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