Here we are again, can you believe it? The end of one year and the start of another. And what a year it's been for my reading project!
This has been my most successful twelve months so far. I've read 33 books, a whole ten more than in 2013. Admittedly, eight of them were gifts sent to me by various publishers and retailers (thank you!) plus there were a couple of books that weren't on my list at the start of the year, but overall everything balanced out. The extra ten books I read were new, so the remaining 23 came off my list. So it all sort of worked out nicely in the end.
As always, I've hit the variety button! The non-fiction covered everything from journalese to murder to psychics to psychology, as well as positive thinking and chocolate (not the same book, honest!). I've enjoyed new and established writers, short stories and full length novels. I read thrillers, science fiction, horror and, of course, my favourite, historical fiction, plus a couple of books that defy genre. These included an original retelling of Romeo and Juliet which I think is very underrated. Looking back, it's been a very eclectic year and I hope you've enjoyed it as much as I have.
Last year, I decided to try reading series of books to give me some intermediate and (hopefully) more achievable targets. I would like to go back to Philippa Gregory's Cousins' War series soon and am keeping up with Bernard Cornwell's Saxon Stories, but this year has been the year of James Bond. I've always loved the films and had heard a lot about the books, so really wanted to give them a go. I'm lucky enough to have a lot of them on CD, so this was the series I started in 2014. I've now heard six of the books and am part way through a seventh ('From Russia with Love'). There are just six more after that, so perhaps I'll finish them all in the next year. You never know!
I'd also like to return to Cornwall and see how the Poldarks are getting on. A new TV adaptation is looming, so I would really like to be able to watch it without spoiling the books!
So, as well as finishing Fleming and Graham's back catalogues, what else does 2015 hold? Well, I'd really like to read at least one classic next year, as well as more non-fiction history. I've got some great looking history on the shelves and would really like to see if it lives up to expectations!
As always, thank you for joining me on this journey. I hope you're still enjoying the blog and finding my posts useful and entertaining. If you've got any feedback, you can find me on Twitter as @Girl_LovesBooks. Take care and have a fun and fabulous new year!
Related Posts
Review of the Year 2013
Review of the Year 2012
2014: The Year in Books
January
'Alex and Me' by Irene M Pepperberg
February
'Romps, Tots and Boffins' by Robert Hutton
'The Pagan Lord' by Bernard Cornwell
'For Your Eyes Only' by Ian Fleming
March
'The Devil in the Marshalsea' by Antonia Hodgson
'Gin O'Clock' by The Queen of Twitter
'The Bluffer's Guide to Chocolate'
April
'Casino Royale' by Ian Fleming
'Bird Box' by Josh Malerman
May
'Mr Briggs' Hat: A Sensational Account of Britain's First Railway Murder' by Kate Colquhoun
'Live and Let Die' by Ian Fleming
June
'A Host of Voices' by Doris Stokes
'Dr No' by Ian Fleming
'The Psychic Tourist' by William Little
'The Essential Marx' by Groucho Marx, selected by Stefan Kanfer
July
'All My Friends are Superheroes' by Andrew Kaufman
'The Art of Being Brilliant' by Andy Cope and Andy Whittaker
'Warleggan' by Winston Graham
'My Baby Shot Me Down' by Blinding Books
August
'Wake' by Anna Hope
'Octopussy, the Living Daylights and Other Stories' by Ian Fleming
'Moranthology' by Caitlin Moran
September
'The Illustrated Man' by Ray Bradbury
'Thunderball' by Ian Fleming
'Love and Treasure' by Ayelet Waldman
'Warm Bodies' Isaac Marion
October
'Office Politics' by Oliver James
'We Bought a Zoo' by Benjamin Mee
'The Tiny Wife' by Andrew Kaufman
November
'How to Read a Graveyard' by Peter Stanford
'Moonraker' by Ian Fleming
December
'The Miniaturist' by Jessie Burton
31 December 2014
Our House
Earlier this week, I finished reading 'The Miniaturist' by Jessie Burton. Burton's first book has caused quite a stir, gaining many passionate fans and winning the Waterstones' Book of the Year title. This should've reassured me, but I couldn't ignore the niggle in the pit of my stomach telling me not to get my hopes up too much...
'The Miniaturist' is set in late 1600s Amsterdam at a time when capitalism, faith and superstition are in constant conflict, building walls and expectations between people and families. Eighteen year old Nella arrives in the city eager to begin life with her new husband, the merchant Johannes Brandt. But her reception is unexpectedly cold; Johannes is absent and neither her aloof sister-in-law Marin nor the household servants Cornelia and Otto make her welcome. Before long, Nella feels unwanted and useless, a mere bauble to demonstrate her husband's success, her hopes of children and love whithering away. In an attempt at kindness, Johannes buys her a cabinet containing a replica of their own home, perhaps hoping to paint over the cracks in their relationship. With little else to do, Nella decides to furnish it and begins placing orders with a miniaturist. But when unrequested furniture and figurines start arriving which suggest more is going on in the real household than Nella realises, she determines to find out more about the elusive artisan...
I'm delighted to say that 'The Miniaturist' is an excellent book. It's easy to identify with Nella, the stranger in a strange city, and I found it impossible to abandon her, especially once the web of secrets surrounding the Brandt household began to unravel. Events are heartbreaking and raw, but the young bride is made of sterner stuff than even she realises and the reader roots for her to the very last page.
The story is expertly crafted, full of characters with public images often at odds with their private passions and grand designs. Despite everything, the book manages to end with hope. In the hands of a lesser writer, it could easily have become depressing. Instead, it has all the tension of a thriller, the tenderness of a romance and the texture of an historical drama.
Complex, unexpected and sometimes shocking, 'The Miniaturist' is a book for people who like ideas and stories which make them think, stories which leave room for mystery and don't necessarily answer every question. If that sounds like you, then it is highly recommended.
It's hard to believe that this is Ms Burton's first novel and I eagerly await her next. Although I really do need to read a few more books first!
Now for a trip back to Anglo-Saxon Englaland with everyone's favourite war lord...
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| 'The Miniaturist' by Jessie Burton (Picador, 2014) |
I'm delighted to say that 'The Miniaturist' is an excellent book. It's easy to identify with Nella, the stranger in a strange city, and I found it impossible to abandon her, especially once the web of secrets surrounding the Brandt household began to unravel. Events are heartbreaking and raw, but the young bride is made of sterner stuff than even she realises and the reader roots for her to the very last page.
The story is expertly crafted, full of characters with public images often at odds with their private passions and grand designs. Despite everything, the book manages to end with hope. In the hands of a lesser writer, it could easily have become depressing. Instead, it has all the tension of a thriller, the tenderness of a romance and the texture of an historical drama.
Complex, unexpected and sometimes shocking, 'The Miniaturist' is a book for people who like ideas and stories which make them think, stories which leave room for mystery and don't necessarily answer every question. If that sounds like you, then it is highly recommended.
It's hard to believe that this is Ms Burton's first novel and I eagerly await her next. Although I really do need to read a few more books first!
Now for a trip back to Anglo-Saxon Englaland with everyone's favourite war lord...
05 December 2014
Call Me Indestructible...
Sorry I'm late! I finished listening to 'Moonraker' by Ian Fleming, read by Bill Nighy, last weekend and completely forgot to blog about it. Suspect I've been thinking too much about my Christmas shopping. Well, there are so many fabulous books out there it takes a lot of brainpower to decide which to give to people!
At the beginning of 'Moonraker', James Bond seems a bit bored. He's back at his desk in London, teasing his secretary, worrying about his colleagues and desperate for a diversion. It isn't much, but when M asks for his help with a possible cards cheat at his exclusive club, Bond jumps at the chance. After all, why would Sir Hugo Drax, multi-millionaire, commodities tycoon and national hero need to cheat at cards? Drax's bad habit must be stopped before a scandal breaks, something which would threaten his latest project, the superatomic Moonraker rocket, jewel in the British defence crown. Suitably beaten, it looks like the end of it, until events take an unexpected turn and Bond finds himself at the Moonraker construction site. Working with undercover Special Branch officer Garla Brand, he soon realises something isn't quite right. But can he work out what it is in time to save the world once more?
Who'd have thought that a Bond set in Britain rather than some exotic location would be this good? Seriously, if you'd said the next movie was going to be filmed in Kent, I would have laughed. But, like so many of the other 007 Reloaded audiobooks I've listened to this year, this is deceptively brilliant.
The plot is well paced and the story filled with so much mystery that I couldn't wait to hear what happened next. Bond and Brand puzzle over clues that are like odd shaped jigsaw pieces and the tension increases with the arrival of each new tidbit.
And the peril! It looks like it's far more dangerous for Bond at home than it ever could be abroad! The one unsolved mystery is how he manages to make it through the book without breaking anything. But then, he wouldn't be much of a hero if he wasn't indestructible.
By contrast, Drax is a man destroyed then reassembled, reborn from a murky past but scarred mentally and physically. The physical descriptions of him are raw and often repulsive, but they bring the character to life in all his skin crawling glory.
I often worry about the way women are portrayed in Fleming's books, but I rather liked Carla Brand. Although not my favourite Bond girl, she was tough and clever and added a twist to the book's ending which I rather liked.
I must also mention Bill Nighy, who read this particular audiobook. He was absolutely fantastic and I hope to hear more by him in the future.
Overall, if you enjoy action, adventure and thrills, then you'll enjoy 'Moonraker'. I'm getting used to this Bond now and am enjoying finding out more about his world. I can't wait to start 'From Russia with Love'.
Related Posts
'Casino Royale'
'Live and Let Die'
'Dr No'
'For Your Eyes Only'
'Thunderball'
'Octopussy, the Living Daylights and Other Stories'
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| 'Moonraker' by Ian Fleming Read by Bill Nighy (AudioGo, 2012) |
Who'd have thought that a Bond set in Britain rather than some exotic location would be this good? Seriously, if you'd said the next movie was going to be filmed in Kent, I would have laughed. But, like so many of the other 007 Reloaded audiobooks I've listened to this year, this is deceptively brilliant.
The plot is well paced and the story filled with so much mystery that I couldn't wait to hear what happened next. Bond and Brand puzzle over clues that are like odd shaped jigsaw pieces and the tension increases with the arrival of each new tidbit.
