Thursday, August 26, 2010

The Girl who played with fire by Stieg Larsson

This is the second book in the trilogy and I don't think it's as good as the first. I have lots of problems with all his characters.....their Swedish names sound very similar and I get mixed up. Also the ending this time was very fantastic....you could just imagine Hollywood getting their hands on it. Will still read the final one though.
8/10

The Penelopiad by Margaret Atwood

However I did enjoy this book.....even though I read this one ages ago too. It's about Odysseus' wife and how she coped while her husband was away in the Trojan War. Very amusing in a Margaret Altwood sort of way.....prompted me to have another look at Carol Ann Duffy's poems "The Worlds' Wife" which are a humourous look at imaginary wives of famous people, e.g. Mrs Midas.
8/10

The Rachel Papers by Martin Amis

Read this ages ago but only just getting round to updating beck book club! Seem to remember that I didn't really like it. I find his style very over the top and the plot of the book was pretty corny....so all in all I'd say...don't bother reading it if you haven't already!
4/10

The Big Nowhere

The strongest style yet from James Ellroy - but I've got more of his to read. Los Angeles 1950 cops and (very) baddies story. His writing style is everything but some people might find it offensive or think it is tacky. Me, I love'em.

9/10

Friday, August 06, 2010

Letter From America by Alistair Cooke

Only enjoyable if you have heard and liked Alistair Cooke's 'letters from America' on radio 4 in the past. This is a selection of his 'talks' using topical items to give people in Europe and elsewhere an understanting of what life is like in America. Delightful - if you love his style.

9/10 for me