The Memory Keeper's Daughter by Kim Edwards

Interseting book about a man who gives away his twin daughter, born with Downs Syndrome at birth, without telling his wife, but saying she died at birth. The story follows his family's life and the life of the twin daughter and shows how his action changes so many people's lives.
8/10

At risk by stella Rimington

Yes, that Stella Rimington - the ex head of MI 5. A formulaic story about an international terrorist attack on a UK location and the interlocking of M I 5, M I 6 and the police. Good enough for a by-the-pool read but I wouldn't put in my top ten.

5/10

The lollipop shoes - Joanne harris

the same characters as chocolate so understandably twee. keep you guessing until the end.. although I didn't really understand the ending!
8/10

sleep pale sister - joanne harris

Really quire dark, but then again aren't all of hers. Liked it esp as it was a bit less twee than the chocolate series. confusingly told from different view points that are difficult to catch on to at the beginning!

9/10

how to talk to a widower - Jonathan Tropper

This was our first book for Lou's book club.. can't decide if it was just a chick lit written from a man's point of view or actually an interesting take on the world! the ending was dreadful and I think that turned me off the book at the last minute.
we didn't really chat about the book at book club.. so it hadn't inspired too much

7/10

the laughing fox - frank hrubert

found this at work in the canteen.. total rubbish. i'll never get those hours of my life back again.

4/10

Next by Michael Chrichton

Typical Michael Chrichton modern science fiction. The interesting feature is that it is about research/GM. A quick, easy read, and worth it for me. But perhaps not for you . . . . .

6/10

Bitter Sweets by Roopa Farooki

Enjoyed this book, although I thought it might be a bit dull at that start. Roopa Farooki was at Oxford around the same time as Sarah, not sure if you came across her. The book is about two generations in an Asian family who lives become quite complicated, as the father is leading a double life in England unknown to his daughter who also lives in London. An easy read, very suitable for sitting by the pool.
7/10

The Day of The Triffids by John Wyndham

Hmmm. Interesting enough and a good classic sci fi. But not a competitor to Wyndhams' The Chrysalids. Glad I re-read it but it was a bit of chore. Although it deals with surprisingly modern themes (GM, collapse of the world as we know it) it is very dated in it's style.

6/10

The Accidental by ......

Very enjoyable read. A complex presentation of what can happen when a stranger steps into a family's life and everything is altered. You sway between whether the alterations are good or bad. And the style is good (after you spend the first chapter figuring it out) and it becomes a fast read - a page-turner for me. Thanks Eileen.

8/10

The Chrysalids by John Wyndham

Lovely to read again one of the best science fictions I know. Pretty sure I first read it in my teens. On the surface a superficial science fiction story about post atomic holocaust life with a simple and fast-moving story line. And pretty timeless in it's style. But full of observation about the way mankind behaves. short and sweet, my grubby orange and white penguin version, found through Readitswapit, originally cost 2 shillings and six pence!

Excellent and well worth the read. 10/10

On Beauty by Zadie Smith

Very enjoyable read. I liked it much better than The Autograph Man....more White Teeth standard. It's about two families who end up living in the same town in New England. They have very different outlooks on life and yet become very involved with each other. Both men lecture at the same university, so it deals with relationships between lecturers and students and the politics of running a university....hopefully not all entirely true.
8/10

The Bean Trees - Barbara Kingsolver

Picked this up in Taos, New Mexico because I needed a new book, had thought her book the Poisonwood Bible was amazing and this one was set in the SW so I thought would be atmospheric. It was a relatively easy and quick read - a simple story and some nice characters but nowhere near the Poisonwood Bible league. This was her first book, and it does seem quite simple and contained.
Liz Robinson told me she'd loved P.B. but read others which weren't good at all, so I might not explore Kingsolver further, unless I hear great things!

6/10

That I loved by Siri Hustvedt

Excellent read. Kept you wanting to read more, and thinking about the characters when you weren't reading! It triggered lots of heart-plucking emotions but lots of frustration and tension as well. Very easy narrative style but tremendous painting of characters and their interaction.

