Wednesday, May 30, 2007

Alentejo Blue - Monica Ali

Well it was good. Totally readable and made you not want to put it down, but not what I was expecting after Brick Lane. Not as gritty as I thought it would be.
Felt like a Joanne Harris without the twists.


7/10

Three Stories - Alan Bennett

A collection of three short stories: "The laying on of hands", "The clothes they stood up in", and "Father! Father! Burning bright" All really excellent little stories - great characters (as you'd expect). The idea behind the clothes they stood up in is brilliant. A quick and enjoyable read. (had to borrow this from Rick for the train home from london, because I read Philip Roth too quickly)

8/10

Sunday, May 27, 2007

Everyman - Philip Roth

A short novel by Philiop Roth (I loved The Plot against America). The idea is it's a 'normal' guy reflectin on his life and loves. It's really pretty bleak, but an interesting characterisation. He's both likable and obnoxious - I supopse the point is that most people are. A good read.

8/10

Wednesday, May 23, 2007

What I loved - Siri Hustvedt

A recommendation from Sarah Mitchell and lived up to my expectations for her choices! A great story of two families living in New York in the last decades of the 20th century. It's a very intimate description of their feelings and lives, a bit of a thriller, a bit scary and a bit sad. Found it difficult to get in to the first time I read it, but the second try I was gripped!

9/10

On Chesil Beach

Quite a short story, but very powerful. It starts as a sweet love story about two people on their wedding night and develops tragically into what can happen as a result of lack of communication and understanding. A real tear jerker for softies like me.

9/10

The Tenderness Of Wolves by Stef Penney

Remarkably good - a real page-turner (and that's for 450 pages!). Very clever development of lots of characters and interweaving of them, along with the story. Excellent on emotions and relationships as well. Occasionally in danger of too many twists in the story, but read it, read it.

Mum's book

9/10

Thursday, May 17, 2007

The Married Man by Edmund White

Had a funny feeling that I'd read this book before, but still persevered. I got it on a read it swap it. It's set mainly in Paris and is about an older man nursing his sick partner through AIDS. His writing is based on a lot of his own experiences I think. At times I found his style a bit tedious, so let's say I probably won't rush out and read his other books. However that's not to say another person might think it's very good.
5/10

Friday, May 04, 2007

The Tenderness of Wolves by Stef Penney

Lovely book..thank you Sarah. It's set in Canada in mid 1800s and tells the story of a woman who travels into the north of the country to try and find her son and clear him of a murder. Lots of interesting characters and an involved story line.
9 /10

Thursday, May 03, 2007

On Chesil Beach - Ian McEwen

Wow! Thanks Katy. Excellent new book, comparable with Enduring Love. Superb insight and descriptions (sometimes funny, sometimes penetrating or cutting). Yet short and crisp.

Available for borrowing.

9.5/10

Tuesday, May 01, 2007

At Risk - Patricia Cornwell

Total drivel and possibly weaker characters than her normal novels.

Enterained me for a week but nothing more.

6/10

Hard Times - Charles Dickens

Not read any dickens before and not really sure I need to read any more. It was incredibly slow and nothing really happened at all.

Nice look of life in the industrial revolution but not really Jane Austen!

5/10