Claire's Book List 2015

[chesilbeach]

Right, in an effort to catch up, reviews to follow of books I've read over the last four months. Hope fully I haven't forgotten too much.
 
Shakespeare on Toast: Getting a Taste for the Bard by Ben Crystal.
Synopsis:
Who's afraid of William Shakespeare? Just about everyone. He wrote too much and what he did write is inaccessible and elitist. Right? Wrong. "Shakespeare on Toast" knocks the stuffing from the staid old myth of Shakespeare, revealing the man and his plays for what they really are: modern, thrilling and uplifting drama. Actor and author Ben Crystal brings the bright words and colourful characters of the world's greatest hack writer brilliantly to life, handing over the key to Shakespeare's plays, unlocking the so called difficult bits and, astonishingly, finding Shakespeare's own voice amid the poetry. Told in five fascinating Acts, "Shakespeare on Toast" sweeps the cobwebs from the Bard - from his language, his life, his time - revealing both the man and his work to be relevant, accessible and full of beans.
 
Review:
I'm struggling to remember a lot about this book now, as it's been a good few months since I read it, however, what I do remember, is that after reading it, I finally know what iambic pentameter is and how Shakespeare used it!  I know I enjoyed it at the time, and I know that I'll go back and revisit it again at some point, particularly if I ever decide to tackle an unknown (to me) Shakespeare play.  Crystal tries to explain Shakespeare in the context of the Elizabethan era and how that would equate to today, and that makes for an interesting insight into his works.

[chesilbeach]

The Loveliest Chocolate Shop in Paris by Jenny Colgan.

Synopsis:

As dawn breaks over the Pont Neuf, and the cobbled alleyways of Paris come to life, Anna Trent is already awake and at work; mixing and stirring the finest, smoothest, richest chocolate; made entirely by hand, it is sold to the grandes dames of Paris.

It's a huge shift from the chocolate factory she worked in at home in the north of England. But when an accident changed everything, Anna was thrown back in touch with her French teacher, Claire, who offered her the chance of a lifetime - to work in Paris with her former sweetheart, Thierry, a master chocolatier.

With old wounds about to be uncovered and healed, Anna is set to discover more about real chocolate - and herself - than she ever dreamed.

 

Review:

I've been trying to catch up with Jenny Colgan's more recent novels, especially since she started setting them in foodie settings, and this one came up on offer when I was going on holiday, so it seemed like the perfect time to try it.  To be honest I don't have much to say, for me, Colgan is one of the better romcom writers, and matching that with chocolate, cakes and bread suits me fine, and this one was no exception.  I'm not sure I felt so immersed in Anna's story as I have with some of her other characters, but I was swept along in the romance of someone breaking away from their normal life they've been settling for, in order to follow a dream, and as always, I felt this was the stronger message than the actual love story with the man she meets.  I always enjoy the romcoms where searching for a happier life and following your dreams is the main aim of the story, and the romance is secondary.

[chesilbeach]

The Invisible Library by Genevieve Cogman.

 

Synopsis:

Irene must be at the top of her game or she'll be off the case - permanently. . .

 

Irene is a professional spy for the mysterious Library, which harvests fiction from different realities. And along with her enigmatic assistant Kai, she's posted to an alternative London. Their mission - to retrieve a dangerous book. But when they arrive, it's already been stolen. London's underground factions seem prepared to fight to the very death to find her book.

 

Adding to the jeopardy, this world is chaos-infested - the laws of nature bent to allow supernatural creatures and unpredictable magic. Irene's new assistant is also hiding secrets of his own.

 

Soon, she's up to her eyebrows in a heady mix of danger, clues and secret societies. Yet failure is not an option - the nature of reality itself is at stake.

 

Review:

A mix of fantasy and history, I read this on holiday and remember sitting glued to my Kindle in a café as I couldn't face putting it down! It's got a hint of Jasper Fforde with the library which collects books from parallel societies, alongside the more fantastical supernatural creatures and the mystery of Irene's own history it adds up to a thrill of an adventure story with some unexpected twists and turns along the way. Good characters, and I loved that the mysteries that surrounded them were developed throughout the story, adding to the richness of the story. Most enjoyable, and I'm looking forward to getting the sequel which came out earlier this month, but need to read my Christmas books first!

[chesilbeach]

Just One Damned Thing After Another by Jodi Taylor.

