View Full Version : Kell's 2006 Reading Log - January to June
Kell
11th April 2006, 07:09
It's not one I would have picked up given my own choice, but my sister, who barely reads at all, loved it & recommended it to me. And since I'm always trying to encourage her to try books I've been reading, I thought it only fiar that the one tmie she suggested a book for me, that I shoul give it a try. She actually lent me her own copy - ain't she sweet? She enjoyed it so much she read it twice & that's really saying something!
Kell
12th April 2006, 07:14
I'm now about 1/2 way through Life of Pi & I have to say I'm lovnig it. It's such a preposterous idea, but somehow utterly believable at the same time! Wish I was home so I could keep reading it right now...
Kell
13th April 2006, 09:20
Just finished Life of Pi by Yann Martel during my coffee break & I have to say what a wonderful, wonderful book! It's just gorgeous! I'll write a glowing review for it thiws weekend. Kudis to my baby sis for recommending it to me!
I'll be movnig on to Q&A by Vikas Swarup for the Posh Club next - I'll start it at lunchtime...
The Library Nook
13th April 2006, 09:58
Really glad you enjoyed it!
Kell
13th April 2006, 21:38
I'm almost 1/2 way through Q&A by Vikas Swarup & I'm really enjoying it. After Life of Pi, i seem to be on a bit on an Indian jag at the moment - LOL! It's a very interesting concept, especially after all the nonesense with the cheat on Millionaire a while back - An 18-y-o Indian lad wins a billion rupees on a quiz show & is instantly arrested for cheating - but he maintains he simply knew the answers to the questions. he then relates the story of his life to reveal just how he came upon the answers...
The Library Nook
13th April 2006, 21:40
Oh I know what book you mean, I read an extract and review in newbooksmag, it sounded really good!
Kell
13th April 2006, 21:41
It IS good - Definitely get a copy. Excellent read.
Kell
14th April 2006, 18:50
Bought three more books today - I couldn't resist. Well, they were in the sale & I'm on holiday - LOL!
The Sixth Lamentation by William Brodrick
The Secret Purposes by David Baddiel
The Corn King and the Spring Queen by Naomi Mitchison
Maureen
14th April 2006, 19:01
:lol: :jump: Enjoy Kell !!
Kell
14th April 2006, 20:19
Just finished reading Q&A by Vikas Swarup for the Posh Club. Excellent read! So now I have two reviews for books with a touch of India to do this weekend. :)
Amnow moving on to The Vesuvius Club by Mark Gatiss...
Kell
15th April 2006, 10:31
Changed my mind & decided to read Killing Me Softly instead...
Maureen
15th April 2006, 13:14
to read Killing Me Softly instead...
I enjoyed that one. It is a bit creepy though.
Kell
16th April 2006, 23:20
I changed my mind as I wasn't getting into Killing Me Softly (I'll go back to it when I'm in the right mood) & have instead leapt headfirst into The Undomestic Goddess by Sophie Kinsella. So far, so good. :)
Michelle
17th April 2006, 07:24
Well they are very different moods! lol It's well worth getting back to KMS, but yes, your mood has to be right. :)
Kell
17th April 2006, 08:02
Yes, I just couldn't get settled into eiterh Vesuvius Club or KMS at all. I decided I needed something lighter, since I've been reading more "literary" stuff the last few books, so I thought a light light comedy might do the trick & it seems to be doing so. I'll get back to the other two eventually...
Kell
17th April 2006, 16:00
Finished Undomestic Goddess - it was just what I needed. :) I think I might start on The Traveller by John Twelve Hawks next, but knowing my state of mind lately, that could all change in the next 5 minutes or so - LOL!
Maureen
17th April 2006, 17:09
I decided I needed something lighter, since I've been reading more "literary" stuff the last few books, so I thought a light light comedy might do the trick .
I'm the same Kell - I don't want the same style of book over and over - I read different types.
