Bridgey's 2014 Reading

Been on Librarything for a few years and normally join the groups for a set number of reads. This means I normally end up reading thin books towards the end of the year to make up my total :)

These are here:

http://www.librarything.com/topic/107657 (2011)
http://www.librarything.com/topic/129358 (2012)
http://www.librarything.com/topic/148974 (2013)

This year I would like to join a different and less structured group and hopefully get a few of the thicker books off my shelves.

I plan to keep a running list of books read, and then add reviews when I have a few minutes to spare. My book choices are very varied and would love people to make some suggestions or to start a discussion, maybe some joint or group reads.

Please don't be shy and drop me a few lines.

Lee

1 - Desperation - Stephen King ****
2 - The Convict - Felix Milani ****
3 - One Rainy Night - Richard Laymon ****
4 - Prey - Michael Crichton *****
5 - The Miracle Man - James Skivington *****
6 - Revenge of the Whale: The True Story of the Whaleship Essex - Nathaniel Philbrick *****
7 - The Regulators - Richard Bachman (Stephen King) ***
8 - Double Indemnity - James M Cain *****
9 - Morningstar - David Gemmell ****
10 - Carrion Comfort - Dan Simmons ****
11 - The Postman Always Rings Twice - James M Cain *****
12 - Day of Judgement - Jack Higgins *****
13 - Lord of the Silver Bow - David Gemmell ****
14 - Beautiful losers - Leonard Cohen ***
15 - The Murder of Roger Ackroyd - Agatha Christie *****
16 - The Holy of the Broken - Alan Light ***
17 - A Wasteland of Strangers - Bill Pronzini *****
18 - Memoirs of a Dance Hall Romeo - Jack Higgins ****
19 - Half a King - Joe Abercrombie ****
20 - Lord of the Flies - William Golding ****
21 - Thunderball - Ian Fleming ****
22 - He Was My Chief - Christa Shroeder ****
23 - Ghost King - David Gemmell *****
24 - The Death Trade - Jack Higgins ****
25 - Batavia's Graveyard - Mike Dash ****
26 - Rummies - Peter Benchley *****
27 - The Black Arrow - Robert Louis Stephenson ***
28 - Serenade - James M Cain ***
29 - Doctor Sleep - Stephen King *****
30 - The Grey - Ian Mackenzie Jeffers ****
31 - Revival - Stephen King ****
32 - Pacific Vortex - Clive Cussler ****
33 - Children of the Flames - Lucette Matalon Lagnado ***
34 - Shutter Island - Dennis Lehane ****
35 - Hercule Poirot's Christmas - Agatha Christie *****

Hello again Lee - and welcome to Club Read. Have a good 2014 with lots of enjoyable reading to come!

Hey, thanks for that. We seem to share a books in our library as well so maybe we'll be reading one or two of the same ones. :)

Desperation - Stephen King ****

Another offering from King that follows brilliantly in the Stands shadow of showcasing Good vs Evil. However, Desperation does not have the arduous journey across desolate and ruined lands. Instead it all takes place in a small town just off the loneliest highway in America.

The theme of Good vs Evil runs throughout the novel but as usual, nothing is entirely clean cut, as a number of the characters agree 'God is Cruel'. King treats us to what he does best, assembling a rag tag bunch of characters and throwing them into a life or death situation. I won't go into the storyline any more than that as I wouldn't want to spoil any of the twists and turns of the plot.

In my opinion this ranks up there with his best works such as the Shining and Salem's Lot. The way the story starts makes the reader feel that this could easily happen to them, and when the supernatural side kicks in you just get sucked into turning every page until you reach the end. A large book, but the pages just disappear.

TAK!

The Convict - Felix Milani ****

Having read my all time favourite book, Papillon, a number of years ago a friend recommended that I try The Convict.

The novels are extremely similar, both men were sent down for a crime they did not commit and refusing to give up plan a number of escapes. This book identifies for me that not all prisoners had an extremely tough time inside the penal colonies. For resourceful individuals some sort of existence could be worked out. We follow Felix through his trial and imprisonment at various locations (including the horrors of solitary confinement) meeting a number of colourful characters along the way. Many of these tales have fallen under suspicion in recent years as their validity has been questioned. For me, this book could also come under the same scrutiny. It appears slightly odd that whenever something happens Felix is the main instigator, when trouble arrives he is the person to stand up to the bullies, if a bright idea is required he is the one to think it.... just seems a little one sided.

For anyone with in interest in Devils island or escape stories this is an excellent read. The only reason I have given 4 stars instead of five is that a lot of slang language is used for various people and items, although there is a glossary it can get pretty tedious flicking the pages to see what the terms mean.

Not as good as Papillon but still easily worth a read.

Added Desperation to my wishlist. Thanks for the review! I love King and I adore The Stand.

>5 Bridgey: Had you read the companion/mirror novel The Regulators?
It adds another layer to Desperation and if you liked it that much, I suspect that you will like The Regulators as well.

> 7 I read the Stand a few years ago, just bought the complete uncut edition so think that will be my summer holiday read. :)

> 8 Not read the Regulators yet, just ordered it so I think that may be my next book to pick up. :)

One Rainy Night - Richard Laymon ****

I have been a Laymon fan for a number of years since first picking up 'Island', but after a while all his books seemed to blend into one. The last few that I have read (including Beast House) have all failed to grip me and dare I say it, become a little boring.

Fortunately One Rainy Night offered something a little bit different and was just enough to make me want to rediscover Laymon. Obviously all of his books follow a distinct pattern whereby the reader can expect to find gratuitous violence, rape and occasionally incest or paedophilia. Some people rate his books low as they cannot handle the subject matter but most readers these days seem to know what to expect.

This novel is no exception, containing graphic rape scenes and killings galore. A local black lad is burnt alive by a gang, and starts with the investigation into the killing just beginning. However two days later a thick black rain descends upon the town, turning whoever it touches into a psychopathic killer with a lust for blood. Some people welcome this change in their personality while other try to remain safe and look out for the safety of others. What Laymon attempts to convey to us is that whatever bad things can happen to us in life, it is our underlying morals that will steer any decisions we make.

The novel follows 4 groups of individual parties and explores how they cope with the deadly precipitation. I won't give away any spoilers but there are a number of twists and turns that will keep the pages turning (although I feel the ending was a little weak and not too hard to work out).

Well worth a read and an ideal introduction to the author.

Prey - Michael Crichton *****

My second book by the author, the first being the very mediocre Pirates Latitude. However I have always found his subject matters interesting so decided to try another of his novels.

I am very glad that I did. Prey focuses on the concept of evolution of manmade technology (in this case nanobots) and the possible effects of experiment gone awry. The majority of the novel takes place over only a few days and it is a credit to Crichtons talents that he still makes the breakneck speed of the plot totally plausible.

The main concept of the novel is that a swarm of Nanobots have been released from a research facility deep in the Nevada desert. Not wanting to inform the authorities for fear of the company having funding stopped and the widespread panic, they enlist the help of former employee, computer programmer Jack Forman. However, when he arrives at the plant, things are far from as they seem. Accompanying this are numerous subplots that break up any monotony the reader may feel (although I doubt they will). The ending was slightly weaker than I would have liked and the more eagle eyed reader would have seen it coming with around 100 pages or so to go.

The main aspect of the book that impressed me was the mountains of research that Crichton must have waded through. Parts of the novel felt as if they could have been written as a textbook with more than enough for a reader new to the subject to gain a grasp of the mechanics and thinking behind nanotechnology.

I would recommend this to anyone familiar to Crichton or as an introduction. In my opinion it is probably lesser known due to the fact it has to stand against his other mammoth works such as Jurassic Park.

I confess to having a sneaking liking for Richard Laymon thrillers and I think I have One Rainy Night on the shelves somewhere.

Lol. They are an acquired taste. My girlfriend can't understand why I read them. :)

The Miracle Man - James Skivington *****

I very rarely read comedy books, but after winning this on Librarything I thought I would give it a try, and I am glad I did.

If I had to describe the book I would say it is a cross between Last of the Summer Wine and Father Ted written with the warmth of James Herriot's All Creatures Great and Small.

We follow the colourful villagers of Inisbreen and the various reaction to the recent miracle cure of Limpy McGhees gammy leg. Mcghee is well known as the local drunk so when he proclaims a visitation of the Virgin Mary at Mass rock has cured him the villagers are sceptical, but when the benefits of the added publicity start rolling in the attitudes soon alter.

Along the journey we encounter a randy gay pensioner, devious businessmen, over enthusiastic priests and an abundance of larger than life characters.

