The Snowman by Jo Nesbo

I read this August 2014
It had been on my guilty shelf for quite a while!
The cover says ' the Next Stieg Larsson' but the story isn't as rich and complicated as The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo series.
 Stil it is complincated as all good dectective fiction should be.
There is a serial killer who leaves behind snowmen... he kills and dismembers his victims.  There are loads of twists and turns throughout the plot and I loved the way the connections in the end went back to the personal life of the  detective investigating serial killers.  Set in Norway, it's very atmospheric.

I really enjoyed it
 8/10

Don't Point That Thing At Me by Kyril Bonfiglioli

I read this July 2014

It was the August Waterstones Book Club at the Arc Bury St Edmunds book.

We were asked this month to pick something from Waterstones own central bookclub chioces.

I'm rather glad we choose this as it's a quintessentially British spy/detective/art dealer/ bumbling idiot/really intelligent underneath it all type character.
Bit P.G Wodehouse/ Anthony Burgess type book to read.. written in the 1970's I found at times I didn't quite know what era it was supposed to be set in, but that didn't seem to matter much.
It had lots of little clever asides...
Very enjoyable - I think I shall rad some more of thsi author's work (unfortunately he died in 1985 but I believe more of his are being published.)

9/10

Ubik by Philip K. Dick

I read this July 2014

I have become a fan of Philip K Dick... don't know where he's been all my life but I'm glad I found him now.

Ubik is Published as a Science Fiction Masterwork... I think I have avoided Sf before much too much...
Centring aorund Geln Runciter and his company and intercompany espionage and rivarly..  Is Glen dead or not, are his employees dead or not???? who's reality is real??

Compelling stuff, just my type of book - highly recommended as they say

10/10

Balancing Act by Joanna Trollope

I read this July 2014

I won it in a Facebook Competition my copy is an uncorrected proof

I hadn't read any Joanna Trollope before, I think this was pretty much as I expected it to be.
The story centres around  Susie Moran a designer of Pottery.  Her family are also part of her business and her grown up daughters have  ideas of their own on ways to move the family business forward. Susie is a formidable determined character, knocked off her perch somewhat when her father arrives back in England - her parents having left her with her grandparents when she was a baby...
Susie seemed to be an amalgamation of Laura Ashley, Emma Bridgewater, Anita Roddick 
An enjoyable bedside book is how I'd decribe it

8/10

Tales of the City by Armistead Maupin

I read this June 2014
It was a World Book Night Book
Set in the 1970's in San Francisco, I found this fascinating.  I didn't feel dated or hackenyed and teh characters weren't too stereotyped.
As we are going to Sf next year I was of course looking out for the references about the City itslef.  I shall reread it and make notes about what to do while we are there!
A great little read
8/10

Lucky Jim by Kingsley Amis

I read this July 2014 for the Waterstones book club.

I had looked forwrd to reading this as it had passed me by when I was younger.  However I must say I was disappionted with it
It seems tired and dated somehow.  Maybe not enough time has elapsed.  Set in the world of academia in the 1950's I found it lacked any spark or anyone I would remotely care about
5/10

Flow my Tears, the Policeman Said by Philip K. Dick

I rad this June 2014
I had read Do Andriods dream of Electric Sheep and enjoyed it so bought this and Ubik.
The plot  revolves round Jason Tavener who has a TV career and wakes one morning to find he has no identity....
It's all about living in different versions of reality.  I thorughy enjoyed this book.  My kind of thing.
10/10

Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy by John L Carre

I read this May 2014 for Waterstones book club

And wished I hadn't.. I managed to get through it but found it tediuos and boring.  the writing was excellent, but I just could not give a fig for the charaters or the plot.  Don't ask me to explain it, cos I can't.  Really not the book for me.

4/10

Trust your Eyes by Linwood Barclay

I read this in May 2014
It was given to me by Rosie my creative writing and book club friend.
The plot centres around a map obsessed young man (Thomas)  who's father (and carer) has died in an accident with a ride on mower.
Thomas witnesses a murder on Google maps and then the image is changed later.  His elder brother comes to the house to look after himmand to sort out details fo their father's Will etc.  Thomas manages to persuade the brther, Ray to start investigations, which ead them both into a whole buch of truble.

