Clfisha's 100 books in 2011

Well I enjoyed my time here this year in this wonderful group so of course I cannot wait to start all over again in 2011. Of course my new years resolution is to read and post more..

Good to have you back! Looking forward to your book discussions in 2011.

I am not doing star ratings this year, I was hopelessly inconsistent last year! So I reckon Bad, Average, Good, Excellant and Amazing will be good stand ins.

This years list, in reverse order:
104. Nelson edited by Rob Davis and Woodrow Phoenix
103. Bruges-La-Morte by Georges Rodenbach
102. BoneShaker by Cherie Priest (Excellent 26/12)
101. Sisters Brothers by Patrick deWitt (ok 22/12)
100. A Small Free Kiss in Dark by Glenda Millard (Good 17/12)
99. John Dies @ The End by David Wong (Excellent 14/12)
98. As I Walked Out One Midsummer Morning by Laurie Lee (ok Dec)
97. Down The Rabbit Hole by Juan Pablo Villalobos (Good Dec)
96. Cider with Rosie by Laurie Lee (Good 2/12)
95. The Day Aberystwyth Stood Still by Malcolm Pryce (Good Nov)
94. From Aberystwyth with Love by Malcolm Pryce (Good Nov)
93. Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier (Excellent 26/11)
92. Night World by L J Smith (ok 24/11)
91. Jericho Mosaic by Edward Whittemore (Excellent 23/11)
90. Nile Shadows by Edward Whittemore (Good Nov)
89. Unwritten: Volume 4 by Mike Carey (author) and Peter Gross (artist)
88. Jerusalem Poker by Edward Whittemore (excellent Nov)
87. Under Arizona Skies: The Apprentice Desert Shelters at Frank Lloyd Wright's Taliesin West by Bruce Brooks Pfeiffer (good Oct)
86. The Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes (Excellent Oct)
85. The Troika by Stepan Chapman (Amazing)
84. Lover Enshrined by J R Ward (good)
83. Dead Reckoning by Charlaine Harris (ok)
82. Lover Unbound by J R Ward (good)
81. The Gone-Away World by Nick Harkaway (Amazing)
80. Dark Matter by Michelle Paver (Excellent Sept)
79. A Cruel Bird Came to the Nest and Looked in by Magnus Mills (good Sept)
78. Lover Revealed by J.R.Ward (good 21/9)
77. Lover Awakened by J.R.Ward (good 19/9)
76. Blameless by Gail Carriger (ok 16/9)
75. Changeless by Gail Carriger (Bad 13/9)
74. Lover Eternal by J.R. Ward (average 11/9)
73. Dark Lover by J.R Ward (good)
72. Anno Dracula by Kim Newman (Excellent 6/9)
71. How To Be a Woman by Caitlin Moran
70. Alice in Sunderland by Brian Talbot (Excellent 26/8)
69. Psychiatric tales by Darryl Cunningham (Good 20/8)
68. In The Night Garden by Catherine M Valente (excellent 28/8)
67. Dark Property by Brian Evenson (Ok 23/8)
66. Locke & Key : Keys to The Kingdom Good (24/8)
65. Locke & Key: Crown of Shadows by Joe Hill (author) and Gabriel Rodriguez (artist) Excellant (July)
64. McSweeney's Enchanted Chamber of Astonishing Stories edited by Michael Chabon (OK 15/8)
63. Purge by Sofi Oksanen (8/8 Excellent)
62. The Windup Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi (Average 2/8)
61. The Last Call by Tim Powers (Good 30/8)
60. A Room with a View by E. M. Forster (Good 27/7)
59. Un Lun Dun by China Mieville (Good 26/7)
58. Zoo City by Lauren Beukes (Amazing 25/7)
57. The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie by Muriel Spark Excellant
56. The Fury / Dark Reunion by L. J. Smith OK
55. The Awakening / The Struggle by L. J. Smith
54. A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness (author) and Jim Kay (artist) Excellant
53. The Lost Machine by Richard A Kirk Amazing (June)
52. Retribution Falls by Chris Wooding (Good 1/7)
51. The Rider by Tim Krabbe (Excellent 29/6)
50. Rings of Saturn W G Sebald (Excellent 27/6)
49. The Night of The Living Trekkies by Kevin David Anderson & Sam Stall (Good 22/6)
48. The Baron In The Trees by Italo Calvino (Good 20/6)
47. Monkey by Wu Ch'eng-en Good (19/6)
46. The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness (good June)
45. All Quiet on the Orient Express by Magnus Mills (Excellant 5/6)
44. The Drinker by Hans Fallada (Bad 4/6)
43. Packing for Mars by Mary Roach (Good)
42. The Wrong Case by James Crumley (Average 16/5)
41. Tales of the Spiffing: Comics from the Sceptered Isle by Ashley Boddy (Good 15/5)
40. Fish Chocolate by Kate Brown
39. Gonzo: A Graphic Biography of Hunter S. Thompson by Will Bingley
38. Strangehaven : arcadia by Gary Spencer Millidge (good 15/5)
38. Tale of One Bad Rat by Bryan Talbot (Good 15/5)
37. Embassytown by China Mieville (amazing 4/5)
36. A Touch of Dead by Charliane Harried (Good 28/4)
35. Dead in the Family by Charlaine Harris (good 28/4)
34. Dead and Gone by Charlaine Harris (good 28/4)
33. Fingersmith by Sarah Waters (good) 28/4
32. The Toff on Board by John creasey (23/4 Average)
31. The Spy Who Came in From The Cold by John Le Carre (Ok)
30. The Unwritten: Vol 3 by Mike Carey (author) and Peter Gross (artist) (Amazing)
29. From Dead to Worse by Charlaine Harries (Good)
28. All Together Dead by Charlaine Harris (Good
27. Definitely Dead by Charlaine Harris (Good)
26. Dead as a Doornail by Charlaine Harris (Good)
25. Dead to the World by Charlaine Harris (Good)
24. Club Dead by Charlaine Harris (Good)
23. Living Dead in Dallas by Charlaine Harris (Good) 4/4
22. Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris (Good) 3/4
21. The Lord of Emperors by Guy Gavriel Kay (Amazing March 2011)
20. Sailing to Sarantium by Guy Gavriel Kay (Excellant (March 2011)
19 Captain Alatriste by Arturo Perez-Reverte (Average 10/3)
18. Under Heaven by Guy Gavriel Kay (Average 8/3)
17. The Fallen Blade: Act One of the Assassini by Jon Courtenay Grimwood (02/3 Good)
16. The Ecstatic by Victor Lavelle (Excellant)
15. Yesterday Will Make You Cry by Chester Himes (Excellant)
14. The Lottery and Other Stories by Shirley Jackson (13/2 Excellant)
13. The Unwritten: Inside Man v. 2 by Mike Carey (author) and Peter Gross (artist) (5/2 Excellant)
12 Elmer by Gerry Alanguilan (5/2 Amazing)
11. Nerd Do Well by Simon Pegg (6/2 Bad)
10. Cast the First Stone by Chester Himes (30/1 Excellant)
9. Cold Skin by Albert Sanchez Pinol (25/1 Good)
8. The BldgBlog Book by Geoff Manuagh (23/1 Amazing)
7. Wasteland by Antony Johnston (author) and Christopher Mitten (artist) (Average 13/1)
6. The Maintenance of Headway by Magnus Mills (Excellant 12/1)
5. The session : a novella in dialogue by Aaron Petrovich (Excellant 12/1)
4. Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurty (11/1 Amazing)
3. Rats : a year with New York's most unwanted inhabitants by Robert Sullivan (7/1 Amazing)
2. The Unwritten by Mike Carey (author) and Peter Gross (artist)
1.The Red Tree by Caitlin R Kiernan (Good 2/1)

1. The Red Tree by Caitlin R Kiernan
Fun New England Ghost Story
(Good)

Sarah Crowe has moved to New England to pick up the pieces from a tragic relationship and try and kick start her long awaited new book. Within the dark dusty cellar she finds an unfinished manuscript, one mans obsession with an ancient oak, an obsession that soon becomes her own.

Ok so I didn’t find this at all creepy, maybe because the main character isn't the least bit scared herself but it was enjoyable ghost story, with a suitable scary setting, some nice ghostly set pieces and a great unreliable narrator to carry the tale. Of course that's not really a spoiler as we are told how unreliable she is often enough, it's one of the small weaknesses in the book. Nothing to detract from a great tale though. Although not eerie enough I would still recommended it for fans of the paranormal

2. The Unwritten by Mike Carey (author) and Peter Gross (artist)
Comic metafiction at it's best
(Excellent)

Imagine the worlds best selling fantasy series was never finished, the author disappearing into thin air. Now imagine that was your father and those books star you as the hero and your life is now one round of signings and interviews at fantasy conventions. Bad enough until you realise your childhood was a lie and someone is out to kill you.

A startlingly good first graphic novel, just enough to set the scene and draw you but leaving you enough mystery to wonder where it's all going. The playful merging of reality and literature is not only great fun it makes a great plot, a plot which moves along at a fast pace and is complex but never overwhelming. The artwork is superb too. I for one cannot wait to get my hands on the 2nd volume.

I would be interested to know did anyone else find the introduction a little odd?

Wow, that sounds really interesting! *wishlists right away*

Good meta is hard to do, I think, but delightful when it's done right!

And (squee!) it's available at the local comic shop! I shall have to pop in there asap, it sounds fascinating.

wishlisted!

I am going to try and get the 2nd one next weekend... I hope it delivers the 1st ones promise...

Anyway I seem to be on a role :) My next book was great too:

3. Rats : a year with New York's most unwanted inhabitants by Robert Sullivan
Fascinating rat history
(Amazing)

A beautifully written, highly engaging book on err.. rats. Well it's not just about rats, it's a wonderful mix of social politics, history and science too. Sullivan chose to concentrate on rats ‘ relationship with humanity and this keeps this book from being dry, instead it's fun and full of life. He knows when to digress with a fascinating aside, concentrate on personal accounts or recount history. It's packed full of interesting things but even though there's a wide remit it fits together remarkably well. I thought it a well researched book and luckily the author doesn't need to show off, his judicious use of facts and his ability to clarity makes this lots of fun.

Of course there's a caveat people expecting to have a book based solely on rats will disappointed, others who already have a good knowledge of New York or USA history may have seen some of it before and be bored. Although Sullivan writes in such an engaging fast paced manner that that this may not matter. The was one minor fault for me (although it did not detract from the book). Sullivan's attempts to tie the book together thematically, to reach a conclusion to his obsessive year seemed false, interesting yet strained.

Still I would highly recommended this book to ..well just about anyone.

4.Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurty
A glorious epic western
(Amazing)

Writing this review is so hard. This books is so amazingly, stunningly good I am in awe, riveted for the entirety of its 950 pages, I raced through it in days. It doesn't matter if you don't much like westerns or huge books, this one is worth trying.

Fully deserving of the epic label, this starts off in a suitable dusty town in Texas with what first seems those quirky characters always found in stories set in out of the way small towns the world over. It's a pleasant experience easing into the story, especially one as engaging as this. Soon though this story starts packing hard, glorious punches.

It has many grand themes (but I don't want to spoil it even slightly). A story about life set in the last
death throes of the wild west, still a harsh life; violent, unfair and tragic but also glorious. The characters are fantastic and I take my hat off to McMurty who creates such strong interesting female characters in a book & world populated mostly by men. But then McMurty is the master of story; the pacing and plot in such a large book is stunning; he knows when to forebode, when to sweep aside your expectations, when to make you smile and (for my part) cry like
a baby.

Look just try this book, please? The 1st 50 pages will tell you like the style but if your not sure of the story stay with it, because it grows beautifully for you to love (or hate) the characters. For you to care and it's rare a book makes me care that much to honest, I was in floods of tears at the end.

haha that's awesome, Claire, that you loved Lonesome Dove that much. You might also try Dead Man's Walk for an introduction to Gus and Woodrow. Along with Lonesome Dove these are the two best IMO of the series.

Wow, Lonesome Dove just keeps on getting great praise! The library has it (at a different branch to my usual), I'll have to look into checking it out.

@11 A series? I never knew.. oo I nervous about picking up another one but I suspect I will try it :) Yeay more Gus and Woodrow.

5. The session : a novella in dialogue by Aaron Petrovich
Funny, oddball novella
(Excellent)

Short and very odd but highly amusing this is a book about a murder investigation. It's also just one long conversation that flows easily and sometimes confusingly but that's half the fun:

What, then, do we know?
He's dead.
Please be thorough: Who is dead?
I will try and be more specific: the Mathematician
Thank you. And what is he missing?
In his position, I would miss the way window gathers
the morning light into a ball and shatters it
accross the far wall.
...

Yes that's right there is no description, no speech marks, no attribution of whose speaking. Don't get me wrong it's not a hard novel to read, but it does keep you on your toes. You will of course soon begin to mistrust things too.. This is a great little book for those wanting a different type of tasty morsel to read. The text is also interspersed with moody, black and white drawings and lasting a whopping 59 pages what have you got to loose?

6. The Maintenance of Headway by Magnus Mills
Wonderful offbeat bus philsophy
(Excellant)

'There is no excuse for being early.' said Breslin
'No I suppose not.'
'None whatsover.'
'No.'
'It is forbidden.'
'Yes.'

Who knew that the kafkaesque bureaucracy of a bus company could by so funny or engaging?

A short, yet fun and engaging story by the master of tricks. Well except this time there are none, nothing wrong with that just forewarning to stave of disapointment of fans. What it does have is dry wit and dead pan humour, some great characters, wonderful observations and the ubiquitous unsettling sinister overtones. Ok there is no plot, more a series of vignettes and humourous discussions but that doesn't matter it's still engaging and everyone who has used public transport will see the ring of truth.

If you haven't read Mills this may not be the best place to start, his 1st book Restraint of Beasts is a good as place as any though.

Love your detailed book reviews - wish I had the time and the talent to do the same... I know I will find all sorts of great ideas from your entries!

awe shucks thank you. Took me ages to work out what I wanted to see in a review and to get into the rhythm. I am lucky I have quite lunch hours too :)

I haven't heard of either of these books before, but they sound like great little reads!

7. Wasteland by Antony Johnston (author) and Christopher Mitten (artist)
Standard American Post Apocalypse tale
(Average)

OK there is nothing bad about this comic, it's well paced with your standard gritty characters. Oh you know the beautiful yet tough heroine, mysterious rough lone hero with tragic past, mad max slavers, religious fanatics making life difficult and a variety of scary mutants trying to eat everyone. Being the 1st volume in a series it's mostly about setup and it does a fine job of introducing you to the world and ending on a cliff-hanger to make you pick up the next one.

Having said all that there is a but.. because I just didn't really enjoy it. Maybe I am a jaded cynic but I didn't see anything to interest me here. The world just seemed slightly too black and white for my tastes. The evil religion has a nutty prophetic head guy with no morals. His hobbies include: being worshipped, killing people and having many slaves whereas the good religion Does No Wrong. Yes it might change but for me there is no hook, I can't see the potential and well life is too short. Will not be continuing with this one.

Already behind on reviews.. oh well.

