So without my own laptop it is pretty hard to keep up my blog and then the Edinburgh Fringe Festival distracted me so I now have a lot of catching up to do and that means the detail is going to drop off, sorry...
June's reading list
Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford
I loved this book, another book I found by chance on Amazon, but so glad I did. Now I love stories about life at home during World War 2 and this one starts with the story of an old man but quickly goes back to his childhood. A beautiful story of a little Chinese boy who struggles to fit in, with Americans calling him Japanese and his own community laughing at him for going to American school. His one friend a little Japanese girl, his father forbids the friendship and when she is interred he goes to great lengths to find her. The story is fascinating but also a moving story of childhood friendship, try it yourself if you see a copy...
The Godless Boys by Naomi Wood
This one was just a bit odd, and kind of 'Lord of the Flies' but still a good read. Everyone who does not believe in God has been shipped off to an island of the coast of the UK (maybe a Shetland Island). On the Island a group of boys are 'policing' the island and punishing those they suspect of believing. I warn you the end will make you cry...
My Dad is Ten Years Old, and it's Pure Weird by Mark O'Sullivan
This story was another tough one, the story of a man who is severely brain damaged in an accident, to the point his children can't call him dad any more in case he freaks. This story is told from the perspective of his young daughter and it is a fascinating insight into the impact of severe brain injury on a family, both the adults in the relationship, the children and the person themselves. At some points I was shouting at the characters in the book, frustrated that they couldn't see the cracks forming and widening, but at the end of the book I was satisfied.
The Midwife's Confession by Diane Chamberlain
Another book that made me cry right from the start, the book opens with a moving tale of a woman committing suicide. From there the mystery deepens as her two best friends try to work out why she did it. Then each chapter a new twist comes out and the mystery deepens, the final twist I worked out a good way before the end and was a little frustrated that the characters couldn't see it. That said if you liked 'The Memory Keeper's Daughter' you will like this so give it a shot...
Shadow of the Serpent by David Ashton
This one I remember little of, however I do remember the way that I could feel Edinburgh under my skin. Although the book was set in history the alleys of Edinburgh still feel the same. There are a number of grisly murders in this book and if you're squeamish then don't read this one.
Murder on the Mind by LL Bartlett
Another whodunnit but this one with a new angle... the central character has a brain injury and ever since he has been plagued with images of a brutal murder. But is this because he did it or does he have another sense thanks to his injury? Well I'm not about to give it away so you'll have to read it to find out...
July's reading list
Murder on the Flying Scotsman by Carola Dunn
I love the drama of these books although I'm sure I don't why anyone would invite Daisy Dalrymple to stay any more as every time she comes to stay at least one person dies. That said in the post-war period it would appear that most of the upper class families had an insufferable older member and a killer in their midst, so I'm sure Daisy was happy to marry 'down class' to an Inspector Detective of Scotland Yard. Another in the same vein as her other novels but still a puzzle I wanted to unravel.
Dead in the Water by Carola Dunn
This novel is set at the Henley regatta, once again Daisy proves to be an unlucky house guest as another man dies.
Sick Notes by Dr Tony Copperfield
As a healthcare PR practitioner, I have been known to read Pulse magazine (A GP publication) and Dr Copperfield's column on the back page was always the highlight, the one article I would definitely read from start to finish. So when his book came up on Amazon at a good price I snapped it up. It was a truly amusing read and had me gasping at the amazing inability of some people to work out whether they are really sick. It was also interesting to read a bout a GP's frustration at the inadequacies of the referral system. An amusing insight into the life of an NHS GP, anyone with a slight interest in healthcare / loved Dr in the House will love this too...
It's Your Time You're Wasting by Frank Chalk
As the child of a teacher this looked amusing and I wasn't let down. Although Mr Chalk is just a supply teacher his stories of the one school he worked at rang true. Some of them I still can't believe how children talk to their teachers these days... I would never have dared when I was at school, in fact I still wouldn't dare.
Ain't no Sunshine by Leslie Du Bois
Another moving book of childhood friendship that grows to more. It was a heart rending read, with racial segregation and domestic abuse. The final twist in the book was surprising, despite working it out a good five years before it was really revealed. I think it was a really worthwhile read and I enjoyed it and would recommend it for others.
Never a Bride by Amelia Grey
A regency novel, a fun story with the usual, girl loves man, man eventually loves girl, problem happens and it all goes wrong then....you guessed it girl gets boy. An easy read that I whipped through and there was even a little mystery running all the way through that was satisfactorily solved at the end :-)
So I'm now just a month behind and with a new laptop on order I aim to get August up soon and then maybe even get through my other books as I read them or at least every other book... I definitely shouldn't leave it this long and I apologise for the sparse nature of some of the reviews above...