Kell
18th April 2006, 00:09
Started Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden - so far so good.
Kell
19th April 2006, 07:38
Got a new book from CBUK for review (the others are on heir way) that looks very interesting:
Endymion Spring by Matthew Skelton
Who or what is Endymion Spring? A power for good, or for evil...A legendary book that holds the secret to a world of knowledge...A young boy without a voice - whose five-hundred-year-old story is about to explode in the twenty-first century...Blake is visiting Oxford with his academic mother and his kid sister. While their mum immerses herself in olde worlde volumes, Blake feels trapped in the dusty air of the college library. Until one day, Blake is running his finger along the shelf and feels something pierce his finger, drawing blood - like a bite. The book responsible is a battered old volume, with a strange clasp like a serpent's head - with real fangs. Printed on its front are two words: Endymion Spring. Its paper is almost luminous - blank, wordless, but with a texture that seems to shine, and fine veins running through it. The paper quivers, as if it's alive. And as Blake looks, words begin to appear on the page - words meant only for him; words no one else can see. The book has been waiting five-hundred years for the right boy; now it must fulfil its destiny...
The Library Nook
19th April 2006, 21:55
That looks good, I love books about books! Have you read Inkheart? An enchanting story, I loved it.
Michelle
20th April 2006, 06:24
Hey Joss - I really liked Inkhart. There's a sequel out now, isn't there?
The Library Nook
20th April 2006, 17:47
Yeas, I have read that too and it's just as good!
Michelle
20th April 2006, 18:25
Ooh - I might have to pick that up soon then. :)
Kell, have you read Inkhart?
Kell
20th April 2006, 18:36
Nope, I've not read it - yet. I've been hearing about it lately though & I think I'll enjoy it. I'm sure I'll pick it up at some point - I have this terrible habit of adding to the list before I've taken any more off by reading them. I bought another 3 books today:
Rumours of a Hurricane by Tim Lott
The Facts Behind the Helsinki Roccamatios by Yann Martel
Futures (collection of 4 sci-fi novellas) by Stephen Baxter, Peter F Hamilton, Paul McAuley & Ian McDonald
Kell
20th April 2006, 22:36
Just finished Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden - really enjoyed it & can't wait to see the movie. m about to start Endymion Spring by Matthew Skelton...
Michelle
21st April 2006, 06:30
I have this terrible habit of adding to the list before I've taken any more off by reading them.
Sigh.. a common trait here, I'm afraid!
Kell
27th April 2006, 08:01
I've done it again - another 3 books that actually add up to 5:
The Rosary Girls by Richard Montari (well, everyone seems to be talking about it, so I couldn't resist).
The Accidental Mother by Rowan Coleman (I just thought it loked really good)
(both from Green Metropolis because I had credit to spend - well, it has to be spent, doesn't it?!)
Then I got one of those 3-in-1 books that has the following in it:
The Constant Princess by Philippa Gregory
Recipes for a Perfect Marriage by Kate Kerrigan
Look the World in the Eye by Alice Peterson
(Got this from Ebay - purely for the Gregory - LOL!)
Started reading Death & the Arrow by Chris Priestley an hour ago. I'm already halfway through & I only put it down so I could get out of the bath. In fact, the reason this post is so short is because I can't possibly wait any longer to get back to it. This is the kind of book that turned me into a bibliophile in the first place!
And now I've finished it - fantastic read. 9/10. I'll be reading the sequel tomorrow night methinks!
Finally updated my reading list (I've been neglecting it lately, along with my blog here, but I've been writing reviews & posting them anyway) so you can check it out back on the first page of messages on this thread if you're interested.
I've also got another handful of reviews to write, so I'll be posting them very shortly too...
Got a fair bit of reading done this week, despite being run off my feet:
Endymion Spring by Matthew Skelton (7/10)
The Wise Woman by Philippa Gregory (6/10)
Death & the Arrow by Chris Priestley (9/10)
The White Rider by Chris Priestley (8/10)
Reviews for the above to follow shortly...