And the peril! It looks like it's far more dangerous for Bond at home than it ever could be abroad! The one unsolved mystery is how he manages to make it through the book without breaking anything. But then, he wouldn't be much of a hero if he wasn't indestructible.
 |
| 'Moonraker' by Ian Fleming (Penguin Modern Classics,2004) |
I often worry about the way women are portrayed in Fleming's books, but I rather liked Carla Brand. Although not my favourite Bond girl, she was tough and clever and added a twist to the book's ending which I rather liked.
I must also mention Bill Nighy, who read this particular audiobook. He was absolutely fantastic and I hope to hear more by him in the future.
Overall, if you enjoy action, adventure and thrills, then you'll enjoy 'Moonraker'. I'm getting used to this Bond now and am enjoying finding out more about his world. I can't wait to start 'From Russia with Love'.
Related Posts
'Casino Royale'
'Live and Let Die'
'Dr No'
'For Your Eyes Only'
'Thunderball'
'Octopussy, the Living Daylights and Other Stories'
23 November 2014
Journeys with the Dead
Yesterday, I finally finished 'How to Read a Graveyard' by Peter Stanford. I've been reading it on and off for over a year, so it was about time really. But don't get me started on books I began ages ago and haven't quite finished yet!
'How to Read a Graveyard' is a set of travel pieces which chart the development of attitudes to burial and death in western Europe, especially in Britain. The author visits key sites, such as the Scavi in Rome, Greyfriar's Kirkyard in Edinburgh, Père-Lachaise in Paris and the Commonwealth War Graves in Northern France, using each to illustrate changing attitudes to death and how people publicly honour the deceased.
It may sound a bit macabre, but this was actually a very interesting book. In places, it was fascinating, but, unfortunately, it was also a bit meandering at times. It was at its best when written like a travel piece, when the reader was given a very vivid feel for the site visited, but some sections felt rather padded out, particularly the piece on St Margaret's Church in Burnham Norton.
Overall, this was an OK read and could be interesting for a range of people. It covered a number of 'celebrity' graves, including Oscar Wilde and John Keats, Victorian attitudes to death and mourning, health crises caused by overflowing Paris cemeteries, the thinking behind the World War I graveyards and up-to-date eco-burials. I learned a lot about many different aspects and it got me thinking, which I always like from a book.
So, although I found it a hard read at times, I would recommend this if you have the time and desire to persevere with it.
Now, what next?
29 October 2014
Pound for Pound
Unfortunately, it's been quite a disappointing month for me, reading-wise. Don't get me wrong, it's been fabulous in terms of buying books, with new novels from Bernard Cornwell and Rachel Joyce coming out, plus Books are My Bag, but that sort of thing is not going to lead to a happily every after for my strained bookshelves. So, to try to get back on track, I decided to read something short. It turns out that, at just 88 pages, you can't get much shorter than 'The Tiny Wife' by Andrew Kaufman.
'The Tiny Wife' is the story of a very unusual robbery and its consequences. An unconventional thief with a gun enters a bank one Wednesday afternoon, but he doesn't want money. Instead, he steals one item of sentimental value from each person in the building before making his escape. This seems odd enough, but soon strange things start happening to the victims...
Andrew Kaufman's work is certainly an acquired taste. It's magical, surreal, off-the-wall, creative, fantastical, hypnotic, peculiar and, on the face of it, rather random. But this writer knows exactly what he's doing. Even a story as short as this makes you think and look at things a little bit sideways for a while. The best comparison I can think of is a fairy tale, in which tricks teach lessons and the normal rules simply don't apply.
If you like the sound of this sort of tale of the unexpected, then I would recommend this book and other work by Andrew Kaufman. I do have one caveat, however. This isn't really a book. It's a short story. In fact, it's not even really a short story. It's a 88 pages of short story, with illustrations, and 24 pages of 'Born Weird', written by the same author, so it's more like a promo for another book. I didn't realise this when I picked it up, so would've felt a cheated if I'd paid the full price for it. No short story is worth £6.99. A few pounds, definitely, but not the same as a full length novel. Also, I don't like paying to be advertised to. Fortunately (or unfortunately for the publishers) and perhaps proving theories suggested in my post about 'All My Friends are Superheroes' right, I found this book for £1 in a discount shop. While that was too far to the other extreme, it's hard not to wonder whether it wouldn't have ended up there if priced more reasonably in the first place.
All I can say is this; Mr Kaufman, please stop teasing us and publish a book of short stories. I'd be more than happy to pay full price for that.
Related Posts
'All My Friends Are Superheroes' by Andrew Kaufman
'Fragile Things' by Neil Gaiman
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| 'The Tiny Wife' by Andrew Kaufman (The Friday Project, 2013) |
Andrew Kaufman's work is certainly an acquired taste. It's magical, surreal, off-the-wall, creative, fantastical, hypnotic, peculiar and, on the face of it, rather random. But this writer knows exactly what he's doing. Even a story as short as this makes you think and look at things a little bit sideways for a while. The best comparison I can think of is a fairy tale, in which tricks teach lessons and the normal rules simply don't apply.
If you like the sound of this sort of tale of the unexpected, then I would recommend this book and other work by Andrew Kaufman. I do have one caveat, however. This isn't really a book. It's a short story. In fact, it's not even really a short story. It's a 88 pages of short story, with illustrations, and 24 pages of 'Born Weird', written by the same author, so it's more like a promo for another book. I didn't realise this when I picked it up, so would've felt a cheated if I'd paid the full price for it. No short story is worth £6.99. A few pounds, definitely, but not the same as a full length novel. Also, I don't like paying to be advertised to. Fortunately (or unfortunately for the publishers) and perhaps proving theories suggested in my post about 'All My Friends are Superheroes' right, I found this book for £1 in a discount shop. While that was too far to the other extreme, it's hard not to wonder whether it wouldn't have ended up there if priced more reasonably in the first place.
All I can say is this; Mr Kaufman, please stop teasing us and publish a book of short stories. I'd be more than happy to pay full price for that.
Related Posts
'All My Friends Are Superheroes' by Andrew Kaufman
'Fragile Things' by Neil Gaiman
12 October 2014
Tiger Feat
Although I worry that I shouldn't, I bloody love zoos. To be honest, I could probably write a blog just about them, but I won't, because, well, that's not what you want to hear about really, is it? And after all, surely the next best thing to going to a zoo is reading about them and the amazing people that run them.
I've just finished 'We Bought a Zoo', the unusual story of how journalist Benjamin Mee and his family ended up owning Dartmoor Zoological Park in Devon. At the start of this story, Mee, his wife Katherine and two young children have just moved to France and are settling into a new life abroad, quite literally building themselves a home in the sunshine. But then Mee hears the call of the wild. His sister sends him details of a UK zoo that has just come on the market and the opportunity is irresistible. Benjamin, his mum and siblings decide to follow their hearts and buy the failing zoo. But can they overcome years of neglect, Houdini-like animals and cold hearted bankers to get Dartmoor off the endangered list?
This really is an enchanting story of passionate commitment and, in many ways, living a dream, but if you were expecting a perky, happy-go-lucky tale, think again. While this book is very charming and down-to-earth, there is also personal tragedy at its heart. Six months after buying the zoo, Mr Mee's wife, Katherine, dies. As a reader, I appreciated the honesty of Mr Mee's writing about what happened and it makes his work for the zoo seem all the more incredible.
Despite the tough subject matter, this book is written in a flowing and conversational style which makes it relatively easy to read. Part of me feels that it could do with some work in places. For example, some sentences seem to go on like boa constrictors, so long that you can't remember their beginnings, and periodically words are repeated within lines, which is quite distracting for a language nerd like me. I would've liked more structure too, but I suspect that this book was written around the many other duties which keep a Zoo Director busy and might have been rushed as an additional opportunity to bring more money into the park. As such, I'm not going to nitpick about what is relatively minor in the grand scheme of things.
Overall, this is a charming and thought-provoking book that I would recommend to anyone who has ever fallen in love with a zoo. But it is just the beginning. Like me, other readers will want to know what happens next, more about the animals, whether Mee ever got his zebras, what it's like to actually run a working zoo rather than just prepare it for opening. I'm lucky, I've actually visited Dartmoor Zoological Park and seen what's happening, but even I can't go as often as I would like. So while quite a few people will be getting copies of this as Christmas presents, what I really want this year is a sequel, perhaps even a series of sequels. Now that would be animal magic.
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| 'We Bought a Zoo' by Benjamin Mee (Harper, 2008/9) |
This really is an enchanting story of passionate commitment and, in many ways, living a dream, but if you were expecting a perky, happy-go-lucky tale, think again. While this book is very charming and down-to-earth, there is also personal tragedy at its heart. Six months after buying the zoo, Mr Mee's wife, Katherine, dies. As a reader, I appreciated the honesty of Mr Mee's writing about what happened and it makes his work for the zoo seem all the more incredible.
Despite the tough subject matter, this book is written in a flowing and conversational style which makes it relatively easy to read. Part of me feels that it could do with some work in places. For example, some sentences seem to go on like boa constrictors, so long that you can't remember their beginnings, and periodically words are repeated within lines, which is quite distracting for a language nerd like me. I would've liked more structure too, but I suspect that this book was written around the many other duties which keep a Zoo Director busy and might have been rushed as an additional opportunity to bring more money into the park. As such, I'm not going to nitpick about what is relatively minor in the grand scheme of things.
Overall, this is a charming and thought-provoking book that I would recommend to anyone who has ever fallen in love with a zoo. But it is just the beginning. Like me, other readers will want to know what happens next, more about the animals, whether Mee ever got his zebras, what it's like to actually run a working zoo rather than just prepare it for opening. I'm lucky, I've actually visited Dartmoor Zoological Park and seen what's happening, but even I can't go as often as I would like. So while quite a few people will be getting copies of this as Christmas presents, what I really want this year is a sequel, perhaps even a series of sequels. Now that would be animal magic.
Check (Work) Mate
I mentioned a few posts ago that I felt fortunate because I'd only found a handful of books so awful that I'd had to give up on them. Although I didn't actually give up on 'Office Politics' by Oliver James, Lady Luck had turned against me and I really wish I'd gone for the paperback rather than the audiobook version.
'Office Politics' should be a must-read for the modern employee. Although we all feel like we're so busy trying to get the job done there's no time to think about anything else, we can't ignore the fact that good or bad relationships with colleagues can make or break us and our careers. Oliver James' book aims to equip readers with enough understanding to recognise and protect themselves from the political games that other people play at work and perhaps use some tactics to help them progress.
