisco in the late 30s. Helen and Grace are of Chinese parentage, while Ruby is Japanese, although she succeeds for awhile in passing for Chinese.  The three girls work as dancers in Chinese night clubs, and two of the girls at least achieve a measure of stardom. Ruby's background is discovered and she spends some time in an internment camp for Japanese, who of course are sworn enemies of the Americans after the bombing of Pearl Harbour. The novel is a good story of friendship with all its ups and downs,  plus a good depiction of entertainment by Chinese people  during the war. Maybe didn't have the impact of Dreams of Joy, or Snow Flower and The Secret Fan, but still held my attention- no mean feat these days with Mike in hospital and our future uncertain!

Language Arts by Stephanie Kallos ***

I read this off and on during Mike's long hospital stay, so it may have been a distracted reading of this novel, because I was never entirely sure what was going on. Plus, it seemed a long time before there was any strong action to keep me reading enthusiastically. For example, Sister Giorgia was a puzzle to me until I was more than halfway through the book, and even after that there were unanswered questions. I enjoyed the two previous novels by Kallos, but this one didn't reach me the same way at all.

The Poldark Series by Winston Graham

The Poldark series of 12 novels - and I'm pretty sure I read them all years ago- is a summer series this year on PBS. I downloaded the first four so I could re read them.

1. Ross Poldark - Ross returns from America and finds an urchin girl, Demelza, and hires her as a servant because she is abused at home. They are married by the end of the first novel.