frankie Posted August 27, 2011 Share Posted August 27, 2011 Oooh, the Mindhunter book sounds really interesting, it's going straight to my wishlist! Thanks for the review Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ladymacbeth Posted August 28, 2011 Author Share Posted August 28, 2011 That'd be meee! Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for the recommendation Bobblybear. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ladymacbeth Posted August 30, 2011 Author Share Posted August 30, 2011 CIRCUS OF THE DAMNED by Laurell K Hamilton I won't include a blurb as this is 3rd in a series so it is likely it would only be read by those who already read the first 2 books. This didn't grip me as much as the 2nd book in the series. For some reason the books always leave me with a slightly icky feeling like I've touched something dirty. However when I am back in the Anita Blake mood I will pick up the 4th book. 2.5 out of 5. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ladymacbeth Posted August 31, 2011 Author Share Posted August 31, 2011 I wonder when I will stop "Settling In". 2 years and 395 posts has not been long enough. Oh well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chaliepud Posted August 31, 2011 Share Posted August 31, 2011 CIRCUS OF THE DAMNED by Laurell K Hamilton I won't include a blurb as this is 3rd in a series so it is likely it would only be read by those who already read the first 2 books. This didn't grip me as much as the 2nd book in the series. For some reason the books always leave me with a slightly icky feeling like I've touched something dirty. However when I am back in the Anita Blake mood I will pick up the 4th book. 2.5 out of 5. I think I got up to about the 6th in the series before I gave up as they had really started to get tedious, and yes I know what you mean about feeling dirty!!!! Anita started off a great, strong female lead but got steadily weaker after the first few books sadly.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ladymacbeth Posted September 3, 2011 Author Share Posted September 3, 2011 A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness When historian Diana Bishop opens a bewitched alchemical manuscript in Oxford’s Bodleian Library it represents an unwelcome intrusion of magic into her carefully ordinary life. Though descended from a long line of witches, she is determined to remain untouched by her family’s legacy. She banishes the manuscript to the stacks, but Diana finds it impossible to hold the world of magic at bay any longer. For witches are not the only otherworldly creatures living alongside humans. There are also creative, destructive daemons and long-lived vampires who become interested in the witch’s discovery. They believe that the manuscript contains important clues about the past and the future, and want to know how Diana Bishop has been able to get her hands on the elusive volume. Chief among the creatures who gather around Diana is vampire Matthew Clairmont, a geneticist with a passion for Darwin. Together, Diana and Matthew embark on a journey to understand the manuscript’s secrets. But the relationship that develops between the ages-old vampire and the spellbound witch threatens to unravel the fragile peace that has long existed between creatures and humans—and will certainly transform Diana’s world as well. Blurb from Deborah Harkness' website. I read this book as a result of excellent feedback which it got on this forum. I thought it was well written and the characters engaging. It's definitely one of the best books I have read in the supernatural romance category which I've been heavily reading this year. Despite all the things I liked about the book I didn't enjoy it as much as I would have expected. A common theme I find amongst these sorts of books are the two main characters often seem massively attracted to each other and fall into a relationship with no particularly good reason. And often despite obstacles that make the characters somewhat unlikeable. For instance Matthew Clermont is a vampire and broke into Diana's room which I think makes him slightly unsuitable dating material. Admittedly people have levelled the same charge against other series which I have really enjoyed eg Twilight. I do wonder if I am just getting romance fatigue. I still have alot of chick-lit and supernatural romance type books on my TBR but I really do intend to try branching out a bit in terms of genre to see if I can shake off this scepticism. 3.5 out of 5. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ladymacbeth Posted September 3, 2011 Author Share Posted September 3, 2011 50 Ways to Find a Lover by Lucy-Anne Holmes "I feel like a failure. It's now been 351 days since I had sex. That's a carnal drought. If Bob Geldof knew about it he'd hold a concert." Sarah Sargeant has been single for three years and nine months. She has just spent five months plucking up the courage to ask out a balding man with a paunch who works in her local pub. The gentleman in question informed her that he would rather stay in and watch the "Narnia" movie on DVD. Her pride has not just been bruised, it's been disembowelled. And she vows it's the last time she will ever reach out to a member of the opposite sex. But her family and friends have other ideas. They enter her into a reality TV show against her will, persuade her to go speed dating and even more radically, they encourage her to start a blog. Suddenly Sarah Sargeant is on a mission. A mission to explore 50 ways to find a lover. Blurb from Fantastic Fiction I got this book out of the library while looking for easy, happy reads. It is definitely one of those. And the romance was believable - the main character did not date any complete 'ooh, that's rude'. Hooray. 