Reviews

The Suspicions of Mr Whicher

Author: Kate Summerscale    Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing    Paperback: 384 pages

ISBN: 978-0747596486    Overall Rating:

Date: Tuesday 15 September 2009

Review: The Galaxy Book of the Year, British Book Awards 2009 winner of the BBC Four Samuel Johnson Prize. Shortlisted for the Crime Writer's Association Gold Dagger. (read more)

Parky: My Autobiography

Author: Michael Parkinson    Publisher: Hodder Paperbacks    Paperback: 440 pages

ISBN: 978-0340961674    Overall Rating:

Date: Saturday 22nd August 2009

Review: This was the book club group's first attempt at reading an autobiography and I mean attempt as not all of us managed to finish the book. (read more)

Pietros

Cuisine(s): Italian

Address: Pietros, 38 Friar Gate, Derby, DE1 1DA  (map)    Tel: 01332 340299

Date: Tuesday 30 June 2009    Rating:

Review: Pietros which opened late last year is Derby's newest Italian restaurant. Located at the quieter end of Friargate, the building was previously home to a Polish restaurant named Little Krakow and before that the Giraffe café. (read more)

Le Bistrot Pierre

Cuisine(s): French

Address: 18 Friargate, Derby DE1 1BX  (map)    Tel: 01332 370470

Date: Wednesday 15th April 2009    Rating:

Review: Le Bistrot Pierre is a well known French Brasserie in Derby and located in the heart of the very popular restaurant quarter on Friargate. (read more)

The Witch of Portobello

Author: Paulo Coelho    Publisher: Harper    Paperback: 368 pages

ISBN: 978-0007251872    Overall Rating:

Date: Tuesday 6th January 2009

Review: The Witch of Portobello is a novel by Paulo Coelho in which the reader uncovers the mysterious life and disappearance of a woman named Athena. (read more)

Graze

Cuisine(s): Modern European

Address: Graze, 11-12 Friargate, Derby, DE1 1BU  (map)    Tel: 01332 208262

Date: Thursday 29th January 2009    Rating:

Review: When walking down Derby's restaurant quarter you can't fail to miss Graze. With its almost black interior and polished surfaces it exudes a classy atmosphere yet is down to earth and quite relaxing. (read more)

The Point of Rescue

Author: Sophie Hannah    Publisher: Hodder Paperbacks    Paperback: 464 pages

ISBN: 978-0340933121    Overall Rating:

Date: Tuesday 11th November 2008

Review: Sally is watching the news with her husband when she hears a name she ought not to recognize: Mark Bretherick. (read more)

Easy Virtue

Genre: Romantic Comedy    Certificate: PG    Running Time: 97 minutes    Website

Starring: Jessica Biel, Ben Barnes, Kristin Scott Thomas    Director: Stephan Elliott

Cinema: Cinema De Lux, Westfield Derby, West Mall, Derby DE1 2PL  (map)

Date: Wednesday 19th November 2008    Rating:

Review: This is the second time that Noel Coward's play Easy Virtue has made it to the big screen after legendary director Alfred Hitchock helmed a silent adaptation of this social comedy in 1927. (read more / view trailer)

Gin & Tonic & Passing Trains

Theatre: Guildhall Theatre, Market Place, Derby DE1 3AH  (map)

Date: Friday 3rd October 2008    Rating:

Review: Gin & Tonic & Passing Trains was surprisingly good defying the preconceptions I initially had about a mime. The 40 minute play was definitely not what I had expected. (read more)

The Pirate's Daughter

Author: Margaret Cezair-Thompson    Publisher: Headline Review    Paperback: 528 pages

ISBN: 978-0755343591    Overall Rating:

Date: Tuesday 30th September 2008

Review: In 1946, a storm-wrecked boat carrying Hollywood's most famous swashbuckler shored up on the coast of Jamaica, and the glamorous world of 1940's Hollywood converged with that of a small West Indian society. (read more)

Anoki

Cuisine(s): Indian

Address: 129 London Rd, Derby, DE1 2QN  (map)    Tel: 01332 292888

Date: Monday 29th September 2008    Rating:

Review: Anoki is a Indian restaurant with a difference. According to their website "It is an award winning Indian restaurant where art meets food - where the freshest ingredients and authentic Indian recipes come as standard and dazzling chandeliers, gilded ceilings, Bollywood music videos and waiting staff in traditional Indian dress are all part of the service." (read more)

The Duchess

Genre: Drama / History    Certificate: 12A    Running Time: 111 minutes    Website

Starring: Keira Knightley, Ralph Fiennes, Charlotte Rampling    Director: Saul Dibb

Cinema: Odeon Cinema, Meteor Centre, Mansfield Road, Derby DE21 4SY  (map)

Date: Wednesday 10th September 2008    Rating:

Review: 'There were three people in her marriage'. With a tag line like this, it is no surprise that people have drawn comparisons between Georgiana the Duchess of Devonshire and Princess Diana in Saul Dibb's new movie. (read more / watch trailer)

Addition

Author: Toni Jordan    Publisher: Sceptre    Paperback: 256 pages

ISBN: 978-0340963777    Overall Rating:

