Fifty Shades of Grey by E L James

I read this April 2012
It is the June choice for Waterstones, Arc, Bury St Edmunds Book club.
This was my choice  -  said at the time getting your book chosen can be a poison chalice as you get embarassed if people don't like it - I apologise now!
I chose this because it was talked about on Womens Hour the day before book club and I thought it would be good.
I will state now I am no prude; it's not the sexual content that bothers me - although it reads more like google research than knowledge to me...
I have some problems with this book, first off it's way too long 500+ pages and no real story content. A virgin 22 year old student meets a - of course- fit handsome, gorgeous- young billionaire who's into BDSM - nothing against that but did he have to be a billionaire did he have to be heart stoppingly gorgoeus did she really have to be a virgin - Frankly it's all too Mills and Boon for me - shocking use/misuse of power experience versus innocence. It's also party of a trilogy but leaves the story hanging, most series of books can be read as an entity.

I reserve my score on this one.

Helen

John Carter and the Giant of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs

I read this March 2012
Why : Because I wanted to read  this to see why Disney had lost so much money on the film.
At least I now know where the Spiders form Mars originated.
This book was written in 1940 and I had heard a critic saying the film felt a bit tired and dated and seen it all before because this book's ideas  had been used elsewhere and I agree.

I enjoyed the style of this book and it was light easy reading, I might even go onto Tarzan...

6/10
Have you read this or any of ERB others, do tell me about them.
Helen

Harlequin By Bernard Cornwell

I read this April 2012
Why: I have somehow been given this book as my World Book Night Book this year, I didn't chose it (I wanted The Book Theif) but as I have 24 copies to give out I thought I should read it
Plot: It is set at teh start of the Hundred Years War, a period in history I didn't know much about, about a religuos relic - The Lance of st george that gets stolen on a French radi to the English coast and the adventures of the soldier trying to gain it back.
What I thought: I wasn;t looking forward to reading this I have to say, not really my cuppa, but having read it I must admit it is a really weel researched and written book. By the end I actually can say I did enjoy it.  Unlike some historical novels I wasn't thinking is that right? It all seemed very authentic.
Have you read this or any of his others (there are loads)?
I give this 9/10
Tell me what you think...
Helen
http://myworldbooknight.blogspot.com

The Black Cat by Edgar Allen Poe

I read this March 2012
A short story about a man and his relation with his cat.
A chilling tale

I love EAP
9/10
Have you read any, do tell me what you think of him
Helen

Ulysses by James Joyce (Spoken Word)

I listened to this in March 2012
Why: I have tried (and failed) to read this over many years, I keep having a go, but just can't get on with it.  So when the opportunity came to borrow this (abridged version) on CD - all 5 hours worth of it.  I thought it would be a good idea.  Many times if I listen to a book I am tempted to read it, but I think this has laid the spectre of reading Ulyssess to rest for me.  I can't say at all why I didn't really enjoy it.  I have read other Joyce and enjoyed them, but not this.

5/10 from me, just didn't really get into it - but I did try.  I appreciate it's a classic, but it just didn't do it for me....

Have you read it or listened to it?
Please let me know what you think of it
Helen