Alexi

The Goldfinch is on my TBR but I have no idea what it's about so I will be awaiting your review eagerly BB! I'm halfway through South Riding and it's brilliant. Another great read I might have never have got around to were it not for the English Counties Challenge.

Really enjoyed reading that - thanks to both of you.

I finished Elizabeth is Missing by Emma Healey last night, and intend to review soon. Really enjoyed it, despite a very emotive subject. Now starting South Riding by Winifred Holtby. I hope many expectations aren't too high though...

I enjoyed Swallows and Amazons as a kid (I was born in mid 80s) and during my reread as an adult for the English Counties Challenge. They are old-fashioned, but I find it interesting that it bothered your son but not me at all. As a kid, I devoured Enid Blyton's books as well, which are definitely a little dated but I loved them. They didn't resemble my life very much but then - it's fiction, I wasn't really expecting them to. I'm tempted to read the whole of the series now - I never did as a kid, I read what was to hand and rarely got to read the whole series of things! Sorry for hijacking Janet! I'm really enjoying our challenge and the books I've read as a result.

A bookstore??? What is this of which you speak?? ...I think you know perfectly well, groans my bank manager...

Hope you fish it out soon, Brian!

Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel Garcia Marquez Synopsis: In their youth, Florentino Ariza and Fermina Daza fall passionately in love. When Fermina eventually chooses to marry a wealthy, well-born doctor, Florentino is devastated, but he is a romantic. As he rises in his business career he whiles away the years in 622 affairs--yet he reserves his heart for Fermina. Her husband dies at last, and Florentino purposefully attends the funeral. Fifty years, nine months, and four days after he first declared his love for Fermina, he will do so again. (From Goodreads) Thoughts: I'm not sure what to make of this, having just finished it. I am aware that's not really what you want to start a review, but there we go! I will start by saying this is a beautifully written piece of prose, 350 pages of gorgeous writing. However, a love story it is not, it is more musings on love. And I'm aware I'm supposed to find it romantic, but I instead found it a little weird that Florentino has been obsessing about this woman for 50 years when she told him she didn't love him and went on to marry someone else! The synopsis said they were passionately in love - that's really not the impression I got from this book and I definitely felt it was a lot more one-sided than that in their youth. But there we go. I was also majorly creeped out by... The last 23/30 pages are for me the best of the book, as this is when the two main characters seem to interact on a more even footing, while the prose remains wonderfully brilliant. You can definitely write, Mr Marquez. If you want plot, avoid this. It's a more meandering look at the life (and sex, and there is a bloody lot of it) of Florentino Ariza. However, I can see why it's on a lot of 'must read' lists and I am glad I read it, I just didn't 'feel' it as much some other people do. 3/5 (I liked it)

Different Seasons by Stephen King Synopsis: In this classic collection of four novellas, the grand master takes you on irrestistible journeys into the far reaches of horror, heartache and hope. Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption is the story of two men convicted of murder - one guilty, one innocent - who form the perfect partnership as they dream up a scheme to escape from prison. In Apt Pupil a golden schoolboy entices an old man with a past to join in a dreadful union. The Body sees four young boys venture into the woods and find life, death . . . and the end of innocence. The Breathing Method is the tale of a doctor who goes to his club and discovers a woman determined to give birth - no matter what. (From Amazon) Thoughts: Four, very different, novellas from Stephen King - and three out of four were simply marvellous while the fourth was merely "very good". Not bad, then eh? What is amazing about Mr King, who I only discovered last year, is how many of his stories are totally iconic and/or have been made into hugely successful movies. Step forward this collection. The first novella inspired one of my favourite movies of all time, The Shawshank Redemption, so I was a bit wary, but fortunately the movie is extremely true to the book and it was fantastic to revisit it in book form. The emotions this author can inspire is incredible - sympathy for a load of murderers is quite impressive. But he does leave you with a real sense of hope at the end of this story, which is a simply perfect 100 pages that I raced through. Having been left with a sense of hope I was then confronted by The Apt Pupil. Good lord, what a story. The two lead characters are both dispicable and I wished evil things on both, but it's still a great story and you really don't need to like the characters. It's difficult to say too much about novellas without spoiling the plot but I could not stop thinking about this story and the evil in it even when I wasn't reading it. Should have saved it for Hallowe'en me thinks! The third story inspired Stand By Me, which I haven't seen but will be doing so after reading this simple tale of friendship of four kids who all come from dysfunctional families and are just trying to survive. The narrator is looking back on this summer, and as a writer it is interspersed with his own writings. I reached the end almost unsure of what I made of it, then realised I'd gulped it down in a sitting. Excellent. The fourth story is the weakest for me, simply because it takes to long to get going for a novella. I was left wondering why we'd gone through so much time in a short space before getting to the meat on the bones, but it's still a great tale of a woman who will do anything to save her child - with a little magic/supernatural thrown in. I would thoroughly recommend this collection. It's not entirely your usual Stephen King fair, but man this guy can write, tug on my emotions and leave me utterly drained when I come to the end. I deducted a mark for the last story, but the first trio are all perfect. 4/5 (I really, really enjoyed this)

