2013 in books

Inspired by my friend Vinca (http://vinxbooks.wordpress.com/), I'm cleaning up 2013 with a list of everything I read in 2013, as it turns out I never actually managed to blog a single book review in 2013!

This is what I read, using GN for graphic novels and NF for non-fiction. I'd love your suggestions for my reading list in 2014, especially new authors, simply comment on this post to start populating my reading list for 2014.

1. Eugine Onegin by Aleksandr Sergeevich Pushkin
2. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
3. Raven Girl by Audrey Niffenegger (GN)
4. Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor
5. The Sugar Girls: Tales of Hardship, Love and Happiness in Tate and Lyle's East End by Duncan Barrett (NF)
6. You Had Me at Hello by Mhairi McFarlane
7. A Dancer in Wartime: One Girl's Journey from the Blitz to Sadler's Wells by Gillian Lynne (NF)
8. The Bay at Midnight by Diane Chamberlain
9. 1st to Die (Women's Murder Club) by James Patterson
10. Little Girl Lost by Brian McGilloway
11. In the Land of the Long White Cloud by Sarah Lark
12. Summer Secrets by Barbara Freethy
13. White Bones (Katie Maguire) by Graham Masterton
14. A Reason to Kill (DI Matt Barnes) by Michael Kerr
15. Sara's Child (The Sara Colson Trilogy) by Susan Elle
16. Gray Justice by Alan McDermott
17. The Penal Colony by Richard Herley 
18. Sentence of Marriage (Promises to Keep) by Shayne Parkinson
19. Mud and Gold (Promises to Keep) by Shayne Parkinson
20. Settling the Account (Promises to Keep) by Shayne Parkinson
21. A Second Chance (Promises to Keep) by Shayne Parkinson
22. The One You Love (Emma Holden Suspense Mystery) by Paul Pilkington
23. Daisy's War by Shayne Parkinson
24. All I Want by Shayne Parkinson
25. Salt Bride: A Georgian Historical Romance by Lucinda Brant
26. Rope Enough (The Romney and Marsh Files) by Oliver Tidy
27. The French House by Nick Alexander
28. Silent Boy by Torey Hayden (NF)
29. Dark Places by Gillian Flynn
30. The Boy from Reactor 4 Grest Stelmach
31. Salt Redux by Lucinda Brant
32. The Elephant Girl by Henriette Gyland
33. Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn
34. Beneath an Irish Sky by Isabelle Connor
35. After the Fall by Charity Norman
36. Night Road by Kristin Hannah
37. Revenge Wears Prada: The Devil Returns by Lauren Weisberger
38. Gingerbread Man by Maggie Shayne
39. The Detective's Daughter by Lesley Thomson
40. 2nd Chance (Women's Murder Club) by James Patterson
41. 3rd Degree (Women's Murder Club) by James Patterson
42. The Bone Factory by Nate Kenyon
43. Finding Emma by Steena Holmes
44. Emma's Secret by Steena Holmes
45. Dead Line by Chris Ewan
46. Darker Than My Shadow by Katie Green (GN, NF)
47. His Shadowed Heart by Hazel Statham
48. The Crystal Mirror by Tim Malnick and Katie Green
49. A Man Above Reproach by Evelyn Price
50. The Defiant Governess (Lessons in Love) by Andrea Pickens
51. All's Fair in Love & Seduction (The Elusive Lords) by Beverley Kendall
52. An Heir of Deception (The Elusive Lords) by Beverley Kendall
53. The Earl's Inconvenient Bride (Marriage by Scandal) by Ruth Ann Nordin
54. Rockwell's Lady by AC Wilson
55. My Lady Coward by Jaimey Grant
56. A Grosvenor Square Christmas by Various
57. The Bride Wore Blue (Brides of Bath) by Cheryl Bolen

I'm starting afresh for 2014 with plenty of books to read and review, plus a busy diary of ballet and maybe some opera to keep the blog going. 

Fourgin or Onegin four ways

Until this year I'd not heard of Onegin, however when I received the Royal Opera House magazine and saw that they were doing the ballet and the opera with two different scores by Tchaikovsky I had to see both. Then posters popped up around town for Tatyana which turned out to be a Brazilian contemporary dance company's version of Pushkin's Onegin.

Onegin with the Royal Ballet
I had no expectations of what was coming having not read the story and failing to purchase a programme. However, I was quickly drawn in to the story and the dancing. Marianela Nunez was, as expected, beautiful and you could feel her anguish as Thiago Soare's Onegin cast her off. Meaghan Grace Hinkis debuted in the role of Olga, Tatiana's friend and danced the role with grace, showing joy, teasing and grief. I loved the use of the two curtains at the front of the stage to create a blank corridor which added drama and comic timing as needed. I loved the drama of Onegin's black cape and it added to his despair when he realised that he really had just shot his friend in a duel over Olga who was caught in the middle. Added to a grabbing story and beautiful dancing, the score from Tchaikovsky was perfect, it seemed familiar at times and I left wanting to buy the recording.