 

Synopsis:

Behind the seemingly innocuous façade of St Mary's, a different kind of historical research is taking place. They don't do 'time-travel' - they 'investigate major historical events in contemporary time'. Maintaining the appearance of harmless eccentrics is not always within their power - especially given their propensity for causing loud explosions when things get too quiet.

 

Meet the disaster-magnets of St Mary's Institute of Historical Research as they ricochet around History. Their aim is to observe and document - to try and find the answers to many of History's unanswered questions...and not to die in the process.

 

But one wrong move and History will fight back - to the death. And, as they soon discover - it's not just History they're fighting.

 

Follow the catastrophe curve from eleventh-century London to World War I, and from the Cretaceous Period to the destruction of the Great Library at Alexandria. For wherever Historians go, chaos is sure to follow in their wake ...

 

I've also read the following books in this series, but not including a synopsis in case there are spoilers for earlier books:

A Symphony of Echoes by Jodi Taylor

A Second Chance by Jodi Taylor

A Trail Through Time by Jodi Taylor

No Time Like The Past by Jodi Taylor

What Could Possibly Go Wrong? by Jodi Taylor

 

Review:

I adored this series of books! I read all six within a couple of weeks, some straight after the previous books as I couldn't wait to get going with the next one. I'm the first to admit, I have little interest in history, and most straight forward historical novels leave me cold, but this series of books might just change all that. The time travelling historians visit well known and well documented times in history and bring them to life with their own experiences. I can't pick out one book above the others, as I've thoroughly enjoyed reading all of them, and they provide a roller coaster of a reading experience with a totally thrilling ride through human history, with a set of characters you come to love. I can not wait for the next book but it's not out until May!!! There are a selection of short stories I haven't read yet, so I'll probably dip into those to keep me going while waiting for book seven.

[chesilbeach]

The Inn at the Top by Neil Hanson (abandoned)

Synopsis:
The delightful tale of a young couple who in the late 1970s, on impulse, became the new landlords of the most remote, bleak and lonely pub - The Tan Hill Inn - located in the bleak landscape of the Yorkshire Dales.

Having seen an article in the newspaper about the pub's search for a new manager, they arrived just three weeks later as the new landlords of the The Tan Hill Inn. It is a wild, wind-swept place, set alone in a sea of peat bog and heather moorland that stretches unbroken as far as the eye can see. With only sheep and grouse for company, their closest neighbour was four miles away and the nearest town twelve. They had no experience of licensed trade or running a pub, no knowledge of farming and a complete inability to understand the dialect of the sheep farmers who were their local customers. Eager, well-meaning, but in over their heads, our two heroes embarked on a disaster-strewn career that somehow also turned into a lifelong love affair with the Dales.

The Inn at the Top is an entertaining ramble around the Inn, the breath-taking Dales countryside and a remarkable array of local characters, giving an insight into life in a very different different time and place.

Review:
I really, really wanted to enjoy this book. I wanted it to be a memoir along the lines of the Gervase Phill books, but set in a pub. For some parts it was, but the author also wanted to tell the history of the pub and the surrounding area, but the history sections were so dry, I found myself skipping ahead, and after about half the book, I eventually couldn't be bothered to read any more and abandoned the book. I'm sure if you like factual history, you'd enjoy this far more than me, but it just wasn't my cup of tea.

[chesilbeach]

Foxglove Summer by Ben Aaronovitch

 

Synopsis:

In the fifth of his bestselling series Ben Aaronovitch takes Peter Grant out of whatever comfort zone he might have found and takes him out of London - to a small village in Herefordshire where the local police are reluctant to admit that there might be a supernatural element to the disappearance of some local children. But while you can take the London copper out of London you can't take the London out of the copper.

Travelling west, Peter soon finds himself caught up in a deep mystery and having to tackle local cops and local gods. And what's more all the shops are closed by 4pm …

 

Review:

These books go from strength to strength.  I don't want to say too much about it, as it's the fifth book in the series so I'm conscious of spoilers, but taking Peter out of London to the west country was a breath of fresh air, and I loved the crime story and how the fantastical elements were brought into it.  Another great addition to the collection with no sign of a dip in the quality, as can often happen in a series.  Looking forward to June for the next instalment.

