deb's 2007 list [Archive] - Book Club Forum

~V~

15th January 2007, 08:41

1. robert goddard - never go back

amazon link (http://www.amazon.com/Never-Go-Back-Robert-Goddard/dp/0593053664/sr=8-3/qid=1168850343/ref=pd_bbs_3/002-9866917-0950414?ie=UTF8&s=books)

i was surprised when i started to read this as it was another one starring harry barnett but it didn't say so on the back cover.

however, as usual, goddard manages to keep the pace flowing well, with enough twists and turns to keep you turning the pages and rushing to get back to it. as a writer, i'm amazed not more people have mentioned him on here, i love his understated style and the way he captures the 'essence' of britain in whichever era he's writing.

this one takes harry to a 50 year reunion at a scottish castle with some ex-RAF chums who are slowly being bumped off.

the only thing that stops this getting 10/10 is that i guessed 'whodunnit' before the denouement.

9/10

~V~

15th January 2007, 08:47

2. void moon - michael connelly

amazon link (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Void-Moon-Michael-Connelly/dp/0752837168/sr=8-1/qid=1168850610/ref=pd_ka_1/202-4850164-6188601?ie=UTF8&s=books)

another favourite author. this time it wasn't his usual star in the book, and although it was an absolute page-turner whilst reading it, it left me a little disappointed at the end.

it starts well, and really seems to bring the casinos of las vegas to life but some areas of the plot just don't gel well.

8/10

~V~

15th January 2007, 08:53

3. The History Of Lucy's Love Life In 10.5 Chapters by Deborah Wright

amazon link (http://www.amazon.co.uk/History-Lucys-Love-Life-Chapters/dp/0751537039/sr=1-1/qid=1168851017/ref=sr_1_1/202-4850164-6188601?ie=UTF8&s=books)

this is quite good fun really. totally silly but i love the way it touches on famous historical figures. byron, for example, is a scream. the time machine element is novel and fun, and the way our heroine deals with all the lessons she learns and the scrapes she finds herself in is good fun too. this was a great book to read whilst sunning myself (showing off now) and i would recommend it as a good bit of 'chick-lit' for anyone needing something light and fluffy

8/10

~V~

21st January 2007, 23:36

4. Come Again by Josie Lloyd and Emly Rees

Amazon Link (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Come-Again-Josie-Lloyd/dp/0099279282/sr=1-9/qid=1169422427/ref=sr_1_9/202-4850164-6188601?ie=UTF8&s=books)

i like these two writing together. i guess she writes the female parts, and he the male. but what would i know?

i like the way that this doesn't turn out how you expect it to

good, classic chick-lit

7/10

~V~

21st January 2007, 23:44

5. Lifeless by Mark Billingham

amazon link (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Lifeless-Mark-Billingham/dp/0751536164/sr=1-1/qid=1169422892/ref=sr_1_1/202-4850164-6188601?ie=UTF8&s=books)

i love billingham's stuff. he manages to get quite a bit of homour (ok, so it's black homour, my favourite sort) into the thrillers he writes. this one is quite strange as tom thorne is on the streets, living amongst the homeless.

if you want to discove a new thriller writer and haven't read any of his stuff - go for it. i doubt you'll be disappointed

8/10

Maureen

22nd January 2007, 19:55

I have (and read) Lazy bones of his, but atm cannot remember the story.

Liz

22nd January 2007, 20:49

I have Sleepyhead waiting on the shelf.

I think that is his first one.......am I right?

I only bought it because I remembered him as Gary from Maid Marian.

~V~

22nd January 2007, 23:26

I have (and read) Lazy bones of his, but atm cannot remember the story.

a woman(?) writing to prisoners and then killing them on their release

I have Sleepyhead waiting on the shelf.

I think that is his first one.......am I right?

I only bought it because I remembered him as Gary from Maid Marian.

yes, that's his first one.

i've read all up to this apart from 'the burning girl'. seem to have missed that somewhere along the line

here's (http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/b/mark-billingham/)his full list

Liz

23rd January 2007, 00:02

They all look to be quite good.

I'll have to give Sleepyhead a go.

Thanks, ~V~.

~V~

23rd January 2007, 00:06

They all look to be quite good.

I'll have to give Sleepyhead a go.

Thanks, ~V~.

if you like thrillers, you should like him.

if not, i'll happily take the blame :)

Liz

23rd January 2007, 00:15

Don't worry. I never blame anyone when it comes to books. :)

~V~

3rd February 2007, 01:42

6. Little Face by Sophie Hannah

Amazon Link (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Little-Face-Sophie-Hannah/dp/0340840323/sr=8-1/qid=1170466587/ref=pd_ka_1/202-4850164-6188601?ie=UTF8&s=books)

I'm not sure about this one. I was desperate to get it when I read about it on here and read it as soon as I had finished my previous one.

