beckbookclub

Freedom by Jonathan Franzen

2011-11-14T14:20:00.002Z

Briiliant book, recommended by Sarah, but I think I finished it before her. It's about an American family and the things that go on in their lives. The characters are very recognisable...I think I'm very much like Patti....and she drives me mad!!!!
Well worth a read. The only thing I didn't like is that the chapters are very long and there is often no obvious place to stop reading. So you either read into the early hours and stop when it doesn't feel like a natural stop.
9/10

Afterwards by Rosamund Lupton

2011-10-22T16:25:00.002Z

Mum thought this might not be my thing either but I thoroughly enjoyed it. Sensitive and touching at some times but also a good complex mystery story. Well worth a read.

8/10

Nemesis by Jo Nesbo

2011-10-22T16:20:00.002Z

My second Jo Nesbo book and no doubt I'll read more. Another swedish cop story and a good enough story to be a page turner. Won't set the world on fire but I'll get the next one in his series.

7/10

One Day by David Nicholls

2011-10-22T16:14:00.002Z

Mum thought I might think this book was chick lit but far from it. The characters grabbed me and held me, and I had this disoriented feeling that they might be real - you know, when you think about them when you are not reading. ( I think Katy coined that description.) Haven't seen the film yet and don't need to - the images from reading are very stong. Read it if you haven't already.

9/10

The Help by Kathryn Stockett

2011-10-09T04:08:00.003Z

I knew I had to read this as everyone over in USA is talking about it. A very good read about the relationships between black women and their white mistresses in Mississippi in the early 60s. The author was raised by a black help so I expect it's pretty authentic.
9/10

Valley of the Dolls by Jacqueline Susann

2011-10-09T04:05:00.002Z

Read this book many years ago...it first came out in the 60s and caused quite a stir. It's about life in Hollywood and supposedly based on the lives of true people. It deals with drug taking and the "high" life of the famous in Hollywood. An easy read but not sure I'd call it a piece of good literature.
7/10

Girl in Translation by Jean Kwok

2011-10-09T04:00:00.002Z

Again another loan from Katy. An interesting read about a mother and daughter who arrive in New York from Hong Kong and how they manage to live there. The mother never really loses her Chinese identity. Enjoyable read and I'm sure pretty authentic for a lot of people in similar circumstances.
8/10

One Day by David Nicholls

2011-10-09T03:56:00.003Z

Katy leant me this and let's face it, we've all heard loads about the book and the film. It's about 2 people who meet up at various times during their lives...looks at the same date every year. I enjoyed it...I have to confess bits of it made me think about Sarah and Rick Wray (sorry). I want to see the film...I think it will be better than the book.
7/10

Crossing The Lines by Melvyn Bragg

2011-08-25T21:44:00.002Z

Been promising myself I'd read some of his stuff, not because of his first name (with a 'y') but because any reviews or references I've heard are very complimentary. And he always seems interesting on t' radio.

This is about a teenage boy's rites of passage in a 1955 Cumbrian farming/industry town and where life took him from there. Beautiful use of language and very touching (and insightful) telling of a simple story. Superb portrayal of lots of characters. I want more.

Anybody want to borrow it?

10/10

Breakfast on Pluto by Patrick McCabe

2011-08-20T21:15:00.003Z

A really strange book set in Ireland in the 60s/70s. It's about a boy who was fathered by a priest and handed over to a large family in the village. He grows up as a very mixed up child who spends his teenage life as a tranvestite prostitute. Very funny in places but also very sad. It was shortlisted for the Booker Prize in 1998.
8/10

Selected Poems by Carol Ann Duffy

2011-08-20T21:12:00.002Z

This month's book club choice. For some reason we decided to try a poetry book although I'm not sure what everyone will make of it. The poems are chosen by Duffy from various of her anthologies. I love the last selection from The World's Wife, but am not sure I completely understand some of her earlier stuff.
7/10

