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Kat's 2011 Reading


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Gone

Mo Hayder

 

Night is falling as murder detective Jack Caffrey arrives to interview the distraught victim of a car-jacking.

What he hears horrifies him. The car was taken by force, and on the back seat was a passenger. An eleven-year-old girl. Who is still missing.

Before long the jacker starts to communicate with the police. And Caffrey becomes certain that he is planning to take another car. And another child.

Who is the car-jacker? How is he choosing his targets? And - most urgent of all - can Caffrey find the child?

Before it’s too late …

 

Started: 15/03/11

Finished: 22/03/11

Rated: 4/5

Comments: As soon as I see a new Mo Hayder book I just have to own it. She has only once let me down (Pig Island) so it's always with joy that I start a new book. This one was another part of her Jack Caffrey series, a character which I have grown to love with each book. It starts with a car-jacking, which quickly turns out to be a child abduction. The story moves at quite a fast pace and with each twist and turn I was more and more engrossed. I literally haven't put it down in the last two days as the story came to it's climax. Mo Hayder is not for the feint hearted but if you like your crime thrillers gritty, you'll love her.

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Dead Until Dark (book 1)

Charlaine Harris

 

Sookie Stackhouse is a small-time cocktail waitress in small-town Louisiana. She's quiet, keeps to herself, and doesn't get out much - not because she's not pretty - she's a very cute bubbly blonde - or not interested in a social life. She really is . . . but Sookie's got a bit of a disability. She can read minds. And that doesn't make her too dateable. And then along comes Bill: he's tall, he's dark and he's handsome - and Sookie can't 'hear' a word he's thinking. He's exactly the type of guy she's been waiting all her life for. But Bill has a disability of his own: he's fussy about his food, he doesn't like suntans and he's never around during the day . . . Yep, Bill's a vampire. Worse than that, he hangs with a seriously creepy crowd, with a reputation for trouble - of the murderous kind. And then one of Sookie's colleagues at the bar is killed, and it's beginning to look like Sookie might be the next victim . . .

 

Started: 23/03/11

Finished: 26/03/11

Rated: 3/5

Comments:

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I'm so glad you're enjoying Kelley Armstrong again Kat, I am so excited, I can't wait until the new one comes out! :exc: I hope you enjoy the Sookie books too :D

 

I must take a closer look at Mo Hayder books, I have Ritual on my shelf which I bought in a charity shop, but I believe it's part of a series so I need to get the previous book first. I have read Pig Island by her, quite a few years ago, and to be honest it kinda put be off reading anything else by her, although as you and I have very similar taste, if you like her stuff , maybe I should try something else by her ;) Which of her books would you suggest I start with?

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Hi Charm!! If you're going to read the Caffrey books it's best to do them in order (Birdman, The Treatment, Ritual, Skin, Gone) The only book I would have advised you to avoid is Pig Island but I'm a bit late for that, I could have saved you the disappointment. She's not for the feint hearted but I love reading her books.

 

Making a start on the Sookie books today and I can't wait :D They should keep me going until I can get my hands on the next Armstrong book.

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Hi Charm!! If you're going to read the Caffrey books it's best to do them in order (Birdman, The Treatment, Ritual, Skin, Gone) The only book I would have advised you to avoid is Pig Island but I'm a bit late for that, I could have saved you the disappointment. She's not for the feint hearted but I love reading her books.

 

 

 

Thanks! I'm not that feint hearted so I'll add Birdman and The Treatment to my wishlist, that should get me started ;)

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Hi Kat, how are you?

 

I am really pleased too to see you are enjoying the sookie books and Kelley Armstrong, they are great reads, your review of 'Sister' makes me want to read it as soon as possible, I bought it a few weeks ago :) Happy reading hen :)

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Making a start on the Sookie books today and I can't wait :D

 

Enjoy! I still have a couple left to read. Great series. :)

 

I really need to get a hold of the Armstrong books one day.

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Living Dead In Dallas (Book 2)

Charlaine Harris

 

Cocktail waitress Sookie Stackhouse isn't happy. Her co-worker has been murdered and no one seems to care. If that wasn't enough she's got blood-poisoning and a raging fever. Luckily, some friendly vampires graciously suck the poison from her veins (like they didn't enjoy it). But, seeing as they did save her life, when they come asking for a favour she can hardly refuse. She quickly finds herself using her telepathic skills in the search for a missing vampire, but when they break their good behaviour condition over a tasty blond, things go rapidly and horribly wrong ...

