Tome Time - The Angel's Game by Carlos Ruiz Zafon

Started October 29th, finished November 15th.

I was very much looking forward to this book.  The first of this author's I read, The Shadow of the Wind, immediately added itself to my list of favourite books.  The fact that was was another large volume pleased me.

The book is set in the same universe as TSotW, Barcelona, under Franco's rule.  It also contains some of the same characters in smaller roles.  It visits the Cemetery of Forgotten Books too.  A wonderful invention of the author's that I'm sure we'll see again.

I was sad to find that this book didn't speak to my soul the way the first did.  I can't say there was anything wrong with it.  It was dark, spooky, filled with well written characters.  I think it was just a little too fantastical for me.  Maybe the story of a text isn't as gripping as the story of a love affair?  It was quite easy to work out what was happening.  I don't think the author wanted to hide this from the reader.  While I grasped 'the mystery' I guess I couldn't really grasp or care 'why?'

I would love to know how I would have reacted to this book without prior knowledge of the author.  Did I feel a little let down because TSotW was so good?  Or was it because this one isn't to my tastes as much?  I'll never know.

It's still an interesting tale.  I wouldn't want to put anyone off reading it as I think it's a taste thing rather than a quality issue I have with it.  It's always nice to read things set in cities such as Barcelona.  There is a real sense of the city here.  He uses it well.  I can't see me reading this again in a hurry but I'm not quite ready to consign it to the charity shop yet.

3.5 out of 5 pawprints

Next - Doctor Who and the Twin Dilemma by Eric Saward

Tome Time - The Coach House Cats by Marilyn Edwards

Started October 7th, finished November 7th.

This was a titbit book, like all its predecessors.  I haven't much to say on it really.  I thoroughly enjoyed the author's tales of life with her cats and life in her local community.  It is a continuation of the previous books.

I thoroughly enjoy these books.  I think they would be any cat lover's cup of tea.  If you are to read them I suggest you start with her first The Cats of Moon Cottage .

The author comes across as a lovely lady.  She also writes children's fiction, about cats again.  Her website can be found here - http://www.thecatsofmooncottage.co.uk/

I was sad to learn at the end of the book that this is the last.

4 out of 5 pawprints

Next - The Angel's Game by Carlos Ruiz Zafon

Tome Time - The Death of a Mafia Don by Michele Giuttari

Started August 21st, finished August 24th
This is my favourite so far of this author's books.  Either he is getting better or I'm getting more accustomed to his style.
This is a very Italian crime novel.  Looking into the Mafia and what surrounds them.  The author is still enjoying planting the character he seems to write himself as at the centre of everything in the world he's created.  This irritated me less in this book than the others.  Described these books could sound very similar to the Brunetti series.  In reality I'd say they're very different.  I see this author as an Alpha Male describing himself as he sees himself in these books.  The other characters aren't as well described but that doesn't really cause me problems.
I found this a good story I rolled through quite easily.  I found the final chapters a tad fantastic but I let it go.  The bit I found most irritating was the the consequences of the final chapters wasn't ever looked into.  Maybe in the next book?  This is a fun crime story that can't be read with a critical eye.  Just roll with it.  I wouldn't advise reading this without reading the book prior to this though A Death in Tuscany, as that forms the backbone of a lot of this book.
3.5 pawprints out of 5
Next - The Haunting of Gad's Hall by Norah Lofts

