Customer Reviews (2)

PULP FICTION
This novel is so ordinary that it might even set some kind of record for sheer averageness. Everything about it - plot, characterisation, incidents, style - seems routine and practised. From start to finish I detected no genuine originality, no distinctive outlook, no depth in the portrayal of the actors, nothing that surprised me, little that really intrigued me and absolutely no distinction in the writing.

Even the supposed obsession that gives the book its title would have been hard to identify if I had not been told what it was in the synopsis on the dust-cover of my edition. There is a contrived and desperately commonplace denouement that purports to sum the matter up, but there has been little or nothing to be summed up earlier in the story. The person allegedly obsessed has not even been the focus of the narrative, which centres around her husband, and while she is certainly portrayed as unsympathetic and disagreeable the author doesn't link these attributes especially to her fixation on her grand house but more to the story of conjugal infelicity. There is, I should say, one really memorable character, namely Daisy, introduced towards the end of the narrative as if it needed some sort of pick-me-up, which it assuredly does. The other personae are relentlessly two-dimensional, and even the mise-en-scene is humdrum and reach-me-down. The date of the action is not stated, but it must be fairly late in the 19th century as the house has a mains gas-supply. My edition describes the work as a `historical' novel, but the only meaning I can attach to that is that is a `period' novel. If you look in it for any social criticism, any political angle, any sense of the world around it, you will look in vain, as I have just done. The class-system is simply taken for granted, with the upstairs cast behaving as to the manor born and the downstairs complement talking servantese as in the less imaginative kinds of TV dramas on similar themes.

The style of writing made me wonder whether the author gets round to much reading of her own these days. She certainly seems to have written an awful lot of books, and if this specimen is a fair representative of their quality it may be that she could benefit from catching up with some of the writing that is going on around her, a period of silence from her in the interests of that being a price well worth paying, even from her own point of view let alone ours. When I read ` "Oh!" - she wagged her head now - "great excitement last week" `, or `with her head now thoughtfully to one side, she added...', or `Beatrice practically tore her hands from the gentle grip', can I really be reading a novel written in the 1990's? To say nothing of putting the wince-making vulgarism `a coffee' into the mouth of the Victorian landowning class.

I was not expecting any Jane Austen of course, and what I got was a lot better than Barbara Cartland, but I know which of these authors' this book's quality seems to me to come nearer to.

A true Obsession!
A period tale of Beatrice Steel the eldest of four daughters who isobsessed with her family home and of pleasing her father. A father who doesnothing but end up bringing the family heartbreak with his selfishweaknesses. The house turns out to be a true obsession for Beatrice whowould stop at nothing to hold on to her ancestral home. This novel isfilled with Catherine Cookson's love and betrayal theme, that keeps eachreader coming back for more every time! I highly recommend this novel. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

The Whip
This was the first Catherine Cookson book I've read. It was also the saddest. It seemed that bad things just kept on happening to her, although the book did have a good ending. It sure took a long time for her to find happiness. Catherine Cookson is my favorite author because her stories are so realistic and almost everyone of her books I've read so far have made me cry.

Emma Molinaro endures more suffering than most Cookson women
...in this typical Catherine Cookson page-turner.The orphaned Emma is brought to live with her reluctant grandmother on a country farm.Life is hard.Emma endures very hard work, the abuse of her employers, and suspicion of her Spanish background.

Emma's great beauty and strenth of personality cause some men to love her and some men to hate and want to punish her for seeing through them. Circumstances force her to accept marriage from a decent enought young farmer Barney but her life is harsh, and she must endure the hatred of her brutal brother-in-law Luke, who eventually punishes both Emma and Barney in a particularly horrific fashion.

Emma must also bear the heartache her selfish, promiscuous daughter brings to the family, but she remains a good woman, working herself to exhaustion on the farm when her husband becomes disabled, and refusing to become bitter.I wish Emma had been allowed to use her Whip in a more dramatic, rescuing fashion, like Ayla and her slingshot in Clan of the Cave Bear, but it tends to serve more as a symbol in this novel.

Emma's relentless hard times depressed me more than usual, I don't think the other Cookson heroines suffer quite this much, except maybe Katie Mullholland or Tilly Trotter.

In any event, this is another superb Catherine Cookson I'd highly recommend. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

Katie Mulholland
Catherine Cookson is my favorite author I have all her books and movies, however I loaned "Katie Mulholland" to somebody a few years ago and never got it back, I was delighted to find it on amazon for just one cent wow, delivery was prompt and I am now reading it and thoroughly enjoying it once again. Thank You.

