Hang in There Bozo By Lauren Child

I read this March 2013
This was a WBD children's book. 
Sub titled The Ruby Redfort Emergency Survival Guide for Some Tricky Predicaments
I am trying to write a childrens story, so am reading some!

I liked the style of this little book, friendly, chatty, not patronising.

Ruby Redfort is   13 year old secret agent and detective.

This book includes passages form otehr books, what a good way to encourage the reader to go further and read the RR novels.

Helen

The Chemistry of Tears by Peter Carey

I read this March 2013
Why: Waterstone's Arc Bury St Edmunds Book Club for May

This is the first Peter Carey I have read, I have Oscar and Lucinda n my guilty shelf awiting reading.

What I thought: If I did not know that Peter Carey is a man I would have said this book was written by a woman.  It was a strange book to read as every time I got fed up with it , the corner seemed to turn and it became interesting again. The story centers around a mechanical duck (or swan as it turned out). Written using 2 narrators one in the present day and the other in the 1800's.

I neither liked or disliked this book

5/10 - I shall give O&L a try.

The Lost Art of Gratitude by Alexander McCall Smith (CD version) read by Hilary Neville

I listened to this in March 2013
I picked this up to listen to in the kitchen , thinkng I han't read it, but I had - oh well...
Ok to listen to 'while doing something else'.  I'm afraid I don't warm to the smug characters in either format...
Te story of Isabel, her impossibe to believe, fit, young, talented etc, etc boyfrind Jamie and their son...all a bit too twee for me.
4/10
Helen

The Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

I read this March 2013

Thanks to James for lending it to me.

This is the third book in The Hunger Games Trilogy and not a patch on THG.  Like the middle book this, I felt, was over long at 455 pages.  I wish it had been shorter and more to the point and action filled like THG was.

5/10
Helen

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

I read this March 2013
Thanks to James for lending it to me.
I had read The Hunger Games, which I thought was very good and wanted to read the sequels...
This one is really not a patch on the tension and feel of The Hunger Games. Very long , 472 pages and I feel it could have been done in half that.  It was over wordy and I must say I didn't enjoy t vey much.

4/10
Helen

Horrid Henry's Guide to Perfect Parents

I read this March 2013

This is  a World Book Day (the children's book day) book
I am reading some children's books as I am trying to write children's stories to send to Africa.
Now this is my style of book, funny & irreverent. Lots of illustrations.  A book about taming and training your parents!
Have you or your children read it?
Helen

Tom Gates Best Book Day Ever (so Far) by L.Pichon

I read this March 2013
This is a World Book Day Book (the children's book day) and as I am trying to write a children's story for African children earning English, I thought I'd better read some...
A charming little book detailing Tom's Book Day costume! form his mum making it to the Day at school.  I loved the interactions between Tom and his class mates especially. Lots of illustrations as well...lots for me to think about.
I won't rate this book out of 10 as I have nothing to compare it with.
I enjoyed it
Have you or your children had  any WBD adventures?
Helen

HHhH by Laurent Binet

I read this March 2013
Waterstone Book Club April choice

I put this one forward tfor us to read as I had herad lots about it.

Plot: This book is about Operatton Anthropoid, when in 1942, in Prague, there was an assassination attempt on Reinhard Heydrich.  It  covers not only the historical facts, but also the writers journey writing the book.  Some scenes are fictionalised, but all the palyers are real as are the events.
Quite odd to read as teh book has no page numbers and flits back and forth in time. 
I did enjoy it though and it was refreshing to read an book in such a different format.  I also learnt things I did not know or learnt about when I was so young I didn't register the human impact of the actions of the assassins.

8/10
Helen

If the Dead Rise Not by Philip Kerr

I read this March 2013
Waterstones, Arc, Bury St Edmunds Book Club Choice for March
Plot: Set in pre 1936 Olympics Berlin, centring round the death of a construction worker

What I thought: A dectective novel in a very 'old school' sty;e.  The style seemed to fit with the era of the books setting... but I must say after about 200 - 250 pages it lost me...well it lost my attention, the idea was good, I enjoyed the information about pre WWII Berlin (always an interesting subject) but  after a while the style grated the back story disintegrated and I got bored.  If I can be so bold as to say I think this is more of a 'man's book' not that I like or read 'chick-lit' but most all the female characters were protrayed in a bad light.
I was glad I finished it, so then I can vote!
I have to say 4/10 from me

Helen