It is a page-turner and takes on some twists and turns. Also there's an unusual way with the chapters as one chapter is one character, the next is a second character but a week later and so on swapping between the two.

However, I'd read a couple of write-ups that had no spoilers but mentioned a big twist at the end. Sorry Sophie, but it wasn't much of a twist for me. Yes, the story meandered a little but, much as I enjoyed reading it, the ending was a bit of a let-down.

The characters were all pretty odd too. Much too over-characterised in a way. When I read a book, I want to like at least one of the characters, or identify with them in some way. In this, I had no sympathy or empathy with any of them and I suppose, ultimately, that's what let the book down for me. I just didn't care enough

7/10 purely because i was eager to read it and it kept me turning the pages

~V~

16th March 2007, 07:04

7. With No One as Witness - Elizabeth George

Amazon Link (http://www.amazon.co.uk/No-One-as-Witness/dp/0340827483/ref=pd_ka_3/203-3746326-6649525?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1174027471&sr=8-3)

Blimey! This was heavy going!

I can't believe I took six weeks to read a book. One by a previously favourite author too. Admittedly, the last 100 pages or so, it speeded up considerably and I completed these at my usual pace. Other than that it was turgid and slow for 80% of the book.

Many of the usual main cast of characters were put off to one side, Deborah and St James for two, and quite a few of the secondary characters weren't even visible (Deborah's father and Barbara's mother for example)

The book jumped around far too much and, as it was about a serial killer, anybody could have been the perpetrator. I did guess one major thing early on, but the main denouement was a major disappointment as there were no more reasons for it to be person a then it was person b (does that make sense?)

So, in essence, these are my major criticisms:
- it's far too long
- too many unbelievable characters (Barbara's neighbours, some of the staff at Colosseum, Griff, his wife and Ulrike in particular)
- the side-lining of two previously major characters (although this has been happening slowly over her last couple of 'lynley' books)
- anybody could have been the killer. So it was less like the whodunnits that made her popular in the first place
- it felt like a lesson in the drudgery of police work. So much time was spent on the routine aspect of their job
- I can't warm to Winston. He feels like a total caricature. Then again, so does Lynley i suppose
- yet again 'Havers saves the day'
- the ending is dire.

I think maybe the TV series (which I never watched, after the first one, due to totally poor casting and poor production) has thrown Ms George into a bit of a spin. This is such a departure from what she was good at that I'm undecided as to whether I'll ever purchase one of her books again.

4/10

~V~

5th April 2007, 17:25

8. The Interpretation of Murder by Jed Rebenfeld

Amazon Link (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Interpretation-Murder-Jed-Rubenfeld/dp/0755331427/ref=sr_1_1/203-1711143-3032724?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1175793634&sr=1-1)

So, the book for March which I got as a prize....

This is one of those weird books. I loved it whilst reading it and yet was disappointed when I finished it.

To me, it was like two books; one of which I really enjoyed and of of which I didn't.

There were fictional characters investigating (or being involved somehow with) a murder. Loved this part. I also really enjoyed the extra character that was Noo Yawk at the turn of the last century. So much so that I was looking up the buildings described on the Interweb

However, the part about Freud, Jung, et al was just superfluous (to me). It appears that Mr Rubenfeld was desperate to write about Freud in the states and the advent of psychoanalysis and so wrapped this murder tale around it.

8/10 due to the fact I enjoyed it while reading it and managed to ignore most of the 'real' characters

JudyB

5th April 2007, 19:05

8. The Interpretation of Murder by Jed Rebenfeld

I also really enjoyed the extra character that was Noo Yawk at the turn of the last century. So much so that I was looking up the buildings described on the Interweb

I did exactly the same and also looked up some of the people mentioned that really existed. I learnt quite a bit which was a bonus. The next book I read was The Shadow of the Wind which coincidently mentioned the firm of architects from which the murdered architect came from - it meant something to me because I'd read The Interpretation of Murder. While reading The Shadow of the Wind I read up on the Spanish Civil War to give the novel some sort of context - learnt loads there as I realised that I knew nothing about Spanish history.

~V~

5th April 2007, 21:05

I did exactly the same and also looked up some of the people mentioned that really existed. I learnt quite a bit which was a bonus. The next book I read was The Shadow of the Wind which coincidently mentioned the firm of architects from which the murdered architect came from - it meant something to me because I'd read The Interpretation of Murder. While reading The Shadow of the Wind I read up on the Spanish Civil War to give the novel some sort of context - learnt loads there as I realised that I knew nothing about Spanish history.

it's not often i do that with a book, but it adds a lot when you do. and with books, it's rare you find a spoiler :mrgreen:

JudyB

6th April 2007, 20:31

I've found through reading that I've learnt loads about all sorts - psychology, geography, history, politics, different cultures etc - it's a nice way to learn.

