Houses of Death - Gordon Kerr 2011 ***

It's the middle of May and this is the first book I have read all year which is utterly shameful. I need to get my modjo back for reading, as it seems to slump when I have things on my mind and can't concentrate and I can go for months before I get it back.
Usually when I hit one of these slumps the first thing I reach for is something true crime related, usually because I am continually fascinated with stories like these and also because I can only deal with non-fiction if I am stressed out in other areas of my life.
Not a bad book (got it cheap for my kindle) but I felt the stories were rather rushed, and there wasn't really much here that I didn't already know from more in-depth books.
Good to get me back in the swing of things however, and a 'taster for true crime' for people who don't read this sort of stuff regularly.

Started 12th May
Finished 15th May

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

The Golden Prince - Rebecca Dean

I'm super excited about reading this latest historical tale of the monarchy from author Rebecca Dean (whose first historical novel Enemies of the Heart was inspired by her own German and British history). This book in my opinion has come at the very best time considering the recent announcement of the Royal Wedding between Prince William and (dare I say commoner?) Kate Middleton.

The blurb on the back of this book reads like so - 'Edward VIII became notorious for abandoning the throne for Mrs Simpson, but in the summer of 1911 he was a prince straight from the pages of a fairy-tale. Raised by the harsh disciplinarian King George V and his unfeeling Queen Mary, the prince longed for the warmth that had been deprived of him. The high society Houghton girls' lives however, were full of fun, both at their magnificent family seat Snowberry, and at the whirlwind of glamorous parties which punctuated their lives. When a moment of serendipity brings Edward and Lily Houghton together, the pressures of a stuffy court are replaced with the lightness that Edward has dreamt of. But a future monarch could not choose his own Queen, and even an enduring love might falter under the furious gaze of a King. Could the devotion of Edward and Lily triumph against him and the impending doom of World War I? Or would they bow to the inevitable and set in train events that could bring down the Crown, and change the course of history forever?

How can anyone not be interested in reading this novel?

A full review of this book will be added on here as soon as I have read it.

I would like to thank Sylvie from FuelMyBlog.com who was kind enough to offer me the chance of reviewing it.

To snap up this much sought-after novel before it's sold out simply follow this link below to the amazon website.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Golden-Prince-Rebecca-Dean/dp/0007315724/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1290527328&sr=8-1

Big Money - PG Wodehouse - 1932 * * 1/2

I'm sad to say that this latest Wodehouse I read was a big disappointment to me. Compared to the quick-witted humour and sharpness of the last books it was a big mess with far too many characters for me to remember and too many situations happening that made me loose my place more than once. I won't even give you a synopsis because I think it would be too difficult for me. Let's just say it follows the structure of most of Wodehouse's novels with misunderstandings and incidents that are supposed to be funny ( but sadly I didn't find them funny at all this time around) and everything is always sorted out by the end. So yeah, that's it. Hopefully the next will be better.

Started 14th December

Finished 18th December

The Wasp Factory - Iain Banks 1984 * * *

It's hard to know what to say about this book. In some areas it's the work of genius and definitely a promising debut novel for Mr Banks, but in other areas it's full of the typical cliches and grammatical errors that you would expect from a new-comer into the work of book-writing. Some of the conversations between the protaganist Frank and his brother Eric on the phone are very wooden as though they were written by someone in school. I should know because I used to think adding as many 'doing' actions as possible to a short conversation in a story I wrote at school was a way of better writing, but it's not ( i.e. 'he said angrily', 'then he said manically' 'then he said crazily feeling very angry' etc'). However there are some paragraphs that are brilliantly written and although very gruesome, the definitions of Frank killing insects and particularly baby rabbits are excellently drawn. A book that needs to be read, if not purely for the hype, but I'm not sure if I would read any more of his work.

Started 12th December

Finished 15th December

Uneasy Money - PG.Wodehouse 1916 * * * *

I've only seen a few Wodehouse books and although they were funny some started off very well and then went downhill. This novel didn't, and I chuckled my way to the very last page.

