Recent reads

RECENTLY READ (or current) BOOKS

A very complete and satisfying read is Lionel Shriver’s The Post-Birthday World. A complex look at how the decisions we make can affect our lives, and an examination of life, love and snooker. For more details, read my review.

The Road by Cormac McCarthy – winner of the Pulitzer Prize. I’ve got two words for you: READ THIS! A harrowing but gripping read. Read my review here!

OK – I did it! I caved in and read Twilight by Stephanie Meyer. A kind of Harry Potter series for teenage girls is how I can best describe it. The book was simply written, yet managed to capture the angst of teen love, the obsession. And it had some very exciting parts in it too! It’s a book that makes the main vampire protagonists look glamorous (because they don’t drink human blood). I haven’t bought the other three books in the series, but they might make good summer holiday, light reading.

I’ve finished reading Marisha Pessl’s debut novel Special Topics in Calamity Physics. It’s a murder mystery novel that is so much more and it’s is a cult classic.. already… I really enjoyed it although it is written in a very special style. You can read  my review to find out  more.

Låt den rätte komma in by John Ajvide Lindqvist (called in English: Let the right one in) is a Swedish vampire novel set in the 80s in the burbs of Stockholm. The film has just come out and has won about 12 awards so far. Anyway, the book was a very good book – a bit violent but no really gory details, except near the end. There was a very scary scene in a dark cellar!  It’s not just about a vampire, but a comment on society, on bullying and how adults turn a blind eye… Recommended!

I finally finished Two Caravans by the hilarious Marina Lewycka. At first, it was like dipping into a big bowl of strawberries and cream, but as the book progressed, it dealt with some darker subjects: illegal workers and how they are abused, prostitution, jobs that no one else wants to do. So, I enjoyed the book and yes – it was funny – but more than that: a little sad and thought-provoking too.

Parallel to reading Into the Wild, I also finished off the blockbuster Sepulchre by Kate Mosse. It was a light, exciting read – and quite a big volume – so perfect for my trip to the UK.

Finally finished Into the wild by Jon Krakauer. The film has had rave reviews, but I prefer to read the book first before seeing the film. I thoroughly enjoyed Into thin air about the Everest disaster. This book was not quite as good, but it was gripping. I even shed a little tear at the end.

I’ve just finished reading this. Thought I’d give Denise Mina a go after quite a lot of people recommended her to me. It’s well-written, tough with some poignant parts, and boy! did it have an exciting ending. If you like crime writing, then you’ll like this.

Finished reading Blood River by Tim Butcher. It’s a travelogue-cum-history account of the Congo as he follows in the footsteps of Stanley (and Conrad). You’ve got to admire the guy’s courage, but more than that, it leaves me feeling sad as it describes the downward spiral of the Congo and the bloody violence that its people are still suffering from. Not an easy read – but a good one!

Children’s books are often worth a read (just look at the Harry Potter phenomenon). The Snow Spider Trilogy by Jenny Nimmo won the Smarties Grand Prix. Great fantasy for younger readers.

These books are wonderful: rich in language and imagination, exciting stories, a set of weird and wonderful characters.