Will be starting on 2 books tomorrow:
Redwulf's Curse by Chris Priestley
The Constant Princess by Philippa Gregory
And I must remember to update my reading blog more often!
Finished Redwulf's Curse by Chris Priestley (the 3rd Tom Marlowe adventure) in the bath & it's every bit as good as the last one. I give it 8/10. Now I have another review to write - I think I'll have to do them all tomorrow night!
Starting on The Constant Princess by Philippa Gregory next.
Actually, The Constant Princess will be geting swapped out immdeiately (along with the other 2 titles that's housed between the pages of this compilation) as it turns out they're all CONDENSED novels & not the ful, unabridged versions at all. Am severely miffed.
Will have to find something else to read now. Harumph!
Decided to read The Doomspell by Chris McNish instead... so far so good!
Well, 5 reviews now posted over in the reviews forum for the books I read last week...
Just finished reading The Doomspell at lunch (which I ate outside in the lovely sunshine - it's scorchio out there!). Going to start 44 Scotland Street by Alexander McCall Smith tonight...
Three more books arrived in the post this morning:
1. Shadowmancer by G P Taylor
2. Wormwood by G P Taylor
3. Her Rightful Inheritance by Benita Brown
Surprisingly for me, the 3rd one is an historical romance. I specifically requested it as the author is a member over at On the Shelf & thought I'd have a look-see...
Finished 44 Scotland Street last night. Now, what will I start reading today?
It's Word weekend up here (Aberdeen's annual book & writer festival), so I'm planning on doing loads of reading this weekend - I usually don't get much of a chance do to other stuff cropping up, but today I'm planning on posting out some books for swaps & then settling down with a good book... :reading:
Lilywhite
13th May 2006, 09:26
That sounds like a plan Kell :wink:
Didn't get any reading done yesterday after all, what with everything that was going on, so I started The Lost Boy by David Pelzer this morning. It's been a while since I read A Child Called "It", but it's still pretty fresh in my mind (who could forget the horrific happenings of that book?), so it's lke picking up where I left off.
Moved on to A Man Named Dave, the 3rd in the Pelzer trilogy. Very good so far.
Finished A Man Named Dave in the bath tonight, so I'll be starting something else tomorrow. I think I might go for Notes on a Scandal actually...
Three new books arrived today via RISI:
Geisha by Liza Dalby
A Respectable Trade by Philippa Gregory
The Brethren by John Grisham
Am expecting as further 5 to arrive hopefully by the end of the week.
I think I'll actually read Geisha next after all...
Three more books arrived this morning:
A Long Way Down by Nick Hornby
The Various Haunts of Men by Susan Hill
On the Street Where you Live by Mary Higgins Clark
Another two to come yet too!
Inanna
18th May 2006, 08:32
Three more books arrived this morning:
A Long Way Down by Nick Hornby
I've got this one coming too :mrgreen:
Michelle
18th May 2006, 08:45
Three more books arrived this morning:
A Long Way Down by Nick Hornby
I've got this one coming too :mrgreen:
This one sounds interesting, but I've heard some bad reviews. I look forward to hearing what you 2 think.
Inanna
18th May 2006, 08:53
I have to admit its the one that appeals most to me of all his books :D
Finished Her Rightful Inheritance & really rather enjoyed it. Will be starting A Long Way Down next...
Got some more books to add to the list waiting to be read:
1. Sickened by Julie Gregory
2. Absolution By Murder by Peter Tremayne
3. The Constant Princess by Philippa Gregory
4. Confessions of a Bad Mother by Stephani Calman (borrowed off Mam)
Seeing as I've been ill in bed the last few days, I've finished reading:
Her Rightful Inheritance by Benita Brown(finished in Northumberland)
A Long Way Down by Nick Hornby
Confessions of a Bad Mother by Stephanie Calman (borrowed off Mam)
The Constant Princess by Philippa Gregory (bought down the road)
I am now woefully behind on my reviews, but will do my best to catch up over the weekend.