One little quibble the set made me feel seasick at times, as the angles on the flat backdrops painted to make the rooms appear square weren't quite right for my eyes making the 'room' pulsate. Luckily the dancing meant I didn't focus on them too much. The verdict? I'll be sure to get tickets next time the Royal Ballet bring Onegin back especially if Nunez and Soares are dancing together again.

One final thing about this performance, the curtain call. An unusual thing to blog about perhaps but this one was special as Marianela Nunez and Thiago Soares embraced you could see what they had put into their performance. Vampire Soup caught the moment perfectly on her blog, illustrated by @missbunnyman.

Tatyana with Companhia de Dança Deborah Colker
The evening got off to a good start as the Barbican were offering reseats down to the stalls and getting closer to the action is always welcome. I'd read one review that said you needed to know the story before you watched so I felt smug that I knew the story already. However, I'm not sure it stood me in good stead, I would have been better off viewing this dance piece as an abstract. I found the fact there there could be up to four dancers in each role very confusing, I wanted them to dance the same thing as each other, on reading the programme I discovered they were supposed to represent the different aspects of the characters. as one Royal Ballet dancer can dance beautifully and portray a complex character how come this company failed to portray a character with four dancers.

Eugene Onegin with the Royal Opera
So this was my first proper opera and I was curious and strangely a bit nervous. There were no surtitles in the first act due to a technical hitch which made the long first act very difficult. I also struggled with the Royal Opera's need to have two dancers to play alter egos / young versions of Onegin and Tatiana was distracting and for me a pointless exercise. By the end of the first act I wasn't sold but Act II changed my mind. Pavol Breslik in the role of Lensky brought tears to my eyes so much so that I couldn't read the fixed surtitles and to be contrary I found them distracting in the second half. So the verdict is I'll be back for another opera but perhaps I'll choose a bit more carefully next time.

Eugene Onegin by Pushkin
I decided that I really ought to complete my set of Onegin's with the book and so I downloaded it for my Kindle. I struggled a little with the text and some of the rhyming couplets made me laugh. I felt the book was slow to move and if I'm honest I paused / stopped half way through. I think I will go back to it though I'd like to be able to say I managed to finish all four versions of Onegin.

While I took my time on this post the inspiring Dave Tries Ballet posted on his blog comparing the ballet with Pushkin's novel in verse. A well written interpretation, beautifully illustrated with excerpts, photos and video and I recommend you head over to read his post.

Wrapping up 2012

So it turns out I neglected my blog and reading towards the end of the year so here's a whistle stop tour of what I read for the rest of 2012, just for completeness.

Keeper of the Light by Diane Chamberlain
Another good read from Diane Chamberlain. When Annie dies on the operating table as Olivia operates her world unravels. Olivia realises her husband was in love with Annie and life will never be the same. As she dives deeper into what happened behind her back Olivia uncovers all kinds of secrets, no murder but mystery none the less.

A Storm of Swords by George R.R. Martin
The third of the Game of Thrones books and more of the same. I'd like to finish the series and see how it ends, but I'm not sure I want to read any more war circles and characters dying just as you decide that they are the one you want on the throne. Maybe i will reach the end but I suspect that it will be like Robert Jordan's series, stretched too far for me.

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern (Book Club)
I loved this book which I might not have picked up off the shelf myself. It is a magical tour through a dreamlike circus that is only open at night. Although elements of the story were entirely predictable, the style of writing and descriptions meant I finished the book wishing I could visit the night circus. I've added this book to my shelf I will read again.

Ryan's Return by Barbara Freethy
A typical chick-lit, girl meets man falls in love, doesn't realise it, nearly loses him and ends up happy with him. The verdict if you need an easy beach read and don't mind chick-lit then this is worth packing in your case.

The Spare Room by Helen Garner (Book Club)

This was an interesting choice for book club and told the story of a woman who offers her spare room to her friend who has terminal cancer. When her friend arrives and checks in to the local alternative therapy clinic the effects are devastating and a wedge is driven between the friends as they disagree about the validity of the treatment. I found this a fascinating insight into what a person could put themselves through when they have lost hope in medicine.

A Fly on the Ward by Michael K Chapman
Another hospital, blog type book, but this one is written from the point of view of a patient. The description made me think I was in for a good laugh out loud read. Although that is what the author attempted to achieve I didn't find the stories as amusing as they are from the other side and the laughs were few and far between.

It Shouldn't Happen to a Midwife by Jane Yeadon
Jane trained in Belfast in the sixties and her escapades with her fellow midwifery students was an amusing read.

Monday to Friday Man by Alice Peterson
Another chick-lit read to pack for the beach.

The Lost Daughter by Diane Chamberlain
I love Diane Chamberlain's writing and as Picoult does Chamberlain's stories are never quite what they seem.

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn (Book Club)
We read this book at book Club before it hit the billboards here in the UK. This book was perfect for me with a huge twist in the middle. When it becomes clear that all is not as it seems you then try and untangle the clues that are left. The truth leaves you baffled and at book club there were plenty of discussions about whether we liked any of the characters. A good read especially for someone like me who enjoys a good murder mystery.

