- The Bell by Iris Murdoch
- Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke
- A Gate at the Stairs by Lorrie Moore
- Book of Ages by Jill Lepore
- The Paris Wife by Paula McLain
- Digging to America by Anne Tyler
- Dear Departed by Cynthia Harrod-Eagles
- Body Line by Cynthia-Harrod Eagles
- Blood Never Dies by Cynthia Harrod-Eagles
- The Hunchback of Notre-Dame by Victor Hugo
- Kill My Darling by Cynthia Harrod-Eagles
- Fell Purpose by Cynthia Harrod-Eagles
- Game Over by Cynthia Harrod-Eagles
- The Good Husband of Zebra Drive by Alexander McCall Smith
- Blue Shoes and Happiness by Alexander McCall Smith
- In The Company of Cheerful Ladies by Alexander McCall Smith
- The Full Cupboard of Life by Alexander McCall Smith
- The Kalahari Typing School For Men by Alexander McCall Smith
- A Conspiracy of Faith by Jussi Adler-Olsen
- Midnight in Peking by Paul French
- The Ghost Riders of Ordebec by Fred Vargas
- The Absent One by Jussi Adler-Olsen
- The Keeper of Lost Causes by Jussi Adler-Olsen
- The Damascened Blade by Barbara Cleveryly
- Ragtime in Simla by Barbara Cleverly
- Tears of the Giraffe by Alexander McCall Smith
- The Tattooed Girl by Joyce Carol Oates
- A Train In Winter by Caroline Moorehead
- Betrayers by Bill Pronzini
- Nightcrawlers by Bill Pronzini
- Morality For Beautiful Girls by Alexander McCall Smith
- The White Forest by Adam McOmber
- Red Wolf by Liza Marklund
- Sunne in Splendor by Sharon Kay Penman
- Snow White Must Die by Nele Neuhaus
- The Falls by Joyce Carol Oates
- A Hologram For The King by Dave Eggers
- Camouflage by Bill Pronzini
- Friends in High Places by Donna Leon
- Blind Descent by James M. Tabor
- The First Inspector Morse Omnibus by Colin Dexter
- Mourners by Bill Pronzini
- The Snowman by Jo Nesbo
- Wolf to the Slaughter by Ruth Rendell
- The Map of Time by Felix J. Palma
- Death of Kings by Bernard Cornwell
- The Burning Land by Bernard Cornwell
- Lacuna by Barbara Kingsolver
- Beneath the Abbey Wall by A.D.Scott
- Beastly Things by Donna Leon
- A Charmed Life by Liza Campbell
- Black Girl,White Girl by Joyce Carol Oates
- Dark Assasin by Anne Perry
- From Doon with Death by Ruth Rendell
- Some Lie and Some Die by Ruth Rendell
- Two Graves by Preston and Childs
- Shake Hands Forever by Ruth Rendell
- The Inspector and Silence by Hankan Nessor
- The Devil's Star by Jo Nesbo
- The Leopard by Jo Nesbo
- A Small Death in the Great Glen by A.D.Scot
- Mind's Eye by Hankan Nesser
- The Redbreast by Jo Nesbo
- Phantom by Jo Nesbo
- Nemesis by Jo Nesbo
- Femme by Bill Pronzini
- A Double Death on the Black Isle by A.D. Scott
- The Little Friend by Donna Tartt
- A Florentine Death by Michele Giuttari
- City of Fiends by Michael Jecks
- The Dead of Winter by Rennie Airth
- River of Darkness by Rennie Airth
- Night by Elie Wiesel
- Sacred Games by Vikram Chandra
- Brat Farrar by Josephine Tey
- The Franchise Affair by Josephine Tey
- Miss Pym Disposes by Josephine Tey
- My Life As A Man by Philip Roth
- Total 78 books
Friday, January 10, 2014
Book List 2013
Sunday, December 29, 2013
Chunkster Challenge Wrap-Up
This is my wrap-up post, just under the 31st deadline. I elected to read 6 chunkies and I read 6 chunkies!
My books were: (not in the order they were read)
Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell, 782 pg
A Conspiracy of Faith, 504 pg
The Sunne in Splendour, 971 pg
The Map of Time, 609 pg
The Little Friend, 555 pg
Sacred Games, 900 pg
Finally, I always enjoy reading challenges because they motivate me to do the reading I intend to do but is so easily put off, so Thank you and Happy New Year!