Afterwards by Rosaund Lupton

2011-08-20T21:09:00.002Z

Rosemary leant me this book when we were up in Norfolk. She said it was a serious weepy one.....and she was right. It's about a mum and her teenage daughter after they have been in an accident. A bit like "Lovely Bones" they are telling the story as if they are spirits - their bodies are still in hospital on life support machines. Not a story if you don't fancy a good cry!
8/10

The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd

2011-08-11T16:43:00.002Z

Ok so I know I've read it before, but it was Book Club's July read so I read it again. Equally good the second time. I think we've all read it so can't spoil the story for you. Very interested to hear what Book Club think. Surely no one could not like it.
9/10

The Redbreast by Jo Nesbo

2011-08-08T10:13:00.002Z

Nesbo is flagged as the next Stieg Larsson. Hmmm, we'll see.

Redbreast is a standard cop-v-killer story, clever and set in present day Norway and in the second world war, but not as addictive as the Larsson books & characters. There's lots more Nesbo books and I'll try some because I've already got 2 more books (think I'll also try one on my Kindle App). But I wouldn't rush if I were you. They may be formulaic.

7/10

A Week In December by Sebastian Faulks

2011-07-19T09:19:00.002Z

Much faster and up to date than his earlier stuff such as Birdsong or Girl At The Lion D'or, I thoroughly enjoyed this book (though mum didn't). Good complex story about people in London only loosely connected in the run up to terrorist activity and the collapse of the world's banking & economies. Hooked me quickly and I needed to read quickly, which is a very good sign.

8/10

Early warning: now starting the Jo Nesbo books!

Any Human Heart by William Boyd

2011-07-14T20:22:00.002Z

This was last month's Book Club choice and when I first got it I had my doubts about whether I'd read it or not....pretty thick book. It starts a bit slow but well worth persevering....it's a great read about the life story of a writer called Logan Mountstuart who was born at the beginning of the 1900s. It's all based on journals he kept and a real page turner. It had me completed fooled....I was about to look for some of the books it claims he wrote....until someone at Book Club told me the truth!!!!
8/10

The Cold Six Thousand by James Ellroy

2011-07-05T12:58:00.002Z

The usual 600 pages of really complex story from James Ellroy which would have been virtually unreadable if I had not kept saying to myself "Is this true? Is it real?". Long ramble about America in the early 60s - politicians (mainly Kennedies) mobsters, seedy police & CIA, Cuba and other 'marginal' countries.

And there's another book to complete the trilogy! Can I face it? I will because he hasn't written anything else so I will have read all his stuff then. Phew!

8/10

Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi

2011-07-05T12:52:00.002Z

Do you all know that the whole book is in cartoon format? I suspect you do.

Lovely book. Intriguing format and very effective, lots of information( and true!) story.

9/10

A week in December by Sebastian Faulks

2011-07-04T19:39:00.002Z

I'm afraid that I didn't really enjoy this book....I know he's supposed to be a good writer, but I think he introduces too many characters who don't appear much in the book and also he spends a lot of time talking about the ins and out of the financial world. I didn't understand what he was on about and I don't think it's necessary to the story development. As the title suggests it's about what happens to a group of people during a week in December. They are linked loosely.
5/10

Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi

2011-04-14T11:35:00.002Z

Sarah gave me this for Mothers' Day...thank you. The story is about a girl growing up in Iran, who is sent to Europe in her teens to escape living through the troubles in the country. In the second half of the book, she returns and tries to live under the religious oppression. The book is written as a cartoon and is very easy to read. However that doesn't stop it being a powerful insight into life in Iran. Well worth a read!
9/10

So many ways to begin by Jon McGregor

2011-04-07T17:03:00.003Z

This is the second book by the man who wrore "If nobody speaks of remarkable things" and it might even be better! A fantastic story about a man trying to find out the truth about his background. The author has such a wonderful understanding of characters and a beautiful way of writing.
9/10