Luke and Jon by Robert Williams
Luke and Jon is a lovely book about two young boys. Luke's mother is dead and his father doesn't speak any more and escapes into the bottle. Then Luke meets Jon, a boy who doesn't fit in and has a secret. The boys bond and support each other, helping Luke's father with a huge project. Together Luke and his father uncover Jon's secret and offer him an escape, a truly heart warming read.

Tom, Dick and Debbie Harry by Jessica Adams (Book Club)
This was a dull book, set in Australia a British girl goes out to marry an Australian (Richard), has an affair with his best mate Tom while Richard's brother lives out his obsession with Debbie Harry. I didn't really care about any of the characters and nothing particularly interesting happened, I won't be reading this book again and I wouldn't recommend it, not even for a light bit of reading on holiday.

Safe House by Chris Ewan (Book Club)
The Isle of Man isn't where you would expect to find a twisted thriller to be set, but that's exactly where Chris Ewan set this book. when Rob comes off his motorbike and wakes up in hospital his first thought is to ask about his travelling companion Lena. But Rob was the only on picked up by the ambulance, there was no Lena, where did she go? Was Lena a figment of Rob's imagination and then Rebecca turns up asking questions about Laura, Rob's sister who recently died in a car accident, or maybe suicide. The story unravels and draws you in as it progresses and Rob takes on a new role as investigator, very different from his day job, plumbing. A good read, although I don't think Rob will be featuring in more murder mysteries in the future.

Gin O'Clock by The Queen of Twitter
@Queen_UK is one of my favourite twitterers and this was an impulsive purchase on the Kindle. A fun book to read over Christmas, linked to the twitter account this gives you a little more, you could fool yourself into thinking that you really are reading the Queen's diary and she does have a great sense of humour.

Summer 2012 Reading: part one

It feels like watching last night of the proms is a good time to sum up my summer reading material. Due to the Olympics the reading list is a bit shorter than usual as I got distracted but this is what I read before the Paralympics started.

A Clash of Kings by George R.R. Martin
This is the third book, or technically the end of the second book in the 'Game of Thrones' series. I wish I could tell you what happened in this book but they are all blending in to one. I'm still going to read the next one but if I'm honest I'm now ready for the end but I'm sure I'll keep reading. What I find hard about this series is that I can't really empathise with any characters, particularly because they keep killing everyone off.

Fearless in High Heels by Gemma Halliday
I enjoyed reading about Maddie's earlier adventures, a chick-lit mixed with who-dunnit, what more could a girl ask for. This time Maddie is pregnant but that doesn't seem to stop her chasing after murderers. add in a vampire element because well these days you have to have a vampire. The result is enjoyable but not the best in the series and definitely light reading.

The Good Father by Diane Chamberlain
I loved the other books I have read by Diane Chamberlain and this one was no exception. It was perhaps a little predictable but once again some interesting twists, a few nail-biting chapters and a happy ending.

Confessions of a Male Nurse by Michael Alexander
Another medical book and this one was amusing. A qualified Aussie, male nurse coming over to London writes about his experiences. Particularly amusing was the chapter in gynaecology, just every stereotype you can imagine really does happen. if you liked Confessions of a GP, which I did then you'll probably love this too.

Books for Bank holidays

The Lucky One by Nicholas Sparks (book club)
This was a nice light read as a change at book club, by the author of the Notebook. It is a real romantic read and you know where the story will end from half way, although it did keep me guessing. Glad I didn't go to see the movie as there is no way Zac Efron can pull off tough ex-marine Logan Thibault. All in all a good choice for your next holiday lounging by the pool.

Fifty Shades of Grey, Fifty Shades Darker and Fifty Shades Freed by E.L. James
Over the Bank Holiday I got absolutely hooked on E.L. James Fifty Shades books, so much so I read them all in one Bank Holiday. These were recommended to me at book club and the description as Mills & Boon on steroids was pretty accurate. Fifty Shades of Grey was a fast paced introduction to the characters, although perhaps not one I'd discuss with my mum! Fifty Shades Darker moved the story on and Christian's character developed but there was an added element of danger and mystery as his history started to catch-up with him. Although I tore through the last book, Fifty Shades Freed was almost a let down. The storyline was fun with some real intrigue including a kidnapping, but what let me down was the character development as I found myself going off both characters Christian became more protective and Ana spent her whole time feeling sorry herself as she tried to figure out the man she married. Although not for the easily embarrassed I'd recommend these books and if you have a Kindle no one will know what you are reading.

Kennel Maid Nan by Elinor M. Brent-Dyer
This was the second book from mum's latest Girls Gone By purchase and I was lucky enough to get my hands on it first. A complete change from my previous read but a lovely trip back to my childhood. Nan is typically naive as she heads to Miss Francie's kennels and gets caught up in some trouble. I learnt about house training puppies amongst other things but most of all I learnt that in the world of Elinor a good friend is all you need to help you stop an evil grown-up poisoning one of your puppies. A nice fun read, perfect for the end of a long day.

Same Kind of Different as Me by Ron Hall, Denver Moore and Lynn Vincent (book club)
This was pitched as controversial and so I read it with interest but was disappointed not to find any intrigue. The discussion at book club revealed that the religious elements of the book were the 'controversial' elements with people in the group being at times uncomfortable with the visions of angels and overtly Christian sections. This was not just the story of two men from very different backgrounds but the story of how one woman bound them together for life. The book was slow to start and I struggled to connect the two story lines as it jumped between characters. However once I got going I found a truly moving story of devotion hidden underneath.