A wonderful book that has the reader laughing out loud. I really hope Mr Skivington writes a sequel, and it would make an amazing TV series. Please give this novel a try, it'll cheer up your day.

I was going to say that I don't read Steven King because I can't seem to read horror stories, but I did read The Stand and really enjoyed it. I wonder if Desperation will give me nightmares? I also enjoyed Papillon many many years ago, so you have me intrigued by The Convict. I think that something like The Miracle Man might be just the thing needed after the other "less cheery" books you've read this year. :)

>15 NanaCC: Desperation was one his creepiest books I have read. Yeh, I think your right about the Miracle Man, needed something happy. :)

Revenge of the Whale: The True Story of the Whaleship Essex - Nathaniel Philbrick *****

What can I say? I started Revenge of the Whale with a little trepidation as these kind of novels usually boggle my brain with umpteen nautical terms and descriptions. Philbrick however, has not fallen into this trap. Where sea faring objects are described very often they are accompanied with a diagram that clearly displays their place on the vessel, this accompanied by a number of photographs and easy to read maps allows the reader to really feel a part of the crew.

The book follows the crew of the Whaleship Essex and how they are attacked by a sperm whale which leads to them escaping in 3 small whaleboats. The lead up to the attack and the actual event only take up the first 3rd of the book, the rest details their constant struggle against the savage sea. Thirst and hunger drive the men to extraordinary lengths including cannibalism. In fact out of the 21 strong crew only 8 survived the journey.

An amazing true story, extremely well written and informative. Easily recommendable to anyone that loves adventure or interested in the History of Nantucket whaling. Interestingly the Essex adventure was the original inspiration for Moby Dick.

My only complaint would be that the novel appears to be a stripped down version of another book called In the Heart of the Sea. If I had known this before purchase I think I would have bought that instead. However, I will certainly seek it out in the future.

If you like true adventure, I would recommend Island of the Lost: Shipwrecked at the Edge of the World by Joan Druett. I read it last year, and loved it. If it wasn't a true story, you would find it hard to believe. It was definitely a page turner that read like a novel.

I've been meaning to read that ever since you recommended it, Colleen.

I have read In the Heart of the Sea which was great, some might say it was better than Moby-dick, but I wouldn't say that.

> NanaCC will def give that a try, added to my wish list. Really struggling with The Regulators at the moment. :( 2 weeks in and still only half way through. Big let down after Desperation.

The Regulators - Richard Bachman (Stephen King) ***

Written under the pseudonym Richard Bachman, Regulators was released the same time as Desperation. Many of the character names are replicated as are items and places in both novels. However the characters personalities are very different as well as ages. While Desperation was set in a mining town the majority of The Regulators actually takes place in a single street (a street that's not in Desperation).

I picked this book up after reading Desperation and having ranked it as one of my favourite King books I then held high expectations for The Regulators. Unfortunately it failed to meet them for me. Strangely enough it took me over 2 weeks to read, but the fact that I finished the book is a positive for it I suppose.

Ok so the reasons why I didn't like it that much. Firstly I normally love the way King slowly introduces his characters to us, going into a little background detail, so that the reader feels as if they know them personally. There was nothing like this here. Within the first dozen pages we had met around 15 characters. To be honest I was glad when a few got killed to make it easier to remember them all. Unlike the majority of King's other novels I just found it hard to empathise with any of them, I didn't care if they lived or died. There just wasn't the level of detail I would have expected, in particular the history of 'Tak' could have been explored deeper.

The second aspect I really didn't like was the fact the most chapters were segregated by diary entries or newspaper clippings. Some readers may have enjoyed the realism this brought to the novel, I just found it a distraction. What got even worse was when the TV show scripts came out. I hate reading plays, so these were even more of a drag than the other extracts.

Thirdly, as is apparent with a number of his novels, the ending just didn't satisfy. I would go into reasons as I not want to spoil the book for anyone else, but it just seemed a bit of an easy way out.

There was a positives though, the action when it came was thick and fast and very grisly.

In all, not the worst King book I have ever read (that award goes to 'The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon') but is certainly one of his weaker ones. I am just glad that I read Desperation first, as I think that if I read this first I would probably not have bothered, and that would be a great shame.

I enjoyed reading your thoughts on The Regulators as I love King's works as well.

There was nothing like this here. Within the first dozen pages we had met around 15 characters.

I had the same feeling about The Stand when I first read it but then again in the end I loved it. Probably since getting to know the characters was easier in the progress of this rather long novel. I also like the character develoment aspect about King very much. I don't know about The Regulators as I haven't read it yet, but it seems to me that it won't be the next King on my list...

> 23 I really struggled with The Regulators, took over 2 weeks so maybe that had a part to play in my dislike.

I have always struggled slightly with the Bachman books. Thinner was a book that I could take or leave, the same with rage. I did enjoy The Long Walk though. Regulators starts off following a boy delivering his paper round, as he delivers each house on the street you are introduced to the occupants. It was just a bit rushed for me. :)

Double Indemnity - James M Cain *****

A few weeks ago I came in late from the pub, turned on the TV and sat through a brilliant old black and white film called Double Indemnity. The next morning the film had left such an impression I decided to read up on its background, found out that is was adapted from a novel and the rest as they say, is history.

I had heard of 'noir', but was never really sure of what it stood for or encapsulated. However, after reading Double Indemnity I have a much better understanding. The book is written in a way I have never encountered before. The sentences are sharp, direct and to the point. Cain wastes no words. I think this is one of the only novels I have read where I have not found any extra padding. The author says all that he needs to say and nothing more, and this shows by the novel covering barely 130 pages. The only other Author I am familiar with that even comes close to this is Cormac McCarthy. You feel every word, sentence, comma and full stop was placed there for a reason. If I had to describe the novel I would say it is like McCarthy but with little descriptive prose and less flamboyancy with the language. I know many people may disagree with this comparison, but as I was working my way through the pages I kept thinking how similar they are in the way they ensure every single word adds something to the readers experience.

The plot of the novel is pretty much straightforward, an insurance salesman meets the wife of a businessman and together then conjure up a scheme whereby they can sell and then claim on his life insurance. A plan is hatched that they both consider foolproof, but as the novel progresses small mistakes begin to unravel into larger issues and the pressure mounts. Other individuals are drawn into the circle such as the businessman's daughter and the insurance mans methodical boss. The characters behave differently to how I would have imagined and I am unsure whether this is because the novel has dated slightly (rather like Neville Shute's works) or if this is a reflection of the Noir period. But what I do know is that from the first page I was gripped. Very often I will read a book and think to myself 'does that sound realistic?, and if the answer is no, a certain amount of enjoyment is taken away. Strangely this was not the case here, I just kept wanting to read further and further, especially when the characters past history slowly became apparent. For example, from the first meeting of Phyllis Nirdlinger and Walter Huff they start to bounce off each other and the bones of the scam start to fall into place. Would this really happen that quickly with no trust built between the two?

Despite the lack of length I feel this book will remain with me for a long time, and like all good novels a number of questions will need to be answered such as what would I be prepared to do for a large amount of cash? Would I be able to be manipulated by a femme fatale? Could I be a Walter Huff, always on the lookout for the ideal opportunity to make a quick buck?

Fans of the film will find a very different ending to the one they are accustomed to. A number of reviewers have marked the novel down in their reviews because of this. I may be in the minority but I preferred the ending Cain chose. It has a slightly disturbed ring to it, but I feel it fits more closely with the characters state of mind.

I would recommend this read to anyone regardless of what genre of fiction they would usually indulge. As mentioned, the length is fairly short so why not take a chance? I did, and am glad I did so.

Nice review of Double Indemnity Bridgey. I wishlisted The Postman Always Rings Twice by Cain not long ago, and I will certainly keep an eye out for this one as well in the second-hand shops I visit from time to time.

Do you buy your books anywhere local or do you get them online? I know there are some slim pickings around these valleys - but I've gotten into the habit of popping in to high street charity shops whenever I'm in an area and I have a few spare minutes at lunchtime... There's always one or two good choices that pop up. (Nice and cheap as well, though I'm not sure my bookcases will let me squeeze any more in!).

I've never read either Double Indemnity or The Postman Always Rings Twice, but I love the movies! There was a terrible remake of TPART in the 80s.

> Polaris, I have picked up a lot from the Co-op in Tonyrefail. They have a table top there with a few hundred books that they sell for charity. I picked up the complete game of thrones and all Desmond Bagley collection there for 50p a book. Otherwise I tend to get them on amazon or ebay. I should look in the charity shops a lot more, bet there are loads of bargains to be had.

I normally go on a book buying spree to Hay on Wye twice a year as well. Love it there. You ever been?

