Hello Everyone and happy New Year!
Nearly a year ago, I decided to take a formal break from Eileen Loves Books, but now I'm ready to start blogging again. I've missed it and, of course, you!
Showing posts with label Books. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Books. Show all posts
01 January 2025
24 December 2022
'Dickens and Christmas' by Lucinda Hawksley
14 December 2022
Chain Reaction: Hereford Cathedral's Chained Library
Hereford might be a lovely city. I have absolutely no idea. When I visited recently, it was largely obscured by rolling clouds of fog, roaming the streets and disorienting unwary visitors like me. Perhaps it was part of a plot by Worcester and Gloucester to stop people finding Hereford Cathedral. If so, I'm glad to say it failed and I eventually made it to the home of the unique chained library.
03 January 2018
Review of the Year 2017
Happy New Year! Hope you've had a fab 2017 and are looking forward to a great 2018!
It was a bit of a slow start for me this year, but things have picked up as time has gone on. In total I read 23 and about 2/3 books, so I wasn't far off my two-a-month target. I got in a good mix of fact and fiction, some old and some new, so hopefully there was something of interest to you too.
My 2017 highlights have to be 'Pride & Prejudice' by Jane Austen and 'Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine' by Gail Honeyman - something old and something new, and both brilliant.
My 2017 highlights have to be 'Pride & Prejudice' by Jane Austen and 'Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine' by Gail Honeyman - something old and something new, and both brilliant.
Looking forward, I'm conscious that I have a shelf of books people have kindly sent me and another of things that people have given to me as gifts. I feel awful for being so rubbish at reading things promptly, so I'm going to try to start putting this right a bit in 2018. I always warn people who pass me books that I really do have a lot to read already, but I'm fairly sure that some of my friends and family have forgotten that they've lent me some of these...
Another thing I hope to do is read more classics. Yes, that again! Following on from 'Pride & Prejudice', I would really like to read another Jane Austen novel (Twitter recommended 'Persuasion'). Having visited both Haworth and Hardy's birthplace just outside Dorchester, I'd also like to try 'Jane Eyre' and 'Tess of the D'Urbervilles'. I may not get a chance, however, as if I don't read Dumas' 'The Count of Monte Cristo', I think a friend of mine might actually pop!
(By the way, if I manage to catch up on some of the books I've been sent, I'm thinking of making 2019 a year of books people have recommended to me. But ask me about that again in 12 months time!)
Finally, I'm desperate to know what happens to Ross Poldark and co. after the Earth shattering events of 'The Angry Tide'. Hopefully I'll squeeze at least one more of the late Winston Graham's novels in next year. 'Stranger from the Sea' is book 8 of 12, though, so I need to pace myself!
So, let's hope I can keep up the momentum for 2018 and make it a fantastic year. As always, thank you for joining me on my personal reading challenge and I hope you keep enjoying the blog. May your own personal projects be as successful!
Right, let's get reading!
2017: A Year in Books
- 'The Shogun's Queen' by Lesley Downer
- 'The Flame Bearer' by Bernard Cornwell
- 'Slip of the Keyboard' by Terry Pratchett
- 'Ghoul Britannia' by Andrew Martin - A good read for ghost story fans and writers.
- 'The White Princess' by Philippa Gregory
- 'Devonshire Folk Tales' by Michael Dacre
- 'The Angry Tide' by Winston Graham
- 'It's Only a Movie' by Mark Kermode
- 'A Life Discarded' by Alexander Masters
- 'Shattered Love' by Richard Chamberlain - Disappointing.
- 'Cinderella Ate My Daughter' by Peggy Orenstein
- 'Discovering Scarfolk' by Richard Littler
- 'Trigger Warning' by Neil Gaiman
- 'He Said / She Said' by Erin Kelly
- 'The Tent, the Bucket and Me' by Emma Kennedy (Audiobook) - Entertaining stories of family holidays gone wrong.
- 'Trans: A Memoir' by Juliet Jacques - A moving, personal story.
- 'Free: Adventures on the Margins of a Wasteful Society' by Katherine Hibbert
- 'God Bless You, Mr Rosewater' by Kurt Vonnegut
- 'Pride and Prejudice' by Jane Austen
- 'Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine' by Gail Honeyman
- 'How to Be Champion' by Sarah Millican
- 'Little Me: My Life from A-Z' by Matt Lucas
- 'Puckoon' by Spike Milligan
02 January 2017
Review of the Year 2016
Happy New Year, lovely readers! It's hard to believe that another 12 months has gone by already, but I'm afraid it has, so it's time to see how things are going. No burying my head in the sand!
Although I didn't scale the dizzy heights of 2014 (32 books read. 32!!), I have managed to reach my two books a month average this year. Half of these weren't on the original list, unfortunately, and I didn't always manage to blog about all of them, but I'm determined to do better in 2017. There are so many great books on my shelves, it's time to knuckle down and do them justice. Although I'll only be able to do this if the publishing industry stops being awesome and releasing amazing new books, of course. Such a dilemma!
To my surprise, I've read more fiction (14) than non-fiction (10) this year. If you'd have asked me, I would have told you that I'd read far more non-fiction, but it looks like I've been doing a better job of mixing things up than I realised. Although, having said that, five of the books were autobiographies by actors and celebrities, so perhaps not that mixed up... Will have to try and keep an eye on that next year.
So, my ideal reading list for 2017 would be longer, include more 'list' books and fewer autobiographies. It would also be great to get in a classic or two and some science fiction. Been a while since we've had some of that, so we'll have to see what we can do.
I would also love to see Benjamin Mee's follow up to 'We Bought a Zoo' on next year's list too, but two years after supporting the crowdfunding to help Dartmoor Zoo gain charitable status, the promised book still isn't finished. It's easy to forget that writing is a proper, full-time job, so it's not really a surprise that the guy is finding it hard to balance with running a zoo. Talk about multi-tasking.
I hope to keep working through Winston Graham's Poldark books next year too. Must keep ahead of the BBC series! Although they're such great books, I would definitely want to be reading them anyway. Good to have an incentive sometimes though!
While I'm still reading the Poldark series, I did actually finish another set of books in 2016; Ian Fleming's Bond novels. So even though I may not feel like I've achieved much this year, I have achieved that.
As always, thank you so much for your support and I do hope you're still enjoying the blog. To keep things interesting for you, I'm working on some posts about some great author-related places I've visited and hope to come up with some other book-related articles for you too. Watch this space!
It's always great to hear from you, so don't forget you can tweet me via @EileenFurze.
That's it for now, so all the best for 2017 and happy reading!
Reviews of the Year
2015
2014
2013
2012
2016: A Year in Books
January
'The Rendez-Vous and Other Stories' by Daphne Du Maurier
'Wishful Drinking' by Carrie Fisher
February
'To Kill A Mocking-Bird' by Harper Lee
March
'You Say Potato' by David and Ben Crystal
April
'Moranifesto' by Caitlin Moran
'Carmilla' by Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu
May
'Red: A Natural History of the Redhead' by Jacky Collis Harvey
June
'Gut' by Giulia Enders and Jill Enders
August
'The Swordfish and the Star' by Gavin Knight
'Spectacles' by Sue Perkins
September
'You Only Live Twice' by Ian Fleming
'The Man with the Golden Gun' by Ian Fleming
'The Heart Goes Last' by Margaret Atwood
'Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children' by Ransom Riggs
October
'Josephine' by Kate Williams
'Conclave' by Robert Harris
November
'The Four Swans' by Winston Graham
'On Her Majesty's Secret Service' by Ian Fleming
December
'No Cunning Plan' by Tony Robinson
'The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13 3/4' by Sue Townsend
Although I didn't scale the dizzy heights of 2014 (32 books read. 32!!), I have managed to reach my two books a month average this year. Half of these weren't on the original list, unfortunately, and I didn't always manage to blog about all of them, but I'm determined to do better in 2017. There are so many great books on my shelves, it's time to knuckle down and do them justice. Although I'll only be able to do this if the publishing industry stops being awesome and releasing amazing new books, of course. Such a dilemma!
To my surprise, I've read more fiction (14) than non-fiction (10) this year. If you'd have asked me, I would have told you that I'd read far more non-fiction, but it looks like I've been doing a better job of mixing things up than I realised. Although, having said that, five of the books were autobiographies by actors and celebrities, so perhaps not that mixed up... Will have to try and keep an eye on that next year.
So, my ideal reading list for 2017 would be longer, include more 'list' books and fewer autobiographies. It would also be great to get in a classic or two and some science fiction. Been a while since we've had some of that, so we'll have to see what we can do.
I would also love to see Benjamin Mee's follow up to 'We Bought a Zoo' on next year's list too, but two years after supporting the crowdfunding to help Dartmoor Zoo gain charitable status, the promised book still isn't finished. It's easy to forget that writing is a proper, full-time job, so it's not really a surprise that the guy is finding it hard to balance with running a zoo. Talk about multi-tasking.
I hope to keep working through Winston Graham's Poldark books next year too. Must keep ahead of the BBC series! Although they're such great books, I would definitely want to be reading them anyway. Good to have an incentive sometimes though!
While I'm still reading the Poldark series, I did actually finish another set of books in 2016; Ian Fleming's Bond novels. So even though I may not feel like I've achieved much this year, I have achieved that.
As always, thank you so much for your support and I do hope you're still enjoying the blog. To keep things interesting for you, I'm working on some posts about some great author-related places I've visited and hope to come up with some other book-related articles for you too. Watch this space!
It's always great to hear from you, so don't forget you can tweet me via @EileenFurze.
That's it for now, so all the best for 2017 and happy reading!
Reviews of the Year
2015
2014
2013
2012
2016: A Year in Books
January
'The Rendez-Vous and Other Stories' by Daphne Du Maurier
'Wishful Drinking' by Carrie Fisher
February
'To Kill A Mocking-Bird' by Harper Lee
March
'You Say Potato' by David and Ben Crystal
April
'Moranifesto' by Caitlin Moran
'Carmilla' by Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu
May
'Red: A Natural History of the Redhead' by Jacky Collis Harvey
'Absolute Pandemonium' by Brian Blessed
'Not My Father's Son' by Alan Cumming
'The Black Moon' by Winston Graham
'Dead Man's Folly' by Agatha Christie
'Gut' by Giulia Enders and Jill Enders
August
'The Swordfish and the Star' by Gavin Knight
'Spectacles' by Sue Perkins
September
'You Only Live Twice' by Ian Fleming
'The Man with the Golden Gun' by Ian Fleming
'The Heart Goes Last' by Margaret Atwood
'Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children' by Ransom Riggs
October
'Josephine' by Kate Williams
'Conclave' by Robert Harris
November
'The Four Swans' by Winston Graham
'On Her Majesty's Secret Service' by Ian Fleming
December
'No Cunning Plan' by Tony Robinson
'The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13 3/4' by Sue Townsend
09 October 2016
The Reading Paradox
Not the latest Dan Brown, as I'm sure you all thought, but the conundrum I've found myself in over the past few weeks.
