My strange compulsions

Blush_01 · 06-01-2010 12:23am #1

New year, new thread! (I can hear you all clapping from here, trust me, I'm bowing!

)

Twilight - Stephenie Meyer

Kicking things off in style, I decided to find out what all the hype was where Stephenie Meyer was concerned. I read The Host last year and found her writing really compulsive, and although it's definitely not the best novel I've ever read, it is definitely one of the most compelling to read.

Recommended.

Blush_01 · 09-01-2010 9:49pm

Oh dear... how quickly compulsion turns to addiction.

New Moon - Stephenie Meyer

The second installment in the Twilight Saga. Just as compulsive as Twilight, which is ridiculously addictive. Really appealed to the hopeless romantic in me.

Be warned, this is real guilty pleasure reading - but oh, so enjoyable!

Recommended.

Blush_01 · 09-01-2010 9:52pm

(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.

Blush_01 · 09-01-2010 9:56pm

Breaking Dawn - Stephenie Meyer.

The "final" installment in the Twilight Saga.

Meyer really does have a fantastic imagination and is adept at weaving a simple but engaging romance story.

Recommended.

Blush_01 · 09-01-2010 10:04pm

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.

Blush_01 · 17-01-2010 2:42am

The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest - Steig Larsson

The final instalment in Larsson's renowned Millennium Trilogy. I didn't think it was as impressive as the second novel, The Girl Who Played With Fire but Larsson still wove an exceptional and plausible tale of corruption, media influence and the triumph of good.

Recommended.

Blush_01 · 23-01-2010 3:53am

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.

Blush_01 · 28-01-2010 11:53pm

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies - Jane Austen & Seth Grahame-Smith

Entertaining, enjoyable, but could have been edited and polished a bit better. Some not so subtle innuendo definitely included.

Recommended.

Blush_01 · 06-02-2010 10:56pm

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.

Blush_01 · 06-02-2010 10:59pm

The Sorrows of an American - Siri Hustvedt

Charming, occasionally sad story of a year in the narrator's life after his father's death.

Recommended, although the narrators voice doesn't always ring true as a masculine voice.

Blush_01 · 15-02-2010 10:45pm

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.

Blush_01 · 15-02-2010 10:47pm

The Secret Life of Bees - Sue Monk Kidd

Sweet story of a young teenager who runs away from home and finds a family who take her in, and teach her all about love.

Recommended.

Blush_01 · 26-02-2010 12:23am

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!

Blush_01 · 28-02-2010 1:29am

The Drowning Girl - Margaret Leroy

A single mother cannot understand her toddler Sylvie's strange behaviour, phobias and temper tantrums. On the advice of friends and the manager of her daughter's nursery school she seeks professional help. The subsequent exploration of Sylvie's issues lead her to an unknown fishing village in Ireland where she uncovers the most unlikely of explanations for Sylvie's issues.

While the body of the novel was quite enjoyable, the end was very predictable and rushed. That said, it's still recommended.

Blush_01 · 02-03-2010 12:12am

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.

Blush_01 · 10-03-2010 12:01am

The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao - Junot Díaz

Very, very enjoyable story of a Dominican family who believe themselves to be cursed. Quite uplifting, given the events that take place throughout.

While the novel is primarily written in English, there's more than a smattering of native dialect in it, which adds to the tale and makes it even more interesting.

Recommended.

Blush_01 · 13-03-2010 8:13pm

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.

Blush_01 · 18-03-2010 12:32pm

All Names Have Been Changed - Claire Kilroy

A writing class is collectively mentally held to ransom by the whims of an alcoholic writer whose former genius haunts him.

Really well written and very enjoyable.

Recommended.

Blush_01 · 19-03-2010 8:35pm

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.

Blush_01 · 19-03-2010 8:40pm

The Affair - Anna Dillon

A friend insisted that I read this. Dutifully, I did. Please don't. In addition to being poorly written with the overuse of a very restricted number of adjectives and adverbs, it tells the same story three times, without much variation between the three retellings. Once was bad enough but thrice was unforgivable.

Avoid. Please.

