Working in London Through the Eyes of Chick Lit

I'm all of a sudden having a bit of a craving for reading chick lit. Christmas has just been and we all had a lovely time, and my step-sister got some fun looking chick lit as a pressie which she was thrilled about. I've always been into chick lit, mostly because I have always had a dream of living in London (although I despise the pollution, the people, the noise and the heat) and reading many of these types of books is brilliant, because it transports you to somewhere (normally London) walks you down the streets, takes you into the cafes and restaurants, and gives you the feeling of being there. Although London is busy and totally overcrowded it makes you feel totally calm reading about it in a novel. I also love the fact that if the heroine works in London i.e. an office or a quirky little business you get an insight of what goes on in there (I have always wanted to do the 9-5 in a London office, preferably in the West End and walk along the Thames at night) It sounds silly when I write it down, but reading these books is ideal for someone who wants to imagine they are living in the capital without actually having to live there. You simply live there through the pages of the book instead. I have felt that ever since I read my first Sophie Kinsella.
2012 is chick lit year.

Books, Books, Books?

Next year I am determined to make a proper dent in the list of books I want to read. So far I am reading one that takes my fancy and then perusing the next one to the extent that I am wasting precious time not knowing what I next want to read.
Next Year I am going to have a schedule for my reading. I know it's not very proper and it sounds like I'm going to take all the enjoyment out of it if I have a specific pattern, but actually I think it will help me tackle books that I have had on my TBR pile for god knows how many years. I will continue to try and read as much Wodehouse and Christie as I can, but will also aim to read a classic for every 3 or 4 easy/modern novels that I finish. I do love classics when I get in to them, but sometimes the idea of having to read something that doesn't jump right off the page at me is rather off-putting. I am also determined to read all (or at least half) of the Georgette Heyer detective novels (having only read one so far and thoroughly enjoyed it) along with a few of the Dorothy L Sayers 'Lord Peter Wimsey' books. Crime, crime crime is the word on my 2012 mouth. I will devour as much crime and detective fiction as I can eat. I may even get started on one of the Edmund Crispin or Ngaio Marsh novels if I dare... Does anyone know whether there are any other detective writers like the ones I've listed? I am starting to become obsessed with them..
So maybe this is completely ridiculous, having just started this rant by saying that I want to have order to my reading, and then going on to say I'm going to read a specific genre instead of particular novels, but at least having a good idea of which genre I want to make a big hole in is a bloomin' good start...

Pigs Have Wings - PG Wodehouse - 1952 ****1/2

I enjoy Wodehouse's work tremendously, however I do more times than not find myself in a right pickle as to what is going on with all the characters. Each character is perfectly formed, but sometimes the sheer volume of them can get a bit overwhelming. However I think I have very nearly cracked it in this one, and was able (most of the time, although there were a few hiccups) to keep track of exactly what was going on and who had a relationship with who etc.
The book centres around the miraculous and noble Empress of Blandings (who of course is a pig of giant proportions and geniality) and the difficulties that Lord Emsworth is having trying to get her fattened up for the annual Fat Pig Competition (57,000 calories are to be consumed daily if I remember correctly!). In training for the gold is another pig, The Queen of Matchingham, who has been purchased sneakily by Lord Emsworth's neighbour Sir Gregory Parsloe to make Lord Emsworth paraniod about the competition. Both owners are obsessed with their pigs winning (we know from past stories of Lord Emswroth's fondness for the Empress) resulting in pig pilfering and mix ups from both sides, (it must surely be a sight to find a pig in your kitchen!) along with the usual broken engagements, (including being engaged to two women at once) ridiculous conversations, suspicious diet products and general hilarity from all parties. You also end the book wanting very much to know about the future of the Empress of Blandings, with as much affinity and excitement as you can muster!)
Everything is always resolved in Wodehouse's books, and you have a bloomin' laugh along the way too. One of the funnier ones I have read of his, producing ugly snorts from me on every page (much to the amusement of other people).

Started 2nd November
Finished 8th November

Complicit - Nicci French 2011 ***

I can't really tell what I thought of this. I want to think highly of it because it's the Nicci French team, but it certainly wasn't as good as the last one I read by them and I found the constant 'before' and 'after' chapters totally confused me.

