Bel Canto - Ann Patchett

Sue from bookclub recommended this after we'd read Run by the same author.

Again quite a slow style but enough story to keep you wanting to read more. About a VIP dinner that gets taken over by terrorists

I liked the ending but the epiogue was jsut ridiculous.

6.5/10

If Nobody Speaks Of Remarkable Things by Jon McGregor

lovely lovely lovely,

think you've all read this already so I won't say much.

lovely and gentle with confusing switching between times and centre of attention.

8/10

The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield

Good read about a woman, Margaret, who is asked to write about the life of a famous writer before she dies. The story uncovers a mystery around twins which links in with Margaret's past.
The style is quite easy to follow and the plot interesting.
7/10

The Innocent Man by John Grisham

Boring, boring, boring. Grisham's first non-fiction book I suspect he had it ghost written - by a zombie. The story of farcical small town policing and bigotry and an innocent man sent to jail for 12 years for a horrific rape and murder(until DNA proved him innocent). Could have been good but just went on. And on. And onnnnnn. Don't even think of wasting your time on it. Is this a balance review? Yup!

1/10

The Abortionist's Daughter - Elisabeth Hyde

Liked this a LOT. was a basic murder mystery with a bit more story behind it. Not that obvious who done it and nicely explained why they did. It also had 2 chapters of the actual day and how it happened right at the end which was a bit like a columbo backwards!

7/10

Run - Anna Patchett

Read this for Lou's book club.

About a family who are involved in a car accident and the fall out from that. I really liked it, although I've already heard the girl who picked the book hated it.

7/10

Cit of God - Paulo Lins

Probably read this more in 2007 than 2008 but finally finished it today.

Was a book before the AMAZING film and crickey it was a violent book. I'd forgotten how violent the film was but I might watch it again.

All about gangs in brazil, drug dealing and some very young children getting involved.

8/10

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