vodkafan Posted January 19, 2013 Author Posted January 19, 2013 I now have 78 books left on my TBR, having already read 8 so far this year. As my target is 104, that leaves me a few books short. But there is no rush. Quote
julie Posted January 19, 2013 Posted January 19, 2013 James You are on a roll ! 8 books already is a great number . Quote
bobblybear Posted January 19, 2013 Posted January 19, 2013 That is a great number. I've only finished one! Quote
lauraloves Posted January 19, 2013 Posted January 19, 2013 Wow you've read double what I have plus one more! A great start to the year Quote
Sofia Posted January 21, 2013 Posted January 21, 2013 very impressive already! I am only on my fourth Quote
Kidsmum Posted January 21, 2013 Posted January 21, 2013 that leaves me a few books short. Is that a euphemism VF, are you perhaps a few books short of a library Quote
vodkafan Posted January 21, 2013 Author Posted January 21, 2013 Is that a euphemism VF, are you perhaps a few books short of a library Some would say so ! Quote
vodkafan Posted January 22, 2013 Author Posted January 22, 2013 (edited) I finished Emma, which I enjoyed. Will review it saturday. Reading Vol 2 of the World War II London Blitz Diary now, and one humungeous paperback history book, Raj Edited January 22, 2013 by vodkafan Quote
vodkafan Posted January 24, 2013 Author Posted January 24, 2013 Finished Vol 2 of Ruby Sides Blitz Diary. That's 10 books read for january so far. As I did not have my big Raj book to hand I had to start another one on my kindle instead. This is Rosie's War, another true war experience/memoir. This had been on my kindle for a while, I thought I had added it my TBR but I just found out I had not. I chose this as I thought it would follow on quite nicely from the Blitz diary as it overlapped in time and would show the war from a different perspective. Will catch up on my reviews, and looking at what everybody else is reading on saturday. Quote
lauraloves Posted January 24, 2013 Posted January 24, 2013 I really enjoyed Rosie's War when I read it last year but I did find it quite sad! Quote
vodkafan Posted January 24, 2013 Author Posted January 24, 2013 I really enjoyed Rosie's War when I read it last year but I did find it quite sad! I am sure I downloaded it after reading your review Laura, but I can't remember now what you wrote. I am enjoying it so far but the war has not properly started yet. Quote
vodkafan Posted January 26, 2013 Author Posted January 26, 2013 Emma Jane Austen 5/6 This is the fourth Austen novel I have read. I appreciated the way the story got into an exposition of Emma's character straight away, and declares her express intention to meddle in the affairs of others, only for their own good of course. I very soon disliked Emma intensely but now see that this was intentional on Jane Austen's part; her way of playing with the reader's mind. After a while Emma did grow on me (as Bree said she would). Emma felt herself to be such a great judge of character but in fact she was almost always completely wrong about everything! But her saving grace was that she was always sorry for her mistakes after she realised them, and she was essentially good hearted. I felt that this was Austen's funniest novel (that I have so far read) even funnier than Northanger Abbey and I could appreciate the great skill in the writing. The characters were very funny and larger than life but still believable. The passage where Emma's hypochondriac father and his son in law are arguing the merits of which of their doctors is giving the best advice is hilarious when it escalates into a sort of oneupmanship contest. As an aside, I have been reading other books about the lives of domestic servants and for the first time I noticed their absence in Jane Austen's world; The houses of her characters would have been heavily populated with servants, even personal maids yet they are mentioned only in passing once or twice. It is as if for all intents and purposes they do not exist. That is so weird to a modern day mind. Imagine sharing living space in a house with several other people and yet treating them as if they are not there ! All the usual Austen plot devices are there in this novel to convey information, letters , conversations , hearsay and the ever present restraints of class divisions and manners. It is a small world brilliantly observed. Quote