The Curse of the House of Foskett by MRC Kasasian Synopsis: 125 Gower Street, 1882: Sidney Grice once had a reputation as London's most perspicacious personal detective. But since his last case led an innocent men to the gallows, business has been light. Listless and depressed, Grice has taken to lying in the bath for hours, emerging in the evenings for a little dry toast and a lot of tea. Usually a voracious reader, he will pick up neither book nor newspaper. He has not even gathered the strength to re-insert his glass eye. His ward, March Middleton, has been left to dine alone. Then an eccentric member of a Final Death Society has the temerity to die on his study floor. Finally Sidney and March have an investigation to mount - an investigation that will draw them to an eerie house in Kew, and the mysterious Baroness Foskett... (From Goodreads) Thoughts: I was eagerly anticipating this, the next installment of the Gower Street Detective series by MRC Kasasian. I saved it for my holiday, which took quite some willpower! I loved the first book in this series, I love the interaction between Sidney and March, and I adore the character of March - so far ahead of her time, even if the author is writing these in the present. So, I came to this with very high expectations. Did it meet them? Well, mostly. This was a tougher read than the first one, due to the excessive animal cruelty that forms a large part of the investigation - that's not really a spoiler, and I think it only fair to warn people of it before starting. It's tough to read. Some people might raise their eyebrows - what about the killing of people in many other detective stories and thrillers you read? Well, there's something about going for animals who can't fight back, and it's described in reasonably graphic detail. So that was a tough read. The plot got a little confusing at times, but the interaction is wonderful and it's a great continuation of the series. How March isn't at the gallows herself for strangling Sidney god only knows, but it makes for some very funny, sharp and quick dialogue. That is what lifts these stories from your average detective fare. The mystery is a good'un, even if it does take a little time to get going properly, and although I guessed half the solution I was quite wide of the mark when it came to fitting it all together! But I love March, I love the way she interacts with those around her, and I enjoy wanting to strangle Sidney myself throughout. Great fun, and the third has been set up very nicely at the end there... I have it on my TBR and must try not to rush straight into that! 4/5 (I really enjoyed it)

I definitely want to read Russka as well - but I think Sarum might be first on my list. Bleugh, I hardly ever read reviews on Amazon etc until I've read them myself. I find with the reviews here they are a) more balanced, b) give fuller explanations and c) you start to learn which users like what styles and what you agree and disagree with. It's all very useful. Except in decreasing the TBR! I can barely remember it and I only finished it about a month ago I rated it a 3 at the time, but given it is proving not so memorable at all, maybe worth a downgrade.

I'm planning to start South Riding in the next couple of weeks, but I think that's one I want to read in one go, so I'll bow out of any group installment read this time. Hope you enjoy whatever you choose!

Oh eurgh. Definitely shouldn't count excerpts from future books, I never read them!

