18

The Suspicions of Mr Whicher

One of my mothers books its a novelisation of a famous Victorian murder. I quite enjoyed it but found myself skipping bits and racing to the end to find out who had done it. There were lots of bits of detail which I found extraneous, probably because I have read an awfully large amount of crime novels, mostly factual. It was most interesting to me because of the 'unmasking' of a seemingly normal Victorian family as thoroughly seedy underneath.

Had an unpleasant experience with some other mothers yesterday, felt like I was back at school again. Can't believe that some people still behave like teenagers even though they are adults and parents. Very sad.

17

The Body Farm by Bass and Jefferson- Very good, a light read describing the development of the body farm intermixed with pertinent cases. Enjoyed it very much-all the more so because it was only 49p brand new!

Arrived today:

Powers that be
Power lines

two books of a trilogy written by Anne McCaffrey and Elizabeth Anne Scarborough. Just need the last one now!

So busy feeling sorry for myself I forgot to add that I finished the Alex Scarrow (?) book, Last Light this morning. I was totally engaged at the time but the ending left me a little flat and it all seemed a little rushed and implausible after I had closed the book. There were lots of things which worked and lots that didnt-the idea of the big secret global conspiracy was a bit ....hmmm.... lacking. I can see now why many apocalyptic/post-apocalyptic writers choose not to dwell too hard on the reasons behind the event; its hard to make things sound plausible without sounding like you need some heavy duty tranquilisers and a tin foil hat.

I enjoyed it but am definitely in two minds about whether to hang onto it or not.

Feeling like somewhat of a failure today and musing on my life choices. Realistically I'm pregnant with number 2 and have a lovely husband and a sweet little girl, a supply of books to last me at least 2 years, a loving family etc (Plus morning sickness which kicked in this morning-hurrah!).
But I shouldnt have googled some of my former primary school classmates today, one of them is:

Timothy Henty top conductor - http://www.timothyhenty.com/1.html

and another is

Elliot Jay Stocks - freelance designer and author - http://www.elliotjaystocks.com/blog/

Another is working on earthquakey things at UEA and thats where I gave up looking.

SOB.

Oh I got an Elizabeth Vaughan today through the post from a Bookmoocher.[weak smile]

One book today

One new book today, a lovely new hardback from a Bookmoocher in the UK:

Last Light by Alex Scarrow

15.

The Awakened Mage by Karen Miller.

I zoomed through this desperate to know what happened. There were some surprises, but none that took my breath away-with a nice ending. The final denouement was good but not superb- it finished a little quickly for my liking.

I'm not short of more books to read next! I have been reading Cafe Europa concurrently with the Karen Miller duology but I'll choose another one to ensure I always have something to read close by!

Oh dear

Went to visit my mum and her partner today and was waylaid in Blackheath (after a rather fine meal at Il Bertorellis) by my nemesis, book racks on the pavement with a sale sign on. I count myself lucky to escape with just three:

The Summertree by Guy Gavriel Kay
The Wandering Fire by Guy Gavriel Kay
The Drakest Road by Guy Gavriel Kay

(The Fionavar Tapestry trilogy)

They look brand new and I got all three at once so no waiting for other volumes.

My mother also lent me two of her books so I have two weeks to read those before she visits in February.

I got my maternity stuff today from the hospital, apparently a midwife will visit me at home for my first visit which is quite exciting, all very different from the first time in St Andrews. This area seems very pro-home birth, natural birth, breastfeeding and bed-sharing so I am very hopeful this time round. Really hope I get to go to a maternity unit rather than a hospital.

14

The Innocent Mage by Karen Miller- Part one of a duology

Quite difficult to get started on, after reading the prologue I had to put it down for an hour or so before I started the main body of the book. Good mediocre fantasy, nothing special but eminently readable. Asher (a fisherman) rises in the ranks of the king's household after befriending the prince. With an evil lurking over the borders, divisions in court, a Prophecy (with Asher as the key player) coming to pass and frictions between the two 'races' who share the country there is a lot to pack in to the book. Its pretty well done, although there were points where I had to repeatedly reread pages to get the gist. With a dramatic and unexpected event at the end of the book, I picked up the second very quickly. This series is quite page-heavy too, running to around 700 pages each.

Also arrived today:

The Winter Rose by Patricia Mckillip - more fantasy!

Oh and I found my daughter hiding today trying to suck the last bits of cheese from the plastic lid of my Danish Blue box - I do feed her honestly. I took pity on her and gave her some from the box and some of my Bleu D'Auverne too, so looks like I have some serious competition for my stinky blue cheese (MrNeverwithoutabook classes them with pickles and marmite in the inedible category!).

Looove living in Colchester, I went shopping today and didnt have to set foot in a chain store once today. Books for my daughter from charity shops, meat from the local butcher (bacon steaks, blade steak and 6 free range local eggs for £5), fruit and veg from the two greengrocers and then to my local deli for sliced meat, olives, cheese, bread and milk. Friendly professional service, lots of advice on what to buy and food that actually tastes of something. I didnt realise how disgusting and tasteless UK supermarket food was until I stopped eating it in Switzerland, bleaugh.

13

Finished Red Gloves by Beth Vaughan. Very light easy read with a feisty heroine but not as good imo as the Warprize series.

12

Finished World War Z again, I love this book. Its frightening, moving and powerful and very well written for a horror novel. Love it.

11.