Tome Time - Dr Who and the Daleks by David Whittaker

Started August 15th, finished August 19th.
This is a read-along with Paul's Target blogging.  It is also the first of the re-released Target novels.  It's teh only one I've bought so far but I'll probably pick more up in time.  Paul gives a good overview of the new editions here.
I remember the weird feeling I had when I first saw the Dr Who story The Daleks.  A strange sense of deja vu.  It took my weak brain a while to figure out why this was.  then it dawned on me.  My childhood viewings of the Cushing films.  I hadn't realised they were lifted from original, unseen by me, scripts.  
I was wary of what I would make of the book from the dual viewing of one story already.  I am a fan of teh second Cushing film but not so much the first.  Even the foreword by Neil Gaiman couldn't ready me for what I found between the pages.  I found the rewriting of the opening scenes off-putting enough.  The real killer for me though was the new Ian Chesterton.  I love Ian Chesterton I don't want him changed by an annoying Roy Castle or a writer who's fiddling.  The revamped Ian and especially his 'will they, won't they?' with a temperamental Barbara was very distracting throughout the tale.  It did neither character any favours if you ask me.  I couldn't understand why the Doctor was sidelined for Ian.  It was a bit like a prior Rose Tyler Show.
The Daleks story is quite long and drawn out.  The 'journey' parts do quite well here, better than the tv or film, at making it seem like a journey.  I just couldn't get into the story though.  The narrative from Ian put me off as well.  I can't understand the Thals reasoning for not taking a stand.  I'm surprised they've evolved at all if that's their viewpoint.  This book is not a highpoint in the Target universe for me.
As for this edition.  It does add something to the books when you get to read about famous DW fans for the Target novels.  I am immensely fond of them and I like to see them praised.  Although Gaiman's intro was hardly going to win over new readers on its own.  I couldn't think what was missing from my copy.  Until I read Paul's blog, it was the Target logo.  I imagine no-one wants to put a defunct and not their own logo on a book.  It would have been nice to see it though :-(  The explanation of the story at the end was useful.  How it put into perspective the aired version vs the novel.  Unfortunately it was a bit of a grind finishing the story so I was weary by the time I got to that.  
All in all, I'm glad teh books have been reprinted.  I won't be reading this one again any time soon though.  I wonder what they've done with Doctor Who and the Cybermen.......
2.5 pawprints out of 5
Next The Death of a Mafia Don by Michele Giuttari

Tome Time - Sex on the Moon by Ben Mezrich

Started August8th, finished August 14th.  312 pages.

I borrowed this one from the local library after heating the author interviewed.  Much was made of his writing the books behind 21 and The Social Network.  I quite enjoyed 21 but can't say it shook me in any way.  I still haven't seen The Social Network.  This book sounded more up my street.

It is the story of a NASA intern who steals a quantity of Moon Rocks.  Now the title should have been a giveaway.  It's gratuitous to say the least.  In the interview the author had defended this saying it wasn't his idea.  Maybe not mate but you still used it.  His style of writing is very sensational.  Even when the story isn't really that exciting.  I couldn't gel with his style.  It didn't help that one chapter never flowed to the next there was always a jump in time and often tone between the end of one and the start of the next.

THERE ARE SPOILERS BELOW, rollover to view.

I think the author wants us to sympathise with the subject of the book.  I couldn't.  No, not even his fear for his life and his pretty awful upbringing made me empathise with him.  He's a pretty shitty character really.  Builds his future on his wife's work.  Cheats on wife.  States how he presents a false face to everyone he meets at NASA because he wants to be someone else.  Abuses everyone's trust at NASA who are giving him chances a lot of people would kill for.  Claims it's all for love.  Packs in his teaching of other inmates in prison because he's had 'his heart broken'.  Destroys a man's life work.  This man is a self centred romanticist with a nasty lack of conscience.  The real clincher is the lack of remorse I find between the pages.  I'd describe him as a total French roof.

END OF SPOILERS

Don't believe the hype on the cover.  Be put off by the unnecessary gratuitousness of the title.  Look the story of Thad Ryan Roberts up on t'interwebs if you have an interest.  The part of how they pulled off the heist is not going to make a very tense film.  They'll need lots of ominous soundtrack.

2 out of 5 pawprints

Next - Doctor Who and the Daleks by David Whittaker

Tome Time - The Other Half Lives by Sophie Hannah

Started July 31st, finished 7th August.  552 pages.

I was lent this book by a friend who really enjoyed it.  I was keen to read it as it was by a local author.

It's best described as a psychological thriller.  It's a hulk of a novel that is definitely very cleverly written.  It takes you through many twists and turns.  Looking back to people's pasts as well as telling the story of their present.  The length of the book gives plenty of time to look into the character's and let them grow on you. The main two characters are well written.  I didn't believe the male characters as I did the female though.  They seemed a little more caricature.  I didn't get a sense of depth with the male figures in the book.  especially the male police officers that pop up here and there.

