Behind The Bookcases

2010

2010-01-03T18:47:00.005Z

1. to light a candle - mercedes lackey
2. Princess polly to the rescue - mary lister
3.when darknes falls-mercedes lackey
4. Cell-Stephen King
5.Cousin Kate-Georgette Heyer

Total

2010-01-01T12:38:00.001Z

Last book of 2009 was The Outstretched Shadow by Mercedes Lackey so 156 in total.

155

2009-12-16T10:44:00.001Z

Poisoned Arrows by George Monbiot

154

2009-11-20T09:21:00.000Z

alternative 3

153

2009-11-18T12:48:00.001Z

The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters

152

2009-11-16T19:35:00.001Z

the guy next door by Meggin Cabot - chick lit

151

2009-11-16T10:15:00.000Z

The princess and the hound by Mette Ivie Harrison

150

2009-11-15T18:21:00.000Z

Flood by Stephen Baxter

148, 149

2009-11-15T10:52:00.001Z

Heir to Sevenwaters by Judith Marillier

Graceling by Kristen Cashore

Both good, loved the Marillier. Graceling has some quite unconvincing names!

147

2009-11-13T10:31:00.001Z

The Accidental

146

2009-11-12T17:19:00.001Z

Deadly exposure by leonard goldberg

145

2009-11-11T18:53:00.001Z

To Catch a Pirate

144

2009-11-10T16:45:00.001Z

Between Good and Evil Roger Depue

143

2009-11-08T08:14:00.000Z

Princess Ben

142

2009-11-07T20:01:00.000Z

Regency Rakes

140-1

2009-11-04T15:21:00.001Z

Farewell to Arms- Ernest Hemingway

O! Pioneers! - Willa Cather

139

2009-11-02T14:30:00.001Z

Primitive by Mark Nykanen

138

2009-10-29T08:57:00.000Z

Out of Africa- Karen Blixen

137

2009-10-21T11:01:00.001+01:00

the tiger in the smoke by margery allingham

136

2009-10-19T13:44:00.000+01:00

Sword of winter by marta randall

135

2009-10-18T17:24:00.001+01:00

Girls in their married bliss

134

2009-10-14T19:39:00.001+01:00

The girl with green eyes edna o brien (wriiten one handed)

133

2009-10-13T11:14:00.000+01:00

The Country Girls by Edna O'Brien

132

2009-10-12T12:43:00.000+01:00

The Wanderground

131

2009-10-11T08:28:00.000+01:00

The Next Doors/The Silver Grill by Joan Tate

127, 128, 129, 130

2009-10-08T11:13:00.001+01:00

Th Song of the Lioness Quartet by Tamora Pierce

125/126

2009-10-07T12:24:00.000+01:00

Bobby's Girl by J Austin

Call the Midwife by Jennifer Worth

123, 124

2009-10-04T10:12:00.001+01:00

The Alibi by Sandra Brown
The Island and the Ring by Laura Stevenson

122

2009-10-03T17:39:00.001+01:00

belle de jour

119, 120, 121

2009-09-27T11:50:00.001+01:00

Son of the shadows
Child of the prophecy
Snow White, Blood Red

and a baby- Sebastian born 13/09/09 at home. 9lbs 6oz (4.24 kilo)

118

2009-09-12T16:59:00.000+01:00

daughter of the forest by judith marillier

117

2009-09-11T12:22:00.000+01:00

The Stepford Wives

116

2009-09-10T10:14:00.001+01:00

Nightwatch by Sarah Waters

115

2009-09-07T15:43:00.001+01:00

The secret scripture by sebastian barry

114

2009-09-06T10:27:00.001+01:00

Cries Unheard by Gita Sereny

113

2009-09-04T14:43:00.001+01:00

High Society by Ben Elton

112

2009-08-30T19:41:00.001+01:00

Courage of falcons

111

2009-08-29T17:17:00.001+01:00

Vengeance of Dragons

110

2009-08-26T18:12:00.001+01:00

White teeth - good

109

2009-08-25T11:14:00.001+01:00

Diplomacy of Wolves- very good start to the secret texts trilogy

108

2009-08-22T17:31:00.001+01:00

Tigana by Guy Gavriel Kay - Very good

107

2009-08-17T09:50:00.001+01:00

Escape by Caroline Jessop - good. similar to stolen innocence

106

2009-08-15T16:57:00.000+01:00

Armies of Daylight by barbara Hambly- very good

104/105

2009-08-12T16:17:00.001+01:00

Warlord
Warsworn

103

2009-08-10T17:57:00.001+01:00

warprize again!

