October
The Night Eternal - Guillermo del Toro & Chuck Hogan
The final book in a vampire trilogy which started off strong, but by the third book wasn't quite as good. Interesting idea of where the vamps had come from, and they certainly weren't your usual run of the mill 'bite the necks' demons, but I didn't love the series overall.
Can We Still Be Friends? - Alexandra Shulman
Another book club book - not the sort we would normally read to be fair. It is pretty much chick lit - the author is/was the editor of UK Vogue. This book was pretty rubbish, and I didn't particularly enjoy it. Didn't like the characters, they were pretty under-developed and I could see every plot line coming like a train. Not a recommended book at all!
September
A Discovery of Witches - Deborah Harkness
This book came to me twice, so I figured I must be meant to read it. First of all my friend Sue was reading it a few months ago when I met up with her, then Julia lent it to me out of the blue. Its a big fat vampire/witch/demon story - and is described as being Twilight for adults. Which is fairly accurate as the key character is pretty spineless. I spent a lot of the book being annoyed at her, but liked the supporting characters, and did want to find out what happened. Certainly won't be buying the sequels, but will look them out in the library to read!
August
The Tiger's Wife - Tea Obreht
The latest book club book - we seem to be on a bit of a tiger theme at the moment! I didn't actually go to this discussion which was a shame as I was curious to see what the others thought of it. It felt like a book I should have loved, but didn't. Just didn't quite work for me - even though it won the Orange Prize for Fiction last year. It tells the story of a woman's relationship with her grandfather, and his relationship with 'the deathless man', and is set in what is probably the former Yugoslavia. Think this one might be going to the charity shop...
Island Beneath the Sea - Isabel Allende
I used to be a big fan of Isabel Allende, but the last few of hers I've read I haven't loved as much as her earlier work. This one tells the story of Tete, born into slavery in the 1700s and her story. Historically quite fascinating - and disturbing as well, but I felt a bit underwhelmed by it. There is a relationship between her daughter and another character that I really didn't like, and didn't seem real - maybe it would have happened that way, but just seemed a bit odd to me, and I think contributed to me not really loving this...
July
Alicia's Gift - Jessica Duchen
This was the latest book club book - tells the story of a child pianist who is a prodigy - or a possible prodigy and how that impacts on the everyone around her - and including her. My book club organiser arranged for the author to come and speak to us as she lives in London which was fascinating. I enjoyed the book - I think she has written more since this one as it came out a few years ago. I was irritated by some of the characters (particularly the father), which made me not enjoy it as much as I might have done, but it was still very readable. And now I've got a signed copy, definitely a keeper!
The King of the Castle - Susan Hill
This book was a gift from my friend James (who also gave me 'The Great Gatsby'). We have a shared interest in sci-fi and horror-ish tv, and I think because of that he thought I would enjoy this book. Its an old book - would have been around when I was growing up, but I really didn't enjoy it. Essentially the story of a nasty boy, who doesn't take kindly to the arrival of the son of his father's new housekeeper. It was horrible. Just a black black story - un-relenting and awful. Didn't like any of the characters, and just hated reading it. Finished it, but knew I wouldn't like it, and I didn't. ICK.
June
The Hunger Games Trilogy - Suzanne Collins (part 2)
Well this may be a bit controversial as I know there are a few fans out there, but I was distinctly unimpressed with this trilogy. As I said below, I loved the first book, second one I was a bit 'meh' and by the end of the third one I was over them. It is hard to say why without giving away plot spoilers, but if I was to compare the Harry Potter books - at least Harry and his friends develop as characters, and when some of the lesser characters die throughout the series you actually feel something for them. There is a death in the final book which I think is meant to move you - it certainly is a key bit of the plot, and I just wasn't involved at all. I think they'll make great films but give me the HP books anyday.