> 27

I have just ordered The Postman Always Rings Twice so will let you know how I get on. Never seen the film so it will all be new to me. :)

I have never seen or read Double Indemnity but judging from your review it seems to be something I might be interested in. So many books, so little time!

Enjoyed your review of Double Indemnity and I liked your description of James M cain's writing style.

>28 Bridgey: Yeah I love Hay as well. I go every time I get my car serviced/MOT'd as my garage is in Talgarth. I also take an occasional "me" day and mosey over that way once or twice a year as well. I like the whole town, but I tend to gravitate towards the Hay Cinema Bookshop, Richard Booth's, and the Castle shelves outdoors (if I have time and it ain't raining). There's a good place on the way as well in the Three Cocks industrial estate as well if you can believe it!

ETA Ardens is great also for all things nature related - I've picked up some bargains on the heavy big tomes on trees and the like in there from time to time. And If I go through Tonyrefail I'll try and remember that Co-op as well!

Morningstar - David Gemmell ****

My 4th book by Gemmell. I was first introduced to him by way of the Shannow trilogy. I loved these so thought I would try a stand alone novel so see if his other works were as good.

Morningstar is a bit of a strange one for me, and you do not have to look far to see where it's influences lie. It is almost as if he ripped out a few dozen pages from Lord of the Rings, King Arthur, Dracula & Robin Hood, put them in a bag, shook them up and made a new story out of the jumble. The book is written in the first person (I have been told that this is the only time Gemmell has used this) seen through the eyes of Owen Odell who is a sort of an apprentice Merlin type character. Through circumstance Odell is paired up with Jarek Mace and the adventures start.

Mace is not the typical hero of a novel that you would expect to encounter. He is a thief and thinks only of himself. However when he describes himself in a battle as the 'Morningstar' a legendary figure from history, both his life and Odell's start to take on a more serious note. Can the one time brigand become a hero and lead his people? Or will his selfish ways make sure that he saves his own neck first?

A really clever novel that has numerous twists and turns. Ok, so a lot of the plot may be 'borrowed' from other writers creations, but as the saying goes 'Imitation is the greatest form of flattery', and Gemmell has so skilfully created the world in which his characters live that the reader is soon absorbed into the storyline and eager to see what happens next. I won't go into the storyline as many other reviewers have already gone into this in some detail (some too much and really given away the ending). Expect some gore from the battle scenes, some wit form the conversation and above all be prepared for an introduction to a number of extremely well rounded characters.

A really enjoyable read that only makes me want to read more by the author. Before discovering Gemmell the only other author of fantasy that I had read was really Tolkien, after reading the Shannow novels my entire perception of the genre has changed.

Carrion Comfort - Dan Simmons ****

My first book by Simmons, in the past I have been a fan of Stephen King and this was recommended on that basis.

The idea behind the novel is certainly an original one. Walking among us are people with the ability to control others with their mind. By doing this they also sort of feed off our mental energy. The exact number of these is unknown but as the story develops we find that they have had a hand in some of histories greatest events (such as Kennedys assassination). The book starts with Saul Laski a concentration camp prisoner, he is 'mind raped' by a camp commander and forced to act against his will. Over the coming years he continues to attempt to trace the commander to kill him for the intrusion.

Fast forward 30 years of so and we encounter 3 of the 'vampires' in the form of Willi, Melanie and Nina. They meet once a year to discuss the result of a 'completion' they have regarding number of victims and the way in which they were made to act. Meanwhile their fates and that of Laski (together with his new found companions Sheriff Gentry & Natalie) become intertwined as each fights for survival not only from each other but from that of the 'Island Club'. Politics and personal ambitions span the entire novel, accompanied with an extreme lust for power that makes men ruthless.

I won't go into the plot any further than this as there are a great many twists and turns throughout the novel that would be spoiled. Simmons has a knack for pulling the rug from under the reader at just the right time. I don't think that anyone could second guess the next chapter

I was toying with the rating to give this book. For me it was sold as a horror story and one of the creepiest books I was ever likely to read. On that basis I found it a let down. the horror and suspense when it arrived was not really all that horrific and to be honest for the size of the book these were few and far between. However, the characterisation was really well written and I found it easy to empathise with all the main characters, but at nearly 1000 pages I just found the main story dragged on a little too much. If Simmons could have shaved off 2-300 pages I am sure the book would have flown by, as it was I often found myself reading it at 50 page intervals without a real desire to turn the page. At times it seemed a struggle to continue. The other reason I failed to give 5 stars is that being a non chess player I found the drawn out descriptions of the moves in the game a little too much. I agree the game is instrumental for the story to fully work but pages and pages covering the game (even with a few helpful diagrams) proved too much.

All in all not a bad read but unfortunately as an introduction to the author it hasn't filled me with the desire to seek out more of his works. I have given the book 4 stars as I can see why it would appeal to some readers and it certainly does have it's merits. It just wasn't for me.

The Postman Always Rings Twice - James M Cain *****

This is the second book I have read by the author, the other being Double Indemnity. unlike many other reviewers I have not seen the film and therefore began reading without any preconceived ideas of what to expect.

The novella began exactly as I expected. The sentences short, sharp and direct. This is an author who does not believe in padding out his works. You get the impression that not a single word is wasted. the only other author I have read like this has to be Cormac Macarthy. We follow a drifter (Frank Chambers) who becomes employed at a garage, soon he builds a relationship with Greek owners wife (Cora) and they become lovers. However the relationship with the Greek soon starts to come between them. What follows is a lot of planning, circumstance and suspense by the bucket load.

As with Double Indemnity I found the timescales involved a little unrealistic but this doesn't take anything away from the force of the storyline, and considering the age of the book it still appears extremely fresh. One or two other reviewers have criticised the ending, but I thought I knew what was going to happen but was totally wrong. An amazing read that will stay with me for a long long time. Cain manages to pack more into the 120ish pages that most authors could manage in a 1000 page tome. Can't wait to find some more of his works.

I think Carrion Comfort is overlong. Don't be put off because I have read far better stuff from Dan Simmons. I think he is better as a an imaginative science fiction writer and Illium and the Hyperion books are much better and not so long.

Day of Judgement - Jack Higgins *****

What is there to say about Jack Higgins? Probably the worlds best known thriller writer, and easily my favourite author. A number of years back I bought 'The Eagle has landed' in a book sale and never looked back. I immediately went and purchased his entire back catalogue. The only problem was that I never wanted to stop reading his novels so ended up rationing them out to make them last as long as I could.

Day of Judgement follows Simon Vaughan and is the 3rd book featuring the character (Amazon for some reason advertises that it has Paul Chavasse as the lead character, this isn't true and he doesn't even appear at all).

The scene is set in Germany during the cold war. Chavasse is a hired mercenary smuggling people through the checkpoints to freedom in the west. However things go wrong when he encounters a beautiful girl. When she asks to be returned to the East, Father Conlin agrees to take her. A Dachau prison camp survivor and champion of human rights he knows the stakes are high. The East despise men like him, if only they could capture and brainwash him for their own cause.

And so begins an action packed adventure. Higgins is always an expert at mingling fact with fiction and here he is no exception. Centred around President Kennedys trip to Berlin in 1963 we are allowed to imagine what would happen should the East persuade a Catholic priest of high standing to make anti American statements, advising that all his hard work smuggling people was for political gain rather than humanitarian reasons. Obviously if this coincided with Kennedys speech it would look to discredit the entire operation. A cat and mouse game ensues with the east trying to break Conlin and the West planning his abduction. We meet commando priests, undercover agents, rogues and even the Pope.

As always with Higgins expect plenty of action (I love the way the second bullet always smashes the targets spine) and more than enough twists to keep even a rollercoaster enthusiast happy. A well deserved 5 stars.

Hi Baswood, I will have a look out for them. Carrion Comfort for me was a real struggle. I would find myself putting it down after 20 pages.

Nice reviews of The Postman Always Rings Twice and Day of Judgement.