8. The BldgBlog Book by Geoff Manaugh
Eclectic, fantastical thoughts
(Amazing)

Practically indescribable, this is amazing, fantastical, eclectic and beautiful book on .. hmm well
on our relationship with the built environment. Perhaps he describes best himself "Forget academic rigour. Never take the appropriate next step. Talk about Chinese urban design, the European space program and landscape of Alfred Hitchcock in the space of three sentences -
because its fun and because the juxtapositions might take you somewhere."

Expanded from his blog but oh so much more, there are enough ideas here to keep a fantasy/sci-fi author happy forever. He takes interesting scientific articles, architecture projects, books and movies and lets his imagination go wild. Take some examples: There's a fascinating interview with the author Jeff Vandermeer on city building in stories and on the next page a fun aside on the architecture of email spam (yes they have 3D modelled keywords in spam). But it isn't just short bites there are longer themed chapters dealing with topics such as the underground or sound or the geological apocalyptic future. Rarely have I seen the end of the world looked at with such beauty as cities are ground down to the essential elements, rivers of liquid architecture "molten steel, swept by currents of gelatinous glass.. " London mixing with Paris mixing with Moscow. "What is the melting point of Manhattan?" he asks

It's also a beautiful book in itself. It is lovingly designed as you would expect but it's also interspersed with gorgeous photographs from Dickensian ship breaking yards to lush futuristic landscapes. Its a book to flick through, to dip into or to ruthlessly devour. There is no need to have interest in architecture or geology, if you love ideas this is the book for you, if you get excited by speculative fiction this the place for you. It is joie de vivre writ large.

Now go get a taste of it at http://bldgblog.blogspot.com/.

9. Cold Skin by Albert Sánchez Piñol
Sociological horror
(Good)

On a tiny remote Antartic island a young man arrives to take up the post of weather observer. But when he lands there is no trace of the man he is sent to replace, just a mute deranged lighthouse keeper. Everything is a mystery and then night falls..

Its a odd book but an enjoyable one. Once I overcame my utter disbelief that anyone would be stupid enough to stay behind on a remote island with a potentially murderous lunatic I really enjoyed it. The lovecraftian horror segues into a mediation on warfare, on hope, sex, insanity and the brutality inside us all. Some scenes are shocking and sympathy with the narrator is lost time and time again, yet the protagonists loftier ideals are catching, his hope insidious and I became engrossed hoping for his redemption, for a happy ending.

It is in the end a deeply satisfying story, with enough to make you think and enough twists to provoke emotion. The ending makes for a great discussion too.. but I really don't want to spoil it.

Recommended for fantasy and horror fans

#'s 8 & 9 both sound excellent, Claire. Hope I can find them! My library has some trouble tracking down some of the books I discover here on LT.

I asked our librarian once if she was aware of LibraryThing... I'm not sure she realizes there are other things you can do on a computer besides look up books in a library database.

But it's what I have...

Ah well good luck! I have quite a good library (although they are looking to close it!) but I have to order everything I want so its a bit tiresome.

Our librarians are pretty good at Googling and finding out the names of sequels when I turn up and ask vaguely for books. (I've taken to jotting names down on post-its, but my wallet's about to explode from all the post-its in there!)

The BldgBlog book sounds fab. No sign of it locally, but I've added it to my wishlist on The Book Depository...

heh my library tracked down a copy of Cold Skin in record time... and I read about 25 pages or so before I came hunting where I saw it reviewed... sociological horror eh? I'll say ;-)

I couldnt think of another way of describing it ;) maybe schlock sociolagical horror!

you wait weeks for a review to come and then two come at once...

10. Elmer By Gerry Alanguilan
since touchstone isnt working; http://www.librarything.com/work/2110761
Powerful and beautiful graphic novel
(Amazing)

Alanguilan starts with the premise of what would happen if chickens suddenly aquired sentience. This is not as silly as it sounds, in fact it's not silly at all. It's beautiful, funny, tragic, hopeful and mixes the everyday with huge, overarching themes.

Elmer is perftect for the comic meduim, I cannot imagine it done well in any other and Alanguilan's craft here is wonderful. His art and dialogue are fantastic but also the careful layout & the impact this brings, there are some highly memorable parts to the story.

It is easy to care about the characters, chicken or human are all truly and fully realised, and all carry a difficult story with ease. After all without them it just becomes a tall tale but with them the fantastical becomes real. Oh I did mention the art right? Well it's black and white and gorgeous.. with just enough anthropomorphism to keep the story in check.

Recommended for everyone...it's the kind of comic you press into other peoples hand and say "look..."

11. Unwritten Vol2 by Mike Carey
Beautiful, intelligent and fun.
(Excellent)

Well this series just gets better, see my review of the 1st one in msg #5.

The setup has bedded down now and fun is had with the genre. Its a beautifully drawn comic/'graphic novel and it's a great, gripping adventure and one with many many layers. Where else would you get a story touching on nazi propaganda twisting old Jewish stories then mixing that with a look at the downside of fantasy and imagination. Where else could you find in a small side tale it is; a funny (adult) look at a cute children's world, a comment the dark spaces that childrens stories hide, a playful look at story structure and vision of hell and happiness.

I cannot recommend this series enough. With it's literary roots held high, it's playful post modernism deepening the work and still manges to be at heart a great story. That's why this is another comic for everyone.

12. Nerd Do Well by Simon Pegg
Disapointing autobiography
(Bad)

Simon Pegg is an actor, comedian and director. You might of seen him in Sean of Dead, Hot Fuzz or the latest Star Trek.

When an author spends the 1st part of an autobiography explaining that he doesn't want to write an autobiography this should either start alarm bells ringing or, as in my case, increase expectations that the talented Mr Pegg will do something different from the usual.

Sadly for me it should just of been alarm bells, this book seems aimed at someone other than me. Someone who loves long discussions on Stars Wars and is interested in film criticism, someone who just wants to know about Pegg's childhood but nothing about his TV/Film career and lastly someone who finds the fictional story of Pegg's superhero alter ego and his robot butler battling evil, funny. Sadly that person is not me.

Ok there are some wonderful anecdotal gems but not enough to keep me entertained. It's an odd type of book and I don't think it works. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone.

13. The Lottery and Other Stories by Shirley Jackson
Wonderful eerie shorts
(Excellent)

Shirley Jackson is a master at taking everyday life and twisting into ominous shapes, and whilst these very short tales are a mixed bag there are more than enough good ones to make this a must read. Morality and social life are viewed through odd perspectives. The loneliness and alienation we all feel at times is pinned and displayed in delicious biteszied vignettes and you ride happily along with polite society until you feel the creeping horror as things go awry, when it's rules create racism or death. You share the horror at the strangers that kids can become and then sit inside someone's else head with growing murderous rage at their husbands unthinking actions and what's more you can understand it. This empathy is what makes the horror all the more real.. I mean what if she is talking about our own lives?

It is in an intense, wonderful read and though I didn't always like every story (and I missed the growing evocative atmosphere of her novels) I would highly recommend to anyone.

Sorry to hear that Simon Pegg didn't cut it as a writer, I've enjoyed his movies ("Shaun of the Dead" being a particular favourite). But yay! for The Lottery, that one is in my stack somewhere...

14. The Ecstatic by Victor LaValle
Darkly funny mystery of madness
(Excellent)

Anthony James weighs 315 pounds, is possibly schizophrenic, and he's just been kicked out of college. He's rescued by his mother, sister, and grandmother, but they may not be altogether sane themselves.

In the afterward he tells us that the ecstatic was a term used to explain people whose actions were impossible to understand, people possessed or touched by God and that's a good a starting point to trying and explain this brilliant but deeply odd debut novel. One that mixes so many themes in order to come up with something funny, emotive, surreal and constantly unique.

James maybe an unreliable narrator but LaValle always ensures that everything that happens lives in the realm of plausibility. From the surreal experience of a diet clinic where the obese watch thin people do everyday tasks through a one way mirror, to a road trip (or rather an epic quest) to get his sister to a beauty pageant of virgins. From his saviour of illegal cleaning jobs to his surely imaginary B movie horror films we follow his life as he is temporarily taken into care by his put upon family.

It doesn't really matter whether its real or not, it's a beautiful ride and one I heartily recommend to anyone.

15. Captain Alatriste by Arturo Perez-Reverte
Fun swashbuckling Spanish adventure
(average)

Captain Alatriste is a sword for hire in 1620s Madrid; a time of intrigue and honour, decadence and war. Deeply in debt he accepts a job to stage a robbery, but the job goes wrong and soon very powerful enemies are clamouring for his neck.

I think I wanted to like this book more than I actually did, it's certainly a great set-up for a series if not a great self contained book. There is too much repetition for my liking and the technique of reminiscing and getting slightly ahead of themselves was irksome. Still it's got great potential, the action scenes are great and there are some wonderful swashbuckling characters up against some memorable bad guys.

All in all I am on the look out for the 2nd book where hopefully it will bed down into a rip roaring adventure.

16. The Fallen Blade: Act One of the Assassini by Jon Courtenay Grimwood
Average historical urban fantasy
(Good)

When a loved author of fast paced sci-fi and noir starts a series in well known (some would say over done) field, it makes me wary. Especially so when I have no love for vampire/werewolf fiction and I guess anyone reading my review should take that into account, you may like it more than I.

There is much to like about the 1st in series, he can write a great action adventure and the setting is wonderful dirty and beautiful Venice surrounded by enemies and full of intrigue is a major star. I found the politicking fun if not mind bending and Grimwood isn't afraid to explore mature areas of death, love and sex. However I really didn't like the characters or buy into the romance(s). In fact I actively found the main character boring.. although because the plot veers in an unbalanced way between characters I was given false hope as to who the main characters were. Nope sadly it's the bland vampire assassin.

I feel pretty apathetic about continuing with series and so I recommend only to fans of the genre. Most disappointing, go and read 9 Tail fox instead..

17. Cast the First Stone and its original
18. Yesterday will make you cry by Chester Himes
Intense tale of life in a 50s US prison.
(Excellent)

Ok this is going to be a messed up review.

I read and thoroughly enjoyed Cast the First Stone and then I found that it was a much revised version of a book called Yesterday will make you cry. Which I then had to go and read.. So what to do? Well write a long waffly review obviously :)

For those who wish to skim read just skip to the end recommendation :-) But Chester Himes life and the differences between the two books are fascinating ... look....

Extremely interesting background information

Chester Himes started writing in prison in the 20s for armed robbery. After he was released on parole he gained recognition, started work as novelist and wrote the powerfully, angry novel If he Hollers let him Go (go read it now!). He was reputedly sacked as a screen writer for being black, then turned his back on the USA and moved to France in the 50s, where his popularity was high. During this time he tried and failed to get Yesterday will make you cry published and instead turned to the more lucrative detective fiction. Eventually after many rewrites it was published as Cast the First Stone but luckily (and posthumously) the original saw the light of day.

Well informed initial thoughts on Cast the First Stone

Chester Himes writes (when he desires) raw, powerful, disturbing novels. Cast the First Stone was a brilliant, simmering story and with that it in mind I was overjoyed to find this book, loosely based on his experience in prison for armed robbery in the 20s/30s.

I really wasn't disappointed, this story encompasses the horror and loneliness of a 20 year stretch. You can actually feel the unremitting hopelessness; the pettiness and the boredom interspersed with extreme violence. Himes and therefore his character witness some pretty horrible stuff, the prison fire is an eye opener to hell. However its not really too bleak, there is hope too as eventually finds a way out, but utlimately it feels real. The protagonist does not become a saint and runs the full gammit of emotion but in the end you feel a change is possible, his life isnt futile after all.

Of course it had its problems; With one eye on the era (50s) I forgave the toned down (oddly platonic) homsexual relationship and read between the lines. It tended to meander at times too, which life would being in prison for so long but in a tight 1st person story I think it was too noticeable.

Those Differences

You can cleary see the the publishers idea of what would sell encroaching on the story, not necessrily the squeamishness towards black authors or homosexuality but to aim it at a certain market, a specific genre. There are there 3 major differences that struck me; the switch from 3rd person to the then fashionable 1st person, the original is a more ambitious story that also breaks away in the middle to look at the early life of the protaganist and the change of ending (a less noble end to the gay character was introduced).

There are also minor plot diffrences, the later parts of books differ quite a lot and the original concentrates on the saviour of writing stories rather than the excitment of softball. In fact whilst some of the text is a straight copy a lot has been rewritten it's very nearly a totally different book. A better book? Well it's hard to say go read my review :)

Review of Yesterday will make you cry

It is still a hard hitting, powerful story looking at prison life in the 50s, but we also a deeper look at disechanted youth. Split into 3 parts with a the harsh story of prison life bookending the middle section showing an angry, intelligent, self centered guy who blows all his chances for instead quick and easy excitement. Whilst thstructure lessens the impact of the constant daily fight that depth more than makes up for it, it is an honest and unflinching look as well as a dramatic one.

Historically its fascinating, maybe more so as you know its based on Himes actual life but it also resonates today. It's not harshness that stood out for me but the loss of freedom and lack of direction, the loneliness and desperation and also the hope. All darkness needs light. Take the part where the story looks at how stories helped and hindered the long stay at prison its both disturbing and wonderufl at the same time.


The recommendation

I am really glad I found the original and I am very glad I tried both. Chester Himes can write and I think his non detective stories show him at his best.

So which one?

Well I enjoyed both greatly but I would urge anyone interested to seek the original Yesterday Will Make you Cry however reading both was fascinating and they are different enough books to hold up so to Himes fans and anyone interested please go read both. It will be worth it.

19. Under Heaven by Guy Gavriel Kay
So so historical fantasy
(Average)

Epic historical fantasy set in 8th centuray China. Shen Tai is honouring the death of his father buy burying (and therefore honouring) the many dead, on both sides, of his fathers last battle. But then China's enemies honour his work with a gift, a poisoned chalice dragging into deep in the dangerous politics of the empire.

Some parts of this story are striking and beautiful, mostly though I just floated through in an oddly detached way noticing it's many faults. So whilst my caveat is that I sort of enjoyed it, I cannot recommend it to anyone but interested GGK fans.

I think it's mostly the theme of fate that detached me from the story. This is a tale set firmly in the past and the foreshadowing is heavy, the outcome is set. There is very little else to make you care what happens and it's like watching very ornate, pretty Chinese wallpaper. Maybe it also doesn't help that the main characters are only minor figures in a chaotic and turbulent period of history, the ones on the sidelines not in the spotlight. Or maybe it's because I never really got a sense of place, a must in historical or fantasy book. That could be that because this is a field well trod, in films and books and I expect something more, something different. Of course it really didn't help that the main protagonist seemed slightly anachronistic at times (and dull), very western and just stating that he cannot play political games does not make it feel true. To be honest after the lovely beginning I just found most characters dull, only the female characters occasionally roused my empathy.

There were other problems. Stylistically I think it fell down; how many times does an author need to repeat plot points or themes? Repetition of phrases is something GGk used to use to good effect so why it fell down here I don't understand, but being told again and again (not shown but told) that certain things such as the Chinese fear wolves is something I didn't need and found dull. I also disliked the usually justified use of jumping, fleetingly, to a small unimportant character. This usually works to good effect expanding the view point and adding to the drama, but again here I didn't understand the point. Why for example did we jump into the young prostitute's head for 2 pages? I didn't gain any knowledge or see her again? At least I don't remember.

and that's me caught up on reviews. Yeay!