Lord Dawlish who is running out of money fast, is amazingly left a million pounds by some man he helped on the golf course a while back. He also comes into the knowledge that the niece and nephew of the deceased man are only left a pitiful amount and so decides to seek them out to give them half his inheritance despite his nagging fiance Claire's negative attitude. Things don't go as planned when he finds himself falling in love with Elizabeth the niece, who has sworn to give the man who stole her inheritance a hellish remainder of his life, unaware that the man she has started to feel close to is the 'cad' himself. Through in romantic mix-ups, manic bees, the hilarious antics of a monkey and a blonde Lord Dawlish meets in club who makes a scene and causes him to fall over and you have all the ingredients of a classic Wodehouse.

Started 7th December

Finished 12th December

George Formby:A Troubled Genius - David Bret 2001 * * * *

George Formby - The chirpy and gappy-toothed man who has been my hero since I was 5 years old. The man who really got me hooked on black and white films ( followed closely by Fred and Ginger), the man who conjures up an immense feeling of affection and love for him more than any other star of his time and the man who made me truly appreciate comedy in it's best form. Needless to say I'm one of his biggest fans and have just recently completed my collection of every single Formby film that has ever been released ( sadly some are yet to be realised to DVD but hopefully it will happen one day). Watching him play the gormless yet loveable chap who 'always gets the girl' in his films made me realise that whether I liked it or not I had to find out whether he was as nice as I had always hoped and imagined. So when David Bret's book came along to my library I pounced on it. David Bret is a very controversial writer because he is known for exaggerating the lives of the stars he writes about ( his Jean Harlow book was read earlier in my blog) and not always in the most favourable terms. However as this was the only George Formby book within a 100 mile radius to me I decided it was better than nothing.

To put it bluntly ( and happily) Bret writes about George in exactly the way I had hoped he would. He covers George's problems with working with attractive female co-stars in his films, pointing out how overbearing and paranoid his wife Beryl was about him even looking at another woman. Because of this I think a number of his fellow actors came away with a less than favourible impression of him as being unfriendly and dull when in reality he was so controlled by Beryl that he tried to avoid trouble from her whenever was possible making it almost impossible for him to communicate normally with members of the opposite sex. To say he was 'dull' was a gross misunderstanding as many of his male friends and acquaintainces would agree on. Bret also recalls one particular incident that Dinah Sheridan who was George's co-star in 'Get Cracking' mentions in the official Formby website about her going to the set for what she thought was a quick chat with George and finding Beryl there instead. " Soon after, she had a call to meet with George Formby. "I walked into the office, there was no Formby. No director. Only Mrs. Formby, sitting behind a desk. She looked at me and asked immediately if I was married. I said 'Yes.' 'How long?' 'Three months, 'I replied, and she said, '"You'll do.' I was so newly married that I presumably posed no threat!" I find this to be a typical example of how horrible and uncompromising Beryl was to any female near the set. So much so that George wasn't allowed even to kiss his co-stars in the final scenes because she didn't allow it and in a few incidents Beryl was called away to the 'telephone', leaving George to finish the film with the kiss that was appropritate and much needed. She was a tyranical and pitiful excuse for a female in my opinion, seemingly there only for the fame and fortune that greeted George when he became famous and desperate to control every aspect of his life. Sadly, George never knew anything else other than her controlling and dominating ways as well as her cruel refusal to let him be a father and it was only when she died many years later that he felt he could finally be happy. Such a dreadful waste for a man who made millions laugh and never shared any of the joy in his own private life. David Bret actually does a great job here exploring all George's early life as well as his later life after and through his popular films where he risked his life consistantly to fly to dangerous areas of the country to perform to the troops and people, even at the risk of his health. Bret then goes on to mention in detail the horrible war than ensued between George's fiancee Pat Howson and George's mother after he died and his inheritance had to be broken up. His mother was another dispicable excuse for a human being.

Of course George made mistakes - he was known to have had affairs throughout his marriage to Beryl which is never the right thing to do, but I believe that if Beryl hadn't been the way she was he wouldn't have seeked solace with other people and I support him 100% on his choices. I only wish he could have escaped his turbulent marriage a lot earlier which would then at least, have given him a fews years or so of happiness. George was never boastful or arrogant, he was kind and considerate to those who knew him, and although he was hard to work with (mainly because of his domineering wife), he was never intentionally unkind to anyone for no reason preferring to stay out the way of his co-stars in case arguments erupted on set. He was totally misunderstood by many people and in no way gormless or thick. He had a warm and loveable quality that calmed many and helped hundreds of thousands through the war. It goes withought saying of course that he was a genius, and one of the most unforgettable people I have ever had the pleasure of seeing on film or reading about, I would have dearly liked to have met him to tell him how loved and appreciated he still is today.

