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