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

The Thing Around Your Neck by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

I read this March 2012

This is by the author of Half of a Yellow Sun, which I gave out on World Book Night 2011.
A book of well written, diverse short stories, written in the first, second and third person.  I really enjoyed these and feel I have also learnt a lot about the art of short story writing.
10/10
Have you read this or any of her others, tell me what you think
Helen

A Star Called Henry by Roddy Doyle (Spoken Word)

I got this tape a while ago (over a year in fact) and just hadn't had the time to listen to it. But eventually it came to the fore and I'm glad it did.  It is read by the author and he hardly draws breath!!!
Plot a story of a young man's life during the troubles  - from childhood to manhood.
I don't know if I would have liked this as a book, but I did enjoy it being read to me, it really came to life.
8/10
Have you read this?
Let me know what you think
Helen