The Hunger Games Trilogy - Suzanne Collins
OK - this is a bit of a cheat as I'm still on the final book. However while I'm updating I thought I'd start... Loved the first book - as I thought when I saw the film, the book did give more backstory than the film could, and on the whole I thought the film was an excellent adaptation of it. The second book (Catching Fire) I wasn't quite as sure about. Still really enjoyed it, but there was a twist in it (the Quarter Quell) that I thought 'Really?'. Was wondering at that point if the author was a bit of a one trick pony, but it did come good. And now I've started the third one... I am devouring them - they are very hard to put down. Have to say I've spent the first 100 pages or so being really annoyed at Katniss Evergreen thought so I hope she improves!
The Life of Pi - Yann Martel
This was a bookclub read. Not one that I would ever have read myself I don't think. I don't know why - possibly because the synopsis didn't appeal to me. And its a Booker winner, and often I don't like them - too worthy for me. This one however I did like! Its up there with Wolf Hall and A Fine Balance in terms of Booker winners that I've liked. I just really enjoyed the storytelling of it - definitely one I will re-read, and I think that it is a book that you would read more into everytime you read it. Interesting discussion at the Book Club about it - all of us enjoyed it, which I think is possibly the first time that there has been such universal agreement about a book. For such a surreal story I spent a lot of the time absolutely believing that you could keep a Bengal tiger alive on a liferaft...
Dreamquake - Elizabeth Knox
A meetup with my friend David for his birthday at the end of May meant that I could ask him to bring along the sequel to Dreamhunter :-). I liked this, but didn't love it. I think I just didn't warm to the character Laura, and as I may have mentioned I'm not great with books when I don't like the main protagonist! So I'm pleased I've read them, but they wouldn't be keepers for me I don't think if I actually owned them...
May
The Great Gatsby - F. Scott Fitzgerald
A gift from a friend of mine as we'd been talking about it, I re-read this. I read it years ago, but couldn't really remember much about it. It has made me want to see the Robert Redford film version again. I have no interest in the new upcoming adaptation, but the original definitely! Did enjoy it - despite it being a short book, it was one of those that did take a lot of reading, because of the way it was written - beautiful prose.
Dreamhunter - Elizabeth Knox
A NZ book I'd wanted to read for absolutely ages, and the last time I was around at my friend David's I borrowed it from him. I liked it - not as much as I thought I would, but I'm looking forward to reading the second one. I think I wanted them both to be Dreamhunters, so it will be interesting to see the role that Rose plays in the second book. I liked how I could recognise bits of NZ in the book - the same but different!
A Visit from the Goon Squad - Jennifer Egan
This one was a recommendation from my friend Jackie (and is now the next book for Book Club as well as no one else suggested anything!). I really enjoyed it - right up until the end, when it seemed to all of a sudden be delivering a message which hadn't been there throughout the book. However I think it would be interesting to re-read it again, as it is quite possible I missed it! But a great tale of interlocking characters and how they come in and out of each other's lives, make connections and go through experiences. Very good (despite my slight unhappiness at the ending) - a Pulitzer winner and I can see why. Definitely recommend it!
April
Every Dead Thing - John Connelly
I had wanted to read some more by John Connelly for ages - I loved 'The Book of Lost Things' and knew that he was better known for the more grown up 'Charlie Parker' books. It was a tough read at times - I was expecting more of a supernatural bent to it, but it was pretty much a straightforward detective novel with a pretty grim storyline. I did enjoy it though - will probably try a couple more - see if they improve. Might be library books though rather than buyers.
The 19th Wife - David Ebershoff
This is/was one of Maya's books which I inherited after she left the UK. I'd been meaning to read it for ages (I'd bought it for her for her birthday) so finally got stuck in. I really enjoyed it - fascinating story. Dual time story about plural wives - real life characters in the historical piece, but fictional modern time. So interesting to get an insight into that life - really quite interesting. Enjoyed this one! If it was mine it would definitely be a keeper :-). Of course I'm keeping it anyhow as its not mine!
March
The Sisters Brothers - Patrick DeWitt
I really enjoyed this book. I picked it up initially because of the title - I thought it might have been something about sisters and brothers (also a topic I'm interested in!) but it definitely wasn't. The story of two brothers who are assassins in the 'Wild West' and the journey they go on to complete their next assignment. The Guardian reviewer didn't enjoy it - the comments are funny in this as someone takes her to task over it. I didn't agree with her comments either - I didn't find Eli flat, but I would agree that it isn't 'hilarious' either. My only criticism would be some of the language and phrases used are a bit modern - and I'm not sure back then a gunslinger would have known to stop eating stodgy food to lose weight! A good read tho.