My feelings about 'Office Politics' are a bit chequered. The big issue with the audiobook was the narrator. Any fan of the BBC's 'Horrible Histories' will know what I mean when I say "I'm a shouty man!". For everyone else, imagine one of those annoying blokes who pop up in cheap adverts yelling at you to buy windows or call a personal injury hotline, like hyped up bingo callers. My ears rang after listening to this recording for any length of time and it began to try my patience very quickly.
It didn't help that the makers somehow didn't notice the number of words that were pronounced incorrectly either, even relatively normal ones like 'persona'. For a bookish type like me, it was rather distracting, just as typos and bad grammar are in any printed book. I found myself hissing at the CD player like the audience at a panto. I'm baffled at how the makers of this recording didn't notice anything wrong.
These two pretty big irritations mean I don't feel fully qualified to judge the content of the book itself. I know that Oliver James has a bit of a monopoly on popular psychology books, so assume he must be successful for a reason. I did find the content rather hard to get my head around at times, but this may be because when listening to something you have to keep pace with the speaker, whereas readers can both go at their preferred speed and re-read anything they're unsure of.
Overall, I think this audiobook was rubbish, but I would like to give 'Office Politics' another chance in written form. For the moment, though, I think it's time to roll the dice and move on to something else.
01 October 2014
Night of the Loving Dead
Until relatively recently, I'd always wanted to write a story from a monster's perspective, like a vampire or a mummy or something like that. Having read Isaac Marion's 'Warm Bodies', I think that the idea's been done very well already.
'Warm Bodies' is the story of R, a zombie with a difference. While he can't remember his name, how long he's been dead or how the world ended, he's still has human curiosity. He longs to be able to know these things and more, although he's not entirely sure why. Trapped in his own head, he chases the same thoughts every day while instinctively following the same mindless routines. Then while on a feeding expedition in the nearby city, he meets Julie and everything changes. Rather than eating her, R brings Julie back to his airport home. All he wants to do is keep her safe and this sudden and perplexing change marks the beginning of something quite extraordinary.
I saw a review of the film based on this novel and thought it sounded like an interesting story. Being a bit squeamish, I decided to read the book first rather than plunging right in with the movie and I'm really glad I did. I was a bit worried that it would be squarely aimed at the teen market and a bit twee, but it isn't that simple. R is after all a monster, something that hunts and eats humans while bits of him gradually rot and fall off. Not the most obvious of romantic heroes! But then neither are the manipulative and obsessive Heathcliff and bullying wife-jailer Mr Rochester.
Marion sucks the reader into R's mind from the very first line and from the moment I read it I was hooked. This is not a book about romantic love per se, rather a story themed around the things the writer loves about humanity, the characteristics that take us beyond our animal instincts and basic desires for shelter, food and flesh. As such, it's themes are more universal and thought provoking and the fragile first love that develops between R and Julie is one of just a number of human-esque features that set you thinking about what it means to be alive.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book, particularly because it doesn't answer all the questions it raises. Although it's hinted at, we never firmly find out how the zombie plague came about or when it happened, for example. But I think that's what sets it apart from other apocalyptic stories. This isn't a tale about how the old world ended but how a new one began. And surely that's far more interesting and optimistic, don't you think?
'Warm Bodies' is the story of R, a zombie with a difference. While he can't remember his name, how long he's been dead or how the world ended, he's still has human curiosity. He longs to be able to know these things and more, although he's not entirely sure why. Trapped in his own head, he chases the same thoughts every day while instinctively following the same mindless routines. Then while on a feeding expedition in the nearby city, he meets Julie and everything changes. Rather than eating her, R brings Julie back to his airport home. All he wants to do is keep her safe and this sudden and perplexing change marks the beginning of something quite extraordinary.
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| 'Warm Bodies' by Isaac Marion (Vintage, 2013) |
Marion sucks the reader into R's mind from the very first line and from the moment I read it I was hooked. This is not a book about romantic love per se, rather a story themed around the things the writer loves about humanity, the characteristics that take us beyond our animal instincts and basic desires for shelter, food and flesh. As such, it's themes are more universal and thought provoking and the fragile first love that develops between R and Julie is one of just a number of human-esque features that set you thinking about what it means to be alive.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book, particularly because it doesn't answer all the questions it raises. Although it's hinted at, we never firmly find out how the zombie plague came about or when it happened, for example. But I think that's what sets it apart from other apocalyptic stories. This isn't a tale about how the old world ended but how a new one began. And surely that's far more interesting and optimistic, don't you think?
28 September 2014
Treasure Trove
Considering I'm trying to read so many books, I think I've been pretty lucky so far. I've only found a handful so unbearable that I've not finished them and have unearthed so many hidden gems that the project has often been a delight.
One such brilliant discovery is the latest book sent to me by Waterstones, 'Love and Treasure' by American author Ayelet Waldman.
'Love and Treasure' is the story of a stunning peacock-shaped pendant, three remarkable women and
the men who loved them. Interwoven with key political and social shifts in the last 100 years, this excellent book is set in three eras. In 1945, the jewel is found by American soldier Captain Jack Wiseman among the vast contents of the Hungarian Gold Train, stolen from the Jews during World War II and now under his care. As he falls in love with the determined concentration camp survivor Ilona, Jack finds himself torn between his personal sense of justice, the demands of his distant superiors and how unlikely the property can be returned to its rightful owners. More than 60 years later, Wiseman's granddaughter, Natalie, has joined forces with Amitai Shasho, a specialist dealer in items seized by the Nazis, to return the unique jewel. Amitai has recognised the piece from a lost painting he has spent a lifetime tracing. Together, they hope to find both the owner's descendants and the elusive artwork. Finally, in 1913, a strong-minded young woman in Budapest is sent to a pioneering psychoanalyst after defying her family and pursuing her dream of a medical career. A campaigner for women's suffrage, her passion and politics lead her into danger. But how is she connected with the peacock pendant?
I found 'Love and Treasure' a fascinating page turner and incredibly hard to put down. I was very sad to finish it. I knew nothing about the Hungarian Gold Train before I started reading the novel and would now very much like to know more about it and this time period. I always enjoy a book which lets me learn something new.
I felt that the part set in post-war Salzburg was the strongest, but moving between different times helped remind the reader that the dramatic events of one era often have their origins many years before and will cause ripples long into the future. That is why history is important; it helps us understand why things are as they are and where they could lead.
The author has successfully written people not just characters, each with complex motivations and beliefs that felt authentic to their time period, no matter how ridiculous they look through 21st century eyes. No-one could be classed wholly as a hero or villain, but all are conflicted and often naive and confused, trying to make good moral choices and judgements is a less than honourable world. They were often torn between the just and the practical and it was easy to find yourself wondering what you'd do in the same situation.
My only criticism of 'Love and Treasure' is that I felt it needed some minor adaptation for the UK market, perhaps in the form of an added glossary. Aspects of Jewish culture are not so well known here and I regularly had to reach for the dictionary to look things up, which obviously interrupted the narrative's flow. Basically, a certain level of prior knowledge was presumed and, while US readers must be better informed on the subject, I think ordinary UK readers may struggle.
Overall, I thoroughly recommend this book and I hope to read more by this author in the future. It is indeed a novel to love and treasure.
Now for something completely different!
One such brilliant discovery is the latest book sent to me by Waterstones, 'Love and Treasure' by American author Ayelet Waldman.
'Love and Treasure' is the story of a stunning peacock-shaped pendant, three remarkable women and
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| 'Love and Treasure' by Ayelet Waldman (Two Roads, 2014) |
I found 'Love and Treasure' a fascinating page turner and incredibly hard to put down. I was very sad to finish it. I knew nothing about the Hungarian Gold Train before I started reading the novel and would now very much like to know more about it and this time period. I always enjoy a book which lets me learn something new.
I felt that the part set in post-war Salzburg was the strongest, but moving between different times helped remind the reader that the dramatic events of one era often have their origins many years before and will cause ripples long into the future. That is why history is important; it helps us understand why things are as they are and where they could lead.
The author has successfully written people not just characters, each with complex motivations and beliefs that felt authentic to their time period, no matter how ridiculous they look through 21st century eyes. No-one could be classed wholly as a hero or villain, but all are conflicted and often naive and confused, trying to make good moral choices and judgements is a less than honourable world. They were often torn between the just and the practical and it was easy to find yourself wondering what you'd do in the same situation.
My only criticism of 'Love and Treasure' is that I felt it needed some minor adaptation for the UK market, perhaps in the form of an added glossary. Aspects of Jewish culture are not so well known here and I regularly had to reach for the dictionary to look things up, which obviously interrupted the narrative's flow. Basically, a certain level of prior knowledge was presumed and, while US readers must be better informed on the subject, I think ordinary UK readers may struggle.
Overall, I thoroughly recommend this book and I hope to read more by this author in the future. It is indeed a novel to love and treasure.
Now for something completely different!
23 September 2014
Thunderstruck
I recently finished listening to AudioGo's 007 Reloaded version of 'Thunderball' by Ian Fleming, read by Jason Isaacs. Talk about thunderstruck!
Arch-conspirator and head of SPECTRE Ernst Stavro Blofeld has engineered the capture of two atomic weapons and has his sights set on extortion. The UK and US governments must pay up £100 million, otherwise two unidentified locations will be destroyed and chaos will ensue. With just one week to find the bombs and prevent worldwide disaster, M sends his top secret agent, James Bond, into battle once more...
I absolutely loved this audiobook. It amazes me, but Fleming seems to do something different with every Bond story, as though he's constantly trying different styles and structures. Here, for example, he juggles a lot of seemingly unconnected plotlines that are, of course, very much entwined, skillfully drip feeding their relevance to the reader at just the right moment. So pay attention, 007!
This book is also interesting from a Bond mythos perspective. It has a lot of background information about 007's arch-nemesis Blofeld and we get some glimpses into the more everyday life led by the jobbing secret agent.
There is, of course, also all the standard items you'd expect in any Bond book worthy of the name; exotic location (Bahamas), feisty female lead (Domino), a villain to defeat (Emilio Largo), rich living (the super-yacht the Disco Volante). There's also the usual sex and violence and, perhaps surprisingly, humour. There were parts of the first few chapters that actually made me laugh aloud, not something I would've predicted!