UK on a G-String - Justin Brown 2004 * * *

Not a bad book in my book ( snort!), Justin Brown makes a ridiculous bet with his friend in New Zealand, I think to do with football, and to cut a long story short, his penalty ( I'm hilarious today!) for his team loosing is for him to fly to Englad and busk around it, making enough money for a plane ticket home. I'm sure many people would be thinking 'what a ridiculous idea, he's just setting himself up for disappointment,' 'why doesn't he just refuse to do it?' etc and you may well be right. However Justin isn't just a normal busker in that he plays to wide open spaces in horrible areas of London, he is in fact the first and I'm sure he won't mind me saying this 'most awful door to door busker ever.' That's right, he knocks on unsuspecting families, couples, pensioners' doors and demands to sing to them. Armed with a song about a Kentucky fried Kitten and a slightly rude tune based on Harry Potter he's all set to go traipsing around lovely and goddam awful parts of Britain where he soon meets a myriad of bizarre and charming characters. As long as someone will be kind enough (or desperate enough) to give him some money! By half way through the book you come to see Justin as an old friend and really start rooting for him ( although you wish he'd stop spending the money he makes on pints of beer with new acquaintances!)

Very humorous, easy to read and fun.

Started 18th November

Finished 25th November

Jean Harlow:Tarnished Angel - David Bret 2009 * * * *

I know enough about Jean Harlow to know that part of this book is fabricated stuff. That doesn't mean I didn't enjoy it immensely but I feel that for people who don't know about Jean's life that this is not a brilliant book to get them started. Classic movie stars dominate my world and I spend hours researching them for my own enjoyment. Hence how I know that many of the things Bret says about her are quite obviously fake. But hey I can still enjoy a good old scandal bio. 'Hollywood Babylon' is one of my favourite books despite the fact most of it is fictional gossip because I love imagining 'what if' these scenerios were true.

Harlow lived a tragically short and unfulfilled life, only just starting to realise her true potential when it was too late and I think she really was one of the most unique and adorable actresses of the day. She was also incredibly loving and kind to people around her which is a rare thing in Hollywood and that is the reason her funeral was almost mobbed with fans - nothing since Rudolph Valentino's early demise had caused such a commotion.

I was, am and will continue to find myself astounded and mesmerised by the Hollywood of yesteryear, it's people, it's image and it's life. Timeless to me forever.

Although I know Bret was far off on many areas of his biography that doesn't stop me from getting out his Joan Crawford and George Formby ( my favourite) biographies to eagerly devour. I know so much about George Formby that I doubt anything in Bret's book will make me adore him any less.

Started 26th October

Finished 1st November

Ivor Novello: Portrait of a Star - Paul Webb 2006 * * * *

Biographies are another of my 'phases'. I love them and have started drooling over all the possible books I can read on my favourite old stars ( as long as I can find them in the library!)
I have only seen Novello in 'The Lodger' and so couldn't really say I was a hard-core fan of his but after reading about his life in a lovely easy and entertaining way and seeing numerous pictures of him through various stages of his life I was hooked. Sad really that 'The Lodger' is the only film of his that is now properly accessable as all others have been lost or destroyed ( it always upsets me to hear that rare silent films have been lost of detroyed - my generation will never be able to see them) and therefore anyone who wants to know more about Ivor would do well to watch that first. I feel awful not knowing that it was Novello who was responsible for 'Keep the Home Fires Burning' which was one of the most popular songs of WW1. He was an incredibly talented and charismatic individual that doesn't seem to have been matched today on account of his quantity and quality of work complete with drop dead handsome looks. To be a genius is one thing, but to be an amazingly jaw-droppingly handsome genius is quite different as his looks opened up many doors for him in film and theatre.
Amazing book and so easy to read. I'm now an Ivor Novello fan.

Started 20th October
Finished 27th October

Someone to Watch Over me - Izzy Hammond 2007 * * *

This was another misery memoir that succeeded in pulling me out of my reading block. I sped through it, devouring everything Izzy explained about her ghastly childhood at the hands of her abusive father Ronald who was also deaf and partially blind. Her mother Emily was also deaf and so Izzy had no one to turn to when the sexual abuse inflicted upon her became too much to bear, resulting in her bringing her own children up in a similar pattern to her mother and neglecting them emotionally. I very brave story full of heart-breaking events that was easy to read.