[chesilbeach]

The Giraffe's Neck by Judith Schalansky

 

Synopsis:

Adaption is everything, something Frau Lohmark is well aware of as the biology teacher at the Charles Darwin High School in a country backwater of the former East Germany.

 

A strict devotee of Darwin's evolution principle, Lohmark views education as survival of the fittest: classifying her pupils as biological specimens and scorning her colleagues for indulging in 'favourites'. However, as people move West in search of work and opportunities, the school's future is in jeopardy and the Lohmark is forced to face her most fundamental lesson: she must adapt or she cannot survive.

 

Review:

This was an impulse buy in the local bookshop, and I often enjoy translated fiction, but this one wasn't for me. I kept reading to the end, but I didn't enjoy it, it all just felt a bit flat for me, and to be honest, I still didn't really understand what it was about or what the point was. A bit lost on me, I'm afraid.

[Janet]

I was a very lucky girl and received lots of lovely books for Christmas.

• Beswitched by Kate Saunders

A great haul of books, Claire!    

 

I have Beswitched on my wish list so I hope you enjoy it.

 

I also got A Boy Called Christmas by Matt Haig from a lovely friend - such a gorgeous book. 

[chesilbeach]

A great haul of books, Claire!    

 

I have Beswitched on my wish list so I hope you enjoy it.

 

I also got A Boy Called Christmas by Matt Haig from a lovely friend - such a gorgeous book. 

Thanks Janet, I finished it this afternoon and I did enjoy it a lot.

 

I wonder if we both got the Matt Haig book from the same lovely friend

[chesilbeach]

]Monsters by Emerald Fennell

 

Synopsis:

A blackly comic tale about two children you would never want to meet.

Set in the Cornish town of Fowey, all is not as idyllic as the beautiful seaside town might seem. The body of a young woman is discovered in the nets of a fishing boat. It is established that the woman was murdered. Most are shocked and horrified. But there is somebody who is not - a twelve-year-old girl. She is delighted; she loves murders. Soon she is questioning the inhabitants of the town in her own personal investigation. But it is a bit boring on her own. Then Miles Giffard, a similarly odd twelve-year-old boy, arrives in Fowey with his mother, and they start investigating together. Oh, and also playing games that re-enact the murders. Just for fun, you understand...

 

A book about two twelve-year-olds that is definitely not for kids.

 

Review:

Emerald Fennell loves writing dark stories for children, and this is her darkest yet.  The two main characters are certainly not ones you want to identify with, but they are compelling to read.  The story is unsettling from the start, and draws you in and becomes more and more chilling as it goes on.  The Fowey setting works well as it feels like it could be a very insular community with strong links to the sea, and tourism contributing to the sense of maintaining traditions and a friendly face to outsiders while there being an undercurrent running through the locals.  All this adds to a bit of a disturbing read but ultimately satisfying book.

[Janet]

I wonder if we both got the Matt Haig book from the same lovely friend

I'm perfectly certain we did! 

[frankie]

I wonder if we both got the Matt Haig book from the same lovely friend

 

I think you two's lovely friend is a mutual lovely friend of mine....  

[chesilbeach]

I think you two's lovely friend is a mutual lovely friend of mine....

I think she must have bought the shops entire stock of that book!

[bobblybear]

Nice reviews. Monsters sounds interesting. I don't always get along with Young Adult novels, but the subject matter sounds like it's a good mix between Young Adult and "Regular" Adult.

 

I've only read the first one in the Chronicles of St Mary's series. I loved it, but I just haven't had the chance to read any others of them.

 

Nice haul of XMas books as well. I hope you enjoy them all.

[chesilbeach]

Thanks bobbly.  Monsters is probably going to make one of my top books of the year list, so I'll be interested to hear what you think of it if you read it.
 
I absolutely adore The Chronicles of St Mary's series!  Why can't authors write faster!!!

[frankie]

I think she must have bought the shops entire stock of that book!

 

Bless her heart, she's keeping Matt Haig in business 

 

Edit: Giving it a second thought, someone like Matt Haig is perfectly capable of keeping himself in business by turning out great novels  Edit: Is it actually churning out and not turning out. My brain is on holiday mode and relaxing so can't be bothered to think things through before posting!

 

Edit: Started the book last night, didn't get very far though before falling asleep. Kris-tee-nan-cow-punky!  

