rwemad

A Special Relationship by Douglas Kennedy***. I chose this book because it was written by Douglas Kennedy and I had enjoyed 'The Big Picture'. I am not sure if I have graded this one down only in comparison to the the Big P. I hope not. I want to grade each as a stand alone read. I also fret in case I have down graded it because I had unrealistic expectations. See..... you can't trust what I say even if you do decide you like the same sort of books. Anyway, I have had no experience (thankfully) of depression and found the pages spent dwelling on the period where the lead was depressed....... well a tad laborious. There was a couple of moments when I thought I may put it to one side as I feared that was going to be the topic of the whole book. However, it did liven up as the story evolved and moved forward quite quickly in parts. I'm really unsure what I want from these sort of books. I'm not sure what it says (if anything) about me, when, should the ending be twisted/dire/sad or just plain unhappy I think 'well... that's not very nice'. However, when it is all 'happy ever after' I think 'mmmm... bit mushy'. Of course in the books where we are left to make up our own mind... well.... they are just infuriating aren't they? I really don't know what I want or expect. Well, having just reread the above I have confused myself.... makes no sense to me even if I did write it. I'm going to leave it hang though... see what happens next......

By The Time You Read This by Lola Jaye ** This was just what I needed after attempting Catch-22. It is everything Catch-22 isn't. Catch-22 was completely shambolic and often nonsensical whereas By The Time.. was straightforward and predictable. I found this book so easy and light. To be honest it had no impact whatsoever and I will have probably forgotten about it by tomorrow. It is fortunate in that it is short and simple otherwise the predictability would just have been unbearable. The reader knows where it is going to end within the first few pages. Is it a spoiler to mention no surprises here? Should anybody want a book to read by the pool when they have to keep one eye on the kids and have to keep putting it up and down .... then yes, read it. Otherwise, don't bother. All my humble opinion of course.

Very often a pub round the corner is as much fun as in the ground. I am thinking I will be watching the Irish game from behind the setee... .... with a stiff drink for company. It's nice to have gotten England out the way though... nobody else matters quite so much.

Yep........ born and bred but not the lingo. I am desperate to learn though. I want to be able to read books in Welsh........ proper books not the cat sat on the mat stuff. My OH is a Scot so that is why we always enjoy the Scot/Wales game so much. He was born in Edinburgh, so it was a trip 'home'. Having lived in Wales with me for so long he is an honourary Welshman and will shout for Wales as loudly as me. Didn't you hear us Saturday? Wouldn't another GS be just great?

Hey......... we flew up for the match and had an absolutely fab time. Edinburgh was lovely, the people were warm and friendly and the atmosphere before, during and after was wonderful. Thank you for a great weekend Scotland I love the Wales/Scotland game no matter who wins. It was great to see Wales beat England though. Having said that, I honestly think England are much more entertaining now than when they were playing in their world cup year. I know winning gets the cup and the trophy etc but people don't pay all that money just to see JW kicking and the rest of them holding and shoving. England are now playing some fantastic rugby. Not as good as Wales obviously but the game was fun and exciting to watch. Well worth the money. 2 down......... COME ON WALES!!!!!

Catch 22 by Stephen Heller This is the second time I have tried this book. I know it is clever and I have laughed but I just don't get on with it. Sorry. I also know it is supposed to be a classic and I will try it again but I have just got tired of trying with it right now. I have given up about a third of the way through. I was hoping it would get easier but a colleague has told me that it doesn't and, quite honestly, I read for pleasure and this just wasn't pleasurable (for me ........... obviously it may be very different for everybody else) and so I am throwing in the towel. Do you all know what???? I haven't read a book at all in the past 24 hours. This may not seem long (particularly on an international weekend (go Wales go!!!)) but for me it is an age. This is because I forbade myself to read two things at once. I even cleaned the oven this morning rather than pick this book up:roll: boy o boy it must be a trial. I'm going to have a crack at something easy and light.