Started 17th October

Finished 21st October ( with breaks)

Love, Honour and Betray - Kathy Lette 2009 * * * *

I never realised Kathy Lette was so incredibly funny but she is, and also has a wonderful way with words when it comes to describing people.

I had a bit of a slump this month and the last and as I approach the middle of October this is really the only book I have properly read ( flicking through my Adrian Mole volumes hardly counts!). I needed a book to pick me up from my rut that I have become accustomed to finding myself in throughout the months and usually when this happens I either turn to chick lit or true crime. Having exhausted the majority of the true crime books in my library I decided to give this novel a go, having seen it a few times leering at me from the shelves as I went past and I must say it really brought me out of my reading block. The story follows the same kind of format that most other chick lit books do in that the lead character has found out her husband is cheating on her and so decides to become an independent woman and in doing so win him back forgetting in the process that her children are going to prove some work to convince.

There are loads of hilarious incidents and some memorable characters and the book flew along for me which is always a good thing. Lette's writing is fresh and witty and she describes Australia ( where most of the novel is set) in a very eye-catching way that makes me want to experience the place for myself. I'll be reading more of Kathy Lette's work and more books in general again hopefully!

Started 3rd October

Finished 5th October

Missing - Rose Rouse 2008 * * *

A very sad book but very interesting as well to hear some of the first-hand accounts of families who have lost their children or partners in unusual ways. The horrible thing that they all agree on is never knowing whether their loved one is dead or alive. That can be even worse than finding out that they have died.
Some accounts are of those people who walk away from their children, only to find them years later, and others are from parents whose sons walk out one day and never come home. Unexplained disappearances are hard to comprehend, and usually (certainly from reading the book) we get the immediate feeling that these people would not have chosen to leave of their own free will, which, sadly leaves them being made to leave or taken against their wishes. Well written and well compiled, took a bit to get used to though as you are literally plunged into tight and completely different stories every 20 pages or so.

Started 19th August
Finished 1st September ( with breaks!)

The Lost Diaries of Adrian Mole 1999-2001 - Sue Townsend 2008 * * * *

Adrian Mole can never disappoint and I have read all but 1 of his books now ( that being 'The Prostate Years'.) His wit, character and intelligence will make anyone chuckle as he tries to come to terms with his parents' sex life, his unreciprocated love for Pandora, his status as a single man living with 2 boys in a council house, his series of unfortunate and hilariously unsuccessful relationships and his overwhelming love for his many unfinished novels that he enjoys writing so much.

Enter Adrian's World, where everything ,no matter how ludicrous, can always make you laugh out loud.

Started 7th July

Finished 8th July

Disgraced - Saira Ahmed 2009 * * *

It is grotesque to think that in this day and age there are still arranged marriages taking place in the world. Even worse is the hell and unbearable suffering the girls go through who are abused by their new husbands. There is no wway out for them. Women are not permitted to leave an arranged marriage and if any do dare defy their families there is a good chance they will end up dead somewhere.
The word 'family' means something totally different in their civilisation. Not love and kindness but pride and superiority ( for the men at any rate.) They would rather murder or beat a daughter than have her bring shame on the family. How different we as societies seem to be and how frightening to think that someone you see as a loving parent could be willing to bring so much pain to you just for the sake of honouring their family.
This woman takes us through her early upbringing to her violent adolescence and late teens where she is forced to marry a stranger and forbidden to see her true love by her family. Her life is a constant stream of terror and uncertainty, most of the time she is working all hours of the day to pay her parents money for debts they owe. Her parents seem totally thoughtless and barely acknowledge her thanks when she helps them out which I find absolutely disgusting. I hope she can carve a better life for herself now with her young daughter.