9/10

Northern Lights - Philip Pullman

Thought I would re-read at least the first book (perhaps all three) before the film comes out at Christmas. It was a great read second time round - the plot is complicated enough that you don't always know what is coming, but there are also lots of details i'm sure I missed first time round and it's really interesting reading it knowing what will happen in books 2 and 3. The only problem I found was it was a poor choice for taking on my trip to Santa Fe as i had read it all before we landed...


9/10

Random Winds by Belva Plain

Carmen leant me this book while we were in Florida...it's definitely a "round the pool" book. Quite long so took a while to read, but an easy style. Can't really remember what it was about which says it all. The sort of book people leave in your apartment when they haven't room to take it home in their case.
3/10

One Good Turn - Kate Atkinson

Got this on a 3 for 2 offer and had read her other stuff so thought I'd read this.
Defo much better than case histories which I thought was pretty weak and quite a few twists that are still playing in my head.
Each chapter is about a different member of the cast and how they all like together.

7/10

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

Saw this on a 3 for 2 at waterstones and bought it.. fancied reading it for a long time. It's about a childhood in afganistan and then an adulthood i america. Not a LOT of cultural stuff but enough to make it intersting. Would like to read more of his stuff

8/10

The Caves of Steel - Isaac Asimov

Linda (at work) lent this to me ages ago, she's quite into sci fi. I enjoyed it but it was a bit slow going, and perhaps didn't seem as radical as it would have at the time (it's 50s) I liked the insight in to robots and man's relationship with developing technology, and there were some cool touches. In a way what's weird is that some of the predicitions he makes about the futuristic world are too normal now to be shocking...
Overall a good quick read, and a clever ending. Might read something else by him.

7.5/10

The Chrysalids - John Wyndham

Loving it loving it loving it.
Still addicted to John Wyndham.. Didn't find it quite as spooky as the kracken wakes and almost it was a lot more realistic with GM and nuclear accidents.. hmmm

9/10

Atonement by Ian McEwan

Gripping stuff, even by Ian McEwan's standard. Excellent portrayal of the lifestyle of different classes in the 30s and later. And excellent storytelling, of course. Loved it. 9/10

A Boy's Own Story by Edmund White

Based on his life story, this book caused quite a fuss in the 80s when it was published. It's about his early life to teens realising that he was homosexual and trying to understand why he felt as he did, living in America in the 40s and 50s. 8/10

Alentejo Blue by Monica Ali

I enjoyed this although was a bit confused at the beginning as the first two chapters seemed to nothing in common. Interesting study of diiferent people living in small town in Portugal. 8/10

(un) arranged Marriage by Bali Rai

Found this in the canteen at work. Was the story of a 17 year old boy who's family are pushing him into an arranged marriage. Felt very simply written but maybe that was because it was meant to be by a 17 year old?? interesting though

6/10

A short history of tractors in Ukrainian - Marina Lewycka

I was expecting more from this, it was very readable, but I found the history of Ukraine alongside the slightly silly current day plot, rather unsatisfying. It was long listed for the Booker which I thought was really odd.

7/10

The Regeneration Trilogy - Pat Barker

An absolutely brilliant trilogy which came out in the early 90s about the first world war. Very moving, very vivid charaterisation. Gives you a real feeling of insight in to what it was like for the men who were fighting, and the women they left behind. Was really surprised by some aspects of the story she's describing, which made it all the more interesting. At least in part it's based in fact, with fictional characters added, and you get a sense that it's very believable.

one of the best books (or three) in ages.

10/10

Dead Fathers Club by Matt Haig

A rather strange book, set in the present and based on "Hamlet". It's written as a child writes and so very easy to read and is interesting to see the similarities with the play. However I'm not sure how good it would seem if you didn't know the play. The ending is really odd. I still don't understand that. So worth a read but quite confusing.
8/10

Day of the Triffids - John Wynham

MARVELOUS
really rather scary.. possibly not as scary as the kracken but that might have been because I was reading it by the sea. Still really addictive and v looking forward to the crysalids!!

