Week 22
Book Title: Maggie Rowan
Author: Catherine Cookson
Enjoyment: 8/10
Would read again: 8/10
Comments: This Catherine Cookson has a very unlovable heroine. Maggie has few forgiving points to her nature and whilst I felt sorry for her sometimes I rarely liked her. Despite that I enjoyed the book, less people died in it than was normal for a Catherine Cookson. Its one of the thinner books and I did find she skimmed over a lot of the story, it felt almost like there were chunks missing, but overall a good read.
Week 23
Book Title: A sisters promise
Author: Anne Bennett
Enjoyment: 9/10
Would read again: 9/10
Comments: I'm not a big fan of books set around WW1 and WW2, if I'm going to read historical novels I prefer them to be a little bit further back in history. However I'm finding my interest in the period growing and this book was certainly interesting. It helped that part of it was set in Birmingham and the surrounding area which meant that I was reading about places I know which always helps. A good book and one I would certainly read again and recommend to other people.
Week 24
Book Title: Hornblower and the Atropos
Author: CS Forester
Enjoyment: 8/10
Would read again: 9/10
Comments: I grew up reading Alexander Kent books, which means that if I am going to read anything of this style then I am naturally going to compare it to them. I realise Horblower is supposed to be the ultimate hero of this genre but for my part I prefer Richard and Adam Bolitho from the Alexander Kent books. Hornblower irritates me a little.
That said parts of this book had me laughing out loud, the exchanged between Hornblower and his wife at the start of the book were very funny.
Week 25
Book Title: The Happy Return
Author: CS Forester
Enjoyment: 8/10
Would read again: 8/10
Comments: Another Hornblower book and this one had quite an interesting villain in it. Its also when Hornblower meets Lady Barbra. This is where for me I find Forester more difficult to read. At no point does he present Hornblower as someone who would interest Lady Barbara and yet he does.
Showing posts with label 52 classics. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 52 classics. Show all posts
Thursday, 11 July 2013
Saturday, 1 June 2013
52 Books - May
I think I'm finding it easier to lump a months worth of books together in one post rather than trying to separate them out. Sometimes I might read two of the books in a week, some weeks I don't read any books I feel warrant being on here so its easier to do them all in one go.
Week 18
Book Title: Mary Barton
Author: Elizabeth Gaskell
Enjoyment: 7/10
Would read again: 8/10
Comments: I love Elizabeth Gaskell, Cranford is one of my all time favorite comfort reads and has been since I was a teenager. However Mary Barton is a different kettle of fish. Its less dreamy and much harsher and I found it less enjoyable. That said it reads as a realistic and insightful portrayal of the time and if it had been written by another author I probably would have had different expectations and enjoyed it more. So I can recommend it, but don't expect it to be in the same style as Cranford.
Week 19
Book Title: To Kill a Mockingbird
Author: Harper Lee
Enjoyment: 9/10
Would read again: 10/10
Comments: This was one of the books we studied for GCSE English. Normally I hated reading the books in English class. We would have to read them together so slowly, and I am a really fast reader. So I would be reading ahead and the person at the desk next to me would have to nudge me when it came to my bit to read out loud because I'd be in the wrong place (thanks Gemma, you probably don't even remember doing it but you helped me a lot). By the time we finished reading it in class I would have been bored of it, and I know plenty of other people out there who are put off reading certain books just because they are chosen as required reading in English class.
This one however, I never ended up getting bored of, and I have voluntarily read it several times since leaving school. I sincerely believe that its a book everyone should read at least once.
Week 20
Book Title: Twopence to cross the Mersey
Author: Helen Forrester
Enjoyment: 8/10
Would read again: 7/10
Comments: This is another book I first encountered at school, primary school in this case. Looking back it was probably a bit advanced for me then, but because I was a quick reader I think I often read books a little too young and so didn't properly understand them fully. Not the language, more some of the concepts in them.
In this case although I read about the poverty and the appalling living conditions, I don't think it was until I was older I really understood that Helen Forrester had had such a bad experience.
She wrote a whole series of books and her life does improve in many ways. This book is not a happy one though, which is partly why I don't read it too often.
Week 21
Book Title: The Upstart
Author: Catherine Cookson
Enjoyment: 8/10
Would read again: 8/10
Comments: When discussing Catherine Cookson, my family often agree that she can be a bit depressing. She has a habit of killing off lots of characters and making them live very grim lives. Its gritty and realistic, but as with Twopence to cross the Mersey, I find Catherine Cooksons books should not be read if you are already in a depressed mood. (Or maybe they should to show me how much worse my life could be?) They are alsway interesting though, she writes mainly to highlight the social divide between rich and poor and this book is no eception. Its got engaging characters, even ones you think at the start aren't very engaging become more so.
