poppyshake

wow Louise .. that's a lot of books .. well done! What did you make of 'The Winter Ghosts'? It was one of the books that I fancy reading over the winter. Also Marian's book? ... there is some talk that the newer novels are not up to the standard of her older ones.

Look Back in Hunger - Jo Brand Waterstone's Synopsis: Jo Brand is one of Britain's funniest and best-loved comedians. With a sharp eye for the absurd and in her own unique voice she tells her story for the first time. What possessed her to become a professional comedian in the cut-throat world of stand-up comedy after ten years as a psychiatric nurse? How did she deal with late night drunken audiences? Raised in middle class comfort, she left home in her teens to live with someone entirely inappropriate. Her parents were aghast at her behaviour and attempted to rein in her excesses, finally giving up when she demonstrated that she was not headed for the life of a nun. From her early years growing up in a small south coast town with two brothers who toughened her up, to emerging on stage as 'The Sea Monster', Jo Brand tells it like it is with wit, candour and a wonderful sense that life can be ridiculous but there's always a funny side. Review: This was an extremely easy read. It's full of humour as you would expect but there is a lot also about Jo's upbringing, her school days, her work in the mental health service and her early relationships. There's not much about her comedy career the book leaves off at around the time of her appearances on Friday Night Live in the 80's (which was her first TV performance) ... similarly, there's no mention of her marriage or children (or scant mention anyway) .. perhaps that will be for the sequel, but it did finish rather abruptly and I kept looking for the next chapter. Enjoyable. 7/10

Hi Weave , good luck with your reading for 2010. How are you finding 'Fried Green Tomatoes ... '? ... I read it last year and really enjoyed it.

He's good isn't he

The Shipping News - Annie Proulx Waterstone's Synopsis: Annie Proulx's highly acclaimed, international bestseller and Pulitzer Prize-winning novel. Quoyle is a hapless, hopeless hack journalist living and working in New York. When his no-good wife is killed in a spectacular road accident, Quoyle heads for the land of his forefathers -- the remotest corner of far-flung Newfoundland. With 'the aunt' and his delinquent daughters -- Bunny and Sunshine -- in tow, Quoyle finds himself part of an unfolding, exhilarating Atlantic drama. 'The Shipping News' is an irresistible comedy of human life and possibility. Review: Oh how I loved this book I was totally unaware of Annie Proulx's writing though she has won countless awards (and is the author of, among other stories, Brokeback Mountain). It couldn't have been more perfect than to read this book with thick snow outside, for it is mostly set in freezing Newfoundland .. with the 'icebergs clinking in the bay'. It's a very funny book. tragic too in parts but never overly sentimental. I just loved her character and place names ... 'Capsize Cove', 'Killick Claw', 'Gaze Island' and 'Tickle Motel' to name a few and she is so descriptive .. I felt like I knew the characters and the place well by the end of it. I eventually grew to love Quoyle (the main character) .. he starts off a bit wet .. married to the serially unfaithful Petal and with two slightly odd daughters .... he even manages to be thrilled when, after showering her with gifts, Petal gives him two hens eggs for Christmas (that he bought the day before at a Supermarket ) .. really, you want to give him a good shake. But things take a turn for the better (if not odder) when he moves with his daughters and Aunt to his old ancestors birthplace in Newfoundland (after Petal is killed in a road accident) where he takes a job as a journalist for the 'Gammy Bird' local newspaper reporting on the shipping news. What follows is a drama full of comedy, tragedy, a murder, some drownings, seal flipper stew and a ray of hope for Quoyle and his two daughters in the shape of widowed Wavey Prowse and her son Herry. Now, after reading other reviews, I've come to the understanding that this book is the literary equivalent of Marmite .. you'll either love the writing style or you'll hate it. There is a distinct lack of pronouns but it only bemused me for about two pages and then it was fine. I'm still thinking about the story and the characters now, even after starting another book .. I miss them 10/10

Thanks guys , I hope you all enjoy reading it as much as I did. A book about a book-lover for book-lovers .. perfect!

Great list Rach, I loved all of the above You're doing great so far, well done.

Fantastic list Giulia ... I like how you've entered 2010 in full book attacking mode. Hope you achieve your reading goals .. I started well last year but finished pathetically. I'll be interested to read what you make of Eoin Colfer's sequel to 'Hitchhikers' .. I've read mixed reviews of it and Neil Gaiman in particular had some harsh things to say (though it was at Eoin for attempting it .. I don't think he'd read it). I love Eoin's 'Artemis Fowl' books. I especially love Pratchett, Fforde, Gaiman and Abercrombie.