~V~

7th April 2007, 14:45

9. At Risk by Patricia Cornwell

Amazon Link (http://www.amazon.co.uk/At-Risk-Patricia-Cornwell/dp/075153871X/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/203-1711143-3032724?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1175956797&sr=8-1)

I thought I'd give her another chance. It says on the back she is returning to what she does best.

Well I'm sorry Ms Cornwell, but this book is poo. It feels like a draft copy. There is no element of 'whodunnit' (kind of esential in a crime book surely?) and the detectives manage to solve the crime 'off the page', so to speak.

The story jumps around with huge shafts of information missing, but far too many characters for such a short book. I'm sorry but I am a reasonably intelligent person and found it very difficult to keep track of who was who (two of the characters, being related, are called by the same name at times) and what people were doing. If the main characters were already 'known' it wouldn't have been so bad but it in no way serves as an introduction

2/10 purely because I finished it

~V~

14th April 2007, 22:27

10. Anybody Out There by Marian Keyes

Amazon Link (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Anybody-Out-There-Marian-Keyes/dp/0141019379/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/203-1711143-3032724?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1176589111&sr=8-1)

I adore Marian Keyes. I love her books equally as much. Having seen her on the tv quite a few times, it's hard not to 'hear' the text in her voice.

This book goes back to the wondrous Walsh family. This time with 'Daughter no 4', Anna. It starts off in Ireland but flits between there and New York, where Anna lives and works.

The family are as barmy as ever, Mother Walsh has discovered e-mail and the youngest sister is working as a PI, with a small sideline in investigating a problem close to home.

Some of the lines are hysterical, and there's some real tragedy too, along with some great characters, many of which you will recognise.

10/10 I love this book

Louiseog

15th April 2007, 09:40

~V~

15th April 2007, 10:30

I love the Walsh family these books make me laugh out loud. Have we had a Helen one?

i'm not sure.

i know claire was 'watermelon' and rachel was 'rachel's holiday' (obviously) and i can't really remember those as they were so long ago :blush:

did we have a maggie one? i'm guessing we did as she seems to be doing them in age order

i also spotted that the next generation seem to be getting set up for future books

Louiseog

15th April 2007, 11:20

i'm not sure.

i know claire was 'watermelon' and rachel was 'rachel's holiday' (obviously) and i can't really remember those as they were so long ago :blush:

did we have a maggie one? i'm guessing we did as she seems to be doing them in age order

i also spotted that the next generation seem to be getting set up for future books
The Maggie one was Angels, there are no more about the Walshes, I've just looked on www.fantasticfiction.co.uk (http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk)

~V~

15th April 2007, 11:24

The Maggie one was Angels, there are no more about the Walshes, I've just looked on www.fantasticfiction.co.uk (http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk)

i got all out of synch (moved house, all books packed away, taking forever to unpack) and haven't read that yet. doh!

happyanddandy

15th April 2007, 16:25

I read 'Anybody Out There?' very recently - thoroughly enjoyed it - definitely her best. Intricate and well written study of bereavement process I thought

~V~

15th April 2007, 17:06

I read 'Anybody Out There?' very recently - thoroughly enjoyed it - definitely her best. Intricate and well written study of bereavement process I thought

shhh..... shouldn't that be in spoilers? :mrgreen:

~V~

21st April 2007, 22:02

11. The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas - John Boyne

Amazon Link (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Boy-Striped-Pyjamas-John-Boyne/dp/038560940X/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2/203-1711143-3032724?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1177192261&sr=8-2)

Sadly I read a spoiler about this book on here which meant I was reading it with some fore-knowledge. It would have been good to read it with no preconceptions and see how long it took me to click.

However, that all said, the book is excellent. It tells the story of Bruno from his point of view well. He is nine years old and the portrayal of how a child that age views the world is very convincing. Bruno appears to be a very typical child; selfish, self-serving and yet loyal. There are many things around him he does not understand and so he puts his own inference onto what they may mean, and yet he also appears to be quite perceptive as to who is 'good' and who is not. Obviously the author has the benefit of hindsight when writing about a subject such as this, but nonetheless this does nothing to deter from the pleasures (can I call them pleasures) of the story.

It isn't a book for children, but for all ages.

8/10

~V~

26th April 2007, 22:10

12. Can You Keep a Secret - Sophie Kinsella

Amazon Link (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Can-Keep-Secret-Sophie-Kinsella/dp/0552771104/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/203-1711143-3032724?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1177625036&sr=8-1)

I've read nothing by this author before, but have heard people rave about her (maybe it's just the 'Shopaholic' books they rave about) and at the moment all I can read is light stuff.

