April was Australian Librarian's book binge month. Where we read as much as we can in April, funnily enough.
April started really well with the Easter long weekend and plenty of reading time.
I finished off Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl. It was quite good and was like Twilight but with witches instead of vampires. I am eagerly awaiting the sequel which will come out later this year.
I then read The Suspect by Michael Robotham, mainly because he is from Casino and so am I! It was quite a good read and I think I will read more of his books in the future.
Then, just as I was overdosing on hot cross buns, I overdosed on the Hamish Macbeth books by M C Beaton. My sister is a fan of the TV show and this spun off into the books. She had the first 8 books in the series. I indulged in all of them over 3 days... and then I really needed a break
from them. The moralising of the author which hadn't worried my so much in the earlier books was starting to annoy me by the 8th.
After so many cozy mysteries I turned to some tougher stuff with Tell Noone by Harlan Coben.
Book club books came next with A short history of tractors in Ukranian by Marina Lewycka and The reluctant fundamentalist by Moshin Hamid. This was my second outing with both books, and they stood up well to it. Especially the reluctant fundamentalist, as I knew what to expect and picked up on things I missed the first time around.
Then came A fair maiden by Joyce Carol Oates. I have a friend who raves about this author, and this book intrigued me for it's tag line of "a modern Lolita". I wasn't sure where the parallels came in until near the end of the book. I think I will have to read more by this author before I
can say how I feel about her writing.
I returned to Hamish MacBeth with Death of a travelling man.
I'm up to $29 in the buck a book challenge
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
The Reluctant Fundamentalist - Moshin Hamid - Rockdale Reader's Choice April 2010
The Reluctant Fundamentalist is Changez story. He is the narrator and it is through his voice that we know what is going on. The story starts with Changez meeting an American man in the Anarkali area of Lahore, Pakistan and offers to show him the excellent tea Pakistan has to offer. They sit
and Changez talks the rest of the day. The American is edgy and on guard all through the story and the ending is abrupt, leaving the reader wondering.
I first read this book when it came out in 2007. I enjoyed reading the book, but was left feeling frustrated by the open ending. I like my books wrapped up neatly at the end and feel cheated when I'm left hanging in the air, especially when there is not opening for a sequel.
and Changez talks the rest of the day. The American is edgy and on guard all through the story and the ending is abrupt, leaving the reader wondering.
I first read this book when it came out in 2007. I enjoyed reading the book, but was left feeling frustrated by the open ending. I like my books wrapped up neatly at the end and feel cheated when I'm left hanging in the air, especially when there is not opening for a sequel.
Never Let Me Go - Rockdale Readers choice March 2010
The book group selection for March 2010 was Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro.
Never Let Me Go is narrated by Cathy, a carer. She tells of her time at an exclusive school and her friendship with Ruth and Tommy. Slowly through the book it is revealed that Cathy, Tommy and Ruth aren't like normal people. They have a special purpose. To say anymore would ruin the story. In fact, you should probably stop reading now if you don't want to come across any spoilers.
I was watching Catalyst on the ABC on 1 April 2010, and it reminded me strongly of Never Let Me Go. Perhaps this was how it all started? I think the issues of growing human organs and cloning is still very topical and this book should promote you to think about these issues.
Never Let Me Go is narrated by Cathy, a carer. She tells of her time at an exclusive school and her friendship with Ruth and Tommy. Slowly through the book it is revealed that Cathy, Tommy and Ruth aren't like normal people. They have a special purpose. To say anymore would ruin the story. In fact, you should probably stop reading now if you don't want to come across any spoilers.
I was watching Catalyst on the ABC on 1 April 2010, and it reminded me strongly of Never Let Me Go. Perhaps this was how it all started? I think the issues of growing human organs and cloning is still very topical and this book should promote you to think about these issues.
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Hamish MacBeth - an Easter overdose
At this time of year, it is usually Easter Eggs and chocolate that gets consumed to excess. For me it was less fattening. I read the first 8 Hamish Macbeth books over the Easter long weekend. They are very easy and, for me at least, quick to read and an enjoyable way to spend a lazy weekend.
Hamish Macbeth is the local bobby in the quiet Scottish village of Lochdubh. He is single and actively unambitious, much to the despair of love interest Priscilla. He solves the case, but is happy for Sergeant Blair, his superior from Strathbane, to take the credit. Though, in the last book I read - The Death of a Glutton, he has been promoted and given a staff member to supervise. It will be interesting to see how he copes with the added responsibility.
They are mysteries of the cosy variety. There is the murder, but there is no graphic detail and it's about solving the puzzle. I struggled to work out when the books were set. At one stage mention was made of it being close to the end of the century, but the tone was decidedly early to middle
of the century. By the 8th book I was getting a bit fed up with the overt morality that I was being hit over the head with. One of the character's mother objected to her daughter doing a law degree because she felt a woman's place was in the home.
