Alexi

I only bought the Essex Serpent for kindle two days' ago J! Great to read your review - and see the pictures!

Great review Willoyd. I had some very similar thoughts that I need to put on paper/keyboard at some point. I actually found it a much more rewarding read than Middlemarch, which I rated, but a much harder read as well - if that makes sense!

I've finished The Mill on the Floss by George Eliot which I ended up rating as a 4/5 after a slow start. Now started Pure by Andrew Miller and am going to make some sort of attempt at catching up with reviews...

I'm also 25% of the way through (reading on kindle). All I know about the rest of the plot is my Mum told me it was depressing. Gee, thanks, mum!

The Greg Iles one sounds very promising. To the wish list it goes!

A Million Years has gone on to my wish list too! I have the Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay on my TBR - hopefully I will be more of Frankie's opinion, but a 3.5 isn't bad on my marking scale.

When I saw you had read an Ahern I was very surprised, imagine my surprise at seeing it get a 3! As you say, though, the joys of book club! I have this on my shelf as a gift from someone - I read a few Aherns years ago when I read more chick lit, a genre I very rarely dip my toe into these days unless it comes recommended by someone who knows my tastes, and I couldn't imagine anything further from what you normally read! I found the few I read hit and miss (although the two I did enjoy have predictably been made into absolutely TERRIBLE, TERRIBLE films). It's one of the reasons this has sat so long unread, but it sounds much more promising than I realised after your excellent review.

It Can't Happen Here by Sinclair Lewis Synopsis: A cautionary tale about the fragility of democracy, it is an alarming, eerily timeless look at how fascism could take hold in America. Written during the Great Depression, when the country was largely oblivious to Hitler's aggression, it juxtaposes sharp political satire with the chillingly realistic rise of a president who becomes a dictator to save the nation from welfare cheats, sex, crime, and a liberal press. Called -a message to thinking Americans- by the Springfield Republican when it was published in 1935, It Can't Happen Here is a shockingly prescient novel that remains as fresh and contemporary as today's news. (From Goodreads) Thoughts: This book was published in the 1930s, but has recently enjoyed a comeback tour for reasons obvious from the synopsis. Here's a few (non spoilery, they come from early on in the novel) extracts presented without comment: "My one ambition is to get all Americans to realize that they are, and must continue to be, the greatest Race on the face of this old earth, and second, to realize that whatever apparent differences there may be among us in wealth, ancestry or strength - though of course this does not apply to people who are racially different from us - we are all brothers..." "Doremus Jessup, so inconspicuous an observer, watching Senator Windrip from so humble a Boetia, could not explain his power of bewitching large audiences. The senator was vulgar, almost illiterate, a public liar easily detected, and his 'ideas' almost idiotic..." Written in the 1930s, when facism was taking hold in Germany and Italy, this was a response to the idea that it couldn't happen here - here being the USA. The system of checks and balances, geography, modernity, etc. Lewis wrote this to show just how easy it was for fascism to take hold during a depression, when people are struggling for work and to support their families. Fast forward to the current political climate, and it seems we are in for the 'modern' version. The UK has gone more right wing, France is in the middle of a very interesting election, and Donald Trump is US President. And a lot of the first half of this book rings as true today as it would have done in 1930s Europe. The second half is quite a frightening disintegration and is more relevant to the 1930s than now (we hope!) but it's an absolutely fascinating look at the political system through the eyes of a newspaperman in the US. I gave it a 4 at the time of finishing (cough, at the start of March, cough) but it has really stuck with me and I would thoroughly recommend it. 4/5 (I really, really liked it)

At Bertram's Hotel by Agatha Christie Synopsis: When Miss Marple comes up from the country for a holiday in London, she finds what she's looking for at Bertram's Hotel: traditional decor, impeccable service and an unmistakable atmosphere of danger behind the highly polished veneer. Yet, not even Miss Marple can foresee the violent chain of events set in motion when an eccentric guest makes his way to the airport on the wrong day! (From Goodreads) Thoughts: I have read a lot of Agatha Christie now, but I'm determined to read them all at some point. Brilliant escapism and the woman was a master of mystery. However, I think this is the weakest of hers that I have read so far. The last one I read felt like it was going to be a let down because it all seemed to be heading to such an obvious conclusions signposted from chapter one - and then she put in an amazing twist. So when this one started off in similar fashion I was expecting a similar ending - but is never arose. This felt predictable, and that is not often a word I associate with dear Agatha. Plus, Miss Marple disappears for huge lengths and doesn't even feature much during the denouement. I find it difficult to review Christie without giving away spoilers so I shall leave it there, but this was a disappointing read that from another author probably only merits two stars. However, reading other reviews it seems this is generally considered one of her weaker efforts which is good news, as it means it isn't just me tiring of her (and I do try to space out my Christies for that every reason!) 3/5

Thanks both. Hopefully I shall enjoy my final read (when I get there!). Just finished The Go-Between. Not sure whether to go on with another ECC book or have a little break.