Normally, the warmer months are a great time for me. What reader can resist a pleasant summer afternoon outdoors, sunscreen-covered nose in a book? (That's how we bookworms preserve our appropriate pallor - industrial quantities of factor 50.) For some reason, this year hasn't quite panned out like that. In June/July/August 2016, I only read four books, compared with eight in 2015 and a whopping 11 in 2014. Not only was it very odd, but it also left me without much to say to you!
September was a bit more successful, but led to the opposite problem. While other years have seen a lull around the end of summer, this year I got through five and a half books. "Really?" I hear you cry "Why haven't I heard about this?!" Well, it turns out that if I read too much, I don't have time to blog! Who'd have thought it?
I think what I'm trying to say is, yes, I am still here, I am still reading and I am still blogging. I've got a handful of posts in the pipeline about some of the great things I've read recently, plus I've had some trips to bookish places that I'd love to tell you all about.
So, let's get cracking!
Coming soon (hopefully)...
Normally, the warmer months are a great time for me. What reader can resist a pleasant summer afternoon outdoors, sunscreen-covered nose in a book? (That's how we bookworms preserve our appropriate pallor - industrial quantities of factor 50.) For some reason, this year hasn't quite panned out like that. In June/July/August 2016, I only read four books, compared with eight in 2015 and a whopping 11 in 2014. Not only was it very odd, but it also left me without much to say to you!
September was a bit more successful, but led to the opposite problem. While other years have seen a lull around the end of summer, this year I got through five and a half books. "Really?" I hear you cry "Why haven't I heard about this?!" Well, it turns out that if I read too much, I don't have time to blog! Who'd have thought it?
I think what I'm trying to say is, yes, I am still here, I am still reading and I am still blogging. I've got a handful of posts in the pipeline about some of the great things I've read recently, plus I've had some trips to bookish places that I'd love to tell you all about.
So, let's get cracking!
Coming soon (hopefully)...
- A glamorous French empress!
- Two secret missions!
- And a peregrine on a Welsh island!
22 May 2016
Year Five: A Reading Renaissance
I've heard it said that birthdays become less important when you get older and it looks like it was true of my blog's birthday this year - I totally forgot about it! Nevermind, less than a month late, so the cake won't be too stale nor the champers too flat.
To be fair, the reason I lost track was because I was doing what I was supposed to be doing (reading, just in case you were wondering!). After a very quiet patch at the start of this year (four books in four months - rubbish!), I've suddenly read four books in a month. Amazing what some nice weather and longer days can do for finding time to read.
But there is more to it than that. Despite my best intentions, I've always found it hard to buy fewer books and concentrate on just reading the ones I've already got. And, to be honest, the self-inflicted pressure and guilt was getting me down. On the one hand, I wanted to read what I'm lucky enough to already have, but, equally, brilliant things are being published all the time. My love of reading comes from curiosity and I simply couldn't help being interested in what various new publications had to say.
So I've come to a decision... to go a bit easier on myself. Rather than worrying about what I'm reading, my new focus is on just... reading. It's better for me to be spending time reading something that I really, really want to read than struggling distractedly through something just because I've had it for a while. As I'm sure you've found, every book has it's day and while you may not be in the mood for something one week, you may be the next. I picked up 'The King's General' by Daphne du Maurier three times before I read it all the way through and then I absolutely loved it. But I wasn't in the right frame of mind during attempts one and two.
I have read 26 books over the past 12 months, 24 of which I've posted about. About 12 of these titles were published since I started this blog, but I will always find it hard to resist a new Bernard Cornwell ('Warriors of the Storm'), Caitlin Moran ('Moranifesto'), Neil Gaiman or Philippa Gregory.
Hopefully you've found something interesting among what I've been reading lately. I'm nothing if not varied! Sixteen titles were non-fiction, including Antonia Fraser's biography of Marie Antoinette (only took me seven years to finish, partly because it's such a heartbreaking story, partly because it's flamin' massive.), 'It's All in Your Head' (Fascinating book about psychosomatic illnesses which has started off an interest in science that has lain dormant since school) and 'My Grandfather would have Shot Me' (Thought-provoking story of a black woman who discovered her ancestor was a notorious Nazi concentration camp commandant). The ten fiction books I've read included favourites such as short stories and historical fiction, but I'm glad to say I finally got around to 'To Kill a Mocking-Bird' (recommended to me by so many people I've lost count) and 'Pet Semetary' (incredibly waiting to be read for nearly 15 years).
Unusually, I had three absolute favourite books this year. As well as 'It's All in Your Head' and 'My Grandfather would have Shot Me', I absolutely loved 'Animal QC' by the most unlikely barrister around, Gary Bell. His story is, without a doubt, completely nuts, but is also one that shows what you can do with drive, focus and hard work. Call me old fashioned, but I like stories which remind us success is not just about getting the girl/boy, passing that exam or winning a competition.
I also dipped my toe once more into a bit of travel writing in 2015 and the resulting post, 'In Search of Wuthering Heights', is far and away the most popular piece I've ever posted. I'm really glad you enjoyed it, it was hard work walking up that hill! It really was a fantastic day out and I'd thoroughly recommend it to Bronte fans and people who like getting some fresh air once in a while. I've got a couple more pieces about book-related places in the pipeline, so watch this space.
Well, it looks like I'm going to have plenty to read and tell you about for a long time yet! Thank you so much for joining me in this project and I hope you keep enjoying the blog for a long time to come.
Now, back to Poldark 5!
The 500 Books Blog: Selections from 2015/16
May
'Marie Antoinette' by Antonia Fraser
June
'In Town' by Mark Steel
July
'It's All in your Head' by Dr. Suzanne O'Sullivan
'My Grandfather would have Shot Me' by Jennifer Teege
'Diamonds are Forever' by Ian Fleming
August
'The Spy who Loved Me' by Ian Fleming
'In Search of Wuthering Heights'
September
'The Kingmaker's Daughter' by Philippa Gregory
October
'The Library of Unrequited Love' by Sophie Divry
'Just a Phrase I'm Going Through' by David Crystal
'Sandwich Man' by John Montagu, Earl of Sandwich
November
'A Book for Her' by Bridget Christie
'Jeremy and Amy' by Jeremy Keeling
'Warriors of the Storm' by Bernard Cornwell
December
'Pet Sematary' by Stephen King
'Animal QC' by Gary Bell
January
'Little Tales of Misogyny' by Patricia Highsmith
February
'The Rendezvous and Other Stories' by Daphne du Maurier
'Wishful Drinking' by Carrie Fisher
'To Kill a Mocking-Bird' by Harper Lee
April
'Moranifesto' by Caitlin Moran
Previous Birthday Posts
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
To be fair, the reason I lost track was because I was doing what I was supposed to be doing (reading, just in case you were wondering!). After a very quiet patch at the start of this year (four books in four months - rubbish!), I've suddenly read four books in a month. Amazing what some nice weather and longer days can do for finding time to read.
But there is more to it than that. Despite my best intentions, I've always found it hard to buy fewer books and concentrate on just reading the ones I've already got. And, to be honest, the self-inflicted pressure and guilt was getting me down. On the one hand, I wanted to read what I'm lucky enough to already have, but, equally, brilliant things are being published all the time. My love of reading comes from curiosity and I simply couldn't help being interested in what various new publications had to say.
So I've come to a decision... to go a bit easier on myself. Rather than worrying about what I'm reading, my new focus is on just... reading. It's better for me to be spending time reading something that I really, really want to read than struggling distractedly through something just because I've had it for a while. As I'm sure you've found, every book has it's day and while you may not be in the mood for something one week, you may be the next. I picked up 'The King's General' by Daphne du Maurier three times before I read it all the way through and then I absolutely loved it. But I wasn't in the right frame of mind during attempts one and two.
I have read 26 books over the past 12 months, 24 of which I've posted about. About 12 of these titles were published since I started this blog, but I will always find it hard to resist a new Bernard Cornwell ('Warriors of the Storm'), Caitlin Moran ('Moranifesto'), Neil Gaiman or Philippa Gregory.
Hopefully you've found something interesting among what I've been reading lately. I'm nothing if not varied! Sixteen titles were non-fiction, including Antonia Fraser's biography of Marie Antoinette (only took me seven years to finish, partly because it's such a heartbreaking story, partly because it's flamin' massive.), 'It's All in Your Head' (Fascinating book about psychosomatic illnesses which has started off an interest in science that has lain dormant since school) and 'My Grandfather would have Shot Me' (Thought-provoking story of a black woman who discovered her ancestor was a notorious Nazi concentration camp commandant). The ten fiction books I've read included favourites such as short stories and historical fiction, but I'm glad to say I finally got around to 'To Kill a Mocking-Bird' (recommended to me by so many people I've lost count) and 'Pet Semetary' (incredibly waiting to be read for nearly 15 years).
Unusually, I had three absolute favourite books this year. As well as 'It's All in Your Head' and 'My Grandfather would have Shot Me', I absolutely loved 'Animal QC' by the most unlikely barrister around, Gary Bell. His story is, without a doubt, completely nuts, but is also one that shows what you can do with drive, focus and hard work. Call me old fashioned, but I like stories which remind us success is not just about getting the girl/boy, passing that exam or winning a competition.
I also dipped my toe once more into a bit of travel writing in 2015 and the resulting post, 'In Search of Wuthering Heights', is far and away the most popular piece I've ever posted. I'm really glad you enjoyed it, it was hard work walking up that hill! It really was a fantastic day out and I'd thoroughly recommend it to Bronte fans and people who like getting some fresh air once in a while. I've got a couple more pieces about book-related places in the pipeline, so watch this space.
Well, it looks like I'm going to have plenty to read and tell you about for a long time yet! Thank you so much for joining me in this project and I hope you keep enjoying the blog for a long time to come.