Finished The Book of Atrix Wolfe. It was ok, a sort of dreamy, mystical feel to it. I quite liked it but wasnt quite sure what was happening most of the time. It could have done with being longer as well as there were lots of unexplained things and loose threads.

Started World War Z again for book number 12. One of my favourite books.

Back from town with another three books. The Works had a sale on so I got two brand new books for 49p each.

Death's Acre: Inside the Legendary Body Farm by Bass & Jefferson

The Gilded Chamber by Rebecca Kohn (HB) - Novel about Queen Esther (from that Bible book)

Also spotted a 30p book in the racks outside a charity book that looked interesting:

Agony: Problem Pages through the ages by Robin Kent

Had some interesting news on Wednesday, an explanation for why I have been feeling so terrible. It appears another little Neverwithoutabook will be making an appearance in September. A bit gobsmacked but happy.

Anyway back to the important stuff!

Four books today.

The regional accounts director of firetop mountain- a parody of those choose your own adventure books. Looks quite funny.

The curse of chalion
Orsinian Tales (both fantasy)

and I saved up my ipoints and traded them in for another Amazon book:

Red Gloves by Beth Vaughan (she of Warprize etc fame)-hope this one is as good.


Oh and I am half way through The Book of Atrix Wolfe (book number 11)

10.

Arrived today:

Fast Girls: Teenage tribes and the myth of the slut by Emily White

Armies of daylight by Barbara Hambly (hurray completes a trilogy!)

Finished today:

Fast Girls: Teenage tribes and the myth of the slut by Emily White

I only picked it up to flick through but got completely drawn in. It really is shocking how cruel teenagers can be to each other, but the explanation is convincing and interesting. I was upset by how nasty girls can be to each other, even though I went to an all-girls school myself! Certainly not more peaceful and pleasant than the male sex. I was fascinated by certain enduring qualities of the myth, from 50 year old victims to one of the more recent teenager victimised by her peers (who was aware of the 'slut' myth but was unable to convince her bigoted and unpleasant teenage mob of fellow students). Isnt it about time we all moved on from objectifing women as 'mothers' and 'whores' and stop punishing women who admit to enjoying sex. It does look as if the situation has improved (with the 'slut' label morphing into something different) but too slowly, too slowly. I would be interested to see if anyone has written a book about the male equivalent- the 'fag'

Reading Spree 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.

After I finished the Black Magician Trilogy I went on to start and finish:

Nicola and the Viscount - fine, teenage fluff, no thought required

Warprize
Warlord
Warsworn - these were just what I fancied reading, well written fantasy romance, I started the series and just raced through them desperate to know what happened, staying up until 2am! Super convincing light fantasy.

The Girl who Owned a City by OT Nelson - lovely YA story about a post=apocalyptic society where a virus has killed everyone over the age of 12. Slightly far-fetched but this story of a feisty schoolgirl who brings people together to form her own community was brilliant and I finished it in the hour long car trip home from my father.

4. High Lord by Trudi Canavan

The Black Magician Trilogy finished. I finished it wanting to know more which is a good thing I suppose. One of the problems is that I couldnt engage with some of the subplots properly, most notably the Dannyl story, I just didnt care enough. I just wanted to follow Sonea and Akkarin, but that story seemed quite rushed, nothing really had the detail that I wanted to read. The overall plot was good, its a series I will hang on to - but its vaguely disappointing as it could have been so much more. Reminds me very much of a less 'sexy' Lackey.

Have started book number 5 - Nicola and the Viscount by Meg Cabot. Its like Georgette Heyer for teens, totally anachronistic but very light and fluffy with a heroine who isnt afraid to stand up for herself.

3. The Novice by Trudi Canavan

Second in the Black Magician trilogy. Light fantasy with a female protagonist. Zipped through this one but the story was good - it pulled me through the 400 or so pages. A twist I didnt see coming and a third potential love interest for Sonea, who becomes much less pathetic and starts being a much more enthusiastic heroine. This is the sort of stuff I hope my daughter will read (well when she can read!) to counteract all that bloody awful passive princess claptrap marketed to girls.

Am now on the final book of the series The High Lord. Half way through and its very good, taken a whole new direction, just hope she can pack in all the expected action in the last half of the book.

Considering making it 120 books a year instead of 80, after all thats only 10 books a month, eminently doable I think. Pondering....

Two books:

The Girl who owned a city

Nicola and the Viscount by Meg Cabot

2. The Magician's Guild

Finished The Magician's Guild by Trudi Canavan. Light, very easy to read, didnt really feel too engaged with the story as I wasnt drawn too deeply into the world depicted. Started book 2, interested to see where she is going to take it.

Finished Fast Food Nation- just confirmed my original opinion of big corporations and fast food, really shocked me in places.

Began Magician's Guild by Trudi Canavan.

1. Dragonfly by Julia Golding

First book of 2009! Well-written YA fantasy with a strong heroine, gentle romance and happy ending. A quick read for me but very much enjoyed.

I also got the other two books of the Trudi Canavan series today from Play.com, along with Warsworn and Sharp North.

From Bookmooch I got:

The Book of Atrix Wolfe and

Jamie at home: Cook your way to the good life.

New Year=sales. I was straight into Waterstones this morning and discovered Flora Fraser's Princesses (The Six Daughters of George III) for £3.99 rather than £9.99.

My two Amazon books arrived today and I have started Dragonfly by Julia Golding which makes it my first official book of 2009. Still working through Fast Food Nation even though I won't count it.