Week 18
Book Title: Mary Barton
Author: Elizabeth Gaskell
Enjoyment: 7/10
Would read again: 8/10
Comments: I love Elizabeth Gaskell, Cranford is one of my all time favorite comfort reads and has been since I was a teenager. However Mary Barton is a different kettle of fish. Its less dreamy and much harsher and I found it less enjoyable. That said it reads as a realistic and insightful portrayal of the time and if it had been written by another author I probably would have had different expectations and enjoyed it more. So I can recommend it, but don't expect it to be in the same style as Cranford.
Week 19
Book Title: To Kill a Mockingbird
Author: Harper Lee
Enjoyment: 9/10
Would read again: 10/10
Comments: This was one of the books we studied for GCSE English. Normally I hated reading the books in English class. We would have to read them together so slowly, and I am a really fast reader. So I would be reading ahead and the person at the desk next to me would have to nudge me when it came to my bit to read out loud because I'd be in the wrong place (thanks Gemma, you probably don't even remember doing it but you helped me a lot). By the time we finished reading it in class I would have been bored of it, and I know plenty of other people out there who are put off reading certain books just because they are chosen as required reading in English class.
This one however, I never ended up getting bored of, and I have voluntarily read it several times since leaving school. I sincerely believe that its a book everyone should read at least once.
Week 20
Book Title: Twopence to cross the Mersey
Author: Helen Forrester
Enjoyment: 8/10
Would read again: 7/10
Comments: This is another book I first encountered at school, primary school in this case. Looking back it was probably a bit advanced for me then, but because I was a quick reader I think I often read books a little too young and so didn't properly understand them fully. Not the language, more some of the concepts in them.
In this case although I read about the poverty and the appalling living conditions, I don't think it was until I was older I really understood that Helen Forrester had had such a bad experience.
She wrote a whole series of books and her life does improve in many ways. This book is not a happy one though, which is partly why I don't read it too often.
Week 21
Book Title: The Upstart
Author: Catherine Cookson
Enjoyment: 8/10
Would read again: 8/10
Comments: When discussing Catherine Cookson, my family often agree that she can be a bit depressing. She has a habit of killing off lots of characters and making them live very grim lives. Its gritty and realistic, but as with Twopence to cross the Mersey, I find Catherine Cooksons books should not be read if you are already in a depressed mood. (Or maybe they should to show me how much worse my life could be?) They are alsway interesting though, she writes mainly to highlight the social divide between rich and poor and this book is no eception. Its got engaging characters, even ones you think at the start aren't very engaging become more so.
Thursday, 2 May 2013
52 books - some catch ups
Here's a catch up on the reading I have been doing. Life has been busy recently so I wouldn't necessarily class these as classics, but both authors have a wide appeal and are well worth reading.
Week 15
Book Title: Frederica
Author: Georgette Heyer
Enjoyment: 10/10
Would read again: 10/10
Comments: My other favourite Georgette Heyer book, this one has a more serious heroine I think than The Grand Sophy but still a good read. The end might be a bit predictable (once you've read one Georgette Heyer book you can work out the rest of them) but as usual the book takes a few turns and twists along the way and is full of humour and fun. It is refreshing to read a book with no bad language, sex or much violence in them.
Which makes a complete contrast with my next books. These are not necessarily my favorite Jack Reacher books, lets face it I love them all, but they were the nearest ones on my bookshelves when I needed a Reacher fix over the last couple of weeks.
(My reading is currently being hampered by about 60% of my books being unaccessible, I will be so glad once we've finished doing stuff to this house).
Week 16
Book Title: Persuader
Author: Lee Child
Enjoyment: 10/10
Would read again: 10/10
Comments: I like this one because at the start it sets it up to seem like Reacher is the bad guy which makes for an interesting twist. The book itself contains some more information about Reachers past and is enjoyable. It seemed a little slower paced than some of the Reacher books, possibly because he is stuck inside the one house for a large proportion of the book, but that didn't detract from the story.
Week 17
Book Title: One Shot
Author: Lee Child
Enjoyment: 10/10
Would read again: 10/10
Comments: Another one which harks back to Reachers past. Also has some interesting insights into the Soviet and a bad guy I could almost sympathise with if only because of his past.
So there's my last few weeks reading. Not classics exactly, fairly easy reading but just what I needed at the moment. Hopefully I'll get back on track with some more serious reading over the next few weeks. Hopefully... I keep waiting for life to calm down and for some reason it never does.
