pipread Posted January 30, 2012 Share Posted January 30, 2012 (edited) A bit late starting this but never mind! Books read in 2012 ........... kindle book marked out of 10. January The Quest for Anna klein ~ Thomas H Cook 8/10 Punishment ~ Anne Holt 7/10 Just Henry ~ Michelle Magorian 8/10 Sherlock Holmes: A study in scarlet ~ Arthur Conan Doyle 8/10 The Penal Colony ~ Richard Herley 9/10 February The Final Murder ~ Anne Holt 7/10 The Auschwitz Violin ~ Maria Angels Anglada 8/10 Emotional Geology ~ Linda Gillard 8/10 A Stolen Life a memoir ~ Jaycee Dugard The Sacrificial Man ~ Ruth Dugdall 8/10 March The Angel's Game ~ Carlos Ruiz Zafon 8/10 The Sealed Letter ~ Emma Donoghue 8/10 April Love you More ~ Lisa Gardner 7/10 The Cold Cold Ground ~ Adrian McKinty 8/10 A Game of Thrones ~ George R.R. Martin 9/10 Edited April 27, 2012 by pipread Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pipread Posted January 30, 2012 Author Share Posted January 30, 2012 reserved........................ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pipread Posted January 31, 2012 Author Share Posted January 31, 2012 The Quest for Anna Klein ~ Thomas H Cook book description from Amazom: Extraordinary breakout novel from Thomas H. Cook. By turns a spy thriller, a war story, a saga of betrayal, vengeance and obsessive love, and the story of a lifelong quest resolved, finally, by a series of mind-wrenching plot twists. my thoughts: This is the second book that I've read from this author, the first, Red Leaves was brilliant, fast paced and hard to put down! This book though was totally different, it was I thought much slower paced and I found it slightly harder to get into. The characters and the atmosphere were very good and well written and once I'd gotten into the story I really enjoyed it. Soon after the horror of 9/11 an old man decides to tell the story of his life back in 1939. The story unfolds of how he met Anna Klein and gradually became involved in a plot trying to stop Hitler, the consequences of this and how his life changes as a result. There are plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing as the story is gradually told. Although the story is told in flashbacks from present day back to 1939 I found it easy to follow. I'll look forward to reading more from this author in the future. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charm Posted January 31, 2012 Share Posted January 31, 2012 Happy Reading Pip! Hope you have a brilliant reading year I really should get my list even started Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pipread Posted February 3, 2012 Author Share Posted February 3, 2012 Thanks Charm Hope you're still going strong through your library. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pipread Posted February 3, 2012 Author Share Posted February 3, 2012 Punishment ~ Anne Holt book description from Amazon A serial killer is on the loose - a killer of the worst kind. Abducting children and murdering them in an undetectable way that confounds the police, he then returns the child's body to the mother with a desperately cruel note: You Got What You Deserved. It is a perplexing and terrible case, and Police Superintendent Adam Stubo is the unlucky man in charge of finding the killer. In desperation he recruits legal researcher Johanne Vik, a woman with an extensive knowledge and understanding of criminal history. So far the killer has abducted three children, but one child has not yet been returned to her mother. Is there a chance she is still alive ? This suspenseful and sophisticated crime novel is the first in a brand-new series, which has already been a huge bestseller in Europe My Thoughts This was my first Anne Holt book, I got it during the 12 days of kindle. At first I found reading the book hard purely because of the child abduction storyline, however I stuck with it and the pages flew by. I thought the character of Stubo, the police superintendent was very good he seemed real and I'll be interested in how he develops in this series of books. I wasn't so keen on the Johanne Vik character to begin with, but as I learned more of her history I liked her more. A slightly disappointing end I thought but overall a quick, easy and enjoyable read. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pipread Posted February 4, 2012 Author Share Posted February 4, 2012 Just Henry ~ Michelle Magorian description from Waterstones From the award-winning author of "Goodnight Mister Tom" comes "Just Henry": a gripping mystery-thriller and an insightful snapshot of time, set in post-war Britain. It's 1949 and life is bleak for Henry. He misses his father who died a war hero, and he escapes from his annoying stepfather and stepsister whenever he can and goes to the cinema - his passion.One day in the cinema queue he meets Mrs Beaumont who also loves films, and lends Henry a camera for his school project. Henry is disgusted that he's been put in a group with Jeffries, the son of a man who went AWOL, and Pip, who was born illegitimate; but he's about to learn that tolerance and friendship are more important than social stigmas.Henry will need his new friends when he processes the film and makes an alarming discovery.Like a bomb waiting to explode, Henry's world is about to unravel. my thoughts Having enjoyed Goodnight Mr Tom by the same author I had to download and read this when it was on offer in the 12 days of kindle! Although it was written for the younger reader I thoroughly enjoyed it. Set in the period just after the end of the 2nd world war, the author captures the feeling of 'make do,' of rationing and the destruction caused by the bombings. It also reminds the reader or the prejudice and stigma faced by the families of deserters and unmarried mothers and their children. The characters felt real, the writing is good and the pages flew by with interesting plots. My one criticism would be that Mrs. Beaumont, a central character is a bit too good to be true, but then I have to remind myself that it is a work of childrens fiction! An entertaining read that can be enjoyed at any age. