rk Rowling Harry potter and the deathly hallows

so sad the end of an era. But very glad I queued up at midnight for it.
cheesy end but still made me cry

10/10

JK Rowling Harry Potter and the Half blood prince

Had to re read it in preparation for.....

8/10

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - JK Rowling

I won't say much, but I did have to stay up til 1.30 am last night reading and I thought the overall ending to the book and the series was pretty neat.
Can't wait to discuss it....

8/10

A Spot of Bother by Mark Haddon

Bought this on the way home from Switzerland as I had run out of reading! It's the same author as 'The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time'. This book is about a family with grown up children and the various crisis which hit when the daughter gets married, including the father having a breakdown. I didn't enjoy this anywhere near as much as the last book - which I thought was really interesting from the narrator's point of view. This one was ok on giving the father's view of the world, but I thought it was all a bit superficial.

6.5/10

What I Loved by Siri Hustvedt

It takes a bit of getting in to, but well worth it. A truly beautiful book and a real tear jerker. As a parent, you wonder how long you could think positively about a son like Mark. Thanks Sarah for recommending it.
9/10

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close - Jonathon Saffron Froer

Wow. What can I say, katy said this was brilliant and it is. So sad though - whereas I think Katy cried on her way to walk, I cried on the train home from geneva.
I thought the different voices and styles worked much much better than in Everything is Illuminated. I wasn't convinced as I was reading it about the resolution of the story - but as soon as I had read it I felt very convinced by it.
Amazing - and a definite recommendation if anyone hasn't read it yet.

9/10

The Spell - Alan Hollingshurst

A short book by Alan Hollingshurst who wrote Line of Beauty. It was a good read, and really interesting characters, but I didn't feel it spoke about the world in the same amazing way that line of beauty did. It was certainly evocative, but perhaps it wasn't really trying to say much provocative. Good read though! And I'll probably read others by him

8/10

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

This month's Book Club book. A marvellous book about life in Afganistan during the troubles of the last 40 years. I know very little about the history of the country and now feel I need to find out a lot more. What makes it really tragic is that I suspect much of the book could be true.
9/10

Sleep Pale Sister by Joanne Harris

Surprisingly a real page turner. Her first book - written before Chocolat etc. and initially didn't sell well, but much more gripping than her current stuff. Very good picture of the seedy or frustrating side of victorian life and relationships, and a good example of victorian gothic horror or mysticism as well. Well worth a read.

Thanks mum.

8/10

The Seven Year Itch - Emlyn Rees and Josie Lloyd

Bought on a 3 for 2 at waterstons.. have read all their other books and whilst I wouldn't say this was the most amazing peice of writing ever it was funny and easy to read.

7/10

Between A Rock And a Hard Place by Aron Ralston

Wouldn't have bought it but borrowed it from Mark to see just what had happened. Not for the squeemish but very factual diary of events (he was an experienced outdoorsman who got trapped and had to cut his hand off to save his life!). So, informative but also padded out by 50%, telling background stories of his other outdoors experiences.

4/10

Little Altars Everywhere by Rebecca Wells

Same author as "Divine Secrets of the Ya Ya Sisterhood" and about the same family. It makes you laugh in places but has a sad side to it.
8/10

The house of sleep - Jonathan Coe

Got sent this in the book chain letter thing. Have read it before but couldn't remember that until I'd finished.

Liked it again though, slightly freaky love story and written so that the time line jumps around.

7/10

Camomile Lawn - Mary Wesley

Bought on a 3 for 2 at waterstones but not really sure what it was about, or that she'd written it late in life.
Actually it was perfectly up my street.. nice politeness with a bit of story (well a war) added in. There was a lot of sleeping around but not as racy as the telly program made it (I understand.. I didn't see the telly!

9/10

On Chesil Beach - Ian McEwan

Lovely. perfect McEwan style.. waiting for something to happen, on the edge of your seat. As you've all read it I probably don't need to go on but just give it.....

10/10

Sleep, Pale Sister by Joanne Harris

An early book by Joanne Harris and no food references, thank goodness! Quite a gothic story set in Victorian times with ghosts and spirits. Her style is still recognisable, but an interesting change in subject. It has recently been reprinted since the popularity of her later books.
7/10

The Life And Times Of The Thunderbolt Kid by Bill Bryson

If you like Bill Bryson you'll love this. An extensive and very sweet run through Bryson's childhood in 50s small-town America. Great for anyone old enough to recognise and appreciate nostalgia. And a good easy read for anyone who just likes his style. Thank you sarah.

8/10

the mermaids chair - Sue Monk Kidd

Lovely lovely lovely, read it in a weekend.

Very much like secret life of bees in style and comfort.

9/10 (possibly a 10 if I'm honest!)

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