 

Started: 26/03/11

Finished: 31/03/11

Rated: 3/5

Comments: So far so good with this series. They are slightly different from the TV series but very much enjoyable in their own way, although I'm finding it hard to see why she doesn't just run away with Eric. He's such a hottie!!

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Club Dead(Book 3)

Charlaine Harris

 

There's only one vampire Sookie Stackhouse is involved with - at least voluntarily - and that's Bill. But recently he's been a little distant - in another state distant. His sinister and sexy boss Eric has an idea where to find him, and next thing Sookie knows she's off to Jackson, Mississippi, to mingle with the underworld at Club Dead. It's a dangerous little haunt where the elusive vampire society can go to chill out and suck down some Type O - but when Sookie finally finds Bill caught in an act of serious betrayal she's not sure whether to save him, or to sharpen some stakes. The Sookie Stackhouse books are delightful Southern Gothic supernatural mysteries, starring Sookie, the telepathic cocktail waitress, and a cast of increasingly colourful characters, including vampires, werewolves and things that really do go bump in the night.

 

Started: 02/04/11

Finished: 06/04/11

Rated: 4/5

Comments: I'm really flying through these books because I love them. They are a completely different style to the tv series but I think that is what I like about them. The characters are developing much more depth and the plot is twisting and turning to keep my interest. Above all, we have Eric!

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Dead to the World (book 4)

Charlaine Harris

 

Sookie Stackhouse is a small-town cocktail waitress in small-town Louisiana. She's pretty. She does her job well. She keeps to herself - she has only a few close friends, because not everyone appreciates Sookie's gift: she can read minds. That's not exactly every man's idea of date bait - unless they're undead - vampires and the like can be tough to read. And that's just the kind of guy Sookie's been looking for. Maybe that's why, when she comes across a naked vampire on the way home from work, she doesn't just drive on by. He hasn't got a clue who he is, but Sookie has: Eric looks just as scary and sexy - and dead - as the day she met him. But now he has amnesia, he's sweet, vulnerable, and in need of Sookie's help - because whoever took his memory now wants his life. Sookie's investigation into what's going on leads her straight into a dangerous battle between witches, vampires and werewolves. But there could be even greater danger - to Sookie's heart, because the kinder, gentler Eric is very hard to resist.

 

Started: 07/04/11

Finished: 13/07/11

Rated: 4/5

Comments: Now this is more like it! Bill is but a passing thought and it's all Eric, Eric, Eric!!! Unfortunately the 'real' Eric doesn't make a show until the last few chapters but it's worth the wait and there's some very very descriptive moments :D Still loving Bubba and poor Jason!

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Dead as a Doornail (book 5)

Charlaine Harris

 

Sookie's got just a month, before the next full moon, to find out who wants her brother dead - and to stop the fiend! Sookie Stackhouse enjoys her life, mostly. She's a great cocktail waitress in a fun bar; she has a love life, albeit a bit complicated, and most people have come to terms with her telepathy. The problem is, Sookie wants a quiet life - but things just seem to happen to her and her friends. Now her brother Jason's eyes are starting to change: he's about to turn into a were-panther for the first time. She can deal with that, but her normal sisterly concern turns to cold fear when a sniper sets his deadly sights on the local changeling population. She afraid not just because Jason's at risk, but because his new were-brethren suspect Jason may be the shooter. Sookie has until the next full moon to find out who's behind the attacks - unless the killer decides to find her first.

 

Started: 14/04/11

Finished: 22/04/11

Rated: 4/5

Comments: This was a great story in the series, and possibly quite enjoyable once again due to the lack of Bill. I found this one to be quite fast paced compared to the previous couple and as the TV series hasn't really got this far, it was nice not to have any pre existing ideas of characters and how the story progresses.

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The Family

Martina Cole

 

Phillip Murphy is a family man. He worships his old mum; he takes care of his siblings who help run his business empire; he dotes on his two young sons who will one day take over. And then there's his wife and saviour Christine, whom he loves with a vengeance. To Phillip Murphy, family is everything.

 

Christine has always understood this about her husband. But there is another side to Phillip, and it's a side he never wanted his wife to see. Though even if she did, could she do anything but stand by him? Because Phillip has rules, and he expects loyalty from his nearest and dearest. Once you're in the family, you're in it for life.

 

Started: 25/04/11

Finished: 13/05/11

Rated: 4/5

Comments: Brilliant! That's all I can say. I love Martina Cole and this is one of her best books in a while. I was gripped from the start and haven't put it down. The characters are few but very well written and you really find yourself engrossed by what they are doing. If you haven't read any Cole before, then give this one a try. If you're already a fan then you're in for a treat.

