Ooshie
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The Fox in the Snow - Belle & Sebastian
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Thanks for the review of The Man in the Picture, Ruth; I have enjoyed all the Susan Hill books I have read, and will look out for this one
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luxurious
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Little Red Rooster - Rolling Stones
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Books read in 2011:
The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield
Fear the Worst by Linwood Barclay
Winter Ghosts by Kate Mosse
Watchmen by Alan Moore & Dave Gibbons
The Sea, The Sea by Iris Murdoch
U is for Undertow by Sue Grafton
The Other Family by Joanna Trollope
Mayday by Nelson DeMille & Thomas Block
February
Next by Michael Crichton
Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes
Everything is Illuminated by Jonathan Safran Foer
Trail of Blood by S J Rozan
March
The Screwtape Letters by C S Lewis
Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert
A Home at the End of the World by Michael Cunningham
The Shape of Water by Amdrea Camilleri
April
The Mauritius Command by Patrick O'Brian
Solar by Ian McEwan
Cuckoo by Julia Crouch
Under The Dome by Stephen King
Play to Kill by P J Tracy
The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown
The Snack Thief by Andrea Camilleri
May
Brooklyn by Colm Toibin
The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco
The Group by Mary McCarthy
The Fallen Kings by Cynthia Harrod Eagles
June
The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
First Love by Ivan Turgenev
New York Trilogy by Paul Auster
The Midwife's Confession by Diane Chamberlain
Port Mortuary by Patricia Cornwell
July
The Reversal by Michael Connelly
The Day of the Triffids by John Wyndham
Spider Bones by Kathy Reichs
Desolation Island by Patrick O'Brian
Fortune of War by Patrick O'Brian
Harvesting the Heart by Jodi Picoult
The Distant Hours by Kate Morton
August
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
Full Dark, No Stars by Stephen King
Reading Lolita in Tehran by Azar Nafisi
Candide by Voltaire
The Other Hand by Chris Cleave
A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius by Dave Eggers
September
Rescue by Anita Shreve
The Confession by John Grisham
The Double Comfort Safari Club by Alexander McCall Smith
Lasting Damage by Sophie Hannah
October
The Ambassadors by Henry James
The Flight of the Falcon by Daphne du Maurier
The Golem by Gustav Henrink
The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
November
The Little Women Letters by Gabrielle Donnelly
The Surgeon's Mate by Patrick O'Brian
Julius by Daphne du Maurier
Free Fire by C J Box
The Ionian Mission by Patrick O'Brian
December
The Bloody Chamber by Angela Carter
Snow Falling on Cedars by David Guterson
Skipping Christmas by John Grisham
The Folio Book of Christmas Crime Stories
Books Read in 2012: (possibly more still to be added)
January
Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry 5/5
On the Eve by Ivan Turgenev 3/5
Everything and Nothing by Araminta Hall 3/5
The Dancing Years by Cynthia Harrod Eagles 4/5
The Shadows in the Street by Susan Hill 4/5
Treason's Harbour by Patrick O'Brian 4/5
February
Mistress Masham's Repose by T H White 3/5
I'll Never Be Young Again by Daphne du Maurier 2.5/5
The Man in the High Castle by Philip K Dick 3/5
Talleyrand by Duff Cooper 4/5
The Thief of Always by Clive Barker 4/5
The Fifth Witness by Michael Connelly 4/5
The Pied Piper by Neville Shute 3/5
The Woman in Black by Susan Hill 5/5
Prelude to Foundation by Isaac Asimov 4/5
March
Nemesis by Jo Nesbo 4/5
Into the Darkest Corner by Elizabeth Haynes 4/5
The Far Side of the World by Patrick O'Brian 4/5
Cell by Stephen King 3.5/5
Cover Her Face by P D James 3.5/5
blueyed boy by Joanne Harris 3/5
Foundation by Isaac Aasimov 3.5/5
The Reverse of the Medal by Patrick O'Brian 4/5
The Fifth Child by Doris Lessing 4/5
April/May
Transition by Iain Banks 5/5
Live Wire by Harlan Coben 4/5
Ben, in the World by Doris Lessing 4/5
Wizard's First Rule by Terry Goodkind 3/5
June
The Devil's Star by Jo Nesbo 4/5
The Redeemer by Jo Nesbo 4/5
The Snowman by Jo Nesbo 5/5
The Leopard by Jo Nesbo 5/5
July
Before I go to Sleep by S J Watson 5/5
Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury 4/5
Red Mist by Patricia Cornwell 3.5/5
Brass Ring by Diane Chamberlain 3.5/5
Drawing Conclusions by Donna Leon 5/5
