My strange compulsions

(And you thought I lied about the addiction!)

Eclipse - Stephenie Meyer

The third installment in the Twilight Saga explores new territory, with the introduction of newly created vampires, and a silly teenage love triangle that will have any Twilight nut giggling like a schoolgirl.

Recommended.

Midnight Sun - Stephenie Meyer

This is the first 12 chapters of Meyer's version of Twilight as seen through Edward's eyes (the male protagonist). This was originally a manuscript leaked by someone online, so Meyer chose to publish the leaked document on her website.

According to the website she plans to finish Midnight Sun but the concluding chapters have been put on the long finger for the moment.

Recommended.

Double Fault - Lionel Shriver

Shrivers depiction of the inherent destruction of obsession through the media of professional sports and personal relationships is really striking.

Recommended.

The Burnt-Out Town of Miracles - Roy Jacobsen

A sweet little story about an unlikely hero who survives through the evacuation of his village, Russian occupation and the aftermath of this invasion.

Recommended.

Sacred Hearts - Sarah Dunant

Interesting historical novel about a Benedictine enclosed order of nuns in the 16th century after the admission of yet another reluctant noble novice whose family cannot afford the required dowry fees to marry both her and her sister off to wealthy men.

Interesting and entertaining, Sacred Hearts touches briefly on religious reforms of the time and their impact on enclosed orders, and focuses on power struggles.

Recommended.

I, Lucifer - Glen Duncan

Interesting tale of a month in Lucifer's existence spent in the body of an English author of little success, narrated (for the most part) by Lucifer.

Recommended!

The Bell Jar - Sylvia Plath

This book had been recommended to me by a number of people at a number of points throughout my late teens and early 20s. I finally bought it, but never actually read it until recently.

Semi-autobiographical, the story traces the descent of a capable but detached young woman into madness.

Recommended.

The White Tiger - Aravind Adiga

Taking place over seven nights, the protagonist writes a series of letters explaining his progression from poor Indian village boy with no prospects to successful entrepreneur.

Recommended.

Of Bees and Mist - Erick Setiawan

Of Bees and Mist is a beautifully pretty fairytale about love and power struggles, where good wins out in the end. Fireflies have the power to take vision or give insight, mists conceal and reveal destiny, bees build almost impenetrable fortresses of harm and evil is eventually uncovered.

Recommended.

The Pillars of the Earth - Ken Follett

Very enjoyable story about the building of a Cathedral in 12th century England. The stories of the main characters are interwoven well and although the writing could have been edited a bit more the overall tale is interesting, entertaining and makes for a very enjoyable read.

Recommended.

Slaughterhouse 5 - Kurt Vonnegut

Every time I read this I enjoy it more than the time before. Telling the story of both the narrator and Billy Pilgrim, Vonnegut takes a look at the "Childrens Crusade" of WW2 while his characters travel through time and space.

Highly recommended.

Leaving the World - Douglas Kennedy

I usually don't read reviews of novels until I've read the novel first and made up my own mind. I am so glad I didn't read reviews of this before purchasing it, as I probably would have dismissed it otherwise.

I didn't know what to expect from Leaving the World. All I knew was that it was following me, and I dislike being followed. I figured the only way to stop it following me about like a lost puppy was to buy and read it - and I'm glad I did.

I enjoyed the story, although all the events that occur to the central character Jane lead her to have an excessively coincidental crisis on which the plot hinges, causing her to do as the title suggests and "leave the world" - or escape into attempted obscurity for a while at least.

Kennedy writes women well. Unlike Siri Hustvedt's feminine sounding male character (see The Sorrows of an American read in February), Kennedy's Jane reads like a woman, rather than a man posing as a woman.

Overall, I enjoyed the novel, even with the instances of coincidence and the protagonists grating self-indulgence. (Too close to the bone! )

Recommended.

The Melancholy Death of Oyster Boy: and Other Stories - Tim Burton

This book was so lovely and the illustrations were totally Burton. Such a cute little read!

Recommended.

The Damned United - Brian Peace

I know nothing about football, but I loved this novel. Peace's ability to portray the destructiveness of obsession, even when combined with talent and hard work is almost disturbingly entertaining.

Recommended.

The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner - Stephenie Meyer

My Twilight addiction isn't new(s), but it's still going strong.

While it was interesting to see things from Bree's perspective, and she did earn a little of my sympathy - I definitely didn't want the Volturi to stick to their resolution - I found it didn't go as deeply into Bree's story. Yes, I know it's a novella, but it felt rushed and too short - like a money spinner without the real heart.

Recommended for Twilight Saga fans, but if you don't like Twilight, chances are you're not going to get much good out of Bree Tanner's story either.