The Very Thought of You by Rosie Alison

2011-03-26T09:23:00.002Z

A Christmas/birthday present fr5om Katy and Mark (thank you) the story starts with a girl being evacuated to a big house in Yorkshire which runs as a boarding school. The girl eventually returns to London when her father comes home from active service. The girl's life while evacuated plys a significant role in her relationships in later life and in the second part of the book she returns to the house to meet one of her teachers who owns the house and still lives there. Probably more of a feminine book than what Dad chooses to read, but worth borrowing if anyone wants to.
8/10

Blood River by Tim Butcher

2011-03-26T09:16:00.003Z

This was a Book Club book and I have to confess I wasn't really looking forward to it. It's about Tim Butcher's attempt to follow the route of Stanley along the Congo River. In fact it proved better than I thought, giving an amazing insight into what life is like in the Congo since independance. The corruption that was around in the colonial years continued and parts of the country in the 2000s is still very primitive.
6/10

Sea glass - anita shreve

2011-03-18T19:43:00.005Z

Another one centred around the beach house. this about a couple who move there in the 20s and he is involved in a strike 'up mill'.

7/10

A body in the library - agatha cristie

2011-03-18T19:43:00.001Z

nice miss marple but an awful lot was unveiled as she was explained who done it.. that you didn't know earlier in the book.

7/10

A wedding in december - anita shreve

2011-03-18T19:42:00.002Z

About a group of college friends who get togther for a wedding 15 years after graduating.

Not in anyway corny

8/10

Getting rid of Matthew - jane Fallon

2011-03-18T19:41:00.002Z

Pretty much chick lit that I've fancied reading for a while.

reasonable story but a slightly odd idea that a guy leaves his wife for his mistress and she decides she doesn't want him and spends the book trying to get him to get back together with his wife

5/10

Body Surfing - Anita Shreve

2011-03-18T19:40:00.003Z

there are a lot of books centred around the same house and this is another one.

about a woman who is tutoring a girl from a swanky house on the beach and her relationship with the family.

8/10

the carhallan army - sarah hall

2011-03-18T19:38:00.000Z

this was mark's book for book club which he recommended.

about a group of wormen who live together in a commune after the collapse of civilisation.

Interesting but ridiculous ending.

7/10

Resistance - anita shreve

2011-03-18T19:37:00.001Z

again lovely gently written but gripping story. about belgium during nazi occupation and (as the title suggests) the resistance movement.

A plane crashes and the resistance care for the pilot.

9/10

Double Vision - Pat Barker

2011-03-18T19:36:00.002Z

About a guy who served in Afganistan and how he gest used to life when he comes home. I love pat barker.

8/10

the big four - agatha cristie

2011-03-18T19:35:00.004Z

as sarah's chum put.. one of the most dull books ever.

not what we expect from hercule.

4/10

At Bertram's Hotel - Agatha Cristie

2011-03-18T19:35:00.001Z

standard miss marple. now amazing in any way though.

7/10

The Pilot's Wife - anita shreve

2011-03-18T19:33:00.001Z

Fabulous. good gripping story but gently written.. not the kind of book you couldn't put down but it just kept pulling you back.

Good story too.

9/10

Escaoe routes for beginners - kira cochrane

2011-03-18T19:32:00.001Z

This lady writes for the guradian and I really like her style. However the book was a bit dull and childish.

Story was a bit odd about a girl growing up on a prison island in the 50s.

6/10

Theodore Boon by John Grisham

2011-03-13T18:20:00.002Z

Want a light, quick but quite entertaining read? 260 pages in less than a week? Story about a 13 year-old boy on the fringe of a murder case. Almost as if it is written for kids. But I enjoyed it - read it in less than a week. Good enough, especially for J Grisham.

Available for borrowing.

8/10

American Tabloid by James Ellroy

2011-03-09T08:32:00.003Z

I hinted about this book in my last blog. It is captivating, massive, complex and hard to read even if you are an Ellroy fan. And it is the first in a series of four! Only readable by people who had read some of his earlier books and who realy took to his style and (sometimes offensive) language. Story? America in the late 50s/early 60s. Kennedies, the mafia, CIA, FBI, J Edgar Hoover (director of the FBI), Howard Hughs and an entire nation of other characters, some who are so seedy, crude, racist, sexist - but sadly, alarmingly, real.

