Book Addicts Anonymous

This novel is heartrending in places, with a split time narrative by Carol, the main character, recounting her present and a significant time in her past. Little Monster is how her aunt describes her, and is a fitting description for the child in the present part of the narrative. The fact that this child has taken the name of a cartoon character didn't scape me from early on in the novel, although it took Carol a while to make the connection. The character the girl has called herself after is a fairly nasty character.
I agree with the comment from "Time Out" 'Lambert reads like a writer at the height of his game rather than one just starting out'.

A first person narrated novel. Mostly internal recollection, but when the main character talks to someone it is reported as first person narrative. It isn't until almost then end of the novel we learn the main character's name, and unless the name hadn't been used by the other character, in place of their own, it probably would never have been revealed. In that respect I found the novel rather like Rebecca, in that we are shown things through the eyes of a character who we don't know the name of.
The whole of the novel is the reminiscences of the narrator.

I don't normally go for books with "love" in the title, had enough slushy stuff to last me a lifetime, plus it is an unrealistic view of life in so called "love stories".....BUT....this isn't really a book about slushy "romantic" love, it's about the love families have for each other, even in strained circumstances.
There, at first, appears to be just two narratives in the novel, but there is a third one quietly weaving the two main narratives together. A further one helps bring the novel to conclusion.
For me, the narrators are Leo, Alma, Bird and Zvi.

I will not apologise to the person who slated the last post of a Jodi Picoult book. They weren't slating me, just the books. And as I think I replied, what would the world be like if everyone liked the same sort of books, the huge width and depth of books being published today would not exist. To me the variety is good, and most people can find something to appeal if they want to read. And....YES!!!!! I like Jodi Picoult's books, they make the reader think, and are well researched.

Now onto the book.

Nineteen Minutes has a well constructed characters, with back stories that explain the actions they have taken. In this book the switching times to before and after the event helps build a more rounded picture.
It has faint links to "We Need to Talk about Kevin" by Lionel Shriver, by letting the reader know something of the main chacracter's life from his point of view and his parents. Unlike Shriver's book there is insight into the "victim's lives", and to me is better for this as it gives the reader a more balanced view. However, there is not one point where I felt that Peter should be found "not guilty". I did spot something that is only revealed late on the book at an early stage, probably just because I have read so much, and do write a little myself.
The book was very enjoyable, and I have yet to pick up a Jodi Picoult book and not finish it.

For a little more about the book go to the websites below:
www.jodipicoult.co.uk
or www.jodipicoult.com

This is the second of a trilogy by Cormac McCarthy, it's quite a while since I read the first one.

http://www.cormacmccarthy.com/works/thecrossing.htm

As this book follows Billy Parnham crossing and recrossing the USA/Mexico border we are given insight into Billy's thoughts. The first time he crosses, he is taking a wolf back to the mountains. The second time, the trip is made with his younger brother, in search of his dead father's horses that were stolen during a raid on his parents homestead, this raid left both his parents dead.
The third time for me was the most poignant, as he crosses into Mexico to settle being unable to settle in USA after returning from the second world war. The book however seems not to "belong" in any set time period, until the mention of the war.
Not a quick read, but definitely an engrossing one.

The thing that people noticed about this book whilst I was reading it was the fact it has part of the cover missing.
Probably a marketing thing, I wonder if the paperback will sport the same "chewed" front cover.
Firmin is a rat, a literary rat , unusual in the "rat" world.
When I'd finished this book I remember my creative writing lecturer at uni saying that internal monologues from and animals point of view "don't work". They obviously do.

Now for the bumph!

Most people think immediately of the "Talking Heads" monologues when Alan Bennett's name is mentioned, but to tell the truth, when I picked this book up, I never even looked at who the author was. Perhaps I should look, but I will admit to reading blurb on books without looking who has written it. That way I have found "gems" in the past.
This is a slim volume, with a irreverent "what if" as a plot line, and a brilliant end.
To read a brilliant review ;
http://www.greatbooksguide.com/uncommonreader.html

For more about Alan Bennett;
http://www.contemporarywriters.com/authors/?p=authC2D9C28A1d7801BDEDPnG34A0E32

There is one point I would say about this one, borrow it from the library, as at £6.99 for a mere 121 pages, it is a dear little book, in more ways than one.

I decided to read this book as it had received a good write up in the Waterstones Magazine.
It's a first novel, and despite what I see as it's shortcomings, it is a very good, readable novel.
The setting is the music publishing industry, the main character, thoroughly unlikeable, but interesting man named Steven Stelfox. By that I mean, if he were real, and I met him, I would steer well clear, as he lives in the "rarefied" world of the music industry and his only use for women is to save him a little DIY.
This novel would probably make for a very interesting film, and if it is made into a film, it would be worth a viewing. Mind you...I hated the Bridget Jones character in the novel, but thoroughly enjoyed the film. Casting, and bringing the characters to life can do wonders.
The other thing I disliked about the novel was the use of profanities. They may have been instrumental to the plot, but there were more than I thought necessary.
That aside, I DID enjoy the novel, and if I ever met Steven Stelfox I think I'd want to slap him, but I guess that is the anticipated reaction. After all, Casanova was cavalier in his treatment of women, but it didn't stop them liking him enough to sleep with him.
To find out more, follow the link below;
http://www.randomhouse.co.uk/catalog/book.htm?command=Search&db=main.txt&eqisbndata=043401799X