Not recommended.

Blush_01 · 05-04-2010 2:39pm

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.

Blush_01 · 06-04-2010 9:27pm

What To Do When Someone Dies - Nicci French

I picked this up in a friends while she was in the bathroom. It wasn't the worst thing I've read all year, but it just didn't have enough forward motion for me. All in all, it seemed a bit far fetched while being simultaneously boring.

I'm sure if you like Nicci French's other stuff then you'll like it, but as a first read of their work I wouldn't be rushing out to buy any of their other books, nor would I be in a panic to buy either Nicci or Sean's individual works. (Sorry!)

Not recommended.

Blush_01 · 12-04-2010 10:55pm

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.

Blush_01 · 16-04-2010 3:23pm

We Need to Talk About Kevin - Lionel Shriver

Once again Shriver portrays realistic but occasionally unpalatable human emotions in a very genuine manner. In the aftermath of a massacre in her son's high school Eva Khatchadourian writes a series of letters to her estranged husband detailing her difficult relationship with their son and the events that lead up to his vicious attack on his hand-picked victims.

Recommended.

Blush_01 · 20-04-2010 12:00am

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.

Blush_01 · 21-04-2010 11:27pm

He's Just Not That Into You - Greg Behrendt & Liz Tuccillo

Give me back the time it took to read this rubbish. Please.

Not recommended unless you have the intellect of a postage stamp.

Blush_01 · 22-04-2010 10:03pm

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.

Blush_01 · 31-05-2010 11:11pm

Ruby Holler - Sharon Creech

I didn't realise this was a children's book when I picked it up, but it was a really enjoyable, charming little novel.

Recommended.

Blush_01 · 02-06-2010 10:59pm

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.

Blush_01 · 11-06-2010 12:16am

Brida - Paulo Coelho

I quite like Paulo Coelho - I read a fair bit of his novels last year. I didn't enjoy Brida as much as I had hoped though.

It was ok, as stories go. It was ok, as writing goes. It was readable, reasonably well paced for Coelho, and yet failed to grab me totally.

Recommended? Meh.

Blush_01 · 13-06-2010 2:19am

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.

Blush_01 · 16-06-2010 9:14am

The Truth About Love - Josephine Hart

Narrated by three different voices, this novel tells the story of an Irish family and how love can affect you. Sounds boring, right? Well each of the three sections were lovely as stand alone pieces - O'Hara has a beautiful, poetic writing style at times and I enjoyed each section individually. However, the three sections did not segue well into eachother, which disappointed me. You turn a page and at the beginning of a new chapter you suddenly realise the narrator has changed - lazy and irritating in my view.

Recommended for the writing style, because it's so pretty, but the novel itself was a little disappointing.

Blush_01 · 23-06-2010 12:46am

The Palace of Strange Girls - Sallie Day

Much like the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society this book charmed me. I thought it would be much different to the engaging read it turned out to be, but the characters are so human and their flaws are so ordinary that they are very easy to relate to.

An amusing little read, not taxing but definitely enjoyable. Recommended.

Blush_01 · 12-07-2010 7:46pm

An Táin - Colmán Ó Raghallaigh

Úrscéal grafach as gaeilge é An Táin, agus ceapaim go bhfuil sé ar fheabhas. Fuair mé o cara é agus tá an-brón orm é a tabhairt ar ais dí!

10/10

Blush_01 · 12-07-2010 7:50pm

The Bolter - Frances Osborne

Telling the story of the irrepressible Idina Sackville, Frances Osborne takes a look at her great-grandmother's life and loves which took her across continents before she finally died, alone, in Kenya. Exposing Lady Idina's way of living with reference to social norms of the time, Osborne discovers the fragility and ferocity of a lady known in polite society for all the wrong reasons.

Recommended.

Blush_01 · 27-07-2010 9:19pm

Melmoth the Wanderer - Charles Robert Maturin

I feel like I've been reading this book all year, but it's really worth it! It's slow going, but a very interesting read.

Recommended!