vodkafan Posted January 26, 2013 Author Posted January 26, 2013 Rosie's War: An Englishwoman's Escape From Occupied France Rosemary Say and Noel Holland 4/6 I am reading a lot of this sort of war memoir book at the moment. I always find them fascinating, and they are a reminder that it is not only soldiers who fight in wars, everybody is affected . Truth is often far stranger and more entertaining than fiction. I cannot help thinking of my own parents who lived through these same times. Quote
bree Posted January 26, 2013 Posted January 26, 2013 Wonderful review vodkafan! I pretty much share your views on Emma Woodhouse. I can't help but feel we all have our faults, but to able to see yourself with honesty, accept them and be willing to change is something to appreciate and learn-from... And what did you think of George Knightley? He is, I think, my favourite Austen male character (of the three books I've read) Quote
vodkafan Posted January 26, 2013 Author Posted January 26, 2013 World War II London Blitz Diary Volume 2 Ruby Alice Side 4/6 More of Ruby's private diary moving into 1941. Food rationing is starting to seriously bite and Ruby is fed up with beauracracy, propaganda and her husband Ted. Having nothing to look forward to in life Ruby rebels against what she sees as men's stupidity in getting into the war and finds solace in books and buying clothes and material while she still can. This is a woman's innermost thoughts and are at different times amusing, moving or shocking (she reveals herself to be quite racist in one passage) but always real . Quote
vodkafan Posted January 26, 2013 Author Posted January 26, 2013 Wonderful review vodkafan! I pretty much share your views on Emma Woodhouse. I can't help but feel we all have our faults, but to able to see yourself with honesty, accept them and be willing to change is something to appreciate and learn-from... And what did you think of George Knightley? He is, I think, my favourite Austen male character (of the three books I've read) Hi Bree yes I did like George Knightley, he was always calm and the voice of reason. I intend to read another Austen next month, probably Sense and Sensibility. Quote
vodkafan Posted January 29, 2013 Author Posted January 29, 2013 Got no reading done since Friday. Just too busy! Quote
vodkafan Posted February 5, 2013 Author Posted February 5, 2013 (edited) So sorry not keeping up with anybodies' reading logs or threads. Just too busy! Just finished Battle Royale. Now reading Raj, (doorstop) Below Stairs, Climbing The Stairs (servants memoirs) and ahem -Jeremy Kyle's autobiography Also- very naughty- I have so far bought 13 books for myself in 2013 but so far only read 12 Blame Sofia for making me go shopping! Edited February 5, 2013 by vodkafan Quote
Kylie Posted February 5, 2013 Posted February 5, 2013 Ooh, how was Battle Royale? I hope you're well, mate. Quote
Nollaig Posted February 5, 2013 Posted February 5, 2013 Ooh yes seconding Kylie's question, what did you think of Battle Royale? Haven't read it in about 7 years but I remember enjoying it a lot! Quote
vodkafan Posted February 5, 2013 Author Posted February 5, 2013 (edited) It was great. Of course it invites comparison with Hunger Games. Will review it saturday. Oh Lordy. Well today I really blew it. I went to a place and the paperbacks were 5 for £1. What could I do? I did well to restrict myself to coming home with only 10. Some of them are brand new unread Who Dares Wins (revised edition ) Tony Geraghty The Age of Revolution 1789-1848 The Age Of Capital 1848-1875 The Age Of Empire 1875-1914 Eric Hobsbawm Shirley Charlotte Bronte The Colonel Alanna Nash The Puzzle Of God Peter Vardy The Clothes On Their Backs Linda Grant Perfume Patrick Suskind Alone In Berlin Hans Fallada Also, my rucksack fetish continues: I found a karrimor 25litre aergo S rucksack . this is in a small size for a woman or a child. This is £70-80 worth of rucksack! I got it for £1! I will give it to my 10 year old. Edited February 5, 2013 by vodkafan Quote
Alexi Posted February 5, 2013 Posted February 5, 2013 Where is this magical place?! Completely admire you for coming home with only 10, I suspect I should have tried to come home with 50... Alone in Berlin is extremely high on my wish list after someone (Brian?) reviewed it here, so I shall be curious to see what you think of it when you get to it. Quote
Timstar Posted February 5, 2013 Posted February 5, 2013 my rucksack fetishBit of a niche fetish but glad to see it spreading Quote
Athena Posted February 5, 2013 Posted February 5, 2013 Wow, those sound like some amazing deals! Quote
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