My downfall with this book was the style of writing.  It's written in a very 'trendy' style and it grated on me somewhat.  It didn't feel natural it felt like a style had been adopted.  This grew less grating as the book went on but never really disappeared.  Because the story is well thought out, clever and quite gripping it didn't manage to spoil the book for me.  I did enjoy the story but I can't see me reading any more of this author's work.  It's not that she's a bad writer, just that the style of writing isn't for me.  I was left satisfied with the ending.  Which is always a worry when a novel is all about the suspense.

3 out of 5 pawprints.

Next - Sex on the Moon by Ben Mezrich

Book 51 of the 50 Book Challenge

More Cat Tales from Moon Cottage by Marilyn Edwards, 282 pages

Started June 30th, finished July 29th

As the first book in this series was a perfect titbit book I opted for more.  It is just as says on the cover more tales about the author's cats.  If you're a cat lover you'll recognise plenty in this book.  If you're not a cat lover it's probably not for you.

I enjoyed reading it and I've ordered the next in the series.  There's not much to say other than what the title describes.  It's a quick, fun read.  I'm unsure I'll read it again but I'm glad to have discovered the series.

3.5 out of 5 pawprints

Total, Books - 51, Pages - 14,973 Just short of 15,000!

Next - No Off Switch by Andy Kershaw

Book 50 of the 50 Book Challenge

Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy by John le Carré, 359 pages

Started July 6th, finished July 18th.

This read was brought on by the impending film adaptation.  I've long been meaning to watch the TV serial from the 70's.  As I'm one of 'those people' I needed to read the book first. 

I'm glad I have read the book before watching it.  I'm sure it's easier to grasp the beginnings of the tale in book form.  Learning who's who and from which department they're from.  Along with whether they are currently in favour or not.

The book gives a great sense of Cold War atmosphere.  Once you get into it and you're more familiar, it's much easier to follow the flow of the story.  It is a great story that I can't say isn't well told.  It just seemed to drag for me.  I'm not sure whether I was reading it too late at night or it was the author's style.  I haven't read anything else by le Carre.  I'm not in a rush to remedy this either.  I can't find fault, I just couldn't get a rhythm of reading that matched the writing.  I'll be interested to see how they adapt the story into just a film.  Hopefully they will do it justice.  I'm currently two episodes into the TV version and it's very well paced to match the book.  I have no complaints about this book but it's never going to be one of my favourites.

3.5 out of 5 pawprints

Total so far, Books - 50, Pages - 14,691  DAMMIT!  I failed to make the page count within the allotted number of books.  Never mind I'll keep going until I hot that 15,000.

Next - More Cat Tales from Moon Cottage by Marilyn Edwards

Book 49 of the 50 Book Challenge

The Gods Themselves by Isaac Asimov, 276 pages

Started June 29th. finished July 6th

I don't think I've ever read any Asimov.  This makes me feel kinda lacking when I say I'm a sci-fi fan.  In fact it's really a disgrace as I grew up with his books on the shelves and never got around to any of them.  This one I borrowed from my dad with the promise it was one of his best.

Now as I sit trying to type about the book I'm at a loss on how to describe it without spoiling the experience of the book.  It would also be hard to explain what it's about.  That's where Asimov's skill seems to lie.  making something complicated easy to understand.  Unfortunately I lack the skills to relate it back.

This was a brilliant book.  You had the science, all in a believable, not magical state.  A glimpse of  a future world.  The biggest plus was real people.  People as we are now and always have been, imperfect, ambitious, not ambitious enough, bitch, sulky. No Dystopia or Utopia just a future I can believe could come around. It was definitely a strange read but a very enjoyable one.  You had to really immerse yourself in the tale.  Then you were repaid many times over.  I loved the other worlds he built as well as he portrayed our future one.

The life forms he invented drew me right in.  Whilst keeping me guessing on certain outcomes.  I definitely need to get more of his books read.  Any suggestions?

This is one I'll read again in the not too distant future.  I'm dying to see how much more I get from it second time around.

