Book 13 of the 50 Book Challenge

My Enemy's Cradle  by Sara Young, 387 pages

Started February 24th, finished February 27th

This book was lent to me by my mum as she thought my interest in Europe during WWII would be piqued.  It tells the tale of a Polish half-Jew who has been sent to the Netherlands to live with her mother's Non-Jewish family.  I won't spoil the tale but the main character ends up in the Lebensborn programme.

I found the book to be a little 'Chick lit romantic' for my tastes.  The style didn't seem to suit the seriousness of the situation being written about.  However I soon realised I could either get over myself and get on with reading the story or continue to bitch to myself about it.

As a story it's good.  As a description of the inside of a Lebensborn hospital it seems very good.  It's obviously been well researched.  However I still can't get the subject matter, the story and the way it's told to gel for me.  It just doesn't ring true.

The author seemed to want to get across certain points in her book.  Mainly that not all Germans not even all the soldiers were National Socialist Party sympathisers and that not all foreigners were National Socialist Party haters.  Points I'm glad to see made.  I particularly liked the way the author used the term Wehrmacht.  One which is usually lazily ignored in preference for the incorrect term 'Nazi'.

The biggest downfall of this book was for me the 'romantic' way it was written.  The main character may have been a romantic wuss but it was taken too far.  There is a horrific occurence in the book which seems to have very little effect on her.  Something I just couldn't believe.  It was very wrong for the author to make so light of it to me.  The romantic outcome of the book just didn't wash either.  

3.5 out of 5 pawprints

I would like to see interviews with both German and foreign women who went into the programme.  I wonder if there is anything published from the Channel Islands?  When I've had time to let this book settle in my mind I think I'll try and look up some factual memoirs.

I'd love to hear the opinions of others who have read this book.  

Total so far, Books - 13, Pages - 3,559

Next - Cabal by Michael Dibdin

Book 12 of the 50 Book Challenge & Books You Should Read, the Podcast

The Sentinel  by Jeffrey Konvitz, 248 pages

Started February 21st, finished February 24th.

This was one of those spooky coincidence recommendations.  It came up in a conversation with my mum and withing a week had been mentioned on the Books You Should Read podcast.  Such a coincidence involving horror fiction could not be ignored.  I managed to find a paperback about as old as myself from Amazon.  Though old luckily it's in great shape.  I don't have to hold the spine together as I read.

I was wary of this book as I'd been told it was spooky as Hell.  It's written in a very simple style.  It gives the information necessary but without many flourishes.  The characters were not at all original.  I've seen them all before many a time.  This wasn't a problem though once I got into the tale.  As I got deeper into the book I noticed the writing style less.  The book had me gripped so no complaints after all.

It is very spooky and unsettling.  It's a quick reader.  At the weekend you'd be able to rattle through it in a day.  The finale I expected just didn't come about at all which was a good thing for me.  I enjoyed the book and I'm hoping I can get hold of a copy of Michael Winner's film version.  

3.5 out of 5 pawprints

Total so far, Books - 12, Pages - 3,172

Next - My Enemy's Cradle by Sara Young

A little more about the Book You Should Read podcast  This is on the Simply Syndicated network.  Definitely worth a browse if your're unfamiliar there's definitely content on there for you.  Along with a forum to complement all the shows.  BYSR is hosted by Kennedy and discusses the world of literature.  It's wide ranging so I'm pretty sure will introduce you to something new.  It definitely has done for me.  It also accepts reviews from listeners and has a regular Book Club segment  from a group in England.  Give it a listen and send in a review :-)

Book 11 of the 50 Book Challenge

The Story of the Scene by Roger Clarke, 164 pages

Started January 14th, finished February 22nd.

At work I like to have what I call a 'titbit' book to read.  I don't get much reading time so I need something I can dip in and out of.  Something I can leave over the weekend or while I go away and not lose the plot.

This is perfect for that it's the truth behind some famous, some not so famous, but always memorable scenes in cinema history.  The author has done his research and delved beyond the myths to tell us the truth, which is often just as interesting.  There are plenty of scenes discussed.  You'd be hard pressed not to have one of your favourite films in there.  I'd definitely recommend it to any cinephile.  Or quiz aficionado, there's  plenty of trivia in there.