Nonetheless, as soon as I got to work I was searching out the next books in the series! I was surprised to discover that the series is up to about 27 books.
Hamish Macbeth is the local bobby in the quiet Scottish village of Lochdubh. He is single and actively unambitious, much to the despair of love interest Priscilla. He solves the case, but is happy for Sergeant Blair, his superior from Strathbane, to take the credit. Though, in the last book I read - The Death of a Glutton, he has been promoted and given a staff member to supervise. It will be interesting to see how he copes with the added responsibility.
They are mysteries of the cosy variety. There is the murder, but there is no graphic detail and it's about solving the puzzle. I struggled to work out when the books were set. At one stage mention was made of it being close to the end of the century, but the tone was decidedly early to middle
of the century. By the 8th book I was getting a bit fed up with the overt morality that I was being hit over the head with. One of the character's mother objected to her daughter doing a law degree because she felt a woman's place was in the home.
Nonetheless, as soon as I got to work I was searching out the next books in the series! I was surprised to discover that the series is up to about 27 books.
The Suspect - Michael Robotham
I've been wanting to read a Michael Robotham book for a while now, his books are popular at the library where I work and I recently discovered he may have come from my home town. I was looking for books to take, read and leave behind for my dad to read when I went home for Easter. This suited my requirements - it was a paperback, and wasn't about war. It also is one of
the books I wanted to read for the Aussie Challenge.
It took a while to get into this book, luckily I had the time and patience to persevere. I have no qualms about giving up on a book that doesn't grab me by the first 100 pages or so.
The suspect is the story of Joe O'Loughlin, a psychologist with early onset Parkinson. He's in a bit of denial about his disease for most of the book. Joe becomes the main suspect for the murder of Catherine McBride, a former colleague and patient. Joe thinks that his patient Bobby Moran has something to do with the murder, even though he doesn't fit the profile that Joe himself comes up with. There are twists, and more bodies before the murder is solved. You have to read the book to find out more!
the books I wanted to read for the Aussie Challenge.
It took a while to get into this book, luckily I had the time and patience to persevere. I have no qualms about giving up on a book that doesn't grab me by the first 100 pages or so.
The suspect is the story of Joe O'Loughlin, a psychologist with early onset Parkinson. He's in a bit of denial about his disease for most of the book. Joe becomes the main suspect for the murder of Catherine McBride, a former colleague and patient. Joe thinks that his patient Bobby Moran has something to do with the murder, even though he doesn't fit the profile that Joe himself comes up with. There are twists, and more bodies before the murder is solved. You have to read the book to find out more!
March Roundup
March wasn't as reading filled as I hoped, with only 4 books being
finished. Two of those being book group books.
March List
Saturday - Ian McEwan
Never Let Me Go - Kazuo Ishiguro
Ice - Louis Nowra
Tell No One - Harlan Coben
Saturday was quite hard going, and I didn't enjoy reading it.
I read Never Let me go for the second time. I think I got more out of it
this time as I knew where the story was going.
I am now up to $15 in the buck a book challenge
finished. Two of those being book group books.
March List
Saturday - Ian McEwan
Never Let Me Go - Kazuo Ishiguro
Ice - Louis Nowra
Tell No One - Harlan Coben
Saturday was quite hard going, and I didn't enjoy reading it.
I read Never Let me go for the second time. I think I got more out of it
this time as I knew where the story was going.
I am now up to $15 in the buck a book challenge
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Ice - Louis Nowra
Ice is the fictional biography of Malcolm McEacharn who became Lord Mayor of Melbourne, and helped work out a way to refridgerate meat to transport it to England. It is fictionalised and opens with a ship towing an iceberg into Sydney Harbour! It is narrated by a man who's wife is in a coma in hospital, and he is writing the biography to try and bring her out of it. She had been doing research on Malcolm. The story of the narrator and his wife develops slowly throughout the book, and I wished there was more, especially when Malcolm's story began to get too creepy. I liked the way it was woven through Malcom's story.
I guess it's about obsessive love, as Malcolm is obsessed by his first wife, and the narrator is obsessed with his wife and the obsession shapes what they do. Both of them are driven to do what they do by the love they have for their wives.
I haven't read anything else by Louis Nowra, and quite enjoyed his style.
I guess it's about obsessive love, as Malcolm is obsessed by his first wife, and the narrator is obsessed with his wife and the obsession shapes what they do. Both of them are driven to do what they do by the love they have for their wives.
I haven't read anything else by Louis Nowra, and quite enjoyed his style.
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