Now, back to Poldark 5!
The 500 Books Blog: Selections from 2015/16
May
'Marie Antoinette' by Antonia Fraser
June
'In Town' by Mark Steel
July
'It's All in your Head' by Dr. Suzanne O'Sullivan
'My Grandfather would have Shot Me' by Jennifer Teege
'Diamonds are Forever' by Ian Fleming
August
'The Spy who Loved Me' by Ian Fleming
'In Search of Wuthering Heights'
September
'The Kingmaker's Daughter' by Philippa Gregory
October
'The Library of Unrequited Love' by Sophie Divry
'Just a Phrase I'm Going Through' by David Crystal
'Sandwich Man' by John Montagu, Earl of Sandwich
November
'A Book for Her' by Bridget Christie
'Jeremy and Amy' by Jeremy Keeling
'Warriors of the Storm' by Bernard Cornwell
December
'Pet Sematary' by Stephen King
'Animal QC' by Gary Bell
January
'Little Tales of Misogyny' by Patricia Highsmith
February
'The Rendezvous and Other Stories' by Daphne du Maurier
'Wishful Drinking' by Carrie Fisher
'To Kill a Mocking-Bird' by Harper Lee
April
'Moranifesto' by Caitlin Moran
Previous Birthday Posts
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
31 December 2015
Review of the Year 2015
Early happy New Year everyone! How has 2015 been for you? Bit too exciting if you ask me - marauding vikings on and off the page, Poldark showing off his pecs in the Cornish countryside (don't remember THAT in the books!), Bond getting up to his old tricks and tonnes of fab new fiction and non-fiction to get me all distracted.
I did manage to read the minimum target 24 books (yay!), but 11 of those were either freshly published or new acquisitions (boo!). Such a shame when I got the balance right in 2014, reading an extra 10 or so books, but still finishing 24 from the list. Definitely want to try and do better in the coming months.
Hopefully you've found something interesting among what I've read in 2015. I'm quite pleased that there's a good variety in what I've covered, but classics are still rare. After my fascinating trip to Haworth, the Bronte Parsonage Museum and the surrounding moors ('In Search of Wuthering Heights'), I'm hoping to get in some novels by the famous sisters in 2016. And visit some more literary locations!
James Bond and historical fiction are still making regular appearances and I'm close to finishing both Ian Fleming's books and Philippa Gregory's Cousins War series. Hopefully I can do this next year too and move on to another great series.
A few favourite genres and writers have disappeared completely recently, though, including Science Fiction and Daphne Du Maurier. Perhaps in getting distracted by some great new publications I've missed the brilliant books already on my shelves. Something to be careful of in 2016!
Almost unbelievably, next year will mark the fifth anniversary of this blog and my project. A big thank you to all the friends, readers, writers and publishers who have given such great feedback and support here and on Twitter (@500_Books) over the years. A special mention has to go to the lovely and glittery Lucy Porter, who thoroughly embarrassed me by looking at my Twitter feed while I was stood in front of her at a literary festival event. Nearly as embarrassing as when I met Nigella Lawson at a book signing and couldn't think of anything to say... but that's another story.
Anyway, big love, bookworms! Wishing you all a fabulous new year and I look forward to seeing you again in 2016!
Reviews of the Year
2012
2013
2014
2015: A Year in Books
January
'The Empty Throne' by Bernard Cornwell
February
'So, Anyway...' by John Cleese
'From Russia with Love' by Ian Fleming (Audiobook)
'The Victorian Chaise-Longue' by Marghanita Laski
March
'Goldfinger' by Ian Fleming
'Living Dolls: The Return of Sexism' by Natasha Walter
April
'When I Met You' by Jemma Forte
'So, You've Been Publicly Shamed' by Jon Ronson
May
'Marie Antoinette: The Journey' by Antonia Fraser
June
'In Town' by Mark Steel
'Be Brilliant Every Day' by Andy Cope and Andy Whitaker
July
'It's All in Your Head' by Suzanne O'Sullivan
'My Grandfather Would Have Shot Me' by Jennifer Teege
'Diamonds are Forever' by Ian Fleming (Audiobook)
'The Spy who Loved Me' by Ian Fleming (Audiobook)
August
'A Book for Her' by Bridget Christie
'The Kingmaker's Daughter' by Philippa Gregory
September
'The Library of Unrequited Love' by Sophie Divry
October
'Just a Phrase I'm Going Through' by David Crystal
'Jeremy and Amy' by Jeremy Keeling
November
'Warriors of the Storm' by Bernard Cornwell
'Pet Sematary' by Stephen King
December
'Animal QC: My Preposterous Life' by Gary Bell
'Little Tales of Misogyny' by Patricia Highsmith - Coming Soon!
I did manage to read the minimum target 24 books (yay!), but 11 of those were either freshly published or new acquisitions (boo!). Such a shame when I got the balance right in 2014, reading an extra 10 or so books, but still finishing 24 from the list. Definitely want to try and do better in the coming months.
Hopefully you've found something interesting among what I've read in 2015. I'm quite pleased that there's a good variety in what I've covered, but classics are still rare. After my fascinating trip to Haworth, the Bronte Parsonage Museum and the surrounding moors ('In Search of Wuthering Heights'), I'm hoping to get in some novels by the famous sisters in 2016. And visit some more literary locations!
James Bond and historical fiction are still making regular appearances and I'm close to finishing both Ian Fleming's books and Philippa Gregory's Cousins War series. Hopefully I can do this next year too and move on to another great series.
A few favourite genres and writers have disappeared completely recently, though, including Science Fiction and Daphne Du Maurier. Perhaps in getting distracted by some great new publications I've missed the brilliant books already on my shelves. Something to be careful of in 2016!
Almost unbelievably, next year will mark the fifth anniversary of this blog and my project. A big thank you to all the friends, readers, writers and publishers who have given such great feedback and support here and on Twitter (@500_Books) over the years. A special mention has to go to the lovely and glittery Lucy Porter, who thoroughly embarrassed me by looking at my Twitter feed while I was stood in front of her at a literary festival event. Nearly as embarrassing as when I met Nigella Lawson at a book signing and couldn't think of anything to say... but that's another story.
Anyway, big love, bookworms! Wishing you all a fabulous new year and I look forward to seeing you again in 2016!
Reviews of the Year
2012
2013
2014
2015: A Year in Books
January
'The Empty Throne' by Bernard Cornwell
February
'So, Anyway...' by John Cleese
'From Russia with Love' by Ian Fleming (Audiobook)
'The Victorian Chaise-Longue' by Marghanita Laski
March
'Goldfinger' by Ian Fleming
'Living Dolls: The Return of Sexism' by Natasha Walter
April
'When I Met You' by Jemma Forte
'So, You've Been Publicly Shamed' by Jon Ronson
May
'Marie Antoinette: The Journey' by Antonia Fraser
June
'In Town' by Mark Steel
'Be Brilliant Every Day' by Andy Cope and Andy Whitaker
July
'It's All in Your Head' by Suzanne O'Sullivan
'My Grandfather Would Have Shot Me' by Jennifer Teege
'Diamonds are Forever' by Ian Fleming (Audiobook)
'The Spy who Loved Me' by Ian Fleming (Audiobook)
August
'A Book for Her' by Bridget Christie
'The Kingmaker's Daughter' by Philippa Gregory
September
'The Library of Unrequited Love' by Sophie Divry
October
'Just a Phrase I'm Going Through' by David Crystal
'Jeremy and Amy' by Jeremy Keeling
November
'Warriors of the Storm' by Bernard Cornwell
'Pet Sematary' by Stephen King
December
'Animal QC: My Preposterous Life' by Gary Bell
'Little Tales of Misogyny' by Patricia Highsmith - Coming Soon!
04 October 2015
Talking in the Library
Earlier this week, I finished 'The Library of Unrequited Love' by Sophie Divry, translated from the original French by Sian Reynolds. It's a short book and, with a bit of effort, I managed to read it in 24 hours. Seemed the least I could do bearing in mind it wasn't on my original list... Ahem.
'The Library of Unrequited Love' is one side of a conversation. One morning, a provincial librarian
comes into work to find a reader sleeping among her basement shelves. At first surprised, then defensive, then loquacious, she begins to share her opinions on everything from the Dewey Decimal System to customer service, literary snobbery to her admiration for a regular visitor. Intelligent yet confused, passionate but trapped, she finally has a captive audience for her thoughts and observations.
I liked this book because it was unusual. It is, as it's cover says, a diversion, a little novelty that gets you thinking about the nature of narrative and story structure. The first person monologue made getting sucked into the librarian's story very easy. By the end, I didn't want to leave her as she felt like a real person in need of friendship and support. Soppy but true.
Throughout I found myself imagining the whole novella as a play and I really think it would work very well on stage. Hopefully someone somewhere has plans for a production.
Overall, this book would be of interest to writers because of the narrative style used and librarians. After all, how could anyone working in such a strongly stereotyped profession not be interested in this latest portrayal? I think this would also be a good choice for a book group as, even though it's a short work, it leaves much to discuss about how easy it is to loose sight of the people we see everyday, isolation and the purpose of public libraries.
Now, back to Dr. Crystal!
'The Library of Unrequited Love' is one side of a conversation. One morning, a provincial librarian
 |
| 'The Library of Unrequited Love' By Sophie Divry (MacLehose Press, 2014) |
I liked this book because it was unusual. It is, as it's cover says, a diversion, a little novelty that gets you thinking about the nature of narrative and story structure. The first person monologue made getting sucked into the librarian's story very easy. By the end, I didn't want to leave her as she felt like a real person in need of friendship and support. Soppy but true.
Throughout I found myself imagining the whole novella as a play and I really think it would work very well on stage. Hopefully someone somewhere has plans for a production.
Overall, this book would be of interest to writers because of the narrative style used and librarians. After all, how could anyone working in such a strongly stereotyped profession not be interested in this latest portrayal? I think this would also be a good choice for a book group as, even though it's a short work, it leaves much to discuss about how easy it is to loose sight of the people we see everyday, isolation and the purpose of public libraries.
Now, back to Dr. Crystal!
27 July 2015
People's History
Lots of people think that history doesn't matter. But it really does, very much indeed. None of us can be entirely sure where we're going, but we can be absolutely certain, whether we knew them or not, that we had parents, who also had parents, who also had parents, going back to the very dawn of time. So something of each of us has lived through every era, as empires rose and fell, rulers lived and died and wars were won and lost.