Week 15
Book Title: Frederica
Author: Georgette Heyer
Enjoyment: 10/10
Would read again: 10/10
Comments: My other favourite Georgette Heyer book, this one has a more serious heroine I think than The Grand Sophy but still a good read. The end might be a bit predictable (once you've read one Georgette Heyer book you can work out the rest of them) but as usual the book takes a few turns and twists along the way and is full of humour and fun. It is refreshing to read a book with no bad language, sex or much violence in them.
Which makes a complete contrast with my next books. These are not necessarily my favorite Jack Reacher books, lets face it I love them all, but they were the nearest ones on my bookshelves when I needed a Reacher fix over the last couple of weeks.
(My reading is currently being hampered by about 60% of my books being unaccessible, I will be so glad once we've finished doing stuff to this house).
Week 16
Book Title: Persuader
Author: Lee Child
Enjoyment: 10/10
Would read again: 10/10
Comments: I like this one because at the start it sets it up to seem like Reacher is the bad guy which makes for an interesting twist. The book itself contains some more information about Reachers past and is enjoyable. It seemed a little slower paced than some of the Reacher books, possibly because he is stuck inside the one house for a large proportion of the book, but that didn't detract from the story.
Week 17
Book Title: One Shot
Author: Lee Child
Enjoyment: 10/10
Would read again: 10/10
Comments: Another one which harks back to Reachers past. Also has some interesting insights into the Soviet and a bad guy I could almost sympathise with if only because of his past.
So there's my last few weeks reading. Not classics exactly, fairly easy reading but just what I needed at the moment. Hopefully I'll get back on track with some more serious reading over the next few weeks. Hopefully... I keep waiting for life to calm down and for some reason it never does.
Friday, 19 April 2013
52 Books - Week 14
I have a few books to blog about and some catching up to do. |I went away last weekend and my trusty old BeBook Reader came away with me. Its not as snazzy as some of the E-Readers out there but I've had it a few years and it suits me fine. I prefer to read a proper book if I'm honest but due to lack of room for more books I'm trying to be good and get some in digital form as well, although I frequently fail and buy hard copies instead.
I made sure for my holidays I had some of my trusty Georgette Heyer books loaded, easy to read and as familiar as old friends they are my fall back option for reading. I know the story's so well that I can dip in and out of them when I have five minutes to spare without having to keep track of the storyline or a complicated cast of characters.
The first one I read was my all time favourite - The Grand Sophy. I first ready this as a child and I wanted to be just like Sophy when I grew up. I'm nothing like her but then I'm also not a rich heiress who's lived all over the world so with hindsight it was probably an unattainable ambition from the start.
Book Title: The Grand Sophy
Author: Georgette Heyer
Enjoyment: 10/10
Would read again: 10/10
Comments: One of my favourites. Sophy is funny, intelligent, meddling and bossy but easy to love as you read about her. This book is perfect for reading time and time again when you need something to cheer you up or take you away from reality.
I made sure for my holidays I had some of my trusty Georgette Heyer books loaded, easy to read and as familiar as old friends they are my fall back option for reading. I know the story's so well that I can dip in and out of them when I have five minutes to spare without having to keep track of the storyline or a complicated cast of characters.
The first one I read was my all time favourite - The Grand Sophy. I first ready this as a child and I wanted to be just like Sophy when I grew up. I'm nothing like her but then I'm also not a rich heiress who's lived all over the world so with hindsight it was probably an unattainable ambition from the start.
Book Title: The Grand Sophy
Author: Georgette Heyer
Enjoyment: 10/10
Would read again: 10/10
Comments: One of my favourites. Sophy is funny, intelligent, meddling and bossy but easy to love as you read about her. This book is perfect for reading time and time again when you need something to cheer you up or take you away from reality.
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| WHSmiths |
Monday, 25 March 2013
52 Books - Week 13
Last week the book I read was Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami. Its weird, but then to be fair all of the books I've read by him are weird and this is probably one of the more normal ones.
Once you've got your head around the strange world of Haruki Murakami, his books flow in weird and wonderful ways and never take you quite where you imagine you are going. .
On the other hand this book leaves a lot of loose ends and there is imagery and situations in there which are never really explained.
I have to be in the right mood to read Murakami. If I am feeling too literal there is no chance of coping with the books. However if I am in the mood for it then they will allow my mind to escape to places I wouldn't otherwise imagine.
Murakami's books aren't exactly marmite, although there are some people who love them and some people who hate them. Then there is the third group like me, you have to be in the mood and some of the books I just can't finish. This is probably one of the ones I enjoyed the most though.
Book Title: Kafka on the Shore
Author: Haruki Murakami
Enjoyment: 610
Would read again: 7/10
Comments: Its strange, sometimes its confusing and too many strand of the storyline are left unanswered. However its exciting, interesting and well worth a read.
