The Complete Jack the Ripper - Donald Rumbelow 1975 *****

Rather sadistically, I am very interested in Jack the Ripper and the reign of terror cast over the East End of London in the late 19th Century. It seems to me that if anything could be called 'a perfect murder' then this whole ghastly business could.
Rumbelow has created a wonderfully intricate and fascinating book detailing all the murders in their goriest and gruesome sense. He describes the eyewitness accounts (of which there are only few) and the reaction to the crimes as witnessed by the police and Whitechapel community.
He also delves into the history of the area, the former lives of the victims, and the subsequent downfall of the Scotland Yard force when they shamelessly destroy vital evidence that would've helped the investigation immensely.
Most of all, the author reveals which of the victims he firmly believes is NOT a Ripper victim, and the reasons why.
An excellent book, well thought out, exceedingly well documented and painstakingly researched.
A must read.

Started 20th October
Finished 25th October

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.