Plus, Bonnie, the main protagonist is one of the most annoying and deeply unpleasant characters to read, and her actions in finding a body in her friend's flat are completely ridiculous. She is also supposed to be irresistable to all men but from her description sounds fairly unattractive. I must say I did figure out who the murderer was before the end, partly because of the complete lack of depth into the character that it couldn't really be anyone else. And I was amazed that I got to the end and found that I was no closer to understanding what was going on then when I was at the beginning.

Not as strong as their other works. It was certainly full of suspense, but probably not in the way it was supposed to be.

Started 30th November

Finished 2nd December

Fiesta: The Sun Also Rises - Ernest Hemingway 1926 *****

I have for a long time now, also had this impression that Hemingway was ridiculously hard to read like James Joyce, and so have never given him much of a chance. The second I started this book I knew that I had completely the wrong opinion.

Hemingway is incredibly easy to read, and much like Guy de Maupassant (to my delight) writes in a refreshing, honest and thoroughly modern way. The author was only in his mid-twenties when he wrote his debut novel and you would never in a million years imagine it.
The novel follows Jake as he travels from Paris to Pamplona for the bull fights with an assortment of friends (and enemies), including Brett Ashley who he is totally besotted with, but unfortunately so are most of the other male characters.

The novel is so readable, and you can read it so quickly that I was surprised when I found I had finished it last night. It's one of those books where you are so desperate to find out what happens next that you have your finger on the next page in excitement. Hemingway is a master of descriptive narrative, and reading his work really can transport you to another world and another time, isn't that what books are all about??

Started 25th November

Finished 30th November

The Book of Illusions - Paul Auster 2002 ***

This book started off brilliantly. It followed a man who, after losing his sons and wife in a plane crash decided to research an almost forgotten Silent Screen Star named Hector Mann and write a book about him. Hector Mann disappeared over 40 years ago and everyone assurmed he had died. But then one day after finishing the book, the man receives a telegram from someone claiming that Hector Mann is still alive, and wants to meet him.

It sounds fascinating to write about, and as I said it started off so well, but I was so disappointed by the end that I did think about giving up many times. However I struggled on until the end and then let out a huge sigh of relief. 3 Stars for the brilliant beginning, but a very disappointed sad face from me to have wasted time on this.

Started 22nd November

Finished 27th November

The Mysterious Affair at Styles - Agatha Christie 1916 **** 1/2

I spent a long while believing that 'The Murder of Roger Ackroyd' was the first Agatha Christie book, and then I realised that it was the book that supposedly topped the last few beforehand. I must say I agree. I thought this, her truly first offering was great. Tense, exciting , and completely mesmerising with Poirot's first entrance into the world of detective fiction. However I don't think for one minute that it was anywhere near as good as TMORA. It did seen quite apparent to me through reading, that this was the first book from Christie; you could tell by her descriptions of characters and events which went on for a bit too long (although she managed to tone this down in later novels).

I liked the story however (a signed will that is destroyed the day before the writer is murdered, a missing tea cup, and various bizarre goings on at a lovely old country house 'Styles' which only Poirot can solve), and was satisfied with the ending. I will certainly continue my quest to read more Agatha Christie, there really is no one else who can 'do it better.'

Started 20th November

Finished 22nd November

High Fidelity -Nick Hornby 2000 ****

This book was ridiculously easy to read, something that I really needed after slogging away at 'Jane Eyre'. The main protagonist Rob guides us through his disastrous relationship history, explaining why he feels none of them worked out, along with introducing us to his somewhat unexciting job in a record shop where he and his two collegues spends days making lists of their top five tunes/artists/genres etc.

We also find out that he has recently split up with his girlfriend Laura, and ponder on the reasons why and whether he will ever be able to win her back again.

One of the things about this story is that Rob is a very selfish man, simply excusing his behaviour as though he has a good given right to act this way simply because he is a male. He can't find any fault in himself, prefering to pin the negative reasons of his break ups on the women. He occasionally lets us know that this is the way men think and therefore it's acceptable and that it's all just a hilarious male joke. We are also left with no resolution which annoyed me, as I was hoping that Rob would have matured by the end of the novel, but he just appears the same, still making excuses for himself and that's not even a spoiler, just a fact.