Songs of Fire and Ice: Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin
Ever since P heard about this series on the web he has been keen to read them. His enthusiasm got me started with the books and I may just be over taking him. this was another book where every chapter is a different character and although each chapter is clearly named I struggled to connect. However by the second time I came to each character I had got my head around it and enjoyed the story. Some story lines were stronger than others and I was sorry to see Eddard Stark die so early in these series. Paul described these as Lord of the Rings with less fantasy, there is also more killing and I'm not sure the writing is up to Tolkien. Now I know where this heading in the short term I think it is good enough to pick up Book Two and I'll let you know how I get on with that.

Forgotten books

I have been better at my theatre and ballet updates than the book updates this year so here is a catch-up on what I've been reading.

American Assassin by Vince Flynn
This was my first book read on the iPhone, however it was such a compelling story that I couldn't stop reading and soon got over that hitch. This book mixed my love of mysteries with an old love of war/spy books. This was more graphic and violent than previous books and included a healthy dose of revenge. Mitch Rapp was the central character and I'm not sure that I ever really liked him although he was on the 'good' side in this book about counter-terrorism efforts primarily in Beirut. Once I had finished the book I realised it was actually the latest in a series and I am glad I read this one first and am looking forward to reading the other books in the series. That all said the iPhone will not be replacing my Kindle and I only have free books on the iPhone and I suspect I will only finish them if they are really gripping.

Death Comes to Pemberley by PD James
A colleague recommended this book after reading it with her book club. I bought it and then suggested my dad might like to read it which meant I lost my Kindle into his hands over Christmas. Once it was returned I was distracted by other books but finally got round to reading this. I've not read PD James before but I am of course familiar with Jane Austen and Pride and Prejudice in particular. PD James picks up six years after The Darcys' marriage and the world of of Austen is plunged into uncertainty and mystery when Lydia pitches up on the door step hysterical and claiming the Wickham has been murdered. Cleverly written the character continuity is right on the money and I didn't work it out until the very end when all was made clear with a confession. Having read this book I might try another of PD James books to see whether this was a one off.

Sister by Rosamund Lupton
This book was much more than a 'simple' murder mystery as it entered into the world of genetic treatments and cystic fibrosis. I was quite convinced by the 'unethical' trial processes in place I can't quite see that level of falsification passing muster in the real-world but as it was only a story I'll let them off!  I got drawn in and felt sorry both Bee and her dead sister Tess at different points throughout the story. Was it murder or suicide? I was with Bee throughout and at every twist and turn I realised maybe a page ahead of her that she was following the wrong route but even then I didn't see the ending coming. Another great addition to my murder mystery collection that kept me up late at night trying to reach the end and find out what really happened.

Falling Star by Diana Dempsey
I enjoyed this book both for the story line but also for the relevance to my work. Diana Dempsey used to be a broadcast journalists and although set in America this book gave me an insight into the hierarchy of the broadcast news programmes where the news anchor is king. A good mixture of the insights into what makes a good news story and the logistics of putting it all together mixed in with some sexism and a nice dollop of intrigue. Reading this reminded me a little bit of Gemma Halliday's Spying in High Heels with an under-prepared  girl 'investigating' and inevitably ending up in trouble. A good quick read with a neat resolution, I think I might look into some of Diana Dempsey's other books and who knows I might learn some more about TV journalism from them.

To Davy Jones Below by Carola Dunn
After a bit of a break I thought it was time to come back to Carola Dunn and the reading of this book seemed perfectly timed as the TV scheduling was fixated on Titanic it being a hundred years since the sinking. I think the break was a good idea as I really enjoyed this one although I was a bit surprised at how many people got knocked off on a ship without Alec and Daisy figuring out who did it. Mixed in with the whodunnit element was a good sprinkling of class snobbery and of course in true Daisy style it all came out in the wash. I'm looking forward to the next instalment after I've read a few more books in between.

Valeria's Last Stand by Marc Fitten (Book Club)
This was the first book since I joined The London Girly Book Club two years ago where no one in the room seemed to have a good thing to say about it. At first I thought I would quite enjoy this book but by the end of chapter one I wasn't convinced. I carried on and by the half way point I was just ploughing on to reach the end before Book Club. I found the storyline to be mundane, the characters were all unlovable, perhaps the problem was that it was all too much like real-life in a Hungarian village and I just couldn't connect. I was reminded of a Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian by Marina Lewycka, however Marina Lewycka does not shy away from parodying her characters adding humour to lift what could have been a story of everyday life. I won a copy of Marc Fitten's next book Elza's Kitchen as an uncorrected proof and I'm not sure I can bring myself to read it.