Lord of the Silver Bow - David Gemmell ****

I was introduced to Gemmell a few months ago by way of the Jon Shannow novels, became hooked and decided to seek out some more of his novels. Although I really loved the Shannow novels and the few stand alone books I read, the constant theme of time travel/alternative dimensions is always something I have found difficult to get my head around. So fancying a bit more Gemmell without having to unscramble my brains I tried the Lord of the Silver Bow, the first of the Troy trilogy.
Gemmell mixes both factual and historical figures with in the novel and really gives the reader a feeling of what it must have been like to live in those times. The battle scenes are really well described and the majority of the characters well rounded. I won’t go into the various characters or their roles as these are introduced by the author so well that I wouldn’t want to take away any of the experience from potential readers. All I will say is that the ancient world of Troy is brought to life very vividly and there is a little bit of something for everyone. Action, romance, chivalry and destruction are delivered in equal measure.
Ok, so why have I only given the book 4 stars instead of 5? Well firstly I thought that the writing was not as intricate as I am used from Gemmell, at times it felt almost as if I was reading a novel aimed at young adults. I can’t put my finger on the reason but after the first 50 pages or so I actually looked up the book on Wiki to ensure it was meant for adults. Secondly, I am aware that a novel of this magnitude has to have a large number of characters, but do so many have to begin with the same letter and sound so similar? I don’t know if my concentration has taken a dip lately but I struggled to keep up with who was who (thank you Wikipedia for the lists). Anchises, Aeneas, Andromache, Atreus, Argurios, Akamas, Alektruon, Agathon, Atalus, Agamemnon etc etc…… Come on Gemmell give us some variety.
An enjoyable book, but not sure if it was enough to make me rush out and but the rest of the trilogy, but you never know. Try the Shannow novels as a first introduction.

Beautiful losers - Leonard Cohen ***

Leonard Cohen is a man of many talents. I consider him the greatest songwriter (second only to Dylan) in the world, an amazing and thought provoking poet and accomplished artist. The man oozes charisma and intelligence from every pore and attending his live concerts ranks amongst some of the best moments of my life. However, Cohen is less known as a novelist and has published two novels (My Favourite Game & Beautiful Losers) very early on in his career.

I first discovered Beautiful losers around 10 years ago and after sitting there for over a hour I couldn't even get through the first 30 pages. It was then placed to one side and forgotten about. I have always wished that I had persevered as I was sure that I was missing something. With this in mind I picked it up again and settled down for a read.

The novel is split into 3 parts, the first part is told through the eyes of an anonymous narrator and details his bizarre relationship with his wife (Edith) and best friend ('F'), interwoven into this is the story of Catherine Tekakwitha a 17th Century Saint. As the narrator recounts past events (whether real or imagined we are never totally sure) it becomes apparent that out of the group he is the only one left alive. All sounds a little bizarre? That's because it is. Although the previous sentence may indicate that there is some sort of plot to the novel you would be extremely hard pressed to find one. What about themes I hear you ask? Well for me the only really apparent theme was that of sex. Graphic descriptions on practically every page (I am sure that this book must hold some sort of record for using the c*** word) that would give even Richard Laymon a run for his money. I am no prude and this sort of thing really doesn't bother me in the slightest, but it just gets very tiresome after the first 100 or so times. I understand that this was written in 1966 during the 'sexual revolution' and maybe this had some sort of influence on Cohen, although he has admitted himself that it was produced under the influence of 'fasting and amphetamines'.

The second part of the book follows much the same as the first, only this is written in the form of a letter to the narrator. The 3rd part is much briefer and I really hoped for some kind of epiphany moment whereby I would put my finger in the air and declare 'So this is what it was all about!', it never happened.

However, despite all the various illogical ramblings there are some moments of brilliance to be found within the pages. We all know the wit and insight that Cohen is capable of and it is well worth wading through the endless nonsense. Such highlights as:

"What is most original in a man's nature is often that which is most desperate. Thus new systems are forced on the world by men who simply cannot bear the pain of living with what is."

Are accompanied by such drivel as:

"Edith Edith Edith long things forever Edith Edie cuntie Edith where your little Edith Edith Edith Edith Edith stretchy on E E E octopus complexion purse Edith lips lips area thy panties Edit Edith Edith Edith knew you your wet rivulets Eeeeddddiiiittthhhh yug yug sniffle truffle deep bulb bud button sweet soup pea spit rub hood rubber knob girl come head bup bup one bloom pug pig yum one tip tongue lug from end of bed of lips multiple lost sunk gone rise girl head small come knob splash sunk lostlick search nose help wobble hard once more lurk up girl knob bob bubble sunk in normal skin folds lab drowned lady labia up up appear pea bean..."

I keep wanting to love the book and really tried to love it. It appears on Amazon that a number of people do, but an almost equal number don't. Maybe I will revisit it one day in the future again and once more hope for the 'epiphany' moment. But I wonder if this was uncredited work how many of those raving reviews would remain?

The Murder of Roger Ackroyd - Agatha Christie *****

Having watched the Tv adaptations of Poirot starring the brilliant David Suchet I thought it was about time I picked up one of the original novels. I have never read anything by Agatha Christie before and if I am perfectly honest have never really fancied the Whodoneit type of novel. So when I came across The Murder of Roger Ackroyd in a second hand bookstore for the sum of 25p I snatched it up and settled down for a read.

Firstly, despite the age of the novel (written in 1926) the language used doesn't seem to have aged at all. This surprised me as many other Authors I have read from the era such as Nevil Shute the words sometimes seem slightly archaic. The reader immediately becomes enveloped in the world of small village gossip in the early part of the 20th century with the entire book being narrated by Dr James Sheppard. I assume that he is some sort of stand in for the more regular Captain Hastings.

The novel is written so that we, the reader, only know as much as Poirot is willing to divulge to Dr Sheppard, this accompanied by the Doctors own thoughts and feelings keep us guessing all the way. The clues are brilliantly laid out throughout the pages and at the end you cannot help but wonder how you did not come to the same conclusions as the great detective (in fact I may well revisit it one day just to see where I missed all the vital information). As always the entire novel leads up to a final meeting of all suspects and a very unexpected and dramatic conclusion.

A really well written book and I am glad I chose this as my introduction to Christie. I am sure that if I come across another Poirot mystery I will pick it up.

Enjoyed your review of The Murder of Roger Ackroyd If my memory serves me well it is one of her best.

Thanks basswood, I will try a few more Poirot ones :)

The Holy or the Broken - Alan Light ***

Ok, so I am a massive Leonard Cohen fan and have been for a long time. As anyone who is familiar with his music/poetry knows his song lyrics can be very ambiguous and complex. With this in mind when I came across a book that promised to delve into the meanings of possibly his most famous song, Hallelujah, I jumped at the chance and snatched it up.

Alan Light starts off the book very promisingly, deconstructing the song line by line and offering various opinions on what the lyrics could have meant. As part of his research he has contacted an impressive cross section of society. From music legends to journalists to religious leaders, all manner of interpretations are offered and discussed. Unfortunately the great man himself, although giving his blessing for the book, refused to be interviewed.

All this sounds like all a Cohen fan could ever want, so why have I only given the book 3 stars? Firstly, out of the 230 pages (excluding acknowledgements etc etc etc) that actually deal with the song and its various versions only around 50 of these pages actually deal with the song lyrics themselves. The last 80+ pages just gave the impression of reading a phone book, whereby anyone and everyone who has ever so much as hummed the tune gets a mention. Not only do we learn their names, dates recorded and chart position/youtube views but we are constantly told what lyrics of the song they chose to include in their own composition. While this was interesting for the odd few major recordings (Buckley/Cale etc) it began to become very wary and repetitive.

Secondly, even though the cover does claim to deal with both Cohen's version and Buckley's, I couldn't help but feeling that the original was overlooked somewhat. Not so much the lyrics but Leonard's Various Positions album version. For those of us out there that do not by any means see Buckley's COVER of the song as the definitive, all singing all dancing track, it can get slightly annoying the way in which the author constantly rebuffs the original. We are told on numerous occasions of Leonard's 'limited vocal range' that I think Mr Light may have forgotten that primarily Cohen fan's would be buying his book. Light does manage to attempt to convince the reader of Cohen's greatness as a lyricist/poet but I really feel that he fails to capture his greatness as a recording artist

Anyway, I did manage to learn a number of facts about both the music world and the actual song of Hallelujah, but if I am perfectly honest I think I could have found these with half hour of free time and access to Wiki/Google, although it was handy to have them all collected on my behalf. Not a book I feel I would recommend (at least at the current price), but if you are a completest of all things Leonard then it may be worth adding this to your collection.

Enjoyed reading your review of The Holy of the Broken It sounds like Alan Light was finding it difficult to fill up the pages having limited himself to one song.

I have The Holy or the Broken sitting on my TBR shelves. I'd heard it focused too much on Buckley rather than Cohen, so I figured I'd be braced for that, but it sounds like I may end up disappointed by it anyway.

> 46 It did feel that way. I was looking forward to a really in depth look at the song and why he may have written it at that time.

> 47 Hi Bragan, do you know of any really good Leonard Cohen biographies?

>48 Bridgey: I do! I read I'm Your Man by Sylvie Simmons recently -- it just came out a couple of years ago -- and really enjoyed it.

