Essiotrots Book List

[Esiotrot]

Just started reading books again this last 3 weeks and I am totally hooked. No idea why I stopped in the first place, reading textbooks/ magazines & lack of time I suppose!

Read
My Best Friend's Girl by Dorothy Koomson
Private Dancer by Stephen Leather
Fashion Babylon by Imogen Edwards-Jones, Anonymous
My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult
Betrayed by Lyndsey Harris, Andrew Crofts
Call Me Elizabeth: Wife, Mother, Escort by Dawn Annandale
Murdered or Missing? The Arlene Fraser Case by Reg McKay, Glenn Lucas
A Child Called It by Dave Pelzer
Straight by "Boy George"
Forget You Had a Daughter by Sandra Gregory and Michael Tierney
Confessions of a Bad Mother by Stephanie Calman
Sickened by Julia Gregory
Sugar Rush by Julie Burchill

I have bought ahem :oops: quite a few books to read so will list them soon

[Kell]

I'll look forward to seeing your to read list! :)

[Esiotrot]

My 'to read' book shelf a mixed bag - didnt buy them all got a few in prezzies!

To be read
On Beauty by Zadie Smith
White Teeth by Zadie Smith
Behind Closed Doors by Jenny Tomlin
The Pact by Jodi Picoult
Vanishing Acts by Jodi Picoult
Salem Falls by Jodi Picoult
Stuart: A Life Backwards by Alexander Masters
Nobody Loves a Ginger Baby by Laura Marney
No Wonder I Take a Drink by Laura Marney
The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
Black And Blue by Ian Rankin
The Invisible Girl by Peter Barham, Alan Hurndall
Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden
Olivia Joules and the Overactive Imagination by Helen Fielding
Trans Am by Rob Ryan
The Houdini Girl by Martyn Bedford
Honest by Ulrika Jonsson
Scar Tissue by Anthony Kiedis, Larry Sloman
The Insider: The Private Diaries of a Scandalous Decade by Piers Morgan
The Take by Martina Cole
Extreme by Sharon Osbourne
The Kid by Kevin Lewis
No Hiding Place by Jospeh Finder
Kind of Clubs - Peter Stringfellow
The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown
The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas by John Boyne
Jade: My Autobiography by Jade Goody
Sellevision: A Novel by Augusten Burroughs
Gentlemen and Players by Joanne Harris
Blackberry Wine by Joanne Harris
Coastliners by Joanne Harris
Chocolat by Joanne Harris
Five Quarters of the Orange by Joanne Harris
Leap of faith by Queen Noor
The Beach House by James Patterson
The curious incident of the dog by Mark Haddon
Hannah's Gift by Maria Housden
The Woman who walked into doors by Roddy Doyle
The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold
The Broker by John Grisham
Empress Orchid by Anchee Min
Elizabeth and Mary by Jane Dunn
The other womans shoes by Adele Parks
Queen of the tambourine by Jane Gardam
Spellbound by Jane Green
Eve Green by Susan Fletcher

[Kell]

Nice mix you have there. I've read a few of them myself & the ones I've read, I've enjoyed. There are a few on my own tbr list too...

[Icecream]

I have read 'The Da Vinci Code', and 'A Child Called It'. both very good. Do you think you would read the other two in the Pelzer series.

My sister has read 'Sickened'.

[Sugar]

Your TBR list looks as long and as eclectic as mine, Essiotrot!

Looking forward to seeing your opinions on some of them.

[Esiotrot]

Just finished My Best Friends Girl, I loved it - tears were shed on a few occassions, but must admit to being a bit disappointed in the ending.
8.5 /10 for me

[Esiotrot]

Just updated my TBR list - big pile now! best get reading.
I am trying to broaden my reading horizons - the books I have read over the last couple of years were all chick lit or true stories of my abused childhood style books. Nothing wrong with those but I want to try something different.
Any rec's on what to read next on my TBR list would be fab.

[Kell]

I loved My Sister's Keeper. I think the general consensus on the forum here was that it's a very good read - I'd recommend that one for sure. :)

[Esiotrot]

:) Thats on my read list, I wrote a reply in the reading circle thread about it.
I absolutley loved it - cried buckets!

[Michelle]

How about historical fiction.. that's been popular on here. Philippa Gregory is well liked, and I think we all enjoyed Labyrinth (Kate Mosse).

Also, I've just read Memoirs of a Geisha because it was so highly recommended here.. and I loved it. :D

[Esiotrot]

Thanks Michelle - was eyeing up Phillipa Gregory but have decided I am not buying any more until I get through some of the ones I have already bought.
I have Memoirs of a Geisha but couldnt get into it - read the first 20 pages 3 times but its not grabbing me. I am determined to read it becuase it comes so highly recommended so will go back to it in a couple of books time.