Date: Tuesday 19th August 2008

Review: Grace Lisa Vandenburg is in love with numbers. She can tell you the number of letters in her name (19), bristles in her toothbrush (1768) and her brother-in-law's height in centimetres (167). (read more)

Zest

Cuisine(s): Contemporary European

Address: Friar Gate, 16d George Street, Derby, DE1 1EH  (map)    Tel: 01332 381101

Date: Thursday 31st July 2008    Rating:

Review: Zest is a contemporary European restaurant in the heart of the restaurant quarter in Derby. The restaurant is a converted former stable building located on George Street off Friar Gate. (read more)

Mamma Mia

Genre: Romantic Comedy     Certificate: PG    Running Time: 108 minutes    Website

Starring: Meryl Streep, Amanda Seyfried, Pierce Brosnan    Director: Phyllida Lloyd

Cinema: Odeon Cinema, Meteor Centre, Mansfield Road, Derby DE21 4SY  (map)

Date: Wednesday 23rd July 2008    Rating:

Review: Before reviewing Mamma Mia I'd happily sing along to Abba's greatest hits CD in my car but after seeing the film I'm in love with their music even more! (read more / watch trailer)

Steliana's and Saphos Greek Taverna

Cuisine(s): Greek

Address: 115 London Road, Derby DE1 2QS  (map)    Tel: 01332 385200

Date: Monday 30th June 2008    Rating:

Review: I have been to Steliana's and Saphos Greek Taverna once before and believed that it would be an excellent restaurant for the Ladies Night Out Club to attend. (read more)

Sex and the City

Genre: Romantic Comedy     Certificate: 15    Running Time: 148 minutes    Website

Starring: Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Cattrall, Kristin Davis, Cynthia Nixon, Chris Noth,
Candice Bergen, Jennifer Hudson, David Eigenberg    Director: Michael Patrick King

Cinema: Odeon Cinema, Meteor Centre, Mansfield Road, Derby DE21 4SY  (map)

Date: Saturday 21st June 2008    Rating:

Review: VOICE-OVER: In a city like New York, where moving on is a fact of life, is it really possible to revisit the past? And if we do, will old friends and situations still be as dear to our hearts? (read more / watch trailer)

Rails and Quarries around Wirksworth

Address: Wirksworth Station, Station Road, Coldwell Street, Wirksworth, Derbyshire, DE4 4FB  (map)

Date: Sunday 20th April 2008

Review: On Sunday 20th April the Ladies from the group attended the rails and quarries event. This event was part of the Peak District Walking Festival. (read more)

Fun House Comedy Club

Comedians: Chris Lynam, Kerry Howard plus special guests

Address: The Blessington Carriage, 13-15 Chapel Street, Derby, Derbyshire, DE1 3GU  (map)

Date: Monday 14th April 2008    Rating:

Review: Having been to comedy club nights at the Derby Dance I wasn't sure how the Fun House Comedy Club at the Blessington Carriage would compare. (read more)

Thai Boran

Cuisine(s): Thai

Address: 56 Green Lane, Derby, Derby, DE1 1RP  (map)    Tel: 01332 343933

Date: Wednesday 4th April 2008    Rating:

Review: I have been to this restaurant on many occasions and rate it as one of the best Thai restaurants in Derby. The staff are always very friendly and attentive and that and the food always makes me return. (read more)

27 Dresses

Genre: Romantic Comedy     Certificate: 12A    Running Time: 111 minutes    Website

Starring: Katherine Heigl, Malin Akerman, James Marsden    Director: Anne Fletcher

Cinema: Odeon Cinema, Meteor Centre, Mansfield Road, Derby DE21 4SY  (map)

Date: Wednesday 2nd April 2008    Rating:

Review: I wasn't expecting very much from the new romantic comedy 27 Dresses other than the normal formulaic rom-com movie. I think that overall the film lived up to my low expectations however I was pleasantly surprised by the lead actor's performance (Katherine Heigl) and she was the saviour of the film. (read more / watch trailer)

The Other Boleyn Girl

Genre: Drama     Certificate: 12A    Running Time: 112 minutes    Website

Starring: Natalie Portman, Scarlett Johansson, Eric Bana    Director: Justin Chadwick

Cinema: Odeon Cinema, Meteor Centre, Mansfield Road, Derby DE21 4SY  (map)

Date: Wednesday 12th March 2008    Rating:

Review: Having read the book by Philippa Gregory, I was intrigued to see how well the film had been adapted and to see how well American and Australian performers could portray historical English royalty. (read more / watch trailer)

Le Bistrot Pierre

Cuisine(s): French

Address: 18 Friargate, Derby DE1 1BX  (map)    Tel: 01332 370470

Date: Tuesday 11th March 2008    Rating:

Review: A small group of us sampled the 6 course set dinner Le Gastronomique menu, costing £19.50. I had the opportunity to look at the menu in detail before I arrived at the restaurant as they publish their 6 course set dinner on their website. (read more)

Mexico

Cuisine(s): Mexican

Address: 34/35 Sadler Gate, Derby DE1 3NR  (map)    Tel: 01332 342090

Date: Thursday 28th February 2008    Rating:

Review: Mexico's menu has a comprehensive choice of Mexican dishes such as your classic burritos, enchiladas and fajitas but also offers a fish and grill menu. (read more)