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Entry tags:	booklist

Book list
There was a time when by this point in the year I’d already have gone through more than 50 books. But then RL and work interfered, add in the fact that I spend a lot of my free time online and I found I hardly ever picked up an actual book. Hopefully this comm will help me get back into the habit. So far this year I’ve managed to finish 8 books.

1)Soul kitchen by Poppy Z Brite



This is the latest instalment in the ongoing saga of restaurateurs and lovers Ricky and G-man. Not a terribly complicated read, but very enjoyable all the same. I love the way she uses language, and imagery. It’s not so much what she says, but how she says it. Also I love almost anything set in New Orleans, as it’s one of my favourite cities.



2)Amo Amas Amat and all that by Harry Mount



A sort of idiots guide to Latin, he tells you all the basics, and includes translations of all kinds of quotes you might have seen. From David Beckhams tattoos to obscure nineteenth century poetry, he tells you what they all mean. You won’t wind up fluent in a new language, but it will help you figure out those Latin quotes some writers like to shove in their books.



3)Lisey’s Story by Stephen King>



Not sure why I still read King, habit I guess; this was among his worst ever offerings. Lisey’s poor dead husband was almost a Mary Stu of King himself; such a great writer, respected and loved by everyone. You need to care about the protagonist in this sort of story, but by about a third of the way in I realised that I didn’t give a damn what happened to Lisey. Struggled through to the end, but I wouldn’t rec it.



4)Nature Girl by Carl Hiassen



The master at his best. One of the few writers who can literally make me laugh out loud. (does get me some strange looks on the train.) Wonderful new story, Honey Samtana is a great character and her battle to get revenge on the annoying cold calling salesman is a fantastic read from start to finish.



5)Deathstalker Coda by Simon R Green



Last instalment in the lengthy series about Owen Deathstalker and his clan. You finally find out what happened to hazel, and happy endings mostly abound. Green is one of my favourite writers and this was a fitting finale to a wonderful series.



6)Vicious Circle by Mike Carey



Second of his Felix Castor novels, funny and interesting read. In a world where the dead have a tendency to stick around, mediums are in great demand. Castor has one friend locked up in a psych ward because he’s possessed by a demon, and another who’s a stranded succubus. Add in a murder case and a missing ghost, and you’ve got a great story.



7)My Hero by Tom Holt



Very funny novel, but then you expect that from Holt. Writer Jane suddenly finds out that the characters in her novels are real, they all hang about somewhere waiting for her to write them something to do. When she starts talking to her hero Regalian, she gets other characters and heroes showing up and asking for work. Throw in an evil maniac and a frankenstine monster, and things just get weirder from there.



8)Witches of Chiswick by Robert Rankin



Imagine that in the original history of the world, the Victorians invented amazing technologies, and Jules Verne and HG Wells really had all those adventures they wrote about. That’s how it was, but then the witches changed everything, turned back the clock and rewrite history. Now Will Starling has figured it out, thanks to a painting containing a digital watch, from a time when no such device should have existed. Next thing he’s running for his life, with the witches in hot pursuit. His only real help being Barry, his Guardian Sprout. Rankin at his hysterical best.

Added March 24th

9) The truth about food by Jill Fullerton-Smith


Full of experiments and tests, trying to determine the truth behind certain dietary myths. I bought it because I enjoyed the accompanying television show, but there wasn’t much new here. The basic premise that we are still better adapted to enjoy the diet that our pre-historic ancestors ate was interesting but not really new. In the end it was amusing in places and I learned a couple of things, but nothing really practical.


10) A Concise Chinese-English Dictionary For Lovers by Xiaolu Guo


I enjoyed the use of language in this book, as I’ve always had a serious word kink. The writer explores the difficulties a foreigner faces when confronted with the nuances of the English spoken language. At times the format felt a little contrived, beginning each chapter with a word and a definition. Then exploring the meaning of that word, and the way it has impacted on the protagonist’s journey. The linguistic difficulties parallel the cultural mis-understandings and that’s a device that works quite well.


11) The Solaris Book Of New Science Fiction ~ Multiple Authors


I won’t review all the individual stories, some were weaker than others. But having new work from some of my favourites (including Peter F Hamilton, Stephen Baxter, Brian Aldiss and Neal Asher) was a real treat. Overall the anthology is a great buy.


12) Promise Me by Harlan Coben


Simple but fun crime thriller, with Coben’s recurring protagonist Myron Bolitar. Gripping in places, he’s created a nice little mystery, with characters I like.


13) What’s Left? By Nick Cohen


Political exploration done by someone who truly understands his subject. He’s trying to understand what’s happened to socialism, where exactly is the left these days. He doesn’t pull any punches, and is guilty of indulging in what seem like personal vendettas, in some of his attacks on certain politicians. Though they are usually very amusing, as he’s a dab hand at wit and satire. But he obviously feels strongly about this subject, and this makes for a compelling read. I didn’t agree with all of his conclusions, but did think he had a lot of valid points to make.


Re-reads, not part of my list


Robert Heinlein ~ Moon is a harsh mistress, The cat who walks through walls,Time enough for love, Number of the beast, Friday, and To sail beyond the sunset.

I wrote a couple of ficlets with Heinlein’s characters, and couldn’t resist re-reading some old favourites


David Lindsey ~ A Voyage To Arcturus

I read this at least once a year, and one of these days I’ll decide if I actually like it or not.


Frank Herbert ~ The dune series

I just bought some of the sequels that his son wrote, so thought I should take another look at the original series before I start those