Jason Isaacs did a fantastic job of reading 'Thunderball' and I think his contribution to how much I enjoyed this audiobook shouldn't be ignored. I shall definitely be looking out for other work read by him in the future.
As you might be able to tell, I thoroughly enjoyed 'Thunderball' and can't wait to read/hear it again. That will have to wait, though, as I still have a few (ahem!) more books to read first. However, I've no doubt that this James Bond will return.
Related Posts
'Casino Royale'
'Live and Let Die'
'Dr No'
'For Your Eyes Only'
'Octopussy, the Living Daylights and Other Stories'
 |
| 'Thunderball' by Ian Fleming Read by Jason Isaacs (AudioGO, 2012) |
I absolutely loved this audiobook. It amazes me, but Fleming seems to do something different with every Bond story, as though he's constantly trying different styles and structures. Here, for example, he juggles a lot of seemingly unconnected plotlines that are, of course, very much entwined, skillfully drip feeding their relevance to the reader at just the right moment. So pay attention, 007!
This book is also interesting from a Bond mythos perspective. It has a lot of background information about 007's arch-nemesis Blofeld and we get some glimpses into the more everyday life led by the jobbing secret agent.
 |
| 'Thunderball' by Ian Fleming (Penguin Modern Classics, 2004) |
Jason Isaacs did a fantastic job of reading 'Thunderball' and I think his contribution to how much I enjoyed this audiobook shouldn't be ignored. I shall definitely be looking out for other work read by him in the future.
As you might be able to tell, I thoroughly enjoyed 'Thunderball' and can't wait to read/hear it again. That will have to wait, though, as I still have a few (ahem!) more books to read first. However, I've no doubt that this James Bond will return.
Related Posts
'Casino Royale'
'Live and Let Die'
'Dr No'
'For Your Eyes Only'
'Octopussy, the Living Daylights and Other Stories'
07 September 2014
More than Skin Deep
I've just finished 'The Illustrated Man' by Ray Bradbury, a collection of short pieces by the master story teller.
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| 'The Illustrated Man' by Ray Bradbury (Harper Voyager, 2008) |
When the unnamed narrator meets the Illustrated Man on a deserted Wisconsin road, he has no idea what secrets he has hidden beneath his thick shirt. For the Illustrated Man's skin is tattooed with pictures that grow, move and tell stories of the future, cursing every moment of his life as they writhe beneath his skin. Driven to despair and unable to hold down a job for more than a few days, the Illustrated Man keeps moving from place to place searching for a peace he will never find. On this particular night, as he drifts off to sleep, the narrator becomes entranced as the tales of hope, beauty, horror and revenge come to life before him...
Mr Bradbury is most famous 'Fahrenheit 451', the novel about a dystopian future where books are banned and burned and a life lived through TV is the norm. Similar themes of threat, dehumanisation and how we gain and loose from technological developments also run through 'The Illustrated Man'.
Sometimes technology turns on us and leads to disaster, as in 'The City' or 'Kaleidoscope', while 'The Rocket' is a story of how it inspires. 'Marionettes, inc' and 'Usher II', clearly related to 'Fahrenheit 451', show dashes of dark humour, while 'The Fox and the Forest' is a thriller that just happens to be about time travel. 'The Other Foot' explores racial hatred from a new perspective, while 'The Veldt' and 'Zero Hour' show a worrying distrust of children.
Sometimes technology turns on us and leads to disaster, as in 'The City' or 'Kaleidoscope', while 'The Rocket' is a story of how it inspires. 'Marionettes, inc' and 'Usher II', clearly related to 'Fahrenheit 451', show dashes of dark humour, while 'The Fox and the Forest' is a thriller that just happens to be about time travel. 'The Other Foot' explores racial hatred from a new perspective, while 'The Veldt' and 'Zero Hour' show a worrying distrust of children.
The best science fiction is always about humanity and this collection of stories is no exception. It's probably a bit more niche than some of what I've read previously, as in there are stories actually set in space and on other planets, but overall this ensemble captured my imagination, without frightening me off with the 'sciency bit'.
I've never really understood why people dismiss science fiction. Why write off a whole genre? A good story is a good story, whether it's set in the past, present, future or a space station somewhere to the left of Mars. As is often the case, many of these stories can be filed under more than one category, which I think makes them easier to recommend to people who would normally baulk at the idea of reading science fiction.
Overall, if you're going to read science fiction short stories, Bradbury is where you start. I also enjoy Asimov, but his stories are basically logic problems as he tries to find holes in the three laws of robotics. But that's a review for another time!
01 September 2014
Polite, Silly, Pointing
Two weeks and one cold ago, I finished reading 'Moranthology' by Caitlin Moran and it's taken me until now to get posting about it. It turns out sometimes you just have to take paracetamol, go to bed and stay warm to get over mild winter diseases rather than just keep going. Who knew?!
'Moranthology' is a collection of columns and interviews written by everywoman, journalist, author and reviewer Caitlin Moran. They are as wild, hilarious and eclectic as I imagine the Times columnist to be, saying "boo!" to the Zeitgeist before scampering off with an informative snapshot taken at an interesting angle. Moran's subjects are wide ranging and varied, including everything from couple's pet names to hair copyright, 'Sherlock' to Aberystwyth, 'Ghostbusters' to Lady Gaga. But she also uses her unique life experience to offer readers a new perspective on socio-political issues too, such as drugs, poverty, tax evasion, library closures, benefit cuts and mental illness. We laugh, but we also learn.
Overall, this is a great 'dip into' sort of book, perfect for a short daily commute (on public transport, obviously) or anyone who 'doesn't have time to read'. I stopped buying newspapers regularly when a) they started costing £1 a day and b) I realised I didn't really have time to read them anyway, so being able to get a book like this collecting some brilliant opinion pieces offered me a middle way. Publish one once a year and I'm sorted.
My one criticism, I suppose, would be that this book starts on such a high that it was only ever going to go down. The opening piece is a (possibly imagined) conversation between Moran and her husband about their pet names for each other. I won't say any more, but Prince Charming also read this piece and laughed as much as I did. It's almost unfair on the other columns!
'Moranthology' is a cool, funny, interesting, thought-provoking, sassy, proud book and when I reached the end I felt like I'd just finished the most interesting conversation I'd ever had. So here's everything crossed for a 'Moranthology II'.
Related Posts
Feminism Goes Funny - 'How to be a Woman' by Caitlin Moran
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| 'Moranthology' by Caitlin Moran (Ebury, 2012) |
Overall, this is a great 'dip into' sort of book, perfect for a short daily commute (on public transport, obviously) or anyone who 'doesn't have time to read'. I stopped buying newspapers regularly when a) they started costing £1 a day and b) I realised I didn't really have time to read them anyway, so being able to get a book like this collecting some brilliant opinion pieces offered me a middle way. Publish one once a year and I'm sorted.
My one criticism, I suppose, would be that this book starts on such a high that it was only ever going to go down. The opening piece is a (possibly imagined) conversation between Moran and her husband about their pet names for each other. I won't say any more, but Prince Charming also read this piece and laughed as much as I did. It's almost unfair on the other columns!
'Moranthology' is a cool, funny, interesting, thought-provoking, sassy, proud book and when I reached the end I felt like I'd just finished the most interesting conversation I'd ever had. So here's everything crossed for a 'Moranthology II'.
Related Posts
Feminism Goes Funny - 'How to be a Woman' by Caitlin Moran
12 August 2014
Double Oh Zzzzzzz...
As a mini-project within a project, I'm still working my way through all of Ian Fleming's James Bond novels and I have now finished 'Octopussy, the Living Daylights and Other Stories'. It was another AudioGo audiobook, this time read by Loki himself, Tom Hiddleston.
This short collection includes four stories. In 'Octopussy', a psychopathic Major finally gets his just rewards courtesy of the local wildlife, while 'The Property of a Lady' appealed to my love of shiny things as the plot revolves around the auction of a rare jewelled Fabergé sphere. Bond takes on an unlikely Russian sniper in 'The Living Daylights'. Finally, the collection concludes with '007 in New York', about... erm... James Bond in New York. This is read by the author's niece, Lucy Fleming,
Unfortunately, things didn't go well between me and this book from the start. I fell asleep while listening to 'Octopussy' and had to replay it again from the beginning to catch up. In retrospect, I'm not surprised, because it's not really a James Bond story (it just happens to have James Bond in it) nor is it a great short story. It's plodding and predictable and I've come to expect more now I've encountered so much great work from Mr Fleming.
'The Property of a Lady' left me surprised and disappointed as the complex set up didn't deliver the plot twist I expected, while '007 in New York' felt a bit like a fan-focussed Easter Egg, a secret extra for the eyes of real obsessives only.
The best of the four was definitely 'The Living Daylights', a story which draws the reader into the working life of a jobbing double-0. It opens up the the events leading up to the assassin's gunshot, the tedium of waiting, the meticulous planning, the risk of getting caught. It had tension and provided insight into a character that we all think we know.
I felt a bit sorry for Tom Hiddleston really. He didn't have as much to work with as some of the other actors who have narrated CDs in the 007 Reloaded series, but that didn't stop him trying. He clearly had a lot of fun voicing Major Dexter Smythe in 'Octopussy', although it did make me smile a couple of times. I couldn't help being reminded of Kulvinder Ghir in the 'Goodness Gracious Me' Coopers/Kapoors and Robinsons/Rabindranaths sketches. Both probably had the same inspiration.
Overall, I would recommend this as a curiosity, something to read so you can say 'I've read all the James Bond books'. It's not got the energy of the other stories I've listened to so far, so in a way, here, Mr Fleming is a victim of his own success. I'm hoping it's just a blip and that Bond will be back on form for 'Thunderball'. After all, James Bond will return...
Related Posts
'Casino Royale'
'Live and Let Die'
'Dr No'
'For Your Eyes Only'
 |
| 'Octopussy and The Living Daylights' by Ian Fleming (Vintage, 2012) |
Unfortunately, things didn't go well between me and this book from the start. I fell asleep while listening to 'Octopussy' and had to replay it again from the beginning to catch up. In retrospect, I'm not surprised, because it's not really a James Bond story (it just happens to have James Bond in it) nor is it a great short story. It's plodding and predictable and I've come to expect more now I've encountered so much great work from Mr Fleming.
'The Property of a Lady' left me surprised and disappointed as the complex set up didn't deliver the plot twist I expected, while '007 in New York' felt a bit like a fan-focussed Easter Egg, a secret extra for the eyes of real obsessives only.