Sorry to hear that Under Heaven doesn't hold up. Its GGK so I'll probably read it at some point down the road but I guess I won't be going out of my way to hunt it down at the moment.

I also liked your review of JC Grimwood's The Fallen Blade, even though you weren't too impressed, I think its one I would like to seek out. I'm in the odd position of actually liking the idea of urban fantasy, and thinking that vampires and werewolves are pretty cool, but being generally disappointed by the way most urban fantasy treats them. I'm curious to see what JCG does with it. Also you've reminded me that 9Tail Fox is on my tbr pile and I need to get to it soon!

#35> You know, I've never even heard of Chester Himes until recently. And now it turns out Penguin will be re-issuing his Harlem Cycle in Australia! Just have to wait until August...

Will also keep my eyes open for Cast the First Stone & Yesterday Will Make You Cry, thanks for the fascinating review!

@36 well many people disagree with me in Under Heaven, maybe I had high expectations.

& I think it maybe worth the Fallen Blade if you are a fan of the genre it's not bad it's just my expectations again ;)

@37 I only stumbled accross him from a reccomendation from a book store assistant (bless him!). From the few I have read I do prefer his non Harlem books but they are still worth a look if you like hard boiled detective fiction. If he Hollers Let him go maybe a good place to start with Himes, if you havent tried it.

Really there should be one review for both books , so closely are they entwined. Reading the 1st one without moving onto the second will be a lesser experience each book shapes each other.

20. Sailing to Sarantium by Guy Gavriel Kay

Sailing is at heart a tale of journeys, of change and of beginnings, subtly echoing Yeat’s famous poem Sailing to Byzantium we follow our reluctant hero, Crispin the mosaciast, as he travels to Saratium on request on the Emperor to help create a wonder of the world.

It may sound far too simple a story but in the hands of GGK it is a dramatic, gripping life changing journey. We may follow just one man but there is a large supporting cast that GGK deftly and judiciously populates to make his world feel real. No one goes to waste here, we drop into other ‘s thoughts briefly serving not to confuse but to enhance. Take for example one beautiful moment of reflection, the night after a dramatic event where three characters mull over what happened. It’s brief in length but serves on so many levels to enrich the tale; characters, the plot & pacing are all the better for it and this is one of the books strengths.

It has a wonderful balance between history and fantasy, the fantasy maybe light but it is powerful as a little goes a long long way and I think it is one of GGK ‘s most compelling and atmospheric fantasy books outside the Fiovionar tapestry

If there is an problem it’s a different type of book to his others, it is after all a precursor to the more dramatic second book. The action here, whilst gripping is more of a personal nature. I don’t want to sell it short though it’s got intrigue, action sequences, delightful characters, heartbreaking tragedy and wonderful moments.

21. Lord Of Emperors by Guy Gavriel Kay

This is simply a masterful, beautifully written story and is one of my favourites tales ever, so don’t expect a balanced review

It is a sharp contrast to the first book, where that was a slow burner of a book this one is the frenetic pay off. Without the 1st book this would be a lesser experience but the reader has invested time now and the hook is there.

GGK takes a horde of fully realised characters, complex political manoeuvrings and dramatic action and makes it utterly gripping but not overwhelming. As always with GGK there is nothing black and white about this tale, the tragedy of characters, good or bad, are their failures. Their human frailties that even the emperor has.

The weaving of characters and events into the rhythm of the story is joyful. Take the early event of the wedding drawing all characters together then adding new ones and all with their own thoughts and motives that enhance, enrich and underline the story and then he drives them separately into the night and we follow them through the darkness and their passions. There are so many different ways to love here and GGK has much fun exploring them.

The overarching plot, even though signposted (in fact because certain things are hinted at), is one of the most gripping I have ever read. Ok I might be basking in rabid fandom but I can assure you, if you have lasted this long, it will hold your attention. For there are some beautifully written pieces, from the action of the chariot race(s) to the dazzling political, empire changing, manoeuvring. Towards the latter half the pace is frenetic.

Ok there are problems with it.. some of the ways he ties up the story irritate me beyond belief, some off the characters from the first book are awkwardly forgotten and everyone is a shade too beautiful, especially the women and for a story that tries to mirror a whole world, plain women are a noticeable absence.

However none of these faults matter to me for in the end it is a great story, well told. I recommend this ‘duology’ to fantasy and historical fiction fans and to lovers of drama, political intrigue and romance. Of course if the investment in two books puts you off and you have never read GGK I would recommend Lions of Al-Rassan.

I had Sailing to Sarantium checked out from my library, and was unable to read more than a few pages before it was due back... from your review I may give it another go.

I must admit (because I forgot to mention it) that is was a reread. I think Sailing to Sarantium was much better this time round because I wasnt expecting another Tigana.

Thanks clfisha for the Sailing to Sarantium reviews - I've just finished Ysabel, which I went into with relatively low expectations (i.e., not another Tigana) and quite enjoyed. I may have to follow up with Sailing to Sarantium, and probably also Lions of Al-Rassan, given your comments above.

22-29. True Blood Books 1 - 8 by Charline Harris

To save you from eight separate reviews here is one for the whole eight books. I think I can get away with this because they are all pretty good and if you like one I expect you will like them all. Well ok Eric fan will like book 4 the best :-)

Separate mini reviews can be found here although I haven't done all 8 yet!

These books do what they say and no more; If paranormal romance is your thing and the idea of a high number of gorgeous men and a heady mix of sex and violence (nothing too bad don't worry) sounds great then go for it. I have spent a lovely time reading them, in fact not being able to put them down and feeling bereft when I finished is probably a good advertisement.

They're an easy read, streamlined you might say, with a small cast and non too torturous plot. Sometimes the author tries to fit more than one plot in and for some unknown reason does this sequentially, which is annoying because you end up with a very bitty book, and sometimes the amount of romantic suitors passes the silly line and it becomes banal. While I am moaning does anyone else have an irrational dislike of Sookie's "word of the day" calender? Because it drives me mad.

I may have enjoyed it more because I am fan of the TV show and I borrow the look and feel of actors/actresses (lucky me). They roughly follow the same plot but otherwise are very different, some of your favourite characters won't be found here (poor Lafayette) and there is much less story to wach one as they aren't a mammoth TV series. Since they are different mediums that is a good thing.

Ok some books are better than others but they are all fun, exciting, and eminently readable so whats not to like? Recommended to most women and some men.

30. The Unwritten: Vol 3 by Mike Carey (author) and Peter Gross (artist)
Fun, Inventive Comic
(Amazing)

OK officially the best comic series/graphic novel out there. It just keeps getting better. In Volume 3 the plot is starting to kick off and we get some big reveals, some dramatic changes. I am well and truly hooked.

I have reviews for vols 1 and 2 (in msg 5 & 27) but to recap the plot:
Imagine the worlds best selling fantasy series was never finished, the author disappearing into thin air. Now imagine that was your father and those books star you as the hero and your life is now one round of signings and interviews at fantasy conventions. Bad enough until you realise your childhood was a lie and someone is out to kill you.

The characters are superb, the dialogue spot on, the art beautiful but it's also intelligent, original & playful. The world building is fascinating; where stories have power but the rules are murky, where there are secret cabals that may not even be real and the rebels fighting for their lives, fantastical alternate worlds, rabid fandom, conspiracy, murder, mayhem and mystery. It's all there and just enough of the world is shown to keep you at the edge of your seat.

Carey & Gross are still having fun with the idea too. This time round we get character back story as a choose your own adventure tale. It's not only fun it's brilliantly constructed to shade the story based what you decide and suddenly characters motivations are twisted with delightful ease.

I cannot recommend this series enough. I haven’t been as intrigued in a comic series for years and years and I have faith in Carey to pull it off. It’s going to be a wild ride, don’t you want to get on board?

Then count me as one of the people looking forward to book 4! Do you think this means that Season 4 will be Erik-heavy, too? I do hope so.

@45 I really really hope so :)

31. The Spy Who Came in From the Cold by John le Carre
Classic but ultimately annoying Cold war thriller
(Average..)

Alec leamus has been recalled to London after the loss of all his East German agents but instead of being retired he is given one last job...

A book with very little action which surprised me. Le Carre is very good at evoking the place, from a lonely, creaking hunting lodge to a dirty tiny boarding house they all become alive with just a small, judicious amount of description. The characters are sadly very hard to like, which hinders connecting with the story, but even so the plot setup is good enough to draw you in and the tense conversations cement your interest. It's a pity then, that later on I started to become irritated and towards the end downright fed up. It's sad that the only reason I sensed the alienation was down to everyone else liking the book.

Ok so it is dated and I am over familiar with the cynicism and nihilism that imbues the page. So that stops the shock and surprises and it’s hard for the ending to be anything to be formulaic*, not the books fault it happens to overused. Of course your reaction to this will depend on your reading experiences.

Then (and most damningly) there were the female characters, amongst the hatred of communism and Jews, it was the misogyny that undid me. Ok out of the few women there was a judge (alongside the bitter shrew & traitorous mistress) but it was the main character that was the nail in coffin. I think it annoyed me so much because the books ultra realism was so modern (the sex out of wedlock accepted) but ultra devotion to your man is just a horrid idea and if you do it in a book you better do it damn well.

So I recommended it to fans of the spy genre (who lets face it probably have already read it) and to everyone else I say avoid (especially to sensitive Communists). However this book seems to be well loved on LT so check out others reviews instead, it’s possible I might be wrong :-)

Oh and if anyone wants this book let me know, it was part of world book night so I will be passing it along.

I'm a fan of le Carre, but he writes TERRIBLE women, especially if they have the misfortune to be love interests of the main characters. I can't tell why he even includes them, to be honest.

I take it his later books aren't much better? I was thinking about trying the Constant Gardener but 3 dimensional women are kind of a deal breaker :)

32. The Toff On Board by John Creasey
Fun, brief, 1940s murder mystery
(Average)

Perusing in a second hand bookshop I noticed many many books by John Creasey (ok he is famous but I had never heard of him). Intrigued I flicked it open and I saw this:
THE TOFF...
He's cool...
He's rich...
He's debonair...
He has friends in Mayfair - and
frriends in Bow. He can use a gun, or
use his fists, but prefers to use his wits,
And no one in trouble, young or old,
rich or poor, is ever refused the help
of the Hon. Richard Rollison - alias -
The Toff...

Well of course I had to buy it. So does it live up to the promise?

Well bearing in mind that it was written in 1949 it's not too bad. The setup's ok: The Toff is hard on the heels of a murderer who escapes by err cruise ship. Sadly he isn’t an over the top aristocrat but he does have a highly intelligent butler (I find that sort of thing amusing). There is a good number of potential villains, some menacing thugs and beautiful women (bonus points for the gorgeous love interest being 40). No one is what they seem and it's all one big, fun, conspiracy. I don't tend to try and work these things out so no idea how the mystery plot holds but it seemed ok to me, more parcelled out info than hidden clues but that’s ok. It moves along at a brisk pace interspersed with cocktails, threats and the odd quaint bits of violence.

I might not be seeking the next one out straight away but if I ever need a very quick, light read and I am near that bookshop again I think I would try another, there are 21 of them.

The Karla trilogy has Connie Sachs, aka Mother Russia, who is as obsessed and one dimensional as all the other spies. I really enjoyed her as a character, but she's really the only female character in any of his books who has any sort of non-man-based existence. If that makes any sense to say about a fictional character.

33. FingerSmith by Sarah Waters
Good Victorian mystery
(Good)

Caveat: As always with reviews it depends on what you like.. so let me admit crime mysteries aren't my favourite and I flee at the sight of Dickens. So bear in mind this isn't my favourite genre.

I knew nothing about the book when I started and it does have quite a few surprises in store, not enough to elevate it to a griping page turner but I was definitely intrigued. The settings are quite wonderful, its place and time have just enough details to make it real and quite atmospheric. I did like the more modern feminist sensibility too, it gave the story such a good spin.

The main characters I liked less, although the supporting cast were truly great, I guess it took me ages to warm to Sarah because I never really bought Sarah's "voice". Don't get me wrong the book is well written it was just a personal reaction I can't quite pin down.

(minor spoiler)
Then of course there is the sudden switch of character which killed my interest dead and if wasn't for fellow LTer's I may never have finished it. I admit it was worth it, as it does get better and in fact middle/latter half of the book is the best, although I would have preferred more twists (it is an odd mixture of startling turns and obvious pathways). Yes I am too picky.
(minor spoiler ends)

So appreciated the book more than I enjoyed it and I recommend it in that vein, it's a well liked book so lovers of crime or Victoriana should definately seek it out, others I am not so sure.

More True Blood... I think I might be addicted!

34. Dead and Gone
35. Dead in the Family
36. A Touch of Dead all by Charliane Harris

Books 9 and 10 keep the standards up and the plot movign nicely along. also more eric :-)

The short stories are disapointing as they are few in number and very short. However since it was free in 3 for 2 offer I am not complaining much, it did fill in some gaps.

I usually keep this quiet, since I'm definitely in the minority, but I didn't absolutely love Fingersmith either. The narrator switch really killed it for me, although I liked the first part the best. It could have ended there, and been a good story.

Oh, I loved Fingersmith! I agree the narrator switch was a bit of a wrenching jar, but I think it was worth it in the end. I am becoming a sad fan of Victorian pastiche, however. :)

Way back in #44, you mentioned Unwritten - I've managed to get hold of the first two volumes, so hopefully will get onto them soon!

37. Embassytown by China Mieville
Brilliantly flawed sci-fi
(Amazing)

It’s an oddly paced novel and a frustrating novel but ultimately a brilliant novel.

Mieville very slowly builds the world and the plot and the characters (and I love the characters). Told in the 1st person, with all that ensues; slapdash descriptions, biasness, omissions, emotional responses, all seductively create the narrator and other characters. Of coursing being Mieville he is his usual playful self with language (floaker, immer, turingware, miab). The words and phrases are beautiful, his concepts fun to decode.

All of this of course pays off because you are thoroughly immersed in the alieness off it all when the plot morphs into a gripping page turner that twists unexpectedly and wont let go of your head. However this is also the books main flaw; it's too directionless at the beginning.. impatience can set in and, if you don’t buy into what Mievilles doing, huge frustration.

But I think it''s worth it, not only a damn good story but one that uses science fiction to have the freedom to explore some huge and interesting concepts. So yes it's about language and how language defines who we are, how it allows us to think but also it's about colonisation, the clash of cultures with accidental cruelties, misunderstandings and power plays. There are political intrigues galore, violent plots, religious fanaticism, betrayals, huge sacrifices, love, despair and war.

Be reassured it's not just a lofty intellectual exercise, Mieville succeeds damn well in exploring the weightier, dryer topics, I mean I can't remember many other books that contain nail biting discussions on semiotics.