Extremely enjoyable.

9/10

The Pure in Heart By Susan Hill

I read this in May 2014
It is the second novel in the Simon Serrailler detective series and I have read others in this series and enjoyed them (but I am a Susan Hill fan)
A small boy is snatched as he waits for a lift to school.  The plot intermingles with Simon's personal/family life and we get to know a lt about the workings of his family as well as the police investigations.

I thoroughly enjoyed it despite.
9/10

Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep by Phillip K. Dick

I read this April 2014
For Waterstones Book Club

This was made into the film Bladerunner.

I loved this book, so much so everytime it picked it up I was transported into this post apocalyptic World.
About a time when all that's left on Earth are the epope, who couldn't get away, mechanical animals and Androids.

A great book

9/10
Helen

The Final Act of Mr Shakespeare by Robert Winder

I read this April 2014
Lent to me by Rosie Irish
A delightful book about Shaakespeare being ordered by the King to write another play after retiring.
One thing I especially liked was the use of actual real-life people in a fictional setting, no need to explain who anyone was, what they had done, what they looked like or dressed like... very useful as there is a lot of plot line.
8/10
Helen

Deadly Decisons by Kathy Reichs

I read this March 2014
Another Charity shop purchase.
I have read other books in this series.  This one was published in 2000 so it's a really early one.  This series is on Sky one as Bones.  Kathy Reichs is a forensic Anthropologist and so is Temperance Brennan the heroine of these books. 
This one revolves round Bikers, dealers and long buried bodies.  It is a good mix of crime, and home life and here the two mix to potentially deadly consequences.
A quick enjoyable read

7/10

Harvest by Jim Crace

I read this March 2014
I borrowed it from Pat McHugh

Set over 7 days at the time of the enclosures of land in England. 

I found this a very wordy, descriptive book and sometimes it dragged on a bit. But overall I did enjoy it

7/10
Helen

The Grapes of Wrath by John Stenbeck

I read this book February 2014
It is the March choice for Waterstones Book Club
I first read this in the 1970s a time of full employment and read it as a really good historical story.
Having re-read it in the economic climate we have today, it is even more poignant... the hatred and fear of migrants, their desperation.  The way they are forced off their land and having to move with large amounts of other migrants in a desperate search for  work and to earn - literally - a crust.

The family of 'Oakies'  up sticks and travel to Califormia following teh promise of work, which is not forthcoming  or slave labour wages when they get there.  Gan masters force them to pay for their own bags to gather cotton...they are in a cleft stick, and there is no hope of escape.

Beautifully written and timeless

10/10
Helen

Noughts and Crosses by Malorie Blackman

I read this February 2014
It was a World Book Night Book I got in 2013
It is a Teen/ Adult Crossover book set in  distopia world where people are segregated according to skin colour. The whites are noughts (or blankers)  inferior and ruled by teh black crosses (or daggers).
Sephy (cross) and Callum (nought) grow up as children together when Callums mother works for Sephy's.  They continue their friendship in secret when Callums mother is sacked.
Callums father and brother are accused of a bombing carried out by the Liberation Militia.
Callum and Sephy lose tough as Sephy goes to boarding schol and Calum joins the LM.  Sephy is kidnapped by Callums cell of teh LM and their love rekindles.

Not bad

7/10

The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion

I read this February 2014
It is the February Waterstones book club choice.
This was Dawn's choice and she described it as 'Sheldon tries to find a wife' snd it sort of is.  For those of you who don't watch Big Bang Theory (why not?)
The 'Sheldon ' chararter is very like Don anally retentive, slightly OCD, set in his ways, socially inept.
This is about a genetics professor who sets out to find a life partner.  By happenchance Rosie appears in his office and he thinks she's a candidate.  Lots of funny gooes on on their oath to love.
Not laugh out loud but a nice easy read...and sometimes that's what you need...
7/10
Helen

Solar by Ian McEwan

I read this book January 2014

From books donated to the charity bookshelf where I work

I have read a lot of Ian McEwan's books and it seems to run that I like/dislike his books in turn.   I don't know what it is, but some I really like and others, like this, leave me cold.