[Kell]

You could always make some swaps instead, Essiotrot - that way you're technically not buying them & you still get new books whilst making room for the new arrivals by clearing out the old! :)

[Esiotrot]

Decided on Chocolat, half way through and enjoying it.
Only downside is its making me hungry, had to go and make some hot chocolate -Not good for the diet!

[Kell]

I think I must have got theough a TONNE of chocolate while I was reading that book - it certainly makes the mouth water!

[Esiotrot]

Hi Hi folks - havent been on for a long time!

I have read the following in the last month ~
The Pact - Jodi Picoult 8/10
Little Face - Sophie Hannah 6/10
No Wonder I take a drink - Laura Marney 7/10
Cold Granite - Stuart MacBride 9/10

Currently halfway through Panic by Jeff Abbott.

[Kell]

It's good to see you again, Essiotrot! How are you doing?

I see you read Cold Granite by Stuart MacBride - if you liked that one, you'll love Dying Light and Broken Skin - they're both every bit as excellent!

[Esiotrot]

Hi Kell - nice to be back!
Dying Light is making its way to the top of my TBR pile and I have Broken Skin in my Amazon basket. I wish I could find an extra few hours a day to read!

KxXx

[Kell]

I know exactly what you mean - not enough hours in the day (or night!) for all those lovely books yet to be read! :readingtwo::readingtwo::readingtwo:

[Esiotrot]

Finished Panic - 6/10
Not my kind of book but I gave it a go.

Started Paralysed by Sherrie Ashworth http://www.amazon.co.uk/Paralysed-Sherry-Ashworth/dp/1416900942/ref=sr_1_1/202-6845317-2249446?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1183292229&sr=8-1

Quick reading, think its aimed at teenagers but enjoying it so far.

[Esiotrot]

Finished Paralysed - 8/10

Starting Notes on a scandal by Zoe Heller next

[Esiotrot]

Finished Notes on a Scandal - 8/10

Not sure whats next will decide tomorrow...

[happyanddandy]

Finished Notes on a Scandal - 8/10

Not sure whats next will decide tomorrow...

That was quick - it took me well over a week!:smile2:

[Esiotrot]

Once I am hooked on a book - thats me, to the detriment of my housework!
I am a quick reader and always think just one more chapter, then I will put it down... then next thing I know its nearly 2am and I think there is no point stopping now now there are only 50 pages left!

Started Plain Truth by Jodi Picoult - so far very interesting ~

Synopsis
Moving seamlessly from psychological drama to courtroom suspense, Plain Truth is a fascinating portrait of Amish life rarely witnessed by those outside the faith. When a young Amish teen hides a pregnancy, gives birth in secret, and then flatly denies it all when the baby's body is found, urban defense attorney Ellie Hathaway decides to defend her. But she finds herself caught in a clash of cultures with a people whose channels of justice are markedly different from her own… and discovers a place where circumstances are not always what they seem.

[Esiotrot]

Finished Plain Truth - 8.5/ 10
I really enjoyed it, an interesting book which highlights the ways of the Amish community. The story is captivating, my only comment is that the book is a bit long but definitely worth reading.
I continue to be impressed with the amount of background research work that Jodi Picoult does.

[happyanddandy]

Finished Plain Truth - 8.5/ 10
I really enjoyed it, an interesting book which highlights the ways of the Amish community. The story is captivating, my only comment is that the book is a bit long but definitely worth reading.
I continue to be impressed with the amount of background research work that Jodi Picoult does.

I have read this too in the last year - enjoyed it as an insight into Amish way of life too. We seem to select similar books!! :smile2:

[Esiotrot]

Hi H&D,:friends0:
We sure do, I will be keeping a close eye on your list for recommendations!

I am really disappointed in myself as I hate not finishing a book but I have to give up on
The Queen on the Tambourine by Jane Gardam
I have forced myself to read up to page 146 (of 226 - about 2/3rds of the book) but I just cant read any more. I didn't enjoy the style of the book at all, it was difficult to follow and I had to consciously stop myself scanning rather than reading. I found the writer of the letters, Eliza, extremely irritating. Having won the Whitbread prize for novel of the year I expected more from this book. Very disappointed.
Anyone else read this?


He ho, on to the next one!

[Kell]

The Queen of Tambourine was our reading circle choice last September (thread HERE (http://www.bookclubforum.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=1536)). You got a lot further than I did - I couldn't get into it at all and couldn't stand the lead character. Not my cup of tea!