February
The Robber Bride - Margaret Atwood
This was February's book for the book club. I had read it years ago, but bought a second-hand copy to read again as I couldn't really remember it. I'm a big fan of Margaret Atwood, but really don't like this book. Didn't like it the first time and didn't like it the second time. Passing straight on to the charity shops... I just didn't like or relate to any of the women characters in it, and didn't understand their motivations about their men either. Well I did, but I just felt angry with them about them, rather than anything else. Loss of good reading time re-reading this if you ask me!
How to be a woman - Caitlin Moran
I started this after finishing Precious Bane and then put it down halfway through to read my next book for the book club, but have now finished it. At times I loved it - thought she was spot on with her observations, while at other times I was a bit 'Hmm not so sure about this'. But it was an interesting read, and I did enjoy it. It is a keeper anyhow - not going to the charity shops, so that says something as I'm pretty ruthless now. I'm pretty sure I'll re-read it. And now the book club has decided to do it for the book after next so it will be interesting to hear what they think. The only other person I know who has read it stopped half way through...
January
The Night Eternal - Guillermo del Toro & Chuck Hogan
The final book in a vampire trilogy which started off strong, but by the third book wasn't quite as good. Interesting idea of where the vamps had come from, and they certainly weren't your usual run of the mill 'bite the necks' demons, but I didn't love the series overall.
Can We Still Be Friends? - Alexandra Shulman
Another book club book - not the sort we would normally read to be fair. It is pretty much chick lit - the author is/was the editor of UK Vogue. This book was pretty rubbish, and I didn't particularly enjoy it. Didn't like the characters, they were pretty under-developed and I could see every plot line coming like a train. Not a recommended book at all!
September
A Discovery of Witches - Deborah Harkness
This book came to me twice, so I figured I must be meant to read it. First of all my friend Sue was reading it a few months ago when I met up with her, then Julia lent it to me out of the blue. Its a big fat vampire/witch/demon story - and is described as being Twilight for adults. Which is fairly accurate as the key character is pretty spineless. I spent a lot of the book being annoyed at her, but liked the supporting characters, and did want to find out what happened. Certainly won't be buying the sequels, but will look them out in the library to read!
August
The Tiger's Wife - Tea Obreht
The latest book club book - we seem to be on a bit of a tiger theme at the moment! I didn't actually go to this discussion which was a shame as I was curious to see what the others thought of it. It felt like a book I should have loved, but didn't. Just didn't quite work for me - even though it won the Orange Prize for Fiction last year. It tells the story of a woman's relationship with her grandfather, and his relationship with 'the deathless man', and is set in what is probably the former Yugoslavia. Think this one might be going to the charity shop...
Island Beneath the Sea - Isabel Allende
I used to be a big fan of Isabel Allende, but the last few of hers I've read I haven't loved as much as her earlier work. This one tells the story of Tete, born into slavery in the 1700s and her story. Historically quite fascinating - and disturbing as well, but I felt a bit underwhelmed by it. There is a relationship between her daughter and another character that I really didn't like, and didn't seem real - maybe it would have happened that way, but just seemed a bit odd to me, and I think contributed to me not really loving this...
July
Alicia's Gift - Jessica Duchen
This was the latest book club book - tells the story of a child pianist who is a prodigy - or a possible prodigy and how that impacts on the everyone around her - and including her. My book club organiser arranged for the author to come and speak to us as she lives in London which was fascinating. I enjoyed the book - I think she has written more since this one as it came out a few years ago. I was irritated by some of the characters (particularly the father), which made me not enjoy it as much as I might have done, but it was still very readable. And now I've got a signed copy, definitely a keeper!