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Dreams from my Father

Barack Obama

 

The son of a black African father and a white American mother, Obama was only two years old when his father walked out on the family. Many years later, Obama receives a phone call from Nairobi: his father is dead. This sudden news inspires an emotional odyssey for Obama, determined to learn the truth of his father's life and reconcile his divided inheritance. Written at the age of thirty-three, "Dreams from my Father" is an unforgettable read. It illuminates not only Obama's journey, but also our universal desire to understand our history, and what makes us the people we are.

 

Started: 14/05/11

Finished: 03/06/11

Rated: 3/5

Comments: This was an enjoyable book but did get quite longwinded in places. Obama is a fantastic story teller but sometimes he had a tendancy to go on and on about something he thought was important but I felt wasn't quite as interesting. I'm a huge fan of Obama and it was a lovely insight into his family and upbringing.

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The Family

Martina Cole

 

Phillip Murphy is a family man. He worships his old mum; he takes care of his siblings who help run his business empire; he dotes on his two young sons who will one day take over. And then there's his wife and saviour Christine, whom he loves with a vengeance. To Phillip Murphy, family is everything.

 

Christine has always understood this about her husband. But there is another side to Phillip, and it's a side he never wanted his wife to see. Though even if she did, could she do anything but stand by him? Because Phillip has rules, and he expects loyalty from his nearest and dearest. Once you're in the family, you're in it for life.

 

Started: 25/04/11

Finished: 13/05/11

Rated: 4/5

Comments: Brilliant! That's all I can say. I love Martina Cole and this is one of her best books in a while. I was gripped from the start and haven't put it down. The characters are few but very well written and you really find yourself engrossed by what they are doing. If you haven't read any Cole before, then give this one a try. If you're already a fan then you're in for a treat.

 

Great review Kat :) I have never read anything by Martina Cole, I have 'The Take' somewhere but I will definitely keep my eye out for 'The Family' :)

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  • 2 weeks later...

Wildthorn

Jane Eagland

 

Seventeen-year-old Louisa Cosgrove longs to break free from her respectable life as a Victorian doctor's daughter. But her dreams become a nightmare when Louisa is sent to Wildthorn Hall: labelled a lunatic, deprived of her liberty and even her real name. As she unravels the betrayals that led to her incarceration, she realizes there are many kinds of prison. She must be honest with herself - and others - in order to be set free. And love may be the key . . .

 

Started: 22/05/11

Finished: 05/06/11

Rated: 3/5

Comments: This book was quite an oddity for me. I knew it was a YA book before I started it but I didn't expect it to touch upon such a range of topics. Most interestingly was the sexuality of the main character which seemed as such odds for the time period. I enjoyed the fact that she was breaking out and fighting against the role of women in the household and found myself getting quite angry at the injustices that where done in the name of propriety. Overall, a very entertaining story, YA or not.

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Dreams From My Father

Barack Obama

 

In this memoir written at the age of 33, Barack Obama, son of a black African father and a white American mother, describes the search for meaning in his life as a black American. He begins in New York where he learns that his father, more a myth than a man to him, has been killed in a car accident. This sudden death inspires an emotional odyssey that sees Obama travel to Kansas, Hawaii and Kenya in search of his family's roots. A memoir that rightfully belongs on the shelves alongside the autobiography of "Malcolm X", "Dreams from My Father" is an unforgettable read.

 

How easy is this to read I have been thinking about getting a copy but have enough books at the moment already and I don't want to get it if its going to be to "high brow" for me.

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So far, I've really enjoyed it. I wouldn't describe it as high brow, he just likes to tell a story, so every now and again he goes off on a bit of a tangent about his childhood. It's still really interesting to read and I find it quite interesting to find out a bit more about him.

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  • 2 weeks later...

Room

Emma Donoghue

 

It’s Jack’s birthday, and he’s excited about turning five.

 

Jack lives with his Ma in Room, which has a locked door and a skylight, and measures 11 feet by 11 feet. He loves watching TV, and the cartoon characters he calls friends, but he knows that nothing he sees on screen is truly real – only him, Ma and the things in Room. Until the day Ma admits that there's a world outside . . .

 

Told in Jack's voice, Room is the story of a mother and son whose love lets them survive the impossible. Unsentimental and sometimes funny, devastating yet uplifting, Room is a novel like no other.

 

Started: 05/06/11

Finished: 13/06/11

Rated: 3/5

Comments: I enjoyed this book but I wouldn't rave about it as I've seen others do. I like the concept and I think it's very well written but I had trouble empathising with either of the main characters. With this lacking I found it difficult to fully immerse myself in the emotions of either of them.

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