So it may not be a good place to try Mieville nor is it a book to convince his detractors, an odd bastard child of strong concepts in City and the City and the baroque chaos of Kraken. It’s ambitious, refreshingly different and thoughtful and I already want to reread; so lovers of literature and fans of speculative fiction I think it's worth your time.

brilliant review of Embassytown! But... I think I'll wait a bit to add it to my TBR.. at least until I read something by Miéville that I enjoy (failed with Kraken).

@56 Thanks. Yeah I wouldnt jump straight in if you didn't like Kraken, his Bas Lag series, City and the City or short story collection Looking for Jake might be worth it.

38. The Wrong Case by James Crumley
So so 70s noir
(Average)

Mixing 1970s sensibilities with noir tropes and delving into heavy drinks and alcoholics culture this promised to be one interesting ride but sadly I just couldn't get on board.

Ok I confess I am a diehard Raymond Chandler fan and to my eyes the introduction of drugs, free love and more explicit violence just didn't fit. I guess, for me, it didn't date and so my expectations were affronted. Although it felt forced too: right at the beginning there is a dramatic and yet casual fatal hit & run of a purse snatcher. It's treated with ennui and fatalism but it felt out of place and too forced i.e. "lets grab the readers attention". Probably unfair of me but it put me in the wrong mood for the rest of the book.

So it was a pleasant surprise to find in the end it didn't turn out too bad. Ok the plot was average, but then the mystery is not really the point, and the characters don't stray into stereotypes too often, although for all his idiosyncrasies, I felt the main character was a bit bland. No where it does stand out is in the depiction of the culture of alcoholism, refreshingly painting a fond & accepting eye over their proceedings whilst acknowledging the tragedy, stupidity and horror of it. It made interesting eddies into the story and created some great locations and characters.

So whilst getting a look into the mindset of a heavy drinker saved this for me but I am not sure I would recommend it. I guess crime lovers will probably know if it sounds like their thing or not.

Just catching up . . . I am enjoying the "True Blood" stories as well. I've listened to the frist four already and have the next three lined up and ready. They are just such good fun!

I loved Mieville's The City and the City and UnLundun but thought Kraken was awful. I am crossing my fingers for Embassytown!

@58 They are a lot of fun, never fails to cheer me up when I read/watch them. Can't ask for more really!

I hope you enjoy Embassytown but you might need some patience to get through the 1st part!

39. Packing for Mars by Mary Roach
Interesting, fun non-fiction
(Good)

Fans of Mary Roach will know exactly what they are getting: an erudite look at the human (and animal) side of space exploration. Science will be explained with aplomb, delightful observations made and it will be packed full of interesting, well researched facts. The reading style will be wonderfully fun and easy and her personality will subtly enlivens any subject. Inn this case that is topics such as; cultural differences of a space station living, the question hygiene, whether you could (or should) have sex, what happens when you don’t walk for a year and if can you survive a bailout at 17,000 miles per hour.

So even though I preferred Stiff (better topic, more direction) I think anyone with a glancing interest in human nature and space will like this book. Go read.

Right here some graphic novels reviews and that's me caught up. Yeay me.

40. The Tale of One Bad Rat by Bryan Talbot
Beautiful graphic novel.
(Good)

Beautiful in art and also plot this is a tale of abuse and runaways and how one teenage girl overcome them. It is also a tale of how fantasy touches reality and how we find role models in unlikely places. The story is done well and the characters are wonderful, especially our heroine. The darker, harsher aspects are deftly worked in, nothing explicit but still forceful and elevated by a story of transition mixed with the gorgeous art of the Lake district.

This is a lovely graphic novel and I have no hesitation recommending it.

41. Fish Chocolate by Kate Brown
Gorgeous dark fantasy
(Good)

Three fantastical tales with different takes on loss of motherhood, dark and sometimes creepy but oh so lush and beautiful. It’s hard to pick a favourite tale but the wonderfully unsettling take on the pied piper ties with the busy mother and an otherworldly oak tree. The female leads are refreshingly well portrayed and each take carries each mystery to leave questions unanswered. It's a great quick read and if you spy a copy I would give it a go.

42. Gonzo: A Graphic Biography of Hunter S. Thompson by Will Bingley
Engaging biography
(Good)

I am a bit of a fan of Hunter S Thompson’s earlier works and tend to keep an eye out for Hunter related literature (may I recommend The Joke's Over: Bruised Memories: Gonzo, Hunter S. Thompson, and Me by Ralph Steadman). So I had to buy this when I spotted it and whilst there maybe no surprises in store, I still enjoyed this speedy rush through Hunter S Thompson’s life.

The art work is the highlight. Drawn lovingly, black and white, it manages to distil the essential Thompson. The text is a great compliment to it, mixing his literary works is spot on in tone and makes this a great read. Ok so although detail is obviously missed, this is a graphic novel not a biography and it's a great start for interested newbie’s’ and fans alike.

43. Tales of the Spiffing: Comics from the Sceptered Isle by the Aardman Team

Eclectic short tales on what it means to be British from the UK animation team that brought you Wallace & Gromit. Styles and genres wildly diverge; some humorous, some historical and some dark (this isn't a kids book). It is (unusually for a collection) all very good and highly polished from tip to toe so I heartedly recommended it to comics & Aardman fans alike.

#56 by @kcs_hiker>

I actually liked Embassytown more than Perdido Street Station, so you may end up finding it to your tastes. It's a bit slow at the start, but it's-- hm. More /conventional/, maybe, than other Mieville I've read?

I haven't read it yet, but The City and the City is what people who sense my Mieville skepticism keep pushing me toward.

I think Embassytown is a more err.. accomplished book? Mieville is definitely in his stride now. Although I still think his weak point is pacing/structure.. he is writing much tighter novels.

How funny, I'm reading Bonk by Mary Roach, and you've just reviewed Packing for Mars by Mary Roach! :)

Some good sounding graphic novels, I'll keep my eyes open, thanks for the heads up!

44. The Drinker by Hans Fallada
One mans descent into destructive alcoholism
(Bad)

It's a very sad thing when a book and a reader are mismatched especially one bought on a whim. It did sound good; it's by the author of the lauded Every Man Dies Alone (which I have wanted to read for years), the enticing blurb states that it was written in a Nazi asylum and smuggled out to friends waiting to publish (a lie so afterword tells me). Ok I thought maybe not the best written but maybe visceral.

Sadly I cannot think of one good thing to say about it. I can recognise it's not a terrible book but personally although it promised to get better, it never did (even the afterword describing Fallada's interesting life sent me to sleep!) The style (translation?) feels off as the light tone doesn’t work with tragedy but adds only to a feeling of superficiality. The main character is boring, annoying and his heart breaking doomed descent feels banal. Then the most promising observational aspects come across feeling small and flat compared to much more emotive literature I have read.

The afterword states that like or loathe the protagonist you want to get under his skin and understand why he is this way, but sadly I can categorically say I just wished him a speedy end so I could stop reading the damn book. No I cannot recommend this book at all, one for fans only.

And now I have sold the book so well can offer my copy with confidence someone will pick it.. just drop me a note and it's yours!

Oh dear. I'm about halfway through Every Man Dies Alone, and while it's not the struggle-fest this book seems to be, it's not an easy read either. (What is it with translations?? Is it just me, or are they always clunky?)

Yes I think you are right they usually just don't flow or miss subtleties.

45. The Knife of Never Letting Go by Peter Ness
Rollicking sci-fi adventure

OK here is a caveat: I am not much of a YA/coming of age tale fan so this was a departure for me and I suspect all the things I find irritating about this book can be ignored by a YA fan.

Having said that this is a fun, furiously paced science fiction, dystopian, adventure. It's a great premise (cut off colony, telepathy, the disappearance of women) and Ness doesn't waste one single word setting it up and hooking you in. He is masterful at setting pace and keeping the action going so you won't wish to put it down. It's quite cinematic too, not just because it borrows some movie tropes but is very easy to visualise in your head, the telepathy is wonderfully done in this respect.

The characters are mostly great, our hero especially so and probably because it's written in 1st person that the female love interest takes time to flesh out. Although, oddly, for a book touching on gender issues the roles here are nothing but the usual split. I did too, grind my teeth in annoyance as our hero constantly says "eff" with a nudge nudge wink wink. Swear or don't in my opinion.

Lastly I must warm you that the ending is purely cliff-hanger so be warned you may well have a urgent desire to pick up the next one, unless you are like me who has a pet hate of cliff-hanger endings.

So recommend to all action adventure and YA fans, everyone else it's probably worth your time too.

Glad you enjoyed it! I didn't mind the "eff", I assumed that they were puritanical settlers and needed a swear word but wouldn't use the *actual* word. So Todd's grown up thinking "eff" is a swear word. I didn't think he was being coy.

Every now and then I drop a "frack", thank you Battlestar Galactica...

Oddly I love made up swear words (I still use smeg) but "eff" annoyed me, although I see your point. I think I thought the nature of telepathy would make things like that more honest because well you had to be. Maybe it's just because I am cynical adult :)

I used to be an assistant high school basketball coach (some 20 years ago), and the guy I worked for (head coach) told me that he never ever swore in front of or at his players... but he sure did say "dad gummit" and "gosh darnit" a lot... he was a hoot and a great guy and coach! It was a habit I picked up and still use to this day in front of kids (my own kids make fun of me.. "Dad's really mad, he just dropped the gosh darnit bomb").

I read and loved The Tale of One Bad Rat last year. I had pretty much the same response to it as you did. I know this is way overdue but I'm just beginning to catch up on these threads (I have been absent a long time!) Anyway, thanks also for the review of Embassytown. I've been tempted to pick it up but I already have Kraken, City and the City and Iron Council sitting in my tbr mountain so I really should read them first.

@71 Ha! I like that ;) afraid I have no kids to keep my terrible potty mouth in check.

@72 Keeping up with threads is a nightmare! Hope you enjoy your Mieville must be difficult to decide which one to pick up 1st :)

46. All Quiet on the Orient Express by Magnus Mills

I can see this book provoking either a joyous reaction or a rather bemused one. His books aren't for everyone and this book in particular seems to be pure concentrated Mills, which of course pleases me greatly.

He is a genius at mixing everyday banalities with quiet menace, filled with dry dark humour, spot on observations of the Kafkaesque idiocy of working life. The everyday is made unsettling and shocking acts are made banal. So on the one hand this is simply a story about going on holiday to the British Lake District and never leaving, falling into the 'out of season' job trade, on the other - well read into it what you will.. every act and conversation has disturbing nuances and you are constantly on the edge waiting for the nasty shock. Mills writes very tight prose and no detail is left to chance; you will be wrapped up and transported into a world of darts matches, disappearing boats and the insidious repainting of everything to horrid repetitive green.

Funny, unsettling and a pure joy to read, everyone should try at least one Mills book in their lives. I am not sure where I would recommend to start but this would not be a bad choice. Go on it will only take a few hours.. well maybe… maybe you will never be able to leave either..

47. Monkey by Wu Ch'eng-en (translated by Arthur Waley)
(good)
Fun and lively Chinese mythology.

An abridged collection of the classic 16th century Chinese supernatural adventure stories all dealing with the lively, roguish Monkey. Always full of tricks, always getting himself into trouble against the gods, he fights demons, dragons and bandits with his amazing array of powers. He is joined by a motley cast of characters from the spiritual Tripitaka to the gluttonous Pigsy. If you have seen the old TV Show you will get the gist but obviously there is much more to be found here and thankfully no poor special effects.

Monkey is abridged (thank goodness because it's huge), very easy to read and periodic in style (so it's great to pick up occasionally). It's fun, amusingly silly and fast paced..you don't really need to know much about Chinese history or eastern religion, spotting satire or allegories is not necessary for enjoyment.

All recommended to anyone interested in eastern myth and also those wanting something different form their fantasy.

48. The Baron In The Trees by Italo Calvino
(good)

Cosimo (an 18th century Italian noble) climbs a tree out of teenage pique and decides never to come down. His life; his romances, battles, friendships and education are all carried out in the tree tops. So he woos the love of his life, hunts ravenous wolves, frights pirates, befriends the lowly bandits, takes tea with arboreal nobles and ponders his philosophy all high above the earth.

It is one of the more straighter stories of Calvino’s but doesn’t suffer from this. The book manages to encompass the whole sweeping events of his life with a deft touch taking judicious turns to be light hearted, then thoughtful or just tense. All humanity is covered and whilst elevating Cosimo Calvino manages to concentrate on all our everyday dramas as well on philosophy and society as a whole.

Simply enjoy its oddity or ponder its questions this is a delightful read and one I recommend to everyone.

49. The Night of The Living Trekkies by Kevin David Anderson & Sam Stall
Humorous horror
(ok)

An obscure Star Trek convention? Secret military installation that’s just had a 'breach'? A harassed ex-soldier who just wants to lie low in a dead end job?

If this sounds like a great like great fun then this is the book for you, I mean zombies versus popular sci-fi what’s not to like? This book does exactly what it sets out to do: action and horror go hand in hand with humour and quite frankly I can't wait for the movie. It does have it's flaw s; some of the jokes are overly sign posted (for non fans I expect), which throws the timing off a bit and its not exactly a surprising plot (oh he IS the bad guy), although I am not sure its supposed to be. So all in all a fun read and you should already know if you want to read it from the title.

50. Rings of Saturn by W G Sebald
Beautifully odd travelogue
(Excellent)

Sebald travels through the UK's Suffolk coast and his own mind; his past, his dreams and his musings. Before, though, you run screaming from a potential stream of conscience novel please be reassured this one is a delightful, haunting, fascinating and eminently readable tale. Sebald strings interesting odd topics together seamlessly, travelogue prompts reminiscences which flows into delightful dissections of information.

I don't think I have read anything quite like this before, it is almost like going on holiday with him you get a sense of what he thinks as much as what he likes and what he feels, his past and future laid out. So we move from a dream he has to a recounting of the time he spent with the oddest, decaying boarding house in Ireland, or we move from an observation of fisherman on the beach to a history of herring farming. No topic is boring, each diversion surprising and only a masterful writer could have pulled this off. Even better it's interspersed with haunting black and white grainy photos so you can also literally see his viewpoint.

It's not a happy book, as it concentrates on the sad march of progress but it is wonderful and unusual. I don't think you will have read anything like this before so I highly recommend it to everyone.

51. The Rider by Tim Krabbe
Nail biting, fascinating and intense description of err.. cycling
(Amazing)

You don't even need to like cycling to find this novella constantly interesting and nail biting (quite literally in my case) description of one mans amateur endurance race. I usually prefer watching paint dry to the Tour de France but I couldn't put this book down for anything.

Tim Krabbe uses the superb device of breaking the race, and it's description, into kilometres, swathes of flat country pass by in a flash but crawling up mountains slows to mere metres and then to millometeres as he fights for his position. Although don't be put of it's not a mere description, we ride with Krabbe, in his head; his thoughts and feelings, his constant planning, his reminisemces, his hatred of losing, his psychological dismissal of competitors, his wildy meandering sudden thoughts. It all builds a vivid picture, one that seems to play out in real time, you can almost feel the mental and phsyical toll, taste his sheer force of will to win.

Of course it helps that Krabbe doesn't come accross as a single minded, arrogant sportsman. He is a funny, engaging and dryly passionate author that writes prose that is so tight a crow bar couldnt find purchase. He pacing is masterful he knows when to break away to tell an amusing remenencse of his early sporting encounters, drop in a fact or two and then back in to the race.