The best of the four was definitely 'The Living Daylights', a story which draws the reader into the working life of a jobbing double-0. It opens up the the events leading up to the assassin's gunshot, the tedium of waiting, the meticulous planning, the risk of getting caught. It had tension and provided insight into a character that we all think we know.
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| 'Octopussy and the Living Daylights and Other Stories' by Ian Fleming. (AudioGo, 2012) |
Overall, I would recommend this as a curiosity, something to read so you can say 'I've read all the James Bond books'. It's not got the energy of the other stories I've listened to so far, so in a way, here, Mr Fleming is a victim of his own success. I'm hoping it's just a blip and that Bond will be back on form for 'Thunderball'. After all, James Bond will return...
Related Posts
'Casino Royale'
'Live and Let Die'
'Dr No'
'For Your Eyes Only'
11 August 2014
Women at War
As many of you know, when I'm not reading books, buying books or blogging about books, I can often be found on Twitter, posting about books as @Girl_LovesBooks (not to be confused with Book Loving Girls with similar names. They're lovely too, I'm sure, but not me!).
Being quite easily distracted and up for a challenge, I began joining in with Doubleday's #bookadayuk campaign in June and July this year. Each day had a book-related theme to post about and it was great fun trying to come up with an idea for each topic and seeing what other titles people recommended. A few books on my reading list were mentioned, so that was reassuring!
Anyway, I'd been tweeting away quite happily, coming up with books with blue covers, exotic story settings and childhood favourites, when I got a message saying I'd won the publisher's prize draw. I hadn't even realised it was a competition, so it was a nice surprise to be sent a copy of 'Wake' by Anna Hope.
'Wake' is the story of three women in post-World War One London. Although none went to the front, each has been affected by the tragedy and horror of the devastating conflict, suffering the loss of a loved one, either in body or spirit. Hettie is a dance instructor at a night club, hired for sixpence a song to partner men around the floor, forced to surrender half her earnings to her mother while her psychologically damaged brother is trapped by the trauma of his wartime experiences. Wealthy and defiant Evelyn works in a string of low paid and sometimes dangerous jobs, broken-hearted and looking for something to numb the pain. Ada's son died at the front, but she is still haunted by visions of him in the streets around her home. While she watches for him, she is losing sight of her husband and doesn't notice the growing distance between them. The three stories unfold and entwine over the course of five days in 1920 as the body of the Unknown Warrior makes its way from the battlefields of Europe to Westminster Abbey. He is destined to bring peace of mind to the grieving country, but can he really take the place of those lost to Ada, Hettie and Evelyn?
I was absolutely delighted to receive this book because, due to this year's centenary of the start of the war, I'd been looking for something to read set in this period. I went on a bit of emotional rollercoaster with 'Wake', however, and not just because of the emotive plot.
I love history and didn't realise how much I already knew about the era, so by the middle of the book I was beginning to feel a exasperated because I didn't feel like I was learning anything new. But I soon realised that I'd quite spectacularly missed the point. This book's great strength is the way it brings the dry facts to life through characters that readers, particularly female ones, can relate to. Although I knew more than I'd expected about everything from trench warfare to shell shock to the flu epidemic to women working in factories, it was like I just had pieces of a puzzle. This book made me put them together and think about World War One and its aftermath in a very different way.
Several other people have said on Twitter that they loved this book and I can see why. Ms Hope does a wonderful job of making the characters feel real and it's easy to develop great affection for them. Although they are from another time, the era of our great-grandparents and great-great-grandparents, Ada, Evelyn and Hettie are going through emotional experiences that we can understand and relate to in the modern era. The joy of love and the pain of loss and broken hearts is the same for us all, no matter the year.
Structuring the story around the arrival of the Unknown Warrior was an excellent idea which I think worked extremely well. Again, while readers may know the facts, that many bodies were never retrieved and identified, which prevented many families from burying their dead, the book reminds us of the thousands of individuals who gained closure by believing that the Unknown Warrior was their husband, son, brother or lover.
In some ways, the media's current obsession with World War One and the annual acts of remembrance have simultaneously reminded us of and fossilised this terrible event, often making it feel as cold, formal and remote as a memorial statue on a pedestal. As such, I think this book is a must read for any young woman who finds history dry and distant and wants to understand what World War One really meant to people like her. 'Wake' lives up to its name, helping our ancestors live again and reawakening our understanding of them.
Now, what next..?
Being quite easily distracted and up for a challenge, I began joining in with Doubleday's #bookadayuk campaign in June and July this year. Each day had a book-related theme to post about and it was great fun trying to come up with an idea for each topic and seeing what other titles people recommended. A few books on my reading list were mentioned, so that was reassuring!
Anyway, I'd been tweeting away quite happily, coming up with books with blue covers, exotic story settings and childhood favourites, when I got a message saying I'd won the publisher's prize draw. I hadn't even realised it was a competition, so it was a nice surprise to be sent a copy of 'Wake' by Anna Hope.
 |
| 'Wake' by Anna Hope (Doubleday, 2014) |
I was absolutely delighted to receive this book because, due to this year's centenary of the start of the war, I'd been looking for something to read set in this period. I went on a bit of emotional rollercoaster with 'Wake', however, and not just because of the emotive plot.
I love history and didn't realise how much I already knew about the era, so by the middle of the book I was beginning to feel a exasperated because I didn't feel like I was learning anything new. But I soon realised that I'd quite spectacularly missed the point. This book's great strength is the way it brings the dry facts to life through characters that readers, particularly female ones, can relate to. Although I knew more than I'd expected about everything from trench warfare to shell shock to the flu epidemic to women working in factories, it was like I just had pieces of a puzzle. This book made me put them together and think about World War One and its aftermath in a very different way.
Several other people have said on Twitter that they loved this book and I can see why. Ms Hope does a wonderful job of making the characters feel real and it's easy to develop great affection for them. Although they are from another time, the era of our great-grandparents and great-great-grandparents, Ada, Evelyn and Hettie are going through emotional experiences that we can understand and relate to in the modern era. The joy of love and the pain of loss and broken hearts is the same for us all, no matter the year.
Structuring the story around the arrival of the Unknown Warrior was an excellent idea which I think worked extremely well. Again, while readers may know the facts, that many bodies were never retrieved and identified, which prevented many families from burying their dead, the book reminds us of the thousands of individuals who gained closure by believing that the Unknown Warrior was their husband, son, brother or lover.
In some ways, the media's current obsession with World War One and the annual acts of remembrance have simultaneously reminded us of and fossilised this terrible event, often making it feel as cold, formal and remote as a memorial statue on a pedestal. As such, I think this book is a must read for any young woman who finds history dry and distant and wants to understand what World War One really meant to people like her. 'Wake' lives up to its name, helping our ancestors live again and reawakening our understanding of them.
Now, what next..?
01 August 2014
Shooting from the Hip
A few weeks ago, the lovely people at Blinding Books were kind enough to send me a copy of 'My Baby Shot Me Down', an anthology of poetry and prose by ten women writers. Now, I know I shouldn't really stray from my list, but they asked so nicely. And I love a good short story.
'My Baby Shot Me Down' features the work of Clarissa Angus, Katherine Black, Maggy van Eijk, Harriet Goodale, Deborah Hambrook, Claudine Lazar, Rachael Smart, Ruth Starling, Alison Wassell and Laura Wilkinson. Some are award winners, but all could be described as up-and-coming writers. The selected pieces range from the tragic to the poignant to the funny and capture the lives of women and girls of all ages.
OK, confession time. I didn't read all of this book. Now you've picked yourselves up off of the floor, here's why. I've never really understood poetry and, despite the best efforts of my school teachers, find it a completely alien language that is impenetrable to me. It's not the poet's fault at all and no reflection on the quality of the work in 'My Baby Shot Me Down', but after a couple of attempts I did skip all the poetry in this volume to focus on the work I could enjoy.
I do absolutely love short stories and this book includes a number of memorable examples. They range from the bitterly funny 'A Game to Play', about how to be an (im)perfect man, and 'The Great Escape', the tale of how institutional help can hinder, to the chilling 'The Whispering Wall' and 'Mr Brown'. 'Ashes' and 'Love and App-iness' made me laugh, while 'We'll Meet Again' and 'Tissue Atlas' made me cry. 'Buried' reminded me of summers long ago. 'Supermarket Secrets' made me realise how rare it is to read about ordinary women in more ordinary jobs rather than journalists, actors, lawyers and PRs.
Overall, this book is great as a showcase for not-quite-discovered writing talent, demonstrating depth and breadth as well as bringing to the fore themes that women in particular can relate to. Although some of the flash fiction felt a bit too short, the book is certainly thought provoking. I suddenly realised after reading 'Supermarket Secrets' that I couldn't think of any other piece of fiction set in a supermarket, which is odd when you consider how many people work in them and how ubiquitous they are. It also got me wondering about the way book genres work. I know I read an awful lot of historical fiction and not nearly enough modern books, but am I imagining the disproportionate number of strong women in the former? Only reading my 500-odd books will tell!
This anthology worked its magic enough for me to want to buy other work by these authors. They are certainly names to watch and I would recommend 'My Baby Shot Me Down' to anyone keen to try something new.
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| 'My Baby Shot Me Down' by Various Authors (Blinding Books, 2014) |
OK, confession time. I didn't read all of this book. Now you've picked yourselves up off of the floor, here's why. I've never really understood poetry and, despite the best efforts of my school teachers, find it a completely alien language that is impenetrable to me. It's not the poet's fault at all and no reflection on the quality of the work in 'My Baby Shot Me Down', but after a couple of attempts I did skip all the poetry in this volume to focus on the work I could enjoy.
I do absolutely love short stories and this book includes a number of memorable examples. They range from the bitterly funny 'A Game to Play', about how to be an (im)perfect man, and 'The Great Escape', the tale of how institutional help can hinder, to the chilling 'The Whispering Wall' and 'Mr Brown'. 'Ashes' and 'Love and App-iness' made me laugh, while 'We'll Meet Again' and 'Tissue Atlas' made me cry. 'Buried' reminded me of summers long ago. 'Supermarket Secrets' made me realise how rare it is to read about ordinary women in more ordinary jobs rather than journalists, actors, lawyers and PRs.
