Oh No!! Not The Readers' Digest!! (Readers Digest)

Name: Suzan

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Product:	Readers Digest
Date:	20/11/01 (560 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Something for everyone, the condensing of the books is skilfully done, you will probably want to read a novel in full after reading the condesned version.

Disadvantages: Cancelling your subscription!, Not to mention cancelling your subscription!, Thought of moving home...?

You have probably heard the quip: “The person who said that nothing is impossible has obviously never tried to cancel a Readers’ Digest subscription!”And it is true that once you have made a purchase from Readers’ Digest, they cling tighter than a leech on a septic wound. But hold on…I’m about to say something nice about them!

I have for some time now been subscribing to the Readers’ Digest Condensed Books and I have to say, hand on heart, that I have enjoyed every volume so far. The titles chosen for this series are varied enough for there to be something to please every reader, and you may surprise yourself. I have never been much of a Crime fan, for instance, but I loved “The Visitor” by Lee Child, about a serial killer who leaves no forensic evidence at the crime scenes.

Another title I thoroughly enjoyed was “The Bombmaker” by Stephen Leather, about a reformed IRA bombmaker, whose past comes back to haunt her when her former masters kidnap and threaten to kill her young daughter – unless she makes them another bomb!

“Relative Strangers” is about a devoted husband and wife whose marriage is threatened when a blood test seems to reveal that their teenage daughter, Gaby, could not possibly have been fathered by the husband – though his wife is adamant that she has never been unfaithful.

“Beneath The Skin”, by Nicci French, is a gripping psychological thriller about three young women who have nothing in common – except that the same man wants to kill them. I found this one totally unputdownable!

“Edith’s Book”, by Edith Velmans, is the remarkable story of a carefree thirteen-year-old girl growing up in The Hague during the War.As the Nazis campaign against the Jews intensifies, Edith and her family are forced to go into hiding. A superb and poignant novel.

These are just a few examples of
the titles in the series and I hope that they will show the varied genres on offer in the Condensed Books titles. The books are skilfully condensed and lose nothing in the process. (I have gone on to read the full-length versions of some, and remain impressed by the condensed versions.)

Each volume of Condensed Books contains four titles and is in hardback format. Each edition is priced at £16.97,which includes postage. I think that is excellent value. Readers’ Digest also tempts you with little presents, which are nice but the books themselves are enough, really. (Although I did enjoy the little pack of Thornton’s Continental choccies I recently received.)

If you subscribe you will receive a volume of Condensed Books every two months or so, although you are under no obligation to continue with them…but my guess is that you will want to.

Readers’ Digest is online at www.readersdigest.co.uk

And their registered office is:

11,Westferry Circus
Canary Wharf
London
E14 4HE

Finally...apologies for this being,strictly speaking,in the magazine category but I was unsure where else to put it.Grovel,plead,whinge....

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