Blush_01 · 03-08-2010 10:42pm

The Little Stranger - Sarah Waters

I really enjoyed this novel. Although it was a terrifically easy read, it was very interesting and still echoes in my head a bit, which I love.

Recommended.

Blush_01 · 08-08-2010 4:36pm

Maximum Ride: An Angel Experiment - James Patterson

A children's book based around the idea behind Patterson's When the Wind Blows, the story concentrates on a group of six children who are 98% human and 2% avian.

Recommended for young teenagers.

Blush_01 · 23-08-2010 11:28pm

White Teeth - Zadie Smith

While I quite enjoyed White Teeth, I still feel that On Beauty was far superior. That said, I enjoy Smith's writing style, and the characters are not only believable but likeable for the most part.

Recommended.

Blush_01 · 01-09-2010 10:08pm

Her Perfect Symmetry - Audrey Niffenegger

I enjoyed this novel, but not as much as I enjoyed The Time-Traveller's Wife. I think perhaps if I'd read this first I'd have liked it better, however the end was a little predictable.

Recommended.

Blush_01 · 01-09-2010 10:38pm

Going Postal - Terry Pratchett (Audiobook)

My first audio book, Going Postal was entertaining and very enjoyable. Tony Robinson was a fantastic narrator.

Recommended.

Blush_01 · 19-09-2010 3:54pm

Jeeves in the Offing - P.G. Wodehouse

Quite enjoyable, but I may need to try some more Wodehouse before I get it really.

Recommended for a bit of a giggle.

Blush_01 · 29-09-2010 9:29pm

The Supernaturalist - Eoin Colfer (Audiobook)

Very enjoyable, fast paced and not overly childish - while I can see the appeal for older kids and young adults I still really enjoyed it myself.

Recommended

Blush_01 · 29-09-2010 9:34pm

Human Croquet - Kate Atkinson

What you think happened may never have happened at all... Isobel Fairfax is prone to time travel at the most inopportune moments. Her mother "abandoned" her and her older brother when they were just children, walking away into the forest, and was never seen again. In the interminable wait for Eliza's return, Isobel and her brother get on with their lives, blindfolded by the past. Isobel's forays into the past and also into alternate presents paint a number of potential realities.

Recommended - really very enjoyable.

bp1989 · 30-09-2010 10:24pm

Any books you don't recommend?

Blush_01 · 30-09-2010 11:00pm

bp1989 wrote: »

Any books you don't recommend?

Usually the ones I don't finish, hence them never making it to this list. I used to give marks out of 10, but that was far too dependent on my mood at the time. And you'll find there are a few I haven't recommended, should you care to read through the thread, or even merely glance over it. Thanks for your comment though.

Bad Day in Blackrock - Kevin Power

A moving account of the assumed events that lead up to the death of a young man outside a nightclub in Blackrock, and the aftermath of his death. Surprisingly balanced, and well written, although I had a cheapie Tesco copy, which I hope is the reason for one of the peripheral characters suffering a name change as the story progresses.

Enjoyable might not be the right word, but very well written and an interesting read.

Recommended.

Blush_01 · 30-09-2010 11:03pm

The Wish List - Eoin Colfer (Audiobook)

Meg Finn teeters on the brink between heaven and hell, and must help someone to make their wishes come true before she can be sent conclusively to where she's supposed to spend eternity.

Amusing, but far less enjoyable than The Supernaturalist.

Recommended for children / young teens.

Blush_01 · 01-11-2010 8:31pm

It's OK, I'm Wearing Really Big Knickers - Louise Rennison

Enjoyable, light and fluffy. Rennison's protagonist may talk and act like an irritating teen (more than partially because she is an irritating teen0, however her sense of humour is undeniable and infectious.

Enjoyable for what it is - a work of unadulterated fun.

Blush_01 · 08-11-2010 8:44pm

Tsotsi - Athol Fugard

When Tsotsi is handed a shoebox containing a baby by a woman who he was about to rape, his bafflement allows her to escape. However, her gift opens up a history Tsotsi has repressed, a name he has forgotten he possessed and the world that shaped a young boy into an angry and violent gang leader.

Recommended.

My strange compulsions

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