Anyway, it's a girl-meets-boy-loses-boy etc book. It's supposed to be funny (I think) but isn't really. I just read it and waited for the inevitable ending

So, it passed a few days ....

5/10

happyanddandy

27th April 2007, 18:48

shhh..... shouldn't that be in spoilers? :mrgreen:

sorry I only just saw this today and you are right - I was not thinking
:roll:

~V~

2nd May 2007, 06:19

13. The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox - Maggie O'Farrell

Amazon Link (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Vanishing-Act-Esme-Lennox/dp/0755308441/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2/203-1711143-3032724?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1178086585&sr=8-2)

I loved this book. It slowly unfolds, showing you the secrets within but never overstating the point.

The story is told from the point of view of three characters, one of whose is very disjointed due to Altzheimer's but there are these small nuggets of reason behind what she is saying.

It spans various time-zones over the past sixty years, showing how attitudes have changed in such a short space of time.

I want to say more but would hate to post any spoilers so, suffice to say, I like the less-is-more approach Maggie O'Farrell has taken and will now seek out more of her work.

10/10

~V~

22nd May 2007, 17:52

14. This Book will Save your Life (http://www.amazon.co.uk/This-Book-Will-Save-Your/dp/1862079331/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/203-1711143-3032724?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1179856127&sr=8-1) - a. m. homes

This book took me ages to read. However, it wasn't because it was difficult or boring. I really did enjoy it. It's an unusual book in many ways telling the story of a wealthy chap who has shut himself away from the world and how he starts to engage in life again.

The author uses some wonderful techniques to enable the reader to visualise the story and adds some great, characters that are all true to life

8/10

happyanddandy

22nd May 2007, 19:04

~V~

2nd June 2007, 15:36

15. The Twelfth Card (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Twelfth-Card-Jeffery-Deaver/dp/0340734582/ref=sr_1_1/203-1711143-3032724?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1180798304&sr=1-1) - Jeffrey Deaver

I'd forgotten how much I love Lincoln Rhyme books. The puzzles within them are so well crafted and the characters are sparse enough for you to paint your own pictures of them. This puzzle has layer upon layer and is a total page-turner

Full kudos to Deaver too for making a point that he too didn't approve of the inappropriate casting of Denzel Washington as Rhyme. In this book he couldn't make it plainer that the quadriplegic is white http://www.rabbitson.com/vbulletin/images/smilies/icon_lol.gif

10/10

~V~

15th June 2007, 17:17

16. Love Lives - Josie Lloyd and Emlyn Rees

Amazon Link (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Love-Lives-Josie-Lloyd/dp/009941483X/ref=sr_1_2/203-1711143-3032724?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1181927667&sr=1-2)

Great Chick Lit from this 'real life' couple. Nice and easy to read with some fun parts too. There's a great sex scene that had me in a bit of a dither in the dentist waiting room yesterday, especially when it was followed by something that is very true to me at the moment. Was a bit spooky.

Nonetheless, it's only a 'good' book rather than a 'great' one so ....

8/10

~V~

23rd July 2007, 06:19

17. Perfume: The Story of a Murderer - Patrick Suskind

Amazon Link (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Perfume-Story-Murderer-International-Writers/dp/0140120831/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2/203-1711143-3032724?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1185170902&sr=8-2)

I really hated most of this book. All apart from the mental end which made me laugh. If the book had been any thicker I would have stopped reading it. While reading it I was getting cross and it was affecting my mood - plus it took forever to wade through all the waffly passages. One paragraph was over two pages long ffs!

I wanted to read this before I saw the film, now I probably won't bother with the film

1/10

~V~

23rd July 2007, 06:20

18. The Bone Vault - Linda Fairstein

Amazon Link (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bone-Vault-Linda-Fairstein/dp/0316860034/ref=sr_1_2/203-1711143-3032724?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1185171146&sr=1-2)

I needed some 'safe territory' after the previous piece of garbage and this did the job nicely.

It's the usual crime thriller and in this one you learn a bit about museums. Linda Fairstein is another of those authors who has constant characters and I read this one a bit out of synch. It didn't really matter though as they aren't so much to the fore that you care a great deal about them.

Formulaic but did its stuff

6/10

~V~

23rd July 2007, 06:21

19. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - J K Rowling

Amazon Link (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Harry-Potter-Deathly-Hallows-Childrens/dp/0747591059/ref=pd_bowtega_2/203-1711143-3032724?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1185171371&sr=1-2)

I wanted to get this read before I got any spoilers.

It's more grown-up than the previous books, more swearing and things happen that show more of a coming-of-age.