Well Ruth. Thank you so much for this recommendation. I will definately be looking it up. I came on here this evening to update my list with a Margaret Forster book - Have The Men Had Enough?. It is a fabulous book and, from what you have written here, I am guessing you too will enjoy it. It is about how a familly cope with an elderly parent with dementia. It is narrated by the daughter in law and grandaughter. I think it is very well written and addresses things like guilt, responsibility, the inevitability of death etc. I have also read Private Papers. I enjoyed it, niely written but, for me, not as good as HTMHE? Thanks again

Well I preferred it to the first. I don't think I found it hard to get into though. I don't think it's one of those 'need to perservere through the first few pages' books iykwim. So I'm guessing if you weren't keen... you just weren't keen. Some we like, some we don't.

Also alot of the book,did tend to be very dramatized and hollywood-esque,like his constant daily struggle to look into his eyes..so when i foun d out afterwards that he had embellished and lied about certain parts (or all?) of his story it didn't much surprise me. Ahhhh. I had read somewhere that there were a few porkies but I had been led to believe that it was mainly true. The looking for his eyes in the mirror was a bit much.

Have The Men Had Enough? by Margaret Forster ***** I think this book is going to have to go down as one of my all time favourites. I simply thought it was fabulous. It was funny and sad, tender and painful and it made me smile, weep, laugh and ring my Mum to tell her how much I love her. I should really do that more often. What I love about it is that it is totally unpretentious. It created all the aforementioned feelings and emotions but at no time did I feel that that was what it was trying to do. It was simply telling the story. I am guessing that for anybody who, like myself, has cared for an ailing parent will feel doubly effected. I cared for my father, not through dementia but to the inevitable end and so much of this writing was just too true for comfort. And yet it was comforting because it was true. It was amazing. I wish I had written it.

Michelle and Frankie........ American Psycho is a book that is well worth persevering with imo. It is shocking though. I defy anybody to read it for the first time and not raise their hand towards their face at some point. Unless I'm particularly wooosy. I think that as parts of it made uncomfortable reading, added to the enjoyment in a rather bizarre sense. I mean I like feel-good books as well as the next person but sometimes, just sometimes, it's good to push my boundaries and step out of the 'comfort zone' so to speak. It really was good!!!

Atonement by Ian McEwan*** This was nice. There were parts of it where I was thinking 'this is going to be a 4*er' but am I alone in being confused at the end? I enjoyed it though and it was a nice calming, pleasant read after American Psycho.

Is it OK to confess in here? I read Pride and Prejudice because I thought I 'should' read something that would make me a 'proper' reader. And absolutely hated it

I enjoyed the book. I recall we had borrowed the film to watch at home but I was called in to work and had to leave part way through. I remember quite vividly the 'domestic' we had when I discovered my dear other half had returned it before I had chance to watch the rest. I will be tuning in to see if it is worth me seeking it out again.

American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis**** Oh my oh my. I have tried to read this several times before but have struggled with the first third (or so) of the book. The constant reference and long winded description of what he and everybody is wearing etc was tiresome. It is only after I perservered that I realised how important it was to the book and the character(s). Once that first third (or so) was over with, Oh my goodness - what a book!!!! I cannot recall having read anything more gruesome and quite frankly terrifying. I read some of the passages from behind the sofa!!!! I loved the way it was written, the gore and horror nestling amongst the self-indulgence and insecurity of the yuppie world. I found it amusing and enthralling. I read it with a certain amount of enjoyment which made me feel somewhat weird and embarrassed. What a strange book for me to enjoy. I really surprised myself. It is a book that I have discussed at length to anybody who will tolerate me. There is so much to it.... so much to talk about and so many feelings and questions raised about myself and people in general. Oh my.... what a book. I haven't seen the film but apparently it is a bit like watching Corrie after having read the book. Even though I enjoyed this soooo much I am reluctant to give it a ***** because of the reference to my wishing I had wrote it. mmmmm I'm going to have to get over wanting to write only the 'nice' stuff I think. I wonder though, how did he come up with such errrr 'ideas' for those more violent passages? I intend to read it again. Perhaps in a year's time.

The Big Picture by Douglas Kennedy.**** I really enjoyed this book. It was fast paced and simple to read. It held my attention and I even found myself reading whilst waiting for the kettle to boil my interest ws so keenly captured. I highly recommend it. The only reason it didn't get a ***** was that I was a bit disappointed at the ending. After such a fast story it sort of spluttered to a stop where I wanted it to squeal sideways to a mind jolting halt. Not sure how he would have done that.......... but I guess that's why I'm not a best selling author.

