Norwich Murders - Maurice Morson 2006 - * * * *

I cannot help but be interested in murders that take place in places that I have visited before. Although I didn't know every part of this book of Norwich-based murders I certainly knew enough to be thoroughly amazed and disgusted by some of the cases.
The particular highlights for me were the last trilogy of murders from about 1860-1950 all based around passionate killers. Very eerie to see pictures where the bodies were found and areas the suspects were arrested etc.
Very well written.

Started 22nd March
Finished 27th March

Sickened - Julie Gregory 2003 *

This was quite frankly a really boring and badly written book. The author writes in a peculiar and barely readable way, mixing up real and fantasy in a way that really confused me. I didn't enjoy it at all and I'm very pleased it's over.

Started 20th March
Finished 26th March

The Edible Woman - Margaret Atwood 1969 * * * *

Margaret Atwood has an amazing knack of conjuring up a vivid and distinctive picture of a certain scene for me when I read and although this is shamefully my first Atwood it won't be my last. She writes in a perfectly normal way with a hint of bizarre obscurity. I was also surprised to learn that she was only 23 when she wrote this, her first novel and although there are hints of a naive writer there are also parts of the book that seem incredibly mature. I look forward to sampling more of her books.

Started 19th March
Finished 23rd March

Crimes of Passion: An unblinking look at murderous love - Howard Engel 2001 * * * *

Although this book took quite a while to get into I found it really fascinating to read about so many cases (some that I knew, and some that were unknown to me) where people have either got off a jail sentence (or the death penalty)when it was clear it was premeditated murder or have been executed when they really shouldn't have been because it was literally a crime of passion. The cases span back hundreds of years from the case of Grace Marks (who was written about as the subject of Margaret Atwood's novel 'Alias Grace') right until more recent ones including the case of Lorena Bobbitt who cut off her husbands' penis after a row. Very well written and documented.

Started 7th March
Finished 19th March (was also reading other things!)

Forgotten - Les Cummings 2008 * * *

Not a bad read, I got through it pretty fast, written in an easy style and this time we are confronted with the dreadful story of a boy who is abused in the children's home that he is sent to after being abandoned by his mother. This man really confronts his demons later on in his life though and it is a relief to read.

Started 17th March
Finished 19th March

Broken - Shy Keenan 2008* *

Although this story was dreadful and hearbreaking I didn't much care for the way it was written. References began to annoy me afterwards such as rape being called 'doing the horrible' which came up on nearly every page and for that I don't want to rate it higher than 2 stars. That is only for the writing style and technique however and nothing to do with the story - unlike fiction you cannot even think of rating a story such as this because it seems like an insult to mark it out of five. Still it has taken me a lot longer than some misery memoirs I have read in the past.

Started 5th March
Finished 17th March

Bel-Ami - Guy De Maupassant 1885* * * * *

A first book from this writer for me, but it definitely won't be my last. A wonderful portrayal of 19th century Paris and the ruthless, money-grabbing chauvinist that is Georges Duroy a.k.a Bel-Ami to his friends and many adoring mistresses. Maupassant has an amazing way of capturing Paris through his writing and when reading about his walks up and down various streets at night one could almost make believe that you were there too. His writing style is exquisite and the story is one of the best satires about a corrupt social-climbing manipulator that I have ever read.
Amazing.

Started 1st March
Finished 9th March

The Chocolate Run - Dorothy Koomson 2004* * * *

I'd never heard of this writer before until a good friend recommended her and I sped through this book. This was incredibly easy to read and I found that I really cared about the main character and what happened to her from beginning until end, however I did manage to guess the big 'secret' way before the finish but all the same a fun read.

Started 2nd March
Finished 5th March

Intimate Adventures of an Office Girl - Sienna Lewis 2009* * * * *

I thoroughly enjoyed this account of an office girls' exploration into one night stands, sex clubs and 'uncomplicated' flings. Written in a very real and very refreshing way, Sienna manages to pull the reader straight into her life and witness her failings at finding 'the one.'
Great Read.

Started 1st March
Finished 3rd March

Please don't make me go - John Fenton 2009- * * * *

This story really touched a nerve. I'm not sure if it was the way the boy had been brought up to believe that violence was a normal part of life, or the fact he was so religious despite all the trauma he went through including being sexually abused and beaten and caned by the sadistic Brothers at his school - St Vincent's.
Written in a very easy style to read I skimmed through this book in no time.

Started 23rd February
Finished 26th February