I cannot recommended it enough, if you want something different, quick and forceful go get a copy right now. I for one am going to track down the rest of the books forthwith.

52. Retribution Falls by Chris Wooding
Disappointing fantasy
(Average)

Lets say be upfront on this I didn't really like but I reckon you might..

Well only if you like action packed, swashbuckling tales, with a smidgen of Steampunk (it's got airships), a roguish cast of pirates, dastardly villains, dark humour, posh balls, bar fights, mechanical golems, daring escapes, gunfights, and heroic redemption (but not too much) and a fight against the odds.

The opening chapter is one of the best I have read, straight into the action whilst introducing the cast and a perfect balance between humour and edginess. In fact it's a really ripping read for the 1st half of the book. Ok the latter half does have some issues, it slows down a bit and some of the characters act a bit too idiotically and there's a odd shift in tone from rollicking adventure to deadpan heartbreaking seriousness which I felt didn't quite work.

However for me it was the lack of female characters that just ended up unbalancing the book, a personal issue for me sure, but one it's worth mentioning (but skip this bit if you don’t care). The anti-hero is a misogynist and whilst it's fine during the rollicking adventure bits when shifted into seriousness it left a bad taste in my mouth; the lack of female characters/use of 3rd person made me feel complicit in this attitude because the alternative view is hidden.

It's a shame because there is a lot of interesting plot laid out for the next one, the other characters (yes all horribly flawed too) are well done and interesting but there isn’t a promise its going to get better on the misogyny front and I won't be seeking the next book.

So, if your eyes glaze over while watching the Tour de France (I like the scenery myself, but never watch more than a few minutes in total anyhow), why on earth did you pick up a book about cycling?? :)

Thanks for the warning about Retribution Falls, it's nice to NOT add a book to my wishlist.

I know, I know :) but if a books recommended in my favourite bookshop I just have to pick it up and take a peek and once I did I just had to have it!

53. The Lost Machine by Richard A Kirk
Superb and hauntingly beautiful fantasy
(Amazing)

I fell I love with this novella, maybe because it landed during a dry, dull reading period but probably not. This is exactly the type of fantasy/new weird story that I like, burgeoning with evocative ideas, dark yet full of humanity, a tantalising hint of the world with just enough to get the imaginative juices flowing. There is magic here, and heroes and quests but it's not your standard fantasy.. and I haven't even mentioned the illustrations because Kirk is primarily a wonderful artist and he has added some truly gorgeous drawings.. the cover below is only a hint.

The premise sounds dark;
"Lumsden Moss steps put of a plague ravaged prison armed only a collection of notebooks of murdered children and a will to track down their killer. He will travel to the City of Steps and beyond accompanied by a silent, unsettling stranger.“ Really though it's a bittersweet tale, about revenge, friendship and attaining peace. The characters are wonderful, the writing great and the plot fits nicely in the short space (ok slightly obvious towards the end).

This jumps up to the top books of the year, I don’t think it will be beaten.

Now if you want to buy a copy you will need to go to his website (worth a trip just for the artwork), Amazon doesn’t sell it: http://www.richardakirk.com/lost_machine.html

54. A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness (author) and Jim Kay (artist)
Gorgeous, heartfelt fantasy
(Excellant)

The use of fantasy to explore hard hitting issues is always interesting and this book proves to be a fantastic, emotional
and true look at losing a parent at a young age, in this case to cancer.

The story follows 13 yr old Conor, who is fighting the reality of his mother's terminal cancer. He is bullied at school. his absent father cares more about his new life in the states, his grandmother appears as an austere, lifeless influence and so the monster comes calling, at night to offer him a bargain, to find the truth.

It's all handled so well, from adult to child the characters are fully human, the situations fit, even the fairy tales told are modernised and twisted to tell a more real darker truth when nothing is black and white and no one is perfect. The artwork is beautiful and its scratchy, dark images instantly create atmosphere required. Ness's wonderful prose is carefully set amongst the art, meshing words and art seamlessly create something wonderful.

Highly recommended to everyone, depending on your mood of course; it's a beautiful but tragic tale.

55. The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie by Muriel Spark
(Excellent)

Told in a mix of timelines and a whirlwind of delicious characters this is a funny, intelligent and exuberant story of the "Brodie Set". Miss Brodie is an unorthodox teacher at a girls school in the 1930s and she (as she likes to remind people) is in her Prime. Her favourite pupils are groomed to be the crème de la crème: the Brodie set.

'This is Stanley Baldwin who got in as Prime Minister and got out again ere long,' said Miss Brodie. 'Miss Mackay retains him on the wall because she believes in the slogan "Safety First". But Safety does not come first. Goodness, Trust and Beauty come first. Follow me.'

It's a damn hard book to review, short and chaotic it's full of pitch perfect, intelligent and humorous writing. I cannot really find anything to pick out. From the intriguing and enticing way Spark introduces the Brodie set by narrowing them to a simple skill (Rose is famous for her sex appeal, Monica for her maths and her anger) to extra tension of the ominous betrayal and the bitter-sweet edge of future reality. It is a book of many layers and complexity but it is never confusing or tiresome and oddly, although very much of it's time it doesn't feel dated.

"We shall discuss tomorrow night the persons who oppose me' said Miss Brodie. 'But rest assured they shall not succeed.'
'No,' said everyone. 'No, Of course they won't.'
'Not while I am in my prime. It is important to recognize the years of one's prime, always remember that,..'

Highly recommended. It's my second attempt at Muriel Spark, I didn’t quite gel with the character in Drivers Seat but I loved this.

I love that book. The movie is fantastic, too, with Maggie Smith playing the Jean Brodie role. She's absolutely perfect.

Oh, I'm glad you liked Miss Jean Brodie too! A memorable read, for me.

And I might just skip A Monster Calls, I don't think I could read about that right now. Sticking to the happy books. (Or at least the ones where parents don't die leaving young kids! :)

I was a bit nervous as I didn't really get on with her other book, but this one was so good. Not sure where to go next.

I must admit I knew there was a film but automatically dismissed it as it seemed such a hard book to film.. now I am intrigued enough to go check it out :)

Oh and yeah Monster Calls had me in tears by the end.

56. Zoo City by Lauren Beukes
Noir/Dark Fantasy heaven
(Amazing)

Sometimes a book comes along that makes you feel the author wrote it just for you, a noir/dark urban fantasy? So the caveat is I loved this book but I might be a tad blind to it's faults.

Cue blurb:
“Zinzi has a Sloth on her back, a dirty 419 scam habit and a talent for finding lost things. But when a little old lady turns up dead and the cops confiscate her last paycheck, she’s forced to take on her least favourite kind of job – missing persons.”

Yes its takes the animal familiar trope and twists it into an exciting, innovative and most interestingly; a very modern fantasy. The setting and the characters are the highlights of this book: reality taken and twisted with a highly flawed and potential unlikeable female protagonist (sadly that's refreshing) that is so well written I was rooting for her all the way.

The setting is so rich not only because it’s set in unfamiliar (to me) South Africa but also there are so many topics (very well researched) seamlessly combined to create a vibrant, believable, noirish world, from the fraudulent scams of the spam emailers to the seedy side of the music and journalism industries and further into the impacts of clashing cultures, of rich versus poor and those immigrants feeling from war torn areas. This is the hook on which the fantastical elements are hung and it grounds the story and gives it greater depth.

In addition Beukes uses the literary device of inserting articles, interviews, blogs, emails and transcripts works (written by others). This works amazingly well, taking her idea in new and interesting directions as well as providing context. It’s not gimmicky or jarring but a central part of the story; how does the USA handle these misfits? how does this affect the old prison hierarchy? How does it help or hinder people?

Don't get me wrong there are dramatic action sequences too, it is at heart a twisting crime plot* with some loud, fast paced action sequences, the full gamut of human emotion, love interests, voodoo magicks and enough ne'er do wells to make the Maltese Falcon to look tame. The pacing felt great (although not tight) as I was too hooked to care if it meandered . The ending was perfect noir and I fervently hope there will be no sequel because how can you top that.

So I may be blind to its faults but to honest if you like fantasy/noir or just looking for something different then it’s worth your time. This is Beukes second book (the 1st I haven't read) but there is nothing wrong with starting here.. I mean why not start with the best?

57. Un Lun Dun by China Mieville
Imaginative YA urban fantasy
(Good)

I feel I add too many caveats to my reviews but I must say I don’t really read much YA nor usually enjoy it and this is the main reason I only mildly enjoyed this book.

It's certainly got the Mieville touch when it comes to fantasy ideas, man eating giraffes? ninja rubbish bins? roaming bridges? It’s hugely rich on neat ideas, but ones which don't tend to overwhelm the story and whilst Mieville only uses his linguistic creativity to name things he doesn't dumb down the words he uses either (quiddity being my favourite)

The story is simpler then I am used to, and tends to run from one set piece to other but that’s certainly not a bad thing. I was worried at first as it did seem to be a kids fantasy by numbers, with the heroine, who everyone loves going on a series of quests with her convenient helpers but don’t worry this trope is nicely subverted quite soon into the story. The characters are ok, a bit on the chirpy side for me and a bit flat but the bad guy suitably malevolent and they all bounce off each other to keep the interest going. The plot races on at a fair old pace too and it’s interspersed with some great action (when’s the film?)

It's fun and engaging enough to recommended to YA lovers or those who find Mieville’s other books a bit too baroque and the over the top. I did enjoy it but I do prefer Mieville at full tilt ;)

Binjas! I can't quite remember what they do, but I still love the name. Zoo City sounds fabulous! I'll have to search out a copy...

I was much impressed by Zoo City too - see here.

That's it, I've got Zoo City reserved at the library now. I'm second in the queue, which doesn't sound too dreadful, although that is about a six week wait. (Plenty of reading to go on with in the meantime, of course.)

@89/91 ah I was struggling to remember the name, binjas are a great idea (they protect the roaming bridge and the seers on it). Hope you enjoy Zoo City, you are much more patient than me :) 6 weeks!

@90 Nice review. I am surprised it was considered science fiction but that's why I stay away from defining genres (I like my bookshop cataloguing everything in fiction) I tend to just get a headache thinking about them :-)

58. A Room with a View by E. M. Forster
Enchanting Edwardian romance
(Good)

Set in the beautiful locations of Tuscany and Sussex we follow Lucy Honeychurch and her chaperone touring Italy for the first time and beginnings of freeing herself from straight-laced British society.

In fact if you have seen the delightful film you pretty much know what you are getting; wonderful characters from the supercilious suitor to our naive passionate heroine, wry humour, some wonderful observations on English society and the clash of cultures, plus a bit of romance. You also get some great writing, a mostly tight paced plot and unfortunately an odd ending that seems a tad stuck on, but really that's not too much of a fault.

Recommended to those looking for a brief taste of Edwardian fiction, lovers of romance and those just wanting an enchanting, dreamy read.

59. The Last Call by Tim Powers
Innovative, if overlong fantasy.
(Good)

It's a great idea;
There’s a cyclical battle to become The Fisher King, war waged by violence, gambling and magic. Souls are bought and sold, ghosts become real and the archetypes wait behind the tarot to give you power or drive you mad.

The problem is about half way through the paces starts slowing a bit and by 3/4s the cracks in the plot are starting show. Although don't get me wrong it's still very readable but the direction the plot takes isn't as interesting as I thought it might be, partly because it needs a bit of tightening up but also its starts to get too pat: the ending is unsurprising and seems a bit forced.

However did I mention the world? It's not spelt out in detail (which I love), its chaotic with a blend of religions and magic; tarot cards and ancient gods, chaos magicks and hidden royalty all blended in with the seedy side of crime. There are some great exciting action pieces, some wonderfully eccentric characters and Las Vegas makes a great backdrop.

So I do recommend it, it's worth reading for the idea and none of it's boring, just the end is slightly disappointing.

One for a long journey perhaps?

60. The Windup Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi
overlong, average biopunk science fiction.
(Average)

Food is rare, oil ran out long ago and the genetic wars wiped out most of the food and countries have to go begging to the all powerful GM companies. Thailand stands out, independent and food rich it watches its borders and its seed bank closely but there are spies coming on the new airships and the country is starting to tear itself apart as international trade beckons.

Ok this book has been hyped all over the place and many people love but I have no idea what the fuss was all about.

Although I have a long list of faults but what’s frustrating is that parts of this book I found very very good. When it kicks into the dramatic action it becomes gripping: the clash of cultures, the description of civil war and different ethical and spiritual viewpoints come alive whilst the characters become less important. Which is a good thing because I really found the characters dull as dishwater and as you know a book is never going to work for me if I find the characters flat.

Maybe I was too familiar with the genetically modified/AI 'slave' but the wind-up girls polite only invokes horror (it's quite explicit), the amoral company spy was dire although his tortuous reasoning could have been interesting. I could go on. There
was some hope in the conflicted customs official and her leader in the latter half of the book but that was all.

Being un-engaged in the story means verisimilitude gets dropped and I started picking at the story rather than believing in it. So inattention might have led me to miss bits but kept wondering what was happening in the rest of world. Why hasn't the old world international politics changed? Why was China mentioned so briefly?
Why wouldn't everyone fly around in airships and not just sail? Why is the company so damn useless?

So sci-fi/dystopia fans its probably worth your time (although lets face it you have probably already read it). Everyone else it depends on your tolerences; if you have patience and a preference for the more world building/idea driven plots go for it.

Sorry you didn't like The Windup Girl, I may still give it a go, I've heard enough good things to remain intrigued.

My favourite Tim Powers is The Anubis Gates, have you read that one? I've read the others in the Fisher King trilogy, but not The Last Call, must rectify that! It is on my shelves somewhere, of course...

@96 The Last Call was my first Tim Powers so I must track down some others. Will look out for The Anubis Gates. How do the other books in the trilogy hold up?

It's been a while, but I did like them. With his other books, I remember being somewhat less happy with The Drawing of the Dark, although I found the history side fascinating. And he also wrote On Stranger Tides which was VERY LOOSELY used for the last Pirates of the Caribbean movie. But it's a hoot of a book, I loved the zombie pirates. :)

And that's about the end of my Tim Powers readings.

I remember enjoying The Anubis Gates, and The Stress of Her Regard is quite good. But I found Last Call dull.

Funnily enough, I have a slip of paper in my wallet with "The Stress of Her Regard" on it, in my movie buddy's handwriting. Definitely worth tracking down, then.

61. Purge by Sofi Okansen
Chilling drama

Aliide wakes one morning to find a dishevelled girl in her garden. Seemingly destitute, terrified and barely talking in outdated Estonian she is a mystery. Why is she here, what does she want and what trouble is following hard on her heels?

I have been having trouble writing this review because one word repeats in my head like a mantra obliterating all consideration of character or plot, of craft or pacing. That word is claustrophobic. From the plot to the characters to even me, all trapped and itching to escape. The story winds itself around you like an unwelcome Boa Constrictor. It's maddening even if addictive.

Don't get me wrong the writing is good. The two characters are well drawn (although you could argue Zara is just a future echo of Aliide). What could be pretty bad pacing because of lurching between characters and time is instead brilliant and the plot goes from mildly interesting to gripping.