Hi bragan, are you on Facebook? I admin a page called 'I need a regular dose of Leonard Cohen' Sylvie Simmons is a member on there as well. :)

>50 Bridgey: So far I have managed to resist signing up for Facebook, stubborn contrarian that I am. Otherwise, I suspect I would totally be friending that page.

A Wasteland of Strangers - Bill Pronzini *****

I had never heard of Pronzini until I picked up this book so came to the novel not knowing what really to expect. The blurb on the back promised a treat for fans of the James M Cain type of Noir books so I decided to give it a chance.

The book is set in the small town of Pomo, a lakeside dwelling that relies heavily on tourism for it's survival. In recent years the visitors have started to decline and a large number of businesses are beginning to struggle or close completely. The local townsfolk seem very stereotypical of the scene we would expect to find. We have numerous colourful characters which include the drunken newspaper reporter, neurotic bank manager, prejudiced hotelier, busybody Christian and local sex siren. Into this mess however, walks a stranger by the name of John Faith. Immediately John sticks out as an outsider, everything from the car he drives to the way he looks makes most of the townsfolk suspicious of him without any kind of provocation. So when a crime spree begins and escalates with a murder all eyes immediately fall upon Faith. With the help of a small number of open minded residents can he clear his name or will he be simply presumed guilty and lost in the politics of Pomo?

This has to be one of the best books I have read in a long time. At just over 360 pages I managed to get through it in two sittings, it really is a true pageturner. Pronzini has been really clever with the way in which he allows the plot to become unravelled. Each chapter is told in the first person and narrated by most of the major characters of the town. This way be get to feel their own personal thoughts and especially their prejudices towards Faith. It is really interesting how they justify their own behaviour to themselves in one chapter and then the next chapter is told by someone else covering the same events from an entirely different viewpoint. Brilliantly John Faith is never given a voice throughout so we are never party to his own view except through the eyes of others. Every person has the potential or reason to have committed the murder and we are kept guessing until the very end. I personally suspected so many people as I worked my way along that the ending came as a complete surprise.

Although primarily a thriller/whodunit this books raises many questions regarding how we treat others, especially those that are different to ourselves. Everyone in this book has something to hide or a nasty trait to their personality. What Pronzini does is to open this up fully to the reader and allows us to explore both our own emotions and to place ourselves in nearly every central characters position and think what would we have done in the same situation.

An ideal introduction to the author, I will definitely be looking out for him again.

I have just checked Bill Pronzini on the Librarything authors page and you have a lot to choose from if you want to read more. Enjoyed your review of A Wasteland of Strangers

Bill Pronzini is a writer I have not heard of before, but his approach to the thriller genre sounds intriguing. Nice review!

Memoirs of a Dance Hall Romeo - Jack Higgins ****

If I had to be stranded on an island with only one author's books, Jack Higgins would be my number one choice. Ok, he may not be any kind of literary genius but I just love the way he writes. I became captivated from the time I first came across 'The Eagle has Landed' and have never looked back.

Higgins is primarily known as a thriller writer and this true for the majority of the 60+ novels he has written. However, there have been two exceptions this by way of A Phoenix in the Blood and Memoirs of a Dance Hall Romeo. Both see Higgins taken out of his comfort zone of blood, bombs and guts, Phoenix is a tender love story while Memoirs is a semi autobiographical account of his younger days. Before becoming a best selling author Higgins was both in the army and school teacher, much of this is reflected in the main character of Oliver Shaw.

The beginning of the book finds Shaw recently demobbed from the army and getting ready to settle back to life in post war Yorkshire. Unwilling to go back into his old job in an insurance company and having recently passed his degree he finds himself taking up a teaching post at a local school. Meanwhile he still dreams of becoming a successful writer and and any spare time he has is devoted to writing his first book, or at least any spare time when he isn't chasing women. And that is the main focus of the novel, each chapter is named after a different sexual conquest (Harriot, Wilma, Imogene etc) we follow the protagonist from his first sexual encounter to his first marriage proposal. Every scene is written with a warm humour in the background, occasionally dark but always enough to make the reader want to find out how the meeting will end. The frivolous atmosphere of the 1940's dance halls is captured perfectly and excellently contrasted with the bleakness of the schools impoverished classrooms. We meet so many quirky and colourful characters that the pages just fly by.

The book will definitely not be to every ones taste and some of the sex scenes are a little on the graphic side but for anyone with a interest in Higgins this will show a different side to his character and abilities as an author. To be honest if this was by anyone else I would never have picked it up, but as been as it was only a little over 170 pages I thought it was worth a chance, and I m glad I did.

Half a King - Joe Abercrombie ****

Firstly I had never heard of Joe Abercrombie, but after being introduced to the fantasy genre by David Gemmell I decided to branch out into other authors works. I came across Half a King in the Adult bestseller section of my local supermarket, read the blurb and decided to give it a try. However, when I got home and looked at a few reviews I was surprised to find that it was written as a Young Adult novel. These are not something I normally read and when I looked over the book again I still could not see any reference to this. I rarely buy new books so thought rather than allow my money to have gone to waste I would give it a try.

The book is the first part in a trilogy called the 'Shattered Sea' and follows the adventures of Yarvi, a second in line to the throne who has been born with a deformed hand (hence the title). He decides that his role in life is to become a minister, a sort of advisor and herbalist to kings, but after his father and brother are killed circumstances dictate that he must now become ruler of Gettland . Mocked by his subjects and pitied by his family how will the usually shy and weak Yarvi cope with this dramatic career change? Again his destiny is in the hands of others and we follow his adventures through the surrounding lands of the Shattered Sea.

Half a King was an unexpected pleasure to read with each chapter bringing a new mini adventure that makes the reader want to press on and find out what will happen next. The pages are filled with unforgettable larger than life characters of both good and bad, the journey undertaken is far from being of Tolkien proportions but this does not matter and Abercrombie manages to describe the surroundings with such detail and enthusiasm you feel you are actually there experiencing the hardships. In essence, when the fantasy element of the novel is stripped away we are left with a tale of comradeship and how friends can all work together for the greater good regardless of their background. An underlying darkness is streaked throughout this coming of age saga and surfaces at just the correct moments and makes the reader gasp at the unexpected twists. I am looking forward to seeing how Yarvi will develop in the forthcoming parts of the trilogy.

So why only 4 stars and not 5? For me the book is labelled as young adult, and I can see how it could appeal to adults as well as teenagers, but at times I felt the text was just screaming out for a little more blood and guts. I wanted to read more graphic accounts of battles and how certain characters met their untimely end, but at times I felt the author was holding back a little too much because of his intended audience.

Well worth a recommendation to lovers of both fantasy and coming of age novels.

Lord of the Flies - William Golding ****

This is one of those books that I have been meaning to read for a number of years. At school it was on the syllabus but for some reason we never got around to reading it, so it has been sat on my bookshelf for around 20 years. I remember seeing the film at some point so I had a vague idea of the plot and what to expect. The novel has been described as a modern classic so obviously I began reading with a certain expectation.

Reading the other reviews on various sites such as amazon, the majority of readers seem to award the book either five stars or four. These detail how the different themes of power, humanity and leadership (to name but a few) are explored and how Golding weaves these into the plot, occasionally very subtly (the Conch fading throughout) and other times very blatantly (the pig's head). The story follows a group of boys that range in ages from the relatively young called little 'uns, to elder teenagers. The arrive on the island following a plane crash in the midst of an atomic war, we are not told much about the conflicts origins. The book begins with Ralph & Piggy finding each other on the beach and when they find a conch shell, Piggy tells Ralph to blow it in order that all the survivors can hear and come together for the first meeting. From here the tale progresses into a bitter battle of leadership and the split of the group.

I won't go into the plot any more than that, other reviewers seem to have already done this, sometimes in too much detail.

So what did I think of the novel? Obviously LOTF has considerable literary merit, but I am a reader that also likes to indulge in a book for escapism and pleasure. Many so called 'classics' have left me cold in the past (even more so 'modern classics'), with storylines that have almost bored me to tears. However Lord of the Flies was something of a mixed bag for me. If I had to critique the novel, it was for me, almost split into three sections. Firstly the beginning where all members of the new society were introduced and made various discoveries of their surroundings, the middle where things are starting to go wrong and the end where most of the action is held. My main issue was with the middle, here the story just seemed to drag, whatever sympathies I had built up with the characters seemed to be placed on hold as Golding began to fill paragraphs with descriptions of the island etc. It interrupted the flow of the novel and almost made me want to put it down and pick up something else. I am glad that I persevered though because when the ending began it was dark, explosive and some parts quite unexpected. However despite the middle of the novel dragging slightly (in my opinion) the surrounding tales more than made up for this. You are dragged into the island life and can feel the fear felt by it's inhabitants.