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pipread Posted February 4, 2012 Author Share Posted February 4, 2012 Sherlock Holmes: A Study in Scarlet ~ Arthur Conan Doyle description from Amazon When Dr John Watson takes rooms in Baker Street with amateur detective Sherlock Holmes, he has no idea that he is about to enter a shadowy world of criminality and violence. Accompanying Holmes to an ill-omened house in south London, Watson is startled to find a dead man whose face is contorted in a rictus of horror. There is no mark of violence on the body yet a single word is written on the wall in blood. Dr Watson is as baffled as the police, but Holmes’s brilliant analytical skills soon uncover a trail of murder, revenge and lost love. My thoughts The first story about the famous fictional detective, gives a good introduction to Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson. The book is told in two parts, in the first half of the book the story is told by Watson about how Holmes and he met and investigated a crime, he describes Sherlocks eccentricities and amazing talent for solving mysteries. The second half tells the history of the people featured in the crime and doesn't involve Holmes or Watson. I thought A study in Scarlet was an entertaining story with good strong characters and plenty of atmosphere. I'll definately be reading more of Holmes adventures, most of which I have read before but a long time ago. The brilliant TV series Sherlock has inspired me to re-read these brilliant stories. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pipread Posted February 8, 2012 Author Share Posted February 8, 2012 Penal Colony ~ Richard Herley description from Amazon The future. The British government now runs island prison colonies to take dangerous offenders from its overcrowded mainland jails. Among all these colonies, Sert, 25 miles off the north Cornish coast, has the worst reputation. There are no warders. Satellite technology is used to keep the convicts under watch. New arrivals are dumped by helicopter and must learn to survive as best they can. To Sert, one afternoon in July, is brought Anthony John Routledge, sentenced for a sex-murder he did not commit. Routledge knows he is here for ever. And he knows he must quickly forget the rules of civilized life. But not all the islanders are savages. Under the charismatic leadership of one man a community has evolved. A community with harsh and unyielding rules, peopled by resourceful men for whom the hopeless dream of escape may not be so hopeless after all ... My thoughts The story is set in the year 1997, the future, as the book was written in the 1980's. The book is well written, fast moving and for me a real page turner. It is based on an interesting concept - what would happen if murderers and rapists were sent to a remote island and left there with just a satellite to keep watch and a weekly helicopter drop delivering post and food parcels? I (surprisingly) found that I grew to like many of the characters, they felt believable and so did the way they lived. All in all a very good book and amazingly it's free on the kindle so give it a try! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pipread Posted February 15, 2012 Author Share Posted February 15, 2012 (edited) A Stolen Life a memoir ~ Jaycee Dugard synopsis from waterstone On 10 June 1991, eleven-year-old Jaycee Dugard was abducted from a school bus stop within sight of her home in Tahoe, California. It was the last her family and friends saw of her for over eighteen years. On 26 August 2009, Dugard, her daughters, and Phillip Craig Garrido appeared in the office of her kidnapper's parole officer in California. Their unusual behaviour sparked an investigation that led to the positive identification of Jaycee Lee Dugard, living in a tent behind Garrido's home. During her time in captivity, at the age of fourteen and seventeen, she gave birth to two daughters, both fathered by Garrido. Dugard's memoir covers the period from the time of her abduction in 1991 up until the present. In her stark, compelling narrative, Jaycee opens up about what she experienced, including how she feels now and the struggle to re-build her life after eighteen years in captivity. Garrido and his wife Nancy have since pleaded guilty to their crimes. my thoughts This is not a genre I would usually read, but a friend who I've been trying to encourage to read more bought it! read it!! and then passed it on to me so the least I could do was read it as well. It is a true story, an account written by a 30 year old woman who had been abducted by a paedophile and his wife at the age of 11 and who was their prisoner for 18 years. It gives an insight into Jaycee's life before, during and after her imprisonment. I felt sorry for her from the start because her step father didn't seem to want her around, then she was tasered and taken away whilst on her way to school one morning. There were times that I had to remind myself that this was a true story, nobody, least of all a child should have to suffer what Jaycee did and at times I found it difficult to read. She gave birth to 2 daughters, the first when she was 14. It is a sad and emotional book, but love and hope come through this honest account, that must have been painful to write about at times but I imagine it was part of the therapy she needed to help her move on. The book wasn't the best in terms of the writing but amazing considering Jaycee's education stopped at 11 years old, it's not a long book, I read it in a day, but it's anything but easy either. I was glad that I felt Jaycee is a strong person, who loves her daughters and has the love and support of her family and I felt that the future looks good for her, I got the impression that with help she is putting the past behind her and looking to the future. Edited February 15, 2012 by pipread Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
