38

War Day by Strieber and Kunetka

Two journalists travel a nuclear ravaged America 5 years after nuclear war to 'report' on the effects of the bombs. Dated, but well written.

37

Mr Darcy's Daughters by Elizabeth Aston

I am a big fan of these modern follow on novels and was excited to receive this from Bookmooch. The eponymous Mr Darcy and his lovely wife Elizabeth do not appear at all, having been dispatched to Constantinople. The action is focussed on their five daughters who have been sent to London in their absense and proceed to misbehave in such a way I cannot believe possible of children raised by the strict Mr Darcy. The book begins well, introducing the daughters and gently establishes some love affairs for the two eldest. This is where it all starts to go wrong in my opinion as the story starts to go beyond the realms of reasonable possibility. Suffice it to say there are several elopements, lots of scandal, a sodomite and a conclusion that is evident from at least the first quarter of the book. Usually I can put up with even the most ridiculous of storylines but in this case I feel there could have been some restraint and also some more 'filler' between the 'excitement'. The first half of the book is slow and leisurely and then BAM, BAM, BAM, the naughty stuff starts and it left me feeling breathless and like I had read two different books joined together. The characters themselves are thinly drawn and very much like simple caricatures based on the original book. Sad. I wanted so much to love this book, at best it is merely good; at worst, definitely mediocre.

36

Perdita by Paula Byrne

Super biography of Mary Robinson, an 18th century character who lived an exciting and interesting life. Unhappily married at a young age Mary lived in a debtors prison, became an actress and mistress of the Prince (George IV) and other rich society men. Having given up her stage career for the Prince she had an accident in her late 20's which led to disability and an early impoverished death in her early 40's. Well written, using fascinating material including her letters.

35.

Guitar Girl by Sarra Manning

Girl forms band with her friends at school, becomes famous, suffers angst, decides she doesnt enjoy it. Will she stay friends with her bandmates, what will become of her budding relationship with Dean (which gradually turns sexual in a teenage sort of way), what does she want out of life. Short but sweet, easy to read and well-written simple language which encouraged me to finish it quickly. Not great literature but not teen 'chick lit' either. Would be great for a teenager who is determined to be famous, as it gives the other side of the story and doesnt make everything sound fantastic! People get hurt, others turn out to not be what they seem and the record industry is shown as what it is: a giant corporate industry desperate to make as much cash as possible out of their brand.
I wanted to know what happened to Molly when I put the book down which is always a good sign!

Currently reading

Just an update so I can keep track of what I am reading and where!

Perdita: Life of Mary Robinson : Sob, its a Richard and Judy bookclub book (from 2005 though) but I love biographies of 18th century women. I had to give it a good check over to make sure it had end notes and sources at the back (I won't read a 'history' book if these aren't there). Its very good so far, I am really enjoying it - its nice to know that some women managed to break free from the faceless hordes of 'forgotten women' to do something with their life : even if that something was scandalous and notorious!

Somebody to Love: 'Autobiography' (she didnt actually write the book!) of Grace Slick. I had to do a check on who she was (Jefferson airplane) but it looks quite good. Very very very easy to read, short chapters and I already have someone waiting for it once I have finished it! Looking forward to hearing some salacious gossip about rock 'n' roll.

Guitar Girl: Teen fiction about a girl in a band. I got it an hour ago and am already half way though. Very easy to read, sweet little story for 14+.

My mother visited on Saturday and she and I did our usual turn around the bookcases and discussed what we were reading and had read recently. She also took another of my books to read-she has four now! I think its a little strange how our roles have been reversed-when I was younger it was me raiding her bookcases! Makes me feel very grown up.

34.

Victoria and the Rogue by Meg Cabot

Mills and Boon for teens.

[edit] posted the above and thought it was a bit unfair to be so brief. Strong heroine, amusing plot (for YA romance), some exciting plot (although so similar to the other Cabot I read, eyebrows were raised!) although nothing further than kissing. 200 pages, took me an hour or less to read. Coated my brain in a layer of pink fluff which allowed me to stop worrying about sick child and get on with sleeping and taking care of myself (fainting/dizzyness, headaches and joint issues).

33.

The Man in the Iron Mask by Alexandre Dumas

Long, difficult and pleasing to read at the same time. I enjoyed it but I certainly had to work at it especially as I havent read any of the other three musketeer books (and am not planning too after this marathon-at least for a good long while!). It also didnt end how I wanted it too (or expected it too :( )

32.

Where late the sweet birds sang by Kate Wilhelm

An unspecified cataclysm has left the world sterile, so humans turn to cloning to reproduce. But they find that this brings up more problems than it solves as they find that their clones are not 'human' in the same way that they are. Far too short, I would have been happy to have been immersed in Wilhelm's world for at least 300 more pages, left me desperate to know more. Loved it.

30 & 31

The Whisperers; Private Life in Stalin's Russia by Orlando Figes

Hard going and very emotionally draining to read but this is a fantastic book giving an amazing insight into life in Communist Russia from the mouths of those who lived through it.

Teen Idol by Meg Cabot

Some light romantic teenage fluff. No brain required.

29

Can any mother help me? by Jenna Bailey

Love this book. This was its third or fourth reread. Tells the story of a correspondence magazine set up in the 1930's and circulated between its members ( 20 or so mothers) until it finished in 1990. Certainly makes me appreciate what I have a lot more, although its members had many of the same problems that I do-somethings are just universal it seems.

28

The Duchess by Bertrice Small

Historical romance. Above the usual mills and boonish tosh, quite well written but a book to read for the pleasure of not having to think very hard!

27

Stand on Zanzibar by John Brunner

A very strange and long book, a feted work of dystopian fiction and one of the few books I have considered not finishing. The format it is written in does not lend itself to speed reading - taking the form as it does of lots of short chapters which often seem to have nothing to do with the action taking place. I enjoyed it but was very pleased when I got to the end!