FROM RAGS TO RICHES...
This well-crafted novel by a master storyteller weaves the spellbinding tale of beautiful Katie Mulholland, who began life as the daughter of a miner. The life of a miner in class conscious, mid nineteenth century England was fraught with poverty, and Katie was forced to go into service at a tender age in order to help her family. Her story begins in 1860 which, at the age of fifteen, finds her working long, hard hours in a manor house, as a scullery maid for the Rosier family, who are members of the local gentry and owners of the mine for which her father works.

Due to her beauty she, unfortunately, catches the eye of her employer's handsome and evil son, Bernard Rosier, the heir to the Rosier Mining Company. All, however, goes well, until one night Bernard decides to slake his lust upon the unwilling and shocked Katie. It would be the beginning of a hateful obsession with Katie that would cast a long shadow and haunt both their lives.

Bernard's unspeakable act is the catalyst for a series of events, some quite shocking, that would ultimately have far reaching impact on the entire Mulholland family. Heavy with child, Katie is dismissed by her employer and gulled into a loveless marriage with William Bunting, the manager of the Rosier mines. Katie gives birth to a daughter, whom she names Sarah. After the birth, Bunting's cruelty to Katie goes into full swing. A murder, which would release her from the bonds of marriage, soon follows. This event, however, leads to a travesty of justice that would take the life of one near and dear to Katie.

With her remaining family, Katie leaves for greener pastures and begins what is to be a long and hard odyssey to a better life. What happens along life's path to Katie and those whom she loves and love her makes for a riveting story. It is a tale of great sorrow, hope, love, hatred, betrayal, and, ultimately, redemption. What happens to Katie and her progeny is a rags to riches story that will keep the reader turning the pages into the wee hours of the night.

FROM RAGS TO RICHES...
This well crafted novel by a master storyteller weaves the spellbinding tale of beautiful Katie Mulholland, who began life as the daughter of a miner. The life of a miner in class conscious, mid nineteenth century England was fraught with poverty, and Katie was forced to go into service at a tender age in order to help her family. Her story begins in 1860 which, at the age of fifteen, finds her working long, hard hours in a manor house, as a scullery maid for the Rosier family, who are members of the local gentry and owners of the mine for which her father works.

Due to her beauty she, unfortunately, catches the eye of her employer's handsome and evil son, Bernard Rosier, the heir to the Rosier Mining Company. All, however, goes well, until one night Bernard decides to slake his lust upon the unwilling and shocked Katie. It would be the beginning of a hateful obsession with Katie that would cast a long shadow and haunt both their lives.

Bernard's unspeakable act is the catalyst for a series of events, some quite shocking, that would ultimately have far reaching impact on the entire Mulholland family. Heavy with child, Katie is dismissed by her employer and gulled into a loveless marriage with William Bunting, the manager of the Rosier mines. Katie gives birth to a daughter, whom she names Sarah. After the birth, Bunting's cruelty to Katie goes into full swing. A murder, which would release her from the bonds of marriage, soon follows. This event, however, leads to a travesty of justice that would take the life of one near and dear to Katie.

With her remaining family, Katie leaves for greener pastures and begins what is to be a long and hard odyssey to a better life. What happens along life's path to Katie and those whom she loves and love her makes for a riveting story. It is a tale of great sorrow, hope, love, hatred, betrayal, and, ultimately, redemption. What happens to Katie and her progeny is a rags to riches story that will keep the reader turning the pages into the wee hours of the night.

FROM RAGS TO RICHES...
This well crafted novel by a master storyteller weaves the spellbinding tale of beautiful Katie Mulholland, who began life as the daughter of a miner. The life of a miner in class conscious, mid nineteenth century England was fraught with poverty, and Katie was forced to go into service at a tender age in order to help her family. Her story begins in 1860 which, at the age of fifteen, finds her working long, hard hours in a manor house, as a scullery maid for the Rosier family, who are members of the local gentry and owners of the mine for which her father works.

Due to her beauty she, unfortunately, catches the eye of her employer's handsome and evil son, Bernard Rosier, the heir to the Rosier Mining Company. All, however, goes well, until one night Bernard decides to slake his lust upon the unwilling and shocked Katie. It would be the beginning of a hateful obsession with Katie that would cast a long shadow and haunt both their lives.

Bernard's unspeakable act is the catalyst for a series of events, some quite shocking, that would ultimately have far reaching impact on the entire Mulholland family. Heavy with child, Katie is dismissed by her employer and gulled into a loveless marriage with William Bunting, the manager of the Rosier mines. Katie gives birth to a daughter, whom she names Sarah. After the birth, Bunting's cruelty to Katie goes into full swing. A murder, which would release her from the bonds of marriage, soon follows. This event, however, leads to a travesty of justice that would take the life of one near and dear to Katie.