I'm sure you'll enjoy it when you get around to reading it ... it's for anyone who has a passion for books .. so that's all of us really

The Yellow Lighted Bookshop - Lewis Buzzbee Amazon's Synopsis: Buzbee celebrates the unique experience of the bookstore - the smell and touch of books, getting lost in the deep canyons of shelves, the silent community of readers - sharing his passion for books and interweaving throughout the whole a fascinating historical account of the bookseller's trade. Review: This is the book for anyone who suffers from 'booklust', Lewis recounts his life as a book lover and a bookseller (albeit for others, he never owned his own bookstore). He thinks, breathes and practically eats books, describing the atmostphere of each beloved bookstore in glorious detail (I want to go to Paris now and see all the lovely shops he described and the bouquinistes - green wooden stalls full of books - that line the banks of the Seine). There is plenty of history too, tracing the printed word right back to it's origins. A lovely read for anyone who has a passion for books and bookshops. I really enjoyed it. 8/10

I'm loving it too, mine has deckled edges .. my OH said 'they haven't cut the paper properly!!' ... and I had to tell him it was meant to be like that .. and he's a printer!! The author's love of books and bookshops just oozes out of every page .. and it makes you want to go to a bookstore/cafe and just absorb the atmosphere .. unfortunately, my local 'Borders' closed and that was the only place where I could get good coffee and books.

What a great review Chesil, I'm definitely putting this one on my TBR pile ... I love Julian and though I don't normally like books with graphic content, some books can get away with it (there's a few of Stephen Fry's for instance that are fairly filthy in places .. but I still loved them).

This ad is seriously doing my head in now argggghhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!

Thanks for being honest, from the reviews I've read .. you're not alone in thinking that so maybe I should wait and read 'Secret History' first .. because sometimes if you don't particularly like a book it does put you off reading more from the author.

Fantastic list Dan, I absolutely loved those four in particular. 'How I Live Now' is one of my favourite books ever. Those are two that I want to read too .. I bought my Mum 'Lilly Aphrodite' in the hope that she would quickly read it and pass it on to me .. she hasn't read it yet (best laid plans!!). I'm wondering just how rude it would be to borrow a book you bought for someone before they've had a chance to read it.

Yes, I've been hanging on for the paperback too .. I can't wait to read it.

Stephen Fry is said to be writing the next installment of his autobiography right now so hopefully that will be out this year (I think he said the deadline was April). Something new from J.K. Rowling .. but I guess that might be wishful thinking.

Thanks for the recommendations , it's nice to have good feedback on books before you read them (encourages you to move them to the front of the queue). I haven't read 'The Secret History' yet but so many people have said that they loved it that I must get around to it.

I've just seen it and I'm totally with you .. it needed a really good edit too ... the battle scenes were so numerous they cancelled each other out and surely we've all seen/heard that plotline a thousand times. Visually it was fantastic but that's all I can say.

I love Julian so will be interested to read what you make of it .. and whether his humour transfers well to fiction.

What I Was - Meg Rosoff Waterstones Synopsis: 'I'd been kicked out of two boarding schools and the last thing I wanted was to be here, on the East Anglian coast, in a third. But without St. Oswald's, I would not have discovered the fisherman's hut with its roaring fire, its striped blankets, its sea monster stew. Without St. Oswald's, I would not have met the boy with the beautiful eyes, the flickering half-smile, and no past. Without St. Oswald's, I would not have met Finn. And without Finn, there would be no story. Shall we begin?' Review: I liked this book but I didn't love it. The 'I' in this book is an elderly man reminiscing about his youth and in particular his friendship and infatuation with Finn ... 'the boy with the beautiful eyes'. It is quite well written and descriptive but a bit slow in parts and though it did draw me in by the end I wasn't nearly as impressed with it as I was Meg's other book How I Live Now. Quite a short book so can be read in one or two sittings .. especially on a cold wintery night (such as last night). 7/10

He picked up both the books for me .. so I'm really happy. As it was in exchange for a paperback that my sister bought me for Christmas (I already had it), I was only expecting one of them ... but he said they were side by side on the shelf and he couldn't decide .. ahhhhh .... there's a lot to be said for indecision after all!

me too .... some extraordinary dancers on there

Thanks BJ .. and really there isn't too much graphic content .. it's only a really small part of the 600 odd pages and it is fairly easy to skip without losing your way (really, I read those bit's with one eye closed). Neil does seem to have a habit of putting in the odd graphic scene and I didn't think the book actually needed it because it is such an extraordinary read. My OH has gone shopping and I asked him to try and pick up 'Neverwhere' or 'Anansi Boys' for me .. I'm a bit hooked on Gaiman at the moment.