The Body in the Library - Agatha Christie

This is a Marple mystery. In the same way I was surprised to find how funny Poirot is, I discovered Miss Marple is actually very irritating. Her quirk is to make comparisons between characters and events in the plot with people in her own village. So I found that part of this quite annoying, but the actual story was pretty good in the end.

6.5/10

The Seven Dials Mystery - Agatha Christie

A country house mystery with lots of jolly ladies and chaps - all baffled by how ghastly the murder and throw themselves in to solving the mystery. A touch famous five, but a pretty good story.

7/10

The Almost Moon by Alice Sebold

This month's book club, written by same woman who wrote The Lovely Bones and strange in a similar way. It's about a woman who kills her very ill mother...(not a nice theme). Not sure if you are supposed to sympathise with her or not but still quite an interesting read...and like her other two, a quick read.
7/10

Nocturnes by Kazuo Ishiguro

This author wrote The Remains Of The Day which became an excellent film 'starring' Anthony Hopkins and Emma Thompson. Get that from DVD club if you want to see 'below the stairs' life in the ... 1920s?

This is 5 short stories picturing life in England. Suzie bought it for my birthday. They are an easy read and enjoyable but nothing exciting or insightful. Borrow it if you want some light reading (no vampires or Torchwood).

7/10

Child 44 by Tom Rob Smith

T R S's first novel, well reviewed in Sunday Times and then a birthday pressie from Sheila who hadn't seen the review - coincidence. Detective drama with a harrowing theme (serial child murder) and a stunningly portrayed setting in post-Stalinist russia. A good thriller and a terrific insight into everybody's life in that crazy era (the farce of trying to eat and live in those conditions, and not only do your neighbours betray you, you partner will. Sound like 1984?). My only problem was that it was the book I took into hospital with me on 19 May - not a good time to read something as harrowing as this. But I did, eventually, and it is a good read. Sheila has now bought me his second novel. . . . watch this space.

8/10

A short history of nearly eveything - Bill Bryson

One of the new genre of books popularising science. Very successful. Gave lots of information in a way which was undestandable/accessible. Allowed the reader to grasp the scale of the universe and the tiny stuff inside DNA, and the emergence of homo sapiens. But 573 pages made it hard work overall so you need to need to read it or take it in small chunks.

8/10

The Big Four - Agatha Christie

This was marvellous. A crazy international spy thriller with poirot solving countless mysteries as he uncovers the identities of the wicked four trying to TAKE OVER THE WORLD. Very funny. The comments about race and sex aside, it's quite hard to think this was written in the 20s.



8/10

Keeping the world away by Margaret Forster

This month's Book Club and one which I wouldn't have chosen for myself. It centres around a painting from the turn of the last century and the effect it has of 5 women over the years ending with the present day. Surprisingly I enjoyed it and more exciting is the fact that Noelle lent me a book about the life of the painter (Gwen John).
8/10

The Midden by Tom Sharpe

I swapped this book through Readitswapit. Many years ago Dad and I read a selection Of Tom Sharpe books and found ourselves laughing out loud. Sadly this didn't cause the same reaction.....not sure if it's not as funny as his early books or maybe I'm just that bit older! Typical Tom Sharpe story about the gentry getting into all sorts of mishaps and corrupt police forces....it will be going back on my RISI list for exchange.
5/10

The Mysterious Affair at Styles - Agatha Christie

Well, I've started the "read all the agatha christie books" quest. One down - a very quick and gripping read. This was her first novel, and it's a Poirot. Loved the style and the slightly crazy characters. Now I will go and see what Kate and James have said about it and I missed.




8/10

Devil may care - Sebastian Faulks (as Ian Flemming)

Sebastian Faulks wrote this in the style of Ian Flemming (apparently he's a fan) to commemerate his centenary. It was a good read - and in general a good plot, although sometimes a little confusing with the references to other people. It's set in the 70s so Bond gets away with being a little dated...





6/10

Members Only - Leone Fox

At least these were written before she met rich. entertaining.





5/10

Another World by Pat Barker

Dare I say it....I found it more compelling a read than "Regeneration Trilogy"...only I suspect because the style seems to be so much easier to read. She certainly has a good understanding of people. I think I need to read the trilogy again to check out all the references to Geordie.
9/10

There will be rainbows by Kirk Lake

A biography about Rufus Wainwright which confirms the crazy life he had growing up and maybe excuses some of his actions. It's not at all sensational and rather assumes the reader knows all about when Rufus went crazy on crystal-meth so only refers to it as a part of the biography rather than writing a story full of the gory details. A lot is written about his father, mother, aunt and sister, all famous in the music business and all with their own strange behaviours. I really enjoyed reading it.
9/10

Two Caravans by Marina Lewycka

Read this ages ago and only just got round to adding it to Beck Book Club. Very similar to her "Tractors" book and equally amusing. It's a quick and easy read about a group of migrant workers who come to England in search of holiday work.
8/10

The Reluctant Fundamentailist -Mohsin Hamid

A great read (read it all on the flight to salzburg, leaving me with nothing to read IN salzburg). A great story, and the style is compelling. I thought the politics really moving and now really want to know what other people think of it.



9/10

Eclipse - Stephanie Meyer

Yes, I read the third one. Still enjoyable, although with this book I started to get more irritated with the gender politics and not so sure about it being targeted at teenage girls (the theme of which of these two men will you choose to protect you started to grate).
Still, I will be reading the 4th...




7/10

Secret Scriptures - sebastian barry

This was a book club book. can you guess it was told by 2 people?? A woman who had been in a mental institution for 80 years and her doctor.

Mark read it just before me and didn't guess the ending until right at the end.. he obviously didn't have his feelers out because I thought it was very predictable.

6/10

19th Wife - david ebershoff

Picked this up as a 3 for 2 at blackwells.

About a sect of mormons. Like everything else I'm reading at the mo, it's several stories linking together although rather than 2 people telling the same stories this is 2 historical stories that mirror each other.

I really liked it and it gave me quite an insight into polyomy

8/10

This Charming Man - marian keyes

Similar to her other novels, a story about ladies with slightly dark undertones.

written from 3 different women's points of view, who all know the same man. Seems unrelated until the middle of the book and then it all starts slotting into space.

8/10