9/10

The Forget-Me-Not Sonata by Santa Montefiore

I got this book as a result of the book email Katy sent from a friend of Christine's. It's an easy read and quite an interesting story about life in Argentina, but wouldn't say I have to read lots more of her books.
5/10

Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt

Read this for a second time as it was a Book Club book. It's based on a true story about a murder in Savanah. We borrowed it from Gus before our drive down the eastern side of US but sadly didn't read the book till after we'd visited Savanah. The book is a good read but it would have been better to visit Savanah after reading it not before.
7/10

A Spot of Bother - Mark Haddon

Well.. generally I liked it, not as strong as a curious incident but still a gripping story that I wanted to finish. Portrayal of mental health was a bit shallow and I wasn't particularly happy with the ending to the episodes.
That said I will defo read his other books but not rush to buy them in hardback.

Bit wierdly Mark's mum was reading this when she came to stay..

8/10

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

Everyman - Philip Roth

A short novel by Philiop Roth (I loved The Plot against America). The idea is it's a 'normal' guy reflectin on his life and loves. It's really pretty bleak, but an interesting characterisation. He's both likable and obnoxious - I supopse the point is that most people are. A good read.

8/10

What I loved - Siri Hustvedt

A recommendation from Sarah Mitchell and lived up to my expectations for her choices! A great story of two families living in New York in the last decades of the 20th century. It's a very intimate description of their feelings and lives, a bit of a thriller, a bit scary and a bit sad. Found it difficult to get in to the first time I read it, but the second try I was gripped!

9/10

On Chesil Beach

Quite a short story, but very powerful. It starts as a sweet love story about two people on their wedding night and develops tragically into what can happen as a result of lack of communication and understanding. A real tear jerker for softies like me.

9/10

The Tenderness Of Wolves by Stef Penney

Remarkably good - a real page-turner (and that's for 450 pages!). Very clever development of lots of characters and interweaving of them, along with the story. Excellent on emotions and relationships as well. Occasionally in danger of too many twists in the story, but read it, read it.

Mum's book

9/10

The Married Man by Edmund White

Had a funny feeling that I'd read this book before, but still persevered. I got it on a read it swap it. It's set mainly in Paris and is about an older man nursing his sick partner through AIDS. His writing is based on a lot of his own experiences I think. At times I found his style a bit tedious, so let's say I probably won't rush out and read his other books. However that's not to say another person might think it's very good.
5/10

The Tenderness of Wolves by Stef Penney

Lovely book..thank you Sarah. It's set in Canada in mid 1800s and tells the story of a woman who travels into the north of the country to try and find her son and clear him of a murder. Lots of interesting characters and an involved story line.
9 /10

On Chesil Beach - Ian McEwen

Wow! Thanks Katy. Excellent new book, comparable with Enduring Love. Superb insight and descriptions (sometimes funny, sometimes penetrating or cutting). Yet short and crisp.

Available for borrowing.

9.5/10

At Risk - Patricia Cornwell

Total drivel and possibly weaker characters than her normal novels.

Enterained me for a week but nothing more.

6/10

Hard Times - Charles Dickens

Not read any dickens before and not really sure I need to read any more. It was incredibly slow and nothing really happened at all.

Nice look of life in the industrial revolution but not really Jane Austen!

5/10

Snow flower and the secret fab - Lisa See

Read this from mum in New York.. A really quick read and very different to stuff I'd read before. vert interesting about a totally different culture.

7/10

Kracken Wakes - John Wyndam

OMG it was fantastic. Totally addicted to reading his other books now.. not sure if I'll start with day of the triffids or midwich cuckoos.