I really enjoyed it and it'll be a shame there are no more to look forward to

9/10

~V~

6th August 2007, 17:06

20. Chart Throb - Ben Elton

Amazon Link (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Chart-Throb-Ben-Elton/dp/055277376X/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/203-1711143-3032724?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1186419622&sr=8-1)

I have read and enjoyed many Ben Elton books in the past. Sadly, I think this one was towards the 'poor' end of the scale.

Usually there is an element of wit to the tale, but in this case, it is the same joke tole over and over. I may as well have been watching a fly-on-the wall documentary about Simon Cowell and X Factor. The parody of the three judges was spot-on (Simon's mannerisms, Sharon's ridiculous speech patterns and Louis' nonentityness) but after the first couple of times it fell flat.

Ok, so I am going to view the next X Factor with more cynicism, but is that a good thing?

6/10

~V~

10th August 2007, 14:56

21. Mark Billingham - Buried

Amazon Link (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Buried-Mark-Billingham/dp/0751537241/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/203-1711143-3032724?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1186757215&sr=8-1)

I love Mark Billingham. I'm sure I've said this before. His humour has a wonderful outlet in the deliciously dry and acerbic Tom Thorne. In fact, in many ways, I found this book far more humorous than Ben Elton's offering that I had read immediately before this.

This story is centred around a kidnap, with multi-agency input. There is also time to visit a couple of other cases.

The story didn't flow quite as well as some of his other books, but it would appear that some notice has been taken in the States as there is a comment on the front cover from the marvellous Karin Slaughter and it would appear that Linda Fairstein (another favourite of mine) helped with information abour DNA.

In many ways, Thorne and Holland appear to be morphing into Morse and Lewis. I wish it would stop but I suppose it's a natural step to take in many ways

Nonetheless, this is a great book for reading in the sun (which I did)

8/10

~V~

11th August 2007, 16:45

22. Philip Pullman - Northern Lights

Amazon Link (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Northern-Lights-His-Dark-Materials/dp/0590660543/ref=sr_1_1/203-1711143-3032724?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1186850397&sr=8-1)

For ages I've toyed with whether to read this or not. I'm not a huge fantasy fan and it is a fantasy book. Loads of people have told me I should read it too, but I have withstood the encouragement. However, it's another that is having a film made and so I figured I should at least give it a go.

I liked it. It is odd at times, the first chapters had me all confused as it is set in this world but not as we know it. ALso I was curious as to when it was set. Once I'd got over all that and started to get into the story, I enjoyed it immensely. Iorek puts me in mind of Aslan so that is always a positive

No point in telling any of the tale. Those of you who know it don't need that, and those of you yet to read don't want it

9/10

~V~

22nd August 2007, 17:24

23. Garden of Beasts - Jeffrey Deaver

Amazon Link (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Garden-Beasts-Jeffery-Deaver/dp/0340734558/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/203-1711143-3032724?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1187801618&sr=8-1)

I've said before that I love Deaver. This book however is very untypical of his usual stories. No Lincoln Rhyme, no Amelia Sachs, not even set in the goold old US of A (mostly) and not in current times.

What it is is a thriller set in pre-WWII Berlin with a backdrop of the Olympic Games. The two main characters are on different sides and as you progress through the book you can't decide who you are supporting. Well I couldn't. I loved the stuff about the Stormtroopers, Kripo and the Gestapo, they were just weaved into the story quite effortlessly and added to the suspense.

It's been a long time since a book has made me do a double-take and this snuck in more than one surprise.

A good read

9/10

Maureen

27th August 2007, 18:56

I read this book and enjoyed it. It painted a different picture of Nazi Germany....

~V~

27th August 2007, 20:58

Yes, it was an area I'd not really thought about beforehand. You can feel why (if it is real to life) the 'everyday' Germans kind of went along with stuff

Kell

28th August 2007, 05:27

~V~ - You might enjoy The Separation by Christopher Priest. It also has a backdrop of WWII, albeit a slightly alternative one, and part of it features the Olympic Games. The main characters are twin bothers who are almost exact opposites of each other in many ways. Very enjoyable.

You can see my review HERE (http://undermindbooks.blogspot.com/2007/05/separation-by-christopher-priest.html) if you're interested.

~V~

28th August 2007, 05:53

Oooh Kell, that looks interesting, especially as I appear to have a bit of a fascination with twins.