So I need a break of at least two other lighter books (John Grisham next, then) before I attempt the next in the series.

But . . . . 10/10

Too Much Happiness by Alice Munro

2011-02-16T11:01:00.002Z

One of my birthday books from Katy and Mark...thank you. It's a collection of short stories which are very well written but as with lots of books like this I wanted to read more of each story. Definitely worth a read...her style is enjoyable to read.
8/10

One Good Turn by Kate Atkinson

2011-02-08T16:54:00.002Z

Kate Atkinson is the Behind The Scenes At The Museum author. This is a mystery story told a little bit more seriously than When Will There Be Good News but still very good light reading. Very entertaining story set around a modern day Edinburgh festival. Definitely a page turner. I'd say 9/10 and ask to borrow this copy from mum, even if it is a bit crumpled. A good book to take on holiday.

9/10

The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga

2011-01-30T17:23:00.003Z

This is this month's book club book and winner of 2008 Booker Prize. A good story set in India about a poor man who becomes successful by becomming part of the corrupt society. It gives a good insight into what life is like for the underclasses in India.
8/10

Generation X by Douglas Coupland

2011-01-23T11:06:00.002Z

Only read this because I had nothing else to read at the time....(thank you Katy, now I've got lots)....and thought I ought to read it. As the title suggests it's about the "younger generation" ....who annoy my generation at times by blaming everything wrong in their lives on us!! Oh dear I bet that sets the cat among the pigeons. Intersting book, although I think a bit dated and no doubt much better if read when it first came out.
6/10

Never let me go by Kazuo Ishiguro

2011-01-23T11:03:00.002Z

Fantastic book....the sort you can't put down. To tell you the plot would spoil the story, but it's mainly about a group of children growing up in a strange environment. About to be released as a film in UK next month. A must I think.
10/10

Village Centenary - Miss Read

2011-01-16T11:29:00.002Z

Gentle as all the others I've read.. but I was amazed that the book was set in 1980!

7/10

Mini Shopaholic - Sophie Kinsella

2011-01-16T11:28:00.002Z

I've read all the other shopaholic series so thought I'd read this one.. the shopaholic has a daughter.
the daughter is really quite horrid. didn't really warm to anyone in the book

5/10

After the Funeral - Agatha Cristie

2011-01-16T11:26:00.001Z

when a book has a family tree in the front cover to explain who everyone is, there are going to be too many characters to remember and that was defo the case with this book.

Good thriller with hercule but just too many family members to remember who everyone was until at least half way through!

7/10

Borders Crossing - Pat Barker

2011-01-16T11:24:00.002Z

I'm reading the full Pat Barker set at the mo (unionstreet that I read last year which I think was her first was brilliant).
this was as good as her others. About a psychologist who works with children who've comitted dreadful crimes. He happens to meet one of the chldren he helped commit after he has been released many years later.

8/10

The girl who kicked the hornet's nest by Stieg Larsson

2010-11-06T08:55:00.003Z

This is the third book in the Millennium trilogy and very long. The story is good, but I find the number of characters (especially their Swedish names) confusing. Actually I think the story would have been as good if he'd left out some of the characters. Having said that, it has to be read if you've read the other two as it brings a conclusion to the plot. Although if the author hadn't died he could probably have managed a few sequels!
8/10

White Jazz by James Ellroy

2010-10-30T08:55:00.002Z

Another James Ellroy and the most eccentric writing style so far. Packed with 1950s American slang/oplice language and strangely short sentences - 5 words, sometimes only 3. Good story line if you like his extremely blunt style. Still got more to read but not for a while.

8/10

Generation X by Douglas Coupland

2010-10-02T12:08:00.002Z

Hmmmm, don't know what to say about this book. It is remarkably gentle and wandering. I expected something much sharper and focused. Worth the read but it took me some time 'cos I only took in it fairly short doses and didn't find it a page-turner, but did want to finish it.