I've just finished 'My Grandfather Would Have Shot Me', the story of how a black, German woman came to terms with the shock discovery that she was descended from Nazi concentration camp commandant Amon Goeth. Although raised in an orphanage, Jennifer Teege did have some contact with her mother and grandmother as a child, but neither woman ever gave any hint as to Teege's dark family history. It wasn't until she was in her late 30s, a happily married mother of two, that she found out by chance when she picked up an unknown book by her mother in Hamburg's central library. Suddenly she finds herself plunged into the shadow of one of World War II's most notorious psychopathic killers, the Butcher of Plaszow in Poland, slaughterer of thousands of Jews - and her grandfather. As Teege struggles to comprehend what this means for her, her family and her many Jewish-Israeli friends, she summons the courage to face this family skeleton head on. But is it possible to come to terms with such a chilling discovery?
This book is gripping, uplifting and thought-provoking from beginning to end. Written from Mrs Teege's perspective, interspersed with supporting sections by journalist Nikola Sellmair, it explores how both a person and a people have had to deal with a past they would rather forget. Some deny it, some ignore it, but I have great respect for Mrs Teege as she decided to tackle it head on and not give the past power over the present.
I think that this would make an excellent reading group book. There is much to discuss and think about here. It's not really a book about World War II, it's a book about family, national guilt and coming to terms with a shameful past.
I found it gripping from beginning to end and would thoroughly recommend it.
Now, what next...
Related Links
'My Nazi Grandfather, Amon Goeth, Would Have Shot Me' (BBC News Magazine, 03/10/2013)
Book Details
'My Grandfather Would Have Shot Me' by Jennifer Teege and Nikola Sellmair. Translated by Carolin Sommer. Hodder & Stoughton, 2015. Originally published in Germany as 'Amon: Mein Grossvater hätte mich erschossen', 2013.
I've just finished 'My Grandfather Would Have Shot Me', the story of how a black, German woman came to terms with the shock discovery that she was descended from Nazi concentration camp commandant Amon Goeth. Although raised in an orphanage, Jennifer Teege did have some contact with her mother and grandmother as a child, but neither woman ever gave any hint as to Teege's dark family history. It wasn't until she was in her late 30s, a happily married mother of two, that she found out by chance when she picked up an unknown book by her mother in Hamburg's central library. Suddenly she finds herself plunged into the shadow of one of World War II's most notorious psychopathic killers, the Butcher of Plaszow in Poland, slaughterer of thousands of Jews - and her grandfather. As Teege struggles to comprehend what this means for her, her family and her many Jewish-Israeli friends, she summons the courage to face this family skeleton head on. But is it possible to come to terms with such a chilling discovery?
This book is gripping, uplifting and thought-provoking from beginning to end. Written from Mrs Teege's perspective, interspersed with supporting sections by journalist Nikola Sellmair, it explores how both a person and a people have had to deal with a past they would rather forget. Some deny it, some ignore it, but I have great respect for Mrs Teege as she decided to tackle it head on and not give the past power over the present.
I think that this would make an excellent reading group book. There is much to discuss and think about here. It's not really a book about World War II, it's a book about family, national guilt and coming to terms with a shameful past.
I found it gripping from beginning to end and would thoroughly recommend it.
Now, what next...
Related Links
'My Nazi Grandfather, Amon Goeth, Would Have Shot Me' (BBC News Magazine, 03/10/2013)
Book Details
'My Grandfather Would Have Shot Me' by Jennifer Teege and Nikola Sellmair. Translated by Carolin Sommer. Hodder & Stoughton, 2015. Originally published in Germany as 'Amon: Mein Grossvater hätte mich erschossen', 2013.
17 May 2015
Happy Birthday and So Forth
You may have noticed that I've been a bit quiet lately. I know what you're thinking. "Good fourth blog birthday bash, eh? Suffering more than a book hangover afterwards? Nudge, nudge, wink, wink?" Well, tut, tut and how dare you! There's only so much jelly and ice cream one person can eat and the clown was rubbish (Bit too Stephen King perhaps..?)!
After a really good year last year, I suddenly went through a bad patch, finding it hard to settle and flitting from book to book like a moth with a paper penchant. I couldn't get into anything and in the end I had to accept I needed to take a bit of a break so I didn't inadvertently lose my love of reading by making it a chore.
But all that seems to have changed now and the episode has given me the impetus to work on a new mini-project.
As you know, I've been trying to read sets of books so I can reach mini-goals and feel like I'm making progress even though reading all 500ish books seems a long way away. This has been quite successful and I've now read most of Philippa Gregory's Cousins War series (although she keeps ruining it by writing more. Surely that's cheating?). I've also read all of Bernard Cornwell's Anglo Saxon books and I'm a good way through Ian Fleming's James Bond novels, which I'm enjoying very much. I would've started reading the fifth Poldark by now, but got a bit distracted by the BBC series. I kept accidentally giving away the plot, which didn't go down too well with my co-viewers, so decided to not make it any worse. I'm unlikely to hold out until the next series though!
In a pile by the bookcase is another set of books, but one with a very specific link. They're by different authors, of various genres and, on the face of it, have no particular connection. Open one at random, however, and you'll find they're being used to store bookmarks. Or, to put it another way, I started but didn't finish reading them. So I've decided the next 'set' of books I should tackle are these, the Ones that Got Put Away.
They include Alexandre Dumas' 'The Three Musketeers', a feminist book called 'Wifework', Robert Harris' 'Lustrum', 'Angels and Demons' by Dan Brown, Charles Dickens' 'Little Dorrit' and a biography of Queen Isabella by Alison Weir. Unlike the books I've given up on, I really do want to finish these and can't actually remember why I stopped reading them.
So, earlier this month I made a re-start on 'Marie Antoinette: The Journey' by Antonia Fraser. The last time I remembered reading this was seven years ago and it's bloomin' massive, so it could've been arm strain that made me stop reading it, Anyway, yesterday, I made it to the end (also known as page 548), so my next post will be all about that.
I hope that you'll be happy to join me on this new stage of my journey towards book 500. Then we can party!
Previously from the Girl Who Loves Books...
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
January
'The Empty Throne' by Bernard Cornwell
February
'So, Anyway' by John Cleese
'From Russia with Love' by Ian Fleming
'The Victorian Chaise-Longue' by Marghanita Laski
March
'Goldfinger' by Ian Fleming
'Living Dolls' by Natasha Walter
April
'When I Met You' by Jemma Forte
'So You've Been Publicly Shamed' by Jon Ronson
Birthday Blogs
2014
2013
2012
The First Post
After a really good year last year, I suddenly went through a bad patch, finding it hard to settle and flitting from book to book like a moth with a paper penchant. I couldn't get into anything and in the end I had to accept I needed to take a bit of a break so I didn't inadvertently lose my love of reading by making it a chore.
But all that seems to have changed now and the episode has given me the impetus to work on a new mini-project.
As you know, I've been trying to read sets of books so I can reach mini-goals and feel like I'm making progress even though reading all 500ish books seems a long way away. This has been quite successful and I've now read most of Philippa Gregory's Cousins War series (although she keeps ruining it by writing more. Surely that's cheating?). I've also read all of Bernard Cornwell's Anglo Saxon books and I'm a good way through Ian Fleming's James Bond novels, which I'm enjoying very much. I would've started reading the fifth Poldark by now, but got a bit distracted by the BBC series. I kept accidentally giving away the plot, which didn't go down too well with my co-viewers, so decided to not make it any worse. I'm unlikely to hold out until the next series though!
In a pile by the bookcase is another set of books, but one with a very specific link. They're by different authors, of various genres and, on the face of it, have no particular connection. Open one at random, however, and you'll find they're being used to store bookmarks. Or, to put it another way, I started but didn't finish reading them. So I've decided the next 'set' of books I should tackle are these, the Ones that Got Put Away.
They include Alexandre Dumas' 'The Three Musketeers', a feminist book called 'Wifework', Robert Harris' 'Lustrum', 'Angels and Demons' by Dan Brown, Charles Dickens' 'Little Dorrit' and a biography of Queen Isabella by Alison Weir. Unlike the books I've given up on, I really do want to finish these and can't actually remember why I stopped reading them.
So, earlier this month I made a re-start on 'Marie Antoinette: The Journey' by Antonia Fraser. The last time I remembered reading this was seven years ago and it's bloomin' massive, so it could've been arm strain that made me stop reading it, Anyway, yesterday, I made it to the end (also known as page 548), so my next post will be all about that.
I hope that you'll be happy to join me on this new stage of my journey towards book 500. Then we can party!
Previously from the Girl Who Loves Books...
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
January
'The Empty Throne' by Bernard Cornwell
February
'So, Anyway' by John Cleese
'From Russia with Love' by Ian Fleming
'The Victorian Chaise-Longue' by Marghanita Laski
March
'Goldfinger' by Ian Fleming
'Living Dolls' by Natasha Walter
April
'When I Met You' by Jemma Forte
'So You've Been Publicly Shamed' by Jon Ronson
Birthday Blogs
2014
2013
2012
The First Post
25 February 2015
The Time-Traveller's Strife
A few years ago, I read the brilliant 'Little Boy Lost' by Marghanita Laski. Ever since, I've wanted to read more by her and this month I finally got around to 'The Victorian Chaise-Longue'.
In 1950s London, new mother Melanie is recovering from TB, supported by her husband Guy, the calm, firm Dr Gregory and the efficient childminder Sister Smith. Following months confined to bed, the doctor decides Melanie can have a change of scene and rest in a room nearer her infant son. After some consideration, a suitable place is chosen for her, a Victorian chaise-longue she bought just before she was diagnosed. Thrilled by even this small freedom, Melanie is tucked up on the antique couch and soon falls asleep. But when she wakes, everything is different. Is it all just a vivid dream or has she really slipped through time to become a stranger?
It's clearly not a good month for me. I saved reading PD James' introduction to 'The Victorian Chaise-Longue' until I'd read the novella itself. If I hadn't, I wouldn't have realised it was a horror story. I suppose that I'm so used to the time-traveller narrative that I never expected anything other than a happy ending. I'm not saying that there is a happy ending, just that I always thought there would be, which affected my reading of this book.