My books were: (not in the order they were read)
Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell, 782 pg
A Conspiracy of Faith, 504 pg
The Sunne in Splendour, 971 pg
The Map of Time, 609 pg
The Little Friend, 555 pg
Sacred Games, 900 pg
Finally, I always enjoy reading challenges because they motivate me to do the reading I intend to do but is so easily put off, so Thank you and Happy New Year!
Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell
This is my sixth and final selection for the Chunky Challenge and is it ever chunky at 782 pages.
I have to say that this is not my usual reading fare but I started it for the book club and decided to make it my last book for the challenge. I've read quite a few reviews at Shelfari and many people seem to love it. I wouldn't say I love it but it's very imaginative and has a lot of clever literary and historical allusions including footnotes which give the book the appearance of a well researched historical work.
The story revolves around England in the time of the Napoleonic wars and a fairy realm which people have forgotten about but is being revived through the efforts of (you guessed it) Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell.
As we begin the book, Mr. Norrell is a fusty old gentleman who owns and studies virtually all the books on magic that exist in the British Isles. He convinces people that he is an actual practicing magician by making the stone figures of cathedrals sing. From there he moves into government to use his skills against the French. Before he is fully accepted as a magician by society though, he must raise a young woman from the dead and that requires cutting a deal with a rather unsavory fairy/demon. This sets a lot of the subsequent story in motion. Meanwhile, a young man, Jonathan Strange, comes to study with Mr. Norrell. He shows aptitude for magic and so he is accepted as an apprentice. Then there are two magicians working for the British government against Napoleon. There are long descriptions of warfare in Spain and the Netherlands and how magic is used to defeat the French. There are many tongue and cheek descriptions of fictitious history with actual historical figures. Finally, after many twists and turns, Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell defeat the evil fairy but they have to pay a high price.
I think people who enjoy magic and fantasy will enjoy this book. I thought it could have been much shorter but the author probably didn't want to leave out any details. As I said, it's packed with asides and throwaways, some of which are quite funny but it requires patience to read.
I have to say that this is not my usual reading fare but I started it for the book club and decided to make it my last book for the challenge. I've read quite a few reviews at Shelfari and many people seem to love it. I wouldn't say I love it but it's very imaginative and has a lot of clever literary and historical allusions including footnotes which give the book the appearance of a well researched historical work.
The story revolves around England in the time of the Napoleonic wars and a fairy realm which people have forgotten about but is being revived through the efforts of (you guessed it) Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell.
As we begin the book, Mr. Norrell is a fusty old gentleman who owns and studies virtually all the books on magic that exist in the British Isles. He convinces people that he is an actual practicing magician by making the stone figures of cathedrals sing. From there he moves into government to use his skills against the French. Before he is fully accepted as a magician by society though, he must raise a young woman from the dead and that requires cutting a deal with a rather unsavory fairy/demon. This sets a lot of the subsequent story in motion. Meanwhile, a young man, Jonathan Strange, comes to study with Mr. Norrell. He shows aptitude for magic and so he is accepted as an apprentice. Then there are two magicians working for the British government against Napoleon. There are long descriptions of warfare in Spain and the Netherlands and how magic is used to defeat the French. There are many tongue and cheek descriptions of fictitious history with actual historical figures. Finally, after many twists and turns, Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell defeat the evil fairy but they have to pay a high price.
I think people who enjoy magic and fantasy will enjoy this book. I thought it could have been much shorter but the author probably didn't want to leave out any details. As I said, it's packed with asides and throwaways, some of which are quite funny but it requires patience to read.
Saturday, September 14, 2013
A Conspiracy of Faith by Jussi Adler-Olsen
A Conspiracy of Faith
This is the 3rd in the Department Q series by Danish author Jussi Adler-Olsen. The 1st book, The Keeper of Lost Causes introduces us to Carl Morck, a seasoned detective who along with 2 colleagues has been a victim of a shooting. Morck survives but another officer is killed and the 3rd is rendered a paraplegic. Morck has been a bit of a difficult person to work with anyway and the upshot is that he is sent downstairs to the dungeon with a huge pile of cold cases and an odd assistant who is not who he appears to be. This book revolves around a vicious serial killer who targets isolated religious sects, kidnapping their children and demanding ransom for their safe return. I know the serial killer has been done to death! but the charm of the stories lies more with Morck and his team who manage to provide some humor to lighten the grim story.