The King of the Castle - Susan Hill
This book was a gift from my friend James (who also gave me 'The Great Gatsby'). We have a shared interest in sci-fi and horror-ish tv, and I think because of that he thought I would enjoy this book. Its an old book - would have been around when I was growing up, but I really didn't enjoy it. Essentially the story of a nasty boy, who doesn't take kindly to the arrival of the son of his father's new housekeeper. It was horrible. Just a black black story - un-relenting and awful. Didn't like any of the characters, and just hated reading it. Finished it, but knew I wouldn't like it, and I didn't. ICK.
June
The Hunger Games Trilogy - Suzanne Collins (part 2)
Well this may be a bit controversial as I know there are a few fans out there, but I was distinctly unimpressed with this trilogy. As I said below, I loved the first book, second one I was a bit 'meh' and by the end of the third one I was over them. It is hard to say why without giving away plot spoilers, but if I was to compare the Harry Potter books - at least Harry and his friends develop as characters, and when some of the lesser characters die throughout the series you actually feel something for them. There is a death in the final book which I think is meant to move you - it certainly is a key bit of the plot, and I just wasn't involved at all. I think they'll make great films but give me the HP books anyday.
The Hunger Games Trilogy - Suzanne Collins
OK - this is a bit of a cheat as I'm still on the final book. However while I'm updating I thought I'd start... Loved the first book - as I thought when I saw the film, the book did give more backstory than the film could, and on the whole I thought the film was an excellent adaptation of it. The second book (Catching Fire) I wasn't quite as sure about. Still really enjoyed it, but there was a twist in it (the Quarter Quell) that I thought 'Really?'. Was wondering at that point if the author was a bit of a one trick pony, but it did come good. And now I've started the third one... I am devouring them - they are very hard to put down. Have to say I've spent the first 100 pages or so being really annoyed at Katniss Evergreen thought so I hope she improves!
The Life of Pi - Yann Martel
This was a bookclub read. Not one that I would ever have read myself I don't think. I don't know why - possibly because the synopsis didn't appeal to me. And its a Booker winner, and often I don't like them - too worthy for me. This one however I did like! Its up there with Wolf Hall and A Fine Balance in terms of Booker winners that I've liked. I just really enjoyed the storytelling of it - definitely one I will re-read, and I think that it is a book that you would read more into everytime you read it. Interesting discussion at the Book Club about it - all of us enjoyed it, which I think is possibly the first time that there has been such universal agreement about a book. For such a surreal story I spent a lot of the time absolutely believing that you could keep a Bengal tiger alive on a liferaft...
Dreamquake - Elizabeth Knox
A meetup with my friend David for his birthday at the end of May meant that I could ask him to bring along the sequel to Dreamhunter :-). I liked this, but didn't love it. I think I just didn't warm to the character Laura, and as I may have mentioned I'm not great with books when I don't like the main protagonist! So I'm pleased I've read them, but they wouldn't be keepers for me I don't think if I actually owned them...
May
The Great Gatsby - F. Scott Fitzgerald
A gift from a friend of mine as we'd been talking about it, I re-read this. I read it years ago, but couldn't really remember much about it. It has made me want to see the Robert Redford film version again. I have no interest in the new upcoming adaptation, but the original definitely! Did enjoy it - despite it being a short book, it was one of those that did take a lot of reading, because of the way it was written - beautiful prose.
Dreamhunter - Elizabeth Knox
A NZ book I'd wanted to read for absolutely ages, and the last time I was around at my friend David's I borrowed it from him. I liked it - not as much as I thought I would, but I'm looking forward to reading the second one. I think I wanted them both to be Dreamhunters, so it will be interesting to see the role that Rose plays in the second book. I liked how I could recognise bits of NZ in the book - the same but different!
A Visit from the Goon Squad - Jennifer Egan
This one was a recommendation from my friend Jackie (and is now the next book for Book Club as well as no one else suggested anything!). I really enjoyed it - right up until the end, when it seemed to all of a sudden be delivering a message which hadn't been there throughout the book. However I think it would be interesting to re-read it again, as it is quite possible I missed it! But a great tale of interlocking characters and how they come in and out of each other's lives, make connections and go through experiences. Very good (despite my slight unhappiness at the ending) - a Pulitzer winner and I can see why. Definitely recommend it!