Started 7th July
Finished 8th July

We Have Always Lived in the Castle - Shirley Jackson 1962 * * *

I can't really work out what to think of this novel. Although short it packs in a lot of information and really gets under your skin. It is written in a weirdly lyrical and surreal way which makes it hard to work out if the writing is simply disjointed or whether there is a special meaning to the prose.
The basic story - 2 sisters and their terminally sick Uncle Julian are boarded up in a large and impressive house on the outskirts of a village. They have been ever since the older sister Constance was accused and the aquitted over the murder of her remaining family. Her younger sister Mary Katherine "Merricat" spends her days playing outside with her cat Jonas and making the awful trips into the village for groceries, only to be accosted with virtually every person that she comes into contact with. It seems the village still want nothing to do with the family, and therefore when the sister's 'cousin' Charles turns up unexpected and starts imposing himself on the sister's life ( and their money) that something very nasty is gonig to happen.
Speaking as a virgin of Shirley Jackson's work I don't know if I fully understand or appreciate her style, and so this book is a bit of a hit and miss for me. Added to which, nothing is properly explained at the end, and instead we are left with an abrupt finish which leaves the reader very unsatisfied.
One to read, but not one to keep.

Started 4th July
Finished 7th July

The Thin Man - Dashiell Hammett 1934 * *

I read this novel immediatly after finishing The Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler and I must say I was so desperately disappointed. The writing was dire, the plot really didn't go anywhere except round and round and it actually took me a long time to think that I should persevere as opposed to giving up . I have the film but haven't seen it yet but I can hardly doubt that Powell and Loy will translate this into as dreadful a movie as a piece of writing. In comparison to Chander, Hammett really doesn't have a clue. If I hadn't already decided to take out The Maltese Falcon (also by Hammett) from the library I would have given up on him as a writer already.

Started 1st July
Finished 3rd July

One, Two Buckle My Shoe - Agatha Christie 1940 * * * *

Is there ever going to be a dud Christie book? Highly unlikely after reading yet another brilliantly constructed and captivating piece of work from the Mistress of Crime. This novel is centred around the dentist and how maybe some people's fears can be justifed... Poirot himself is hardly fond of sitting in the chair with a large drill in his mouth and so when he finds out that the very dentist who was working on him a few hours before has 'died' in his surgery, Poirot must use every inch of his 'little grey cells' to find the truth.
Brilliant as ever.

Started 3rd July
Finished 4th July

Tiger's Child - Torey Hayden 1995 * * * *

I haven't read the prequel to this story which describes Sheila's life in more detail but I am pretty sure this book gave me as much information as was necessary.
The second Hayden book for me, this tells of Torey's encounter with a mentally and physically abused and abusive little girl who is abandoned at a young age and finds her way into Torey's special needs class. The amount of time that Torey and Sheila spend together is very brief in comparison to her other case I read ( Ghost Girl) but there is still plenty of time to get to know her and find out how gifted she really is. Torey Hayden has a wonderfully gentle way of writing which is in no way arrogant or money grabbing - she really just wants to help these children who have no one else and that is very heartwarming to see. A captivating and gripping book. I will be reading more of her work.

Started 28th June
Finished 30th June

The Big Sleep - Raymond Chandler 1939 * * * *

Who cannot love Chandler's way of writing and creating unforgettable characters. The film of the same name with Bogart and Bacall is one of my favourite film noirs and so reading this was important to me.
Philip Marlowe's drawling wisecracks and constant whisky drinking as he sets on the trail of a rich and detached family who hold many more dark secrets than they let on is captivating. Even if you hadn't seen the film the characters would naturally jump out on you from the page, one of the only times I have felt like I am living the life of the main protagonist as opposed to simply reading the book.
Amazing story and now a desperate need to read all the rest of Chandler's work.

Started 25th June
Finished 28th June

Peril at End House - Agatha Christie 1932 * * * *

I thought that after the amazing ending in 'The Murder of Roger Ackroyd' Christie's other books would just be fairly mediocre. Actually this story as another amazing page-turner and I hurried through it desperate to read the ending. And when I did, I uttered the now all-too common words ' It was so obvious but I didn't see it' which really proves what a fantastic genius of a writer Christie is. I have loads more of her books stacked up ready to read and if I read a 3rd one to the same amazement and enjoyment than I will think nothing of seriously working my way through all her books. I also love the creation of Poirot - I think he is superb, and he is usually so calm even when he knows the truth that it spurs me on faster and faster to finish and find out his discovery. As I have only read 2 Christie's I cannot comment on his actions throughout other books, but if the Poirot TV show is anything to go by, he is about as much of a genius as Christie is - maybe she based his character on herself...