There's more here than a family mystery hidden in the past, of a tale at how life traps us and we survive. There are the horrors of totalitarianism and free market capitalism, tales of love, hope and hatred. A hard hitting look at abuse, slavery and torture (strong but not gratuitous and I thought well done). Themes and lives mirror each other throughout and strengthen and deepen the book.

It does have it's bad points, although really disliking a main character but still wanting to know what happens isn't one of them. The ending is a bit abrupt and Zara gets somewhat overshadowed because of this. I also thought the beginning was tad slow too but to honest it's not really a problem.

All in all a strong, fascinating read I would recommend to anyone with the stomach to take it.

62. McSweeney's enchanted chamber of astonishing stories edited by Michael Chabon
OK horror shorts.

Short stories collections are usually a mixed bag and there is enough variance in here to accommodate different tastes but that also means whilst all stories are ok very few actually stand out. It says astonishing stories but its mostly a mix really of horror and tales of the unexpected, so if that’s your bag and the impressive list of authors intrigues then it might be worth your time, it certainly has one of the best book covers I have seen this year :)

Anyway the stories I really liked (out of 15):
-Lisey and the Madman by Stephen King - A mesmerising portrayal of character as an author's wife, coping with an violent attack on her husband.
-Delmonico by Damon Handler (yes that’s a pseudonym) - Another one with wonderful characters. It's a straight crime story but beautifully written.
-Reports of Certain Events in London by China Mieville - A wonderful tale of cults and feral streets, with intriguing letters and documents of expeditions. Sadly it’s one I have seen in other collections
-7c Jason Roberts - a unsettling and truly odd short story about one mans madness.

63. Psychiatric Tales by Darryl Cunningham
Good non-fiction comic

This an interesting look at mental illness from someone who used to work in the area and struggled with their own issues. It's a mix of memoir and a look at the effects of different issues, told in a snapshots and illustrated with endearing black and white artwork. If you are familiar with the illnesses and the industry there may not be much to learn here but it's well told and to everyone else fascinating.

64. Dark Property by Brian Evenson
Stark horror novella
(Good)

Evenson writes dark, stylistic and intelligent horror tales. His work can be utterly bleak or wryly amusing and whilst
sometimes too dark and sometimes too intelligent for me I always find his work interesting. This book is no exception.

"A woman carries a dying baby across a desert waste, moving toward a fortress harbouring a mysterious resurrection cult."
..so begins the blurb. This a very dark tale of resurrection, of cannibalism, of religious fanaticism and cults, of what you try to own. Set in a vague, surreal fantastical wild west it falls into the bleak, bit too intelligent category. What he is trying to do with the writing style I can't work out; but pared down and stark as usual it is sometimes jarring.

Fear not, it is very readable and whilst slow at first, the build up is worth it. I do wish we could have lingered a bit more on the interesting part. This is not a book for the faint of heart, but horror fans should find something to chew here. It is an interesting book.

65. Alice in Sunderland by Bryan Talbot (artist & author)
Joyful look at history, myth and of course Alice.

This is a joyous mix of myths and history, stories and meta-fiction. It is deceptively about the history of Sunderland, UK and the creation of Alice in Wonderland but really its a joyous mix of history and myth across the ages and geography; Sunderland as microcosm of the world. So from the constant invasions of Britain to the first comics, from popular culture to life altering social changes. It may connect with Sunderland but really its fascinating to all. Alongside this we dip into Alice's and other storytelling creations, from ancient myth to modern rumour.

It sounds chaotic but it's hangs together so well mainly through the myriad artistic styles, so photo realism for the geographic locations, pastiches of famous comics, murals and of course Talbot's own luscious style. It really is an artistic tour de force, storytelling styles through the ages to match its eclectic topics.

I heartedly recommended this to all comics fans as much to lovers of all odd historic titbits.

I should keep up with your thread better. Because when I get to read so many posts all at once, I end up with too many wishlisted books!

@105 :-) LT can be wonderfully dangerous!

66. The Orphan's Tales: In the Night Garden by Catherynne M. Valente
Fabulous, rich, fantasy

“Stories are like prayers. It does not matter when you begin, or when you end, only that you bend a knee and say the words.”

If it wasn't for the abrupt ending (there is a part 2) this book would get a perfect score. It's everything I require in a fairytale; beautifully written, clever, intelligent, heart-felt, amusing and modern.

Using the device of Arabian Nights, we have a spinner of tales and one avid listener. A girl lives by her wits in the sultans garden, thought to be cursed because of the deep black marks around her eyes.. marks which are really multitudes of tales, imprinted until she speaks them..

The books is split into two parts, each one story but oh these stories are tales within tales within tales. So we travel with a naive prince who meets a witch who tells him a story when she rescued a monstrous princess who then tells the story of her fate and on and on in a delicious winding path, though one in which everything is connected, the story emerging like a intricate thousand piece jigsaw.

The writing is beautiful but accessible, so for those who have tried Valente before and disliked it is worth another go. The characters are of course fantastic, fully realised and refreshing. The central mythology full of twisted tropes and rich invention: there are serpent gods, bears who become
men, living ships, fox women and goose girls, gold wars between gryphons and monstrous elephants. It's exuberance is overwhelming.

Ok maybe sometimes too overwhelming and if a story doesn’t gel with you, it is sometimes frustrating but in the end I think worth it. Lovers of fantasy and fable, fans of playful post modernism I cannot recommend this enough, it is definitely worth a try. For those who prefer just a few characters to know and love and like a linear narrative I would avoid

67. How To Be a Woman by Caitlin Moran
Witty but repetitive feminism.

I am not sure this needs saying but this is equality of the sexes feminism and not its much abused meaning of man hater. I am not sure who wouldn’t be a feminist but the world is constantly full of surprises and also idiots.

The problem with this kind of book is that preaching to the converted can be boring so it helps that its a mix of memoir and polemic and Moran is one of the funniest women columnists out there, although I mostly just follow her tweets and giggle.

The memoir bits are good, she is funny but also brave and it helps she has had a very interesting life from her chaotic alternative childhood to becoming an award winning journalist. Ok so it's not a serious academic text, just one women's passionate opinion but agree or not they can be interesting.

Still though sometimes I just got bored, its a bit too periodic in nature (each chapter dealing with a topic) and some topics were just alien to me, I feel no need to conform through clothes or work, I have no desire to go for a Brazilian and celebratory gossip passes me by.

So to be honest I usually wished she would get back to the memoir and therefore I cannot wholly recommend it, it’s often an interesting and fun book but your mileage might vary.

the world is constantly full of surprises and also idiots.

Yes. This. Sadly.

@108 :(

68. Anno Dracula by Kim Newman
Fun, literary mash-up

This is a fantastic re-publishing of a 1992 book that I have long wanted to read.

Set in an alternative err.. literary reality where Dracula won the fight, wooed Queen Victoria to rule the British Empire, spread his vampire get everywhere and stuck Van Helsing’s head on a pole, but amongst the social upheaval and civil unrest someone is viciously murdering vampire prostitutes and that is starting to capture the publics imagination…

1st in a trilogy (the other two are very good by the way) we get a fun, adventure read packed to the brim with literary and historical characters. Ok there is much fun spotting them (or googling) but the story holds up on its own, nor do you have to have to be familiar with Dracula or Jack the Ripper it’s just a rollicking good story.

Well researched historical London meshes wonderfully with its myth to create a evocative smog ridden London that lives large in your imagination, it’s just such a good idea. The characters, invented or not are delightful from pure dastardly villains to conflicted killers, from strong heroines to eminently uptight Victorian ladies.

Because its Newman there is some horror elements but nothing too intense. The plot seemed a bit too gently paced, more layering the story and building tension than a non stop action page turner but, although I feared it might become dull it never did.

All in all a damn fine read and one I recommend to horror/urban fantasy fans, lovers of Vicotoriana /Vampires and appreciators of literary mash-ups.

69 & 70. The Fury / Dark Reunion & The Awakening / The Struggle by L. J. Smith

I am not going really going to review this series because whilst I do enjoy the TV series I admit this books aren't for me. Ok I didn't hate the 1st too (the most closely aligned to the TV show) but once it veered away I stopped reading

To summarise:

It's straight YA paranormal romance with the standard USA stereotypes i.e. the popular, kind and beautiful school girl running into sensitive tough guy vampire. Ok it does mix in some Japanese myths, alternative worlds with the obligatory witch friend, slayer etc.. but I am too old and too cynical to enjoy this sort of thing.

71 & 72. Locke & Key series by Joe Hill (author) and Gabriel Rodriguez (artist)
Horror at its best.

Series review:
Locke & key is a great comic series taking much pleasure in devising fantastical doorways. Doorways transform you into a ghost, unlock the mind or even just transport to your required destination. The plot centres on a suitably gothic house, a family shattered by tragedy and of course those who seeks its power. The artwork is beautiful, the writings great and the characters are superb.

Locke & Key V.3: Crown of Shadows
Ok number three has to be the best yet, the story is tight, gripping, beautifully written and utterly fascinating. The characters drive this story and emotionally I was hooked. I love the fact they are dealing with some very human issues as well as insane fantastical ones it gives the book its edge and its heart.

Locke & Key Volume 4: Keys to the Kingdom
Oh dear it was all going so well, but whilst this may have worked in the original comic format in collected volumes the different stories feel chaotic and the pacing seems way off. Also while it's fun to experiment it doesn't always work which is shame coming from a great third volume. There number of magical keys is exploding and its feeling a bit silly plus on top of that I have my doubts about the end plot twist.. only number 5 is going to let me know whether this is a series worth continuing. Such a shame.

73. Changeless by Gail Carriger
Dull and lifeless Steampunk

The newly married Lady Maccon heads to deepest darkest Scotland to with her trusty parasol to find out what's causing Supernaturals to come over all human..

Sometimes you read the 2nd in a series and wonder if you were severely deranged by loving the 1st one. Which I actually want to reread the 1st to make sure that isn’t so.

Possessing of exactly the same in-jokes but not many new ones, a shockingly obviousness plot with so little of the action I enjoyed in the 1st one and no romance (heroine is now married). There is also no real sense of danger, all loved characters seem fated make it to the end, so where’s the much needed excitement in an adventure story?

Ok there are some new features; we get some new characters, a new location (a rather bland Scotland), airship travel and some new gadgets but nothing really engaged me until the end. Now the end promises a more interesting plot next time, with more to loose and some emotion so I am heading straight into the next one.

Time will tell whether I have fallen out of love with this series and whether I will recommend this book as a way of getting from A to C.

74. Blameless by Gail Carriger

3rd in the series and much better than the limp 2nd. This time Lady Maccon is in disgrace and on the run from, well everyone, so she heads with her trusty parasol to Italy, the templar stronghold and haters of all things unnatural.

We have killer mechanical ladybugs, vampire assassins, mad scientists and their yapping dogs, madcap chases across Europe, heads in jars and, of course, high tea. Ok so it's not as much fun as the 1st, but the world exploration is interesting, the plot sweeps along at a fair old pace and the characters are very slightly more lively than the 2nd.

I can't say I am enthusiastic about continuing but I am notoriously bad at continuing series (so many other shiny books!). For me there aren't enough plot hooks nor characters I really enjoy to keep me buying and I ‘m afraid I cannot recommend it, although if you have read number two its probably worth your time everyone else depends if you are a genre fan.

Gosh, I am behind here.

The Valente sounds fascinating; I've got Dracula Cha Cha Cha by Kim Newman in the pile, I didn't realise it was a series!; yay for another Locke & Key fan, and thanks for the warning about Vol 4; and I wasn't enthused enough about Soulless to continue anyhow. But I know the pain of a very disappointing second book!

I read the Anno Dracula series out of order and it didn't really worry me. I read Dracula Cha Cha Cha ages ago (time for a reread!) but I remember enjoying it, so I hope you do to.

I think I was grumpy about Locke & Key volume 4 as I came straight from reading volume 3. Sulking never brings out the best in me :) After a bit of space I am pretty sure that volume 4 cliff hanger makes it more interesting and everything will be ok....

Have you read any of Joe Hills novels.. I wasn't a fan of Heart Shaped Box (not really into mainstream horror) but I was thinking of trying Horns?

I enjoyed Heart Shaped Box as a good page-turning read outside of my usual genre choices, but it wasn't a brilliant book, more of a good read. Haven't read Horns - the premise sounds interesting, but there are other books that are appealing to me more right now. And I've got Twentieth Century Ghosts in Mt TBR somewhere...

yep, always too many books too little time :) although I wouldn't really have it any other way

75 - 78. The Black Dagger Brotherhood series by J R Ward (so far books 1 to 4)
Entertaining paranormal fantasy

Do you like very racy paranormal romance? Do you Like your fantasy to have rugged, muscular (yet oddly sensitive) male Vampires to meet emotionally strong women, have dramas and quite a lot sex and eventually get together all whilst fighting the evil undead Vampire killers? No? Then I wouldn’t even look at the cover..

Unashamedly with its feet in the racy end of the paranormal romance genre and not breaking the traditional gender role mould one inch this is nonetheless a fun, fast paced series with a great set of characters, some great dialogue and quite a lot of fighting (and of course the sex).

Apart from book two the plots tend to be good, the world interesting enough to wrap around the romance but even so I would only recommend it for genre fans, everyone else might be a bit mystified (and embarrassed).

79. A Cruel Bird Came to the Nest and Looked in by Magnus Mills

At once very similar but utterly different to what has gone before. It's a hard book to review as Mills dry, amusing minimalist style also applies to his plots.

This time we are far away in Greater Fallowfields, where the emperor has gone missing, a mysterious edict states the sun must always set at 5 o'clock, none of the ministers can get a pint and there is mysterious sounds and smoke coming closer from the east.

The amusing (and scary) familiar Kafkaesque bureaucracy is there, much mystery and memorable characters. Mills expertly controls the information creating a world which is hauntingly familiar if very unreal. The dialogue is tight and funny, there are quite a few characters, all full of human quirks who bounce o ff each other beautifully. The quiet menace has gone though and is much missed, especially with a plot of conquest that could of been much darker.. but maybe that’s the point.

A whimsical, endearing story and one although I would recommend to Mills fans and newbies’ alike I think they should be prepared for something different.

80. Dark Matter: A ghost Story by Michelle Paver

If you like quiet, creepy, horror and stories set in the cold, dark Artic then this book is for you, it is a perfect example of the genre.

It’s 1937 and 28 year old Jack is offered the life saving position of a wireless operator, part of scientific exhibition that will winter in the empty, isolated, unloved bay of Gruhukan…

Out of nowhere, for no reason, I was afraid.
My skin prickled. My heart thudded in my throat.
My body knew before I did that I was not alone.

Thirty yards away on the rocks, something moved

Carefully and tenderly setup, the plot crafted so well, not only to make everything believable but also to slowly whittle way the readers sense of comfort and surety, because when the permanent darkness starts to becomes imminent you realise you are on tenterhooks, bearing witness to what is becoming an untenable and terrifying situation. You start to ask yourself as the deadline becomes nearer what would you do alone and in the dark?