Comments from K & S about Generation A in view of what I've said above would be welcome.

Erm, 5/10

Postcards by E. Annie Proulx

2010-09-22T13:54:00.002Z

This is the story of a man who has to leave his home and family after he kills his wife. As the years go by, his only contact with his former life are by sending postcards from the different parts of America where he settles. He never finds out about the troubles that happen at home, although the reader gets both sides of the family's life. Quite an interesting idea for a story, but at times it was a bit slow...not what I'd call a "page turner"!
5/10

If nobody speaks of remarkable things by Jon McGregor

2010-09-15T16:55:00.002Z

I read this book before but don't seem to have added it to Beck Book Club. It was this month's book club book and I enjoyed reading it again. I think it is such a beautiful book. I couldn't believe it when I went to Book Club and several people thought it was dreadful and others weren't impressed by it at all. But then I recommended "What I loved" to one of the group and she thought it was aweful. People are so different aren't they? Anyway I still thought the book was lovely...beautiful style. We all know what it's about don't we?
9/10

Cities Of The Plain by cormac McCarthy

2010-09-13T22:53:00.002Z

The last in a trilogy by the man who recently wrote No Country For Old Men. Once again, beautiful writing style, beautiful imagery, really touching stories about people leading a simple 'cowboy' life in 1950s to 1980s small town Texas and Mexico. I loved them but it's a heavy trilogy which tested my stamina.

9/10

The Girl who played with fire by Stieg Larsson

2010-08-26T14:53:00.002Z

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

2010-08-26T14:49:00.004Z

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

2010-08-26T14:45:00.002Z

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

2010-08-26T14:19:00.002Z

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

Letter From America by Alistair Cooke

2010-08-06T17:22:00.002Z

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

The Girl Who Kicked The Hornets' Nest by Stieg Larsson

2010-07-18T19:14:00.002Z

I paused Alistair Cook's Letters From America book (partly because it is very long and a break was wise) to read this. It's twice the length of Larsson's two previous books but it is just as compelling a read. Bit sad that it will be the last - Larsson died after writing this one. Important to read it after the other two books. Excellent modern thriller with great characters. That applies to al lthree books. Read the first one yet, Katy?

9/10

Devil Bones by Kathy Reichs

2010-06-16T09:01:00.002Z

Kathy Reichs is the real-life forensic anthropologist who writes thriller books about a forensic anthropologist (as opposed to Patricia Cornwell who is an author who writes books about . . . a forensic anthropologist.)

Devil Bones is Reichs' latest book. They are all written to a formula but it is a good formula. If you like that sort of thing. I do. Murder, mystery and mayhem and lots of opened-up bodies and bones etc. in Charlotte, North Carolina. Plus a group of good quality characters who provide continuity from book to book.

8/10

The Girl Who Played With Fire by Stieg Larsson

2010-06-10T20:01:00.002Z

A good thriller and a natural and enjoyable sequal to The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo. But somehow it is easier to live with all the Swedish names. I'm ready for the last one in the triology now but I'd better read something else for a change

You must read them in the right order.

9/10

The Crossing by Cormack McCarthy

2010-05-30T09:58:00.002Z

Second in the trilogy (first was All the Beautiful Horses). Even more poetic/artistic in its description of situations but also even longer and felt like a long, slow read. Will read the final book soon and hope it is equally beautiful - but crisper!

8/10

My Dark Places by James Ellroy

2010-05-05T12:35:00.002Z

Only readable if you are a strong fan of James Ellroy, and even then it is a tough and long slog. Ellroy writes cop/crime/lowlife novels about America from the 1940s to now (seen the film of L A Confidential?). This book is a biography built around his reinvestigation of his mother's murder in very seedy circumstances when he was ten.

I'm glad I read it (I now understand why he writes as he does) but I would not recommend it.