The Chalet School and Robin by Caroline German
I grew up on a diet of school literature from Enid Blyton's Mallory Towers to my mum's collection of Abbey Girls (EJ Oxenham) and The Chalet School (E Brent-Dyer). I always wanted to go to the Chalet School but although that never happened I still love to curl up with on of these books. The Chalet School series has a number of gaps and also some inconsistencies which has left the series open to a number of filler books written by fans of the series. Mum's latest purchase was this one and it was a particularly good filler. I was impressed that the style was so close to the original books and although I had forgotten that Robin's time as head girl was not included in the series this book fitted in and cleverly added details to some of the stories mentioned later in the series but never spelled out.

The cold days...

The temperatures have dropped down and I've found more time for my books. So here's what I've read curled up under the duvet.

Vigilante by Kerry Wilkinson

This is the second Jessica Daniel book and having enjoyed the first one I quickly got the second. I was pleased to see Jessica get a boyfriend, but then as she got more and more caught up in the case I became increasingly frustrated at the assumptions she was making. This book was where I started to draw likenesses to Rebus my original favourite detective and by the end it felt like Jessica could be Rebus' daughter as they share so many character traits. I wasn't as bought in to this story as I was to that of Locked In but it was still a good read.

The Woman in Black by Kerry Wilkinson

At the end of Vigilante I wanted to see what happened next and really I wanted to see whether the last text Jessica received in Vigilante was the glimmer of hope I was waiting for. This story really puzzled me as I tried to work it all out but the likeness to Rebus came out even more strongly and I didn't think the book stood up to Rankin's writing. However I will still be buying the next book to see what Jessica gets up to next and the Jessica Daniel novels are an all round easy read.

The Island by Victoria Hislop

One of the girls at work read this and recommended it and after it sat on my Kindle for a while I opened it up. This book was definitely worth the wait, another book where the daughter unravels the secrets of her family. A leper colony off the coast of Crete took centre stage and all the misconceptions about the disease took centre stage as families had their lives destroyed by this terrible disease. I realised that I held misconceptions about leprosy and now I know that you don't catch leprosy form casual contact, that for some people it can stay stable for years. The biologist in me enjoyed the knocked back sub-lot about the first treatments and the risks people took to try new treatments with potential horrendous side effects. But what I really loved about this book was that none of the characters seemed to be too self-obsessed. They all made mistakes and no-one was too good to be true and at the end I stayed up until 1am to finish this book in just two days as I was so desperate to find out what happened.

The Skeleton in the Closet by MC Beaton

This was a strange book all of Fell's life he has stayed home and worked to support his parents. When both his parents die Fell is left a small fortune and then the questions start, where did it come from? Fell moves Maggie in and predictably Maggie falls in love with Fell while fell simply sees Maggie as a frump. Throughout the book the mystery becomes clearer but as Fell and Maggie are just a little naive the story seems to be poorly constructed with limited intrigue. I found all the mishaps, a burglary and a car bomb a step too far and  I wasn't invested in Fell or Maggie but I read through to the end and despite one last fright the story concluded as expected with a suitably happy ending.

Last up I'm ashamed to admit that for the first time since Far From the Madding Crowd was my GCSE book I have failed to finish a book...

Bad Science by Ben Goldacre

I used to enjoy reading popular science and this book sounded like my kind of reading. Although there were some interesting points about the placebo effect which I'm always fascinated by this book was full of vitriol and after a quarter of the book I felt like I was simply reading a self-absorbed rant and decided that the content did not outweigh the lack of style. Safe to say I will not be finishing this book and I was sorry that a science book broke my usually good reading record.

So who did it?

I've just finished reading another two crime books very different...

Rattle His Bones by Carola Dunn

Another Daisy mystery, this one I enjoyed as it was set in the Natural History museum and being set in the '50s didn't mean I couldn't picture the different galleries clearly. I was also relieved that this time Daisy wasn't (indirectly) killing off her friends / hosts but managed to have stumbled across a death on a dinosaur with just a little help from Belinda and Derek. I'm surprised that Alec hasn't had second thoughts about marrying Daisy yet, considering she seems to be solely responsible for doubling his workload. This book also had the added bonus that there was not just a murder but a huge theft too, with the story starting when all the gems in the Natural History Museum were stolen and replaced with fakes. I will definitely be looking more closely at the dinosaurs and gems next time I'm in the museum. But should you read it? Well if you didn't enjoy the others then no, but if you did then it's worth a read although Daisy and Alec still don't get married.

Locked In by Kerry Wilkinson

I might have found a new detective to follow... Jessica Daniels, DS. Right from the start this book drew me in as a fan of CSI I smiled as Jessica commented that being a detective in Manchester is not really as glamorous as being a CSI. Here the question was how did a killer get in to a locked house and back out again without leaving a trace? Then Jessica finds out who probably did but he seems to have disappeared without trace will Jessica find him before another person dies? Oh and if you want to know how you break into a locked house try the locksmiths... I've bought some more Jessica Daniels books and I'm looking forward to trying to solve some more of Jess' cases, maybe this time before she does.

