I went to work when I was 15 and a half, for God's sake, as a typist on a newspaper. I clean a closet. I have lunch with a girlfriend. I go do some shopping. But that lasts all of about a week and then I start a new book because I'm bored. Bradford was born the only child of a former children's nurse and a British Royal Navy veteran who struggled to find work during the Depression, according to "The Woman of Substance," a biography by Piers Dudgeon.
She started writing as a child and was first paid for a piece of writing when she was She wanted to write novels, she says, but journalism was a more practical choice. She rapidly rose from the typing pool at the Yorkshire Evening Post to cub reporter and then woman's page editor, before moving on to Fleet Street. She wrote four unfinished novels before she started "A Woman of Substance," which has sold more than 32 million copies worldwide and was made into a TV miniseries with Deborah Kerr and Liam Neeson.
Bradford's books have now been made into 10 TV movies and miniseries. Her reviews tend to be positive with a reservation or two: However, every novel from this acclaimed and beloved author is avidly read, and its engrossing historical dimension, family traumas, romance and vivid setting will prove irresistible," Aleksandra Walker of Booklist wrote of "Letter from a Stranger. Bradford brings up the "coincidence" issue herself during the interview and addresses it head-on. Nothing is ever the way we think it is.
She and Bob were once on a trip to London and Switzerland, and Bob was having a terrible time tracking down the director Tony Wharmby, who was filming in Hungary or Romania. Wharmby would call the Bradfords' hotel, and they'd be out. Bob would call Wharmby, and he'd be shooting a scene in the mountains and unavailable. This went on for 10 days. Finally, the Bradfords were sitting in the airport in Geneva, waiting for a flight home to New York, when Barbara spotted Wharmby. The two men hammered out a deal on the spot. Bradford's inspiration for "Letter" came, in part, from her husband, who is Jewish and escaped Nazi Germany as a young boy with his mother's jewelry stitched inside his clothes, but the more immediate influence was a friend whose ex-husband abducted their sons.
She began to think about missing children and to notice all the newspaper stories about missing women: What would it be like if I went out and I never came back? How would Bob feel? And the people that care about me? I kept thinking, what must it be like? She found herself imagining a child coming home from school to find that her mother had vanished.
More people went missing and were never found than in any other time in history — and I'm actually feeling it now. I got a cold chill. I was sitting on the sofa in my office and I got up and I went to the desk and I wrote down: What is the link? In the finished book, the blond, blue-eyed American heroine who discovers that the grandmother she assumed was dead is in fact alive, living halfway across the world and harboring family secrets that date back to World War II.
Her grandmother's gripping memoir — effectively a story within the story — takes readers back to Nazi-era Germany.. Bradford winds up the interview and photo session after more than two hours, having ordered only water "tap water is fine" , posed cheerfully and offered to answer additional questions.
She returns, several times, to the question of whether she's mellowed, her tone amused and skeptical. Nara Schoenberg is a Tribune feature writer. There are random comments thrown in to the story that just feel like an afterthought. I usually only give a book 40 pages, but I really wanted to enjoy this story.
I gave it pages and they were painful and never once made me care about a single character in the s I would give this book negative stars if I could I gave it pages and they were painful and never once made me care about a single character in the story. There are so many great books out there. This is not one of them, so skip it. Jul 22, Eve rated it did not like it.
This story sounded so good, I really wanted to like it! The writing was so terrible, tons of extra words just thrown in, it felt like high school when you added words to just make the paper longer. The characters were just not real, too rich, too dramatic, too perfect.
Constantly reminded sentence after sentence of teh same thing, traits that were already established. Twin Bond to name one I stuck with it for several chapters hoping that once it got going it would get better as the story line This story sounded so good, I really wanted to like it! Twin Bond to name one I stuck with it for several chapters hoping that once it got going it would get better as the story line really did seem very interesting. I finally gave up and I almost never do that. I just couldn't keep reading. I am used to reading where I don't even know I'm reading, I'm so lost in the book, that never happened, too broken.
When I received the book I got a little nervous. It looked more like an older Delinsky book than I would have liked. It's not that it doesn't fit - it's just too generic. It gives no real feel for the 4. It gives no real feel for the story. Luckily, my good luck with FR wins held and this was pretty damn close to amazing. So many blurbs say a story is "intriguing" and "page turning" and then they fall short - this doesn't.
There were a few parts, and only a few, that I thought were just a tad too long winded but not by much and it didn't happen often. Besides that I was in love with the main characters. I honestly don't know who I'd recommend this to but if it calls to you I'd suggest giving it a try. I don't regret it. I'm going to take a look for any others Bradford might have that might interest me. Jul 09, Bayneeta rated it did not like it Shelves: This is Bradford's 27th book.