With her remaining family, Katie leaves for greener pastures and begins what is to be a long and hard odyssey to a better life. What happens along life's path to Katie and those whom she loves and love her makes for a riveting story. It is a tale of great sorrow, hope, love, hatred, betrayal, and, ultimately, redemption. What happens to Katie and her progeny is a rags to riches story that will keep the reader turning the pages into the wee hours of the night.

Katie Mullholland...The best yet!
Out of the 53 or so Catherine Cookson novels I have read, this was my favorite!It's long and covers about 5 generations, but Cookson weaves the characters together in a most intiguing way. ... Read more

Product Description

Master of romantic fiction Catherine Cookson is world renowned for her enthralling tales of love that triumphs over impossible odds. In Kate Hannigan, her very first novel, Catherine Cookson introduces us to the enduring story of her most charismatic heroine.

The moment he lays eyes on Kate, Dr. Rodney Prince is enchanted. He senses in this poverty-stricken patient an intelligence and warmth that's completely unexpected. His own wife, living in the oblivion of velvet cushions and lavish dinner parties, seems crude by comparison. Though they meet only briefly then retreat to their separate worlds, the image of Kate leaves an indelible mark upon his mind.

Rodney knows that Kate's spirit has survived life-long suffering at the hands of men. Her father, an embittered dock worker, directed his violent rages toward Kate and her mother. At age eighteen Kate fell victim to a smooth-talking seducer and became the unwed mother of a child she later compromised her dignity to support. Such circumstances only deepen Rodney's desire to rescue Kate and overturn the codes of a society that serve to keep them apart. As the kindhearted Dr. Prince unintentionally wins over the heart of Kate's fatherless daughter, he and Kate begin to acknowledge that the gap between rich and poor might not be so great after all.

Available now in the United States, Kate Hannigan remains a timeless tribute to romantic love. England's late, great Catherine Cookson has spun the unforgettable tale of a wealthy man caught in a loveless marriage, a young woman trapped in the slums, and their defiance of the mores of Edwardian society. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Witty charm - simply adorable
Marvelous and an enchanting novel, indeed.

The first chapter confused me to the max, Cookson's reference to many character names just thrown into the sentence without a single hint of who they are or relation to anyone was definitely quite confusing; however as I read on it became such a lovely novel and I finished it under one day. It had me turning pages and exploiting little giggles page after the other.

This book had many religious views and in fact some of its exposure made my perspective on Catholic Christians change dramatically, some points brought out by the heroin Kate Hannigan had me sitting there questioning the purpose of religion and fate.

Other than that, this is a very charming little romance story and as I recall there is a sequal to this Kate Hannigans' Girl, I think.. in any case I will be reading that one next!

Chaterine Cookson has proved to me to be an enchanting writer, her usage of vocabulary captivated me though not very difficult, it was not a first grade level read either. Very charming.

comparative look at the extremes of Edwardian England
At the beginning of the twentieth century, the Fifteen Streets are filled with the hopeless poor with no expectations to escape the foulness of these slums.In this enervating world, an energetic innocent like Kate Hannigan has no chance for survival.To escape her abusive father, teenage Kate listened to the sweet con of John Herrington.When she becomes pregnant he drops her as yesterday's trash.

Feeling a need to help the impoverished, wealthy Dr. Rodney Prince provides medical care to the residents of the Fifteen Streets.He helps Kate give birth and though she insists she prefers to die, he senses an inner strength and intelligence that makes her superior to her neighbors.As Rodney further compares lower class Kate to his blue-blooded hedonistic wife, Stella, he finds his upper crust sophisticated spouse lacking.Rodney wants to assist Kate and her out of wedlock daughter escape from the Fifteen Streets, but soon needs the two females as much as they need him as love blossoms between them.

Though in some ways this novel feels antiquated as society has become more accepting of single mothers and intolerant towards irresponsible fathers, fans of the late great Catherine Cookson will enjoy this reprint.The story line provides a comparative look at the extremes of Edwardian England through the eyes of Rodney who has feet in both societies.Kate and Rodney are delightful protagonists, but Stella is so shallow she makes Hal seem like Mother Teresa.Still few authors can describe poverty any better than Ms. Cookson has and those of her fans who have not already will seek Annie's story told in KATE HANNIGAN'S GIRL.