Started 18th June

Finished 24th June

Secret Smile - Nicci French 2005* * * *

This is the second Nicci French novel I have gobbled up and to be honest I would say its nearly as good if not as good as the last one ( What to do when someone dies). The thing about these 2 writers is that they have an ability to draw you in so well that you find yourself tripping over to read more and more. This really is one of those books where the case of 'just one more page' takes effect. Even when I know I have to get up for work I am still desperate to read more even if it means propping my eyelids up with matchsticks!
This is the second book I have read regarding the subject of stalking and as I read more and more I find out how complex and terrifying the act of stalking really is.
Brilliant writing.

Started 6th June
Finished 9th June

Footsteps in the Dark - Georgette Heyer 1932* * * *

I have heard a great deal about Heyer's Regency novels and was delighted to see that she had done a series of classics mystery novels that combined a good story with some dry humour which sounded ideal!
The story was a good one, although honestly I felt in some places it lagged. I liked the typically English stiff upper lipped attitude where no one says how they are really feeling and throw sarcasm around at each other every other sentence. The end was surprising, but I did sort of guess the culprit, not however having any idea about the motive. Worth a read. Will try some of her others.

Started 27th May
Finished 5th June

The Adventures of Sally - P.G. Wodehouse 1922 - * * * *

One of the better Wodehouse's, I sped through this barely stopping to take a breath except when I wanted to laugh! Sally's travels around Europe and back to America make for very funny reading and I was sad to come to the end of this one although I know I have to so that I can start new Wodehouses. The thing I liked most about this was that I didn't get mixed up with the characters like I do in many of his books and managed to stay focused the entire novel. Brilliant.

Started 25th May
Finished 26th May

Stalked - Kate Brennan 2009 * * * *

This is the kind of book that would make a good horror film, the scary part would be that it is actually a true story. One of the few books that genuinely scared me and made me go around locking all the doors before bed last night this kind of book really gets under your skin. The scary thing about it is that this woman is stalked by someone she knows better than anyone who proclaimed to love her when they were together and also threw daily insults and put downs in her face ( one such occurance happens when he pats her arm patronizingly and tells her that it's such a shame that he isn't sexually attracted to her anymore and he really wishes he was but it's just not going to happen.) How insulting and demeaning, as if this man has a right to act this way and then get angry when she mentions she can't stand it anymore. Her stalker Paul sounds like a very frightening character and the fact that he is still at large after all this time means Kate has to constantly up and move house for fear of him finding her. That is no way to live your life constantly looking over your shoulder, but unfortunately it is a reality that Kate must now live with.
A riveting read.

Started 23rd May
Finished 24th May

Something Fresh - P.G.Wodehouse 1915 * * *

After a mix up at his friend's house, Lord Emsworth absent-mindedly pockets a valuable scarab and takes it back to his home Blandings, to add to his collection. Things go from bad to worse when his friend hires someone to steal the scarab back for him, which would be fine if the man he hired wasn't also up against a beautiful and secretive woman who coincidentally lives in the same block of flats as him and has been invited to Blandings as a cook ( she secretly wants the scarab). The trouble is neither knows about each other... let the chaos begin!!
Funny and easy to read, Wodehouse is not capable of writing a dud!!

Started 20th May
Finished 23rd May

The Throwback - Tom Sharpe 1978* * * *

The first Tom Sharpe I have ever read has had me in hysterics since the beginning. I finished it last night and towards the end I had to stop for a breather because my gasping and snorts of amusement was making it hard to breathe. Sharpe is effectively Wodehouse with all the rude bits thrown in. However just because he's rude doesn't mean he is vulgar and though critics have mentioned that they find him over the top he still has a jolly good sense of humour and isn't afraid to talk about anything. Don't read this on public transport as I doubt you would last the trip (the taxidermy incident nearly made me fall off my bed I was laughing so much) and besides, this type of humour should be savoured and appreciated at it's fullest sense. But that didn't stop me from finishing it all in 2 days!


Started 17th May
Finished 18th May ( late!!!)

What to Do When Someone Dies - Nicci French 2009* * * * 1/2

This is my first Nicci French novel and is certainly not going to be the last. The story is a compulsive page-turner ( I read it in just over a day) and the layout of the story is very believable. If you found out that your husband had died in a car with another women how would you feel? Hurt, angry, betrayed or not convinced? That is how Ellie feels after learning that her husband met his death in a car with a glamourous yet unknown woman. And she won't rest until she finds out the truth.
All I can say is if all the Nicci French books are this good I'll be hoicking them to the top of my TBR pile!

Started 16th May
Finished 17th May