Maureen
24th May 2006, 19:37
Hope you feel better Kell :flowers:
Thanks, Mau - I'm feeling much better this evening & am planning on returning to work tomorrow unless something drastic happens overnight (which isn't likely - fingers crossed!).
Maureen
24th May 2006, 20:24
Hope not Kell!
Just finished readnig Sickened by Julie Gregory, so that's now on my Sale or Swap list, which is ever growing. Moving onto the Darren Shan Vampire Blood Trilogy next - it's been a while since I read any good vampire stories...
I've been at it again - I bought 2 more books today in town, but seeing as they were in Virgin's 2 for £8 offer, nobody could blame me, surely? Ended up with I, Lucifer by Glen Duncan & Geisha of Gion by Mineko Iwasaki. I'll be buying 2 more on Monday for the Reading Circle & the Posh Club's next read...
Just finished reading the first trilogy of the Saga of Darren Shan (Vampire Blood Trilogy) & have to say it was excellent! Pure escapism with some great imigary & fantastic ideas throughout. I think I'll be getting hold of some more of these books in the future one I've whittled my reading list down a little more... Have now added the trilogy to my Sale or Swap list.
Am going to start on I, Lucifer by Glen Duncan next, as it looks particularly intriguing.
I've started I, Lucifer by Glen Duncan & so far I'm really enjoying it. It's very satirical & filled with description - I'm literally being bombarded by everything Lucifer is experiencing - but it's really great - it's like it's washes INTO me while I'm reading & I'm noticing things more as I'm reading because of it. Hmmmmm - this one could get me thinking!
Just had another delivery of 2 more books from CBUK to read & review:
Orphan of the Sun by Gill Harvey
Set in Stone by Linda Newbury
i'll be getting to them pretty shortly...
Finished I, Lucifer by Glen Duncan (which was excellent & is now on my Sale or Swap list) & have now started Set in Stone by Linda Newbury (which is pretty good so far).
Have just hit a shocking revelation in Set in Stone by Linda Newbury - woah! It's incredibly intense & deals with some very adult themes, therefore it's aimed more at the young adult market rather than younger teens, but from what I've read so far, I'd recommend it to adults too. Very well-written & told from the viewpoint of 2 characters looking in at the family on the brink of madness that employs them. It's incredibly heady stuff! I'm only hoping that Newbury manages to keep the momentum going right to the end!
Warning, really, don't read the spoiler unless you're wondering whether this book would be suitable for a young adult in your life. Or unless you're really, really curious, as a MAJOR plot point is about to be revealed...
In case you're wondering, the subject that has just been revealed is incest, which is never an easy subject to tackle. With it being set at the end of the 19th century, there's all the guilt about sex before marriage & children being born out of wedlock anyway, but for a 17-y-o girl to have borne a child to her own father (a touchy theme at any time) adds to the guilt & shame felt by all involved. I've not read anything so intense in long time & it's being tackled so well that Newbury deserves all kinds of credit!
Finished Set in Stone & have to say it was excellent. There were quite a few plot points that absolutely did NOT see coming which makes a nice change. Although it deals with some very hard-hitting subjects, it's a refreshing read & completely gripping - very intense. I will DEFINITELY be reading more by Linda Newbury in the future!
Now I've just got to choose another book to read & hope it doesn't pale in comparison!
Decided on Orphan of the Sun by Gill Harvey (the other book I'm reviewing for CBUK). It's set in ancient Egypt & although I'm only a few chapters in at the moment, it seems to be pretty good. Fingers crossed it stays that way!
Orphan of the Sun is turning out to be another really good read - I got really lucky with this batch! Honestly, I've been getting some fantastic books out of this reviewing malarky - it's great!