Overall, this book is great as a showcase for not-quite-discovered writing talent, demonstrating depth and breadth as well as bringing to the fore themes that women in particular can relate to. Although some of the flash fiction felt a bit too short, the book is certainly thought provoking. I suddenly realised after reading 'Supermarket Secrets' that I couldn't think of any other piece of fiction set in a supermarket, which is odd when you consider how many people work in them and how ubiquitous they are. It also got me wondering about the way book genres work. I know I read an awful lot of historical fiction and not nearly enough modern books, but am I imagining the disproportionate number of strong women in the former? Only reading my 500-odd books will tell!
This anthology worked its magic enough for me to want to buy other work by these authors. They are certainly names to watch and I would recommend 'My Baby Shot Me Down' to anyone keen to try something new.
27 July 2014
Your Place or Mine?
Last week, I finished 'Warleggan' by Winston Graham, the fourth in the highly popular series of novels about the fortunes and misfortunes of the Poldark family. Many people will know the name from the successful 1970s TV series, but with a new one due for broadcast later in the year, I decided now was a good time to get back into the books.
Breaking hearts and looming bankruptcy mean it's not looking good for Ross and Demelza Poldark. Unexpected moves by Ross's first love and cousin-by-marriage Elizabeth and the arrival of a dashing Scots soldier have left them emotionally confused and distanced, while the failing mine, Wheal Leisure, is draining their money. Scenting blood in the water, it's not long before the avaricious Warleggans are circling their prey. Fortunately, they are not the only ones drawn to the Poldarks in their hour of need. But will the unexpected good will of others be enough to save them?
The great strength of the Poldark novels is their characters. They are not heroes, they are people and this is clearer in 'Warleggan' than in any of the first three novels. I don't want to give anything away, but I was genuinely shocked by Ross during this book, more so than George Warleggan, who is clearly being built up as the villain of the piece. The fact that his actions could be both somehow understandable and abhorrent is testament to the complexity of the people that Graham created.
One character that I missed in this novel, though, was Jud Paynter. The plot of 'Warleggan', with its death, failure and disappointment, is quite miserable and Jud can be relied upon to bring humour to even the most bleak moments. Life has laughter as well as tears, so I feel that it always makes a story feel more real if it has elements of both. About three quarters of the way through this book I did find myself wondering whether Graham hated the Poldarks and what on Earth he was going to throw at them next. It does pick up a bit towards the end, but if I'd cared any less about the characters, I doubt I would have made it to the final pages.
Over all, if you've enjoyed the previous Poldark novels, you'll enjoy this one. There are times when it will break your heart, but it's impossible to desert these characters when they are in such straits. I just hope that things start looking up for them in book five, although with a title like 'The Black Moon', maybe I shouldn't hope too much..
Related Posts
'Ross Poldark' (Book One)
'Demelza' (Book Two)
'Jeremy Poldark' (Book Three. For some reason, I didn't write a review of this! Sorry!)
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| 'Warleggan' by Winston Graham (Pan, 2008) |
The great strength of the Poldark novels is their characters. They are not heroes, they are people and this is clearer in 'Warleggan' than in any of the first three novels. I don't want to give anything away, but I was genuinely shocked by Ross during this book, more so than George Warleggan, who is clearly being built up as the villain of the piece. The fact that his actions could be both somehow understandable and abhorrent is testament to the complexity of the people that Graham created.
One character that I missed in this novel, though, was Jud Paynter. The plot of 'Warleggan', with its death, failure and disappointment, is quite miserable and Jud can be relied upon to bring humour to even the most bleak moments. Life has laughter as well as tears, so I feel that it always makes a story feel more real if it has elements of both. About three quarters of the way through this book I did find myself wondering whether Graham hated the Poldarks and what on Earth he was going to throw at them next. It does pick up a bit towards the end, but if I'd cared any less about the characters, I doubt I would have made it to the final pages.
Over all, if you've enjoyed the previous Poldark novels, you'll enjoy this one. There are times when it will break your heart, but it's impossible to desert these characters when they are in such straits. I just hope that things start looking up for them in book five, although with a title like 'The Black Moon', maybe I shouldn't hope too much..
Related Posts
'Ross Poldark' (Book One)
'Demelza' (Book Two)
'Jeremy Poldark' (Book Three. For some reason, I didn't write a review of this! Sorry!)
19 July 2014
Help Yourself!
Now, you may have noticed that I have rather an eclectic taste in books. Pretty much every genre is represented on my shelves and I love non-fiction as much as fiction. There are a couple of weak spots, however. Self-help is one of them, so I never expected to be reviewing a book like this.
When a notice was sent around my workplace about a compulsory workshop called 'The Art of Being Brilliant' that made it sound patronising in the extreme, however, I decided to go to the horse's mouth and find out what it was really all about. Of course, the fact that the horse's mouth was book-shaped and had pages had absolutely no influence on me at all. Ahem.
'The Art of Being Brilliant' by Andy Cope and Andy Whittaker draws together a range of tried and
tested theories and ideas which they hope will help readers lead more positive lives. They introduce the concepts of Mood Hoovers, people who bring themselves and others down by only ever seeing the negative, and 2%ers, who have a natural tendency to think and act in a way which sees them happier and more likely to feel great about life. Most people hover between these two extremes. In this book, Cope and Whittaker identify the key traits of 2%ers and open the door for readers to consciously adopt them.
Since my first encounter with 'The Art of Being Brilliant' left me feeling patronised, I honestly expected to hate this book, especially when I saw it was full of oft repeated quotes and cutesy cartoons. Not being a regular reader of this sort of thing, I'll admit to feeling sceptical for the first couple of chapters. My eyebrows remained raised for a while to start with, so anyone watching me must've wondered what on Earth I was reading. Anyway, I eventually relaxed into it and took the book in the slightly mischievous spirit in which it was written. It's got the charming style of the classic 2%er and, once I stopped taking it too seriously, it made me laugh out loud on several occasions, so if nothing else it should cheer you up.
In the end, I was sad to be turning over the last page, but took away a number of common sense ideas which seem obvious but can easily get lost in busy, everyday life. I was relieved to discover I err towards being a 2%er and already have a HUGG (Huge Unbelievably Great Goal*) in the form of my mission to read all my unread books and keep up this blog. If that leads to a reviewing job, that would be the icing on the cake, but it's not the reason I'm doing it.
I genuinely feel that everyone should be given a free copy of this book. I always feel so sorry for mood hoovers - it must be horrible seeing life through a lens which makes it look so awful that the glass is not only half empty, it's dirty and got some unspecified creature living in it that will inevitably bite them.
'The Art of Being Brilliant' is accessible and cheeky, but firm and supportive, reminding readers that it's still up to them whether they decide to use what they've learned to become brilliant, positive, happier people. As such, it's very much a middle class, midlife crisis sort of a book, but while it won't solve poverty or oppression or war, it can help people who really have nothing to be depressed about put things in perspective and make the bigger problems look possible to tackle together.
So, if you look around you and can't work out why you're not happier, this will probably give you a shove in the right direction. Read it. Read it now.
When a notice was sent around my workplace about a compulsory workshop called 'The Art of Being Brilliant' that made it sound patronising in the extreme, however, I decided to go to the horse's mouth and find out what it was really all about. Of course, the fact that the horse's mouth was book-shaped and had pages had absolutely no influence on me at all. Ahem.
'The Art of Being Brilliant' by Andy Cope and Andy Whittaker draws together a range of tried and
tested theories and ideas which they hope will help readers lead more positive lives. They introduce the concepts of Mood Hoovers, people who bring themselves and others down by only ever seeing the negative, and 2%ers, who have a natural tendency to think and act in a way which sees them happier and more likely to feel great about life. Most people hover between these two extremes. In this book, Cope and Whittaker identify the key traits of 2%ers and open the door for readers to consciously adopt them.
 |
| 'The Art of Being Brilliant' by Andy Cope and Andy Whittaker (Capstone, 2012) |
In the end, I was sad to be turning over the last page, but took away a number of common sense ideas which seem obvious but can easily get lost in busy, everyday life. I was relieved to discover I err towards being a 2%er and already have a HUGG (Huge Unbelievably Great Goal*) in the form of my mission to read all my unread books and keep up this blog. If that leads to a reviewing job, that would be the icing on the cake, but it's not the reason I'm doing it.
I genuinely feel that everyone should be given a free copy of this book. I always feel so sorry for mood hoovers - it must be horrible seeing life through a lens which makes it look so awful that the glass is not only half empty, it's dirty and got some unspecified creature living in it that will inevitably bite them.
'The Art of Being Brilliant' is accessible and cheeky, but firm and supportive, reminding readers that it's still up to them whether they decide to use what they've learned to become brilliant, positive, happier people. As such, it's very much a middle class, midlife crisis sort of a book, but while it won't solve poverty or oppression or war, it can help people who really have nothing to be depressed about put things in perspective and make the bigger problems look possible to tackle together.
So, if you look around you and can't work out why you're not happier, this will probably give you a shove in the right direction. Read it. Read it now.
*Accidentally wrote 'Huge Unbelievably Great Goat'
there then, but fortunately no one will ever know.
05 July 2014
Everyday Heroes
Decided I'd been such a good little reader last month that I could treat myself with a trip to the bookshop. Couldn't decide what I fancied, so asked the Twittersphere and it certainly came up trumps!
I've just finished 'All My Friends are Superheroes' by Andrew Kaufman. This short novella (just over 100 pages in my edition) is the story of Tom and his superhero wife the Perfectionist. At their wedding reception, a jealous ex hypnotised the Perfectionist and he's been invisible to her ever since. It's now several months later and, thinking she's lost him forever, the Perfectionist has decided to move to a different city. But Tom is still nearby, his heart disintegrating, desperately trying to work out how to break the spell cast over his bride. As they board the plane to Vancouver, he realises this is his last chance to make her see him again. But can he do it before they land and her new life begins?
'All My Friends are Superheroes' isn't everyone's cup of tea. It thrives on metaphor and allegory, creating an almost reality in the style of Neil Gaiman. These are not the caped and spandex-swathed superheroes of comic books or movies, these are people whose key character traits define them and, even when negative, give them strength and make them special. It was interesting to see the way the author had taken mundane and everyday characteristics and turned them on their heads.
Overall, this is a book about identity and relationships. Charming and interesting though the story is, however, I can understand why some readers would feel a bit peeved by a book this short costing as much as a 300-400 page paperback. I usually try to think in terms of how much I'd pay for other things, like magazines, but perhaps the novella and short story market would be given a boost if books like this were priced differently. Otherwise there's a risk they will always miss out because people will only buy them at a discount, by which time it's too late for them to be a bestseller.