[Esiotrot]

Finished my first historical novel Tulip Fever by Deborah Moggach ~ 7/10

Set in 1630s Amsterdam, it begins with a typical Renaissance love triangle: a wealthy, elderly merchant, Cornelis Sandvoort, his beautiful but frustrated young wife Sophia and the painter who enters their life, Jan van Loos. Commissioned to paint the happy couple's portrait, Jan becomes embroiled in a series of emotional and financial speculations which are to change the character's lives forever. Interspersed with 16 beautifully reproduced Dutch paintings, Tulip Fever is a delightfully conceived story which offers a new dimension to what really goes on within the apparently placid domestic interiors of such canvases

[Esiotrot]

Finished The Memory Keepers Daughter by Kim Edwards ~ 8/10

This is a beautifully written book, I found it a bit slow in places and heart renching but all in all a good read. I would def. recommend

[Esiotrot]

Just finished The Kabul Beauty School by Deborah Rodriguez ~ 7.5/10

I really enjoyed this book, it is a subject close to me as I own a salon so reading about the differences in culture and the difficulties in setting up a Beauty school were very interesting.
The story is a bit jumpy at times and I felt the ending lacked the substance that the rest of the book had ~ I hope there is a follow up book so the story can be followed through. Recommended
KxXx

[happyanddandy]

The Lovely Bones is a good read and 'On Beauty' is certainly interesting. :smile2:

[Esiotrot]

Hi H&D
Thanks for the rec's :friends0:
I read the Lovely Bones last year and enjoyed it and I have On Beauty and White Teeth both in TBR pile.

I started Where and When? by Anita Shreve tonight and liking it ~
What would you do if out of the blue, you received a letter from your first love? Sian Richards sees no reason why she can't write back to Charles Callahan. After all, it's been thirty years and they are both married with families. But when they decide to meet again, an innocent correspondence becomes a dangerous intimacy. Swept up in the past and consumed by an obsessive love, Charles and Sian risk everything to be together. A heart-wrenching, suspenseful story with an unforgettable conclusion

Kx

[happyanddandy]

Hi H&D
Thanks for the rec's :friends0:
I read the Lovely Bones last year and enjoyed it and I have On Beauty and White Teeth both in TBR pile.

I started Where and When? by Anita Shreve tonight and liking it ~

Kx

I read 2 of Anita Shreve's books earlier this year - I enjoyed them but not sure I would pick up another of hers. 'White Teeth' I read maybe 2 years ago and for the life of me I could not see what all the fuss was about. Other reviews said it was funny, hilarious, fresh etc etc - left me cold and I struggled to the end. Be interesting to hear what you think when u get there!! :smile2:

[Esiotrot]

Finished Where and When by Anita Shreve at supper tonight ~ you can tell how much I have enjoyed a book when I finish it quickly, couldnt put this down!
The story was nicely written, quite racy in parts. I felt sympathy for the partners of the main characters, but at the same time hoped the couple could find a way to be together. The ending although kind of expected, was sad. I also have The Pilots Wife by Anita Shreve and am looking forward to reading it now.

Which Anita Shreve books did you read H&D?
Kx

[happyanddandy]

I had to look up my LT!!

'A Wedding In December' is a fairly recent one. Slow moving but something missing - not sure what - depth maybe. :smile2:

[Esiotrot]

Ah, I have read a few bad reviews on Wedding in December so was going to give it a miss for now.
If you get the chance to read Where or When I would recommend you give it a go. I felt involved in the passionate obsession, desperate to know how it would turn out. It certainly evoked feelings and memories for me, makes you consider what would you do if you had a second chance with your first love....
kx

[happyanddandy]

Sounds good! Will look out for it. :smile2:

[Esiotrot]

Finished How to talk to a widower by Jonathon Tropper ~ 8/10

Synopsis
When Doug Parker married Hailey - beautiful, smart and ten years older - he left his carefree Manhattan life behind to live with her and her teenage son, Russ, in the suburbs. Three years later, Hailey has been dead for a year, and Doug, a widower at 29, just wants to drown himself in self-pity and Jack Daniels. But his family has other ideas...Russ is furious with Doug for not adopting him after Hailey died, and has fallen in with a bad crowd. Claire, Doug's irrepressible and pregnant twin sister, has just left her husband and moved in, uninvited, determined to turn his life around. Then there's Debbie, their younger sister, engaged to Doug's ex-best friend and maniacally determined to pull of the perfect wedding at any cost. Soon, Doug finds himself trying to forge a relationship with Russ, reconnecting with his own eccentric nuclear family, and reluctantly dipping his toes into the shark-infested waters of the second-time-around dating scene. It isn't long before his new life is spinning hopelessly out of control...