Edited December 27, 2015 by frankie

[chesilbeach]

I'm still short of a few reviews from last year, but I'm not in the mood to write them today, so thought I'd do my stats for the year instead, so here goes ...

 

I read 170 books this year.

 

They were:

83 kindle books

71 paperbacks

3 hardbacks

13 audiobooks

 

136 by female authors

34 by male authors

 

I'm a bit shocked by this as I thought I read more male authors.  I don't know why, but I do tend to gravitate towards female writers, and this year seems to have been my worst year for male authors for a while.  Will try and make the effort to read more male writers in 2016!

 

160 fiction

10 non-fiction

 

I also shocked by this, as I normally read a lot more non-fiction than this.

 

In total, I've read 44439 pages!

 

I abandoned 4 books during the year, all of which I read between a third and a half of the book before giving up.

 

From my challenges, I read:

 

1 book by J. L. Carr

2 books by E. H. Young

3 books published by Persephone

2 books from the English Counties challenge

2 books from my (extended) Year with Jane Austen challenge

 

Would like to improve on this next year, and make particular progress on the Persephone and English Counties challenge.

 

I bought 100 books in total, of which I've read 93 of them.  At the beginning of 2015, by TBR was 21 books, and at the end of the year, it's 16 books, so at least it's come down!

 

Of the books I read, I rated them as follows:

 

6 books received 5 stars (Outstanding)

65 books received 4 stars (Very good)

75 books received 3 stars (Good)

8 books received 2 stars (Ok)

4 books received 1 star (Poor / Did not finish)

(Note: I don't rate audiobooks as they are books I've read before and am just listening again)

 

My average score for the year was 3.4 stars.

[chesilbeach]

My top books of the year.

 

I'm going to split my top books of the year into two sections this year, as I've read a lot of children's and YA books, so I'm going to do my top five (grown up books) and my top five children's/YA books.

 

My top 5 books:

 

5. Artful by Ali Smith

 

Fantastic collection of essays celebrating art and it's affect on us, all linked by a narrative of someone going through a bereavement.

 

4. The Curate's Wife by E. H. Young

 

Brilliant novel from the early part of the twentieth century, made more special for me as set in the area of Bristol I used to live in.

 

3. Walking Home by Clare Balding

 

Clare writes about the importance of walking in her life, as well as the history of her Radio 4 programme, Ramblings (which is my favourite radio series).

 

2. A Robot in the Garden by Deborah Install

 

Charming story about a man and the impact on his life of finding a broken robot in the garden.

 

1. Clay by Melissa Harrison

 

Brilliantly written novel with so much wonderful nature writing as three main characters who come together in a park in London.  Completely compelling and the one book I've thought more about since reading that any other this year.

 

Plus honorable mentions for:

 

The Dynamite Room by Jason Hewitt

Northanger Abbey by Val McDermid

The Chronicles of St Mary's series by Jodi Taylor

Far from the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy

 

 

My top five Children's and YA books

 

5. Gorilla Dawn by Gill Lewis

 

Another book with an eye on the importance of conservation of our natural world and the human forces that threaten it, but told from a child's point of view.

 

4. The Lie Tree by Francis Hardinge 

 

Wonderfully eerie Victorian tale of truth and lies, murder and revenge, and a treat of a page turning story.

 

3. Only Ever Yours by Louise O'Neill

 

Dystopian tale in a world of teenager girls brought up to achieve the perfect body image.  An oppressive and bleak read, but utterly compelling.

 

2. The Wells and Wong Mysteries by Robin Stevens

 

I couldn't pick any one of these books over the others, so I've cheated and picked all of the first three books in the series.  Jolly good romps for children - thrilling and funny murder mysteries.

 

1. Monsters by Emerald Fennell

 

A cosy murder mystery in a Cornish village this is NOT!  It's a dark and chilling read of two children who you definitely wouldn't want to meet yourself.  Still sends a chill down my spine thinking about it.

 

Plus honorable mentions for:

In Darkling Wood by Emma Carroll

The Apple Tart of Hope by Sarah Moore Fitzgerald

The Mystery of the Clockwork Sparrow by Katherine Woodfine

Darkmere by Helen Maslin

The Dead House by Dawn Kurtigach

[Athena]

Great summary, Claire! You've had a pretty successful reading year .

[frankie]

Re: your 2015 statistics: 

 

170 read books, wow! I'm in awe! 