I've already decided this is going to be a Christmas present for a few people this year, however, and want to read more by this author. But if they're all this short, whether I will buy more books or borrow them from the library, only my bank balance can tell.
 |
| 'All My Friends of Superheroes' by Andrew Kaufman (Telegram, 2006) |
'All My Friends are Superheroes' isn't everyone's cup of tea. It thrives on metaphor and allegory, creating an almost reality in the style of Neil Gaiman. These are not the caped and spandex-swathed superheroes of comic books or movies, these are people whose key character traits define them and, even when negative, give them strength and make them special. It was interesting to see the way the author had taken mundane and everyday characteristics and turned them on their heads.
Overall, this is a book about identity and relationships. Charming and interesting though the story is, however, I can understand why some readers would feel a bit peeved by a book this short costing as much as a 300-400 page paperback. I usually try to think in terms of how much I'd pay for other things, like magazines, but perhaps the novella and short story market would be given a boost if books like this were priced differently. Otherwise there's a risk they will always miss out because people will only buy them at a discount, by which time it's too late for them to be a bestseller.
I've already decided this is going to be a Christmas present for a few people this year, however, and want to read more by this author. But if they're all this short, whether I will buy more books or borrow them from the library, only my bank balance can tell.
Missing the Marx
Can't believe it's been nearly two weeks since I finished 'The Essential Groucho' edited by Stefan Kanfer. Obviously wore myself out reading so many books in June!
'The Essential Groucho' is a collection of work spanning the long and varied career of Groucho Marx. Most people will know Groucho and his siblings from their classic films, several scenes from which are quoted at length in this book, which also includes extracts from stage shows, radio programmes, letters, original articles by and about Groucho and a list of one liners from 'You Bet Your Life'.
 |
| 'The Essential Groucho' edited by Stefan Kanfer (Penguin Modern Classics, 2000) |
One of the great things about the dawn of the DVD age is that my generation has been able to watch and enjoy films like those of the Marx Brothers films despite living around 70 years after their original cinema releases. It's testament to the cultural impact of their work that these films are available and that people are still interested enough in them for books like this to be in print.
The first few chapters of 'The Essential Groucho' draw from their early stage shows and movies and it quickly becomes clear that something vital is missing. I think I've got a pretty good imagination, but with the best will in the world, no one can play the Marx Brothers like the Marx Brothers. It's much like listening to 'Flywheel, Shyster and Flywheel' on BBC Radio Four. It sounds like Groucho, but something of the personality, ease and spontaneity is missing. Just reading the scripts doesn't convey the madcap energy that was their trademark, which almost left me wondering why so many were included in this book. Certainly where the movies were concerned, perhaps it would've been better to just provide a filmography suggesting people watch them if they haven't done so already. Being quite familiar with them myself, I found these early chapters just made me want to watch them as the written word couldn't do them justice.
It wasn't all bad, however, and there were two chapters in particular that I found very interesting. Both included Groucho's writing - a selection of his letters and some of his articles. The latter in particular suggested a different side to the man, showing him to be unexpectedly analytical and thoughtful about life and his relationships. The distinctive wordplay and clever juxtaposition of apparently disparate ideas was still there, but underneath there are some serious ideas that make you think. I particularly liked the article about why Harpo wasn't allowed to speak and 'Bad Days are Good Memories'.
Overall, if you're a student of this Marx, you may find this collection a useful resource, but if you're a fan, you're probably best sticking with the films that made the Brothers famous. I might be interested in seeing a bigger collection of Groucho's articles, but I think his strength lay on stage and screen and I'd probably end that book the same way I did 'The Essential Groucho', with a sense of loss and a feeling that something was missing.
22 June 2014
Wondering About
On the train back from the British Museum, I randomly started reading 'The Psychic Tourist' by journalist William Little. Yesterday, I finished it.
The journey begins when Little buys an astrological birth chart for his sister and her daughter as a gift. Unfortunately, they both predict a water-related death, something which terrifies his sibling and affects badly, making her avoid travelling on or over water at any cost and give up water-based hobbies. Upset that his gift has caused so much distress, Little decides to start and investigation into the world of psychics and prediction to find a way to undo the damage he's done.
Having enjoyed 'Will Storr vs the Supernatural', I hoped that this too would be an interesting and thought provoking read. It's also described as funny in a number of reviews, so I thought it would be entertaining too. Unfortunately, although it does start off in a similar way as Storr's book, it meanders quite a lot and doesn't always seem to stick to it's destination of the truth about predicting the future, often straying into a more general look at psychics instead. It's almost as if the author wanted to write a different book but couldn't control his own destiny.
By the end, the more lighthearted tone is all but out of sight. While it's interesting that Little takes his investigation to a new level, interviewing a combination of Physicists, Nobel-prize winners and experts in Quantum Theory, it means he has to resort to including long quotes from books and people. I can understand why. Many of these ideas are hard to understand for non-academics and it's safer to quote directly rather than try to explain it in lay language and lose meaning. Unfortunately, this style also gives the book an essay feel, and essays are not usually fun or amusing. Although if anyone knows of a funny, understandable and accurate essay on Quantum Physics, I'd love to hear about it!
Overall, 'The Psychic Tourist' was a bit of a disappointment. With a rewrite that tightens up the structure and maps out the science so it's easier to understand, it would be a better book. It's a shame as there are a lot of great and interesting ideas in here, many of which need to be shared with people like Little's sister to free them from excessive worry. Maybe in the future Little will have the opportunity to revisit this book and give it a polish. Who knows..!
Now, back to Groucho Marx!
The journey begins when Little buys an astrological birth chart for his sister and her daughter as a gift. Unfortunately, they both predict a water-related death, something which terrifies his sibling and affects badly, making her avoid travelling on or over water at any cost and give up water-based hobbies. Upset that his gift has caused so much distress, Little decides to start and investigation into the world of psychics and prediction to find a way to undo the damage he's done.
Having enjoyed 'Will Storr vs the Supernatural', I hoped that this too would be an interesting and thought provoking read. It's also described as funny in a number of reviews, so I thought it would be entertaining too. Unfortunately, although it does start off in a similar way as Storr's book, it meanders quite a lot and doesn't always seem to stick to it's destination of the truth about predicting the future, often straying into a more general look at psychics instead. It's almost as if the author wanted to write a different book but couldn't control his own destiny.
By the end, the more lighthearted tone is all but out of sight. While it's interesting that Little takes his investigation to a new level, interviewing a combination of Physicists, Nobel-prize winners and experts in Quantum Theory, it means he has to resort to including long quotes from books and people. I can understand why. Many of these ideas are hard to understand for non-academics and it's safer to quote directly rather than try to explain it in lay language and lose meaning. Unfortunately, this style also gives the book an essay feel, and essays are not usually fun or amusing. Although if anyone knows of a funny, understandable and accurate essay on Quantum Physics, I'd love to hear about it!
Overall, 'The Psychic Tourist' was a bit of a disappointment. With a rewrite that tightens up the structure and maps out the science so it's easier to understand, it would be a better book. It's a shame as there are a lot of great and interesting ideas in here, many of which need to be shared with people like Little's sister to free them from excessive worry. Maybe in the future Little will have the opportunity to revisit this book and give it a polish. Who knows..!
Now, back to Groucho Marx!
16 June 2014
No Limit!
No no no no no no no no no no no no there's no limit!
OK, now I've got that out of my system, here is a post about 'Dr No' by Ian Fleming, an AudioGo 007 Reloaded version of the novel read by Hugh Quarshie.
Returning to active duty after a near fatal encounter with the Russians, James Bond is given an easy assignment; investigating the disappearance of two MI6 operatives based in Kingston, Jamaica. But the case is not as it seems. Before too long M's 'bit of a holiday' looking into a suspected affair and elopement has evolved into something far more sinister. As Bond joins the dots, he finds all the threads lead to Crab Key, home to rare birds, a guano plant and the secretive spider at the web's centre, Dr Julius No.
'Dr No' is much more meticulously paced than 'Live and Let Die', the last Bond story I listened to as an audiobook. It's still not a long novel, but it includes much more tension, character development and back story and is the better for it. Bond lives a hyper-real, ultra-violent life just within sight of reality, so it helps to actually bring the story back down to Earth by making readers care about the characters. In 'Dr No', Quarrel and Honeychile Ryder are much more developed than Solitaire in 'Live and Let Die', so there is a greater sense of danger that makes you genuinely root for these people and want to find out what happens next.
I thought Solitaire was a complete waste of space, but I absolutely fell in love with Honeychile Ryder. Although in some ways a victim of circumstances, she's not been sat around waiting for Bond to arrive and sort everything out for her. She has her own aims, talents and desires, some more sensible than others, but whether her decisions make good sense or not, at least she's trying and she's not afraid of using her skills and knowledge to make her way independently in the world. You go girl!
While the heroes seem more real, the villain Dr No was as unreal as they come. Perhaps it was a deliberate dichotomy or maybe a villain as completely off the wall as this one is so unbelievable to prevent readers having nightmares. Having said that, while No was a typical megalomaniacal Bond villain who seemed completely detached from reality in his underground lair, he was scary. Normally this sort of character becomes borderline camp in the films, but on the page and in his own domain claustrophobia sets in and you begin to doubt that even 007 can overcome this madman's manipulations.
Overall, 'Dr No' is a great adventure story, action-packed, tense and with real punch in places. It has dated in the last 57 years, but, to be fair, all the Bond books I've encountered so far have, like so many of their contemporaries. If you can see beyond this, however, I would recommend it.
Now, what next?
Related Posts
'Live and Let Die'
'Casino Royale'
'For Your Eyes Only'
 |
| 'Dr No' by Ian Fleming, read by Hugh Quarshie (AudioGo 2012) |
Returning to active duty after a near fatal encounter with the Russians, James Bond is given an easy assignment; investigating the disappearance of two MI6 operatives based in Kingston, Jamaica. But the case is not as it seems. Before too long M's 'bit of a holiday' looking into a suspected affair and elopement has evolved into something far more sinister. As Bond joins the dots, he finds all the threads lead to Crab Key, home to rare birds, a guano plant and the secretive spider at the web's centre, Dr Julius No.