However although Rob's way of thinking got to me a bit, I do appreciate that men do act this way, and therefore it wasn't exactly off the mark, and so for that reason it gets a 4 star rating for me.

Started 15th November

Finished 19th November

Jane Eyre - Charlotte Bronte 1847 ***

I'm mortified to see that I haven't read a full book since May. How bad is that?My brain must have been slowly rotting for all that time. But I've finally dragged myself out of my book slump which happens periodically and finished Jane Eyre, so I can't be doing too badly.

'Jane Eyre' for me, has the same effect on me that 'Wuthering Heights' did. I loved the first part, especially descriptions of her early life and time at the orphanage, as well as her first meetings with Mr Rochester at her new home. But then for me the book went downhill. Now whether it was my mind that was actually wandering and meant I wasn't paying attention anymore or whether it was the pace of the book that drastically changed I'm not sure, but the last part of what should have been a heart-rendering and emotional story just sort of left me flat. It's awful to say that I didn't enjoy a particular book which has so much acclaim as much as many others will have, and I fully accept that it may have been down to me not reading it 'closely' enough, but for me I was glad when it ended, happy to say I had read it, but relieved not to have to read it again.

Started 9th November

Finished 16th November

The Baker Street Phantom - Fabrice Bourland 2008 *****

I approached this book with some trepidation, thinking that it may be mediocre when dealing with the subject matter and especially being written originally in French I had imagined that the author would not be able to create a realsitic portrait of 1930s detective charged London, but it turned out to be brilliant and I charged through it at 100 mph!

The story is totally original and right up my street. 2 Amateur detectives in 1930s London are called on by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's widow, who is concerned about something other-worldly going on at none other that 221 Baker Street, home of the fictitious Sherlock Holmes, is the cause simply a case of a clever intruder, or is the culprit someone or something more ominous?

The writing was fluent, gripping and I really enjoyed it. As the 'Le Monde' newspaper so rightly proclaimed on the cover of the book, it really is 'Fantastic in every sense.' I will be reading more of this author.

Started 27th May

Finished 28th May

Three Act Tragedy - Agatha Christie 1934 ***

I devoured this in little over a day because I was so wrapped up in the characters and plot. I do vaguely remember watching this on ITV3 a while back and was half hoping I could remember the ending and half praying that I didn't.

I still cannot get over how how utterly brilliant Agatha Christie is at constructing a storyline where everything neatly falls into place at the end and I can NEVER guess!

The one thing that I didn't like so much about this book was that Poirot was barely in it!

It was effectively a standalone novel based around the two main characters with Poirot appearing every now and again which spoiled it for me. But yet again I was surprised when the culprit was revealed, although I had skimmed over the idea half way through the book but I never find enough evidence in my head to believe it's who I want it to be. Maybe I should take tips from Poirot and use my 'Little Grey Cells' ...

Started 26th May

Finished 27th May

A Mere Interlude - Thomas Hardy 1885 ****

I've actually never heard of this book and I know quite a few of Hardy's novels.

This is really 3 novellas. All completely different and all totally mesmerizing. Hardy has a wonderful way with words and the descriptions of the countryside are superb.

Reading this has made me want to read a full length novel of his, maybe Tess maybe The Mayor but I know that I will look forward to escaping into his world whenever the time comes.

Started 25th May

Finished 27th May

Young Men In Spats - P.G. Wodehouse 1936 ***

I'm bizarrely alternating between Christie and Wodehouse at the moment, something which I always do when stressed or needing a comfort read that won't try my brain too much.
This latest offering seeing a number of our favourite characters in some very funny short stories, but always coming out better on the other side.
The only thing I found with these stories was that they began to grow slightly repetitive after a while, appearing to be exactly the same layout as the previous story, usually based around a girl who doesn't return so and so's affections and therefore something funny happens and then she does end up liking him, but by the 7th or 8th story I was starting to realise that I knew what was going to happen. Don't get me wrong, Wodehouse is popular because of his love of using the same formula for all his stories and that is why we love him, but I felt with these stories it was just a bit too much. However to give him his dues I did read the book page after page without stopping and that is generally not the best way to approach a collection of short stories.
Not bad, not his worst but not his best.