5/10

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

2010-05-04T20:46:00.002Z

Really enjoyed this book although I did find the ending a tear jerker. The story is told by Death and concentrates on the 2nd World War in Germany. The main characters become involved with a Jew and their concern for what is right and how this conflicts with their country's belief on the situation is very touching.
9/10

Unaccustomed Earth by Jhumpa Lakiri

2010-05-04T20:43:00.003Z

If the next two entries look like Dad and I have been reading together that's not quite true. However when we go away it's better not to take lots of extra books, so we do sometimes tend to read the same ones. This was left by Patti in the apartment and tells stories with similar themes about Bengalis living in North America. Some lovely insight and written with the benefit of experience I expect.
8/10

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Steig Larsson

2010-05-04T20:38:00.002Z

Enjoyed it along with the rest of the world. It's the first book of a trilogy so am keen to read the next two. The girl in the story helps solve a murder from several years ago. Interesting characters and family conflicts.
9/10

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

2010-05-04T11:18:00.002Z

Katy's book, I think. Thank you . A lovely read. Story told by someone looking back on their childhood in Germany during the rise of the nazis and the war. Lovely writing style, great painting of many people, ordinary people but eccentric or full of character. And a very touching story.

9/10

Unaccustomed Earth by Jhumpa Lahiri

2010-05-04T11:14:00.002Z

I saw this on a 'top 10 to read list' and then mum found that Patti had left it at our apartment. Five not-so-short stories about Indians (that's asians) living in America. Very good - well worth a read. I don't normally like short stories but these create an overall picture and her writing style is very enjoyable.

8/10

Triffic Chocolate by Alan MacDonald

2010-03-19T12:18:00.002Z

A book dedicated to the history and all other things chocolate. A lovely fun read, given to mum by Douglas Cave (the 12/13 year old who produced our website). Gives you a very easy and digestible insight into chocolate.

7/10

Now I'm going to try reading The Book Thief, on loan from Katy. (Is this a new feature on the blog - a trailer of the next review?)

Indignation by Philip Roth

2010-03-16T11:19:00.002Z

Thanks for the loan of this Sarah. An excellent book by a very skilled author. Clever, funny in parts, sad in parts and with some story twist which take you by surprise. Does he write anything which is not from an American jewish perspective? I'll read more of his stuff.

9/10

Bright Blue by Rabbi Lionel Blue

2010-03-07T22:32:00.003Z

A collection of some of Lionel Blue's talks on Thought For The Day. OK - some gems but many ordinary talks. And not quite the same as hearing him on radio 4 on Friday morning when you are on your way to work.

6/10

The Old Man And The Sea by Ernest Hemingway

2010-03-03T20:51:00.002Z

My third time, I think, of reading this. And I'd forgotten how perfect it is. You may not like Hemingway's books or his macho male image but this book is an exercise in writing perfection. His other books are not like this, but this is 100 pages with not a sentence wasted or unfocussed or extraneous. Even if you don't like the story he has composed a bit of literary perfection. Did I go over the top?

10/10

When Will There Be Good News by Kate Atkinson

2010-02-28T16:46:00.002Z

Mum reviewe this recently. I found it a very good read. Modern, light, entertaining, funny. And loaded with references or puns about music, literature (modern and old) and loads more stuff. If you were put off by her Emotionally Wierd book or other recent ones, give this a try.

8?10

I, Robot by Iassc Asimov

2010-02-23T11:21:00.002Z

This month's book club and that's the only reason why I read it! It's been made into a film with Will Smith but in fact the book was written in the 40s. That in itself makes it interesting....it seems the author wrote lots of sci fi stories. However I found the style very difficult to read...reminded me of adolescent boys who are reluctant readers.
4/10

When will there be good news by Kate Atkinson

2010-02-23T11:18:00.002Z

Tells the story of a woman who witnessed the death of her mother and siblings when she was a child. At first the characters seem isolated, but as the story progresses so do the connections between them. I enjoyed it..the style is easy to read.
9/10

All The Pretty Horses by Cormac McCarthy

2010-02-16T19:29:00.002Z

McCarthy wrote No Country For Old Men - if you haven't read that or seen it, I'd strongly recommend doing one or both. Pretty Horses is a lovely, lilting story about a 16 year old boy growing up fast in rural Texas and Mexico in the 1930s. Very low key style of writing which is beautifully descriptive (about cowboys???) and yet a clear, steady story line. I'm after the next two books which make up a trilogy.