Harriet Klausner ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

More travels with Catherine Cookson
It's always a pleasure to read a Catherine Cookson book because you can bet the protagonist will always come out on top no matter what the circumstances.In THE SOLACE OF SIN Constance Stapleton retreats to a home in the country to escape the problems she's facing in the city with herhusband who's a lech in the true sense of the word.She meets up withVincent O'Connor and his family who help her through these difficult times. Although the writing was pure Catherine Cookson, I found the characters abit flat compared to others I've encountered and wish she would havedeveloped Constance a bit more.This lady was just too good to be true. Still, all in all, I would recommend it to die-hard Cookson fans who (likeme) can't seem to get enough of her. ... Read more

Product Description
Even though every day brought equal parts of pain and pleasure, life was never dull for Fanny McBride. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Delightful
What a delightful, charming and different novel.Ms. Cookson writes so well that you don't even know you're reading.You are lost in a zone somewhere and enjoying every minute.

Fabulously Funny Fat Fanny!
Somewhere in England in 1959, there is a large house turned into apartments called Mulhatten's Hall.In the apartment right below the attic one, lives Fanny McBride.Fanny is old, widowed (and glad of it), honest to the point of bluntness, and even tho she has only a few pennies to her name, generous to a fault.Anytime someone needs extra coal or a shilling or two, Fanny is the one to go to.And Fanny loves to laugh.But don't cross Fanny!If her behavior towards the "upstart" Nellie Flannagen is anything to go by, no, you don't want to cross Fanny!

Out of twelve children, Fanny has loved and favored one: Jack.Jack has done what Fanny considers unforgiveable tho and up and married a lady of a different relgion.She hasn't seen her Jack since.While drama unfolds with the new family in the attic above and Fanny struggles to come to terms with the fact that her last child will soon be leaving her home, Christmas comes and goes with no sign of Jack.Will he come back?

Fanny also takes a job and these parts bring their own hillarity to the story.I laughed so many times.The ending took me by complete surprise.Fabulous story.I recommend it for anyone who wants to be touched by both laughter and a lonely woman's heartache.

Wonderful Character!
Fanny McBride - both the character and the book - were wonderful!I love all of Catherine Cookson's works, but this character is one of her most engaging, yet.The book is an easy read and I didn't want to put the book down until I had finished it!

Fanny McBride is One of Catherine Cookson's Best
I loved Fanny McBride.She touched my heart.I cried when she cried.I was happy when she was happy.I could hardly put the book down until I finished.I am a Catherine Cookson collector and Fannie McBride is one ofher best.If you like Fanny McBride, you will also love The FifteenStreets. ... Read more

Product Description
As Anna Martell grows into womanhood in the nineteenth-century English countryside, she is determined to overcome the legacy of her birth--as one of six illegitimate children--a goal aided by the love of wealthy Timothy Barrington. (Romance). ... Read more

Product Description
The story of Mary Ann and her trials as her husband and twins decide they want to adopt a little bull terrier. But this is insignificant compared with her next ordeal when a blonde comes into her husband's life. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Bill The Barmy Bull Terrier
This, sadly, is the last of the Mary Ann novels.I would love for there to be more.I would like to read about Mary Ann up till she enters a nursing home or passes on.She has been a ton of fun at every age so far.In this one she is 27 years old.Her twins, Rose Mary and David are still six and still getting into trouble.David has learned to swear and Rose Mary always gets her way.On top of these troublesome twins, Mary Ann now has to deal with a bull terrier, Bill.

At first, things don't look good for Bill, the barmy bull terrier.He tears up Mary Ann's chairs and piddles and poos on her kitchen floor.But Mary Ann has a lot more on her mind when her husband Corny starts making "google" eyes at a young girl working nearby who obviously has Corny marked as her latest "bull's eye."

Things just may work out all right tho and Bill may have a paw in it.I laughed out loud four or five times and even got a bit onion eyed at the end.A fabulous ending to a terrific series. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Not One Of My Favorites!
Catherine Cookson is one of my favorite authors.I have read about 80 of her novels.I do prefer her stories that are set in the mid to late 1800s or early 1900s.Perhaps this is why I didn't enjoy this book as much as I have most of the others.It is set in the 1950s as I interpreted it.It is a really difficult book to get involved in.I did read the Bill Bailey Chronicles version, which actually includes 3 books:Bill Bailey, Bill Bailey's Lot, and Bill Bailey's Daughter.The last 2 were more interesting that the first one, but of course you would need to read the first one in order to understand the others.