April
Every Dead Thing - John Connelly
I had wanted to read some more by John Connelly for ages - I loved 'The Book of Lost Things' and knew that he was better known for the more grown up 'Charlie Parker' books. It was a tough read at times - I was expecting more of a supernatural bent to it, but it was pretty much a straightforward detective novel with a pretty grim storyline. I did enjoy it though - will probably try a couple more - see if they improve. Might be library books though rather than buyers.
The 19th Wife - David Ebershoff
This is/was one of Maya's books which I inherited after she left the UK. I'd been meaning to read it for ages (I'd bought it for her for her birthday) so finally got stuck in. I really enjoyed it - fascinating story. Dual time story about plural wives - real life characters in the historical piece, but fictional modern time. So interesting to get an insight into that life - really quite interesting. Enjoyed this one! If it was mine it would definitely be a keeper :-). Of course I'm keeping it anyhow as its not mine!
March
The Sisters Brothers - Patrick DeWitt
I really enjoyed this book. I picked it up initially because of the title - I thought it might have been something about sisters and brothers (also a topic I'm interested in!) but it definitely wasn't. The story of two brothers who are assassins in the 'Wild West' and the journey they go on to complete their next assignment. The Guardian reviewer didn't enjoy it - the comments are funny in this as someone takes her to task over it. I didn't agree with her comments either - I didn't find Eli flat, but I would agree that it isn't 'hilarious' either. My only criticism would be some of the language and phrases used are a bit modern - and I'm not sure back then a gunslinger would have known to stop eating stodgy food to lose weight! A good read tho.
February
The Robber Bride - Margaret Atwood
This was February's book for the book club. I had read it years ago, but bought a second-hand copy to read again as I couldn't really remember it. I'm a big fan of Margaret Atwood, but really don't like this book. Didn't like it the first time and didn't like it the second time. Passing straight on to the charity shops... I just didn't like or relate to any of the women characters in it, and didn't understand their motivations about their men either. Well I did, but I just felt angry with them about them, rather than anything else. Loss of good reading time re-reading this if you ask me!
How to be a woman - Caitlin Moran
I started this after finishing Precious Bane and then put it down halfway through to read my next book for the book club, but have now finished it. At times I loved it - thought she was spot on with her observations, while at other times I was a bit 'Hmm not so sure about this'. But it was an interesting read, and I did enjoy it. It is a keeper anyhow - not going to the charity shops, so that says something as I'm pretty ruthless now. I'm pretty sure I'll re-read it. And now the book club has decided to do it for the book after next so it will be interesting to hear what they think. The only other person I know who has read it stopped half way through...
January
Precious Bane - Mary Webb
A different type of read for me - I've joined a book club in Surbiton and this was the first read of the year. Very good too! Written back in the 1920s and set around Shropshire - telling the story of a woman with a harelip (her 'precious bane') and her brother who has great ambitions (which turn out to be his 'precious bane'). The countryside descriptions are really quite stunning - and it is a great story - bit of tragedy and love as well.
When God Was A Rabbit - Sarah Winman
Slightly more highbrow than my first read of 2012. I LOVED this book - really enjoyed it. I think because the main character was born in 1968 and she has an elder brother and a best friend from school. It just seemed to resonate me with me - although I hasten to say that my life has been very different than Elly's! But I felt like I was reading something that timewise mapped directly to my age, so when key events happened, I knew I was remembering it at the same age as Elly. It had a nice twist too - I saw bits of it coming, but even the expected 'bit' ended up being not quite what I thought. Very good!
Gossip Girl: Psycho killer - Cecily von Ziegesar
Being a bit of a fan of the TV series, this was bought for me as a pressie from Julia when she saw it in New York - not a particularly serious pressie I hasten to add! Bizarrely it is written by the woman who writes the GG books, but this is essentially a rip off of the story, where Blair and Serena go around and kill everyone, and the characters are similar but slightly different to how they are in the TV show. Can't say it was a particularly good read, but I soldiered on to the end - "You know you love me xoxo"
