The Rottweiler by Ruth Rendell

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


It took me weeks to read this, not a good sign. Ruth Rendell writes a lot of books and some are superb and some are just...not. This was one of the 'nots' in my opinion. The characterisation was good, and it helped that the book was set in the very area of London I once lived, but the plot, and the inevitable and predictable conclusion made it a bit of a yawn.

It didn't help that I didn't like any of the characters, except perhaps Beccy, who was around my age but who's life was slowly being eroded by gin and her needed learning disabled grown nephew. If it wasn't for her I'd have probably abandoned the book unread.

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The Library of Shadows by Mikkel Birkegaard

The Library of Shadows by Mikkel Birkegaard

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


This book had everything going for it, a great cover (yes, I DO judge a book by its cover not just by the cover) and the synopsis on the back made it sound like just the sort of thing I love.

The author is Dutch and maybe something was lost in the translation process but I have to say I found it a rather dull and predictable read. The main idea of the book is a unique one and it should have been a gripping read.

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The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova

The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova


My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I've just re-read this book for the second time.

I'd say this is a vampire book for grown-ups. The two main protagonists are University professors, so the story is told through their scholarly perspective. Paul is an historian and subsequently the the history of the countries he and Helen visit are related in detail for large sections of the book. Someone wanting a book full of bites and bat like appearances might find this tedious, and its a long book too.

I however, loved it, and thought enough of it to read it twice.

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Human Traces by Sebastian Faulks

Human Traces by Sebastian Faulks


My rating: 3 of 5 stars
The story of two pioneering 'alienists' struggling to find a cure for 'madness' in the 19th century was at most times enjoyable and enlightening, though sometimes a bit hard going.

I preferred the parts of the book that dealt with the personal lives of the two main characters, their personal relationships, families and other loved ones. The book covers quite a long span, from their childhood to old age, I do love a good saga!

Less enjoyable were the long parts detailing what might or might not be the causes of mental problems as understood by the two alienists (and what a difficult area that still is, I'm not sure we're that much advanced, drugs are the main 'cure', though counselling is important, something still not in place during the time the books is written about) though the details of an English asylum made grueling but fascinating reading.


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A Place Called Freedon by Ken Follett

A Place Called Freedom by Ken Follett


My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I did something I don't do that often, I read this book for the second time. When I started it, I remembered I'd read some of it before, but had forgot I'd read it all. It didn't seem to matter, the sense of familiarity with the story didn't diminish my thorough enjoyment of it. It's a flowing, easy and fast paced read, not a dull moment in it. A great read!

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Resistance by Anita Shreve

Resistance by Anita Shreve


My rating: 1 of 5 stars
I like Anita Shreve books, but didn't relish the prospect of reading this one because of it being set during the Second World War in Germany occupied France. I've seen countless films and documentaries about the Resistance, it was obviously a deeply scary, brutal time, when many many people lost their lives and, typically, books set in this period of time reflect that.

This one did, it doesn't make for a happy or 'feel good' read, and didn't teach me anything new about this period in history. I don't know why Shreve bothered writing it really, its outcome is predictable, the whole thing has been done before.


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The Suspicions of Mr Whicher by Kate Summerscale

The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher: Or The Murder at Road Hill House by Kate Summerscale


My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This was 'book heaven' for me, I love to read about the 1800s generally, and particularly interested the early days of detection, of policing.

This is a fascinating factual book exploring in detail a murder in Wiltshire (where I happen to live!) in 1860. It's a treasure trove for anyone interested in the origin of words like 'sleuth' and 'red herring', of social attitudes of the time, and even if you aren't, there's the suspense of waiting to find out who the perpetrator was.

A gripping, suspenseful and informative read, I loved it!

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Paper Lanterns by Christine Coleman

Paper Lanterns by Christine Coleman


My rating: 3 of 5 stars
If a book has the word 'secret/s' on the back cover, I'll read it. I like skeletons in closets, the more shocking the better, I love the tense build up until the final moment The Secret is revealed.

This book has a family secret, and the uncovering of it kept me reading (and I can't say any more about it for future readers must find out for themselves).

After that, what kept me reading was the relationships between the characters, particularly the mother and grown up daughter. Without wanting to get too personal, I think we could all find bits of ourselves in this book, that relate to the way we've felt about people or situations, and that always draws you into a story, it's almost like its YOUR story too.

Ms Coleman has the ability (to use a cliche) to breathe life into her characters, in Paper Lanterns they are 'normal' people with old hurts, insecurities and more positively, the chance to reconnect and understand each other.

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Shutter Island

Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane


My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I wasn't sure what kind of book this was, from the film adverts I thought it might be horror, but its not, its a psychological thriller.There's a pervading sense of menace, of hidden secrets throughout the book, I was quite tense waiting for 'all to be revealed' LOL. It was well worth the wait and I didn't guess the ending.

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Reading List 2010 -book no 2

The Moses Stone by James Becker

My rating: 4 of 5 stars
From the back of the book:
AN ANCIENT CODE
A clay table covered in ancient writing is found by an English couple in Morocco. A day later they are dead, killed in a car crash. But where is the relic they died to protect?
A SINISTER SECRET
Determined to uncover a secret that's endured for two millennia, Chris Bronson followed a trail fo clues that lead him from the hustle of a Moroccan souk to the deserted caves of Qumran; from the sinister echoes of a water-filled tunnel under the city of Jerusalem to a windswept fortress whose name spells death.
A DEADLY CHASE FOR THE TRUTH
Threatened on every side by violent extremists, Bronson is plunged into a mystery rooted in biblical times. For the stone he must find is far older and far more dangerous than he could ever have imagines.
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This book is stuffed with fascinating history and is exciting and fast paced, a great read for anyone interested in archaeology and biblical history.

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Reading List 2010

The Magicians by Lev Grossman

My rating: 4 of 5 stars This is like Harry Potter for grownups.Its about an angst ridden teenage boy (Quentin Coldwater) from Brooklyn who goes to a school of magic to learn to be a magician. The book is filled with lots of eccentric and interesting characters. Magic is learnt by hard graft, its a struggle to get hand movements right to cast spells, none of this wishy washy wand waving!This is my kind of book, I just hope there's a follow up, the ending gave me the impression there might be. View all my reviews >>