Started 22nd May
Finished 24th May

The Hound of Death - Agatha Christie 1933 ****1/2

I'm overloading on Agatha Christie at the moment, but it's so enjoyable to be able to escape into her vintage world where people speak to each other in a decent way and there is absolutely no profanity whatsoever.

The Hound of Death is an interesting collection of short stories, excellent for dipping into if you please (although I pounded through the whole thing in a couple of hours) and gives Agatha Christie a chance to show her supernatural side instead of just straight crime.

Some of the stories are very strange, others are very disturbing, but all are written in that same wonderful Christie vein. Compared to her last offering, this really is Agatha back on top form and I finished the book with relief from experiencing so much mysterious variety. The second book of hers that I have read which consists of shorter stories and still as good.

Started 21st May

Finished 21st May

Murder is Easy - Agatha Christie 1939 ***

I really must be pressing on with my challenge of reading every single Agatha Christie book by the time I'm 30. But at only the 4th mark now I haven't got much to go on. However, I approached this next book with interest, mainly because the plot looked so good, and mainly because I was trying to explore the world of Agatha Christie without the famous Poirot and Marple in every book.

Well I must say I was rather disappointed by this 1939 offering from the Queen of Crime. The characters were drawn up in what I thought was a rather childish way and the whole feel of the book felt curiously amateur for such a brilliant writer. The main protagonist, Luke, seemed to spend most chapters going over the same information over and over again and the style that it was written made it very confusing. I did guess the murderer towards the end but it wasn't exactly pleasurable and to be honest I was just trying to finish it as soon as possible. Not one of her best that I have read but it certaniyl won't put me off.

Started 19th May

Finished 21st May

Point Horror Anyone?

What I really have started craving recently is to re-visit the Point Horror books that I loved so much as a young teenager in the 1990s. I've decided that even if it's the last thing I do I will either try and buy a load off Amazon or see if I can rent them from the library ( although going into the children's section and having a proper nosey around usually gets me strange looks from the librarian!) as I seem only to have a compilation book of three of the stories left , leading me to believe I gave them away to a good home years and years ago ( lucky home!).
These books terrified me, gripped me and kept me enthralled for many Saturdays in my bedroom under the covers. A lot of them were surprisingly well written and the stories were original enough to not present you with the 'answer' half way through the book. These were the first 'proper' horror books that I read as a teenager (of course I read Goosebumps a little earlier which were fab as well but they were hardly long enough to be what I used to call a 'proper' book!) and I got through loads of them because they were so easy to read. There always seemed to be some I hadn't read which was a great feeling for me as I have a paranoid tendancy with books and films that I am going to run out either of a good genre or of a good actors' filmography, hence why I am trying to tackle authors nowadays that have an extensive bibliography so that there is no fear I will finish them all too soon!(Wodehouse, Christie)
Anyway, these books meant a lot to me, and I still remember how they used to make me feel, despite reading them over 12 years ago. They also got me properly into reading which is something I will never forget, and because of this I feel I owe the books a trip down memory lane once more. I guarantee that however old I am they will still be as enjoyable as they were all those years ago. The only problem is finding them! If anyone has any suggestions as to the best place to collect some of these little treasures I would be really grateful.

Love Lies - Adele Parks 2009 ***

Usually Adele Parks is someone who I can read without fearing a negative experience, and generally her books are quick, frothy and easy-going.
'Love Lies' however, felt to me a bit like Parks was on a tight schedule and had to get the book finished by a certain time. Because of this she ended up churning out a load of nonsense, most of which was completely unbelievable and not particularly interesting. Fair enough, I realise most chick lit stories are never likely to happen, but even with a fantasy scenario you would hope that there would be a small chance.
The main character Fern is suddenly struck by the fact that she is turning 30 soon and her boyfriend of 4 years hasn't proposed to her. So she issues him with an ulitmatium, either he proposes or he moves out (nothing like bullying someone into getting engaged to you!). At the same time as this is happening she happens to meet a world famous popstar called Scottie Taylor (as you do) and falls in love with him at first sight and then ends up getting engaged to him in the blink of an eye. Blah blah blah. This is the kind of stuff you might enjoy reading as an impressionable young teen who thinks that a famous celebrity will pick you out of millions of other females and ride off into the sunset with you but adults should stay away. It's not even a likely scenario in fantasy land and the dialogue is curiously amateur, as though Parks has only just starting writing instead of having been doing it for years.
A lot of the book seemed to be filler as well which didn't help change my mind. Adele you can do better!