Finished Orphan of the Sun in the bath & have decided to start on Geisha of Gion by Mineko Iwasaki next - it looks rather interesting as it's the life story of a real-life Kyoto Geiko who left the profession at the height of her career.
Finished Geisha of Gion & completely loved it - so much better than the likes of Memoirs of a Geisha (which I also really enjoyed) - this is the "real thing".
Am now moving onto The Historian for the Reading Circle...
Kell
10th June 2006, 19:47
Well, i have another 2 books winging their way to me via RISI:
Undead And Unwed by Mary Janice Davidson
Empress Orchid by Anchee Min
I seem to have both a vampire thing & an oriental thing going on in my choices lately - LOL!
Inanna
11th June 2006, 09:03
Undead and Unwed was an ok book IMO, I will read the rest of the series at some point, I just didn't feel it was as god as I expected it would be :wink:
I have Empress Orchid as well Kell, that one looks great.
Have you read any of Amy Tan's books by any chance?
Oh if you love the Orient have you tried Shogun by James Clavell? I loved the dramatisation on TV when I was younger and have since picked up the book to read as well :D
Kell
11th June 2006, 09:36
I might have to get hold of Shogun - I remember watching it on telly when I was a kid. And no, I've not read any Amy Tan - can you recommend any in particular?
Kell
11th June 2006, 09:42
Have just ordered 2 books from Green Metropolis (my funds from various recent book sales all finally cleared):
The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom (for the Posh Club)
How to Kill Your Husband (and Other Handy Household Hints) by Kathy Lette
They should be arriving at some point over the next week, so I'll be adding them to my list too...
Inanna
11th June 2006, 12:53
And no, I've not read any Amy Tan - can you recommend any in particular?
I've not read her either, but she writes stories set in the Orient as well. :wink:
Kell
12th June 2006, 05:24
I've finished part 1 of The Historian & so far I'm really enjoying it, dispite the action being very spread out. I LOVE that this is a Dracula story - he's one of my favourite subjects!
Michelle
12th June 2006, 06:22
I've just finished ch 17, and it is getting better:
The fact that Rossi's daughter has turned up, and the part I think she'll play.. plus people getting bitten, is improving the story! hehe
Kell
12th June 2006, 09:42
I agree, Michelle - that certainly livened things up a little. ;)
Kell
17th June 2006, 16:10
I managed to come home with three books to add to my to read list:
Broken by Kelley Armstrong (bought)
If Nobody Speaks of Remarkable Things by Jon McGregor (kindly lent to me by Purple Poppy)
Captain Corelli's Mandolin by Louis de Berniere (swapped on RISI - I had to pick it up from the post office depot)
Kell
21st June 2006, 12:41
After The Historian, I moved onto The Five People you Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom (which I rather enjoyed) & am now reading Broken by Kelley Armstrong & If Nobody Speaks of Remarkable Things by Jon McGregor
MonkeyCatcher
22nd June 2006, 01:34
And no, I've not read any Amy Tan - can you recommend any in particular?
The Joy Luck Club (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0804106304/sr=8-1/qid=1150940037/ref=pd_bbs_1/103-1439895-3236630?%5Fencoding=UTF8) by this writer is very good - you may like to check that one out :)
Kell
22nd June 2006, 07:20
Thanks MonkeyCatcher, I think I will. I didn't make the connection in my head - I've been lokoing at that one for a while - LOL!
Kell
22nd June 2006, 07:21
Finished Broken last night - really enjoyed being back with the Pack again! Will be starting Undead & Unwed by Maryjanice Davidson at some point today...
Kell
24th June 2006, 21:46
Now reading the novelisation of The Wicker Man which is proving very interesting reading as it's already filling in a lot of gaps left by the film (which I loved). I'm getting to see the reasons behind Howie's way of thinking more than was shown on the screen & feeling a little more sympathetic towards his character. I'monly about 1/3rd of the way in, but it's good reading so far & very easy to get into - the writing is really drawing me in (one of the writers also wrote the screenplay).