I also like that the story is told from a variety of perspectives but the suspense is maintained. This is a quick read at 504 pages and I'm hoping there will be another book in the series.
This is the 3rd in the Department Q series by Danish author Jussi Adler-Olsen. The 1st book, The Keeper of Lost Causes introduces us to Carl Morck, a seasoned detective who along with 2 colleagues has been a victim of a shooting. Morck survives but another officer is killed and the 3rd is rendered a paraplegic. Morck has been a bit of a difficult person to work with anyway and the upshot is that he is sent downstairs to the dungeon with a huge pile of cold cases and an odd assistant who is not who he appears to be. This book revolves around a vicious serial killer who targets isolated religious sects, kidnapping their children and demanding ransom for their safe return. I know the serial killer has been done to death! but the charm of the stories lies more with Morck and his team who manage to provide some humor to lighten the grim story.
I also like that the story is told from a variety of perspectives but the suspense is maintained. This is a quick read at 504 pages and I'm hoping there will be another book in the series.
The Sunne In Splendour by Sharon Kay Penman
The Sunne In Splendour by Sharon Kay Penman
This is another excellent historical fiction by Sharon Kay Penman. At 971 pages, it takes awhile to read but is engaging and for a book this length, very readable. The backdrop to the story is The War of the Roses, which for anyone who doesn't remember, was a war of succession fought between 2 branches of the Plantagenet dynasty founded by Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine. Penman has written extensively about Henry and Eleanor and their offspring in another series. The book begins with open rebellion by the Duke of York and his allies against King Henry VI who represents the Lancaster line. The Duke of York and his second son are killed in battle leaving the path clear for Edward and his brother Richard to continue the fight. Edward eventually triumphs and comes to power as Edward IV and of course Richard will come to power after his brother's death as the infamous Richard III. This part of the story constitutes Book I.
Book II considers the controversial marriage of Richard to Anne Neville, his cousin and childhood friend, who was a pawn of her ambitious and scheming father The Earl of Warwick aka the Kingmaker.
Book III covers Richard's role of governing the north of England for his brother and the growing tensions and conflicts inside the royal family which culminate in Edward having his youngest brother George executed.
Edward dies after a lifetime of excess and leaves his young son and heir in Richard's protection.
Book IV is about the aftermath of Edward's death, power struggles between Edward's widow and Richard, the disappearance of Edward's two young sons, the death of Richard in battle, and the victory of Henry Tudor.
This version of history is told from the perspective of Richard and contradicts the well-known "stereotypes" of Richard III from Shakespeare and Tudor historians. Penman is a revisionist of Richard and she makes some interesting points. The disappearance of Edward's sons remains a mystery still but Penman has some other culprits who may have had the boys murdered and she makes a case for them. Also, there seems to be no indication of Richard wanting to be king while his brother was alive. He was always loyal and followed Edward into combat many times and proved to be invaluable. Yet, once Edward dies, Richard was supposed to have killed his nephews to take the throne. This would have been in total opposition to the way he'd lived his whole life. Penman make a case for why Richard would have seized the throne for other reasons other than strictly personal ambition. Told from Richard's perspective this is a tragic story in which Richard loses everything and dies more a victim of betrayal than a villain. For anyone who enjoys historical fiction or English history this is a must read.
This is another excellent historical fiction by Sharon Kay Penman. At 971 pages, it takes awhile to read but is engaging and for a book this length, very readable. The backdrop to the story is The War of the Roses, which for anyone who doesn't remember, was a war of succession fought between 2 branches of the Plantagenet dynasty founded by Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine. Penman has written extensively about Henry and Eleanor and their offspring in another series. The book begins with open rebellion by the Duke of York and his allies against King Henry VI who represents the Lancaster line. The Duke of York and his second son are killed in battle leaving the path clear for Edward and his brother Richard to continue the fight. Edward eventually triumphs and comes to power as Edward IV and of course Richard will come to power after his brother's death as the infamous Richard III. This part of the story constitutes Book I.