Worried now! I think I am going to save Cold Comfort Farm of the ones I have left.

I really enjoyed The Stars Look Down The Well of Loneliness we totally agree on though. Sludge. I am currently reading The Go-Between by L P Hartley - the choice for Norfolk. It's going ok at the moment (50 pages in) but I am waiting for it get going.

I hated that one Which has been the worst for you?

(Copied from my blog) I'm afraid I didn't enjoy it nearly as much as you, J I read this in February but am just reviewing now. I picked up my first Gaskell last year as part of the English Counties Challenge, and thoroughly enjoyed it - North and South - so I came to this one with high expectations. But it just didn't resonate on the same level. North and South maybe spoke to me more what with its themes of social justice, industry, the city, north and south divide etc, but there was so much more meat on the bones, and I didn't get nearly so much out of Cranford, I'm sorry to report. There is some gentle humour here with the attitudes of the time, and it is refreshing to see so many women - particularly elder single women - at the forefront of literature. But this is a series of short stories of small town life, and it plods along nicely without too much happening. I enjoyed the read and I am glad I read it, and it certainly gives a glimpse of Victorian rural life. The characters are interesting and Gaskell can certainly write. However, when compared with North and South, and The Old Wives' Tale by Arnold Bennett (which represented Staffordshire) it just didn't bring so much to the party. A very different book I grant you, and it's certainly stood the test of time and a TV series, but not one which I relished so much as the previous two novels I mentioned. 3/5 (I liked it)

Wow, these all sound like great finds! Very jealous The alternative history of Kennedy sounds very interesting - like you I enjoy time travel stories providing there isn't too much of a fantasy element, however ridiculous that sounds (!) - but that sounds like an interesting idea, averagely executed. Disappointing.

Cranford by Elizabeth Gaskell Synopsis: A portrait of the residents of an English country town in the mid nineteenth century, Cranford relates the adventures of Miss Matty and Miss Deborah, two middle-aged spinster sisters striving to live with dignity in reduced circumstances. Through a series of vignettes, Elizabeth Gaskell portrays a community governed by old-fashioned habits and dominated by friendships between women. Written with acute observation, Cranford is by turns affectionate, moving and darkly satirical. (From Goodreads) Thoughts: I have snipped the synopsis for minor spoilers. I read this in February but am just reviewing now. I picked up my first Gaskell last year as part of the English Counties Challenge, and thoroughly enjoyed it - North and South - so I came to this one with high expectations. But it just didn't resonate on the same level. North and South maybe spoke to me more what with its themes of social justice, industry, the city, north and south divide etc, but there was so much more meat on the bones, and I didn't get nearly so much out of Cranford, I'm sorry to report. There is some gentle humour here with the attitudes of the time, and it is refreshing to see so many women - particularly elder single women - at the forefront of literature. But this is a series of short stories of small town life, and it plods along nicely without too much happening. I enjoyed the read and I am glad I read it, and it certainly gives a glimpse of Victorian rural life. The characters are interesting and Gaskell can certainly write. However, when compared with North and South, and The Old Wives' Tale by Arnold Bennett (which represented Staffordshire) it just didn't bring so much to the party. A very different book I grant you, and it's certainly stood the test of time and a TV series, but not one which I relished so much as the previous two novels I mentioned. 3/5 (I liked it)

I have the Post Office Girl on my TBR, but haven't read any yet. I'm halfway through Barchester Towers by Anthony Trollope on audiobook (followed Claire's advice after struggling with the Kindle version) and am also enjoying When the Grey Beetles Took Over Baghdad alongside.

I work in sport - so the offseason is the down time. This year, that means spending June and the first half of July chasing tumbleweed across my desk It's either manic or quiet, no in between! I agree about public transport, it means I arrive at work having lost myself in a book rather than fighting with drivers on the motorway.

I did find it depressing - don't get me wrong! It's depressing because so much does/did ring true. But I thought it was excellent despite that. I don't mind depressing if done well - for comparison, The Well of Loneliness was an utter slog. I have not seen Kes. I'm not sure how well it would translate to the screen for some reason.