Started 7th May
Finished 8th May

Service with a Smile - PG Wodehouse - 1962 ****

I'm very pleased to be able to say that this latest Wodehouse binge of mine was back on top form again after several questional works I read beforehand. However my goal is to read as much of him as possible and you can't expect even excellent writers not to have a few bad works.

Introduced once again to Uncle Fred who can always put a smile on our face, Lord Emsworth who has such a heart-felt attachment to his home Blandings that he cannot bear to be torn away and of course the star of the show, the Empress of Blandings, one of the most pampered and respected pigs of the county (well that's what Lord Emsworth thinks anyway!) who in turn is adored and despised by certain people. The plot is fairly similar and people of course will have that strange feeling of deja-vu that the whole thing has been done before, but that is one of the reasons I keep going back to Wodehouse, because I know that with him at least I am guaranteed to bask in vintage England.

Started 4th April

Finished 14th April

Murder in the Mews - Agatha Christie - 1937 *****

What a superb collection of short stories from the Mistress of Crime. I didn't actually realise when I started reading this book that there were 4 stories and was getting quite engrossed in the first one when it ended and I was plunged into yet another beautifully written piece!

If anything these stories are even more clever than her full-length ones, because she manages to cram in all the fascinating plot, suspects and final scene into a few pages with exactly the same amount of panache and excellence! Added to which they are short and sharp, leaving you wanting more and only by reading another immediatly can you feel better. She really is a genius at work.

My favourite story was 'Murder in the Mews' followed closely by 'Dead Man's Mirror' which both had absolutely brilliant storylines and amazing twists which as always, knock you out and make you go 'It was there all the time and I never saw it', that for me is the mark of a true genius.

Started 26th March

Finished 29th March

Your Heart Belongs to Me - Dean Koontz 2009 * * *

I'm pretty sure this is the first Dean Koontz novel I have read, and it certainly was an easy read. The story itself is pretty bizarre and weird but apparently that is Dean Koontz's style. However, the first part of the book introduces us to Ryan, a rich kid with a beautiful girlfriend named Sam. After a terrifying ordeal involving his heart he finds out he needs urgent surgery. His operation is a success but what happens afterwards is definitely not on the side-effects list.

The plot is a bit jumpy further into the book and I must say that the ending doesn't make any sense at all, but I guess that's the point of a book like this. Will have to read another of his books to see how his style changes. My idea of an ideal horror/thriller is a sort of adult Point Horror, I wonder if I will ever find one.

Started 18th January

Finished 19th January

A Woman's Life - Guy de Maupassant 1883 * * * * *

By now I have come to realise that Maupassant is a complete and utter genius and that this second book of his which I raced through was equally as amazing and excellently written as his other. His writing style is light years ahead of the time it was written in and the story is packed with exciting and devestating betrayals and infidelities that are still relevent and present in today's society. I am so struck with how easy I have found Maupassant's work, as before I started Bel-Ami I had the stereotypical view that classic French literature would be up there with Russian works in terms of how hard it was to read and understand. How wrong I was. Another amazing thing is how much I can relate to his novels, in particular A Woman's Life which has never happened to such an extent before. I literally devoured this book and understood and sympathised with every single aspect of Jeanne's life. To be able to relate so strongly to a male author writing over 110 years ago has made me almost burst with joy and wetted my palate for more French classic literature. Yet again another tragic waste of a brilliant mind (Maupassant died aged 42) which is so disheartening when you see how absolutely superb his stories and style are. For him not to have understood or believed in his greatness is genuinely heartbreaking. One of the best things I can say about Maupassant is that he hasn't aged. Some authors writing more recently than him are now incredibly dated and 'old-fashioned' but not this man, he is still sharp as a knife over a century later.