After the purge of my TBR list, I succumbed to temptation in the book shop today, and I've added another five books Ha Ha I used to do this all the time. I find it easier just to stay away from the shops completely. Before Xmas I overheard my OH and son discussing a shopping trip and my son said "well, we know Mum will just be in the book shops all day" and my OH replied "yes, well I'm holding the plastic this time". Charity shops..... boot sales......... "uh oh, watch your mother there's a book stall!" I hate ALL other shops. You have a very varied and interesting list. I like to read all sorts too. I notice one by Penelope Lively that I haven't heard of that I may look up. I loved her 'Moon Tiger'. Have you read it?

A Million Little Pieces by James Frey.** I was disappointed with this one. I have a nephew who is struggling with drug addiction and was looking forward to reading about it. I didn't really enjoy the way it was written. It annoyed me sometimes when it just kept repeating short pointless sentences. "I sipped my coffee. I sipped my coffee. I sipped my coffee". I'm thinking... OK I get it... you've got a coffee. Having said that. Parts of it were interesting. I just wish I could be convinced that it wasn't embellished or romanticised to the nth degree. I guess I was just hoping to learn something which may be of some use or offer me a little more understanding. Glad I read it though.

I have enjoyed reading this thread so thought it only fair I say five about me. My dog has very powerful smelling wind this morning I am an insomniac I am a reluctant atheist The only footwear I own is work boots, walking boots, wellie boots & trainers.

I'm the third Welsh person to clock in..........but it seems I am the first Welsh person to add a post. Obviously I'm British too. And European of course.

I actually thought this was OK. I think 'Long Way Down' is my favourite of his but 'Slam', although light and easy, does offer some reminders as to how completely self absorbed teenagers are. I gave it to my skateboarding teenage son to read who felt the character was very immature for his age. I'm guessing the chats with Tony Hawks are the skateboarder equivalent to fantasising about marrying a pop star or singing into the hairbrush or air guitaring. All very immature... none of us ever did/do that did/do we. I like Nick Hornby's books because sometimes I want to pick up a book which I know will neither be challenging or depressing. Predictable is good sometimes.