Bill Bailey is for you !
Wonderful book, I couldn't put it down .You will not be disapointed, Catherine Cookson Never lets you down . A Great Read , Makes you cry and Laugh ! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Summer Reading
Delivered on time.Good condition.Good author.Will buy from this dealer again. ... Read more

Product Description
Born to an impoverished young Tyneside woman in1906--illegitimate, unwanted, and rejected from birth--CatherineCookson lived a life marked by darkness, cruelty, and neglect. Attwenty-two, reeling from a broken love affair, she left Tyneside insearch of a new life. After five years and long hours in a workhouselaundry, she was finally able to buy a house of her own--a hopefulsign that her escape was complete. In fact, her struggle had barelybegun. Following the loss of four babies, a nervous breakdown, andconfinement in a psychiatric hospital, she was brought to the brink ofsuicide and forced to recognize the heart of darkness as her own. Thisremarkable book will be welcomed by the millions who know CatherineCookson through her novels--perhaps better than theyrealize. Catherine Cookson was a prolific novelist; among her manybest-selling works are The Black Candle, The GoldenStraw, Obsession, and The Year of the Virgins. PiersDudgeon's critically acclaimed titles include Catherine CooksonCountry, The Spirit of Britain, and The CountryChild. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

In search of the real Catherine
I bought this book believing that I would in some way know Catherine more intimately after reading most of her novels.I came away with an understanding of what her life was like and I greatly appreciated that aspect of the book.I was dissapointed in that a lot of it went back and forth between her life and the characters she wrote about. I felt as if I were traveling down a long bumpy road and then backing up at times. It could have been written much better in my opinion.

The Girl from Leam Lane and other tales out of school
I found this book very interesting and well written. Catherine Cookson's candidness gave this reader an insight into a background that allowed the author to create multi-faceted characters who persevere despite any obstacles that may arise.

The Girl from Leam Lane and other tales out of school
I found this book very interesting and well written. Catherine Cookson's candidness gave this reader an insight into a background that allowed the author to create multi-faceted characters who persevere despite any obstacles that may arise. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Meet The Mallens
This is my first Catherine Cookson novel and it will not be my last.I thoroughly enjoyed it.It is not deep, meaningful, or even thought evoking but is an entertaining family drama that had me on the edge of my seat from page 2.(Page one was scenery descriptions)

Meet the Mallens, a rich family in 1851.The head of the Mallens is Thomas, a very arrogant man who has sired numerous bastards across the surrounding farms.He has one legitimate son and one daughter (who really plays no role in the book whatsoever).The legitimate son commits a crime at the same time that Thomas loses his lands, house, and all his frivolous possesssions.A life of hard gambling and unpaid debts has caught up with both Mallen men.When his fugitive son disappears, Thomas Mallen is taken down a few pegs and becomes dependent on his mistress Anna, also his nieces' governess.

His nieces are Barbara and Constance.Readers will be charmed by the closeness of the sisters as they grow together and intrigued by their relationship with Anna.All these women, including the maid, Mary, form a strong bond and throughout many horrors, tragedies, and difficulties, the bond remains intact.And there is no small amount of difficulties as one of Thomas's bastard sons proceeds to enter their lives and upon taking one of the nieces to wife, attempts to exact his revenge on the entire family thru her, to hell with whoever gets harmed in the process.

A terrific family story.There is no end to the drama or surprises.There is scandal and shame and betrayal, but also love, affection, and trust.The ending is not necessarily happy for all, but does introduce babies Michael and Barbara which I feel we will be reading more of in the next book, The Mallen Girl.

This is the first of a trilogy and I am eager to begin the next book.

Catherine cookson has done it again!
Catherine cookson has written another delightful novel that travelsthrough the generations of one family. The curse of the Mallen Streak isfilled with tragedy and forbidden love, it takes you right to the heart oflifes trials and tribulations with all of its wanting to be accepted in atime when scandal was everything and could not be forgiven. I highlyrecommend this novel whether you are a Catherine Cookson fan or not! ... Read more

Product Description

High above the river stood the small terrace of miners' cottages known as Fenwick Houses. Here, during the hazardous years of the Depression, lived Christine Winter, a girl blessed - or cursed - with that indefinable appeal that drives men to the brink of obsession.

Three men dominated her life: her brother Ronnie; Sam, whose devotion was deep and loyal; and Don Dowling, cruel and tormented, who made it his life's ambition to possess her. To Ronnie and Sam she was joined by a thread of harmony; but Don was the needle through which the thread was drawn, and the point was sharp and deadly...

But then, one day, a stranger came to the river bank and Christine found herself changed beyond recall. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Fenwick Houses
The book was good, but was much too dragged out in the beginning. I didn't find it as good as about a dozen or so other Catherine Cookson books which I have read lately, including "The Black Velvet Gown", "A Dinner of Herbs", "The Cultured Handmaiden", "The Whip". The ending was very good. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Favorite author
Anything by Catherine Cookson is perfect for me. I just wish more videos of her work were available ... Read more

Product Description