Vodkafan's book list 2013

[julie]

James

Great book total so far this year ! You sound like you are almost in a league of your own . So many in here right now have said they have been in Reading Slumps for quite awhile (me included ) .

Sure glad that you're on such a good roll .

[vodkafan]

James

Great book total so far this year ! You sound like you are almost in a league of your own . So many in here right now have said they have been in Reading Slumps for quite awhile (me included ) .

Sure glad that you're on such a good roll .

 

 Hi Julie, it's fear. I have never had this many books on my TBR before and I feel I have to get them down to a reasonable number. I am not exactly losing any sleep over it, but when I look at my bookcases I feel a sort of pressure. 

[julie]

James

Yep, I know where you're coming from with that .I'm among the minority here, as far as people who have huge book collections. It sounds strange, but it bothers me if I have lots of books sitting here waiting on me . I actually think that causes me to be in a Reading Slump. I get overwhelmed looking at how many books I have yet to read ,so I don't read at all .

I AM like everyone else ,in wanting to BUY lots of books. That part is fun for me, but I tend to buy them at a lot faster rate than I read them .

A vicious circle .. I really need to stop purchasing books ,set myself a goal to get my Kindle list down to a sizeable number and maybe the pressure would be off .

A new goal for the new year ,maybe . 

[vodkafan]

James

Yep, I know where you're coming from with that .I'm among the minority here, as far as people who have huge book collections. It sounds strange, but it bothers me if I have lots of books sitting here waiting on me . I actually think that causes me to be in a Reading Slump. I get overwhelmed looking at how many books I have yet to read ,so I don't read at all .

I AM like everyone else ,in wanting to BUY lots of books. That part is fun for me, but I tend to buy them at a lot faster rate than I read them .

A vicious circle .. I really need to stop purchasing books ,set myself a goal to get my Kindle list down to a sizeable number and maybe the pressure would be off .

A new goal for the new year ,maybe . 

 

Yes , mentally overwhelmed that's the feeling....I don't feel quite as bad about TBR books on my kindle though.

[julie]

I agree, James -

 

The Kindle books aren't stacked up where I can see them. I can put them in my Cloud,so the only one visible when I turn it on is the current one I'm reading ,  That's a much easier way to handle TBR piles -- keep them invisible until needed .

[vodkafan]

Oh dear got to try to catch up on some reviews.....here are two I read this week. Unfortunately neither of them were off my TBR pile; total impulse kindle buys .

 

 

143                              2/6

Jade Winters

 

The Amazon blurb hooked me into this one, and it was a freebie (or maybe 77p). The basic concept of this one grabbed me so I had to read it.

A gay girl (Guinevere) has lived with with her girlfriend Rebeccah for 4 years and they are very happy. Then she gets attacked and suffers head injuries which put her into a coma. When she wakes up she has lost her memory.

Her religious family do not allow her girlfriend access, take Guinevere home and tell her that she is engaged to be married to her ex boyfriend from years before. They will go to any lengths to stop her finding out she is (or was) a lesbian.

We are always told that sexuality is so fundamental to our sense of self. Surely then she will not fall for this? Is it possible somebody's personality can be wiped and re-written? 

I am sorry to say that I could only give the book 2/6 although I wanted to give it a bit higher for it's exploring this interesting idea. There was a major weakness in the plot I couldn't ignore and every single female character in the story turned out to be lesbian or wanted to be, which I didn't think was realistic, it's like the author fell into a bit of a trap (although I do allow that she is writing for a lesbian readership).

I did very much like the character of Guinevere's father. He was so full of religious prejudice I felt his head was going to explode and he came out with some great lines.  

Edited October 19, 2013 by vodkafan

[vodkafan]

Miss Appleby's Academy                   5/6

 

Elizabeth Gill

 

This book came up on the little advert bar on BCF and caught my eye, being of the Victorian/ Edwardian era, and it was set in England so I really couldn't resist!  I suppose it comes under the genre of historical romance like Catherine Cookson (who I haven't read, so apologies if I have her work wrong) and not a million miles away from Jane Eyre. (and I would say is of the same quality)

This was extremely well written. It is really about a lone woman fighting the injustices of being female in this era. She is pushed and pushed until she feels she has no choice but to rebel; so she makes a break and takes an orphan child with her .

Returning to the place of her birth  finds then both shunned and unwelcome . But her determination slowly begins to impress one or two people around her and gradually she begins to push the boundaries of what is possible for a single woman to achieve.

I didn't even realise I was reading a romance until half way through, I was gripped by her struggle to survive.  This is not a racy book, there is only one bodice ripping scene, for want of a better phrase. It does explore at great length different types of relationships, what love means to different people, and the characters are all believable. Men in general come in for quite a bit of stick. 

[vodkafan]

Although I am reading other stuff in between, I am very much enjoying Anthony Trollope (Can You Forgive Her?). This is my first discovery of him and he is very readable  and quite funny into the bargain.

[vodkafan]

Kids were late coming today (more about that in my New Life thread) so I went to the town recycling plant and brought the following paperbacks for £2:

 

Testament Of Youth                                        Vera Brittain

Arise Sir Michael Caine                                   William Hall

Journey Through A Small Planet                    Emanuel Litvenoff

Notes From A Small Island                              Bill Bryson

The Other Side Of The Dale                            Gervaise Phinn

Nineteen Seventy Nine                                   Rhona Cameron

Foundation                                                       Isaac Asimov

The Naked Sun                                                 Isaac Asimov

Why Don't Penguins' Feet Freeze                  Edited by Mick O'Hare

The Road To Samarcand                                 Patrick O'Brian

 

The first 6 on the list are all biographies so I must have been in the mood to read something like that.   