The story plays on the themes of identity and appreciating what you have in the modern world, rather than longing for a rose-tinted view of the past. The heroine becomes increasingly frustrated at being trapped in body of someone long dead, which other readers have found frightening. I suppose it's a measure of how unimpressed I was with Melanie and how used I am to exploring lives real and imagined through books that I just didn't find this unnerving at all. Perhaps as some people can happily watch the most gory of horror films with no concerns, I can read about irritating women being taught a lesson without getting scared.
Which is probably the basic issue I had. 'The Victorian Chaise-Longue' was an interesting and well written book, but ultimately I didn't give two hoots about Melanie. She was clearly pampered and properly looked after and, though TB is a terrible disease, she was recovering from it. Even when the metaphorical rug is whipped out from under her and she gets a taste of a very different time with morals and medical care that seem almost barbaric by today's standards, I'd pegged the book as a morality tale, little more than a fairy story for grown ups.
This hasn't put me off wanting to read more by Ms Laski and I understand that Persephone Books publish more of her work, but I was a bit disappointed by 'The Victorian Chaise-Longue'. I hope that a second reading will allow me to pick up some hints that I missed the first time round, but I'm afraid that the best I can say about it is that it's alright. Still, I suppose I can't adore everything.
Fingers crossed that I'm a bit more excited by my next read! If you have any suggestions, don't forget that you can tweet them to me via @Girl_LovesBooks.
Now, what next...!
 |
| 'The Victorian Chaise-Longue' by Marghanita Laski (Persephone Books, 1999) |
It's clearly not a good month for me. I saved reading PD James' introduction to 'The Victorian Chaise-Longue' until I'd read the novella itself. If I hadn't, I wouldn't have realised it was a horror story. I suppose that I'm so used to the time-traveller narrative that I never expected anything other than a happy ending. I'm not saying that there is a happy ending, just that I always thought there would be, which affected my reading of this book.
The story plays on the themes of identity and appreciating what you have in the modern world, rather than longing for a rose-tinted view of the past. The heroine becomes increasingly frustrated at being trapped in body of someone long dead, which other readers have found frightening. I suppose it's a measure of how unimpressed I was with Melanie and how used I am to exploring lives real and imagined through books that I just didn't find this unnerving at all. Perhaps as some people can happily watch the most gory of horror films with no concerns, I can read about irritating women being taught a lesson without getting scared.
Which is probably the basic issue I had. 'The Victorian Chaise-Longue' was an interesting and well written book, but ultimately I didn't give two hoots about Melanie. She was clearly pampered and properly looked after and, though TB is a terrible disease, she was recovering from it. Even when the metaphorical rug is whipped out from under her and she gets a taste of a very different time with morals and medical care that seem almost barbaric by today's standards, I'd pegged the book as a morality tale, little more than a fairy story for grown ups.
This hasn't put me off wanting to read more by Ms Laski and I understand that Persephone Books publish more of her work, but I was a bit disappointed by 'The Victorian Chaise-Longue'. I hope that a second reading will allow me to pick up some hints that I missed the first time round, but I'm afraid that the best I can say about it is that it's alright. Still, I suppose I can't adore everything.
Fingers crossed that I'm a bit more excited by my next read! If you have any suggestions, don't forget that you can tweet them to me via @Girl_LovesBooks.
Now, what next...!
31 December 2014
Review of the Year 2014!
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
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
01 June 2014
Three is a Magic Number...
Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday The Girl Who Loves Books blog... Happy birthday to you!
So here we are, three years old, toddling about, asking annoying questions, learning how to tell the time and throwing tantrums (mainly because I can count and I'm starting to grasp the task ahead of me).
But it's not all doom and gloom! In fact, 2013/14 has actually been pretty good. Even during the lulls I've managed to read at least one book a month and, appropriately for the third year, I read three or more books in December, February and March. In total, I've hit my two a month target and read 24 books. Yippee!
I've also read two book series (the Saxon Stories by Bernard Cornwell and the Oryx and Crake trilogy by Margaret Atwood) and am two titles off finishing the Cousin's War series by Philippa Gregory. I've also made a start on the James Bond novels by Ian Fleming. I've managed to get my sticky fingers on some of the excellent 007 Reloaded audio books by AudioGo, which is getting me going on these books and really helping me make progress. I don't want to make a habit of it, but everyone likes having a story read to them from time to time and it means I can keep working on the list even when I don't have time to sit down with an actual book.
As mentioned in my 2013 review post, however, there is a slight snag. I've read a lot of books that weren't on my list and/or are new. Certainly something to work on this year. Especially as I've had a count up and realised that I've got a few more books than I thought. Ooh err.
So, in the next year I want to stay focussed on the list, keep reading at least two books a month (or ideally more) and work on series of books as this is clearly helping and I do have several sets on my shelves. I also want to get better at a) blogging more regularly and b) blogging more quickly after finishing a book as I think I've got a bit rubbish at doing this again. After all, I should've written this post on 5th May 2014...
Last but far from least, a big thank you to you for reading my blog. I hope you're still enjoying it and appreciate your support and encouragement. If you have any feedback, you can find me on Twitter as @Girl_LovesBooks.
Now, where's that birthday cake...
Previously from the Girl Who Loves Books...
So here we are, three years old, toddling about, asking annoying questions, learning how to tell the time and throwing tantrums (mainly because I can count and I'm starting to grasp the task ahead of me).
But it's not all doom and gloom! In fact, 2013/14 has actually been pretty good. Even during the lulls I've managed to read at least one book a month and, appropriately for the third year, I read three or more books in December, February and March. In total, I've hit my two a month target and read 24 books. Yippee!
I've also read two book series (the Saxon Stories by Bernard Cornwell and the Oryx and Crake trilogy by Margaret Atwood) and am two titles off finishing the Cousin's War series by Philippa Gregory. I've also made a start on the James Bond novels by Ian Fleming. I've managed to get my sticky fingers on some of the excellent 007 Reloaded audio books by AudioGo, which is getting me going on these books and really helping me make progress. I don't want to make a habit of it, but everyone likes having a story read to them from time to time and it means I can keep working on the list even when I don't have time to sit down with an actual book.
As mentioned in my 2013 review post, however, there is a slight snag. I've read a lot of books that weren't on my list and/or are new. Certainly something to work on this year. Especially as I've had a count up and realised that I've got a few more books than I thought. Ooh err.
So, in the next year I want to stay focussed on the list, keep reading at least two books a month (or ideally more) and work on series of books as this is clearly helping and I do have several sets on my shelves. I also want to get better at a) blogging more regularly and b) blogging more quickly after finishing a book as I think I've got a bit rubbish at doing this again. After all, I should've written this post on 5th May 2014...
Last but far from least, a big thank you to you for reading my blog. I hope you're still enjoying it and appreciate your support and encouragement. If you have any feedback, you can find me on Twitter as @Girl_LovesBooks.
Now, where's that birthday cake...
Previously from the Girl Who Loves Books...
June
'The Unknown Ajax' by Georgette Heyer
July
'The Lady of the Rivers' by Philippa Gregory
'The White Queen' by Philippa Gregory
August
'Will Storr vs The Supernatural' by Will Storr
'The Red Queen' by Philippa Gregory
September
'The Year of the Flood' by Margaret Atwood
'Maddaddam' by Margaret Atwood
October
'The Burning Land' by Bernard Cornwell
'Death of Kings' by Bernard Cornwell
December
'Dracula' by Bram Stoker
'You Made me Late Again!" by Pam Ayres
'The House We Grew up In' by Lisa Jewell
'Him and Me' by Michael and Jack Whitehall
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 HM The Queen of Twitter
'The Bluffer's Guide to Chocolate' by Neil Davey
April
'Casino Royale' by Ian Fleming
'Bird Box' by Josh Malerman
May
'Mr Briggs' Hat' by Kate Colquhoun
'Live and Let Die' by Ian Fleming
Birthday Blogs
2013
2012
The First Post
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 HM The Queen of Twitter
'The Bluffer's Guide to Chocolate' by Neil Davey
April
'Casino Royale' by Ian Fleming
'Bird Box' by Josh Malerman
May
'Mr Briggs' Hat' by Kate Colquhoun
'Live and Let Die' by Ian Fleming
Birthday Blogs
2013
2012
The First Post
01 January 2014
Review of the Year 2013!
An old year ends and a new one begins and it's time for another check up!
Over the past 12 months, I've read 22 books. Pretty good you might think, just two off my target for each year. Just one slight problem. Five of those books weren't actually on my list in the first place. 'MaddAddam' by Margaret Atwood and 'Consumed' by Harry Wallop, for example, were newly published in 2013, but they caught my eye and before I knew it I was several pages in. So I think I really need to stop reading book reviews if I'm ever going to read everything I already have!
On the plus side, I've read lots of different genres again this year (which I hope makes my blog varied and entertaining!). We've had horror ('Fluke' by James Herbert), history ('My Heart is My Own' by John Guy), science fiction ('The Man Who Fell to Earth' by Walter Tevis) and biographical works by Sir Roger Moore and Arabella Weir. I even read a classic in the form of 'Dracula' by Bram Stoker, although it did take six weeks and I kind of hoped I would read more than just one in 2013.
Later in the year, I decided to try out finishing some sets of books, something I considered in the 2012 review of the year. This seems to have worked - I've finished Margaret Atwood's Oryx and Crake trilogy and would've finished Bernard Cornwell's Saxon Stories if he hadn't had the cheek to publish a new one! I'm already on the case with that, though, and hope to finish it early in 2014.
I also made an attempt on Philippa Gregory's Cousins War series. Unfortunately, I didn't enjoy the second and third books as much as the first, which has put me off reading the fourth, 'The Kingmaker's Daughter'. Ms Gregory also published a new addition to this series in 2013, 'The White Princess'. I think I may give this series another go at a later date, but not just yet.
Overall, this strategy has gone well, so I think I will carry it over into 2014 as it gives me a sense of achievement without tying me down too much. I can still mix and match if the mood takes me or I think you might be getting a bit bored!
Unfortunately, I didn't read anything anniversary related in 2013. As how long it takes me to read books can be very unpredictable, however, I'd have probably disappointed myself and everyone else by failing to finish the right book at the right time anyway, so that idea's probably safer left on the back burner.