Was pretty scary (might have given me the odd nightmare) and really visual so almost felt like I'd watched the film rather than read the book

Defo 9.5 / 10

At Risk by Patricia cornwell

Gosh, a Patricia Cornwell book that isn't based on Dr Kay Scarpetta. A VERY fast read - in 24 hours (but I was travelling for a lot of those so had masses of time to read on the plane/ in the airport etc!). An american police/politics thriller with some style but it does read like a short story.

7/10

Last Man standing by David Baldacci

American FBI version of James Bond. A good read whilst I was by the pool in Florida and during all that leisure time I had over there. Not an ounce of literary quality, and all the men were macho, all the cars/vehicles were big, fast and macho, and all the women were sweet and caring or sexy. But a good junk read - all 460 pages of it. I have now given it to Mark, having checked that he liked 'action' films and books. At least he might read this one, Katy!

He's written more but I may decline them.

Marks? 5/10.

The Vanished by Celia rees

Very quickly stopped reading this - a supernatural book for kids. But, sadly, one with no merits to it - the opposite of Northern Lights. Might have been aimed at teenage kids, but not in any way an interesting read for me. So, lowest rating ever: 0/10

Fingersmith by Sarah Waters

A good story with plenty of twists in it. It's set in the mid 1800s and links the lives of two orphans: one lives in a mansion in the country and the other with thieves in the east end of London.
8/10

Enquiry - Dick Francis

I was on holiday!
Ok this was pretty rubbish - it didn't have the twisty turny plot I remember of Dick Francis, but it did have the same old formula. I can't actually remember if i'd read this before... but it was fun to sit by the pool and read it.
score 5.5/10

Seven Lies - James Lasden

Saw this reviewed in the paper and it looked quite intriguing. It's a short novel about a man who leaves East Germany to live in America. There's a thriller aspect - that he's obviously done something to escape communism that other people don't know about, but the narrator links this back to events (and lies) in his childhood.
Overall - I liked it, although I am still not sure what happens at the end (and it's a bit sad too).
score 8/10 (more if i'd understood it better!)

Under Milk Wood by Dylan Thomas

Lovely lyrical poetry. Very tempting to read it out loud so you can hear it as well as read it. Short in book terms (written as a play or spoken presentation by a group of voices) and a real indulgence to read in less than a week.

8/10

Disgrace by J. M. Coetzee

Wow, what a sad book! But a real page turner - simple, clear in it's story line and narrative, and a fast, compelling read. So it is a remendous read but I'm not sure I'd recommend it to anyone who isn't up for a sad or penetrating story.

Not sure who the book belongs to (perhaps Mum). I might try another of his books (is it a he?). And is this the child of a previous Coetzee who was an author? Think I need to google.

8/10

Music and Silence by Rose Tremain

This was this month's book club...the only reason I read it. I don't particularly like her style and the story was long and tedious in places. One annoying thing that she does is use capital letters for some common nouns...not all...and I can't work out which are the ones that deserve a capital and why. I suggest you only read it if you've a lot of time to waste.
4/10

Deja Dead by Kathy Reichs

Very good murder mystery told by another forensic pathologist/coroner like Patricia Cornwell's books. I'll read more Kathy Reichs books - at least until I get bored of the genre.

Score? 8/10

Predator - Patricia Cornwell

Similar style to her others.. if you like them, you'll like this. Slightly less about the usual characters though which was less interesting.
Nice ending though.. Dad said he foresaw it.. just shows he reads too many crime novels!

7/10

Three Blind Mice by Ed McBain

Somehow managed to read this whilst holidaying with McSpences. Sometimes seemed to be seeing double! Good murder mystery built around a lawyer who lives in 'Calusa', Florida i.e. Sarasota. Decent story and easy read, but I'm biased 'cos I've read almost everything Ed McBain has written.

7/10

Interpreter of Maladies - Jhumpa Lahiri

A selection of short stories with connections to India (some set in India, some elsewhere). We've been reading this for book club. Enjoyable and generally very readable selection of stories. A couple of them I loved (especially the first and the last - the last is bizarrely uplifting, very emotional) but quite a few I didn't really get that much out of. It's a pulitzer prize winner so I'd be interested to hear about what else won that prize and try reading them. Overall, an enjoyable, sometimes thought provoking read, but not amazing.
7.5/10

Anybody out there? Marian Keyes

same series as rachels holiday etc the final sister.. little anna. REALLY sad but a very easy read. might try reading something a bit more high brow next!!