Golding really captures the boys individual personalities, and draws the reader into a real life battle of human nature, choosing not just to uncover it's positives but also delving into it's dark underbelly.

Do I believe that if a bunch of school children were marooned on an island they would act the same way? Not at all. And this is why I think Golding is such a talented writer. Even though I cannot agree with his ideas, he still managed to capture my imagination for the duration of the book and made me part of the world he created.

Am I glad I read it? Yes
Would I recommend it? Yes
Would I read it again? Probably not

Thunderball - Ian Fleming ****

Ian Fleming's 9th Bond novel, and interestingly the one that I feel the film scriptwriters altered the least for big screen.

What starts as an order to attend a health farm by M, soon escalates into the search for missing atomic bombs and a ransom for $100,000,000. We are introduced to the mastermind Ernst Stavros Blofeld and the terrorist group SPECTRE..

As usual for a Bond book it contains plenty of action, beautiful women and a cleverly written plot. But for me, and it seems as if I am alone in this, it just didn't live up the previous novels (with the exception of Casino Royale which I didn't like). There just wasn't enough Bond in the book and too much time going into other characters backgrounds, especially those that would be killed of in as many pages as it took to introduce them. I did enjoy the book and Blofeld is an amazingly written baddy, even if most of the coverage is given to Largo.

All in all not a bad weapon the Bond arsenal, just not the best.

He Was My Chief - Christa Shroeder ****

An interesting first hand account from one of Hitler's secretaries. This is the second book I have read in the series, the other being 'I was Hitler's Chauffeur by Erich Kempka '.

While these books may not provide much detail regarding the war, they do give valuable insight into what Hitler was like as an everyday person. They detail his daily routines and how he treated those closest to him. These books are ideal for a reader, such as myself, that have an interest in the second world war and Hitler, but don't really want to sift through and books that go into the subject too deeply.

He was my Chief details Schroeder's personal thoughts of Hitler and gives an account of her presence at a number of important historical occasions. We learn many a snippet that allows the reader to build a fuller picture of the Fuhrer and his character. Surprisingly he is a man that is very generous to his employees, a man of strict personal morals (doesn't eat meat, smoke or drink) and at times even a little self conscious.

The only annoying aspect of the book was that a number of passages were repeated throughout. Maybe a little better editing would have helped. Interestingly Shroeder herself requested the publication of the book as she was unhappy at inaccuracies depicted in other books of her and work colleagues.

Ghost King - David Gemmell *****

I was first introduced to Gemmell by way of the Jon Shannow novels, but at the time I didn't realise they were part of a larger series of books that deal with Sipstrassi stomes.

Ghost King is the first in this series and is set in a version of Britain at the time of the Roman invasion. The story has been repeated many times over the years, a weak Prince is suddenly made King and must face his own fears in order to rule his people against a coming war. What really makes this book stand out from the rest is the unique way in which Gemmell has woven real history, well known myth and his own creations.

Sipstrassi enables it's user to create anything, he is only bound by his own imagination but the stones themselves have a limited power and change colour each time they are used. Once a stone is empty it can be repowered using blood, however these stones are no longer able to be used for a number of things (including the making of food) and are therefore more likely to be used for wrongdoing. Tied in closely with Arthurian legend this book really does have a bit of everything and although I can't say it was as good as the Shannow novels, it would still be a perfect introduction to the author.

The only point that slightly disappointed me was that whenever a character would mention something that they had seen or were warned about you could pretty much guarantee it would appear within a few pages (I hope we don't meet a vampire.... oh look here comes one now), this did take away a little bit of the surprise.

A brilliant book and I can't wait to read the next one 'Last Sword of Power'.

The Death Trade - Jack Higgins ****

Jack Higgins is easily my favourite author, ever since reading The Eagle has Landed around ten years ago I have worked my way through his very impressive back catalogue, loving every book he has written. The fact that he is still writing thrillers of this calibre at the age of 85 is nothing short of amazing and something we should all be grateful for. But many things can only be deemed good or bad by comparison, and that is why I can only give this book 4 stars. Compared to other Thriller writers on the market today Higgins still remains at the forefront of the genre, with plots that are current, topical and could easily be set in any of the UK cities. It is this sense of realism that sets Higgins apart from his peers. However, compared to much of his earlier works this latest offering just doesn't stand up as well as I would have hoped. The Dillon series are becoming a little too formulaic for me, with the Prime Ministers secret army now featured in their 20th novel it almost seems as if the last 3 or 4 novels is a rehash of all that has gone before. We await the inevitable meals of Champagne and scrambled eggs, Roper sitting wide awake for the entire night with cigarettes and whiskey, Dillon and Sara taking a risk that will not sit well with Ferguson etc. While all this may be fresh for someone new to Higgins, for the seasoned fan it can become a little too repetitive. My only other issue with this book is that every character when they speak, their sentence is either preceded by the word 'said' or 'demanded', come on Higgins, mix it up a little. On one page I counted the word 'said' 8 times, maybe this is something his editor should have picked up on?

After that you may be thinking that I really didn't care for The Death Trade, but this is very far from the truth. The action was thick and fast and as usual there was a number of unexpected twists. Descriptions of scenes and characters were second to none and it was easy to imagine yourself in the middle of the gunfire. The plot centres around a nuclear scientist who is being held against his will and being made to focus his talents on making a new super bomb. Obviously a man with this talent is sought after the world over, so when he has a chance of escape who will recover him first? The UK, Iran or the dreaded Al Qaeda? In a race against time Dillon and co must travel as far afield as the Saudi Arabian desert whilst attempting to avoid the far reaching hand of the 'Master', an Al Qaeda controller. With Agents seemingly everywhere, this read will make you question even your friendly neighbourhood shopkeepers integrity.

All in all, still a very good book but in my opinion I would love Higgins to write a new story that did not involve the Prime Ministers secret army. He seems to have settled himself into a comfort zone (and at his age I can't really blame him) and is content to stay there. Even the ages of the main characters needs looking at, Dillon is now 62 and Ferguson must be knocking on 90... If Higgins is going to keep the series running, then how about allowing the next novel to just feature Sean Dillon, after all he was the main protagonist that attracted so many readers to Higgins way back in 1992 (Eye of the Storm). Unfortunately he seems to be given less and less of the limelight with each passing novel. I miss his Irish wit and deadly comments that were so much a part of the earlier works. In comparison to him many of the new additions just seem wooden (Gideon, Roper, Holley etc)

Maybe not the best place to start as an introduction to Higgins, my own favourite novel is A Prayer for the Dying, but not only a book for the completist either. Give it a try, you'll be glad you did.

Batavia's Graveyard - Mike Dash ****

Ever wondered what would happen if a ship was wrecked in the middle of the ocean, the survivors abandoned on a barren rock, and a leader stepped forward that had secret and very unconventional religious beliefs?

No?

To be honest neither had I. But this is exactly what happened to the crew and passengers of the Dutch ship Batavia in 1629 just off the Australian coast. With the ship stricken and the captain and senior crew gone for help, the remaining survivors are shepherded onto an outcrop of coral rock, with no food or fresh water. Jeronimus Cornelisz (an apothecary) is amongst these refugees and soon begins to take control. While many people of this time were God fearing, Cornelisz proved the exception to the rule. Preferring to follow his own twisted branch of religion he felt that a man could be absolved of any wickedness on earth as surely all our actions are controlled through a higher power. This warped view leaves us a man with barely a conscience for his acts as displayed in his treatment towards his fellow castaways.

I won't go into the events that happened upon Batavia's Graveyard but it really does give an eye opener into life on board a ship in the 17th century. Mike Dash has really done his research here and I am surprised at just how much information he has managed to cram into the book without it turning into an essay.

My one and only criticism of the book is that the last quarter is made up of notes that relate to the preceding text. This meant that they were a little disjointed and I didn't really want to read through them. I would have much preferred these to have been included as footnotes on the actual pages they relate to. This way the text would have been far more enriched.

Rummies - Peter Benchley *****

Peter Benchley has been one of my favourite authors for years, his books are always so well researched and his enthusiasm for his subject just shines through so well. Best known for his tales of the sea and marine animals I doubt if many people are aware that he has also written two books of a completely different genre. I bought both these a number of years ago (Q Clearance & Rummies - also released as 'Lush') but always put of reading them as I thought there was no way they would be able to captivate me as well as a man eating shark or giant squid. I was very wrong.

Scott Preston is a well educated, high flying editor from New York. Scott likes a drink but doesn't see this as a problem and thinks it is just 'comes with the lifestyle'. However his friends and family have a very different viewpoint. He is bundled off to a therapy centre in the middle of the desert where he meets a whole host of colourful characters.