OK. Hello everybody. I have tried to edit the opening post but I have been thrown out twice. I think perhaps it is because I tried to do a little too much and waffled on and on etc. Anyway, I thought I would try and be a little bit more organised. I am going to use this post as the opening post and add the titles of the '2009 reads' as I complete them. I may add a little bit about each book at the bottom of the list in it's own little post at the bottom of the thread. I love books. I am as simple as that. I will make some sort of crude effort to 'grade' each book with some stars but this is purely self indulgence on my part. I firmly believe that each reader will be touched or spoken to differently, and uniquely, by each book. It may depend on life circumstance at the time. For example, when grieving for my father, I wept openly and painfully at a passage in 'My favourite Wife' by Tony Parsons. At no other time would I say that passage, or indeed any part of that book, would have reduced me to tears. Likewise, Uncle Podger putting up the picture in 'Three Men in a Boat' by Jerome K Jerome never fails to have me crying tears of pure merriment at the memories of my dear departed Grandad. Two books, two memories, buckets of very different tears. Such is the power of words. Anyway, it may well depend on what is happening in my life at the time, what mood I am in on the day...anything (nobody mention month:tong:). So, add a pinch of salt and a smattering of stars and away we go. Post Birthday World by Lionel Shriver ***** Great Dream of Heaven by Sam Shephard (short stories) *** A Matter of Death and Life by Andrey Kirkov **** Exits and other stories by B A Kennedy (short stories) ***** The Bookseller of Kabul by Asne Seierstad *** bridport short story winners 2008**** Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult*** Private Papers by Margaret Forster *** The Book Thief by Markus Zusak ***** A Million Little Pieces by James Frey ** The Big Picture by Douglas Kennedy **** American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis **** Atonement by Ian McEwan*** Have The Men Had Enough? by Margaret Forster ***** Catch-22 by Stephen Heller By The Time You Read This by Lola Jaye ** A Special Relationship by Douglas Kennedy *** Things I want my Daughters to Know by Elizabeth Noble *** Ritual by Mo Hayder**** Over by Margaret Forster **** According to Ruth by Jane Feaver ***** I Have the Right to Destroy Myself by Young-Ha Kim *** State of the Union by Douglas Kennedy * Grave Sight by Charlaine Harris *** Is There Anything you Want? by Margaret Forster *** The Bird Room by Chris Killen ** Pig Island by Mo Hayder**** Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell **** Copycat by Erica Spindler*** An Artist of the Floating World by Kazuo Ishguro**** An Absolute Scandal by Penny Vincenzi * After Dark by Haruki Murakami ***** Live a Little by Kim Green *** The Carhullan Army by Sarah Hall **** Crime by Ivine Welsh **** The Life& Soul of the Party by Mike Gayle* Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishguro **** A Wild Sheep Chase by Haruki Murakami ***** What You Make It by Michael Marshall Smith*** Dexter in the Dark by Jeff Lindsay ** The Intruders by Michael Marshall **** The Life You Longed For by Maribeth Fischer*** After the Quake by Haruki Murakami***** Dance Dance Dance by Haruki Murakami**** Marley & Me by John Grogan *** Remains of he Day by Kazuo Ishiguro***** Running with Scissors by Augusten Burroughs**** The Road by Cormac McCarthy ***** The Straw Men by Michael Marshall **** This Charming Man by Marianne Keyes ** Dance For YourDaddy by Katherne Shelduck *** The Lonely Dead by Michael Marshall **** Blood of Angels by Michael Marshall **** Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom *** Nothing to Lose by Lee Child *** Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami **** Bad Things by Michael Marshall **** I suppose I had better offer some sort of explanation as to what they mean. -- Couldn't finsh ... sorry * Perseverd till the end but pretty dire really... sorry again. ** OK, glad I read it *** Enjoyed it, pleasant, good. **** Fabulous, recommend it. ***** WOW!!! I so wish I had written THAT!

"I disagree." lol. It is with many thanks to you BookBee8 that I have even read nineteen minutes. I'm not sure your trying Kevin again would work too great if you were to sit down with nineteen minutes in mind. The ideas were the same perhaps... but really they can't be compared too closely. Maybe had I not had Kevin in mind when I read Nineteen minutes..... I say that because I actually did enjoy reading 'Nineteen Minutes', as I did the other Jodi Picoult... I think I am being critical of it only in comparison with 'Kevin' because, to me, 'Kevin' was just outstandingly written... I just loved it. Perhaps also I am not the right person to comment as I have had a lot to do with bullies and the bullied and so 'Nineteen Minutes' failed at a research level whereas I should remind myself it is just a story... it is not meant to be real or true... it's just a story. What concerns me, on a personal level, about the lack of obvious popularity for the writing of Kevin, is I finished it and thought "'WOW' I wish I had written that!" - Now if ever I do get around to writing that book (been prattling on about it for..... ooooooo a lifetime now) and I reach the dizzy heights of my own approval..... nobody is going to buy it... or if they buy it they won't be able 'to get into it'....... or they just plain won't like it. Ahhh well.

Oh dear. Am I alone in thinking 'Kevin' was a far better read than 'Nineteen Minutes'? 'We Need to Talk About Kevin' is one of my favourite books of all time. I preferred 'Kevin' by a clear mile. I mean 'Nineteen Minutes' was OK, but Jodi Picoult didn't really seem to get deep into my feelings and emotions as did Lionel Shriver. 'Kevin', for me, was far more true to life.... way more believable. That may have made 'Nineteen Minutes' easier and a more 'enjoyable' read but I think the subject matter demanded a more in depth, serious approach and that's what LS gave me. To be honest I thought the court case and the 'twist' at the end of 'Nineteen Minutes' was just stupid.(does that mean hide behind the curtain while I speak?) I still gave Nineteen Minutes a 3 star though, like I said it was easy to read and didn't make you think too hard.

I loved this book too. I also enjoyed the other one A Spot of Bother... in fact I think I enjoyed it more. Definately recommend it.