Festive reading

The Christmas break was a great opportunity to catch-up on my books and here's what I read:

Nelson by UKCC edited by Rob Davis and Woodrow Phoenix
This was a gift from P for Christmas, guided by me as I'd seen a copy previously. This was the beautifully illustrated story of Nel, created by 54 talented British artists. Each artist illustrated one day from a year of Nel's birth starting with her birth. I thoroughly enjoyed this story, I couldn't wait to find out what happened next in Nel's life and the constantly changing illustrative style just pulled you along too. I'm not normally a comic book girl but this story did what it set out to do and showed that British illustration is more than just Marvel, Beano, Dandy or MAD. I definitely recommend this as a good read and as it's sale supports Shelter you can feel good about spoiling yourself. Oh and if you enjoy 1978 then check out my friend Katie's blog for more of her work or indulge in her bimonthly zine, Green Bean.

Against All Odds: The Most Amazing True Life Story You'll Ever Read by Paul Connelly
This was a tough read as the true life story of a boy's life in a children's home. When the police turn up at Paul's home he is shocked to find that most of the boys he grew up with are dead and this book looks at the horrendous abuse these children suffered at the hands of those to whom their care was entrusted. Hard reading that brought a tear to my eye not sure I'll be reading it again though.

Last Train from Liguria by Christine Dwyer Hickey
I enjoyed this book as a family mystery, set in immediately pre-war Italy this story follows the tale of an English girl sent out to be governess to a young boy. This story is told from two people's perspective, the English governess and the granddaughter of an old lady lying in hospital. My one problem with the story is that it never told you what happened to Alec (the boy) or Edward (his piano teacher). These two characters were central to the story and I was sad never to find out what happened to them. If you don't mind the alternating chapters and the hanging end then this is definitely worth a read.

That Summer in Ischia by Penny Feeny
Another family mystery with collapsing friendships added to the mix. Helena and Liddy worked as au pairs on a beautiful, remote Greek island and what happened that summer broke their friendship seemingly forever. Allie, Helena's daughter meets Liddy and what she learns from Liddy sends her back to Ischia to find out what really happened that summer and most importantly to find her father. A story of betrayal, innocence, love affairs, friendships and intrigue which from the moment Allie gets involved moves forward quickly and satisfyingly answers al your questions by the end of the book.

Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay (Book club)
A great choice by my book club that I can't wait to discuss. This book was based on the events of Vel' d'Hiv, the French mass round-up of their Jewish citizens in occupied France. This wasn't something I had ever heard of and this book does a great job to bring distressing actions to the broader general public. Another story told from two perspectives, a little girl (Sarah) who was rounded up on the night of Vel' d'Hiv and an American journalist (Julia) who is tasked with writing about it on the sixtieth anniversary. I found Julia a little self-absorbed and so slightly annoying but that wasn't enough to break my interest and I read this book in just 24 hours.

Breaking the Silence by Diane Chamberlain
I didn't connect this book to The Midwife's Confession read and reviewed in June last year but the writing style was definitely familiar. This book was the story of Laura's attempt to get her daughter Emma to talk after she witnesses Laura's husband commit suicide. Another gripping tale with stories from across the generations. Perhaps a little far fetched at times but with interesting approaches to Alzheimer's, mutism and psychiatric experimentation. Based on this and The Midwife's Confession I think I will be reading more of Diane Chamberlain's books.

A Sister's Gift by Giselle Green
Hollie and Scarlett have a strained relationship right from the start of the book, two sisters with a secret or two between them. When Scarlett offers to act as a surrogate for for Hollie has she really changed, is it really a gift or will the terms be too high? A good read, as secrets are created, revisited and shared and world's come tumbling down and are rebuilt on stronger foundations. The book leaves you wondering what is really important in your life and what would you be willing to sacrifice for it? 

Winter reading

So I've failed again at updating this regularly but here goes with the books I've been reading recently.

Becoming Madame Mao by Anchee Min
I read The Last Empress years ago and loved so trying this book seemed like a good idea. This biography style book is written somewhere between fact and fiction and offers an insight into life behind the closed doors of Mao's life. Although Madame Mao is not exactly a lovely character you can't help feeling sorry for her at times throughout the book. What really came out in this book was the level of suspicion and back stabbing that went on at all levels within the regime. I think perhaps my next step is to read a true fact book to see how much of this was true.

I Don't Know How She Does It by Allison Pearson
This one really indulged my old love of girly books. Following the fast track life of high flying banker and mother of two Kate Reddy. If Kate had been a real person I too wouldn't know how she did it. Her banking job felt not just full time but double time, at one point Kate even leaves her family on holiday to get back to the office. Although not completely typical of the genre this book still delivered laughs, tears and a little bit of can't put it down. I'm pleased to say that as you might expect it all works out well for Kate in the end and I recommend this read for anyone that used to love chick-lit but finds it just a bit too predictable now.

The Hangman's Daughter by Oliver Potzsch
An historical thriller was the description on GoodReads, sounds right up my street (although only in books, films described this way are not my thing). Some fascinating insights into life in Germany in the 1600s, the fear and suspicion with which the town hangman was viewed. A little bit of witch hunting thrown in for good measure along with a 'devil' with a bone hand and a number of murders. As the hangman and the young doctor join forces that story takes a number of twists and turns as you try and figure out who is behind the mystery and why they are doing it. The graphic descriptions and torture sequences mean this book isn't for everyone but if you read Dracula's Guest then this book would be good for you.