Great review of Humans! It's on my TBR waiting impatiently. Know exactly what you mean about the overwhelming and depressing nature of Waterstone's, Willoyd! I only have 300 odd books on my TBR, but wandering around large bookshops makes me want to read EVERYTHING in them before I die. And that's before you consider all the books they don't stock, are out of stock or yet to be published. Life is a trial at times.

I have Nicholas and Alexandra on my kindle. Excited for it now after your review - thanks Anna!

Mr Penumbra's 24 hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan Synopsis: The Great Recession has shuffled Clay Jannon away from life as a San Francisco web-design drone and into the aisles of Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore. But after a few days on the job, Clay discovers that the store is more curious than either its name or its gnomic owner might suggest. The bookstore’s secrets extend far beyond its walls. (From Goodreads) Thoughts: Bit of a half-arsed review this one, but that is how I felt about the book so it seems appropriate. This book promised lots, a mystery set in the present, but having its roots in centuries past and now being solved by ultra-modern tech geeks. Sounds good to me! But I found it quite a let down. As the story wore on, I became less interested and the characters weren't people I could buy into or particularly root for. The plot got more and more ridiculous as the story went on and the author seemed to lose their way a bit. The 'solution' also seemed a bit of a cop out and not worth waiting for. However, the pace kept me reading, even if I did look back and wonder what on earth had happened and it was a decent way to pass a few hours. 3/5 (I liked it)

New York by Edward Rutherfurd Synopsis: Named one of the best books of the year by The Washington Post and “Required Reading” by the New York Post Edward Rutherfurd celebrates America’s greatest city in a rich, engrossing saga, weaving together tales of families rich and poor, native-born and immigrant—a cast of fictional and true characters whose fates rise and fall and rise again with the city’s fortunes. From this intimate perspective we see New York’s humble beginnings as a tiny Indian fishing village, the arrival of Dutch and British merchants, the Revolutionary War, the emergence of the city as a great trading and financial center, the convulsions of the Civil War, the excesses of the Gilded Age, the explosion of immigration in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, the trials of World War II, the near demise of New York in the 1970s and its roaring rebirth in the 1990s, and the attack on the World Trade Center. A stirring mix of battle, romance, family struggles, and personal triumphs,New York: The Novel gloriously captures the search for freedom and opportunity at the heart of our nation’s history. (From Goodreads) Thoughts: Wow. What an ambitious, involving read that was hard to put down and impossible to forget. In 1000 pages Rutherfurd weaves the history of a magical, diverse, sprawling, rich city through the lives of one family and their descendants. Let's get one or two little niggles out of the way first - the characters at the end seem less well-developed and more vacuous than those at the beginning and we could have had more diversity, particularly at the end to include more from the Hispanic and Puerto Rican communities. However, what Rutherfurd accomplishes is brilliant. It helps I love history and love New York, but his ability to trace the city's birth as a tiny settlement of New Amsterdam through to the present day is great - it's a riproaring dash though the past and the reader is hanging onto the author's coattails throughout. Our main focus is the Master family, who do appear at times to be the Forrest Gumps of the new world - there at the start, knowing George Washington, Winston Churchill et al at various points through the saga! I now really want to read more of his writing, and I think Sarum shall be next on the list. Absorbing, wonderful and one of my favourites of 2015 so far. 5/5 (It was excellent)