The Lions of Al-Rassan by Guy Gavriel Kay 4.5/5
August
11.22.63 by Stephen King 4/5
The Virginian by Owen Wister 5/5
Foundation and Empire by Isaac Asimov 4/5
A Month in the Country by J L Carr 5/5
V is for Vengeance by Sue Grafton 3.5/5
Well, the rest of the year kind of descended into chaos, so I won't be posting any reviews, but will try and list at least most of the books I read:
Red Mist by Patricia Cornwell 3/5
The Drop by Michael Connelly 3.5/5
The Real Katie Lavender by Erica James 3/5
The Vanishing Act by Mette Jakobsen 3/5
The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey 4.5/5
The Greatcoat by Helen Dunmore 4/5
The Sixth Man by David Baldacci 3/5
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I really liked A Month in the Country when I read it earlier this year, but haven't looked at any other books by the author; I will look forward to seeing what you think of them chesil
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What a pity you didn't enjoy 9 Princes more, Steve; I read all ten books maybe about four or five years ago and thoroughly enjoyed them (although I did enjoy the first series more than the second). I did take to Corwyn as a character, though, which probably helped and I enjoyed some of the concepts such as the Trumps. Mind you, I do like a bit of easy fantasy if I am looking for a bit of escapism!
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Thanks for your review of Transgressions, willoyd, I have only read one book by Dunant (Sacred Hearts, I think) I very much enjoyed it and will definitely read more. Transgressions looks a good next step
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In My Life - The Beatles
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Hopefully 2013 won't be quite as stressful as 2012 has turned out to be, and I will manage to keep my reading list a bit more up to date!
January
The Tenderness of Wolves by Stef Penney 5/5 for writing, 2/5 for enjoyment
The Final Reckoning by Sam Bourne 3/5
Blaze by Stephen King writing as Richard Bachman 3/5
The House on the Strand by Daphne du Maurier 5/5
Consder Phlebas by Iain M. Banks 3/5February
The Player of Games by Iain M. Banks 4.5/5
I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith 3/5
The Sisters Brothers by Patrick de Witt 3/5
The Woman in Black by Susan Hill 4.5/5
Les Liaisons Dangereuse by Choderlos de Laclos 4/5
The State of the Art by Iain M Banks 5/5
March
The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory 4/5
Birdsong by Sebastian Faulks 3/5
Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel 5/5
March - August
Bring Up the Bodies by Hilary Mantel 5/5
The Sea Change by Joanna Rossiter 3/5
Gerald's Game by Stephen King 2.5/5
The Zero Game by David Baldacci 2.5/5
Phantom by Jo Nesbo 4/5
Fever of the Bone by Val McDermid 3.5/5
Fault Line by Robert Goddard 3/5
The Winding Road by Cynthia Harrod-Eagles 4.5/5
Stonemouth by Iain Banks 3.5/5
Lisey's Story by Stephen King 3/5
Foundation's Edge by Isaac Asimov 4/5
Beastly Things by Donna Leon 4.5/5
The House by the Sea by Santa Montefiore 2.5/5
Eloise by Judy Finnigan 2.5/5
The Complaints by Ian Rankin 4/5
River of Destiny by Barbara Erskine 3.5/5
King Solomon's Carpet by Barbara Vine 4.5/5
The Sea Sisters by Lucy Clarke 3/5
Summer by Edith Wharton 4.5/5
The Racketeer by John Grisham 4/5
The Bat by Jo Nesbo 2.5/5
Faceless Killers by Henning Mankell 4/5
Close My Eyes by Sophie McKenzie 3.5/5
Hotel Vendome by Danielle Stelle 4/5
The Bone Bed by Patricia Cornwell 3.5/5
Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder 3/5
Joyland by Stephen King 4/5
The Red House by Mark Haddon 4/5
The Secret Keeper by Kate Morton 4/5
The String Diaries by Stephen Lloyd Jones 4.5/5
The Postman Always Rings Twice by James M. Cain 4/5
As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner 4/5
A Gun for Sale by Graham Greene 3/5
Clarissa Oakes by Patrick O'Brian 5/5
Bitter River by Julia Keller 4/5
September
The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan 4/5
The Death of Grass by John Christopher 4/5
Tarnished by Julia Crouch 3/5
The Wine-Dark Sea by Patrick O'Brian 5/5
Did You Miss Me by Karen Rose 2/5
The Drowned World by J G Ballard 3.5/5
The Husband's Secret by Liane Moriarty 3/5
The Lost Art of Gratitude by Alexander McCall Smith 3.5/5
The Carrier by Sophie Hannah 4/5
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10- Overall was reading the book an enjoyable experience?
