Two Book Reviews - Slaughter in the Cotswolds and Courtesans

I have just finished reading two book's here are my reviews on them

Slaughter in the Cotswold's,

I read this in a couple of days I took it to the beach with me for some light reading and that's exactly what it was
a book of nothingness! I picked it up from a car boot for 20p, I selected it because I actually like the Cotswold's a lot and thought it would remind me of my visits there.
The story was weak, there was no twist to it, I guessed what happened right from the outset, she failed to use any descriptive words or help the reader imagine the setting.
If you want to read and not think, this book is okay, if you want a story / crime story look else where!

See:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Slaughter-Cotswolds-Cotswold-Mystery-6/dp/0749007931/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1343420936&sr=1-1

Courtesans

Again I picked this book up at a local car boot for 20p

Considered is was published in March 2011, it soon made it's way to the booty
to be honest it had no signed of being previously read

It was very hard going, however I did enjoy snippets from it, Katie's style of writing although very good was deep and carefully written, I struggled with the context

However the book was a massive 352 pages of detailed small text with foot notes about

the course of the 18th- and 19th-century a small group of women rose from impoverished obscurity to positions of great power, independence and wealth. In doing so they took control of their lives – and those of other people – and made the world do their will.The book charts the lives of 5 women, who in this modern day would be classed as prostitutes, call girls, take your pick. They did indeed sell their favours for money, but these were not women of easy virtue, far from it. They had far more to offer to the men in their lives than mere sexual favours.

It was a interesting read but found I got easily distracted and bored with it

See:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Courtesans-Katie-Hickman/dp/0007113927/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1343421363&sr=1-2

Look closer. . . . see. . . . . ME

In an Australian geriatric ward, an old man died humbly, leaving no material possession of any great value. As nurses were collecting the belongings he has left, they’ve found an interesting piece of literature – a very inspiring poem. The nurses were so much inspired that they reproduced copies to every staff in the hospital.
Later on, the poem sparked more hearts and it became so popular it got featured in magazines. The poem also became viral on the Internet. This lowly man, who died with nothing but a fruitful soul, left the world with a beautiful poem under an Anonymous name.

Cranky Old Man
What do you see nurses? . . . . . .What do you see?
What are you thinking . . . when you’re looking at me?
A cranky old man, . . . . . .not very wise,
Uncertain of habit . . . . . . . . . . with faraway eyes?
Who dribbles his food . . . … . . and makes no reply.
When you say in a loud voice . .’I do wish you’d try!’
Who seems not to notice . . .the things that you do.
And forever is losing . . . . . . . . . A sock or shoe?
Who, resisting or not . . . . . . lets you do as you will,
With bathing and feeding . . . .The long day to fill?
Is that what you’re thinking?. .Is that what you see?
Then open your eyes, nurse. . you’re not looking at me.
I’ll tell you who I am . . . . .. As I sit here so still,
As I do at your bidding, . . . . . as I eat at your will.
I’m a small child of Ten . .with a father and mother,
Brothers and sisters . . . . . . . who love one another
A young boy of Sixteen . . . .. with wings on his feet
Dreaming that soon now . . .. . . a lover he’ll meet.
A groom soon at Twenty . . . ..my heart gives a leap.
Remembering, the vows . . . . .that I promised to keep.
At Twenty-Five, now . . . . .I have young of my own.
Who need me to guide . . . And a secure happy home.
A man of Thirty . . . . . . . My young now grown fast,
Bound to each other . . .. With ties that should last.
At Forty, my young sons .. .have grown and are gone,
But my woman is beside me . . to see I don’t mourn.
At Fifty, once more, . . . . .Babies play ’round my knee,
Again, we know children . . . . My loved one and me.
Dark days are upon me . . . . My wife is now dead.
I look at the future . . . . . . . I shudder with dread.
For my young are all rearing .. . . young of their own.
And I think of the years . . . And the love that I’ve known.
I’m now an old man . . . . . . .. and nature is cruel.
It’s jest to make old age . . . . . . . look like a fool.
The body, it crumbles . . .. . grace and vigour, depart.
There is now a stone . . . where I once had a heart.
But inside this old carcass . A young man still dwells,
And now and again . . . . . my battered heart swells
I remember the joys . . . . . . . I remember the pain.
And I’m loving and living . . . . . . . life over again.
I think of the years, all too few . . .. gone too fast.
And accept the stark fact . . . that nothing can last.
So open your eyes, people . . . . . . . . . open and see.
Not a cranky old man. . .
Look closer. . . . see. . . . . ME!!