 

Not that it is any real 'business' of mine, but I'm also quite surprised by how much your reading leaned towards female authors last year! 3/4! I mean even when you know you tend to gravitate towards female authors, it's still a pretty big percentage I remember the first time I did my female/male author stats, I was really surprised I read more books by female authors, as for some reason I'd always thought I read more books by male authors. Not that the author's gender really matters in itself, it's the talent, and talent comes in all shapes and forms. But it's still very interesting. 

 

You are like the only person I know who can buy 100 books a year and still reduce their TBR pile That is so cool   

 

Seems like all in all it was a great reading year for you!

Edited January 6, 2016 by frankie

[chesilbeach]

Re: your 2015 statistics: 

 

170 read books, wow! I'm in awe!

 

A drop in the ocean

 

Not that it is any real 'business' of mine, but I'm also quite surprised by how much your reading leaned towards female authors last year! 3/4! I mean even when you know you tend to gravitate towards female authors, it's still a pretty big percentage I remember the first time I did my female/male author stats, I was really surprised I read more books by female authors, as for some reason I'd always thought I read more books by male authors. Not that the author's gender really matters in itself, it's the talent, and talent comes in all shapes and forms. But it's still very interesting.

 

It's funny, and I have no idea why it's that way. I think perhaps I read a lot of children's and YA this year, and there seems to be far more female authors than male when I look at the shelves. Funnily enough, I know it's only the 6th January, but if I finish my current book tonight, I'll have read 4 books by male authors and 1 by a female authors this year ... completely unintentional, just reading my Christmas presents!

 

You are like the only person I know who can buy 100 books a year and still reduce their TBR pile That is so cool

 

Thanks I do feel a bit guilty though ... feels like I'm bragging a bit at times, but it's honestly just that I'm a fast reader and read most days, and I genuinely don't care how many books I read each year, despite keeping a record of them. If I only read 12 books in a year and they were all fantastic reads, I'd be just as happy.

 

Seems like all in all it was a great reading year for you!

 

Not too bad at all

[frankie]

It's funny, and I have no idea why it's that way. I think perhaps I read a lot of children's and YA this year, and there seems to be far more female authors than male when I look at the shelves. Funnily enough, I know it's only the 6th January, but if I finish my current book tonight, I'll have read 4 books by male authors and 1 by a female authors this year ... completely unintentional, just reading my Christmas presents!

 

Haha, it's the NY stat-throw-off-month: everything's twisted because it's so early in the year I haven't read ANY debuts this year, and like you, I've read far more books by male authors than female authors... 

 

It's always such an odd feeling, to see one's 'read books' post in such pristine and empty condition. So empty, waiting to be filled out. 

 

Thanks I do feel a bit guilty though ... feels like I'm bragging a bit at times, but it's honestly just that I'm a fast reader and read most days, and I genuinely don't care how many books I read each year, despite keeping a record of them. If I only read 12 books in a year and they were all fantastic reads, I'd be just as happy.

 

Oh chesil, you are not bragging one bit! I don't see you mention the number of the books you've been reading during the year, ever. The only times I've noticed you mention your totals is at the end of the year At least that's how I remember it. And even if you did mention it, it's not bragging! It's stating a fact in one context or another. I'd be darn happy if I were as fast a reader as you! There's no shame in it at all. And I would never think nor have I ever thought you are one to read books just to be able to add to the numbers. I think that you are more organized than for example I am myself, and procrastinate a lot less and therefore also spend more time actually reading. I wish I could be as focused!  

[chesilbeach]

Thanks frankie!   

 

You're right, that empty Books Read post taunts me until I can get the first book on there ... my OH always tends to buy me children's and YA books for Christmas and I try to read them right after Christmas and into the New Year, so it's never usually blank for too long.

[frankie]

That is clever!! Even if it's coincidental  

[poppyshake]

I love your stats round up Claire I will probably pinch it if you don't mind (your format that is .. I promise I won't claim to have read 170 books! People would see through it anyway!  )

Well done on your 2015 reading  Very, very, impressive figures and so nice that, on the whole, you enjoyed all of your books and read some outstanding stories
Those 12 books that you'd be happy to read in a year had better be long ones .. what else would you do with your spare time? You'd be lost without a book. Though you would make (more) excellent cakes and patchwork quilts!