Once you've got your head around the strange world of Haruki Murakami, his books flow in weird and wonderful ways and never take you quite where you imagine you are going. .
On the other hand this book leaves a lot of loose ends and there is imagery and situations in there which are never really explained.
I have to be in the right mood to read Murakami. If I am feeling too literal there is no chance of coping with the books. However if I am in the mood for it then they will allow my mind to escape to places I wouldn't otherwise imagine.
Murakami's books aren't exactly marmite, although there are some people who love them and some people who hate them. Then there is the third group like me, you have to be in the mood and some of the books I just can't finish. This is probably one of the ones I enjoyed the most though.
Book Title: Kafka on the Shore
Author: Haruki Murakami
Enjoyment: 610
Would read again: 7/10
Comments: Its strange, sometimes its confusing and too many strand of the storyline are left unanswered. However its exciting, interesting and well worth a read.
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| WHSmiths |
Saturday, 23 March 2013
52 Books - Week 12
I went with another Redwall book this week, my brain needed something engaging but not too complicated. This weeks books was Loamhedge, a newer Redwall book and so one I think I've read once and didn't know as well.
This was full of the usual Redwall enthusiasm and characters although I felt like it took a little longer to get going than normal. It was usual in that the central character wasn't the one off adventuring instead it was someone left behind at Redwall abbey.
This was another great read and highly recommended. I'd forgotten just how enjoyable these books are, once I read one I want to re read them all. But I promise no more Redwall for a bit as I want this year to be reasonably varied.
Book Title: Loamhedge
Author: Bryan Jacques
Enjoyment: 8/10
Would read again: 9/10
Comments: This took awhile to get going, but very enjoyable and as usual well written, exciting and engaging.
This was full of the usual Redwall enthusiasm and characters although I felt like it took a little longer to get going than normal. It was usual in that the central character wasn't the one off adventuring instead it was someone left behind at Redwall abbey.
This was another great read and highly recommended. I'd forgotten just how enjoyable these books are, once I read one I want to re read them all. But I promise no more Redwall for a bit as I want this year to be reasonably varied.
Book Title: Loamhedge
Author: Bryan Jacques
Enjoyment: 8/10
Would read again: 9/10
Comments: This took awhile to get going, but very enjoyable and as usual well written, exciting and engaging.
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| WHSmiths |
Sunday, 17 March 2013
52 Books - Week 11
This week I reverted back to my childhood again, and picked up a Redwall book by Bryan Jacques. These are technically children's books, but I know my Dad read them all alongside us when we were children and they definitely fall into the children's books adults will enjoy.
This week I read Mariel of Redwall, Mariel was always one of my favourite characters in the series. There are nearly as many main girls as there are main boys, but a lot of the girls seemed to come a little later on in the series, probably once Bryan Jacques realised girls were reading the books as well as boys.
Mariel was one of the first main girls and so I always had a soft spot for her. The story is pure Redwall, there are the bad guys - rats, stoats, foxes etc, and the good guys - mice, shrews, otters etc. There are battles and feats and amazing descriptions of food. The good guys win, the bad guys lose, what more could you want.
Book Title: Mariel of Redwall
Author: Bryan Jacques
Enjoyment: 10/10
Would read again: 10/10
Comments: This is one of the best Redwall books out there in my opinion. Its an old favourite I go back to every so often. If you haven't read a Redwall book yet I strongly recommend you do.
This week I read Mariel of Redwall, Mariel was always one of my favourite characters in the series. There are nearly as many main girls as there are main boys, but a lot of the girls seemed to come a little later on in the series, probably once Bryan Jacques realised girls were reading the books as well as boys.
Mariel was one of the first main girls and so I always had a soft spot for her. The story is pure Redwall, there are the bad guys - rats, stoats, foxes etc, and the good guys - mice, shrews, otters etc. There are battles and feats and amazing descriptions of food. The good guys win, the bad guys lose, what more could you want.
Book Title: Mariel of Redwall
Author: Bryan Jacques
Enjoyment: 10/10
Would read again: 10/10
Comments: This is one of the best Redwall books out there in my opinion. Its an old favourite I go back to every so often. If you haven't read a Redwall book yet I strongly recommend you do.
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| WHSmiths |
Thursday, 7 March 2013
52 Books - Week 10
My book for this week is a bit of a cheat really because I had to read it. I'm doing a course through the Open University - AA100 to be precise which is "The arts past and present". For part of my first assignment I had to read Doctor Faustus by Marlowe, so that's my book for this week.
Left to my own devices I probably wouldn't have read it. Reading blank verse in old fashioned English doesn't make for easy reading, but I'm glad I did.