Nee Naw: Real Life Dispatches From Ambulance Control by Suzi Brent
Back to the ambulance blogs now, this one was recommended by Tom Reynolds whose own books I reviewed in previous posts. Suzi writes from a new perspective, behind the phones and I thought it was really interesting to see what goes on when you call an ambulance. I was amazed at the number of people who apparently don't think they need to give an address and also the crazy things you might call an ambulance for. I was also interested to learn that there is a whole team for dispatching separate from the call-takers. Not as much blood as in Tom's books but still some crazy tales of medical drama on the streets / telephones of London, for a Casualty lover like me well worth a read.

Rapid Response: True Stories of My Life as a Paramedic by Lysa Walder
More ambulance drama and this time back on the road. More mad call outs, I mean who calls an ambulance for a cold? Or even worse goes to A&E thinks the wait is too long, goes round the corner and calls an ambulance, note to the wise this won't get you a queue jump. Much like Tom and Suzi, Lysa is an engaging author and once again I am willing on all these ambulances to hit their government targets on response times. If you didn't like Tom and Suzi's books, don't read this, if you did then i suggest this is a must read title for you.

Later this weekend I will bring you a review of Gaucho's in Richmond and the Richmond theatre's Cinderella, my first panto in years. I'm sure Christmas will bring me new books and failing that plenty of time to fill with reading and maybe even blogging so here's to better blogging over Christmas and the New Year!

Summer reading...

So I'm nearly back up to date on the book front and August was a light month on the book front, possibly due to the distraction of a new iPhone...

So just three books to get through in August.

Back on Murder by J Mark Bertrand
Another who dunnit, I think perhaps best suited for a Rankin fan like me. A grumpy US detective that goes off-piste and gets himself into trouble reminds me of Edinburgh's Rebus, they even had the young, good looking girl detective. I'm not sure if it was because I missed the Edinburgh element or the case was not as unusual as Rankin's but something about this just didn't click for me. I wanted to find out what happened but I wished I was reading it in paper so that I could flick to back and see, I'd pick up a Rebus novel rather than this if I was you...

A Mourning Wedding by Carola Dunn
A misleading title if ever there was one as there was no wedding... I think the biggest shock in this whole thing was that Daisy's best fried who should have known better invited Daisy to stay, the result two deaths and her fiancée was also nearly killed. That said it was still a good read although not one of the best in the story I worked this one out just too early.

More Blood, More Sweat and Another Cup of Tea by Tom Reynolds
I love Tom Reynolds straight to the point approach, I read his first book just before I started this blog and so when I saw the second one floating around I gave it a try. It was just as good as the first and amazingly it never got boring, the number of cases an ambulance crew sees gives Tom a wealth of material, from matern-a-taxi, to colds, to A&E queue jumpers including just a few real emergencies. I guess you have to be one of those people who likes to watch Casualty for this one to hit the mark, but as I'm one of those folk that's fine and I loved it...

Catching up on the books...

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...

A hiatus...

So after just three posts my laptop broke leaving me with no laptop and therefore no means to post. So I've lots catch-up on. So I'll cover the last three months in short...

April
Started early, took my dog by Kate Atkinson (Book club)
Another book told from a variety of view points, some of the story lines weren't really to my taste so I wasn't the greatest fan of this book...

The Slap by Christos Tsiolkas
Billed as highly controversial, I'm not sure it was that bad. However it was interesting to have a book where you didn't really like any of the characters. It was also bizarre to read about a community with such a relaxed view towards drugs, I can't imagine a place where parents are fine with their children taking drugs... But I do recommend giving this book a go.

May
The Trouble with Alice by Olivia Glazebrook
I discovered this book via Amazon's Rising Stars, a fantastic first novel that did make me cry. I loved this book because it wasn't your typical love story but mainly because I started off hating the central character but by the end I was converted...

Spying in high heels by Gemma Halliday
A good fun, if slightly unbelivable murder mystery. I lvoed the light hearted nature of the book with a 'ditzy blonde' central character who aside from being intensely nosey also seemed to have a magnetic attraction to trouble. A lovely twist at the end made it a worthwhile, speedy read, though perhaps only for the girls.


Sugar and Spice by Saffina Desforges
Definitely not for the easily offended, this book on the topic of child sexual abuse was a gripping read. You were also convinced that you'd got the end sussed then it all came undone. Some overly graphic descriptions but overall a gripping read with some different viewpoints.

Truth, Dare, Kill by Gordon Ferris
Another 'whodunnit' set in post-war London, a serial killer is on the loose, killing prostitutes. A wounded ex-soldier, turned private investigator, is trying to find out wht happened. However you start to wonder whether he did, or is he being set-up? you'll have to read it to find out.

The Cookbook Collector by Allegra Goodman
I picked this one because I secretly like to read cookbooks even if I don't have a meal to prepare. This book had laughter and tears and I loved it. I learnt about the shares market and challenges of running a start-up in a recession. But what I loved most was the insight behind closed doors into the lives of families and inside the heads of the characters. Definitely worth read even if you don't love cookbooks!


