I seem to have collected more than 400 books on my Kindle. How did that happen? Add to that the eight – yes 8 – bookshelves in my house, most of which are layered two books deep. I guess you could say I like reading.
I never get as much time as I would like to read – but I do manage to get through a book or two…
So – once again – the latest in my semi-irregular blogs about the books I have been reading.
Starting with the best new discovery in a while…
The Guardian – Nicolas Sparks
I find it a bit hard to believe that this is my first Nicholas Sparks novel. He has written rather a lot and some have been made into very successful Hollywood films. I’ve watched a couple and quite enjoyed them.
I tore through this book very quickly – always a good sign. It’s romance meets serial killer. The romance is strong and believable – and the threat that comes into it is equally real and at times quite creepy. Parts of the plot line were a tad predictable – but that did not make it less valid or less emotionally satisfying. And some parts were quite unexpected.
One of the things I love when I find a new author is the anticipation of reading all those lovely looking books that are already out there… not waiting months for the next release.
I strongly suspect quite a bit more of Mr Sparks is going to appear on my Kindle in the very near future.
Neil Gaiman – Fortunately the Milk
This is not the first Neil Gaiman I have read – not will it be the last. He is such a brilliant writer – I would probably read his shopping list. In fact – a shopping list is what this delightful kids tale is all about.
Dad is in charge of the kids – and goes out to pick up the milk he has forgotten. A simple enough plot – that somehow also involves aliens, a time travelling stegosaurus, pink plastic flamingos and a God for people with short funny names.
The book is quite simply a bit of fun. There’s none of the deeper substance of so many of his other books – including the kid’s books – but that matters not one bit. This is thoroughly enjoyable – made even more so by the fabulous Chris Riddell illustrations.
I have never met a Neil Gaiman story I didn’t like.
Alison May – Sweet Nothing
In the interests of full disclosure, this book is by my friend and fellow Choc Lit Author Alison May. That said – I really enjoyed it. Our hero is a maths geek – and I have to say I find intelligent men really really appealing. I would go so far as to say smart is sexy. And I love the way she had woven the number 0 into the whole book.
Obviously, this is an adaptation from the Shakespeare – and that’s fine by me. Alison has taken the theme and plot and updated it to fit so well into our modern world.
A really enjoyable read – and I will be going back for more (not just to support a friend – but because I expect her next book will be equally if not more enjoyable).
Ian Fleming – Casino Royale
I read this for the first time more years ago than I care to admit. Recently, I was feeling restless and decided to distract myself by taking another look at Bond (after deciding I did like Daniel Craig in the film role).
Talk about a great opening line….
“The scent and smoke and sweat of a casino are nauseating at three in the morning.’
Fleming has created a memorable character in Bond. The film franchise is hugely successful – and the stories are thrilling and action packed. But every now and then it’s worth taking a look at the books… although dated a bit now, there are moments….
James Herbert – Ash
If you like a good conspiracy theory – and to be scared silly – then the last novel by James Herbert is one for you.
Herbert, who died last year, is remembered as a horror/thriller writer – and like other genre writers, tends not to be thought about too deeply. This is a mistake. He was a wonderful storyteller, and like other writers in his genre (Steven King and Peter Straub spring to mind) his books reach down inside us to find deep seated, at times primal fears.
The hero of this book, David Ash – is a paranormal investigator, who has already been put through the wringer by Herbert in earlier books. He has another really terrifying time when he goes to investigate a haunted Scottish castle. Not for the faint hearted – but it’s a nod to every conspiracy theory you’re ever heard.
Nora Roberts – A Will and A way
This book was originally published 1986. It does show. It is really surprising to read a book where everyone is not carrying a mobile phone, with instant access to their e-mails and the internet. It’s a bit scary to think that books set in the 1950s and 1960s are now considered historical. This book doesn’t go that far back – but it does not feel totally contemporary.
That said – I loved it. It’s Nora Roberts – I was always going to love it. I really liked the characters. The setup is a bit clichéd (hero and heroine forced to live together for six months in a big old house by the terms of a loved one’s will) – but I liked how she handled it.
I know I can always rely on Nora when I am looking for a pleasant evening tucked up in bed with a cup of tea and my Kindle.
Next on my list – I am planning to re-read Wuthering Heights. I wonder if I will still like it as much as I did the first three or four times I read it. 🙂