Kell
28th June 2006, 21:06
Finished The Wicker Man (thoroughly enjoyed it too!), moved onto How to Kill Your Husband (& Other Handy household Hints) which had be cackling evilly throughout, & have now started Lolita - I've been meaning to read it for years & my copy (acquired via RISI) arrived today. :)
Lilywhite
28th June 2006, 21:20
I love Kathy Lette, always reliable for a good old girly read :D
Michelle
28th June 2006, 21:23
Finished The Wicker Man (thoroughly enjoyed it too!)
I think I have that upstairs somewhere....
have now started Lolita - I've been meaning to read it for years & my copy (acquired via RISI) arrived today.
Why do I see this book mentioned (and heavily discussed) everywhere? What's it about?
Kell
28th June 2006, 21:29
The basic premise is it's an older man with a much younger girl. It's been made into a movie (twice, I think) - I saw the one with Jeremy Irons in a few years back. It's generally regarded as a modern classic & I've been meaning to read it for years, but I've been seeing it around so much lately that I thought "what the hell? Now's as good a time as any!". I'm only a few chapters in & so far so good.
The synopsis on Amazon is incredibly brief:
Humbert Humbert is a middle-aged, fastidious college professor. He also likes little girls. And none more so than Lolita, who he'll do anything to possess. Is he in love or insane, a silver-tongued poet or a pervert, a tortured soul or a monster or is he all of these!
Sugar
28th June 2006, 21:33
I read my dad's copy of Lolita when I was about 13 or 14. I was always aware of it, and that it was of a sexual nature and unsuitable for children. I took it off the shelf and read it over the course of a few days, hiding it whenever my parents were in!
Considering all the controversy surrounding it, I think I had hyped it up to much more graphic than I actually found it to be. It was a similar reaction to the one I had to Lady Chatterly's Lover!
I hope you enjoy it, Kell - I'd love to know more about what you think when you have finished.
Freewheeling Andy
28th June 2006, 22:30
I loved Lolita when I read it, but when I went back years later I found it hard work. I was discussing it with Stewart a while back. It is an excellent book, beautifully written. I hope you enjoy it, Kell.
Kell
29th June 2006, 19:02
Well, after getting slightly wary looks yesterday while reading How to Kill Your Husband, I got more funny looks today while reading Lolita. Apparently, round our way, people think it's a bit smutty*. I wonder how many of them have actually read it - LOL! I'm about a dozen chapters in & really enjoying it. It's amazing to me that someone can not only write so eloquently, but to do it in a language not their own (English is Nabokov's 2nd language, but you'd never know to read Lolita). It's rather more absorbing than the film was (much as I enjoyed that).
* One colleague mentioned it along the lines of "Isn't that right up there with Lady Chatterley's Lover?". Of course, now I'm going to have to read that too - LOL!
Freewheeling Andy
29th June 2006, 23:47
I think English is his third language. (Isn't that a bit depressing).
Kell
30th June 2006, 08:05
in that case, even more wow! I was gong by what it said in the aothor bio at the front of the book, which said 2nd, but also mentioned that his family had moved to London from Russia, then to Germany, before he left for America with his wife & son, so it certainly looks like he would have German under his belt too. What an amazing man! I only have school-girl French & a mostly-forgotten smattering of Turkish to my name - LOL!
I'm still reading Lolita (I'm taking my time with it) & have just finished Eats, Shoots & Leaves: The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation which was a funny, light read which has succeeded in making me even more paranoid about my typos on the forum! I'll also admit that, when faces with a badly punctuated notice, I feel compelled to correct it (oh, no! I'm a stickler!). On top of that, i noticed a couple of grammatical errors which I am prepared to overlook, seeing as it's about punctuation, rather than grammar (& since it made me feel all smart to notice them).
Reckon I'll finish Lolita tonight, so I'll be starting on Emma tomorrow - looking forward to it.
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