Killer, Undercover, Alibi and Mayhem in High Heels by Gemma Halliday
I loved the first one so ended up reading the box set... By the end I definitely needed a break from the story and the central characters promise to give up getting involved in criminal cases. However I will be planning to read the other books on a holioday because they are definitely easy reading and I still never manage to work out who did it until it's all laid out for me...

Now I've reached June I should be able to remember what the books were about again so I'll write a fuller post tomorrow on the subject of June...

March

This month I got a free replacement for my Kindle cover as the one without the light was causing the Kindle to crash. However Amazon's customer service team were amazing and I now have a smart cover with a light which is great for reading in taxis and doesn't seem to be destroying the battery life :-)

So another amalagmation of a month's worth of books:
Fairy Tales from the Arabian nights by E Dixon
A lovely collection of fairy tales, unlike the British variety I don't think I would recommend these for young children. It seemed in every chapter at least one character died a terrible death and often there was a beautiful princess / fairy trapped in an underground cavern waiting for her prince to marry her.

I also wasn't expecting to find Sinbad the sailor in this book but there he was at the end. He certainly earned his reputation as a bad luck charm on a voyage as on all of his journeys he was the only one to return. Though by the last journey I was more than ready for it all to end. I'm not sure that these arabian fairy tales had quite the same moral aspect but they were definitely worth reading.

The Hanging Shed by Gordon Ferris
Not for the faint hearted this book is a real crime story. But what's interesting is it is not so much of a whodunnit as who didn't... Set in Glasgow council estates there is a level of slightly annoying dialect written out in full, personally I would rather simply add the Glaswegian accent in my head but I guess it's all down to personal preference.

The Basement by Stephen Leather
Another one not for the easily shocked, if you didn't like Emma Donoghue's Room then don't try this one. The seemingly obvious answer to this crime story is smashed in an incredible twist at the end of the book.

An Inconvenient Marriage by Ruth Ann Nordin
Time for a bit of periosd writing and something lighter than the previous two books. Some interesting themes about the role of women in a marriage and I whipped through this easy read.

The Girl Who Played with Fire by Stieg Larsson
Although I didn't love the first on of this trilogy when this came up reduced on my Kindle I wanted to find out what happened next. This one moved alot faster, perhaps because there was no need to set-up the characters. There were the twists you would expect although some of them were verging on the ridiculous but all in all I think it is worth persevering with the first book so you can get to this one, the highlight of the trilogy.

February's books

I missed February too so here's the list for February:

One Day by David Nicholls (book club)
Once I got used to the jumping around I loved this book probably because the characters ran true and the places were familiar with the Edinburgh chapters bringing back memories of university...

Dracula's Guest by Bram Stoker
Another free book for the Kindle and picked because I loved Dracula. It was a series of short stories all fabulously dark, a couple seemed predictable but not until they were almost concluded, if you read and loved Dracula - read this!

Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl Written by Herself by Harriet Ann Jacobs
This was a moving, fascinating story of a real slave in the States, it felt very true to life despite the thought of someone living in and attic space that doesn't allow her to stand for a couple of years.

Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert
I read this on a recommendation from someone at my book club and I'm still not sure if I liked it or was turned off by it. I felt it was a bit self-help in places but in other places I was rooting for the author. I think it's worth trying it and seeing what you think.

Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro
I read this instead of going to see the movie and was glad that did. Although the medical scientist in me would liked to have had a bit more detail about the whole donor process. I was frustrated that you never found out why donors 'completed' after four transplants... But definitely worth a read, don't be put off by talk of sci-fi.

The Postmistress by Sarah Blake (book club)
I'm always fascinated by the home front during the war so this book was a great choice for me. However I struggled to connect to the characters I felt almost like too much was happening and there were too many people fighting to be centre of my attention. The resulting effect was to feel very detached from the story which wasn't an enjoyable feeling.

Getting started...

When I moved jobs I got a Kindle as a leaving gift, this has meant I've refound my love of books especially as a I'm basically carrying a book shop in my handbag. So I thought that I'd try keeping a bit of a list of what I read and what I thought about it for my own memory and just in case it is of interest to anyone else out there.

I started later in the year than I intended so the first post is a list with just a few comments, I'll try and write more about some of these titles later. A final note before I start on the books I'm a member of the London Girly Book Club and I have identified which books I read for my book club.

January
No Angel by Jay Dobyns
A fascinating insight into the inner workings of the Hell's Angels in the US. Not my usual fare but glad I stumbled across it.

Farenheit Twins by Michael Faber
I bought this book because I remembered lots of talk about, but I was disappointed, a series of short stories that were just a little to off the wall for me.

Still Missing by Chevy Stevens
Similarly to Room by Emma Donoghue this is an amazing but disturbing book.

What Katy Did by Susan Coolidge
A childhood favourite that was free on my Kindle and still loved it. The ultimate bad girl turns good!

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson
I finally gave in to the hype and tried this, sadly I was let down. For me it started slow, the middle was just what I wanted and then the end went on for too long. Not sure yet whether I'll read the rest of the trilogy.

Painless by Derek Ciccione
Another disturbing book but about a fascinating topic. I love books with a medical take and this one takes an interesting look at children that can't feel pain.