When Mount TBR is smaller than three bookcases, I shall be looking for new authors, I like the look of this guy

Thanks for that :)

Kell

28th August 2007, 16:11

Oooh Kell, that looks interesting, especially as I appear to have a bit of a fascination with twins.
Well, I can heartily recommend Mr Priest - I really enjoyed this one, but not half so much as I loved The Prestige - definitely get hold of that one (even though it's not about war) - it makes use of confusion and misdirection in the same way as the magicians in the story do. Excellent stuff very cleverly written!:readingtwo:

~V~

8th September 2007, 18:27

24. The Subtle Knife - Philip Pullman

Amazon Link (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Subtle-Knife-His-Dark-Materials/dp/0590112899/ref=pd_bbs_sr_6/203-1711143-3032724?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1189275716&sr=8-6)

I loved this book. Many of you will have read the trilogy by now and will know what I mean when I talk about the 'otherworldliness' of it. To me, it was even better than 'Northern Lights' maybe because 'our' world is included in it

9/10

~V~

8th September 2007, 18:42

25. Shark Music - Carol O'Connell

Amazon Link (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Shark-Music-Carol-OConnell/dp/0091795540/ref=sr_1_1/203-1711143-3032724?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1189276336&sr=1-1)

Mallory is such a great character and in this book we get to see a different side of her. Ryker and the lovely Charles are in attendance after discovering a dead body in Mallory's apartment. What follows is a huge road trip along Route 66

9/10

~V~

10th September 2007, 22:35

26. Case Histories, A Novel - Kate Atkinson

Amazon Link (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Case-Histories-Novel-Kate-Atkinson/dp/0385607997/ref=pd_bbs_5/203-1711143-3032724?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1189463216&sr=8-5)

I think this is the best book I've read so far this year. I adored 'Behind the Scenes ...' but 'Emotionally Weird' put me off her a touch and so I hadn't read anything by this author in years.

Having read very positive reviews on here, I decided to read it. I was so glad I did. It is such a 'British' (or maybe even 'English') book and really gets to the heart of who we are as a nation in so many ways. The petty snobberies, the obsession with the weather, the dysfunctional families, and to top it all a brooding detective who's not seeing enough of his daughter.

I loved the fact that not all of the aspects of the story had a full conclusion in the conventional sense and that I was constantly working out how old people would be 'now' to see if anybody who cropped up could 'fit'.

Highly recommended read - I defy any women not to fall for Jackson Brodie just a little ;)

10/10

happyanddandy

12th September 2007, 12:35

~V~

12th September 2007, 22:02

I so agree with you - I have only been to Edinburgh when I was about 12 but having read this I really want to visit again and perhaps during the Festival.

Can't wait for her next book.

I haven't tackled 'Emotionally Weird' yet :smile2:

Ah, no this is the first Brodie one, set in Cambridge. I think the more recent one is set in Edinburgh :)

happyanddandy

13th September 2007, 14:20

Oops yes - smacked hand for not reading your post properly! :mrgreen:

~V~

13th September 2007, 18:07

Oops yes - smacked hand for not reading your post properly! :mrgreen:

Noooooo. Smacked hand for me for reading books three years after they are published :mrgreen:

~V~

15th September 2007, 12:37

27. The 5th Horseman - James Patterson and Maxine Paetro

Amazon Link (http://www.amazon.co.uk/5th-Horseman-Womens-Murder-Club/dp/0755323092/ref=pd_bbs_12/203-1711143-3032724?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1189859495&sr=8-12)

The fifth book in the Women's Murder Club series.

No matter that Patterson doesn't write his own books I like them. They are quick and easy to read, just like grabbing a take-away rather than eating a full meal in a restaurant.

There are two cases running in this one. One that is brought to Boxer et al, one that they kind of stumble across. Sadly, although both are pretty good stories, they don't appear to have full resolution, especially the one that is the 'official' case. Far more entertaining are the court scenes which lead to the second case.

It's ok and I will read the next

7/10

~V~

12th October 2007, 21:14

28. The Memory Keeper's Daughter - Kim Edwards

Amazon Link (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Memory-Keepers-Daughter-Kim-Edwards/dp/0141030143/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/203-1711143-3032724?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1192223293&sr=8-1)

What an amazing premise for a book.

On the front, Jodi Picoult describes it as 'Simply Beautiful'.

Well, Ms Picoult, I'd only say it was beautiful if you love shades of grey and beige. It is sooooooo dull! I couldn't relate to one of the characters and there wasn't an ounce of humour in it. Ms Edwards should learn that real life does have humorous moments in between all the bleakness.

Sorry, but I really didn't like this

4/10

~V~

12th October 2007, 21:24

29. The Mephisto Club - Tess Gerritsen

Amazon Link (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mephisto-Club-Tess-Gerritsen/dp/0553817809/ref=sr_1_1/203-1711143-3032724?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1192223708&sr=1-1)

She appears to get better and better. A relief after the last book (which is why I chose it next, great to have a reliable author to fall back on) to get into a real page-turner.

I like the way that she has a main body of characters but we don't get bogged down with them, she also appears to have introduced some new ones in this too. Maybe.