9/10

Dreams from my father by Barack Obama

2010-02-14T17:50:00.003Z

A Book Club book, although I think I would have read it anyway. It's about Obama life until his marriage. Very interesting and gives a good insight to where he's coming from. He had an unusual background. At times the book drags a little.
8/10

The Black Dahlia by James Ellroy

2010-02-13T19:15:00.003Z

American author with a very strong distictive style. Black Dahlia is a Los Angeles police story set in 1946. All about a horrific murder and a very blunt - crude - lifestyle. It's like a film noire gone way over the top. I like the author's style so will read the next two books which form a trilogy of life in 1940s LA.

9/10

Adrian Mole and the Weapons of Mass Destruction - Sue Townsend

2010-02-06T18:48:00.000Z

Really enjoyed this - haven't read any of the adrian moles since the first two and thought the character was really good grown up. Some nice references to the very early books. Good fun and a quick read.

8/10

Destination Unknown - Agatha Christie

2010-02-06T18:45:00.002Z

This was really good - more a thriller than a murder mystery, about a group of scientists who have been persuaded to betray their countries to join a mysterious campaign. A great central female character who is jolly brave throughout, and a pretty good twisty end. No marple or poirot!

8/10

"Am I alone in thinking . . .?" letters to the Daily Telegraph

2010-01-27T11:44:00.002Z

Hilarious. Thank you very much Sarah for this Christmas pressie. You can rest easy that it won't persuade me to read the Telegraph every day but I did empathise with a lot of the letters! Except for the crazy loony ones. A very fast very funny book.

9/10

The Plot Against America by Philip Roth

2010-01-22T16:29:00.002Z

Mum must have reviewed this before me.

Roth's novel creates a picture of 1940s America seen through the eyes of a 9 year old jewish boy living in a very jewish community - when the Nazis take over Germany and the holocaust emerges. But the novel imagines that a republican president with fascist beliefs and connections with the nazis wins the 1940 election. And implements his beliefs . . . . . Very readable. The boy gives a naive and humorous perspective of life in the USA in the 40s but the reader is in no doubt about the direction America is going in.

9/10

Juliet, Naked by Nick Hornby

2010-01-15T17:01:00.002Z

A gift from Sarah this Christmas...thank you very much. It's much like his other books so an enjoyable read. About a couple in their 40s...he runs a website for a forgotten (by most people) rock star of the 80s. They split up and the woman becomes involved with the rock star to the disbelief of her ex partner. Typical of his other books things don't get sorted out nicely in the end and you always wish there could be a bit more...but I suppose that's life! Very philosophical hey.
9/10

The Lady and the Unicorn by Tracy Chevalier

2010-01-15T16:58:00.002Z

December's Book Club book and surprisingly quite good. It's by the same woman who wrote "The lady with the pearl earing" and a similar plot based this time on 6 tapestries which were thought to have been woven in the Middle Ages. The story is based on some historical fact but Tracy makes up lives for the characters involved. It was made even more exciting by the fact that we went to see the tapestries in a museum in Paris this New Year....spooky!
8/10

The Prostrate Years - Sue Townsend

2010-01-03T15:59:00.001Z

new Adrian mole.. as marvellous as the others.. read it in 2 days. can praise no more.

fabulouso 10/10

The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo by Steig Larsson

2009-12-29T15:12:00.002Z

Excellent very modern murder/mystery book set in Sweden (unsurprisingly - see his name). First book in a trilogy. A good thriller and a remarkable insight into Swedish people and lifestyles. Some very gory and sexually abusive bits but the story depends on those bits. And at the beginning of each chapter Larsson (who was a newspaper investigator/reporter) quotes a statistic on the abuse of women in Sweden.