The plot is interesting. Doctor Faustus makes a pact with the Devil to exchange his chance of going to heaven in exchange for power for twenty four years. I can't get too much into the plot here because the OU understandably doesn't want people discussing the assignment questions on line. I don't think I could discuss the plot without touching on what I wrote on the essay so this weeks description has to be brief.
Book Title: Doctor Faustus
Author: Marlowe
Enjoyment: 7/10
Would read again: 5/10
Comments: I'm glad I read this and I enjoyed it. However without working through my textbook and the activities in there I probably wouldn't have got as much out of reading this as I did, and I think it will be a long time before I try reading it again. Still it was worth having to read it.
Left to my own devices I probably wouldn't have read it. Reading blank verse in old fashioned English doesn't make for easy reading, but I'm glad I did.
The plot is interesting. Doctor Faustus makes a pact with the Devil to exchange his chance of going to heaven in exchange for power for twenty four years. I can't get too much into the plot here because the OU understandably doesn't want people discussing the assignment questions on line. I don't think I could discuss the plot without touching on what I wrote on the essay so this weeks description has to be brief.
Book Title: Doctor Faustus
Author: Marlowe
Enjoyment: 7/10
Would read again: 5/10
Comments: I'm glad I read this and I enjoyed it. However without working through my textbook and the activities in there I probably wouldn't have got as much out of reading this as I did, and I think it will be a long time before I try reading it again. Still it was worth having to read it.
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| Waterstones |
Saturday, 2 March 2013
52 Books - Week 9
This week a lovely reader contacted me on Ravelry to tell me she'd been reading my blog, which was lovely. By a strange coincidence we'd both been reading the same book The Help by Kathryn Stockett.
I loved this book, it was well written, balanced and very engaging. What scares me about the book is that it is 1962. Not 1862, but 1962. I was born in the 80's and so 1962 doesn't feel that far away to me. Yet at that time black women were still bring up white women's babies but had to use their won toilet in case they had "diseases". The social divide was enormous. There were black women who had been to college being treated like dirt by white women who's only accomplishment had been to marry the right man.
Its a fantastic book, it makes you think and it made me get all worked up. I like a book that can bring out emotions and make a time and a place feel real.
Book Title: The Help
Author: Kathryn Stockett
Enjoyment: 10/10
Would read again: 10/10
Comments: This is worth reading over and over again. Its passionate, fluent and moving. Its been promoted to being the other side of Gone with the Wind, but its more than that because its a story of white people of the time as well as black. Its more Upstairs Downstairs but in a more serious way.
I loved this book, it was well written, balanced and very engaging. What scares me about the book is that it is 1962. Not 1862, but 1962. I was born in the 80's and so 1962 doesn't feel that far away to me. Yet at that time black women were still bring up white women's babies but had to use their won toilet in case they had "diseases". The social divide was enormous. There were black women who had been to college being treated like dirt by white women who's only accomplishment had been to marry the right man.
Its a fantastic book, it makes you think and it made me get all worked up. I like a book that can bring out emotions and make a time and a place feel real.
Book Title: The Help
Author: Kathryn Stockett
Enjoyment: 10/10
Would read again: 10/10
Comments: This is worth reading over and over again. Its passionate, fluent and moving. Its been promoted to being the other side of Gone with the Wind, but its more than that because its a story of white people of the time as well as black. Its more Upstairs Downstairs but in a more serious way.
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| Kathryn Stockett Website |
Tuesday, 26 February 2013
52 Books - Week 8
I realise we are on week 9, but I read this last week and didn't get chance to write it up. Week 9's will follow sometime this week with any luck.
I wasn't feeling well last week so I fell back on some comfort reading - Cranford by Elizabeth Gaskell. My mother suggested I read this as a teenager and I loved it. I've read it again several times over the years, and whilst I enjoyed the TV adaptation for me it wasn't a patch on the book.
Its a gentle story told over several years. Its one of those which seems like its meandering slowly, but actually quite a lot happens over the story. I feel that unlike many books, its quite a life like story. It has highs and lows but they are realistic highs and lows, leaving you feeling like Cranford is an actual place and you know the people.
Plus I always wanted to live in Cranford, the town where women rule!
Book Title: Cranford
Author: Elizabeth Gaskell
Enjoyment: 10/10
Would read again: 10/10
Comments: This is a dreamy, quiet book with a realistic story. Its got some great humour in there and its really a tale of friendships and how they survive through life.
I wasn't feeling well last week so I fell back on some comfort reading - Cranford by Elizabeth Gaskell. My mother suggested I read this as a teenager and I loved it. I've read it again several times over the years, and whilst I enjoyed the TV adaptation for me it wasn't a patch on the book.