So 2013 was on the whole quite positive. I nearly made my target (even though it was in fits and starts and there was a sudden late surge) and I finished a few series and kept the variety going in my reading. But next year I must refocus and keep that list of new releases firmly out of reach! I also hope to find the time to blog more often, perhaps including more posts related to things I've read to keep you entertained. One thing I know for sure, though, is that I mustn't get carried away and forget what this is actually all about!
I hope you've enjoy hearing about the books I've read and want to say thank you for your part in this project. Don't forget that I can be found on Twitter (@Girl_LovesBooks) and love to hear what you think of the project and books I've read. Happy new year and I hope you have a healthy, successful and enjoyable 2014.
Related Posts
Review of the Year 2012
2013: The Year in Books
Over the past 12 months, I've read 22 books. Pretty good you might think, just two off my target for each year. Just one slight problem. Five of those books weren't actually on my list in the first place. 'MaddAddam' by Margaret Atwood and 'Consumed' by Harry Wallop, for example, were newly published in 2013, but they caught my eye and before I knew it I was several pages in. So I think I really need to stop reading book reviews if I'm ever going to read everything I already have!
On the plus side, I've read lots of different genres again this year (which I hope makes my blog varied and entertaining!). We've had horror ('Fluke' by James Herbert), history ('My Heart is My Own' by John Guy), science fiction ('The Man Who Fell to Earth' by Walter Tevis) and biographical works by Sir Roger Moore and Arabella Weir. I even read a classic in the form of 'Dracula' by Bram Stoker, although it did take six weeks and I kind of hoped I would read more than just one in 2013.
Later in the year, I decided to try out finishing some sets of books, something I considered in the 2012 review of the year. This seems to have worked - I've finished Margaret Atwood's Oryx and Crake trilogy and would've finished Bernard Cornwell's Saxon Stories if he hadn't had the cheek to publish a new one! I'm already on the case with that, though, and hope to finish it early in 2014.
I also made an attempt on Philippa Gregory's Cousins War series. Unfortunately, I didn't enjoy the second and third books as much as the first, which has put me off reading the fourth, 'The Kingmaker's Daughter'. Ms Gregory also published a new addition to this series in 2013, 'The White Princess'. I think I may give this series another go at a later date, but not just yet.
Overall, this strategy has gone well, so I think I will carry it over into 2014 as it gives me a sense of achievement without tying me down too much. I can still mix and match if the mood takes me or I think you might be getting a bit bored!
Unfortunately, I didn't read anything anniversary related in 2013. As how long it takes me to read books can be very unpredictable, however, I'd have probably disappointed myself and everyone else by failing to finish the right book at the right time anyway, so that idea's probably safer left on the back burner.
So 2013 was on the whole quite positive. I nearly made my target (even though it was in fits and starts and there was a sudden late surge) and I finished a few series and kept the variety going in my reading. But next year I must refocus and keep that list of new releases firmly out of reach! I also hope to find the time to blog more often, perhaps including more posts related to things I've read to keep you entertained. One thing I know for sure, though, is that I mustn't get carried away and forget what this is actually all about!
I hope you've enjoy hearing about the books I've read and want to say thank you for your part in this project. Don't forget that I can be found on Twitter (@Girl_LovesBooks) and love to hear what you think of the project and books I've read. Happy new year and I hope you have a healthy, successful and enjoyable 2014.
Related Posts
Review of the Year 2012
2013: The Year in Books
February 2013
'My Heart is My Own' by John Guy
'Fluke' by James Herbert
March
'My Word is My Bond' by Roger Moore
'The Man Who Fell to Earth' by Walter Tevis
'The Real Me is Thin' by Arabella Weir
April
'The Other Queen' by Philippa Gregory
'Remember Me?' by Sophie Kinsella
May
'Never Let Me Go' by Kazuo Ishiguro
'Consumed' by Harry Wallop
June
'The Unknown Ajax' by Georgette Heyer
July
'The Lady of the Rivers' by Philippa Gregory
'The White Queen' by Philippa Gregory
August
'Will Storr vs The Supernatural' by Will Storr
'The Red Queen' by Philippa Gregory
September
'The Year of the Flood' by Margaret Atwood
'Maddaddam' by Margaret Atwood
October
'The Burning Land' by Bernard Cornwell
'Death of Kings' by Bernard Cornwell
December
'Dracula' by Bram Stoker
'You Made me Late Again!" by Pam Ayres
'The House We Grew up In' by Lisa Jewell
'Him and Me' by Michael and Jack Whitehall
08 December 2013
Who's Confused, Clarice Bean?
In the words of Noddy Holder, it's Chriiiiiiiistmaaaaaaas! Well, nearly. It's definitely prezzie buying season and for me that means some guilt-free trips to the local book shops!
I'm very fortunate in that I've got to an age where I have lots of children to buy for. It gives me a chance to catch up on what's happening in that brightly coloured section which I never used to go in to. An awful lot seems to have changed since I was a kid. I'm pretty sure there are a lot more books now and a lot more authors too. Enid Blyton, Roald Dahl and the Ahlbergs are still there, often with whole shelves to themselves, but even these big names are sometimes quite hard to spot among the spines embossed with those I've never heard of. Equally, I've been surprised to see some familiar names from other spheres in the children's section - David Walliams always seems to busy, so I was amazed to find he'd published four children's books!
All this change leads to a weird sense of wonder and disorientation when I'm in a children's section. Sometimes this actually begins way before I even get to the shop. For example, one conversation I had with a mum in the run up to last Christmas went something like:
"What would your daughter like for Christmas? What's she reading?"
"She likes Clarice Bean books."
"Pardon?"
"Clarice Bean."
"What on Earth is a 'Clarice Bean'?"
All I can say is I'm grateful for Google. As it happens, I had a brilliant time researching Clarice Bean books. 'My Uncle is a Hunkle' is probably one of my favourite book titles of all time.
Although it's great that this area is churning with new authors, for an oldie like me it's reassuring to see that the books I loved as a child are still available. I've mentioned Dahl and Blyton already, but it's great to see Mr Majeika, Flat Stanley and Mrs Pepperpot are all still around. It's easy to look back on the things we loved as children with rose-tinted spectacles, so it's good to know that these books have stood the test of time and are still enjoyed by new generations.
And that, I think, is an important point. Parents share the stories they loved with their children, perhaps even the actual books they read themselves when small. Some of my fondest memories are of my father reading to me and I've enjoyed reading to other people's children - hopefully they liked it too! Sharing stories is something that human beings have done since the dawn of time, an act which helps groups and families bond and allows important lessons to be passed on.
So, perhaps while I enjoy buying books for children because I just love books, maybe its actually part of something a bit bigger and more important. Or maybe I'm just looking for a really, really good excuse to go book shopping!
Now, enough of the nostalgia, back to the reading!
I'm very fortunate in that I've got to an age where I have lots of children to buy for. It gives me a chance to catch up on what's happening in that brightly coloured section which I never used to go in to. An awful lot seems to have changed since I was a kid. I'm pretty sure there are a lot more books now and a lot more authors too. Enid Blyton, Roald Dahl and the Ahlbergs are still there, often with whole shelves to themselves, but even these big names are sometimes quite hard to spot among the spines embossed with those I've never heard of. Equally, I've been surprised to see some familiar names from other spheres in the children's section - David Walliams always seems to busy, so I was amazed to find he'd published four children's books!
All this change leads to a weird sense of wonder and disorientation when I'm in a children's section. Sometimes this actually begins way before I even get to the shop. For example, one conversation I had with a mum in the run up to last Christmas went something like:
"What would your daughter like for Christmas? What's she reading?"
"She likes Clarice Bean books."
"Pardon?"
"Clarice Bean."
"What on Earth is a 'Clarice Bean'?"
All I can say is I'm grateful for Google. As it happens, I had a brilliant time researching Clarice Bean books. 'My Uncle is a Hunkle' is probably one of my favourite book titles of all time.
Although it's great that this area is churning with new authors, for an oldie like me it's reassuring to see that the books I loved as a child are still available. I've mentioned Dahl and Blyton already, but it's great to see Mr Majeika, Flat Stanley and Mrs Pepperpot are all still around. It's easy to look back on the things we loved as children with rose-tinted spectacles, so it's good to know that these books have stood the test of time and are still enjoyed by new generations.
And that, I think, is an important point. Parents share the stories they loved with their children, perhaps even the actual books they read themselves when small. Some of my fondest memories are of my father reading to me and I've enjoyed reading to other people's children - hopefully they liked it too! Sharing stories is something that human beings have done since the dawn of time, an act which helps groups and families bond and allows important lessons to be passed on.
So, perhaps while I enjoy buying books for children because I just love books, maybe its actually part of something a bit bigger and more important. Or maybe I'm just looking for a really, really good excuse to go book shopping!
Now, enough of the nostalgia, back to the reading!
30 November 2013
Previously from the Girl Who Loves Books III
Oh dear. It's all gone a bit wrong this month. No idea why, although it's probably something to do with it being too cold to sit outside and read now winter has finally arrived in the UK. Turning pages is just too tricky with freezing fingers!
So, by way of an apology and to say I've not forgotten you, here are some reviews I wrote before starting this blog. Hope you enjoy them!
So, by way of an apology and to say I've not forgotten you, here are some reviews I wrote before starting this blog. Hope you enjoy them!
'Cautionary Tales for Grown-Ups' by Chris Addison
`Cautionary Tales...' is a collection of humorous rhymes, each of which deals with a different 21st century `sin' and wreaks terrible (and often grotesque) vengeance on the perpetrator. The crimes against society include browsing in bookshops rather than buying, NIMBY-ism, reality TV shows, littering, driving 4x4s in town, excessive Christmas lights and nude charity calendars among many others.
After reading this book, I have very mixed feelings. I liked the idea of it very much, but was disappointed that the stories were in rhyme rather than prose. It has the unfortunate effect of making the tales seem insubstantial, as if the author had been knocking up a poem or two every time he got bored and had a spare five minutes. I found them amusing rather than funny and it did make me wonder whether they would have been funnier if developed into full short stories. Also, this is a very middle class book and some of the morals did come across as a bit patronising. On the plus side, there were some poems which did make me laugh out loud, although there were also some punishments which made me wince!
Overall, this book feels like it may be the start of something interesting which could be developed, but it also feels like a throw away doodle and isn't really worth the £7.99 price tag. It could, however, be just the right gift to bring a smile to the wound-up whinger in your life.