The Silkworm by Robert Galbraith Synopsis: When novelist Owen Quine goes missing, his wife calls in private detective Cormoran Strike. At first, Mrs. Quine just thinks her husband has gone off by himself for a few days—as he has done before—and she wants Strike to find him and bring him home. But as Strike investigates, it becomes clear that there is more to Quine's disappearance than his wife realizes. The novelist has just completed a manuscript featuring poisonous pen-portraits of almost everyone he knows. If the novel were to be published, it would ruin lives—meaning that there are a lot of people who might want him silenced. (From Goodreads) Thoughts: This is the follow up to The Cuckoo's Calling, which I enjoyed as an easy, light read. Wanting the same thing again, I picked up the sequel. I do like the character of Cormoron Strike, our leading man and detective, but I much prefer the character of Robin, his sidekick and yet we are only finding out about her in dribs and drabs. This is extending the intrigue, but it doesn't seem particularly by design - Rowling Galbraith has shown and told us so much about Strike that revealing the secrets to Robin's character seems like an afterthought she keeps forgetting to get around to. It was rather the same with Hermione in the Potter series really, but Potter is difficult to find too many faults with. The mystery is a little more formulaic in this sequel than the original, although we still have plenty of twists. I enjoyed this and I like the interaction between Strike and Robin, but if there is a third I'm not sure I shall be rushing out to get it - I think my interest in the series has run its course now. 3.5/5 (I liked it)

Thanks J I went to New York, California and Las Vegas! I also went to a wedding, which was joyful, and ended up giving out two more invites to my own wedding. Our guest list is getting slowly but surely totally out of control. But I will be made up if those two invites are used, so swings and roundabouts. I adore Vegas. Four days there is my limit before it starts to get to me, but a long weekend is perfect, amazing fun. San Francisco though, that is a city I could happily never leave. I don't think I could afford Manhattan! Would be more likely Brooklyn/Queens I suspect, unless I win the lottery anytime soon. I'll keep you posted I love and adore SF, so ideally yes, but I like most of California apart from LA to be honest. It's a gorgeous state and it really does have everything, except for confusing sporting kick off times I do love most of the US, so I wouldn't be toooooo picky on location if someone was willing to employ me. Boston is wonderful too. So much variety in one country!

Good news on your mojo and book buying, Kylie! I am set to miserably fail my goal of reading one more book than I acquire*, so I totally admire how close you are. *I get a lot of books as gifts or free, which I don't use the word buy! Maybe I should, I'm on track to read one more than I have bought myself

I intend to read Villette at some point, but will tackle Jane Eyre first. What did the rest of your book group think of The Silent Wife? Not heard of that one, but I rarely read books that are 'the next Gone Girl' or similar unless recommended to me (on here or in real life), it's not sufficient otherwise. Why not try to be something different?

Claire - I'm loving the Jodi Taylor books but after racing through books 1 and 2 and the first short story I'm trying to pace myself They are my new favourite guilty pleasure. I abandoned The Panopticon. Just couldn't be bothered to pick it up even after trying to make myself persevere. Not the right time for us. So I've started Elizabeth is Missing by Emma Healey instead.

If so, I have also completely forgotten about it

Thanks all for your comments. I must admit I have rather neglected this thread in recent weeks due to my trip to the States. Would love to move there one day, I love the place. Straight back into the drama of real life and my head is swimming with it all. I hate coming back off holiday, it feels just as you're nicely relaxed people want you to go immediately full speed again. I need some time to get the engines revving again. Ho hum. I've also got quite a few reviews to catch up on....! (When do I ever not is the question)

That's interesting - although I enjoyed the book of Mary Poppins when I read it last year (think I gave it a 3), I was brought up on the film and think that's much more fun! Just catching up on your reviews J after being in the US - the Laura Barnett sounds very interesting, shame it wasn't as well executed as the premise promised. I keep meaning to give Ali Smith a go just to see what I'll make of her, but I must admit the reviews don't exactly leave me convinced... Enjoyed catching up with your reads as usual.

I did indeed Thank you I'm over the jet lag now I think, but just been so busy since returning I feel all at sixes and sevens! I have Nicholas and Alexandra on my TBR and keep meaning to get to it. I need to take a year off work and just read. Thank you! It was incredible. I love the USA and so does my OH, but he'd never been to the West Coast before this time so it was fun to do that together. I love San Francisco - we are now deciding whether to move to New York or California! I must admit I am struggling badly with The Panopticon. I'm only on page 42. I've been really busy, but it isn't making me want to pick it up when I have a spare few minutes either.