Its a gentle story told over several years. Its one of those which seems like its meandering slowly, but actually quite a lot happens over the story. I feel that unlike many books, its quite a life like story. It has highs and lows but they are realistic highs and lows, leaving you feeling like Cranford is an actual place and you know the people.
Plus I always wanted to live in Cranford, the town where women rule!
Book Title: Cranford
Author: Elizabeth Gaskell
Enjoyment: 10/10
Would read again: 10/10
Comments: This is a dreamy, quiet book with a realistic story. Its got some great humour in there and its really a tale of friendships and how they survive through life.
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| W H Smiths |
Thursday, 14 February 2013
52 books - Week 7
This week I have read Mariana by Monica Dickens. This is my last of the books I ordered from Persephone just after Christmas and I think probably my favourite of the three.
The story moves quite quickly through the life of Mary, going from her childhood through to getting married and beyond. Its basically a love story although she makes some wrong turns along the way.
Mary is easy to engage with, the book is sufficiently fast paced to keep my attention and yet you don't feel like its missed any of the important facts out.
I really enjoyed reading this book and would happily read it again. In fact I liked it enough to go and have a look if I could find any more by the same author.
I can't say much about parts of the book without giving too much of the story away but it is a satisfying read with a fitting ending.
Book Title: Mariana
Author: Monica Dickens
Enjoyment: 9/10
Would read again: 10/10
Comments: I really enjoyed this book and would happily pick it up and read it again. The main character is very life like and its an easy story to lose yourself in.
The story moves quite quickly through the life of Mary, going from her childhood through to getting married and beyond. Its basically a love story although she makes some wrong turns along the way.
Mary is easy to engage with, the book is sufficiently fast paced to keep my attention and yet you don't feel like its missed any of the important facts out.
I really enjoyed reading this book and would happily read it again. In fact I liked it enough to go and have a look if I could find any more by the same author.
I can't say much about parts of the book without giving too much of the story away but it is a satisfying read with a fitting ending.
Book Title: Mariana
Author: Monica Dickens
Enjoyment: 9/10
Would read again: 10/10
Comments: I really enjoyed this book and would happily pick it up and read it again. The main character is very life like and its an easy story to lose yourself in.
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| Persephone Books |
Wednesday, 6 February 2013
52 Books - Week 6
The book I chose for this week was "William - An Englishman" by Cicely Hamilton.
I didn't really enjoy this weeks book. I didn't like William as a character and so I found it really hard to engage with the book. I kept putting it down and reading something else instead. I persevered with it and the story itself was interesting and well written in some ways, but not really a book for me.
Its maybe worth reading for the history, the account of the times and as an interesting view of some of the people involved in the suffragette movement at the start of the book. Its an everyday view of the war from a normal couple rather than a high ranking officer etc, and as such interesting, but I believe there are more readable books out there set around the same idea.
Book Title: William - An Englishman
Author: Cicely Hamilton
Enjoyment: 5/10
Would read again: 2/10
Comments: In some ways this is a very good book with an interesting take on modern history. However because I found the main character difficult to like or engage with this was a hard read for me and not something I would pick up again in a hurry.
I didn't really enjoy this weeks book. I didn't like William as a character and so I found it really hard to engage with the book. I kept putting it down and reading something else instead. I persevered with it and the story itself was interesting and well written in some ways, but not really a book for me.
Its maybe worth reading for the history, the account of the times and as an interesting view of some of the people involved in the suffragette movement at the start of the book. Its an everyday view of the war from a normal couple rather than a high ranking officer etc, and as such interesting, but I believe there are more readable books out there set around the same idea.
Book Title: William - An Englishman
Author: Cicely Hamilton
Enjoyment: 5/10
Would read again: 2/10
Comments: In some ways this is a very good book with an interesting take on modern history. However because I found the main character difficult to like or engage with this was a hard read for me and not something I would pick up again in a hurry.
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| Persephone Books |
Tuesday, 29 January 2013
52 books - week 5
I had a delivery last week from Persephone Books, so my next couple of reviews at least are going to be about there books.
The book I chose for this week was "Someone at a distance" by Dorothy Whipple.
Its quite a gentle read, although the story is full of emotions, but the author takes you through them in a calm and almost soothing way. Its not a complicated read, the story is set over a few different families and houses but it doesn't tangle you up in hundreds of characters.
I enjoyed the book. It has a strangely satisfying ending. Its a predictable story, almost from the start you cans sense the ending, but it finished with the good characters happy and the bad characters unhappy in an almost child like manner.