'The Vampire Lestat' by Anne Rice
When I wrote my review of `Interview with the Vampire', the first of Anne Rice's Vampire Chronicles, earlier this year, I ended hoping that its sequel would be less ambiguous. I am delighted to say it is, although it almost goes to the other, indepth extreme!
`The Vampire Lestat' is a hefty tome which principally follows the life, creation and afterlife of the enigmatic Lestat de Lioncourt, a minor French nobleman who dreams of more than the futile existence dictated by his position as the younger son in a poor but arrogant family. But this book is also about so much more. This second Chronicle is a lot thicker than the first for the simple reason that it not only contains the `life' story and personal development of Lestat himself, but also the histories of two older vampires, the elegant Marius and the lost Armand, as well as legends of the race's origins and the first vampires, Enkil and Akasha. Like the first book, `The Vampire Lestat' continues to ponder life and death, good and evil and where vampires fall in the grand scheme of things, but there is also a lot of action and adventure which give the overall tale much more bite than the first and greatly improve its pace.
Although I enjoyed this much more than `Interview...', I believe that both books should be read rather than one or the other. `The Vampire Lestat' casts a great deal of light on the events of `Interview...', placing it in the context of Lestat's existence and explaining much of the what happened between Lestat, Louis, Claudia and Armand. It's almost as if `Interview...' is a taster for `The Vampire Lestat' rather than a novel in its own right.
In short, although its length made it hard to keep momentum towards the end and I feel a bit cheated because it's now clear that the second and third Vampire Chronicles are really one book/story rather than two, I feel that my perseverance has been rewarded and I am keen to continue reading. `The Vampire Lestat' is exciting and interesting, just as its predecessor verged on the depressing and perverse, and it really is a great read. Just try not to be put off by the size of it!
'Demelza' by Winston Graham
This is the second of the twelve Poldark novels. As such, I began it a little worried that, like far too many sequels, it wouldn't live up to expectations.
`Demelza' begins a few months after `Ross Poldark' and with the birth of Ross and Demelza's first child, Julia. It covers a turbulent time for the couple, as poverty and illness ravage Cornwall and relations with cousin Francis are once again become strained. As Demelza spreads her wings and begins to find a place in society, Ross becomes involved in a venture that threatens the Warleggan's financial stranglehold on the county, putting the young family in danger from their shadowy influences. Meanwhile, there are developments between cousin Verity and the disgraced Captain Blamey and a love triangle develops between the new doctor Dwight Enys, miner Daniel Martin and his new wife Keren.
I'm delighted to say that this book was as far from a disappointment as you can get. Once again, Mr Graham evoked a powerful sense of time and place which was completely absorbing. The plot is a rollercoaster of joys and misfortunes which culminates with a dramatic description of two ships being storm-wrecked and looted, a pivotal event which is intrinsic to the next book.
I would thoroughly recommend this book to any fan of Cornwall-set or historical fiction. Unlike much historical fiction, the world that this author creates feels all the more realistic because it doesn't shy away from tragedy nor exclude the humour of everyday life. As such, both `Ross Poldark' and `Demelza' stand out for me and, once again, I hope that the remaining ten books in the series do not disappoint!
'Angels: A History' by David Albert Jones
`Angels: A History' is an excellent, if rather brief, introduction to the subject of these celestial beings and their origins in Jewish, Christian and Islamic scripture. Although the text is quite dry at times and can read like an edited essay, it manages to cover a lot of ground in a very simple, factual way which meant that I learned quite a lot from a relatively short book. This book would not be out of place in the excellent Oxford `Short Introductions to...' range, which, if you are familiar with this series, gives an indication of its style.
My only criticism of this book is that its title is a bit of a misnomer. It is not really a history of the angels, more a summary of the original sources on the subject and what they tell us about these beings. In a way, it feels like the first few chapters of a longer book. Although more modern representations of angels, including on film and in art, are mentioned, it is always to support a point made rather than as part of a linear, chronological narrative.
Even so, this is still a fascinating insight into where our modern idea of angels came from and gives some indication as to why they have remained such an emotive concept within modern cultures. Recommended for those curious about the subject but who do not know where to start.
Related Posts
Previously from the Girl Who Loves Books I
Previously from the Girl Who Loves Books II
Related Posts
Previously from the Girl Who Loves Books I
Previously from the Girl Who Loves Books II
02 July 2013
Getting the Sums Wrong
I've just realised I've been lying to you all this time! Although my profile says I've been trying to read all the books I own since August 2010, my running totals only started with the blog, in May 2011!
I have now added everything I read between those dates, bringing me up to a more impressive 66 books over the past 34 months instead of 49. That's a monthly average of just just under two, not quite what I'm aiming for, but far off at all.
Now that's cleared up, had better get back to the Lady of the Rivers. I've got a target you know!
I have now added everything I read between those dates, bringing me up to a more impressive 66 books over the past 34 months instead of 49. That's a monthly average of just just under two, not quite what I'm aiming for, but far off at all.
Now that's cleared up, had better get back to the Lady of the Rivers. I've got a target you know!
13 June 2013
Previously from The Girl Who Loves Books II
Hello everybody! You may have noticed that I'm letting the side down again and am taking a while finishing 'The Unknown Ajax' by Georgette Heyer. By way of an apology. here are a few notes on some books I read before starting this blog. I hope you enjoy them and perhaps find something you'd like to read while you wait for a new post!
'Ross Poldark' by Winston Graham
This is the first novel in the famous `Poldark' series by Winston Graham. The books are probably better know via the popular seventies television series starring Robin Ellis, but don't let that make you think that they have nothing left to offer.
Ross Poldark, the son of a minor branch of the gentrified Poldark family, returns to his Cornish home after two years serving in the army in America wars. He left a headstrong and restless teenager, but returns older, wiser and ready to settle down. Unfortunately, the world has irrevocably changed in his absence. Ross' father has died and his drunkard servants have allowed his smallholding, Nampara, to fall into disrepair. Meanwhile, believing him dead, his sweetheart, Elizabeth, has become engaged to his cousin, Francis. The book follows Ross has he endures the despair of hopes dashed, begins to rebuilds his fortune and finds something to live for.
I had quite a job getting hold of this book, but it was worth the effort. I absolutely, completely and utterly fell in love with it. The story is dramatic, romantic, funny, tense, illuminating, atmospheric and engrossing - in short a must read for any lover of historical fiction. The characters are complex, realistic and rounded and the skilful use of humour adds colour to a story which could otherwise have slipped into doom and gloom. I just hope that the other eleven books in the series are as good!
'The Poison Tree' by Erin Kelly
I must admit that I am a bit of a coward when it comes to trying new authors. Unless a writer or book is recommended to me, I tend to stick to the same, small pool of big names who consistently tell interesting stories in the same sort of way. Having dipped my toe in the wider sea with Erin Kelly, however, may have changed my ways forever.
‘The Poison Tree’ tells the story of Karen, Biba and Rex and the summer that will change their lives forever. Although Karen is a straight A language student in her final year at a good university, everything has come easy to her and her life is cold and passionless. As the sweltering summer of 1997 begins, she meets the tempestuous and exciting Biba and gets drawn into the exotic life that she leads in tumbledown Highgate mansion with her brother, Rex, and an every-changing collection of wondering friends and lovers. As the summer wears on and uncomfortable truths emerge, the three twenty-somethings find themselves caught up in a sequence of events which will change their lives drastically forever.
I was very pleasantly surprised by this book. It was suspenseful and intriguing and I found it very hard to put down. Ms Kelly successfully managed to challenge the reader to work out the truth while drip-feeding information at just the right pace so the final chapters remained a surprise. This is a very difficult thing to do and I’ve become frustrated with other books which don’t get this balance right. ‘The Poison Tree’ may not be high literature, but it’s a cleverly crafted, entertaining novel and an excellent summer read. I can’t wait to recommend it to friends and family.
'Hey Yeah Right Get a Life' by Helen Simpson
This is Helen Simpson's fourth collection of short stories. This book contains nine interlinking stories which examine the role of the modern wife/mother from different perspectives. We meet tough go-getters, feckless teenagers, alienated stay-at-home mums and men who just don't get it. Over the course of the stories we see how different women deal with being a wife and mother and see the extremes of experience they find.
In the beginning, I didn't enjoy this book. I found it difficult to sympathise with the characters and reading about women who sacrificed their autonomy and ambitions to look after ostensibly mollycoddled children grated on my sense of justice. However, I persevered and by the end I felt I had a much better grasp of the choices these women faced and the inner conflicts which plagued them. It was far from a comfortable read but felt like a very real reflection of how some women feel every day of their lives and made me a far less judgmental.
Although this is definitely not holiday reading, I would recommend this book to anyone with an interest in women's issues and, specifically, the changing role of wives and mothers. You might surprise yourself and learn something new. I certainly did.
'The Number 1 Ladies' Detective Agency' by Alexander McCall Smith
Weirdly, I was quite nervous about reading this book. The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency' series has been phenomenally successful and there's nothing worse than feeling like you might be the one who throws a spanner in the works of the popularity juggernaut.
`The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency' is the tale of Precious Ramotswe who, upon the death of her father Obed, uses her inheritance to set up the first female-run detective agency in Botswana. Although business is slow to start, the determined Mma Ramotswe's reputation for logical thought, common sense and discretion steadily grow. The people of Botswana quickly learn that whether it's alleged fraud, missing persons or suspected infidelity, Mma Romotswe's there to help.
Considering this is supposed to be detective fiction, I was very surprised how easy a read it was. The style used keeps things plain and simplistic and in the hands of another author, this may have made the book seem stereotypical and patronising to the people of Botswana and Africa generally. However, its simplicity and matter-of-factness seem right for some of the more harrowing aspects of the book, such as the story of Mma Ramotswe's unsuccessful marriage. Throughout, I could clearly hear Mma Ramotswe's voice and was moved at times by the things she and other characters had experienced.
The book also has a very episodic pattern to it. This is really useful if you read during your commute or can only dip into a book for a few pages at a time.
Unfortunately, this bitesize simplicity also made it almost instantly forgettable, which is a shame for an interesting and original book.
Although this book has more in common with a holiday read than a gritty crime novel, overall, I did enjoy it and may read some of the others in the series. Afterall, it's hard work reading complex books all the time!