A long book, sometimes tough, but a very good read.

9/10

Playing with Grown ups - Sophie Dahl

2009-12-28T15:57:00.000Z

The back said she was as marvellous as her grandfather.. which I guess is a ompliment but quite a lot to live up to.

I liked it, the story switches between a girl growing up in her teens with a unappropriate mother who clearly struggles.. to the girl grown up going to visit her mother. Nothing unexpected in the story but easy to read and enjoyably

8/10

The mirror crack'd from side to side - Agatha Christie

2009-12-27T18:51:00.001Z

The first Christie I've read where I've known exactly who's done it all the way through (because I've seen the film several times...) A good story and interesting spotting how many clues are given throughout when you know who done it in advance.
Miss Marple is very old in this one and seems to spend most of the book making observations that people on the dreadful new housing estate are really just like normal people (although the only really good egg on the estate wants to move at the end) and pressing drinks on people.

8/10
and this means i read 21 books this year...

life and soul of the party - Mike Gayle

2009-12-27T13:19:00.002Z

story told through several parties during the year by a groupd of friends. Nice.. easy and defo not too cheesy

8/10

Evil Seed - Joanne Harris

2009-12-27T13:18:00.002Z

I love her normally and ths was alright but not amazing. bit disappointed it had vampires in as I've read a LOT of vampire stuff this year.

8/10

book thief markus zusak

2009-12-27T13:16:00.003Z

marvellous. not sure why it needed to be told by death.. but it does remind you how very present he was in nazi germany
Really interesting view of life from ordinary germans..not the boy in stripped Pjs or Anne Frank but ordinary folks.

did break my heart at the end though

10/10

Generation X - Douglas Coupland

2009-12-27T13:15:00.003Z

slightly spoilt by mark who kept asking 'have you got to XXXX yet?' but a nie story of 3 kids who have kinda dropped out of american life Not deperate to read all his other stuff but I might do gradually

8/10

Looking for Andrew McCarthy by Jenny Colgan

2009-12-27T13:14:00.002Z

easy bit of reading. quite a good story without a DREADFUL ending although pretty cheesy

7/10

Revenge of the Wedding Planner by Sharon Owens

2009-12-27T13:13:00.002Z

pretty poor chick lit that I bought second hand. no need to read more of this lady!

5/10

Hornet's Nest by Patricia Cornwell

2009-12-27T13:11:00.001Z

pretty dreadful crime thriller. Silly story linking it together and the worst description of a transexual ever!!!

6/10

wish you were here - mike gayle

2009-12-27T13:10:00.001Z

he writes good boy-chick lit and this is the same as normal
good story not dreadfully cheesy at the end

7/10

Until I find you - John Irving

2009-12-27T13:09:00.001Z

not his best but still good. story that kept you gripped all the way through about a boy growing up with his mother who is hunting for his father.. nice twist at the end

8/10

The Clothes on Their Backs by Linda Grant

2009-12-27T13:07:00.001Z

Think this was a 3 for 2. Not amazing but interesting read about imigrants settling into life in london (or not really settling). Was nominated for the booker prize

7/10

Reluctant Fundamentalist - mohsin hamid

2009-12-24T10:08:00.002Z

Marvellous

softly written but rather deep I think you'll find.. and interesting that at the end you don't fully understand

9/10

Babe - Dick King Smith

2009-12-24T10:06:00.001Z

I think we were now in the bad part of summer and I needed some PROPER comfort reading.. so I thought I'd read babe and obviously it's being counted!!

fabulous as ever

8/10

Summer of Secrets - Martina Reilly

2009-12-24T09:45:00.002Z

Lue brought this round thinking it was my book.. it wasn't but I read it anyway.

Bit chick lit.. not very clever although it did have my favourite with chapters told by different people.

5/10