Book Title: Someone at a Distance
Author: Dorothy Whipple
Enjoyment: 7/10
Would read again: 8/10
Comments: Its a pleasant read, not too taxing on the brain with a nice ending. Its not my favourite though because its just a bit too predictable. The book is trying to be ordinary people living ordinary lives and in real life nice people don't always end up happy and bad people don't always end up unhappy. I would read it again if I was in need of something soothing to read.
The book I chose for this week was "Someone at a distance" by Dorothy Whipple.
Its quite a gentle read, although the story is full of emotions, but the author takes you through them in a calm and almost soothing way. Its not a complicated read, the story is set over a few different families and houses but it doesn't tangle you up in hundreds of characters.
I enjoyed the book. It has a strangely satisfying ending. Its a predictable story, almost from the start you cans sense the ending, but it finished with the good characters happy and the bad characters unhappy in an almost child like manner.
Book Title: Someone at a Distance
Author: Dorothy Whipple
Enjoyment: 7/10
Would read again: 8/10
Comments: Its a pleasant read, not too taxing on the brain with a nice ending. Its not my favourite though because its just a bit too predictable. The book is trying to be ordinary people living ordinary lives and in real life nice people don't always end up happy and bad people don't always end up unhappy. I would read it again if I was in need of something soothing to read.
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| Persephone Books |
Tuesday, 22 January 2013
52 books - Week four
My book for this week is a Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility.
When I was a little too young to have started on Jane Austen the BBC adaptation of Pride and Prejudice came out on the television - the one with Colin Firth. I watched every episode and loved it. My Dad bought my mum a copy of the video before we even owned a video player. I think he may have regretted it once we did have a video player because of the amount of times we watched it. I have it on DVD now and I love watching it.
So naturally the first Jane Austen book I read was Pride and Prejudice and it didn't disappoint me. I've read others since but somehow I hadn't read Sense and Sensibility before. I've seen it on television, a version with Alan Rickman in it, which I loved.
So this weeks book was Sense and Sensibility. Here is my summary of it:
Book Title: Sense and Sensibility
Author: Jane Austen
Enjoyment: 910
Would read again: 8/10
Comments: I enjoyed reading it, I generally know if I pick up a Jane Austen I am going to enjoy it. I didn't find it as funny as Pride and Prejudice and its never been an ending I'm keen on. I always feel that Edward is too wishy washy for Elinor, I feel like she deserves a better husband. Added to that I feel like Colonel Brandon deserves someone better than Marianne. I think as readers we are supposed to like Marianne but I find her a bit too selfish for my taste. Colonel Brandon on the other hand is one of my favourite characters out of the book. In fact I think Elinor and Colonel Brandon would have been a better match.
That said Jane Austen did try to write realistic books and how many times in life do we see couples marry and feel sure they are doing the wrong thing. Sometimes they surprise us sometimes they don't. So I suppose this is fairly true to life, but if I needed some comfort reading I think I'd stick to Pride and Prejudice.
When I was a little too young to have started on Jane Austen the BBC adaptation of Pride and Prejudice came out on the television - the one with Colin Firth. I watched every episode and loved it. My Dad bought my mum a copy of the video before we even owned a video player. I think he may have regretted it once we did have a video player because of the amount of times we watched it. I have it on DVD now and I love watching it.
So naturally the first Jane Austen book I read was Pride and Prejudice and it didn't disappoint me. I've read others since but somehow I hadn't read Sense and Sensibility before. I've seen it on television, a version with Alan Rickman in it, which I loved.
So this weeks book was Sense and Sensibility. Here is my summary of it:
Book Title: Sense and Sensibility
Author: Jane Austen
Enjoyment: 910
Would read again: 8/10
Comments: I enjoyed reading it, I generally know if I pick up a Jane Austen I am going to enjoy it. I didn't find it as funny as Pride and Prejudice and its never been an ending I'm keen on. I always feel that Edward is too wishy washy for Elinor, I feel like she deserves a better husband. Added to that I feel like Colonel Brandon deserves someone better than Marianne. I think as readers we are supposed to like Marianne but I find her a bit too selfish for my taste. Colonel Brandon on the other hand is one of my favourite characters out of the book. In fact I think Elinor and Colonel Brandon would have been a better match.
That said Jane Austen did try to write realistic books and how many times in life do we see couples marry and feel sure they are doing the wrong thing. Sometimes they surprise us sometimes they don't. So I suppose this is fairly true to life, but if I needed some comfort reading I think I'd stick to Pride and Prejudice.
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| Waterstones |
Tuesday, 15 January 2013
52 books - Week three
My book for the week is not actually fiction. Its one of Persephone books collection, number 80 to be exact - The Country Housewife's book.