One of Benchley's major attributes is how well rounded he is able to make his characters and Rummies is no exception, we feel the protagonists need for another drink, we feel his frustration and lack of understanding for the reasons he has been sent into rehab, but most of all be are able to empathise through all stages of his journey from denial to acceptance. Although the novel deals with a very serious subject matter you will find yourself laughing nearly all of the way through as each new 'inmate' is introduced with their own unique problem and personality.

I don't know if Benchley ever suffered for drug or alcohol addiction, but his enthusiasm for the subject shines through every page. If you thought he was a one trick pony that only dealt with sea tales, pick this book up. You will be pleasantly surprised.

Glad to hear that Batavia's Graveyard works, as I just bought it on a whim, having never hear of it before. I can't resist shipwrecks and mutinies though.

Enjoying your reviews.

SassyLassy, thanks for the recommendation. It's definitely a book I would have overlooked otherwise. :)

The Black Arrow - Robert Louis Stephenson ***

Like most people I was introduced to RLS through Treasure Island. But since those early days of pirate adventures I seem to have overlooked his other works. Thinking it was about time I read another of his novels I came across The Black Arrow in a local bookshop and thought I would give it a try.

The story itself is pretty sturdy, we follow the adventures of Richard Shelton as he seeks to find the true story of his father's death. Set during the war of the Roses, England is in turmoil with people changing allegiance to which ever rose is winning, subterfuge and battles are at every turn, throw in a bit of young, forbidden love and you have the ingredients of a 'boys own' adventure.

The main problem for me was that the story just seemed to drag, and coupled with characters speaking an archaic 'middle English' language it made for quite a painful read. It hasn't put me off reading more RLS but it has certainly lowered my expectations.

Serenade - James M Cain ***

My third book by Cain (Double Indemnity & The Postman Always Rings Twice being the others) and after reading and absolutely loving the others I was really looking forward to getting stuck into this novel.

We follow the tale of John Howard Sharp, an out of work but world class opera singer, he finds himself down to his last few pesos in Mexico when his life becomes entwined with a beautiful local prostitute. Together they carve their way back into the USA where Sharp once again establishes himself as a force within the industry. This all goes well until the man responsible for launching Sharp, the young conductor Winston Hawes, comes back into his life with disastrous consequences.

For it's time I would imagine the novel caused quite a stir and not a lot is held back. Gay relationships and prostitution appear in abundance, and Caine is definitely not someone who constrained by the attitudes of the time.

But, and here is the books downfall for me, I just didn't enjoy it. The other books I have read have always sped along at a really fast pace, and I admired him as an author that wasted no words. However this book for me was the exact opposite. Pages and pages were dedicated to prattling on about various forms of music and the arts. It was almost as if the author was just attempting to put all of his knowledge of Puccinni etc into this book. I have read that Cain's mother was an opera singer so this is obviously where this all stems from. I just couldn't get into the actual storyline itself, which when it did manage to deviate from the theme of 'Art' was actually quite good.

If this had been the first book I had picked by Cain then I am sure it would have been my last, and that really would have been a great shame. Looking at others reviews I can see that I am in the minority, but I can only give my own honest opinion and that is to try something else of his first.

I think The Black Arrow is quite well-known to be a pot-boiler. Generally, it is not considered to be one of the works on which Stevenson's reputation was built.

Doctor Sleep - Stephen King *****

Unlike most people I was probably a little later reading 'The Shining' (blame my parents as I wasn't even born when it was written). I first picked up it up around 2 years ago having watched the film and became gripped from the first page. So when King announced that he was writing a sequel I naturally became both excited and sceptical. How would Doctor Sleep live up the creepiness of The Shining?

As we all know The Shining is very often awarded the accolade of being the creepiest book written. In attempting to further the tale of Danny Torrance, King has very cleverly written a novel that is very different to the shining, bringing a far more human element to the narrative. Whereas the majority of it's predecessor was confined to the haunted Overlook and its supernatural inhabitants, Doctor Sleep in set right across the USA and in typical everyday towns. Not being just a horror story, most of the the books characters also have to deal with a very real death that many of us will have experienced through family members or may experience in later life. Old age and it's various ailments are explored so vividly that King frightens us in a very perceptible way.

The plot features an older Danny, a Danny that is plagued by personal problems that are rooted in his experiences during that winter in the Overlook. Soon he hits rock bottom but luckily he stumbles across a town where he is able to find help and a steady job. Throughout his life he has still felt his 'gift' and also encountered others with varying degrees of the shining. However, hundreds of miles away there is a young girl that the young Danny Torrance would have been easily able to relate to, the only difference is that her powers are even stronger that his. With this uniqueness shining like a beacon it was only going to be a matter of time before it became noticed by The Knot, a group of seemingly immortal individuals that need to 'feed' from children with the shining in order to survive.

A really brilliant book. I have been a King fan for many years and recently always felt a little let down by his endings (Under the Dome???) but this offering sees the master of horror at the top of his game. My only negative would be that I think you really need to have read The Shining first as there are lots of references to the previous storyline.

I hope there will be a third instalment and we won't have to wait another 30 years for it.

The Grey - Ian Mackenzie Jeffers ****

I recently sat down and watched a brilliant film and when the final credits rolled I was surprised to find that it was adapted from a novel called "Ghost Walker" by Ian MacKenzie Jeffers. I searched all the usual sites to try and find a copy of the book only to find that is was very difficult to get hold of the original version, but it has been rereleased under the same title as the film. Very often in the past I have not always enjoyed a book where I found the film favourable and vice versa. However, from the first page I knew this would not be an issue here.

We follow John Ottway, a hunter employed by an oil company to protect the workforce from the local wildlife. Following a short break from the oilfields we find him on a plane journey along with a number of colleagues when then the flight runs into difficulty. A crash follows and the handful of survivors find themselves seemingly alone in the Alaskan wilderness. With barely enough time to gather their senses a pack of wolves appear that are intent on reducing the groups survival chances. Written in the first person by John the writer integrates his current situation with flashbacks of his youth and family.

The writing (as many have said) really is as bleak as the landscape it portrays. You will find no padding out of the story, just the thoughts and feelings of a desperate man whose life hangs in the balance alongside detailed descriptions of the land around him. This is the first book that I have read by the author, and if I had to liken his writing style to anyone I would say he is very similar to Cormac McCarthy (a poor mans version if you will), no punches are spared and Mackenzie is not afraid to detail even the most personal thoughts of man with no where to turn.

At just over 140 pages the read was a quick one, personally I feel this is a book that needs to be read within one or two sittings to really allow the atmosphere to build, it doesn't seem to be something I could dip in and out of and still feel the full effect of the prose.

This is obviously a book I really enjoyed, so why only 4 stars instead of the maximum? At time I did get a little tired of the writing style. The author would make a statement in the opening sentence and then immediately contradict himself in the next. This was ok as a rare occurrence but towards the middle section it became more and more frequent. For example (not actual book quotes):

'I felt myself falling. Or did I fall? I was unsure.'

'My eyes closed with sleep. Or did they. Was it just a dream or reality'

My only other small complaint was the way the book finished. For obvious reasons I won't go into this, but it did leave me slightly unsatisfied.

For fans of the film I would definitely recommend the book, and for those that haven't seen the film, try the book first, it really does have so much more to offer including a lot more background detail of the main character.

>69 Bridgey: Great review of Doctor Sleep! I keep meaning to read that, since I loved The Shining, but I was a little considered it wouldn't live up to The Shining. Sounds like I need to try it.

Japaul, I really enjoyed it. Just bought his latest novel, Revival, about 70 pages in and really enjoying it as well. :)

>70 Bridgey: I note that only six people have a copy of The Grey and so your review will be welcome.

Thanks Baswood.

>69 Bridgey: I loved Doctor Sleep. Like so many, I'm a very longtime fan of King's. I believe that his most recent novels have a greater degree of warmth, empathy and heartbeat than some of the early ones. I wonder if my feeling is because of his accident, his aging or my aging? Regardless, he is a master at his peak.

>69 Bridgey: Great review of Doctor Sleep.

Thanks both. I do agree Nancy that his latest novels are a lot warmer. But I do sometimes wonder if that is what I want from a writer I usually buy for his horror.

Revival - Stephen King ****

What's it about?

We follow the lives of Jamie Morton and Charles Jacobs. The journey starts when Jamie is a young boy and Jacobs takes the post as the local Methodist minister. Over the next 50 years their lives continually come into contact with each person suffering more than their fair share of tragedy. Whilst Jamie throws himself into his music (and other things) Jacobs continues to develop his love of electricity. However at every chance (or fateful) encounter the experiments become more and more sinister.

