BABBLING BOOKS

wonderlake · Posted: Wed Oct 01, 2008 10:24 am Post subject:

1. The Killer inside me, Jim Thompson
One of my OH's, gets a bonus point for being a quick read

2. Death in a Strange Country, Donna Leon
2nd in the Brunetti crime series, I pretty much only read these as they are set in Venice <3

3. Half of a Yellow Sun C N Adichie
Favourite of the month

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Current reading: The Last Temptation, Val McDermid ~ 40 @2009

1001 challenge 2009: 11

nuttymum303 · Posted: Wed Oct 01, 2008 5:58 pm Post subject:

annecater · Posted: Wed Oct 01, 2008 9:11 pm Post subject:

The Sweetness At The Bottom Of The Pie by Alan Bradley - A review copy from BookRabbit. I wasnt impressed with this at all, it read like some sort of old-fashioned Enid Blyton type story. It's supposed to be an adult novel but I felt it should be aimed at young adults.

Remember Me? by Sophie Kinsella - Good old heart-warming chick-lit. I really enjoyed this one.

The Queen And I by Sue Townsend - I love Sue Townsend and this one had been on my TBR for years. A really funny read; the Royal Family move onto a council estate - excellently written.

Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury - A quite dark novel written over 50 years and set in the future - books are banished - fireman actually start fires by burning all books that are found. Interesting story about censorship and controlling Governments.

The Gargoyle by Andrew Davidson - I feel honoured to have been given a copy of this by Waterstones for the Book Group. My favourite this month - this year even. I dont have the expertise to put into words how much I enjoyed this.

The Night Climbers by Ivo Stourton - A review copy and a first novel by this author. I wasnt impressed - I'm sure I've read a similar story by Barbara Vine years ago - this is fine if you want to read a pretty average tale about upper class twits.

Ellen Foster by Kaye Gibbons - A short novel, but very moving and well-written. The story of Ellen, a little girl who moves from home to home and how this shapes her life.

Froth On The Cappuccino by Maeve Haran - A 'dip into' book. A collection of little things that make us happy; from the smell of freshly mown grass to fresh sheets. A real feel-good book.

Monster Love by Carol Topolski - Although a disturbing and bleak subject matter, this is very well written. The author really gets into the psyche of disfunctional family life. Excellent

The Bridges of Madison County by Robert James Waller - A real good old-fasioned love story. Very enjoyable, short novel.

The Amazing Story of Adolphus Tips by Michael Morpurgo - A children's book and a wonderful story. Set in war-time and revolving around a little girl and her cat.

The Twelfth Day Of July by Joan Lingard - I read this series when I was a teenager and enjoyed them. I intend to re-read the series and this is the first book. Set in troubled Northern Ireland in the early 70s.

Dog Lost - Ingrid Lee - Another children's book, but I admit I shed a tear over this. About a boy and his pet pit-bull terrier - very well written.

The Means of Escape by Penelope Fitzgerald - A collection of short stories - some good, some not so good. I prefer her longer novels.

Black Dog by Stephen Booth - The first in the series and I loved it. Police story set in the Peak District with believeable and likeable lead characters. Look forward to the rest of this series.

Girl With A Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier - This is beautifully written, I could almost smell the market from the very descriptive writing. A nice little story but I would have preferred more of a plot

The Color Purple by Alice Walker - What a wonderful read, I dont know why this sat on my shelf for so long. Heartbreaking in places and it totally entralled me. I must watch the film soon.

Gold Diggers by Tasmina Perry - Perfect sunny holiday reading. Total bonkbuster - but oh so satisfying. I love this author!
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Currently reading: The Tent The Bucket and Me by Emma Kennedy and Granny The Pag by Nina Bawden

1001 Challenge Books read in 2009 - 3
1001 Challenge Books read in 2008 - 8
1001 Challenge Books read in 2007 - 13

Amie · Posted: Thu Oct 02, 2008 10:02 am Post subject:

Disgrace - J M Coetzee I loved this, a really simply written book about a tragedy and how a family deal with it. Unlike a lot of 'high brow' literature it didn't rely on fancy story telling devices, it relied on it being a good story. 5/5

Hawksmoor - Peter Ackroyd I didn't really like this. It was about a series of murders, drawing together now and the 18th century. Very atmospheric, but a weak storyline and didn't really explain things very well. 2/5

The Ressurectionist - James Bradley About a trainee surgeon in nineteenth century London who gets involved in the darker side of the profession. I don't know why I kept on with it, it was boring and I didn't really care about the characters. 1/5

Birdman - Mo Hayder A policeman is hunting a serial killer. It had a lot of twists and turns but it's my least favourite that I've read of hers. It just wasn't as powerful and didn't grab me as much as the others. 3/5

The Devil and Miss Prym - Paulo Coelho A nice village has a week to make a life changing decision. All about good and bad and the way humans think and react. It was really interesting and a great premise. It was also easy to read. 4/5

The English Patient - Michael Ondjaate A love story set against the backdrop of the end of the second world war. It was a nice interesting read, but it didn't really grip me. But I don't really do love stories. 3/5

Flaubert's Parrot About someone trying to write a biography of Flaubert. I'm glad I waited till I'd read Madame Bovary before reading it. I think it's a book that you either love or hate, it was very unusual. I liked the dry humour in it though. 4/5

The Heather Blazing - Colm Toibin About a judge, close to retirement, thinking over his life. Not really my cup of tea, it was interesting in places but I got a bit bored with the modern stuff. I liked the descriptions of his childhood though. 3/5

The Inheritance of Loss - Kiran Desai I'd wanted to read this for ages but I was disappointed with it. It was about the struggles on the Indian-Nepal border, and about an anglicized family. I found it quite boring and disjointed, and was relieved when I finished it. 2/5

Tipping the Velvet - Sarah Waters I liked Fingersmith and loved The Night Watch. This I wasn't impressed with. Girl becomes a music hall star then hits rock bottom. It was obvious and formulaic and overlong. 1/5

The Charterhouse of Parma - Stendhal About a young man and the women who love him. It was meandering, and jumped years at a time which was quite confusing. When it was actually telling a story of what happened to him I enjoyed it though. 3/5

The Lord Of The Flies - William Golding Not really what I was expecting, at least to start with. It was quite harrowing in places and I found the ending convenient and rushed, after a slow build up in the first part of the book. I don't think 'enjoy' is the right word for it, but it was a good read. 4/5
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Kill the tbr - currently 124
Currently reading:
War and Peace - Leo Tolsty
Wild Swans by Jung Chan
The Golden Notebook - Doris Lessing

mummymelly · Posted: Sat Oct 04, 2008 3:32 pm Post subject:

This month I read...

Pop Babylon by Imogen Edwards - Jones 8/10
Alison's Diary, The Nappy Years by Alison Craig 8/10
Special Delivery by Zoe Barnes 7/10
Jordan, Pushed To The Limit by Katie Price 7/10
The Sugar Queen by Sarah Addison Allen 8/10

To Your Daddy by Gail Levy 5/10

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Currently Reading "Switchcraft" by Lowri Turner

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