I know she has a loyal following, so I expected better. I thought the dialogue was frequently awful; the plotlines were frequently over the top or added nothing; and the reader, while sometimes spot on, was more often annoying. Why did I finish? Reading for a genre study. Jun 01, Katherine rated it it was ok.
I am a bit embarrassed to admit I read this book and more astonished that the author has written 26 other books and received the OBE. While the story is original in many ways the prose is terrible.
Obviously I am not on the same planet as many other people who seem love this type of writing. Sep 19, Carolyn rated it liked it. The dialogue was really unbelievable, why do people write the way no normal person would speak. The story a little on the fluffy side. Deborah is away for 6 weeks in China so when Justine is going through the mail she finds a letter addressed to Deborah with an Istanbul postmark she opens it and is speechless and shocked to learn that Deborah lied to them 10 years ago by telling them their Grandmother had been killed in a plane crash, she is still alive.
Justine goes to Istanbul to find her Grandmother but does she succeed? Lots of family secrets come out of the closet can there relationship with Deborah ever be the same again? This is my first book by this Author, I really enjoyed it, and this book was recommended in a magazine, it must be a popular book as I have waited for it from the Library for some time, it was easy to read and follow, I would definitely recommend and will look out for more by this Author in the future.
Apr 10, JoAnne rated it it was amazing. The book was nothing like I expected but it drew you in from the beginning. Throughout the book there was laughter and tears, romance and strong female characters. I would love to see a continuation of this story. While there is closure due to the epilogue there is so much story to tell of the reunion, the new family d I have loved all of Barbara Taylor Bradford's books and Letter From A Stranger is no exception. While there is closure due to the epilogue there is so much story to tell of the reunion, the new family dynamics, how Justine and Richard's lives would change with their beloved Gran back in their fold.
I recommend this book and all the other books written by this author! Jun 24, Rebecca rated it it was ok Shelves: I listened to it. And to begin I hated the romance, Ive never read such tasteless romance before in my life. You could actually see me grimacing while going through it. I plodded on only because it was a recommendation from my sister in law who promised me that the end would be rewarding. The 2 stars are only for Gabri The grandmother and her story.
As for Justine the heroine better things left unsaid. The book requires a lot of editing too as the same information is repeated by diff I listened to it. The book requires a lot of editing too as the same information is repeated by different characters Mar 28, Diane Davis rated it it was amazing. This is the second book that I have read in the last month that had to do with the holocaust..
While the book was fiction, the holocaust wasn't and it is always a heartwrenching story.. I cried buckets through this one but it had a wonderful ending so all is well Loved, loved, loved this book Jun 21, Rosemary Lauryn rated it did not like it Shelves: But she fell short with this one. Read full review at: Se la vita fosse semplice come in questo romanzo saremmo davvero tutti a posto View all 5 comments.
Apr 12, Norm Lionberger rated it did not like it. Gave up after applying my " page" rule. Not even interesting enough to pursue. Jun 29, Kim rated it it was ok. Ok so this was my first read from this author. Must admit a little too cheesy for me. Once I managed to finally get into theirs book I found it a really good read but it seemed very slow at the start would definitely recommend sticking with it tho.
Apr 08, Abby Brown rated it really liked it. Loved this book- has a little of everything- mystery, drama, history and romance. Agora vou falar daquilo que mais me deixou desgostosa neste livro. O romance entre Justine e Michael. Apesar dos pontos negativos que penso que existem em todos os livros , acabei por ler este livro em apenas uma noite. Jul 18, Connie rated it it was amazing.
A memorable work of historical fiction that spans from the 's to in such diverse locations as New York City, London, Istanbul, Berlin and Connecticut. It was fascinating to learn about the city and its rich culture and history. I especially enjoyed learning about tulips and the fact that they originated in Asia.
In a departure from her usual serialized family sagas, Bradford attempts a stand-alone examination of one troubled family, with uneven results. Loved, loved, loved this book Want to Read saving…. Thanks for the commentary. Thanks for signing up for Bookperk! What is the link? The book is full of great meaning on many levels.
Tulips have also been my favorite flowers, and I have always associated them with A memorable work of historical fiction that spans from the 's to in such diverse locations as New York City, London, Istanbul, Berlin and Connecticut. Tulips have also been my favorite flowers, and I have always associated them with Holland. Quite a surprise to learn about their true origins.