The Golden Straw Hardcover – 1 Jan. 1996

I started this book but put it down and only picked up again when I ran out of anything else as it seemed quite boring with none of the usual background and getting to know different characters, what a mistake the beginning quickly sets the scene and it fairly speeds along I actually couldn't put it down I love Catherine Cookson but had never heard of this title. The story had so many strands it made me cry both with sadness and happiness. It's outside her usual boundaries being set in Scotland and London and involves what seems to be a much bigger set of characters than usual but you slowly get to know them all. I loved it and would thoroughly recommend

This book is a very good read. Catherine Cookson is always an excellent read at any time. The book arrived very quickly, the next day, in fact. Although it was a second hand edition and a little dogeared around the edges, it was very readable. It arrived in reasonable condition and I was well satisfied with this. Highly recommended.

I am a huge fan of Catherine Cookson but somehow this book didn't grab me at all. It seemed to ramble in places and then when further characters started coming in, it became confusing as to who belonged to who etc. I am also rather surprised that the subject of Incest played a pivotal role in the book. That must have shocked a few readers years ago.There are much better Catherine Cookson books than this in my humble opinion.

Great story as usual from CC.

As ever, Catherine Cookson delivered a wonderful story. A very enjoyable read.

I really enjoyed this book Catherine Cookson at her best. It was intriguing and kept you fasanated through out. I would recommend it to all Catherine Cookson readers

Another must read. This book covers a few generations of the family and is really interesting. I enjoyed it

Good

I read the sample and as a long time reader of this recognised author, I downloaded the book. It was too long and rambling and certainly not Catherine Cookson at her best.For Catherine Cookson lovers, do not read this book, it will only disappoint your long revered opinion of her.

Good stories but a bit slow and dithery.

I love every Catherine Cookson book written! I wish there were more to read but I've read them all. Sadly!

LOVE IT

The Golden Straw was an enthralling book which was about generations of one family. As others have described the plot, I won't. The character of Emily changes throughout. In the first book, which is of her earlier life, we are in sympathy with her and the events which happen to her. The character of her maid, Alice, is also a well developed and thoroughly delined one. I thoroughly enjoyed the first part of "The Golden Straw". I found that the characters in the subsequent sections became more confusing as time had passed and it became difficult to find Emily and where she fitted in with the new characters. We also lose our empathy with her until the end where we are quite antagonistic towards her. No other characters are ever as fully developed as Emily and Alice . That being said, it demonstrates Catherine Cookson's skill as a writer and her ability to involve us in generations of a family as the reader is involved enough to continue reading until the end of The Golden Straw.

This is just another great book by Catherine Cookson. I started reading her books years ago but have recently discovered that there were many which I had never had access to. Am slowly reading my way through them. She writes about the working people of England. All of her characters are interesting; and it is also interesting to read about how people lived during the last two centuries. Makes me appreciate what we have today.

I enjoyed the book. All though it was slow at times. The biggest problem with this novel is there are just to many people. It was sometimes a little difficult to keep up with everybody. And it was also a little long. But it was still worth reading. Catherine Cookson could never write a bad novel.

All Catherine Cookson's books are good. This one is almost like two stories. I like the first one best., The second story begins a 2nd generation, 20 years plus later. I don't like it as well. But, still very interesting and well written like all her books. She is one of the better authors of all time, I think. This one is not so much- rags to riches- as many of her books are, but still has distinctive classes in England in her story. Not so much poor times in this book, as struggle in love and family.

This book is another wonderful discovery written by Catherine Cookson. The first book I read by her I had decided I needed an English idiom dictionary and knowing English terms for everyday life would help too. So, what is "the golden straw?" How does it play a part in the plot? These are obvious questions any would-be reader would be asking. The reader will be surprised and will be rooting for the heroine most of the way through. However, the heroine is not the heroine at the end because we must live with the decisions we make in life. Perhaps Catherine Cookson allowed this novel to continue too long, but she is the author! Her books are easy to read, thought-provoking and excellent historical fiction for women living in the 1800's and early 1900's.

Catherine Cookson spins another great yarn. The Golden Straw in an interesting story of one woman's life from young daughter of an humble hat trimmer to aged dowager of a powerful family haunted by her mistakes. This book is an exceptional revelation of generational patterns, or, more accurately, "the sins of the fathers, visited on the second and third generations." And she blames it all on an untrimmed hat, the golden straw.

I've enjoyed Catherine Cookson for a long time and this latest story is no exception. It is definitely for ladies, in my opinion, and is a light and enjoyable read when you want to stop the madness and stress of life and enjoy some down time for yourself. It's characters were delightful and interesting to get to know. I definitely recommend. Who knew a hat had so much personality and so much to say.

Catherine Cookson's series on Netflix were some that my husband and I enjoyed immensely so I thought her book "The Golden Straw" would be a great read. I enjoyed it very much in the beginning but it got a little unrealistic with so many relationships between people whom were related before it was over and became somewhat redundant. I'm sure it happened but so many in one famly??

What I really like about this book was how it was written to tell the story about the woman who started it all and her family. It was well written to a point where I could almost see who and what she wrote about. Hard to put down.

This book takes you through 3 generations of a family & shows how bad choices & hidden sin affect the lives of so many people. I had forgotten how much I like Catherine Cookson. She's a wonderful storyteller whose stories grab & hold your attention.

Interesting development of how incidents in one person's life influences the generations to follow. Also interesting is the change in mores of the different generations.