102

2009-08-09T15:04:00.001+01:00

Blast from the past, ben elton- unexpected twist, enjoyed

101

2009-08-06T09:12:00.000+01:00

The Rift by Walter J. Williams- Disaster novel- heavy but good

100 (Hurray!)

2009-08-01T21:36:00.001+01:00

Year Zero - Jeff Long - Apocalyptic thriller

99

2009-07-31T21:31:00.001+01:00

Needful things- stephen king - not his best

98

2009-07-29T16:54:00.001+01:00

Birth Reborn by Michael Odent - inspiring

96, 97

2009-07-24T09:50:00.001+01:00

The Walls of Air by Barbara Hambly - love this trilogy so far

Black Thorn, White Rose by Datlow etc - OK collection of fantasy fairytale retellings.

95

2009-07-21T14:45:00.002+01:00

The Time of the Dark by Barbara Hambly (book 1 of the Darwath trilogy-very good)

94

2009-07-20T17:52:00.001+01:00

Marie Stopes and the sexual revolution by June Rose- Very good bio of an amazing lady, learnt a lot. Very easy to read too.

91, 92, 93

2009-07-17T16:22:00.002+01:00

Brokeback Mountain (2nd read)

Blow your house down (v good-liked a lot) by Pat Barker

The Fatal Shore by Robert Hughes (interesting introduction to Australian transportation/development but vvvv long)

90

2009-07-01T18:04:00.000+01:00

Mother of Storms by John Barnes

Apocalyptic futuristic. Quite good though also heavy on science

89

2009-06-22T19:50:00.001+01:00

Different Seasons by Stephen King

88

2009-06-20T19:53:00.002+01:00

Mindhunter by John Douglas

Inside the FBI elite serial killer unit. Very good

87

2009-06-16T19:11:00.000+01:00

Mayada by Jean Sassoon

Grim but strangely unmoving due to poor quality writing.

86

2009-06-13T10:16:00.000+01:00

Pefectly Correct Philippa Gregory

Romance, light, fluffy

85

2009-06-11T12:23:00.000+01:00

These Old Shades by G. Heyer

One of the better ones.

84

2009-06-08T19:53:00.001+01:00

More Blood, More Sweat and Another Cup of Tea by Tom Reynolds

Very good

83

2009-06-07T16:20:00.001+01:00

Friday's Child by G. Heyer

Regency romance, well written but not overwhelmed

82

2009-06-05T22:25:00.000+01:00

The Bourne Identity by Robert Ludlum

Very good thriller, enjoyed it

81

2009-06-01T15:28:00.000+01:00

Love with the proper husband victoria alexander

Historical Romance

80

2009-05-31T20:57:00.000+01:00

The Winter Rose Mckillip

Another dream like fantasy, very strange.

Currently Reading

2009-05-29T16:49:00.003+01:00

The Bourne Identity (Bathroom)
Miriam Stoppard Pregnancy and Birth (bathroom)
The winter rose mckillip (bedroom)
Hitler's willing executioners; ordinary germans and the holocaust - goldhagen (lounge)

78 &79

2009-05-27T14:05:00.000+01:00

Forgotten Truth
Lost Truth

77

2009-05-26T18:07:00.001+01:00

Phillipa Gregory Fallen Skies

Quite a good tale of a man changed forever by what he saw in WW1.

76

2009-05-25T20:29:00.001+01:00

Hidden Truth

75

2009-05-22T15:59:00.000+01:00

First Truth (Book 1 of 4)

Entertaining light fantasy

73, 74

2009-05-16T19:21:00.003+01:00

Enemy Women by Paulette Jiles

Superb novel about a forgotten side of the American civil war.

A Heroine of the World by Tanith Lee

Lackeyesque fantasy. Quite good I enjoyed it as a light read.

72

2009-05-15T20:31:00.000+01:00

Curse of Chalion

Absolutely superb fantasy, loved it! Just wish it was longer

71

2009-05-10T14:42:00.001+01:00

Stolen Innocence by Elissa Wall

About her life as a 14 year old bride in the FLDS. Scary but very good

70

2009-05-05T20:31:00.000+01:00

The Fairy Godmother by Mercedes Lackey

Romantic schlock fantasy with an original idea.

