bobblybear

That's ok, no offense taken!!

I've just eaten 3 hot dogs. Oink!

Terribly sorry. I have been very lucky this year with the number of really good books I have read. Usually I'm lucky to read 3 or 4 really good books in a year, but this year I think the majority of them have been 4 star and above. BTW, Vodkafan, I'm not a fellow, I'm a gal...

A big chunk of camembert cheese.

Into The Darkest Corner - Elizabeth Haynes Catherine Bailey suffers from OCD, brought on by the violence of a past relationship. She struggles to get by in her day to day life, and perhaps move on to another relationship, but can't move beyond the events of her past. Every day is a chore - she has to compulsively check the flat door (turning the door knob six times one way, then six times the other...just to make sure), the windows, the cutlery in the cupboard, the curtains. She never goes home the same way two days in a row; everything in her behavior is to ensure she is 100% safe or with an escape route. This is one of the best psychological thrillers I have read in a long time. We know from the outset that Cathy's relationship was beset by domestic violence, but the book reveals very slowly how the violence and control entered her life in a way she wasn't even aware of, until it was too late. It has two timelines (current and several years ago at the start of the relationship), which did confuse me at first - I was about 12% of the way through the book before I realised this, and it did clear a few things up. It was such an eye-opener to both OCD and domestic violence. It is easy to see how people get trapped in these relationships and can so slowly be manipulated and controlled for months before physical violence occurs. The story takes you through almost a day-by-day account of the relationship, and how so subtly her partner began to take over her life. A lot of reviews on Amazon complained about the repetitiveness of her OCD being mentioned, but I thought that was so important to the story. It's such an integral part of her character, and cannot be ignored , especially when some nights it takes her 2 hours just to check that the flat is locked up securely. I was a tiny bit disappointed in the end. I just thought that 4.5/5

^ Yes, it was a brilliant read. I shall definitely be looking into more about him; hopefully he will have some clips up on YouTube so I can see what he is like. Stand-up comedians do make me nervous - I get worried for them incase no one laughs.

I've 'ummed and ahhed' about Dear Coca-Cola for a while, but will save my £0.71 for something else now. I shall download a sample of The Timewaster Letters, as I do love a good giggle.

I've now started A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickins. I've had it on my Kindle for a while, and was going to save it for Christmas, but gave in to temptation.

So hooked on Into The Darkest Corner by Elizabeth Haynes. It kept me up till 1am - it's a long time since a book has done that to me.

Who is looking forward to his latest: 11/22/63, which comes out 8th November? I haven't pre-ordered it, but will be buying the Kindle version as soon as it comes out. Not being American, I wonder if the book will have the same sort of impact on me as it would on someone who grew up with the JFK legacy. The plot doesn't sound that much like my cup of tea, but I shall still get it as soon as it comes out.

Starting Into The Darkest Corner by Elizabeth Haynes. It's received rave reviews on Amazon, so I'm really looking forward to it.

Eleven - Mark Watson This was another impulse purchase from Amazon, and a pretty good one at that. I haven't heard of Mark Watson before, but apparently he is quite a well known comedian here in the UK. Xavier Ireland is a radio DJ doing the late night midnight to 4am shift, with a few loyal and constant listeners. He is originally from Australia, having moved to the UK several years earlier to escape a monumentous life-changing event, which is revealed a fair way into the book. Aside from his relationship with his radio-sidekick, Murray, he pretty much keeps himself to himself, and everyone at arms-length. Then one day, he attempts to intervene in the bullying of young lad on the street, and this action sets off a chain-reaction which impacts 11 other people in some pretty dramatic ways. This book was so engaging and easy to read. Xavier is the main character, whose life path the book follows, although it does occasionally and briefly (sometimes just a paragraph) describe the chain-link reactions that have impacted the other characters. But it does so almost like an after-thought, so you don't ever lose track of whose story this is, rather than getting swamped by countless other characters. It's written in a very warm and wry manner, and there are a few parts that really took me by surprise. The subject matter is quite a heavy topic, but it is written in a light-hearted way and so doesn't become one of those depressing emo-like reads. 5/5

Finished Eleven by Mark Watson. Now, what to read next....?

