Adrian Mole and the Weapons of Mass Destruction - Sue Townsend

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

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

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

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...

Murder is easy - Agatha Christie

A whole series of mysterious deaths is a village that turns out to be not as quiet as anticipated. There's a strange subplot about an apparently GAY antique dealer who is clearly up to no good and perhaps a satanist. But the actual end was pretty good with a few unexpected twists. Liked this one.

Murde at the vicarage - Agatha Christie

The first Miss Marple story, she's already an old spinster of the village. Colonel Protheroe is murdered and it turns out just about everyone had a motive! Realised towards the end that I've seen this on tv...

Indignation - Philip Roth

I love philip roth. Bought this in salzburg airport, it's a relatively new novel by him and it's pretty short. It's about a Jewish boy going to University in the States in 1951. The politics and environment are very saddening. What's interesting is Roth manages to make a sympathetic story about a rather disagreeable main character (similar in a strange way to his book everyman). I found it incredibly readable (finished in a day) and it left me feeling rather bleak but moved.


8.5/10

another world - Pat Barker

Thought this was brilliant, although I was a bit scared. The family relationships are really well done and the feeling of a plot or life on the edge of disaster was compelling. Thought the character Geordie was great. I think I still liked the trilogy more, but this was a great development.

8/10

Cat among the pigeons - Agatha Christie

Set at a girls' school, but with an international politics plot and priceless jewels too. Hercule Poirot comes along and saves the day but he's not in it for the first half and he's not as funny as in Styles. Interesting to read a book from this era that centres almost entirely on women.


7/10

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 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

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

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

New moon - Stephanie Meyer

Oh dear, I'm addicted. This was the second in the teenage vampire series. It was fine, a bit simplistic, although the finish was pretty dramatic. Not enough vampire and a bit too much werewolf in this one. Let's hope Kim lends me book number 3 soon.


7/10

Private Members - Leone Fox

I'm not reading as much as I should so I need to list every book I can. This was hilarious, but I spent all the time on the train worrying people were going to read it over my shoulder.

5/10

A perfectly good family - Lionel Shriver

Picked this up on the way back from Colorado. It's no 'we need to talk about kevin', but it's a good study of three siblings who inherit their parents' house. The two brothers each ally with the middle daughter who is torn between the two. A really interesting character study, a bit depressing in places, but overall thought provoking about family and friendships.

8/10

Twilight - Stephanie Meyer

An enjoyable, but light story about a teenage girl who falls in love with a vampire. I liked the way the characters and the story was set up, although there were places where not much was happening... I watched the film on the plane to the states which was fun as well and I expect I'll read the other books in the trilogy.

6/10

The boy in the striped pyjamas

At last I've read a book! It's been ages. Really enjoyed this - a quick by engaging read. I thought the perspective of the boy was really well done - although I think it worked well as a short book, might not have managed to keep it up for a longer novel. I thought the ending was excellent - avoided anything cliched.

8/10

All he ever wanted - Anita Shreve

Enjoyed this story about a Victorian academic in New England who marries a free spirit and is forever jealous of her. I was expecting a more dramatic ending, but actually worked very well. I found the characters very convincing but no one was especially likeable, particularly not the narrator. Any recommendations for what else I should read by Anita Shreve? I liked the plot and style of The Pilot's Wife much more.

7/10