Her books are so creepy, the way they play on female vulnerabilities, and just the right amount of gore too.

Well done Tess, am looking forward to your next offering

9/10

Michelle

13th October 2007, 07:21

28. The Memory Keeper's Daughter - Kim Edwards

This seems to be another one of 'those' books.. you either like it or you don't. I, for one, thought it was beautifully written.. but I think you have to be in the right mood for it.

~V~

13th October 2007, 08:49

This seems to be another one of 'those' books.. you either like it or you don't. I, for one, thought it was beautifully written.. but I think you have to be in the right mood for it.

I'm sure you're right Michelle. After all, I'd seen quite a lot of hype about it so I thought it could be another Time Traveller's Wife, seems it was another Lovely Bones (from my perspective). Actually it reminds me of Lovely Bones in that All-American tweeness and kind of moral outrage that is the undercurrent to the stories.

Oh well, it's ticked off my list now.

~V~

19th October 2007, 06:18

30. The Ninth Life of Louis Drax - Liz Jensen

Amazon Link (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ninth-Life-Louis-Drax/dp/0747571112/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/203-1711143-3032724?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1192774407&sr=8-1)

A nice little book this. It blew me away at the start as it starts with the narrative from said Louis Drax, who happens to be a nine year old boy. It continues this way with the narrative split between him and his doctor. It's unusual to find an english woman writing thoughts and feelings for two French males of disparate ages and backgrounds.

I loved it from the beginning and was raving about it to all my fellow reading friends, but somehow it lost the plot about three parts through so I became less enthusiastic. That stops it from being a 10/10

9/10

~V~

27th October 2007, 09:40

31. We are Family - Josie Lloyd and Emlyn Rees

Amazon Link (http://www.amazon.co.uk/We-Are-Family-Josie-Lloyd/dp/0434011452/ref=sr_1_7/203-1711143-3032724?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1193477556&sr=1-7)

A little bit different to anything else I've read of theirs, this book alternates between 'present day' and a small seaside village in 1953. We see the problems now and slowly learn how they came to be.

It's a pretty good book, and the characters are fairly life-like and human too, so you can't help but like them flaws and all.

I've always imagined this duo as writing for their own gender and interspersing their stories, like one of those games where you write a bit then the other person picks up from where you left off and so on ... But with this one, I'm wondering if they divvied it up differently or if one took the present day storyline and one the 1953 one. The fact I don't know is maybe one of the reasons I like their books so much.

So, it's a good read and any of their books are recommended for something to take on holiday

8/10

~V~

27th November 2007, 21:11

32. number9dream - David Mitchell

Amazon Link (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Number9dream-David-Mitchell/dp/0340739762/ref=pd_bbs_sr_4?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1196197486&sr=8-4)

What can I say about this book and this author? Well, it took me forever to read it and that wasn't because it was a hard slog, more of a 'savour'. Of course, the guy is barking mad, but his books stay with you for a very long time. If you've read it, you'll know what I mean, if you haven't and want something a little different, get it. I doubt you'll be disappointed.

9/10. (It loses a point for the 'goatwriter' nonsense that appears briefly partway through)

happyanddandy

27th November 2007, 22:18

~V~

27th November 2007, 22:44

Intriguing :smile2:

It is :)

One of my students (a very intelligent 60 year old engineer, who hadn't 'done' english at school) had an assignment about books in schools. He reads a lot but pretty well all 'popular fiction for men' (you know what I mean, Clancy et al) and I showed him it as an example of how a book may be 'literate' and yet interesting and not at all stuffy in the way that many people imagine more literate books to be. He loved it and I virtually had to grab it from his grasp :mrgreen:

I also gave another student (a young woman) a Marian Keyes book that was hanging around and she came in today and said she can't put it down. All she's ever read is stuff like 'heat'

Sometimes I love my job :smile2:

happyanddandy

27th November 2007, 22:49

It is :)

One of my students (a very intelligent 60 year old engineer, who hadn't 'done' english at school) had an assignment about books in schools. He reads a lot but pretty well all 'popular fiction for men' (you know what I mean, Clancy et al) and I showed him it as an example of how a book may be 'literate' and yet interesting and not at all stuffy in the way that many people imagine more literate books to be. He loved it and I virtually had to grab it from his grasp :mrgreen:

I also gave another student (a young woman) a Marian Keyes book that was hanging around and she came in today and said she can't put it down. All she's ever read is stuff like 'heat'

Sometimes I love my job :smile2:

How very gratifying :smile2:

Kylie

27th November 2007, 22:49

Good for you V! It must be wonderful to be inspiring people to read books that they wouldn't otherwise read. Keep up the good work! :mrgreen:

~V~

27th November 2007, 22:56

Good for you V! It must be wonderful to be inspiring people to read books that they wouldn't otherwise read. Keep up the good work! :mrgreen:

Thank you - I do my best, always try to think of something that will suit the individual :mrgreen:

~V~

1st December 2007, 11:58

33. Hidden by Katy Gardner

Amazon Link (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Hidden-Katy-Gardner/dp/0718146816/ref=sr_1_90?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1196509729&sr=1-90)

I picked this up in the Library as it looked ok and a pretty quick read (it was). It was great, along the lines of Sophie Hannah's 'Little Face' as it deals with a missing child. The similarity stopped there for me, as the pace suited me more and it drove me to keep reading.