Started 17th January

Finished 19th January

Misery - Stephen King - 1987 * * * *

Blimey that Stephen King doesn't half pack a punch with some of his work. 'Misery' is the first book I have read by him and it was an occasion marked in utter terror as I refused food or drink and even refused to move until I had got to the end. I very rarely read an entire book in one sitting ( time does not permit, and there is the added cramp which you feel after a while) but with this book I had a bizarre feeling that there was no way in hell I could stop until I had read it. I think the fact the film had such an impact on me at the time meant that I was desperate to know what was going on in the book and how it had originally been explained ( i.e. the hobbling scene in the film, quite different in the book...say no more..). What was great about this book ( and seemingly something that Stephen King no longer does in his newer work) was that from literally the first page we were in Annie Wilkes's house with Paul Sheldon there on the bed, there was no pussy-footing around or inane rambling that meant we had to wait until half way through the book before we could get our teeth into something interesting; it was already there from the first time we opened it.

My opinion is that some parts were ten times better visually than they were written, and other parts were written so well and with so much detail that the film could not compare, so a bit of pick 'n' mix was definitely present. But a book that needs to be read. And not alone.

Started 16th January

Finished 16th January

The Virgin Suicides - Jeffrey Eugenides 1993 * * *

Having seen the film first and been totally blown away by it I guess I hoped the same would be said for the book. Starting out well the book seemed to progress downhill so that only in the last 20 pages or so did the story really fall into place and come into it's own. The rest of the time the writer was hanging around aimlessly and not making much sense, filling pages and pages with ramblings about topics that seemed of no use or relevance to the story at all. Obviously knowing the story and knowing what to expect I was on the lookout to see how the film had shown various elements in the book and most of the time ( I'm sorry to say) the film won hands down. I did not feel a particular empathy or attachment to the girls in the book and Mrs Lisbon isn't presented in such a domineering and overpowering way as she is on screen ( Kathleen Turner is excellent as her). In fact I found that most of the book was a drag and I was just willing myself to get through it. Sadly not as good as I was expecting. It could be this reason that made me read the whole thing in one sitting.

Started 15th January
Finished 15th January

The British Museum is Falling Down - David Lodge 1965 * * *

I've never read any David Lodge, and this first offering wasn't too bad at all. It wasn't hysterical and I wasn't rolling around on the floor in laugh like I had hoped but it was an easy and unassuming read by someone greatly admired in the literary world. I will be happy to read another of his books although like Tom Sharpe I had hoped that this author would have opened up new doors of hilarious reading which doesn't seem to have happened quite yet. Maybe I need to read another of his to really get a feel for his style of writing? I'll leave David Lodge for a while and go back to him later, maybe he needs to be read in another state of mind.

Started 9th January

Finished 15th January

The Gropes - Tom Sharpe 2009 * * * 1/2

When I first discovered Tom Sharpe, I was under the impression that he was hidden treasure - someone I had not read anything by who claimed to be hilarious and light-hearted. I'm a huge fan of comic novels ( let's face it, who doesn't enjoy reading something that will make them laugh out loud) and thought ' Here's the jackpot, look at the load of books he has written and I'm going to work my way through them.' Before I had even read anything by him I decided he was the writer for me and I started collecting what books I could of his to pile up in my room and savour for a day when I really needed a good chuckle. Well this is my second of his novels ( I read The Throwback some time ago) and I must say that although there are a few funny moments, in general he's not as hilarious as I thought he would be. I'm hoping this is a temporary glitch and when I move on to his more famous works ( Porterhouse Blue + Granchester Grind spring to mind) I'll really be having a good laugh. Although in general if I don't like an author by the time I have read two works of theirs it's usually time to give up and move on. Maybe with Tom Sharpe I'll give him three.

Started 4th January
Finished 9th January

Before She Met Me - Julian Barnes * * * * 1986

I've never read anything of Julian Barnes before but after reading this novel I am sure I will be turning to his work again in the near future. This story follows the life of a historian who becomes increasingly obsessed and jealous over his second ex-movie star wife's sexual history. The book is funny, light and not to be taken too seriously, however the ending did give me a bit of a shock, being totally different to the rest of the book. I flew threw the book in just over a day and am now eager to read more of Mr Barnes' work especially 'Talking it Over.' Mr Barnes is a great writer on the subject of relationships and there are parts in the previous novel that I could actually understand and relate to myself. He is obviously completely clued up on how people relate to and understand each other as regards to romance and should be read by everyone who has ever been in a relationship.

Started 5th January
Finished 6th January