'Dr No' is much more meticulously paced than 'Live and Let Die', the last Bond story I listened to as an audiobook. It's still not a long novel, but it includes much more tension, character development and back story and is the better for it. Bond lives a hyper-real, ultra-violent life just within sight of reality, so it helps to actually bring the story back down to Earth by making readers care about the characters. In 'Dr No', Quarrel and Honeychile Ryder are much more developed than Solitaire in 'Live and Let Die', so there is a greater sense of danger that makes you genuinely root for these people and want to find out what happens next.
 |
| 'Dr No' by Ian Fleming (Penguin Modern Classics, 2004) |
While the heroes seem more real, the villain Dr No was as unreal as they come. Perhaps it was a deliberate dichotomy or maybe a villain as completely off the wall as this one is so unbelievable to prevent readers having nightmares. Having said that, while No was a typical megalomaniacal Bond villain who seemed completely detached from reality in his underground lair, he was scary. Normally this sort of character becomes borderline camp in the films, but on the page and in his own domain claustrophobia sets in and you begin to doubt that even 007 can overcome this madman's manipulations.
Overall, 'Dr No' is a great adventure story, action-packed, tense and with real punch in places. It has dated in the last 57 years, but, to be fair, all the Bond books I've encountered so far have, like so many of their contemporaries. If you can see beyond this, however, I would recommend it.
Now, what next?
Related Posts
'Live and Let Die'
'Casino Royale'
'For Your Eyes Only'
13 June 2014
Reading Voices (Again)...
Before I start, I want to make one thing clear. I'm reviewing the book, not the author. I say this because I've just finished 'A Host of Voices' by Doris Stokes, which includes the third and fourth autobiographies written by the popular psychic medium, and understand her to be a controversial figure to some.
'A Host of Voices' is two books in one. 'Innocent Voices in My Ear' explores Mrs Stokes particular affinity with parents who have lost children, a connection she feels keenly due to the passing of her only child as a baby. 'Whispering Voices' is broader and covers a range of personal and public events, demonstrations and sittings that took place in around 1984-5.
There are three collections of Doris Stokes' autobiographies and I've now read all of them. Although I'm not sure I have an opinion on her beliefs, her books have a very easy style and before I've realised it I'm already 50 pages in. If only more books were like that! Although where would the challenge be then?
'A Host of Voices' was no exception to this. It has a charming style that made me feel like I was visiting an elderly relative and she was telling stories about her life and experiences. 'Innocent Voices in my Ear' was a bit of an emotional roller coaster because of the subject matter, so while the style was easy going, sometimes the lives described weren't. As such, it's not really for the faint hearted. Or those without hanky to hand.
My favourite chapters were where Stokes talked about her life rather than just relaying the stories of her sitters and celebrity contacts, in this world and the next. Unfortunately, these were quite few, although I suspect much of this was probably covered in her first to autobiographies.
'Whispering Voices' wasn't as much of a success. It felt a little as though Mrs Stokes' first three books had been so popular she was encouraged to write a third. Unfortunately, the source material seems to be running out by this stage and it almost feels as if it's being written as events happen, until there's enough text for a book. By the end, whole chapters are being devoted to reprinted articles about Mrs Stokes and poetry she's been sent by her admirers. The former would be more interesting as part of an analysis of Stokes in a socio-cultural context and the latter really only illustrate the author's respect for what her correspondents send her. Which is lovely, but doesn't make for a good read.
Overall, if you are interested in the popular culture of the 1970s and '80s or spiritualism, 'A Host of Voices' and its companions are interesting and, somehow, easy reads, despite being full of loss, crime and suicide. I think a certain amount of detachment helps the casual reader, although maybe I've just been hardened by reading so many sad stories. Anyway, I suspect you already know if this is your sort of read or not!
Now the days are longer, I'm hoping to get my teeth (or should that be my head?) into a few more titles. Although I'm not doing myself any favours at the moment - am part way through two paperpacks, one hard back, an ebook and an audiobook. But at least I'm reading (or listening!), so watch this space or follow me on Twitter for updates!
Related Posts
Getting into the Spirit of Things...
 |
| 'A Host of Voices' by Doris Stokes (Warner Books, 2000) |
There are three collections of Doris Stokes' autobiographies and I've now read all of them. Although I'm not sure I have an opinion on her beliefs, her books have a very easy style and before I've realised it I'm already 50 pages in. If only more books were like that! Although where would the challenge be then?
'A Host of Voices' was no exception to this. It has a charming style that made me feel like I was visiting an elderly relative and she was telling stories about her life and experiences. 'Innocent Voices in my Ear' was a bit of an emotional roller coaster because of the subject matter, so while the style was easy going, sometimes the lives described weren't. As such, it's not really for the faint hearted. Or those without hanky to hand.
My favourite chapters were where Stokes talked about her life rather than just relaying the stories of her sitters and celebrity contacts, in this world and the next. Unfortunately, these were quite few, although I suspect much of this was probably covered in her first to autobiographies.
'Whispering Voices' wasn't as much of a success. It felt a little as though Mrs Stokes' first three books had been so popular she was encouraged to write a third. Unfortunately, the source material seems to be running out by this stage and it almost feels as if it's being written as events happen, until there's enough text for a book. By the end, whole chapters are being devoted to reprinted articles about Mrs Stokes and poetry she's been sent by her admirers. The former would be more interesting as part of an analysis of Stokes in a socio-cultural context and the latter really only illustrate the author's respect for what her correspondents send her. Which is lovely, but doesn't make for a good read.
Overall, if you are interested in the popular culture of the 1970s and '80s or spiritualism, 'A Host of Voices' and its companions are interesting and, somehow, easy reads, despite being full of loss, crime and suicide. I think a certain amount of detachment helps the casual reader, although maybe I've just been hardened by reading so many sad stories. Anyway, I suspect you already know if this is your sort of read or not!
Now the days are longer, I'm hoping to get my teeth (or should that be my head?) into a few more titles. Although I'm not doing myself any favours at the moment - am part way through two paperpacks, one hard back, an ebook and an audiobook. But at least I'm reading (or listening!), so watch this space or follow me on Twitter for updates!
Related Posts
Getting into the Spirit of Things...
03 June 2014
Bond goes on a Treasure Hunt
The final book I finished last month was 'Live and Let Die' by Ian Fleming. It was another in the 007 Reloaded series from AudioGo and read by Rory Kinnear, who played M's assistant Bill Tanner in 'Quantum of Solace' and 'Skyfall'. Fact!
'Live and Let Die' begins with a pirate's gold. Old, rare and valuable coins from a legendary Caribbean hoard are mysteriously surfacing in America and the authorities want to know how they're getting there. Working with the FBI and the CIA's Felix Leiter, Bond is sent on a treasure hunt that plunges him headlong into a world of superstition, voodoo and organised crime. His target is Mr Big, cult leader, smuggler and SMERSH operative, a powerful figure in the Black community who manipulates his magical reputation to get what he wants from his network of terrified informants. When 007 is forced to go on the run with Mr Big's pet psychic Solitaire, there seems to be no chance of escape. But Bond was born lucky and it takes more than stories to frighten him. Something more like the thought of a night time swim in a sea of frenzied sharks and barracuda...
This book is the most 'boy's own' of all the Bond stories I've read/heard so far. Ignoring the fact that the novel is very much of its time and uses words and descriptions that are unacceptable today, it starts off very gung ho and a bit Bond-by-numbers, almost like Fleming wasn't sure where he was going with it. For example, a scene set in Mr Big's night club hide out featuring an erotic dancer who strips her meagre coverings for a baying mob may be a teenage boy's cheap thrill, but it seemed excessive even as an attempt to suggest Mr Big and his minions were nothing but unsophisticated tribal savages or to remind us that we're in the hyper-charged world of Mr Kiss Kiss Bang Bang. Solitaire, also, feels like a box ticked rather than a necessity for the story. A typical damsel in distress, she comes across as vapid, useless and rather pointless overall. But can Bond be Bond without a girl?
About half way through, however, Bond and Leiter get back to the business in hand, start doing some actual
spying and - lo! - the story starts to pick up. From then onwards, the tension builds to a fantastic climax that kept me guessing even though I knew what would probably happen. Now that's more like it!
As with the other 007 Reloaded CDs I've listened to so far, this one kept things simple and benefited from it.
Overall, I was slightly disappointed by this book, but enjoyed the return of Felix Leiter, the tense second half and working out which films various scenes and events had ended up it. (It goes without saying that this book bears little resemblance to the enjoyable film, but bits of it do appear in other movies, most obviously in 'Licence to Kill'.)
I've already started on 'Dr No' and it's already a much more plodding work, leaden by comparison with this. I'll be interested to see if it does the opposite to 'Live and Let Die' and gets a bit feisty in the second half instead.
Related Posts
'Casino Royale'
'For Your Eyes Only'
 |
| 'Live and Let Die' by Ian Fleming (AudioGo, 2012) |
This book is the most 'boy's own' of all the Bond stories I've read/heard so far. Ignoring the fact that the novel is very much of its time and uses words and descriptions that are unacceptable today, it starts off very gung ho and a bit Bond-by-numbers, almost like Fleming wasn't sure where he was going with it. For example, a scene set in Mr Big's night club hide out featuring an erotic dancer who strips her meagre coverings for a baying mob may be a teenage boy's cheap thrill, but it seemed excessive even as an attempt to suggest Mr Big and his minions were nothing but unsophisticated tribal savages or to remind us that we're in the hyper-charged world of Mr Kiss Kiss Bang Bang. Solitaire, also, feels like a box ticked rather than a necessity for the story. A typical damsel in distress, she comes across as vapid, useless and rather pointless overall. But can Bond be Bond without a girl?
About half way through, however, Bond and Leiter get back to the business in hand, start doing some actual
 |
| 'Live and Let Die' by Ian Fleming (Penguin, 2004) |
As with the other 007 Reloaded CDs I've listened to so far, this one kept things simple and benefited from it.
Overall, I was slightly disappointed by this book, but enjoyed the return of Felix Leiter, the tense second half and working out which films various scenes and events had ended up it. (It goes without saying that this book bears little resemblance to the enjoyable film, but bits of it do appear in other movies, most obviously in 'Licence to Kill'.)
I've already started on 'Dr No' and it's already a much more plodding work, leaden by comparison with this. I'll be interested to see if it does the opposite to 'Live and Let Die' and gets a bit feisty in the second half instead.
Related Posts
'Casino Royale'
'For Your Eyes Only'
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