A Week In December by Sebastian Faulks

Much faster and up to date than his earlier stuff such as Birdsong or Girl At The Lion D'or, I thoroughly enjoyed this book (though mum didn't). Good complex story about people in London only loosely connected in the run up to terrorist activity and the collapse of the world's banking & economies. Hooked me quickly and I needed to read quickly, which is a very good sign.

8/10

Early warning: now starting the Jo Nesbo books!

Any Human Heart by William Boyd

This was last month's Book Club choice and when I first got it I had my doubts about whether I'd read it or not....pretty thick book. It starts a bit slow but well worth persevering....it's a great read about the life story of a writer called Logan Mountstuart who was born at the beginning of the 1900s. It's all based on journals he kept and a real page turner. It had me completed fooled....I was about to look for some of the books it claims he wrote....until someone at Book Club told me the truth!!!!
8/10

The Cold Six Thousand by James Ellroy

The usual 600 pages of really complex story from James Ellroy which would have been virtually unreadable if I had not kept saying to myself "Is this true? Is it real?". Long ramble about America in the early 60s - politicians (mainly Kennedies) mobsters, seedy police & CIA, Cuba and other 'marginal' countries.

And there's another book to complete the trilogy! Can I face it? I will because he hasn't written anything else so I will have read all his stuff then. Phew!

8/10

Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi

Do you all know that the whole book is in cartoon format? I suspect you do.

Lovely book. Intriguing format and very effective, lots of information( and true!) story.

9/10

A week in December by Sebastian Faulks

I'm afraid that I didn't really enjoy this book....I know he's supposed to be a good writer, but I think he introduces too many characters who don't appear much in the book and also he spends a lot of time talking about the ins and out of the financial world. I didn't understand what he was on about and I don't think it's necessary to the story development. As the title suggests it's about what happens to a group of people during a week in December. They are linked loosely.
5/10

Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi

Sarah gave me this for Mothers' Day...thank you. The story is about a girl growing up in Iran, who is sent to Europe in her teens to escape living through the troubles in the country. In the second half of the book, she returns and tries to live under the religious oppression. The book is written as a cartoon and is very easy to read. However that doesn't stop it being a powerful insight into life in Iran. Well worth a read!
9/10

So many ways to begin by Jon McGregor

This is the second book by the man who wrore "If nobody speaks of remarkable things" and it might even be better! A fantastic story about a man trying to find out the truth about his background. The author has such a wonderful understanding of characters and a beautiful way of writing.
9/10

The Very Thought of You by Rosie Alison

A Christmas/birthday present fr5om Katy and Mark (thank you) the story starts with a girl being evacuated to a big house in Yorkshire which runs as a boarding school. The girl eventually returns to London when her father comes home from active service. The girl's life while evacuated plys a significant role in her relationships in later life and in the second part of the book she returns to the house to meet one of her teachers who owns the house and still lives there. Probably more of a feminine book than what Dad chooses to read, but worth borrowing if anyone wants to.
8/10

Blood River by Tim Butcher

This was a Book Club book and I have to confess I wasn't really looking forward to it. It's about Tim Butcher's attempt to follow the route of Stanley along the Congo River. In fact it proved better than I thought, giving an amazing insight into what life is like in the Congo since independance. The corruption that was around in the colonial years continued and parts of the country in the 2000s is still very primitive.
6/10

Sea glass - anita shreve

Another one centred around the beach house. this about a couple who move there in the 20s and he is involved in a strike 'up mill'.

7/10

A body in the library - agatha cristie

nice miss marple but an awful lot was unveiled as she was explained who done it.. that you didn't know earlier in the book.

7/10

A wedding in december - anita shreve

About a group of college friends who get togther for a wedding 15 years after graduating.

Not in anyway corny

8/10

Getting rid of Matthew - jane Fallon

Pretty much chick lit that I've fancied reading for a while.

reasonable story but a slightly odd idea that a guy leaves his wife for his mistress and she decides she doesn't want him and spends the book trying to get him to get back together with his wife

5/10

Body Surfing - Anita Shreve

there are a lot of books centred around the same house and this is another one.

about a woman who is tutoring a girl from a swanky house on the beach and her relationship with the family.

8/10

the carhallan army - sarah hall

this was mark's book for book club which he recommended.

about a group of wormen who live together in a commune after the collapse of civilisation.

Interesting but ridiculous ending.

7/10

Resistance - anita shreve

again lovely gently written but gripping story. about belgium during nazi occupation and (as the title suggests) the resistance movement.

A plane crashes and the resistance care for the pilot.

9/10

Double Vision - Pat Barker

About a guy who served in Afganistan and how he gest used to life when he comes home. I love pat barker.

8/10

the big four - agatha cristie

as sarah's chum put.. one of the most dull books ever.

not what we expect from hercule.

4/10

At Bertram's Hotel - Agatha Cristie

standard miss marple. now amazing in any way though.

7/10

The Pilot's Wife - anita shreve

Fabulous. good gripping story but gently written.. not the kind of book you couldn't put down but it just kept pulling you back.

Good story too.

9/10