[Athena]

That's very cheap! I own Foundation (unread), but I haven't heard of The Naked Sun. I hope you enjoy all your books !

[julie]

You got a Bryson ! That's a good deal anytime. He's one of my favorites .

[ian]

Notes from a Small Island is really good

[vodkafan]

I think I might make  the Bryson my next up then. 

[poppyshake]

Although I am reading other stuff in between, I am very much enjoying Anthony Trollope (Can You Forgive Her?). This is my first discovery of him and he is very readable  and quite funny into the bargain.

He is isn't he? But I must say I couldn't forgive her .. I wanted to punch her    

 

Hope you enjoy the Bryson .. he's not everyone's cup of tea but I like him and that one's a particular favourite    

[vodkafan]

Hi Kay I didn't realise Trollope was going to be funny till I read the episode with Cheesacre and Captain Bellfield on Yarmouth Beach competing to impress  Mrs Greenow.....it doesn't have anything to do with the story it is just something Trollope inserted . I like authors who play around like that.

Just about to start the Bryson book. I literally 5 minutes ago finished Nineteen Seventy Nine by Rhona Cameron which was funny but emotional so I need a complete change from that.

Edited October 21, 2013 by vodkafan

[vodkafan]

I bought another 10  paperbacks today for £2 from the shop at the Recycling Plant ....but I had to rush to work so I can't remember what they all are now...will update later. But one was a biography I am very excited about.  Next month is going to be a biography month. Going to try to get Trollope finished today and the Bryson over the weekend.

Edited October 26, 2013 by vodkafan

[vodkafan]

O dagnabbit!  I just bought 10 books on my kindle for £10:05.

Edited October 26, 2013 by vodkafan

[Marie H]

O dagnabbit!  I just bought 10 books on my kindle for £10:05.

 

Well vodkafan, at least the kindle books are easy to store  , not like 'tree books'

[vodkafan]

 I know that some of them are going to be rubbish  but they have some connection with Victorian England and I want to keep my head in that mileu ... a couple were freebies. 

Two of them are not Victorian but looked interesting.

 

Freedom (The Rake And The Recluse Part One)

I Think I'm OK

Undercover: The True Story Of Britain's Secret Police

Victorian Slang: Spunk Fakers, Slap Bangs and Tipping The Velvet

The Submissive Scullery Maid

Gaslight Villainy: True Tales Of Victorian Murder

Under A Cloud-Soft Sky

The Singing Winds

Shelter From The Storm

Snow Angels

 

The last four are all by Elizabeth Gill and set in Victorian times. Miss Appleby's Academy was good so at 56p each you can't go wrong.

[julie]

Sounds like a good bug James . At least it will give you some background material for your writing, and even if only one or two are really good, it's still a good buy .

[Janet]

Miss Appleby's Academy                   5/6

I looked at this when it was on offer, but I dithered and didn't buy it in the end.  Sounds like I should have!  Am I right that it's set in County Durham?

 

Nineteen Seventy Nine                                   Rhona Cameron

I read this several years ago (before BCF, I think) and thought it was great - I really enjoyed the honesty about it. 

[vodkafan]

I looked at this when it was on offer, but I dithered and didn't buy it in the end.  Sounds like I should have!  Am I right that it's set in County Durham?

 

I read this several years ago (before BCF, I think) and thought it was great - I really enjoyed the honesty about it. 

 

Er.... is County Durham in Yorkshire? It was definitely up North somewhere. My geography gets sketchy any higher up than  Nottingham. The beginning is in America. It was very good Janet and only 46p.

 

Yes Nineteen Seventy Nine was great, so funny but a harrowing read also- after reading that it is a wonder to me that any Scottish children survive schooldays. It did also remind of the film Gregory's Girl . 

I didn't know anything about Rhona Cameron so I found a clip of her on Youtube and I hate the way she talks!!

Edited October 26, 2013 by vodkafan

[willoyd]

Er.... is County Durham in Yorkshire? It was definitely up North somewhere. My geography gets sketchy any higher up than  Nottingham. The beginning is in America. It was very good Janet and only 46p.

It's set in Tow Law, which is in the heart of County Durham (well north of Yorkshire!), just south of Consett. We drive through it regularly on the way to Scotland: it sits firmly on a ridge top on the A68, with wide ranging views all round.

[Janet]

Er.... is County Durham in Yorkshire? It was definitely up North somewhere. My geography gets sketchy any higher up than  Nottingham. The beginning is in America. It was very good Janet and only 46p.

Thanks, Steve. It's not my usual type of read (well, not since I was about 14) but for that price, and on your recommendation, I've decided to give it a punt.  

Yes Nineteen Seventy Nine was great, so funny but a harrowing read also- after reading that it is a wonder to me that any Scottish children survive schooldays. It did also remind of the film Gregory's Girl . 

I didn't know anything about Rhona Cameron so I found a clip of her on Youtube and I hate the way she talks!!

I don't really know her. I can't remember what she sounds like - I will have to YouTube her to see if I find her irritating too!

[chaliepud]

I think it's Rhona that did a fabulous rant on I'm a Celebrity years ago! I must look for that on YouTube!