~Andrea~ Posted February 15, 2012 Share Posted February 15, 2012 Great reviews Pip. I'm looking forward to starting the Sherlock Holmes short stories on audio book soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pipread Posted February 16, 2012 Author Share Posted February 16, 2012 Thanks Andrea, I've often thought of trying audio books but have never taken the plunge Happy reading Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pipread Posted February 17, 2012 Author Share Posted February 17, 2012 The Final Murder ~ Anne Holt synopsis from waterstones A talk-show star is found killed in her home, her tongue removed and left on her desk, cleaved in two. And when a second body, that of a right-wing party leader, is found crucified to the bedroom wall, Superintendent Adam Stubo is pulled from leave to lead the investigation. Is there a celebrity-slaying serial killer on the loose? His partner, Yohanne Vik, agrees to help with the case but begins to see a pattern, one that traces back to her FBI days. If she's right, the pattern will end in the murder of the investigating officer: Adam. From the internationally bestselling Anne Holt, this is the latest thrilling instalment in a gripping and compulsive series. My thoughts The Final Murder is the 2nd book that features Adam Stubo, a detective and Johanne Vic an FBI trained profiler of sorts. Stubo and Vic are now married (having met in the 1st book) and are new parents. A series of murders with no links and no clues baffle Stubo and he asks his wife to help him out. This book kept me interested but I didn't enjoy it as much as the first one, it seemed to lack something that I can't quite put my finger on. However I will read the next book in the series at some time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pipread Posted February 17, 2012 Author Share Posted February 17, 2012 The Auschwitz Violin ~ Maria Angels Anglada synopsis from Waterstones In the winter of 1991, at a concert in Krakow, an older woman with a marvelously pitched violin meets a fellow musician who is instantly captivated by her instrument. When he asks her how she obtained it, she reveals the remarkable story behind its origin...Imprisoned at Auschwitz, the notorious concentration camp, Daniel feels his humanity slipping away. Treasured memories of the young woman he loved and the prayers that once lingered on his lips become hazier with each passing day. Then a visit from a mysterious stranger changes everything, as Daniel's former identity as a crafter of fine violins is revealed to all. The camp's two most dangerous men use this information to make a cruel wager: If Daniel can build a successful violin within a certain number of days, the Kommandant wins a case of the finest burgundy. If not, the camp doctor, a torturer, gets hold of Daniel. And so, battling exhaustion, Daniel tries to recapture his lost art, knowing all too well the likely cost of failure. Written with lyrical simplicity and haunting beauty-and interspersed with chilling, actual Nazi documentation - "The Auschwitz Violin" is more than just a novel: it is a testament to the strength of the human spirit and the power of beauty, art, and hope to triumph over the darkest adversity. My thoughts I enjoyed this story, I thought it was beautifully written. It captures the horrors of the concentration camp whilst telling the story of Daniel a master violin maker who is a prisoner in Auschwitz and his passion and pride in the task he is set of making a violin. I only wish the story had been longer so that other characters could have been developed further. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pipread Posted February 18, 2012 Author Share Posted February 18, 2012 Emotional Geology ~ Linda Gillard From Amazon A passionate, off-beat love story set on the bleak and beautiful island of North Uist in the Outer Hebrides. Rose Leonard is on the run from her life. Haunted by her turbulent past, she takes refuge in a remote Hebridean island community where she cocoons herself in work, silence and solitude in a house by the sea. Life and new love are offered by friends, her estranged daughter and most of all by Calum, a fragile younger man who has his own demons to exorcise. But does Rose, with her tenuous hold on sanity, have the courage to say "Yes" to life and put her past behind her?... My thoughts I'd read many good reviews about this authors books and so needed to see for myself what the fuss was about! Despite all the good things I'd read I still really expected Emotional Geology to be a simple love story. It is a story of love but it was so much more as well. Mental illness, love, life, pain and tragedy are all covered in this story. It is almost poetically written with wonderful characters and such a beautiful scottish island I would love to go there to stay a while. I loved the story and the way it was written. I'll definately be reading more of Linda Gillard's books. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pipread Posted February 18, 2012 Author Share Posted February 18, 2012 The Sacrificial Man ~ Ruth Dugdall from Amazon What I want to say is that suicide is my choice. No-one else is to blame. Man seeks beautiful woman for the journey of a lifetime: Will you help me to die? When Probation Officer Cate Austin is given her new assignment, she faces the highest-profile case of her career. Alice Mariani is charged with assisted suicide and Cate must recommend a sentence. Alice insists her story is one of misinterpreted love, forcing those around her to analyse their own lives. Who is to decide what is normal and when does loyalty turn to obsession? Investigating the loophole that lies between murder and euthanasia, Cate must now meet the woman who agreed to comply with her lover's final request. Shocking revelations expose bitter truths that can no longer be ignored. My thoughts I found The Sacrificial Man to be a dark and disturbing psychological thriller. It's the first book I've read by this author so it was unknown territory for me. I liked the fact that a probation officer was one of the main characters, it made a change! It was a chilling read with many twists and surprises. For most of the book the only character I liked was Cate Austin, the probation officer, but as the story unfolded and I learned more about Alice, who is charged with assisting a suicide I could empathise with her, and also Smith, the suicide victim. I will definately look out for more books by Ruth Dugdall. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pipread Posted April 11, 2012 Author Share Posted April 11, 2012 Now reading A Game of Thrones - George R.R. Martin. I think it will take me a while to read somehow! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.