In essence, the book starts with a Detective at a murder scene. We then move to a different time and pace with the Mother of the missing child telling of what has just happened. The story goes back and forth between current time and how the story came about interspersed with some odd bits and pieces from the Detective until we reach the conclusion.

I couldn't really understand why the detective was part of the story as there wasn't enough outsider commentary from him but maybe the author is thinking of using him again (or has used him before, I wouldn't know as I've not heard of the author before). Anyway, this didn't spoil the book as every now and then we (the readers) would be privvy to something Mel (the mother) doesn't know and we also see how the investigation is going.

I had to spoil the thing for myself though as on the back it says there is a big twist at the end and I guessed it a long way before that. Having siad that, it was then interesting to see how the clues stacked up, as such. There is at least one other shocking moment though.

The whole book is written well, I've already said it's well paced but you feel for Mel and Poppy (the missing daughter) and the life they appear to have ended up with. The descriptions are enough to give atmosphere but not so much I wanted to skip through them.

A good book Ms Gardner 8/10

~V~

11th December 2007, 17:38

34 A Concise Chinese-English Dictionary for Lovers by Xiaolu Guo

Amazon Link (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Concise-Chinese-English-Dictionary-Lovers/dp/0701180382/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1197394165&sr=1-1)

There's something about this book that rings of truth, as if it really happened pretty well as told.

The story centres around 'Z' a Chinese girl coming to England to improve her English in order to do well back in China. Each chapter begins with a dictionary definiton of a word that sets the tone of that chapter, as if it is a word that Z has just been learning for one reason or another.

The tale progresses through Z's english language classes, her meeting of a man and her relationship with him and gives an insight into the cultural differences between the East and West.

I love the fractured language through the book and how it improves along with Z's ability. Recommended as something a little different

9/10

Maureen

18th December 2007, 18:07

Have number9dream, but haven't gotten around to reading it yet.
A Concise Chinese-English Dictionary for Lovers seems like something I would enjoy....need to look out for it. Tks V

~V~

3rd January 2008, 11:57

35. Atonement by Ian McEwan

(No Amazon Link as you all know it)

What a pile of poo this book is. It took me three weeks to read as it was so dreary and turgid. It's almost as if a load of short stories have been cobbled together to make one half-hearted attempt at a book.

We have: The writer writing about writing and all her self-absorption.

Then there's the other spoilt girl who has no clue what she wants in life.

The obviously gay brother. (Married four times? Did he think it was the women's fault?)

The depressed, self-involved mother (no wonder Briony's like she is with this as a role-model) who craves her errant husband's company.

All these are wrapped up in some pathetic tale about a dinner party and some cousins coming to stay.

We then have: The 'love story'. I doubt that any young man of any era would use that particular word in a love letter, even one he was not going to send. I also find it odd that Cecelia and Robbie had sex in the Library and then ignored one another over dinner. All seems wrong somehow and I'm not being prudish here.

They realise in one day what they mean to one another, he gets 'sent away' and yet they then continue to have some form of commitment over the years with Cecelia shutting out her family.

This is all followed by Birdsong! The whole war thing was so reminiscent of the parts of Birdsong that I hated, I had to wade through the tales of legs in trees and horses being shot for no particular purpose really.

Tacked on to this was: The brave nurse stuff. Having gone through nurse training myself many years ago, I can relate to some of the tactics used to immune you to the horrors you will encounter. Another reason to hate the book in the way it reminded me of all that. Oh, and brave Briony, walking with a blister. Was this to link her to Robbie with his blister in France? He also had a huge shrapnel wound Briony, get over yourself!

All wrapped up with That ridiculous ending. When I read it, I thought 'Oh. Life of Pi' and it appears that I'm not the only one who thought that too. And they all end up in 'The Librarry' seeing the play that was supposed to have been performed at the beginning of the book. I just wish they'd performed the darn play and then I wouldn't have had to read the rest of it.

So, I completed my crappy year with a contrived, derivative book that I wouldn't recommend to anybody. I will see the film though, just to see what it's like

3/10