Using the trope of an old diary works very well, not only to get into the wonderfully portrayed main character‘s head, but also the slow unfurling knowledge of the others. Paver also uses it to playfully leave the question of haunting or insanity carefully open, both unsettling concepts but the reality of insanity grounds the supernatural and provides much need edginess. She is judicious in what should be left unsaid.

Compliment these strength with the some lovely writing (the descriptions on the landscape are great) then you get a very good book. Sadly it drops a few marks for (minor spoiler)
a overly crafted and somewhat harried denouement
(minor spoilier ends)

Still I highly recommend it to lovers of creepy stories.

81. The Gone-Away World by Nick Harkaway
Amazing multi-layered dystopian fantasy. With Ninjas.

A brilliant Frankestinian mesh of ideas and tropes. I mean we get a dystopian future to die for, ninjas, love triangles, the harsh reality of modern war, mimes, political satire, pirates, terrorists and freedom fighters, a variety of circus acts and murderous bees. Do I need I say anymore? I mean dystopian ninjas? come on!

Of course all these ideas would be nothing without the characters and plot to hold them together and Nick Harkaway writes brilliantly. He imbues everything with a wry humour and then smacks you with the heartfelt highs and lows and of humanity. This balance is everything, he can write tense, dramatic action sequences, quiet romantic moments, zany madcap escapades and horrible acts of war. The man is an alchemical genius.

The characters are superb. Written in 1st person we have a fantastic protagonist, funny, intelligent, self depreciating side kick to his overly heroic best friend. Add a cast of a lifetime (don’t worry it’s not too much) all wonderfully portrayed and you have a real gem.

The story is a breath of fresh air, imaginative, fast moving and challenging expectations. I mean what starts out as a zany band of heroes going to save the world, switches straight into memoir territory as we quietly (and grippingly) catch up to the present day and into the future.

Of course this mucking about with your expectations could I guess be a problem because you will repeatedly realise this book is about something else. There other minor problems being a 1st person means you really have to enjoy the company of the protagonist and all those brilliantly written ideas are pack into so tight its overwhelming and the initial start can seem slow. What this needed was an evil, heartless editor to rip out some of good stuff but make a tighter plot. Although then again the build up is worth it so who I am to say?

It's one of those books that when you finish and finally stop stuffing the words into brain in a madcap frenzy, pause and think and then smile at what Harkaway has managed to achieve. Its his bloody debut too.

Highly recommended to everyone!

I need to comb through this thread for excellent recommendations. I think our tastes are very similar!

Ninjas! I've got a copy of that on the shelves somewhere, I'd better go and find it and put it near the top of Mt TBR... Nice review!

Thanks. More books with Ninjas are needed I feel :)

Ok I finished two more The Black Dagger Brotherhood series, review in @117 and the latest True Blood (ok but not great). So that takes me up to 84.

85. The Troika by Stephen Chapman

Amazing err. Ok there is probably no way I can describe this book..

I could start off by saying there is a jeep, a dinosaur and an old Mexican women walking across an infinite desert...

Or I could mention a few key ideas and themes of families and experiments, of insanity and angels, of cyborgs and Aztec sacrifice.

Or I could just drop in a quote (from the wisecracking Alex the jeep)
A story? You want a story? I'm crawling with stories. They slide in and out of me like pinworms. I'm like some long-winded war veteran with a story for each of his missing limbs. I'm like a pilbug on its back, bristling with amputations and waving my long lost legs while silicon chips coagulate in my thick black blood. My brain is clotted with stories.

But all I can really say is I think I can guarantee you won't have read anything else quite like this. It's eminently readable, surreal but accessible, sometimes fun, sometimes horrific, sometimes heart warming and always exciting.

The three characters are rich and their fevered imaginings of the past form the setting for the overarching thriller, easing us in through their bizarre, vibrant short stories with only a tantalising glimpse of truth. The writing is great and its tone almost reminds of a great lyrical, noir crime novel as it sweeps across the genres mashing sci-fi, fantasy and horror.

I really don’t want to give away more but maybe I should to entice you in. This is the second time I have read it and I still love it, in all its audacious glory. It may not be for everyone but I promise you will find it interesting. I still mourn the fact that this is his only novel, although if I had just one book in me, I would be very proud if it could be something like this.

For those interested (and I recommend to everyone) its cruelly out of print but it's going to be republished as an e-book. Excerpt of book and info here
http://www.jeffvandermeer.com/2011/08/20/cheeky-frawg-to-release-e-book-of-stepa...

86. The Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes
Enticing novella of memory and mystery

This is a carefully constructed story of perfect length. A story of one man‘s memory and another's truth, of lifes seemingly chaotic events and the effect we have on others. Many layered and beautifully written. The characters (well most of them) are utterly human and this at heart makes it also a touching portrayal of age. Wrapped around the remininensce of an orindary life, is a mystery of a tradegy and as the book says

"We could start perhaps with the seemingly simple question.
What is History? Any thoughts, Webster?'
History is the lies of the victors,' I replied a little too quickly.
'Yes, I was rather afraid you'd say that.
Well as long as you remember that it is also the self-delusions of the defeated...'

It may not be to everyones taste, the story could be found to be highly contrived or the overall effect too understated. Nor will an old mans musings be of interest to everyone,
beautifully written or not I am unsure whether I would of enjoyed it in my early twenties.

Still I highly recommend this slight, bittwersweet and rich tale.

87. Under Arizona Skies: The Apprentice Desert Shelters at Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin West by Bruce Brooks Pfeiffer
Small and tantalising look at desert architecture

Early Reviewers Copy

Small and perfectly formed this is a bite sized look at the buildings designed by students of the Frank LLoyd Wright school of architecture. Frank LLoyd started his unorthodox school in mid 1930s and found a beautiful spot in the Arizona desert for his students to work, live and build their own accommodation. It's been going for a while now and there are some fascinating buildings, this book has selection of them, some gorgeous pictures and interesting historic snippets. I really didn't want it to end, I could have viewed many more examples and being greedy I would of loved more interviews with students on what it was like.

A great, beautiful book that does exactly what it sets out to do. Recommended.

88. The Unwritten Volume 4 by Mike Carey (author) and Peter Gross (artist)
Continually amazing fantasy meta-fiction

Series Review
Imagine the worlds best selling fantasy series was never finished, the author disappearing into thin air. Now imagine that was your father and those books star you as the hero and your life is now one round of signings and interviews at fantasy conventions. Bad enough until you realise your childhood was a lie and someone is out to kill you.

This is the best comic/graphic novel series out there. The playful merging of reality and literature is not only great fun it also makes a great plot, one which moves along at a fast pace and is complex but never overwhelming. Add someone gorgeous artwork and you have a winner.

For those who are have read up to volume 3
The artworks still stunning, showcasing a myriad of styles to fit the story and boy the story is good. The plot is bedding down now and the various players are coming more to the fore. More literary playfulness and musings on the life of stories themselves. Of course as we burrow deeper more layers open but that's part of the fun right? A direction with many possibilities. On top of that, as a lovely extra, we get visit that grumpy rabbit again, a deliciously dark story within stories.

Ah I love this series, please go and try it. I think you will all love it too

Great reviews!

I read the Harkaway last year (I think) and haven't heard much about it since. Happy to find another fan!

@128 Thanks! I can't wait for his new book next year.

The Jerusalem Quartet by Edward Whittemore
(Overall: Amazing)

A fascinating series by a sadly unknown author, out of print but still findable. Four books, loosely connected, pretty much unclassifiable & very hard to do justice in a review. The tags whimsical & magic realist are utterly misleading; they are fascinating, outlandish, beautiful, tragic and wise and most odd of all: true.

So look I am going to review the series and then review the books. I warn you I have a lot to say, catching perhaps from Whittemore because these books are the secret history of the middle east, encompassing everything and I mean everything. It’s such an audacious idea, with each book its own time and its own tone that put together, is quite frankly astounding.

You can easily dip a toe in starting with the 2nd book btw. Excerpt here:
http://www.fantasticmetropolis.com/i/jerusalempoker/

I have read the 1st two books but not the last so to refresh my memory I jumped in at number 2 Jerusalem Poker before starting them, hence review are just for books 2,3 & 4.

Series Review

"The whole point, is that all? Well of course I was getting round to it. I was just sort of sizing up the countryside along the way. What's the point taking a trip if you don't see the sights? "

The writing is style is pretty much unique, actually it's more that it has its own internal rhythm. Something which at first you find odd and then, afterwards, well other books seem to flow less and lose richness and vitality.

It’s not just the style but the plots too which are wide ranging, chaotic yet coherent, going from A to B but wander entertainingly. These books encompass the two world wars, the birth of Israel, three main religions and countless lives. Larger than life characters who dream of peace or conquest or revenge rage across the century. Spies and alchemists, secret rulers and wise men rub shoulders against every day folk beset with everyday problems, for the best thing Whittemore does is to hook you into the characters so you care. About all of them.

Kicking off in the late 1880s and finishing in the more recognisable 70s with each concentrating on a minor character from the previous book. So yes you can read these apart but to really get the full effect read all. From the more unreal, hopeful early books full of myths to later darker books, one heavy on action, one full of dialogue. You could view them as walk through age from optimistic youth to bitter adult to reflective elder or as the author pouring his therapy on the page (for he was a ex? CIA operative) or as a view of history with dim past as golden glorious myth and starkness of recent events.

We add new vows to the old and forsake nothing and the soul becomes like the holy city, the myth which is Jerusalem, a dream of ourseleves which is forever unachievable, to be seen only by others, its wonders recounted to us in imaginary tales of distant places.

89. The 2nd book Jerusalem Poker
Amazing

"…..Mummy dust. Trading in futures, Religious symbols.
With that kind of backing, the three men seemed unbeatable. Year after year, they stripped visitors to Jerusalem of all they owned, bewildered emirs and European smugglers and feuding sheikhs, devout priests and assorted commercial agents and pious fanatics, every manner of pilgrim in that vast dreaming army from many lands that had always been scaling the heights of the Holy City, in search of spiritual gold, Martyr and Szondi and O'Sullivan Beare implacably dealing and shuffling and dealing again"

2nd in the quartet and a nice place to start. A place where harsh surrealness(?) meets whimsical reality. Where a 12 year poker game is played for the control of Jerusalem and an insane millionaire alchemist who tries to destroy them destroy what?. Or it’s a story of three (four?) lives, unreliable narrators all.

For the characters at first loom larger than life before we scratch underneath and find them unerringly human before the heroism bleeds back in and it goes full circle. Myths and legends deserving of the sweep history from the garrulous, gun running Irish man, saved by the dancing baking priest to Harun defender of Jerusalem for 3,000 years, wearing his rusty helmet and tattered cloak living in the slipstream of memory or maybe just insanity. It doesn’t matter much which, there is a different truth here.

Of all the four it has most contrast and I think therefore most interesting. It has the myth but also heavy history and these play on each other wonderfully. Whittemore really draws you in to care about the characters. It’s not perfect in a reread, I guess because the tension of who wins the poker game is lost, but the 1st time I was blown away.

So just be prepared to relax and enjoy the ride, as he does wander off track. It's a brilliant, utterly unique book and if you go in open minded it might just break your heart.

Highly recommended.

90. The 3rd Book Nile Shadows
(Excellent)

Just here in the shadows in the strong quiet sounds of their being.. Nile shadows after all, the shadows of the world raging. But those strong quiet echoes of the river are within us too, thank God, going right on and never to be still..

Egypt during WW1, with Germany fast encroaching is a place full of spies. A chaotic whirlwind of double dealing and confusion. In amongst them is the Monastery, headquarters of the secret, secret British service, where the tough decisions are made, where the most secretive espionage is done. Brought into this mix is the garrulous Irish Man of Jerusalem Poker, his task to find out the truth of Stern. A double, triple agent? Fighting for peace, but whose? And at what cost?

This, I think is the most difficult book of all the Quartet. Not just, because in stark contrast to the previous books it so very dark but because it’s filled with dialogue. Action is light and happens between the lengthy conversations as characters bleed their life story onto the page. It's worth hanging on though, the payoff is good, all that listening has drawn you into the tragedy unfolding (Don’t worry no spoiler it starts at the end). I say good, I admit I was in tears and unlike before there is no obvious truth here to comfort, well apart from that, life is murky after all.

It’s a powerful book and I don’t recommend starting here. If it doesn’t sound like you, you can probably skip to the last book but it would be a shame, it’s a intense book, but a good one.

Revolution, said Stern. We can't even comprehend what it is, not what it means or what it suggests. We pretend it means total change but it's much more than that, so vastly more complex, and yes, so much simpler too. It's not just the total change from night to day as our earth spins in its revolutions around a minor star. It's also our little star revolving around its own unknowable center and so with all the stars in their billions, and so with the galaxies and the universe itself. Change revolves and truly there is nothing but revolution. All movement is revolution and so is time, and although those laws are impossibly complex and beyond us,
their result is simple. For us, very simple. Relentlessly plunging Jerusalem into its greatest turmoil since the First Crusade."

91. The 4th book Jericho Mosaic
(Excellent)

Ah yes, thought bell, races & wars and caravans of believers and seas, with their armies of chance and their games of skill... all come to meet in a orange grove at the crossroads of Jericho

Inspired by true events, this centres on the one Mossad agent who gives up everything to spend his years buried deep within Syria. A pivotal role in the taking of Golan heights and the birth of Israel as we know it today. Although being Edward Whittemore it is also much more than that, the theme of threes continues with each religion represented in the beautiful town of Jericho where old men (a Moslem, Jew and Christian of course!) meet daily for board games and chat. Life flows around them and characters touch, fleetingly but with great impact.

Less dark than the last but with the current future hanging over the scene we know there no happy ending. Still it’s bitter-sweet and cleverly mixes an overarching tense espionage plot with a feel of purely reminiscing of a past eventful life, of what will be will be. Its tone very much showing this is the last book in series. The characters are of course full and many and varied, the plot has more focus then before and passed fast so this feels the shortest one of series even though it’s not.

One word that sums it up is satisfying, a good end to an astounding series. It could easily be read alone and enjoyed but would lose that peaceful finality. More accessible than the others so recommended to lovers of historical fiction, those interested in middle east history. For those seeking chaos try the 2nd book.

I've had them on my wants lists for ages.

@134 They are worth tracking down, I know they could be considered to be deeply flawed but the enjoyment and overall affect is just wonderful. His 1st book Quin's Shanghai Circus is less accomplished but still worth tracking down and it's standalone.

92. Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier
A haunting, evocative and memorable classic.
(Excellent)

"Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again" so begins the wonderfully evocative tale of Rebecca. A story dripping in atmosphere and tension, a haunting anti-romance, a tale of the other women, of a young women’s struggle for a life and an identity, of a beautiful all consuming place and ... well.. of many things. There is much here to chew over or just sit back and enjoy a masterful tale.

It is beautifully written and I think the opening chapter is one of the best I have ever read. The characters fit so snugly, the place so rich it's a character itself. The plot too, carefully laid out so suspense just grows and grows combine that with a delicious undercurrent of menace juxtaposing against innocence and you have a winner of a tale. Subverting, just subtly, your expectations of what will happen, twisting it’s meaning. I mean you know but until you read the words you haven’t yet felt it.