'Ross Poldark' by Winston Graham
This is the first novel in the famous `Poldark' series by Winston Graham. The books are probably better know via the popular seventies television series starring Robin Ellis, but don't let that make you think that they have nothing left to offer.
Ross Poldark, the son of a minor branch of the gentrified Poldark family, returns to his Cornish home after two years serving in the army in America wars. He left a headstrong and restless teenager, but returns older, wiser and ready to settle down. Unfortunately, the world has irrevocably changed in his absence. Ross' father has died and his drunkard servants have allowed his smallholding, Nampara, to fall into disrepair. Meanwhile, believing him dead, his sweetheart, Elizabeth, has become engaged to his cousin, Francis. The book follows Ross has he endures the despair of hopes dashed, begins to rebuilds his fortune and finds something to live for.
I had quite a job getting hold of this book, but it was worth the effort. I absolutely, completely and utterly fell in love with it. The story is dramatic, romantic, funny, tense, illuminating, atmospheric and engrossing - in short a must read for any lover of historical fiction. The characters are complex, realistic and rounded and the skilful use of humour adds colour to a story which could otherwise have slipped into doom and gloom. I just hope that the other eleven books in the series are as good!
'The Poison Tree' by Erin Kelly
I must admit that I am a bit of a coward when it comes to trying new authors. Unless a writer or book is recommended to me, I tend to stick to the same, small pool of big names who consistently tell interesting stories in the same sort of way. Having dipped my toe in the wider sea with Erin Kelly, however, may have changed my ways forever.
‘The Poison Tree’ tells the story of Karen, Biba and Rex and the summer that will change their lives forever. Although Karen is a straight A language student in her final year at a good university, everything has come easy to her and her life is cold and passionless. As the sweltering summer of 1997 begins, she meets the tempestuous and exciting Biba and gets drawn into the exotic life that she leads in tumbledown Highgate mansion with her brother, Rex, and an every-changing collection of wondering friends and lovers. As the summer wears on and uncomfortable truths emerge, the three twenty-somethings find themselves caught up in a sequence of events which will change their lives drastically forever.
I was very pleasantly surprised by this book. It was suspenseful and intriguing and I found it very hard to put down. Ms Kelly successfully managed to challenge the reader to work out the truth while drip-feeding information at just the right pace so the final chapters remained a surprise. This is a very difficult thing to do and I’ve become frustrated with other books which don’t get this balance right. ‘The Poison Tree’ may not be high literature, but it’s a cleverly crafted, entertaining novel and an excellent summer read. I can’t wait to recommend it to friends and family.
'Hey Yeah Right Get a Life' by Helen Simpson
This is Helen Simpson's fourth collection of short stories. This book contains nine interlinking stories which examine the role of the modern wife/mother from different perspectives. We meet tough go-getters, feckless teenagers, alienated stay-at-home mums and men who just don't get it. Over the course of the stories we see how different women deal with being a wife and mother and see the extremes of experience they find.
In the beginning, I didn't enjoy this book. I found it difficult to sympathise with the characters and reading about women who sacrificed their autonomy and ambitions to look after ostensibly mollycoddled children grated on my sense of justice. However, I persevered and by the end I felt I had a much better grasp of the choices these women faced and the inner conflicts which plagued them. It was far from a comfortable read but felt like a very real reflection of how some women feel every day of their lives and made me a far less judgmental.
Although this is definitely not holiday reading, I would recommend this book to anyone with an interest in women's issues and, specifically, the changing role of wives and mothers. You might surprise yourself and learn something new. I certainly did.
'The Number 1 Ladies' Detective Agency' by Alexander McCall Smith
Weirdly, I was quite nervous about reading this book. The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency' series has been phenomenally successful and there's nothing worse than feeling like you might be the one who throws a spanner in the works of the popularity juggernaut.
`The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency' is the tale of Precious Ramotswe who, upon the death of her father Obed, uses her inheritance to set up the first female-run detective agency in Botswana. Although business is slow to start, the determined Mma Ramotswe's reputation for logical thought, common sense and discretion steadily grow. The people of Botswana quickly learn that whether it's alleged fraud, missing persons or suspected infidelity, Mma Romotswe's there to help.
Considering this is supposed to be detective fiction, I was very surprised how easy a read it was. The style used keeps things plain and simplistic and in the hands of another author, this may have made the book seem stereotypical and patronising to the people of Botswana and Africa generally. However, its simplicity and matter-of-factness seem right for some of the more harrowing aspects of the book, such as the story of Mma Ramotswe's unsuccessful marriage. Throughout, I could clearly hear Mma Ramotswe's voice and was moved at times by the things she and other characters had experienced.
The book also has a very episodic pattern to it. This is really useful if you read during your commute or can only dip into a book for a few pages at a time.
Unfortunately, this bitesize simplicity also made it almost instantly forgettable, which is a shame for an interesting and original book.
Although this book has more in common with a holiday read than a gritty crime novel, overall, I did enjoy it and may read some of the others in the series. Afterall, it's hard work reading complex books all the time!
02 May 2013
The Difficult Second Year Post
I can't believe I've been writing this blog for two years already! And I definitely can't believe it's a whole five months since I last reviewed my progress. Blimey!
I have to be honest, though, and say that not much has really changed since my review of the year in December. Despite not finishing anything in January, I'm still averaging two books a month (yay!), but I've still not really latched onto any themes or events or read any classics (boo!). I've picked up 'Jane Eyre', 'Tess of the D'Urbervilles' and 'To Kill a Mocking Bird' at various times, but somehow always managed to get distracted by something else. Clearly I'm shallower than I thought and these books need shinier covers!
On the plus side, and I hope you agree with me on this, what I'm reading is still quite varied. As someone who loves Historical Fiction and Science Fiction, I often worry that I'll get carried away and read too much of one or other of these genres. I really don't want to bore anyone and think my 'library' is broad enough to cater for most people, so hopefully this won't become a problem. Having said that, I do want to read a few series of books, although this category ranges from the Poldark novels to Ian Fleming's James Bond books, so perhaps I don't need to worry!
So, between May 2012 and April 2013, I read 23 books. Not bad considering I had a couple of quite major lulls due to the length (and sometimes weight!) of what I was reading. Sadly, I've not been able to help myself when unleashed in the local bookshop, so this hasn't really made much difference to the overall total.
I am reading more due to the lovely weather we've been having lately though. It makes such a change to be sat in the warm sunshine, lulled by the sound of insects buzzing about, rather than inside, under a blanket, listening to constant rain thrashing against the windows. So, as long as the weather holds, I'm quite hopeful for the next few months. Just so long as I don't get too relaxed!
As always, thank you very much for reading this blog and sticking with me despite the lack of progress! I'm glad that you're interested in what I've read and what I've thought about it and hope that you're enjoying at least a few of the posts. At least not all of them are as dull as this one!
May 2012
'Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day' by Winifred Watson
'Weird Things Customers Say in Bookshops' by Jen Campbell
'Notes on a Scandal' by Zoe Heller
July
'Fragile Things' by Neil Gaiman
'The Great Gatsby' by F. Scott Fitzgerald
August
'The Somnambulist' by Essie Fox
'The Day of the Triffids' by John Wyndham
September
'The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry' by Rachel Joyce
'In-Flight Entertainment' by Helen Simpson
October
'Laura Lamont's Life in Pictures' by Emma Straub
'Bob Servant: Hero of Dundee' by Neil Forsythe
'Sword Song' by Bernard Cornwell
November
'How to be a Woman' by Caitlin Moran
'Legend of Sleepy Hollow' by Washington Irving
December
'Little Boy Lost' by Marghanita Laski
'The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ' by Philip Pullman
I have to be honest, though, and say that not much has really changed since my review of the year in December. Despite not finishing anything in January, I'm still averaging two books a month (yay!), but I've still not really latched onto any themes or events or read any classics (boo!). I've picked up 'Jane Eyre', 'Tess of the D'Urbervilles' and 'To Kill a Mocking Bird' at various times, but somehow always managed to get distracted by something else. Clearly I'm shallower than I thought and these books need shinier covers!
On the plus side, and I hope you agree with me on this, what I'm reading is still quite varied. As someone who loves Historical Fiction and Science Fiction, I often worry that I'll get carried away and read too much of one or other of these genres. I really don't want to bore anyone and think my 'library' is broad enough to cater for most people, so hopefully this won't become a problem. Having said that, I do want to read a few series of books, although this category ranges from the Poldark novels to Ian Fleming's James Bond books, so perhaps I don't need to worry!
So, between May 2012 and April 2013, I read 23 books. Not bad considering I had a couple of quite major lulls due to the length (and sometimes weight!) of what I was reading. Sadly, I've not been able to help myself when unleashed in the local bookshop, so this hasn't really made much difference to the overall total.
I am reading more due to the lovely weather we've been having lately though. It makes such a change to be sat in the warm sunshine, lulled by the sound of insects buzzing about, rather than inside, under a blanket, listening to constant rain thrashing against the windows. So, as long as the weather holds, I'm quite hopeful for the next few months. Just so long as I don't get too relaxed!
As always, thank you very much for reading this blog and sticking with me despite the lack of progress! I'm glad that you're interested in what I've read and what I've thought about it and hope that you're enjoying at least a few of the posts. At least not all of them are as dull as this one!
May 2012
'Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day' by Winifred Watson
'Weird Things Customers Say in Bookshops' by Jen Campbell
'Notes on a Scandal' by Zoe Heller
July
'Fragile Things' by Neil Gaiman
'The Great Gatsby' by F. Scott Fitzgerald
August
'The Somnambulist' by Essie Fox
'The Day of the Triffids' by John Wyndham
September
'The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry' by Rachel Joyce
'In-Flight Entertainment' by Helen Simpson
October
'Laura Lamont's Life in Pictures' by Emma Straub
'Bob Servant: Hero of Dundee' by Neil Forsythe
'Sword Song' by Bernard Cornwell
November
'How to be a Woman' by Caitlin Moran
'Legend of Sleepy Hollow' by Washington Irving
December
'Little Boy Lost' by Marghanita Laski
'The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ' by Philip Pullman
February 2013
'My Heart is My Own' by John Guy
'Fluke' by James Herbert
March
'My Word is My Bond' by Roger Moore
'The Man Who Fell to Earth' by Walter Tevis
'The Real Me is Thin' by Arabella Weir
April
'The Other Queen' by Philippa Gregory
'Remember Me?' by Sophie Kinsella
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