What did I like?

As much a coming of age novel as a horror flick, King has once again allowed a much warmer side to his writing than his works of the 70's and 80's allowed. Once again the descriptions of the small American town is spot on. The scene that King sets is one that is typical throughout his books and one that no other Author seems able to replicate. Each character is perfectly rounded and really draws the reader into their struggles forcing you to turn the page to find out what will happen next. As with Doctor Sleep the novel deals with illness and sickness in a very realistic way (often more scary than ghosts and vampires) and I think this will allow the book to stay with me for a long time.

What didn't I like?

The book starts off brilliant. The book ends equally as well. It is just the middle section I have an issue with, it really seemed a little too fleshed out. The book is primarily sold as a horror novel, I want to be shocked, startled, maybe even disgusted, but this section of the book did nothing like this. At times I was thinking to myself 'Something bad happen to someone, anyone.' In my opinion the book could easily have shaved off a hundred pages and it would have really improved the atmosphere. Instead of being a nearly great book, it could have been a fantastic novella.

My only other whinge (and it is a small one) was the foreword to the novel. By describing the novels that influenced King as he was writing the book, it definitely took away a few of the twists of the narrative. It allowed me to second guess the storyline when I would have much preferred to have been totally surprised as piece by piece the novel was uncovered.

Would I recommend it?

A bit of a difficult one this. I really did enjoy the book and would recommend to others, but not as an introduction to the author. Although smaller (371 pages) than many of his other works I think anyone new to King would be better off starting with one of his earliest offerings such as Salem's Lot or The Shining. In comparison to his very large catalogue I think it deserves 4 stars and sits quite comfortably as by no means his best, but easily in his top 20.

Another nice King review. Thanks!

Pacific Vortex - Clive Cussler ****

What is about?

Although released 6th in the Dirk Pitt adventure series, this book was actually the first written. However Cussler was unsatisfied with it's content and decided to hold it back. Following the success of the Pitt franchise the Author finally bowed to public demand and released Pacific Vortex as the 6th instalment. Cussler writes in the foreword that he feels the novel is not up to his usual standard and should be viewed as more or less a history lesson into Pitt's past.

We meet Pitt having a lazy day relaxing on the beach, he spots a luminous container in the water and dives into the strong current in order to retrieve it. Inside he finds a final communication from the stricken submarine Starbuck, immediately realising the importance of the document he takes it direct to Admiral Hunter. What follows is a mission into uncharted waters to find the true history of the last hours of the nuclear submarine. In typical adventure style, similar to Jack Higgins and Ian Fleming, we follow the strong character of Pitt as he faces not just the dangers of the ocean, but also a ruthless and cunning enemy. Expect exotic locations, beautiful women and plenty of action.

What did I like?

This is the first Cussler book that I have read, so was unsure of what to anticipate. I have read many action books that have promised to offer so much and actually delivered so little. Jack Higgins is easily my all time favourite author, so I was pleased to find a number of similarities in the novel (particularly with his creation of Sean Dillon). The action is fast paced and there is very little let up throughout the 340+ pages. Pitt seems the hero that all men (or at least boys) would like to become, tall, handsome and supplied with a 'devil may care' attitude. At times Pitt's replies are so cheesy that even James Bond would be embarrassed to repeat them, but this only added to the cheeky side of the trained killer. Such as this little exchange with a girl who Pitt awakes to find looking over him (you could almost deliver Pitt's lines with a Sean Connery accent):

" 'Your the best possible stimulant for a man in my delicate condition'

'Oh really, and what rare disease are you suffering from?'

'I have several, but we can begin with hornyitus.' "

I know this may not be to everyone's taste, but it really does help within the context of the novel to break up the tense scenes. Another aspect that I enjoyed was that it was one of those novels where you were actually bombarded with a number of facts (not surprising when you consider that Cussler is almost a real life Pitt) and you felt as if you picked up a little seafaring knowledge along the way. Although now over 40 years old, obviously the technology seemed more than dated but the writing remains fresh.

What didn't I like?

Although I really did enjoy the book (read in two sittings) the plot really was a bit too simple. There were a number of twists but a few of these were easily second guessed. However, Cussler did warn us about this in the foreword so they were to be expected really. From looking at reviews of his later works this seems to be something that he irons out very quickly.

Would I recommend it?

I would, but because this is only the first book of his I have read then really cannot comment on how it compares to Cussler's other works, or if this is the place to start as an introduction to the author. I decided to read it first as I like to go through a series in order and a number of other websites and reviewers list Pacific Vortex as the place to start. I can see why lovers of hardcore action may not like the book, and it does not seem to have been awarded the accolade that the later Pitt novels have received, but I always find the best place to start is at the very beginning. Give it a try, with over 50 novels to his name Cussler must be doing something right.

Too much padding in Stephen King novels seems to be mentioned in many reviews I read of his books, yet he still sells boatloads and is much admired. Nice review Bridgey

Children of the Flames - Lucette Matalon Lagnado ***

This is one of those books that because of the subject matter you feel a little wrong in not giving it full stars. I have always had an interest in the WW2 and the Nazi's and because of this I have read a number of books on the subject of the holocaust.

I decided to buy Children of the Flames in order to get a little more information as to what really happened in the camps. The blurb promised to deal with the twins of the holocaust and how they were treated, this is something that other books seem to only skirt over and not go into too much detail.

This was the main issue for me. The writer has obviously researched their subject well, but the majority of the book deals with Dr Mengele. The twins stories are told at the beginning of each chapter, focussing firstly on their life before they were taken by the Nazi's. Each twin has a paragraph or so to tell a portion of their tale of that particular part of the story. For me this got quite confusing and even a little repetitive. I would have much preferred each set of twins to have a full chapter dedicated entirely to their journey and experiences.

The experiments that happened at the camps are only barely touched on, I know this may seem a little gruesome but I had hoped for a lot more factual information. What experiments were carried out? What was the result? Etc.

The majority of the book deals with Mengele and his life during and after the war. This is ok if you are not already familiar with him but again, I bought the book for more details of the atrocities committed.

My final gripe is that the last quarter is made up of notes that relate to the preceding text. This meant that they were a little disjointed and I didn't really want to read through them. I would have much preferred these to have been included as footnotes on the actual pages they relate to. This way the text would have been far more enriched.

As I have said, a really well researched book, just not what I was expecting or purchasing it for. It has many 5 * reviews so don't let this put you off. These are just my own thoughts.

Shutter Island - Dennis Lehane ****

My first book by this author. I had yet to see the film and came across the book so decided to give it a go.

It isn't one of those books where I will describe the plot in too much detail as it would detract from any twists and turns (and there are many) that appear throughout. Sufficed to say we follow US Marshall Teddy Daniels as he visits the mental institute on Shutter Island to investigate the whereabouts of a missing patient. Things are not as they seem, and with the added confusion of a hurricane will he be able to complete his mission with his sanity intact.

A very tight thriller, that keeps the reader second guessing until the very end. From other reviews I have read it seems that this type of novel is a little different from the ones Lehane would normally write, so I am unsure if I would look up any of his other works based on Shutter Island.

My only two criticisms are that at times the plot did seem a little unbelievable, but that is something that new readers will have to make their own mind on. The other is the ending. Lehane made it quite ambiguous. And if there is one thing I hate it's an ambiguous ending. I like things clear cut so the story can be put to rest.

>82 Bridgey: I was not entranced by Lucette Lagnado's The Man in the White Sharkskin Suit, which I really wanted to like, so I'm not altogether surprised by your review.

Hi Rebecca. It was one of those books where I was expecting so much, but got so little.

Hercule Poirot's Christmas ****

My second book in the Poirot series and also my second book by the author. I was a little worried about reading this one as I had seen the tv adaptation and knew the ending. Not the best introduction to a whodunit....

But I needn't have worried. As expected the writing was so good that it really didn't matter, and in a way helped, making me scour the text trying to see where the trail was left to lead me to the culprit.

Most people are familiar with the traditional Poirot novel and this is no exception. A number of family members descend upon a mansion at the request of multi-millionaire Simeon Lee for Christmas. Simeon is a cruel man and in the past has upset all of his children, but now, crippled and old he appears to want to make amends.

When the old man is murdered, seemingly there is no way the killer could have left the room after committing the deed. The police are baffled, but luckily Poirot is in the neighbourhood and puts his little grey cells to work.

Well worth a read, whether you are new to the novels or not.

Thanks all for being with me on the journey :)

Here is 2015's link: http://www.librarything.com/topic/185024

Hope to see you there.