Cockroaches by Jo Nesbo Synopsis: When the Norwegian ambassador to Thailand is found dead in a Bangkok brothel, Inspector Harry Hole is dispatched from Oslo to help hush up the case. But once he arrives Harry discovers that this case is about much more than one random murder. There is something else, something more pervasive, scrabbling around behind the scenes. Or, put another way, for every cockroach you see in your hotel room, there are hundreds behind the walls. Surrounded by round-the-clock traffic noise, Harry wanders the streets of Bangkok lined with go-go bars, temples, opium dens, and tourist traps, trying to piece together the story of the ambassador’s death even though no one asked him to, and no one wants him to—not even Harry himself. (From Goodreads) Thoughts: From Mexican true crime to a fictional thriller written by a Norwegian and set in Thailand. A half change of pace. I read The Redbreast, which is third in this series, a few years ago when it was published in the UK. A whole host of these were published from book 3 onwards before the publisher went back and released the first two in English. I read the first one, the Bat, last year and I wanted to read this one next, reread The Redbreast and go on from there. I do like to read series in order! But I'm not sure the publisher didn't make the right decision if I am honest. I was never sure why they started with book 3, but IMO the first two are weaker than the subsequent novel, and reviews from those who have progressed further suggest the later ones stack up to the third rather than its predecessors. Certainly this is a solid effort, but I suspect I would have found it less so if I did not already know the character of Harry and had become invested in him. I preferred the Bat, which is set in Sydney, but I did live there for 18 months so I suspect being able to envision the places talked about played a part. Anyway, this is a good thriller that does have the requisite twists and turns. However, what is interesting is the development of the Harry character, from Australia and then on to Norway in the Redbreast. It's a worthwhile part of the series for that alone. But as a thriller, it is the weakest of the three I have read. Nevertheless, I still found it an enjoyable read and I am going to go on with the rest of the series happy that better awaits. 3/5 (I liked it)

El Narco by Ioan Grillo Synopsis: The world has watched stunned at the bloodshed in Mexico. Thirty thousand murdered since 2006; police chiefs shot within hours of taking office; mass graves comparable to those of civil wars; car bombs shattering storefronts; headless corpses heaped in town squares. And it is all because a few Americans are getting high. Or is it? (From Goodreads) Thoughts: I'm not sure the world has watched stunned, to be fair. Perhaps in the USA, but I'm not sure in the UK this is ever really given much attention. But no matter, this is a good starting point. What is impressive about Grillo is that he has used sources from both sides of the border to look at the American influence and the Mexican experience. He is British, but has worked in Mexico, on the US side of the border in Texas, and has spoken to a wide ranging set of people involved in the drug trade - and in policing it. He talks of economics and politics, as well as getting high, violence and gangs. I certainly felt much better informed after reading it. Just don't expect a comfortable read by the fireside. 4/5 (I really liked it)

Copied from my log: I'm really glad this was included in the English Counties Challenge. Not only did I really enjoy it, but I think it raises some important points about growing up in this area of Yorkshire at the time the book was printed. Billy is a teenager, still in the last year of school, but his elder brother is already working down the mines and that is what is simply expected of a boy with Billy's upbringing. Life is bleak for him. He shares a bed with his elder brother, and is often cold and hungry. He struggles at school, is derided by his classmates and simply bullied by his PE teacher (and possibly others). His mother isn't interested in him, and his father is absent. Given the schooling system of the time, he has been written off by society early on, and he struggles to join the public library - which then pushes him into thieving. But then he has a kestrel, which he, and he alone, has been able to train. It gives him a passion in life for the first time. This is written simply, but brilliantly. It's only a short work, but packs a hell of a lot in. Regardless of the counties challenge, I would recommend this book, but for the challenge it was simply perfect.

A Kestral for a Knave by Barry Hines Synopsis: Life is tough and cheerless for Billy Casper, a disillusioned teenager growing up in a small Yorkshire mining town. Violence is commonplace and he is frequently cold and hungry. Yet he is determined to be a survivor and when he finds Kes, a kestrel hawk he discovers a passion in life. (From Goodreads) Thoughts: I'm really glad this was included in the English Counties Challenge. Not only did I really enjoy it, but I think it raises some important points about growing up in this area of Yorkshire at the time the book was printed. Billy is a teenager, still in the last year of school, but his elder brother is already working down the mines and that is what is simply expected of a boy with Billy's upbringing. Life is bleak for him. He shares a bed with his elder brother, and is often cold and hungry. He struggles at school, is derided by his classmates and simply bullied by his PE teacher (and possibly others). His mother isn't interested in him, and his father is absent. Given the schooling system of the time, he has been written off by society early on, and he struggles to join the public library - which then pushes him into thieving. But then he has a kestrel, which he, and he alone, has been able to train. It gives him a passion in life for the first time. This is written simply, but brilliantly. It's only a short work, but packs a hell of a lot in. Regardless of the counties challenge, I would recommend this book, but for the challenge it was simply perfect. It took me a little while to get in to, hence the deduction of one mark, but it's so worth it. 4/5 (I really liked it)

I haven't posted in here for ages Work has been absolutely mental, plus I've been away for a while. We're also moving (although 20 minutes down the road, rather than a 12 hour flight ) so that is taking up some time. But that move will put me back on public transport to work (I prefer that to the car, because it gives me reading time ) so should allow for more reading eventually! I have a ton of reviews to catch up on, as ever. Why does this happen, every, damn, year?

I have the first in the series of those Aaronovitch books. I really, really must start it soon!