A Short History of Nearly Everything - Bill Bryson I've read this book several times before and never tire of it. This time around though I read the illustrated version, which is gorgeous. It has to be one of the most easily accessible and understandable science books out there, and because it covers so many topics there is something in there for everyone. It is always fascinating and never hard-going, thanks to Bryson's inimitable writing style. The book covers pretty much every science topic you can think of, from the Big Bang, geology, evolution, biology, natural disasters, and is peppered with little trivial bits of information about some of key people in science. A must-read for curious minded folks. 5/5

I've just finished Bill Bryson's A Short History of Nearly Everything, and am trying to decide my next non-fiction. It's a choice between: Guns, Germs and Steel by Jared Diamond (on my TBR pile for probably 10 years, or however long since it was first published) The Penguin History of the World by JM Roberts (highly recommended by someone on here) The Universe by John Gribbin The Lying Stones of Marrakech by Stephen Jay Gould Science: A History by John Gribbin I think I'll sleep on it. I hate not knowing which book to read next.

^ Sorry!

^ Thanks, will check it out.

That must be one of his hard-to-find ones, as I can't even find it on Amazon. Next stop Ebay.

Red Leaves - Thomas H Cook How freakin' amazing was this book? I bought it on a whim - for some reason it caught my eye on Amazon - and it has turned out to be one of the best books I've read in a long time. I love finds like that! Briefly, Eric Moore is living the seemingly perfect life. He is happily married, has a secure job, and a teenage son - the ideal American life I presume. But when a local child goes missing, and his son is the prime suspect, he begins to question everything about his family and his life before it. It's the inevitable question: Do you ever really know anyone? This book is classified as crime, but it's focus isn't on the crime that occurred but the impact of the suspicions and accusations. It reminded me a bit of Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult, just in the themes and feel of the story. And the way it ended....talk about knots in my stomach.... I can't just give it 5/5 because it's better than my other 5/5's this year (maybe I need to rethink my scoring and not be so generous? ) 6/5

I did a quick search, but couldn't find any threads about this book or it's author. I bought this on impulse for my Kindle (only £0.99), and it has just completely blown me away. It's classified as a crime novel, but there is so much more to it than that. I kind of want to say it's similar to some of Jodi Picoult's books, but I found it much more powerful. The story is told through Eric, a happily married man with the seemingly perfect family. But when a local child goes missing, and his son, Keith - who was the last person to see her alive - is blamed for her disappearance, the whole family is turned into turmoil, and cracks begin to show in their 'perfect lives'. It's quite a short read, I finished it over 2 days, but could have easily read it in one. It's a very introspective novel, and is more centered around Eric's family, and their relationships, rather than the missing child; which is the main reason I don't think it should be classified as crime. I have never heard of this author before, but according to Wikipedia he has written quite a few books, 6 of which have been nominated for various awards (Red Leaves won a couple of Crime awards). Anyway, if you have £0.99 spare (and a Kindle!), then I urge you to give this book a go.

I ate the whole packet.

I just finished the last of this series, and while I loved the first book I just felt quite disappointed in the last one. Not so much in the story, but more disappointed in the character of Katniss, and the way it was written. It just seemed very irregularly paced, and a bit self-indulgent where Katniss was concerned. I wanted to give her a good shake, and tell her to snap out of it!! Still, any book that encourages so many people to read can only be a good thing.

Mockingjay - Suzanne Collins This is the third and final book in The Hunger Games trilogy, and I have to say, my least favorite. It just seemed to drag, with too much detail some areas, but then far too little detail in other areas - almost like it would jump forward a few steps and you had to think about what had gone on. Katniss got on my nerves a lot as well, maybe she was just too much of a typical teenager, but I wanted her to snap out of it and quit her whining. Contrary to a lot of reviews I read on Amazon, I actually felt it redeemed itself in the end. I liked that The book just misses the excitement and adrenaline of the first one (and partly the second). You really wanted Katniss to win in the beginning, but in the third book, I didn't particularly care. 2.5/5

I'm reading a brilliant book called Red Leaves by Thomas H Cook. Bought it for my Kindle on a whim, and it's shaping up to be one of the best I've read in a while.

Clips of Adele on YouTube. She's so awesome!