I’m conflicted about this book. At first I assumed that it was written for a teenage audience, which it seems perfectly suited to, until I got to the first sex scene which was perhaps more graphic than I would expect for that genre. And then the second sex scene and then… well, let’s just say that … Continue reading
Ah, Holly Golightly, you ephemeral charmer. And poor Fred, you stood no chance of pinning her down. I started this book in bed with a headache and by the end I was right as rain. It could be down to the paracetamol, but I think it is more likely that the power of good storytelling … Continue reading
I was addicted to Roald Dahl as a child. Matida, the BFG, Esio Trot, Danny the Champion of the World – every one a classic and a fond memory. Snozzcumbers, anyone? My parents have a memory of looking back into the backseat of the car on a very long journey when it had been ominously … Continue reading
From now on I want to be known as Chonderlos De Laclos. What a lovely name. It just rolls off the tongue. Speaking of tongues, this is a wonderful tale of lascivious debauchery, rampant treachery and scurrilous letter writing. This is another of E’s books but was given to her by the same friend that gave … Continue reading
Little blog, are you ok? It has been so long since your last post you probably thought I had entirely forsaken you. I can only apologise and, to be honest, tell you that I ran off with Neal Stephenson and was then seduced by the Easter sunshine. I’m sorry your writer is so fickle. But, … Continue reading
This is not a book that would pass the Bechdel test. Set in Nigeria, the book revolves around Baba Segi, his four wives and their children. It begins with Baba Segi’s frustration that his fourth (and only educated) wife, Bolanle, has not yet borne him a child. Segi’s sense of masculinity is so tied up with … Continue reading
The last time I tried to read the Kite Runner I made it as far as page 41 which ends with the line “…that was the winter Hassan stopped smiling.” at which point I decided that the rest of the story was clearly downhill from there, decided to cut my losses and went in search … Continue reading
I’m far too ginger to ever have languished on a beach reading a novel and working on my tan, but if I ever had, I imagine this is just the sort of book I would want to read while doing it. Partly set in the 1800s, partly in the modern day, this book explores social mores, … Continue reading
I thought I hated Kazuo Ishiguro. I thought I had read something by him at university and loathed it. How very wrong I was. Looking at his list of publications, I don’t actually think I’ve read a single one before. And I loved Nocturnes. I really loved it. I can only imagine that I’ve confused Ishiguro … Continue reading
It is important to start every adventure as you mean to go on. So, having carefully created my list of 250 books to read this year, I have, of course, begun by reading a book that wasn’t on the list. In my defense, Lamentation was dropped into my lap by chance over Christmas and, as … Continue reading
My New Year’s Resolution for 2015: I will read every unread book on my bookcase. It was a challenge easily set and accepted, but at the time I did not realise that this would involve 250 books, nor that Father Christmas had already ordered me another 10ish to add to the list. So, here are … Continue reading
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