3 out of 5 stars. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ladymacbeth Posted September 13, 2011 Author Share Posted September 13, 2011 Baby Macbeth is due in 2 weeks and reading has slowed down. Recent books I have read: The Thirteenth tale by Diane Setterfield Synopsis from Fantastic Fiction: Vida Winter, a bestselling yet reclusive novelist, has created many outlandish life histories for herself, all of them invention. Now old and ailing, at last she wants to tell the truth about her extraordinary life. Her letter to biographer Margaret Lea - a woman with secrets of her own - is a summons. Vida's tale is one of gothic strangeness featuring the Angelfield family: the beautiful and wilful Isabelle and the feral twins Adeline and Emmeline. Margaret succumbs to the power of Vida's storytelling, but as a biographer she deals in fact not fiction and she doesn't trust Vida's account. As she begins her researches, two parallel stories unfold. Join Margaret as she begins her journey to the truth - hers, as well as Vida's. This was a fantastic read. The book follows the biographer Margaret who is writing Vida's life story and it's a goodie! There was enough foreshadowing so that I was dying to know how Vida's story worked out but the author expertly managed to keep the suspense up making the book a real page turner. I did not spot the twists and turns coming until the last minute. Margaret's feelings about her own background and her puzzlement over where Vida's story was going added to the suspense. I highly recommend this story. 5 out of 5 stars. Daylight by Elizabeth Knox Synopsis from Fantastic Fiction Brian 'Bad' Phelan, a New Zealand policeman and bomb disposal expert, likes to live dangerously. Bad is an expert climber and caver and, while on vacation on the French/Italian border, he helps bring a body out of a rocky, wave-swept cove. Curiously, the dead woman bears striking similarities to a young woman he met years ago, shortly before she disappeared in a flooded French cave. Haunted by the strange connection, Bad is compelled to investigate. In following a series of increasingly eerie leads, Bad learns the story of the Blessed Martine Raimondi, a World War II resistance heroine and martyred nun. He also meets Eve Moskelute, the beautiful widow of a celebrated French artist; Daniel Octave, a Canadian Jesuit who investigates miracles; and most surprisingly, Dawn Moskelute, Eve's twin sister, who just may be a vampire. Sensuous and heavenly, Daylight combines Elizabeth Knox's greatest gifts: her wildly imaginative storytelling and her clear eye for atmosphere and place. Daylight is set in one of the most beautiful regions on Earth, from the unspoiled beauty of the Cinque Terre to the antiquities of Avignon, yet much of the action takes place in a world the tourist never sees, a world of caves and secret passages, of hidden cloisters and the rooms behind doors in the vaulted tunnels of medieval streets. It is in this 'world beneath the world' that Bad Phelan finds himself face to face with history and myth, with phantoms whose hearts are still beating, and hungry, and able to break. This is a vampire book for adults without the romanticised "good vampire" ideal of Twilight and other young adult titles. In fact the vampires are pretty human, some good, some bad with the same flaws as most of us. The book follows a priest Daniel Octave - he has investigated the late Martine Raimondi's miracles and claim to sainthood. He begins to doubt his recommendation for sainthood as he finds out more, something strange seems to be going on in this story. He starts to find himself at risk the more he investigates. The second character followed through the book is Brian Phelan who stumbles on knowledge of the vampire Dawn. The two men do meet in the book but really their stories are completely separate. The subject matter was interesting but I did become a bit sick of reading midway through the book as I couldn't really see where the story was going. I had no sense of tension in what was going to happen to the characters and the arc to the story was really unclear. Even at the end of the book I felt a bit let down. A feeling of "is that all that was about". This is a shame as I have read other books of Elizabeth Knox's which I thought were brilliant (The Rainbow Opera and Dreamquake) and The Vintner's Luck and then this book and Black Oxen had the same meandering problem where I lost interest. I'm not sure whether I want to read any more books by the same author. Probably not I'm sad to say. 2 out of 5. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kidsmum Posted September 14, 2011 Share Posted September 14, 2011 Good luck with the birth Lady Macbeth, I hope it's as quick & as pain free as possible I have The Thirteenth Tale but I haven't got round to reading it yet but I've read quite a few positive comments about it on here so I intend to read it sooner rather than later. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janet Posted September 14, 2011 Share Posted September 14, 2011 Aww @ Baby Macbeth! Hope all goes well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ladymacbeth Posted September 25, 2011 Author Share Posted September 25, 2011 Good in Bed by Jennifer Weiner Synopsis from Fantastic Fiction: For twenty-eight years, things have been tripping along nicely for Cannie Shapiro. Sure, her mother has come charging out of the closet, and her father has long since dropped out of her world. But she loves her friends, her rat terrier, Nifkin, and her job as pop culture reporter for The Philadelphia Examiner. She's even made a tenuous peace with her plus-size body. But the day she opens up a national women's magazine and sees the words "Loving a Larger Woman" above her ex-boyfriend's byline, Cannie is plunged into misery...and the most amazing year of her life. From Philadelphia to Hollywood and back home again, she charts a new course for herself: mourning her losses, facing her past, and figuring out who she is and who she can become. My thoughts: Initially I thought this book was going to be a self-indulgent tale of how difficult it is to be a chubby woman in today's society. There definitely was a bit of that. I used to be quite alot fatter than I am now and I do wonder if I would have enjoyed it more 10 years ago. I almost abandoned the book in the first 100 pages because of this issue however I persisted on and the story improved. It became a bit more about the main character's personality rather than her weight issues. The second half of the book the storyline became quite unrealistic and was very much an aspirational chick-lit book where all the things you might dream about happening actually come true. But it was reasonably enjoyable and I read the second half quite quickly. I wouldn't bother with the same author again though. 2.5 out of 5 Charlotte Gray by Sebastian Faulks Synopsis from Fantastic Fiction: In 1942, Charlotte Gray, a young Scottish woman, heads for Occupied France on a dual mission - officially, to run an apparently simple errand for a British special operations group and unofficially to search for her lover, an English airman missing in action.As the people in the small town of Lavaurette prepare to meet their terrible destiny, the harrowing truth of what took place in 'the dark years' is finally revealed. My thoughts: A very interesting plotline about a young Scottish woman who joins the French resistance in WWII. I learned alot about what France was like under Nazi occupation and it has sparked a real interest in reading more about Nancy Wake, probably the most famous servicewoman working undercover in France. The book is said to partly inspired by her and she was born in New Zealand which adds interest for me. Overall, I enjoyed the book but it was a slow read. My main complaint with it was the chracterisation. I found I didn't engage with the characters 100% - I'm not sure what it is about the writing style that does this but I found the same thing when I read Birdsong. In particular, occasionally a character would go off on a philosophical thought tangent and I would lose interest. I would read more books by Sebastian Faulks but I won't be expecting a page-turner if I do. 3 out of 5 Danny the Champion of the World by Roald Dahl This is the wonderful story of Danny and his single father and the adventures they have together. In particular, it is about how Danny and his father go pheasant poaching. I have had a hankering for a while to read this book. It is probably my favourite Roald Dahl book of my childhood and I finally own it as part of a 15 book Roald Dahl set. I was stunned to discover my husband did not actually know any books Roald Dahl had written (shock horror) and have given him Danny to read now I've finished. Telling him it was about a father who takes his son poaching sparked his interest. The language in this novel is pure nostalgia. Dahl really has the gift for making his characters come alive. I love his physical descriptions eg "beady eyes"etc that illuminate the baddies and goodies. And with this book not only is there a plot that sucks you in and keeps you turning pages but I find the story of the father-son relationship incredibly inspiring. 5 out of 5 Remarkable Creatures by Tracy Chevalier Synopsis from Fantastic Fiction: In the year of the 150th anniversary of Origin of Species, set in a town where Jane Austen was a frequent visitor, Tracy Chevalier once again shows her uncanny sense for the topical. In the early nineteenth century, a windswept beach along the English coast brims with fossils for those with the eye! From the moment she's struck by lightning as a baby, it is clear Mary Anning is marked for greatness. When she uncovers unknown dinosaur fossils in the cliffs near her home, she sets the scientific world alight, challenging ideas about the world's creation and stimulating debate over our origins. In an arena dominated by men, however, Mary is soon reduced to a serving role, facing prejudice from the academic community, vicious gossip from neighbours, and the heartbreak of forbidden love. Even nature is a threat, throwing bitter cold, storms, and landslips at her. Luckily Mary finds an unlikely champion in prickly, intelligent Elizabeth Philpot, a middle-class spinster who is also fossil-obsessed. Their relationship strikes a delicate balance between fierce loyalty and barely suppressed envy. Despite their differences in age and background, Mary and Elizabeth discover that, in struggling for recognition, friendship is their strongest weapon. Remarkable Creatures is Tracy Chevalier's stunning new novel of how one woman's gift transcends class and gender to lead to some of the most important discoveries of the nineteenth century. Above all, it is a revealing portrait of the intricate and resilient nature of female friendship. My thoughts: Another cracking recommendation from Bobblybear! I would never have normally picked up this book but was looking for positive storylines outside my usual favoured reading genres. This was a very engaging read. The book has peaked my interest in learning more about early fossil discoveries and how this challenged previous thinking of the church and society in general. I empathised with the struggles of Mary Anning, who was a poor single woman and went largely unrecognised for her scientific discoveries due to her gender. A fascinating book which has left me happy and enthusiastic in learning more about the subject matter. I have been wikipedia-ing the subject matter - that is always a good sign. 4.5 out of 5. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobblybear Posted September 25, 2011 Share Posted September 25, 2011 I'm glad you enjoyed Remarkable Creatures. I must get around to reading some of Tracy Chevalier's other books as the two I have read have been brilliant. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chaliepud Posted September 25, 2011 Share Posted September 25, 2011 I am a fan of Sebastian Faulkes but like many other before me I just could not get on with Charlotte Gray, or Engleby. However I did very much like Birdsong and Human Traces Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lauraloves Posted September 27, 2011 Share Posted September 27, 2011 Charlotte Grey sounds really good, will have to keep an eye out for it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ladymacbeth Posted September 28, 2011 Author Share Posted September 28, 2011 Baby Macbeth is now overdue. Little ratbag. The Grand Sophy by Georgette Heyer Synopsis from Fantastic Fiction: When the redoubtable Sir Horace Stanton-Lacy is ordered to South America on business, he leaves his only daughter Sophy with his sister in Berkeley Square. But Sophy's cousins are in a sad state, and she's arrived just in time to save them all. My thoughts: This is the first Georgette Heyer book I have ever read. It is a social comedy set in Victorian England and features an extremely assertive main character Sophy who proceeds to sort out her cousins love lives. I thought it was extremely funny and it reminded me of Jane Austen's works but this was probably just the time period and setting. It was an ideal book for me right now as it is a positive (happy) book without being simpering or boring. Great for a very preggers lady who has gone off her usual supernatural favourites. 4 out of 5 I've no idea what to read next. I started Queen of Babble by Meg Cabot and decided the main character was an idiot. I started The Butterfly Tattoo by Phillip Pullman and decided it was creepy. I read one page of The Persimmon Tree by Bryce Courtenay but because I already had one attempt at reading it I couldn't be bothered getting through the first couple chapters again. Am now reading Marilyn Manson's autobiography which is just a bit disturbing. He is an interesting man. Would prefer to be reading something a bit more pleasant. Does anyone have suggestions? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ladymacbeth Posted October 1, 2011 Author Share Posted October 1, 2011 The Long Hard Road Out of Hell by Marilyn Manson with Neil Strauss This is an autobiography of shock rocker Marilyn Manson written in the 1990s from his childhood up to the period following the release of his album Antichrist Superstar. To be honest I am not a fan of his music and am not even sure what it sounds like however I have seen various clips of interviews with him and thought he was an interesting man. He seemed to have interesting views on society. In particular I enjoyed watching his interview with Michael Moore in the movie "Bowling for Columbine" after his influence was blamed for the school shooting in Columbine. Unfortunately, having read his book, I now find him alot less interesting. The account of his childhood was fascinating, in particular his response to finding his grandfather's porn stash and other unsavoury items. But once he starts getting into the music scene the book turns into one endless account of drug and alcohol fueled parties where his band and fans egg each other into more and more revolting sexual acts. I couldn't tell you what any of them were as I actually got bored with it and they all blurred into one. I guess some people would find these accounts thrilling but I just couldn't drum up any interest at all. I kept hoping the book would become more interesting and Manson would elaborate more on his viewpoints on society. But he didn't. Maybe he saves that for his songs. 