It's about a scientist working on Global Warming... being as I work in a Science lab with the researchers doing roughly the same thing this book just didn't 'ring true' with me.  The lifestyle was much more the corporate world  than scientific one I encounter.  It was just long-winded and a chore to read I'm afraid.

Maybe the next one I pick up will enthrall me, who knows?

3/10 - just my opinion
Helen

Counselling for Toads by Robert de Board

I read this twice once in Dember 2013 and again in January 2014
James lent me this book.

This is a book about the Counselling process written as a story of Toad of Wind in the Willows fame, undergoing Counselling...
I have learnt about these Parent/Child/Adult states before but it never hurts to look again at our own behaviours and why we react the way we do to what life throws up.....
An interesting read as I am going through a lot of family issues at the moment.
Being not one to lose my temper it was nice to read this and actually give myself permission to be angry...
9/10

The Mary Testament by Colm Toibin

I read this January 2014
I borrowed it from Pat McHugh
This is a small book, only 104 pages.
It is an alternative story of Christ's crucifixion written from Mary's point of view.  Interesting, gruesome, poignant.
8/10

The Other Hand by Chris Cleave

I read this January 2014

It was one of the books put forward to read for the Waterstones book club, but was pipped at the post...2 members of the group who had not liked/read  Last Exit to Brooklyn sung it's praises.

The cover blurb does not gove away the plot...
*****Spoiler Alert****
It's about a couple whose marriage is on the rocks going to Nigeria on holiday and encountering 2 girls who have witnessed atrocities in their village, who are hunted down.. some violent scenes. One of the sisters escapes to Britain, where she tracks down the couple...
****End of Alert ****

If I didn't know who this was written by I would have guessed Ian McEwen, if you know his style... to my mind this is quite similar.

It's well written, but I'm not sure it really did it for me...

I think I expected too much...

6/10

Last Exit to Brooklyn by Hubert Selby Jnr

I read this January 2014

It was the January read for Waterstones Book Club.

One of the 'Beat Generation' novels.  With comments by Alan Ginsberg...read it if you dare.  It was subject to a obscenity trail when it was first published. 
The style is controversial, a distinct lack of punctuation  - I love this sort of writing... it's vey brutal and not for the faint hearted.  I had trouble getting into it, but once I was used to the style I could hardly put it down...

8/10

The Small Hand by Susan Hill

I read this December 2012

A Ghost story set in a derelict Edwardian House.  Adam Snow is a bookseller who stumbles across the house late one summer's evening.  He feels the sensation of a child's hand taking his, and becomes entranced by the house and it's sinister story...
Chilling

10/10

Dolly by Susan Hill

I read this December 2013
I seem to be on a Susan Hill fest at the moment...ah well it could be worse!
Another ghost story from Susan Hill
A chilling story set in the fens....a small orphaned boy is spending a summer with his Aunt Kestral and his spoilt, spiteful cousin, Leonora...whose wish for a beautiful dll and a wileful act of violence has consequences  only apparent years later when the two meet up again at the Aunt's forboding house...
10/10
Can you guess I like Susan Hill and Ghost stories?

A Question of Indentity by Susan Hill

I read this December 2013,  
A series of crime stories set in ithe Cathedral City of Lafferton.  
We follow Simon on his hunt for a serial murderer of old ladies... chilling and thrilling.
 The crime plot is interspersed with the story of Simon, hs family and life in Lafferton...I feel I have come to know the 'City' eve though it's fictional

A really great read
10/10

A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan

I read this December 2013

This is a book made out of, basically, short stories that can be read as such, but read as a whole they move the story along.  I like this style of book very much.

Jennifer Egan is a Pulitzer prize winner and the writing is quality.  Set in the States, the stories revolve round the music business, a family and it's attendant interactions with each other and the outside world.

I really enjoyed this book

8/10
Helen