6/10

The Twenty-Seventh City

Jonathan Franzen seems to have a style. This book is very much in the style of The Corrections and almost as good a read. Definitely 8/10 stuff. Thank you for the loan, Sarah.

Shopaholic and baby

HAD to buy this.. read the rest of the series and they are all pure chick lit. Loved it though, read it in 4 days and got back in the flow of reading on the way to work.

Don't suggest any of you read it (esp as my copy has quite a line of people waiting to borrow it!)

8/10 for readability

The Watsons - Jane Austen and another

This was started by Jane Austen but then she stopped writting it after about 6 chapters. Apparently she told the story to her neice who passed the story on to her children and I think Jane's great great niece (or something) finished it off.

You can't really tell where jane's story ends and the next author begins but it defo isn't as strong a story as the others. Everthing gets fixed withint 2 pages of the end and there isn't even the over moralising there normally is.

glad I've read it though!

6/10

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See

Sheila and Paul gave me this for my birthday and once I got into it I enjoyed it very much. It tells the story of a girl living in China in the early nineteenth century. I'm not sure how much is authentic but I'm afraid that I think it gives a pretty accurate picture of life for girls then. The descriptions of foot binding made me feel pretty squeamish, but apart from that I enjoyed finding out about a life I knew little about. An easy style to read.
7/10

The Hours by Michael Cunningham

This is January's Book Club book. It is tells the story of one day in the lives of 3 women: Virginia Woolf in Richmond in 1920s, Laura Brown in Los Angeles in 1940s and Clarissa Vaughan in New York in 1990s. There is a strong tie between the 3 lives throughout the book. I found it very sad but the style is very beautiful and it helps if you know a bit about Virginia Woolf's life (and death) and also if you've read "Mrs Dalloway", which I read years ago but intend to read again soon. Not sure what they'll make of it at Book Club (will add a comment in February) because it seems very slow at the start.
9/10

Fatal Voyage by Cathy Reichs

A new author for me. A pathologist like Patricia Cornwell, writing murder/mystery books with a strong pathology thread, and where the pathologist and her family/friends are an integral part of the story. A good read if you want entertainment rather than quality literature. I'll read more of her books.

Mark? 7/10.

The Good Soldier by Ford Madox Ford

Like an early version of Jonathan Franzen's The Corrections. The characters grab you but their actions frustrate you. Written in 1910 (the only book that Ford MadoxFord is famous for), a story about two moneyed couples who's lives collided and crashed. Hard to get into the style and rhythm of the writing at first, but well worth the read.

A Mark? 8/10.

The Peppered Moth by Margaret Drabble

This was a Book Club book and received mixed feeling at Book Club. I really enjoyed it although the style is quite slow in parts. The story is based on Margaret Drabble's life and talks about relationship through generations, mainly her relationship with her mother and her daughter. The author's mother escapes from her life in south Yorkshire, but her daughter is drawn back to the village when a scientist begins research into genetic inheritance. Some lovely reminiscences of life in south Yorkshire, probably more interesting to the oldies in our family.

7/10

Second Honeymoon - Joanna Trollope

I may have phased off a bit at the end of last year.. but FINALLY finished this.. was an easy read to get me back into the flow.
Normally a bit more scandalous stories but was just about a family where all the grown up kids move home!! scared M+D??

6/10

Freakonomics - Steven Levitt & Stephen Dubner

Ended 2006 and started 2007 with nonfiction for a change. An interesting read, frustrating in places and representing a particular style of american academia which I don't really like, but funny, and thought provoking.
(Actually this is a bit of a cheat because i've only read the first 4/5 of the book - and not yet the extra material in the 2nd edition)

7/10