2 out of 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chesilbeach Posted October 2, 2011 Share Posted October 2, 2011 I read Good In Bed when it first came out, and I did enjoy it, but I have to say I was reading a lot of chick-lit at the time, and thought Weiner was one of the better writers, however, I've grown out of the majority of chick-lit writers now, and I didn't think much of the follow up to this one which was published last year I think. I can't even remember the title of it now! Fingers crossed that Baby Macbeth makes an appearance soon! Good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frankie Posted October 28, 2011 Share Posted October 28, 2011 The Long Hard Road Out of Hell by Marilyn Manson with Neil Strauss This is an autobiography of shock rocker Marilyn Manson written in the 1990s from his childhood up to the period following the release of his album Antichrist Superstar. To be honest I am not a fan of his music and am not even sure what it sounds like however I have seen various clips of interviews with him and thought he was an interesting man. He seemed to have interesting views on society. In particular I enjoyed watching his interview with Michael Moore in the movie "Bowling for Columbine" after his influence was blamed for the school shooting in Columbine. Unfortunately, having read his book, I now find him alot less interesting. The account of his childhood was fascinating, in particular his response to finding his grandfather's porn stash and other unsavoury items. But once he starts getting into the music scene the book turns into one endless account of drug and alcohol fueled parties where his band and fans egg each other into more and more revolting sexual acts. I couldn't tell you what any of them were as I actually got bored with it and they all blurred into one. I guess some people would find these accounts thrilling but I just couldn't drum up any interest at all. I kept hoping the book would become more interesting and Manson would elaborate more on his viewpoints on society. But he didn't. Maybe he saves that for his songs. 2 out of 5 That's pretty much what I thought of the book! I know his music a bit, and I like some of his songs, and I always thought that he was really interesting and he seemed intelligent and misunderstood. When I started reading the book, it seemed like a quite promising read: like you, I found the granddaddy's porn stash find fascinating and thought the whole book was going to be as fascinating as that. But then it turned into this really boring account of the band history. I had thought Manson had an agenda and intelligent views but instead, it seemed like he's just as stupid as the rest of the stupid rockers. He thinks he's misunderstood and because he thinks people think he's the personification of evil, he will act that way but it's then actually a parody, and that's supposed to justify all the stupid stuff he pulls. I was sooo disappointed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janet Posted October 28, 2011 Share Posted October 28, 2011 Hi ladymacbeth. On a totally non-book-related note, how are you? babymacbeth must have put in an appearance by now - hope all is going well on that score (and sorry if I've missed some posts from you). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ladymacbeth Posted November 5, 2011 Author Share Posted November 5, 2011 Hi everyone. My baby boy arrived on 8th October, 10 days late weighing 6 pounds 15 ounces. Unfortunately on the third day of his life he got really sick and went to the special care baby unit at our hospital. He has a problem with swallowing and had aspirated his milk and got pneumonia. We spent 19 days in hospital and now he is home on nasogastric feeding. We are hoping the swallowing issues are something developmental which he will grow out of. He goes back to hospital in 2.5 weeks to have another swallowing study. Otherwise he is a perfect little boy and the apple of our eye. He is 4 weeks old today - how time flies! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chesilbeach Posted November 5, 2011 Share Posted November 5, 2011 Gosh, you've been through the mill a bit, haven't you. So pleased to hear you're home together as a family now, and it's at times like this, you realise how important hospitals and health carers are. Hoping that you get good news after the next swallow test, and will be thinking of you and babymacbeth. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janet Posted November 5, 2011 Share Posted November 5, 2011 Congratulations on your little boy, LMB. I hope he's soon fighting fit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dawnbirduk Posted November 5, 2011 Share Posted November 5, 2011 Congratulations, I am glad things are going alright now, take care. My grandson was born on 31st august and he had breathing problems and ended up in neonatal care for 1 week, but then it was difficult to establish feeding and was constantly sleeping, so was in hospital 3 weeks, now he is forever feeding. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lauraloves Posted November 7, 2011 Share Posted November 7, 2011 Congratulations on your little boy I hope everything goes ok for you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrissy Posted November 8, 2011 Share Posted November 8, 2011 Hi everyone. My baby boy arrived on 8th October, 10 days late weighing 6 pounds 15 ounces. Unfortunately on the third day of his life he got really sick and went to the special care baby unit at our hospital. He has a problem with swallowing and had aspirated his milk and got pneumonia. We spent 19 days in hospital and now he is home on nasogastric feeding. We are hoping the swallowing issues are something developmental which he will grow out of. He goes back to hospital in 2.5 weeks to have another swallowing study. Otherwise he is a perfect little boy and the apple of our eye. He is 4 weeks old today - how time flies! I have only just seen this! First of all, my heartiest congratulations on your boy. How wonderful. I'm so sorry that you have had to deal with such a worrying situation with him since he arrived, but I truly hope that all will be well. Big hugs to you all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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