Highly recommend to lovers of dark tales, mysteries, romantics and lovers of the gothic. Ignore the turgid plot summaries the book is so much better. Now can someone suggest if the film is worth checking out?

Overview of Aberystwyth series by Malcolm Pryce

That was where it all happened: the bars, the dives, the gambling dens, the 24 hour Whelk Stall, and Sospan’s ice cream kiosk. That’s where the tea cosy shops were, the ones that never sold tea cosies; and the toffee apple dens, the ones that never sold toffee"

From the 1st utterly hilarious blend of noir and humour, set firmly in Wales with its Druidic gangs and femme fatales in stove pipe hats and echoing Chandleresque LA, I was hooked. Even if the series changed and became much darker still with a twist of dark humour and a soupcon of idiocy and of course forever Welsh.

I spent the years before the deluge operating out of an office on Canticle Street, above the orthopaedic boot shop. And you know what that means: take two lefts outside the door and you were on the Old Prom.

93. Number five: From Aberystwyth with Love
(Excellent)

It's a stifling hot August day when Uncle Vanya climbs into the clients chair with a sock and spins Louie a tale of a missing girl and the legendary Aberystwyth replica town built in Ukraine. Thrust suddenly into a deadly world of spinning wheel's salesman and snuff philatelists will Louie make it out alive?

A good return to the humorous side of the series, out go all the old baddies, the old Patagonian war theme and we even get new scenery as they rush off to a Stalinesque Eastern European. It's much lighter in tone, we get some great running gags (fish milt ice cream anyone?), a wonderfully twisting plot and more of those great musings (I loved the character of Uncle Vanya). But you know there were problems...I had to grit my teeth through the Transylvania joke piece and some of the East European tropes seem tired and obvious. Luckily it didn't detract to much too much though, I simply enjoy Pryce's writing too much for that.

94. Number six: The Day Aberystwyth Stood Still
(Good)

Your mind is closed,’ said Calamity with amusing pomposity.
‘It’s not closed, it just has a strict door policy. I don’t admit riff-raff.’

Pryce has a sublime ability to get to the cold dark heart of a PI and wring his thoughts onto a page. It fits so snugly amongst the comedy and oddity it’s really a joy to read. But.. hmm, book number six is sadly my least favourite basically due to the plot. What starts to be a err.. simple case of finding a resurrected criminal turns into a government conspiracy to cover up an alien crash landing, the Welsh Roswell.

There is nothing wrong with the plot nor the humour, maybe no brilliant new characters but tons of great old ones. The writing still has the PI pastiche down to a pat, his heartfelt musings almost lyrical, his wisecracks sharp. Trouble is, personally I am thoroughly bored of alien stories and their tropes so I found much of the plot and humour a bit so so. With nothing to hook me into I got a bit bored.

Doesn't put me off the series, I love his writing and characters too much and I can’t wait for next one.

95. Cider with Rosie by Laurie Lee
(Good)

Never to be forgotten, that first long secret drink of golden fire, juice of those valleys and of that time, wine of wild orchards, of russet summer, of plump red apples, and Rosie's burning cheeks. Never to be forgotten, or ever tasted again...

Episodic in nature, but beautifully written in a deceptively simple, lyrical style, Laurie Lee manages to capture his childhood in a small village in the British Cotswolds before cars arrived, before buses squeezed distances and urban sprawl encroached.

From a child’s view we witness the seasons, first love, the first and last days of a tiny village school, his eccentric villagers, festivals, crimes and joys all bundled together in nostalgic joy. The bad is here, but softened from a child’s point of view and put all together it is a fascinating look into the past.

The village school .... Every child in the valley crowding there, remained till he was fourteen years old, then was presented to the working field or factory, with nothing in his head more burdensome than a few mnemonics, a jumbled list of wars, and a dreamy image of the world's geography

Whether it’s the book for you depends if this whimsical memoir and his dreamy style appeal, for me it only goes so far and I can’t buy into the nostalgia, it was a harsh, poverty stricken life for all its beauty and my inner cynic cannot totally enjoy it.

Still recommended. It’s the 1st in Lee's trilogy of memoirs but I reckon the 1st two can be read out of order.

96. As I Walked Out one Midsummer Morning by Laurie Lee
(Average)

Second in the Lee's autobiographically trilogy and it has lost nothing of the 1st beautiful writing skill and turning a tale out of life’s experience. This books starts with him leaving home and walking to London and after a building job finishes, with a startling act of freedom he decides to see Spain. Armed with just one Spanish phrase and his violin he lands at Vigo and starts walking south.

Although I can appreciate the writing, the style here just isn't for me, it grates and I had to force myself to pick up the book. It may capture a snapshot of a country pre-civil war, poverty and violence amongst the friendliness but I found it too depressing and somehow Lee's lyrical style made this worse, somehow it felt dishonest. Not that it hides the good or the bad just reality and I never got a sense of the place just of Lee.

"All I'd known in that country - or had felt without knowing it - seemed to come upon me then; lost now, and too late to have any meaning, my twelve months' journey gone. Spain drifted away from me, thunder-bright on the horizon, and I left it there beneath its copper clouds."

Recommend only for those who loved his other books or anyone interested in the Spanish civil war.

Been a while since I visited here, but intrigued by your reviews of the Jerusalem Quartet. Hopped onto AbeBooks and they've got a copy of the first one, Sinai Tapestry, apparently available at a bookshop that's on my way home... I might be tempted to stop in on my way!

Merry Christmas!

Ha ! love that :) Merry Xmas (belated now) to you you (and everyone else).

@138 Odd where you can find these old books, hope you succumb to temptation.

Well after a busy Xmas and I having a deliciously decadent day of doing nothing.. I might even write some reviews!

97. John Dies @ The End by David Wong
Darkly amusing OTT horror
(Excellent)

“Let's say you have an ax. Just a cheap one, from Home Depot. On one bitter winter day, you use said ax to behead a man. Don't worry, the man was already dead. Or maybe you should worry, because you're the one who shot him.”

Like a lovely bit of dark humour? Like to settle down with a horror? Then this could well be the book for you. Opening with one of the funniest chapters I have read we are introduced to Dave Wong, a small town loser who, thanks to a nasty supernatural drug 'fixes' hauntings along with his outlandish friend John. Cue a meet up with reporter and flashback to "That Incident".

“Something coming back from the dead was almost always bad news.
Movies taught me that. For every one Jesus you get a million zombies.”

Familiar movie territory (and yes it is soon to be a movie) maybe but this works sublimey in a book. The buddy thing, the slacker humour, the outlandish gore, the mind boggling theory of paranormal dimensions, the really bad jokes, the tension of when does John die at the end?

“And watch out for Molly. See if she does anything unusual. There’s something I don’t trust about the way she exploded and then came back from the dead like that.”

Wong has a great turn of phrase, some finely tuned comic timing, the ability to write action and dialogue and keeps a pretty, tortured, twisted plot going. In fact the main criticism is that the pacing isn't that polished and there are enough plots for two books, but it never gets dull or too awkward and OK it's not hilarious all the way through but it did cheer me up no end.

It's hard (for me) to review humour so really go this excerpt here http://www.johndiesattheend.com/updates/?p=471and if you like it just go buy the damn book!

Oh the movie trailer can be found here..
http://www.johndies.com/

Recommended to horror, dark humour and B movie fans.

98. Down The Rabbit Hole by Juan Pablo Villalobos
(Excellent)

Short and delicious novel snapshot of young Tochtli, drug barons son who lives a highly protected, lonely life in a 'palace' populated with the detritus of criminal life: gangsters, prostitutes, guns and money, but no play mates.

Villalobos uses the trope of young boys eyes for very inncocent things, there is much to infere but this only gives depth to this short novella. The real joy is twofold: the chaotic, slightly nightmarish tale of a journey to fulfil a childhood wish and the character of Tochtli. An avid fan of hats, samurai and pygmy hippos, spoilt but lonely, trying to emulate the machismo culture in. He is an ultimately believable, a child caught in a horrid place and yet in amongst the tradegy of the situation of gang warfare and corrupt politicians, there is quite a bit of humour, dark but amusing and with an air of complicity.

It might be too slight for a full length novel but for a novella its perfect. Recommended for lovers of darker fiction, great writing, crime fiction & YA novels (although its not YA!)

Note on publisher:
It's by an &otherstories publishing house which is part funded by subscribers and the UK arts council so it was pricier than the average book (£10). I think worth it if its within your reach plus I guess its worth funding a different type of publishing model. Anyway check out http://www.andotherstories.org/ for more info.

99. Night World by L J Smith

Oops I forgot to review this book, lent to me and read ages ago! I don't have much to say about it though, set firmly in the YA paranormal romance camp of vampires, werewolves and witches this is three short books of adventure and young love against the odds. Depends how much mileage you with these things, myself not so much. It was ok.

Ok caught up on reviews and just in the nick of time!

100. A Small Free Kiss in the Dark by Glenda Millard
Interesting if flawed YA

"We were gobsmacked to see the girl because not many people visit funfairs that don't work, especially when there's a war going on"

A tale of survival of war, of homelessness, of coming of age and of hope: Skip has run away foster care and has being living rough when the war hits. He only has one friend in the world, a bitter but not uncaring homeless man called Billy and somehow, if Billy is still alive, they must leave the city and find a safe place, away from the bombs and the soildiers, away from the dead.

It's an interesting premise: a kids view of a war, with much hidden and hinted at and a lack of reasons and sides. It doesn't get bogged down by a why or a where just what happens and there are some nice juxtapositions of homelessness before and after the war, of the adults bitterness and a child's hope. Millard has a great turn of phrase too and her wry humour enlivens the story. It's not too bleak (being more about hope) but it is sad and thoughtful too, a nice balance. Much of edginess and horror is inferred, its not graphic at all and I have no idea what a child would get from it (feels too young for a teenager). The downside for me is Skip's voice just didn't feel real, far too young and way too naive and cutesy for a street kid. It contantly jarred me from the story, on top of this its not aimed at adults, I don't need an explanation for concepts like symbolism and am familiar with stories of war.

Still its very readble and lovers of YA might want to seek it out, it's got great reviews from people who enjoy the YA genre (I tend to avoid to be honest)

101. Sisters Brothers by Patrick DeWitt
Lacklustre over-hyped western

Notorious gunmen: Eli and Charlie Sisters work for the Commodore, a man who does not like to be crossed and so Hermann Kermit Warm is going to have to die, but not before he gives up the formula. Told in 1st person we follow the Sisters Brothers accross the West into Gold Rush terrority, along the way meeting a cast of ne'er do wells, loose women, lost and mad prospectors and evil old women before pitting their err.. wits against characterful Hermenn.

This book has garnered much praise, won tons of reviews which leaves me completely confused and as I found this considerably dull. Maybe it's perhaps I just don't know enough about western tropes to get the point or maybe it's because I didnt gel with the narrator Eli. Slower than his quick shooting, bad tempered, drunk of a brother I found him quite irritating and the juxtaposition of the two brothers and their lifestyles held no fascination for me.

I also didn't see, let alone get, any of the jokes and as for a dark tale, well then don't do anything really, really bad maybe thats the point or maybe it's because I like dark fiction or can only compare to Lonesome Dove but really I found it quite tame. I kept hoping it would get better and towards the end when they stop travelling and go after the target it does pick up but soon fades anyway into a lacklustre ending. So I can't recommend it, but there are so many fans I wouldn't take my word for it.

Yay! You made it to 100! congrats!

By the skin of my teeth! Thanks :)

102. Boneshaker by Cherie Priest
Stunning Steampunk
(Excellent)

You could almost play Steampunk bingo wih this book its got everthing; airships, pirates, zombies, mad scientists and even madder machines, underground warrens, beer of dubious quality and many different types of goggles. An adventure story of city within a city, walled to stop the putrid, zombie creating gas after Leviticus Blues Incredible Bone-Shaking Machine drilled a murderous hole through the city.

It wasn't quite what I expected, a story of family, of seeking lost answers, of a mother tracking a wayward son but to be honest it was still brilliant. A page turner, swapping between the two protagonists, timeline uncertain to keep the tension. I loved Briar (a strong female character woohoo!) but every other character was great too. The world building is perfect, a broken Seattle lost in the midst of the American civil war, a literal criminal overlord and a fantatsic use of Steampunk and Victoriana tropes. The pacing is well done and if I had to be picky its got a slightly clunky exposition start and an obvious ending.. but one is forgivable and the other a perfect fit so who cares right? The actual book too deserves a mention, being in lovely sepia font with cute goggles to start each chapter. It's a nice touch.

It really doesn't get much better than this. Highly recommend.

103. Belgium: Bruges-la-Morte by Georges Rodenbach
Overwrought Romantic Symbolism (but still good)



A novella, published in 1892, dripping in symbolism and highly atmospheric. Hughes Viane, spend his days in mourning for his dead wife, living amoungst her things, venerating her dead hair, leaving his house to walk amongst the deathly, well preserved, religious city: Bruges. That is until he spots her likeness wandering the streets and becomes tragically obsessed.

It's a short, very readable book full of heavy handed symbolism (to modern eyes) It doesn't bring the city alive but takes its parts (the constant bells, the silent canals etc..) to underline his grief. Interesting but not something I recommend until I realised that it was 1st published illustrated by many haunting photographs like the one above. Now that would be an edition to seek out, the images and text feeding off each other a joy to behold.

So I recommend that edition unless you a lover of symbolism or the opera Die tote Stadt which is based on the book.

Phew last one..

104. Nelson edited by Rob Davis and Woodrow Phoenix
Innovative, fascinating graphic novel
(Amazing)

An enticing premise: for every year, take 1 day in the life of an ordinary person and get a different comic artist and writer to create it. Starting in 1968 until the present day there is a breathtaking amount of work here and I just had to see how they did and I admit I was surprised (and hugely impressed) by how damn good this book actual is.

Davis and Woodrow (adding their own tales) have kept judicious, tight editorial control but still managed to let the story twist and grow in unforseen ways and end up with one of the most natural life stories I have seen. It never turn out likes you expect does it? The eras of the 70s/80s are brilliantly captured, the angst of youth, the fears of middle age are all there and it's fascinating and gripping and still coherant even though each soupcon of a tale only a few pages long. That's even before we get to the amazing showcase of British talent on display, I can only think of 1 dud tale. The artwork is varied, some of it's simply too beautiful, the writing is funny, sad but amazingly none of it out of character. Some artists of course stand out like Kate Brown tragically funny tale of drunken epiphany or Alice Duke's stunning, beuatiful and sharp take of one of lifes hard decisions.

I can't imagine this working well in any other medium yet I can't believe someone managed to pull this off. Highly recommend to everyone, even comic newbies. Already in the running for the top reads of err.. next year!

Happy New Year folks, that's me done.. and now over to the 2012 100 Book Challenge..

Congrats, happy new year, and onto a 2012 challenge

Congratulations! And it's only two days into 2012, and you've got me adding to my wishlist already! :)

Congrats on passing the 100 book mark and finishing off all your reviews!

I concur on both Boneshaker and The Sisters Brothers (and you expressed my feelings much better than I could have...)

congrats on reaching a 100 and see you in the new year!!!

Thank you both:)