Barbara Vine (Box Set) (DVD)

Barbara Vine aka Ruth Rendell

Advantages: An excellent book by a versatile writer
Disadvantages: Some may find it a little slow-moving

Introduction I have been quite critical of Ruth Rendell in some past reviews - her books range from the brilliant to the really bad - but I have to admit she is the most versatile of writers. I knew before I started this book that Barbara Vine was a pen-name for Ruth Rendell; had I not known, there is no way in a million years I would have guessed that this book was by the same author as the Wexford novels. I have not read any of Barbara Vine's books before, but expected something along the lines of a psychological thriller, such as those by Nicci French. What I got was a really well-written novel describing one man's efforts to write a biography of his great-grandfather, who happened to be a top physician to Queen Victoria, and who turns out to have some complicated happenings in his life. The writing is altogether of a different level ...

sunmeilan 13.10.2005 · Read full review
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Review of The Blood Doctor - Barbara Vine

Greek myth - Barbara Vine style

Advantages: Engrossing psychological drama
Disadvantages: Pace may be too slow for some readers

"The Minotaur" is the twelfth and most recent novel by Barbara Vine, who is, of course, the alter ego of the highly successful crime novelist Ruth Rendell. The Vine novels are, I think, intended to be the darker, more psychological, less crime-genre side of Rendell's writing, giving her the opportunity to branch out in new directions? although to be honest, I'm not convinced they are really all that much different from the (non-Wexford) novels she writes under her own name. The story is narrated by Kerstin Kvist, who as a young woman in the late 1960s comes from Sweden to the Essex countryside in order to work for the Cosway family; ostensibly, as a carer for John, the mentally-ill thirty-nine year old son of the family. Kerstin's main motivation is to be closer to her London-based boyfriend; however, she is also intrigued by ...

sheri3004 18.08.2005 · Read full review
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Review of The Minotaur - Barbara Vine

A Box with No End ...

Advantages: Lennard Pearce as Grandad, & Classic Episodes
Disadvantages: Not all the Best & Special Episodes, No Extras

? --------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------- The First Series 1 to 7 Box Set is stuffed with over 50 different episodes listed below. The great thing about this Box Set is that there is no particular order you must follow. There is a vast range of story lines for you to follow which do not overlap with episodes. You could start in reverse order and I guarantee unlike other programmes, you will fully understand from scene to scene without having a specific order to follow. This will allow you and others to view episodes individually at your own choice and leisure. Here you have an almost complete package of Classic British Comedy for both teenagers and adults. The only thing missing is that it does not feature each & every episode ever made for BBC Television. But the Box Set is a great introduction to those who have unfortunately not as of yet discovered 'Only Fools & Horses' as ...

3min_man 19.10.2008 · Read full review
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Review of Only Fools And Horses - The Complete Series 1 To 7 (Box Set) (DVD)