Yes, it was wintry outside and it felt right to be reading a story with some magic and mystery to it. I was intrigued the whole time, it was unpredictable and I liked that. I liked spending time with Minou and even now would like to know what happened to them all.
I agree poppyshake, it did feel like a good book to be reading at this time of year. And it has left me wishing I knew more about what happened to all the characters, too.
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Yes well .. please don't shoot me is all I can say .. I only said it had a pretty cover
And you were right!
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I will look forward to hearing what you think of it, poppyshake, I'm hoping other people's comments will give me a bit of a different perspective on it! I certainly didn't hate it, and can imagine myself possibly reading it again since it is only short.
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Overall, I didn't quite know what to make of this little book, as will probably be obvious from my answers!
1- Who was your favourite character and who was your least favourite?
My favourites were Minou's father and Priest, as they seemed good hearted folk.
2- Was there a particular part you enjoyed more than the rest?
I enjoyed the descriptions of the sea, the weather and the island.
3- This is Mette Jakobsen's debut novel .. would you read her again?
I'm not entirely sure. I enjoyed reading the book reasonably well, but I would have liked more of the plot lines to be tied up tidily at the end so I found it frustrating too. I would probably read another if I borrowed it from the library, but might not buy one.
4- Were there any parts/ideas you struggled with?
Not really, I just struggled with wondering why some things were in the book at all
5- Do you enjoy books narrated by children and did you find Minou believable?
I found Minou believable enough as a character, and in general enjoy books narrated by children.
6- The narrative is quite sparse and the characters few, did you find it easy to engage in the story?
No, I found it quite hard actually. I didn't find the book hard to read, but I did find it hard to feel involved.
7- What did you make of the theme of logical thinking (Papa) versus imagination (Mama) which played a part in Minou's struggle to come to terms with the loss of her Mama?
I rather liked that part; I particularly liked Minou's philosopher Papa but think her Mama would have driven me scatty!
8- The dead boy, why do you think the author put him in the story?
I have no idea. I kept waiting to find out. I guess he padded it out a bit.
9- Did you approve of the ending?
As previously mentioned, I would have preferred things to have been properly explained and tied up at the end of the book.
10- Overall was reading the book an enjoyable experience?
Well, yes, it was quite enjoyable - it just felt a bit pointless!
11- Would you recommend the book and if so to whom?
I can't think of anyone I would recommend it to.
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Surprised it's not been mentioned yet, but what about Paul Scott's Raj Quartet?
Far Pavillions by MM Kaye.
I read both the Raj Quartet and Far Pavilions about 30 years ago, and thoroughly enjoyed them both. I think Far Pavilions was about 1,000 pages long, so quite a commitment as far as reading time goes! The Raj Quartet probably added up to about the same, but as it was divided into the four separate books it didn't seem as long. I seem to remember the Raj Quartet as being a more serious read, while Far Pavilions was more romantic in tone.
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That's great, Inver, I love it!
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I finally decided on the M R James Collected Ghost Stories; I have read 6 so far, and really enjoyed them - they are nicely understated and creepy rather than too horrific.
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Are Friends Electric - Tubeway Army