If you haven't yet discovered Persephone books yet I urge you to go and have a look at their site (although don't blame me if you spend too much money). They have 100 books, all in the same calm grey covered with beautiful endpapers inside.
The Country Housewife's book is from the 1930's and so of course some of the ideas don't relate to modern day life. It does however give a good view of life in the 30's and it still has a lot of information which is valid today. I love books like this and have a few but this has to be one of my favourites.
Book Title: The Country Housewife's Book
Author: Lucy H Yates
Enjoyment: 910
Would read again: 10/10
Comments: This is funny, interesting and useful by turns. The preserves and vegetables sections is probably as useful today as it was when the book was written, and for a knitter the section on moths is pretty relevant. A pleasant enjoyable read if only to take you back in time. Great for fans of Downton Abbey and programmes of the era.
If you haven't yet discovered Persephone books yet I urge you to go and have a look at their site (although don't blame me if you spend too much money). They have 100 books, all in the same calm grey covered with beautiful endpapers inside.
The Country Housewife's book is from the 1930's and so of course some of the ideas don't relate to modern day life. It does however give a good view of life in the 30's and it still has a lot of information which is valid today. I love books like this and have a few but this has to be one of my favourites.
Book Title: The Country Housewife's Book
Author: Lucy H Yates
Enjoyment: 910
Would read again: 10/10
Comments: This is funny, interesting and useful by turns. The preserves and vegetables sections is probably as useful today as it was when the book was written, and for a knitter the section on moths is pretty relevant. A pleasant enjoyable read if only to take you back in time. Great for fans of Downton Abbey and programmes of the era.
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| The endpaper pattern - Persephone books |
Wednesday, 9 January 2013
52 books - Weeks One and Two
I've seen a few bloggers posting about doing 52 things in 2013, that is to do the same thing each week of the year. Some are taking photos each week and Natalie over on the Yard Yard blog has inspired me with her plan to read 52 books in the year.
I read a lot, at least five books a week. I can speed read and tend to re read a lot of books so I go through them pretty fast. I also tend to choose light reading, mainstream fiction, which is not exactly a challenge to the brain.
So even though I am little late jumping on the bandwagon, I am going to do something similar. I am going to try and read 52 classics.
My first book I've chosenm is going to count as two books as it is two stories. It is probably no harder on the brain than what I normally read but it is a childhood favourite; Alice in Wonderland, and Alice through the Looking Glass.
There was a copy of this at my Nain's house (Nain is Welsh for Grandmother) and so I read it quite often as a child. I haven't read it in years and so when I saw it in Waterstones recently I realised I would love to read it again as I had forgotten the story.
I've recently watched Tiim Burtons Alice in Wonderland which confused me when I was reading the book as he's mashed the two stories together and come up with a third. That's not to say I didn't like Tim Burtons version, I really enjoyed it, but it doesn't follow the book too closely.
Anyway here's my little challenge summary:
Book Title: Alice in Wonderland and Alice through the Looking Glass
Author: Lewis Carroll
Enjoyment: 8/10
Would read again: 9/10
Comments: This is wierder than I had remembered, and quite a bit shorter, although being 20 years older probably helps there. Its worth another read as an adult, although a childrens book, the characters and story were enough to keep me gripped. I'd read it again although I would probably leave it a few years to make sure I had forgotten the story again.
I read a lot, at least five books a week. I can speed read and tend to re read a lot of books so I go through them pretty fast. I also tend to choose light reading, mainstream fiction, which is not exactly a challenge to the brain.
So even though I am little late jumping on the bandwagon, I am going to do something similar. I am going to try and read 52 classics.
My first book I've chosenm is going to count as two books as it is two stories. It is probably no harder on the brain than what I normally read but it is a childhood favourite; Alice in Wonderland, and Alice through the Looking Glass.
There was a copy of this at my Nain's house (Nain is Welsh for Grandmother) and so I read it quite often as a child. I haven't read it in years and so when I saw it in Waterstones recently I realised I would love to read it again as I had forgotten the story.
I've recently watched Tiim Burtons Alice in Wonderland which confused me when I was reading the book as he's mashed the two stories together and come up with a third. That's not to say I didn't like Tim Burtons version, I really enjoyed it, but it doesn't follow the book too closely.
Anyway here's my little challenge summary:
Book Title: Alice in Wonderland and Alice through the Looking Glass
Author: Lewis Carroll
Enjoyment: 8/10
Would read again: 9/10
Comments: This is wierder than I had remembered, and quite a bit shorter, although being 20 years older probably helps there. Its worth another read as an adult, although a childrens book, the characters and story were enough to keep me gripped. I'd read it again although I would probably leave it a few years to make sure I had forgotten the story again.
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| Waterstones |
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