Book Addicts Anonymous

In the past few weeks I have read 3 bookis and am half way through a fourthh.
How to paint a Dead Man by Sarah Hall....follows four characters, and explores how their lives intertwine. The four separate characters have distinct sections, but the tone of the narrator gives clues as to which narrative is being followed. I didn't like this as much as Electric Michaelangelo by the same author, but it was good.

Next was The last Dragonslayer by Jasper Fforde. Although classed as a children's book, I felt this was every bit as good as Fforde's "adult" novels. It explores the possibilty of the end of magic as the population knows it. Practioners of "magic" have fallen on hard times, and these days "rewire houses and unblock drains". There is only one dragon surviving, and it's death has been predicted. The story follows on from there. I am pretty sure that this is not the last of Jasper Fforde's "young adult" books.

The invention of everything else by Samantha Hunt.
This book revolves around two characters, who meet and interact. Louisa, a chambermaid a The New Yorker Hotel, and Mr Tesla a guest at the same hotel. It is a mix of fact and fiction, as the Nikola Tesla is the book is based on the real life Nikola Tesla. It is an engaging novel exploring many different scientific ideas. The two become friends due to their love of pigeons. Not a quick read, but definitelyy worth reading.

I've read three books since I last posted here.
One being a pre-released title that I as sent from Waterstones, to review.
The title of the book is The Gallows Curse by Karen Maitland, it's on Waterstones.com if you want to read it. I know that I should now find Maitland's previous titles and read them.
The other two books are The House of Lost Souls by F.G.Cottam. This book takes in "evil" magical practises" substantial ghostly images, and a type of "exorcism". I don't want to give away too much, but it was a very enjoyable book of dark intrigue. To read more, click here.
And the third book is Post Birthday World by Lionel Shriver. In the first few pages of the book there is no split reality, but after a birthday dinner Irina's, the main character, life is played out in two separate realities, both of which could have sprouted from a single instant in time. The chapters are alternate, and follow each separate "fork" in her life's pathway. The only thing the reader could find confusing is that the two realities are not separated by chapter titles, or anything, but then again, Shriver expects a certain level of intelligence from her readers, also, alternate plots are becoming quite popular. I think Shriver cleverly keeps the alternates a close together as possible. Quite a lengthy, but enjoyable book.