Book II considers the controversial marriage of Richard to Anne Neville, his cousin and childhood friend, who was a pawn of her ambitious and scheming father The Earl of Warwick aka the Kingmaker.
Book III covers Richard's role of governing the north of England for his brother and the growing tensions and conflicts inside the royal family which culminate in Edward having his youngest brother George executed.
Edward dies after a lifetime of excess and leaves his young son and heir in Richard's protection.
Book IV is about the aftermath of Edward's death, power struggles between Edward's widow and Richard, the disappearance of Edward's two young sons, the death of Richard in battle, and the victory of Henry Tudor.
This version of history is told from the perspective of Richard and contradicts the well-known "stereotypes" of Richard III from Shakespeare and Tudor historians. Penman is a revisionist of Richard and she makes some interesting points. The disappearance of Edward's sons remains a mystery still but Penman has some other culprits who may have had the boys murdered and she makes a case for them. Also, there seems to be no indication of Richard wanting to be king while his brother was alive. He was always loyal and followed Edward into combat many times and proved to be invaluable. Yet, once Edward dies, Richard was supposed to have killed his nephews to take the throne. This would have been in total opposition to the way he'd lived his whole life. Penman make a case for why Richard would have seized the throne for other reasons other than strictly personal ambition. Told from Richard's perspective this is a tragic story in which Richard loses everything and dies more a victim of betrayal than a villain. For anyone who enjoys historical fiction or English history this is a must read.
Sunday, June 2, 2013
Chunkster Challenge
My initial signup was done wrong, sorry. I'm going to read 6 chunksters and I've already reviewed 3.
Saturday, March 16, 2013
The Map of Time by Felix J. Palma
The Map of Time
This is my 3rd book for Chunkster Challenge and of course it's the book choice for the Chunky book club this month. Well, it's a difficult book to summarize or even describe. Basically, there's three main stories within the larger story of exploring the idea of time travel. It's not so much the nuts and bolts of time travel but more what would it mean for humans to have the ability to change the past as well as the future. On the one hand, it seems silly, on the other hand it is a valid philosophical discussion.
In this book, the author has chosen to take real historical figures and put them into imaginary situations which challenge our familiar concepts of time. The first part of the tale revolves around a man obsessed with a prostitute murdered by Jack the Ripper and his desire to save her from that murder. H.G. Wells, who plays a major part in the book, is introduced here and this part of the story is I thought a little more light-hearted, even though there are scenes of violence. The second part of the story involves a fantastic time travel hoax which I thought was quite imaginative and I was a little let down when the conspiracy was revealed. However, that did make the overall tale more authentic. The third part of the story was basically the unfolding or explanation of the intersection of the three story lines. I think this part was the most thoughtful.
I liked the book, perhaps, more than I thought I would. Normally, time travel would not draw me to a novel, but, this is a very original take and has literary illusions that sometimes reminded me of the Thursday Next books. Also, it's very readable so even though it's a chunkster, it's not a struggle to finish.
This is my 3rd book for Chunkster Challenge and of course it's the book choice for the Chunky book club this month. Well, it's a difficult book to summarize or even describe. Basically, there's three main stories within the larger story of exploring the idea of time travel. It's not so much the nuts and bolts of time travel but more what would it mean for humans to have the ability to change the past as well as the future. On the one hand, it seems silly, on the other hand it is a valid philosophical discussion.
In this book, the author has chosen to take real historical figures and put them into imaginary situations which challenge our familiar concepts of time. The first part of the tale revolves around a man obsessed with a prostitute murdered by Jack the Ripper and his desire to save her from that murder. H.G. Wells, who plays a major part in the book, is introduced here and this part of the story is I thought a little more light-hearted, even though there are scenes of violence. The second part of the story involves a fantastic time travel hoax which I thought was quite imaginative and I was a little let down when the conspiracy was revealed. However, that did make the overall tale more authentic. The third part of the story was basically the unfolding or explanation of the intersection of the three story lines. I think this part was the most thoughtful.
I liked the book, perhaps, more than I thought I would. Normally, time travel would not draw me to a novel, but, this is a very original take and has literary illusions that sometimes reminded me of the Thursday Next books. Also, it's very readable so even though it's a chunkster, it's not a struggle to finish.
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