Cities Of The Plain by cormac McCarthy

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

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

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

The Girl Who Kicked The Hornets' Nest by Stieg Larsson

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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