4 out of 5 pawprints

Total so far, Books - 11, Pages - 2,924

Next - The Sentinel by Jeffrey Konvitz

Book 10 of the 50 Book Challenge

A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess, 159 pages

Started February 17th, finished February 21st.

I'll state right away that this won't be a comparison with the film.  Even though I'm a huge Kubrick fan I have only seen the film once, in strange viewing circumstances and my memories are corrupt to say the least.  Mr Meks and I watched the film when we awoke in the middle of the night due to 'Jet Lag'.  We then went back to bed and both had horrid nightmares once we got back to sleep.  So, though this is a rare instance of me watching the film before I read the book.  I can safely say it didn't flavour my interpretation in anything other than visually.  Alex looks like McDowell and the setting is 60's futuristic.

This has been hanging around my bookshelves for far too long.  A local author and a cult classic, I should be ashamed to have left it this long.  The copy I read had a nice long introduction by Blake Morrison .  I'm never sure about introductions to novels.  I'm not sure if background knowledge enhances the book or if it should be read 'blind' with any explanations left until afterwards.  Well I read the intro first and found it quite an interesting background to the novel.  I really should have left it to the end though.  I want to see the author's vision alone.

I found the slang in the book made it slow progress to read.  For a short book it took a lot of concentration and longer than I expected to read.  The use of 'like' was like really irritating.  I think this is due to its common usage now rather than Burgess' fault though.

The book takes a look at violence in the individual and the state but doesn't really delve deep.  It provokes thought but not too much of it.  I found it quite simplistic.  I can't say I enjoyed reading it.  It was more a 'ticking off the list' experience.  The use of slang gave you more to figure out than the actual characters themselves.

It's a book I will read again and see how I feel when I'm more familiar with the language used.  I am going to read another of his books and see how I find them as the language use in this makes me think it can't be typical of his work.  Any suggestions on which of his books?

3 out of 5 pawprints

Total so far, Books - 10, Pages - 2,760

Next - Story of the Scene by Roger Clarke

GoodReads

I signed up to the Goodreads website over two years ago.  Input a few books and forgot it existed.  Inspired by the 50 Book Challenge (and due to the phone app version) I'm giving it another go.

I won't be updating page numbers.  That';s just soul destroying if you're getting through a book far too slowly.  I will be updating my 'read' and 'to read' though.  If you fancy befriending me on what is apparently the largest social network for readers in the world (and it's free) my profile can be found here http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/1460563

Happy reading!

Book 9 of the 50 Book Challenge

The Diary of a Nobody  by Weedon Grossmith, 216 pages

Started February 15th, finished February 17th.

This a book I'd never heard of that is apparently a classic.  I only discovered it because my dad recommended it and lent it to me.  I'm so glad he did.  It's a very witty book that's a joy to read.  The short, snappy diary entries make it a book to whizz through.  Light relief from the world outside the pages.

The funny thing is, though the book is over 100 years old there are so many things which are still the same.  many things, mainly transport, which are very different but I'm beginning to wonder if humanity and its prejudices change at all over time.

I will definitely come back to this book, more than once I reckon.  It even gives Oldham a mention :-)

5 out of 5 pawprints

Total so far, Books - 9, Pages - 2,601

Next - A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess

The TimeVault Podcast

This is a new podcast by two of the presenters from, the now placed to rest, Cadmium2 podcast.

Their remit is to discuss Hammer output, The Avengers, Doctor Who and I'm guessing other things will pop up from time to time.  

I have just listened to the first episode and really enjoyed it.  They discuss Hammer's version of Quatermass and the Pit.  A film I like very much.

They are fans of their subject but are not blind to any faults they may come across.  It was a great show because it looked at the good and the bad and wasn't just a fan gush.  They seem to have picked subject matter they are fond of and very well informed about.  I am subscribed in iTunes and vigourously suggest you give it a download if you have any interest in some of Britain's best screen output.

The show blog can be found here To subscribe in iTunes search for The TimeVault.

I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.