4.5 out of 5 pawprints 

Total so far - Books 49,  Pages 14,332

Next, Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy by John le Carre 

50 Book Challenge 2011 - Book 1

I have for the past few years been letting my reading slip.  Which I became disappointed about as it was my favourite pastime.  The modern world has too many distractions for me.  I've been watching far too much TV.  Many films, which I don't regret.  Worst of all was browsing online.  I wasted far too much time doing nothing on various sites.  I'd start off with a legitimate search/email check and still be there hours later, with nothing to show for it.

The spur for me to read more came  in September last year when I came across the ReadMore app for my phone.  http://readmoreapp.com/  It claimed to aid motivation to read.  I have to admit I was dubious.  But at £1.19 it was a small price to pay with a chance of taking me back to reading as many books as I feel I should be.  Well it worked a treat.  You input the title, author and number of pages and it adds the book to your 'stack'.  Once you start reading you can time your sessions (something I don't always do).  After a session you enter the current page.  It tells you how many pages you've read recently and when you can expect to finish the book reading 'so many' pages per day.  I found I constantly wanted to improve my amount read.  It's ensured I have read many times more books in the past four months than I did in the year previously.  The app has rekindled my urge to read.  For which I am most grateful.

At the beginning of January I was once again inspired.  This time by my friend Mindy, via a post on her blog.  http://ydnimyd.livejournal.com/73094.html

The challenge is to read 50 books during 2011.  Just to ensure you're not picking short ones it's also a joint target of 15,000 pages.  I think I can achieve this at my current rate.  So I'm in.  If you wish to see how I'm going I will be posting the books as I read them throughout the year.  Wish me luck!

Book 1 - Inner Skiing by Gallwey/Kriegel, 148 pages

Started January1st, finished January 4th.

As I'm off skiing soon this was a practical choice.  Not my favourite type of book.  I prefer to lose myself within the pages than take mental notes.

However it does seem that it will be very useful.  It is about the psychology of skiing and how to improve on the slopes by controlling that rather than the physical aspect.  As my biggest problem skiing is a lack of confidence I'm hoping reading this will help me.  It goes into a lot of detail about 'Self 1' and 'Self 2' which worried me at first.  As I read deeper though it, on the whole, made a lot of sense.  So much so that I downloaded the Kindle edition to my phone so I can dip into it whilst I'm away.

If you're a skiier I would definitely recommend this book.  The snowboarding element is a little sparse though.  This is a book about skiing with a chapter on trying out snowboarding after skiing.

If you're interested in blogs where people discuss what they've read I'd recommend Mindy's blog, link above.  Also http://www.lobablanca.com/

Total so far  Books - 1,  Pages - 148


Next - The Nautical Chart by Arturo Perez Reverte

Speed Reading

I found this on my friend's blog http://goldfishparacetamol.blogspot.com  

The point is to make an A-Z list of books you've read.  The first one to come to mind for each letter is the one you must list. No cheating!

The rules are:
1. Go through the alphabet, and for each letter, think of a book you’ve read that starts with that letter (A, An, and The do not count).
2. You must write down the FIRST book you think of for any given letter.
3. You must have actually READ the book.
4. If you think of a more impressive-sounding book for a particular letter, you CANNOT change to the more impressive-sounding book.

I have a sense of a shamefully less than 26 list, dominated by a few authors......
The Anonymous Venetian by Donna Leon
The Black Echo by Michael Connelly
The Concrete Blonde by Michael Connelly
The Day of the Triffids by John Wyndham
An Enemy at Green Knowe by Lucy M. BostonThe Franchise Affair by Josephine Tey
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone by J. K. Rowling
I
J
A Kestrel for a Knave by Barry Hines
The Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkien
Miss Garnet's Angel by Sally Vickers
N
One Step Behind by Henning Mankell
The Poet by Michael Connelly
The Queen of the Damned by Anne Rice
Revelation by C. J. Sansom

Sovereign by C. J. Sansom
Trunk Music by Michael Connelly
Upper Fourth at Malory Towers by Enid Blyton
Venice, Pure City by Pater Ackroyd
The War of the Worlds by H G Wells
X
Y
Z

I can't see me ever filling in X, Y and Z any time soon.  I, J and N are really bugging me though.  If I think of any I'll fill them in, in red.

I'd love to see other people's speedy alphabets.

I think the same thing with films would be interesting too....