69

2009-05-02T22:08:00.002+01:00

The Stand by Stephen King

One of his better books. Builds up the tension without descending too much into either the WTF supernatural weirdness typified by books such as Cell or the WTF stupid ending seen in It. Nice end of the world/killer plague thing but a long long long book at 800 ish pages.

68

2009-05-01T20:18:00.002+01:00

Fanny by Erica Jong

Erotic adventure romp in the style of cleland, fielding etc. Very good. Keeper

67

2009-04-30T17:38:00.001+01:00

A town like alice by neville shute. Loved it, so much more to the book than the film.

60-66

2009-04-29T22:04:00.002+01:00

60-65 - other 6 princess diaries books. Goodness me, what a load of drivel. Each one took me an hour maximum to read and I wasnt very impressed at the story or the characterisation. 66 however was something different - also a YA novel, also with a romantic theme, but this time I was drawn into the story, cared more about the main characters and wanted to know what happened to them. The Princess Diary books are already in the Sale box under my bed but The Morning Gift by Eva Ibbotson is a keeper and one I would be happy for my daughter to read once she has the ability.

56-59

2009-04-27T14:34:00.002+01:00

56- Somebody to love by Grace Slick

Rock and roll memoir full of the typical drugs and sex you would expect. Quite interesting although I suspect I would have enjoyed it more if I had been aware of who the author was before I started the book!

57-59 -First three Princess Diaries books. I have six more still to read.
They arent fabulous and I wont be holding onto them for my daughter to read once I have finished.

55

2009-04-20T18:07:00.002+01:00

The Kabul Beauty School

Quick read, very enlightening about the conditions for women in Afghanistan. Didnt feel like I particularly got to know the narrator or the subjects though, the book tended to jump about a bit and I lost track of what was happening and who was who and whose horrific life story was being summarised in a page.

54

2009-04-17T20:58:00.001+01:00

Put What Where? Over 2000 years of bizarre sex advice.

Very funny, quite repetitive but a nice quick easy read. Some of it made me cringe and cross my legs however!

51-3

2009-04-16T16:45:00.001+01:00

The Lioness Quartet by Tamora Pierce. For some reason I can only post and not fiddle with any of the bits around the side and bottom of the blog. Probably for the best anyway, have started writing dooyoo reviews again for extra £££ so should concentrate on that rather than endlessly fiddling with this blog!

47-9

2009-04-10T15:47:00.001+01:00

Another 3 No 1 ladies detective agency books.

45-6

2009-04-09T20:24:00.000+01:00

Next two No 1. Ladies Detective Agency books.

40-43, 44

2009-04-08T09:11:00.001+01:00

First four No 1 Ladies Detective Agency books.

Wolfking by Bridget Wood

Cross between post-apoc, romance and Celtic mythology

39.

2009-04-01T13:32:00.003+01:00

Join Me By Danny Wallace

Funny and readable tale about a man who idly decided to see how many people he could get to sign up to something they knew nothing about. Once it became popular he was forced to try and decide what it was they were supposed to do (do a good deed every Friday) and let it run away with itself. Very good

38

2009-03-31T12:26:00.002+01:00

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

2009-03-29T12:28:00.002+01:00

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

2009-03-26T15:01:00.002Z

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.

2009-03-24T16:33:00.003Z

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

2009-03-23T14:06:00.002Z

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.

2009-03-21T23:03:00.002Z

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.

2009-03-19T14:48:00.003Z

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.

2009-03-17T21:46:00.000Z

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

2009-03-15T18:26:00.002Z

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

2009-03-12T18:25:00.002Z

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

2009-03-10T15:58:00.002Z

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

2009-03-04T14:10:00.002Z

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!

26

2009-02-27T15:37:00.001Z

Cafe Europa

Collection of short articles about the relationship between the West and former Communist countries from a personal perspective.
Very good

2009-02-23T20:02:00.002Z

Got a pack from the council today- whole load of glossy shite about keeping children safe on the road. Usually I just bin this rubbish but it was drawn to my attention that the fold out wall chart thingy advises me to use 'reigns' when out with my child.

WTF!

REIGNS! How can I physically do that? What does my daughter's safety on the road have to do with the rule of a monarch. A mere prelimary tentative google brings up instantly that the restraints by which a parent controls a small child are commonly called 'REINS'. Yes, like the things a horse wears and to which they bear a surprising resemblance. Funny that.

God knows how many people this thing passed through the hands of and unsurprisingly it was all put together by local government; just justifying my long held belief that they are all a bunch of lazy morons (yes I know this was probably put together by someone on work experience but someone must have signed it off!).