Book Addicts Anonymous

I love books by Mary Higgins Clark, and once i pick them up, am reluctant to put them down until finished.
Her stories always seem to grab the reader's attention from the first page, the shorty, spare punchy chapters help the pace of the plot along and I think helps to create the suspense. The Shadow of Your Smile doesn't vary from others in that respect.
I often think Higgins Clark's books would translate well into TV dramas or films, but as far as I know the only one that has been made into a film is one of her earlier books, "Where are the children?"
Anyway, a brilliant book.
I'm off now to Mary Higgins Clark's website, to see if any other books have been made into films.

This book is much better than the first in the trilogy. The main female character, Rhian, is easier to like. Zandakar from Empress figures as quite an important , albeit "shadowy" character. A much more likeable novel than Empress.

Empress by Karen Miller. I know I said I didn't like the main character, but as I am reading The Riven Kingdom currently, I can see why Miller made Hekat such a strong character. The Riven Kingdom is the second in a trilogy, it flows much more easily.

A World Away is meant for teens, but the story of Nadie, a native American, and Tom, a Plymouth blacksmith's apprentice is so well handled that you feel empathy for both of them. The novel is a "two voice" novel...alternate chapters, (usually,) are narrated by Nadie and Tom. Fortunately Tom is used to having to calm "savage"...i.e skittish horses...in order to "shoe" them..he applies this in his courtship of Nadie.
Again like so many books I have read lately, this novel is based on actual happenings, although in this instance the author has used artistic licence to make the story work.

I haven't blogged here for ages, and there's a huge pile of books that I've read.
For ease I'm just going to name the books and give a 1-5 star rating, and maybe a short comment.
Dark Alchemy Anthology of fantasy stories including stories from Garth Nix, Eoin Colfer and Neil Gaiman. 3 *. I lost interest towards the end of this anthology, but the first few are very good.
The Host by Stephanie Meyer 5*. Meyer's first adult novel, worth ploughing through the first few chapters...then it all makes sense.
The Witches Trinity by Erica Mailman, 4*. Set in Germany in the time of witch-hunting, how one word said at the wrong time can change a whole life.
The Three Evangelists by Fred Vargas. 5*. I love Vargas' novels, this one starts off with a curious occurrence, and ends up a murder investigation.
Scapegallows by Carol Birch. 4*. I didn't realise that this was based on true life when I bought it. Very engaging read.
Brief Gaudy Hour by Margaret Campbell Barnes. 4*. My friend sent me this from the USA, I read all Campbell Barnes' other books when I was expecting Samantha, my 24 year old daughter. This is about Ann Boyelyn, but told from her point of view, which makes the story intruging.
Divine Comedies by Tom Holt. 5*. It's Tom Holt, one of my favourite authors, do I need to see more?
Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel. 4*. I really enjoyed this book about Thomas Cromwell, but I do now of people who have found it difficult to read.
Life, liberty and the pursuit of sausages by Tom Holt. 5*. This is Holt's latest novel and every bit as enjoyable as all his others. If you like of the wall humour coupled with exploration of "other dimensions" try one of Holt's books.
Company of Liars by Karen Maitland. 5*. Set in 1348, follows a mismatched bunch of people trying to outrun the plague. Very engaging book.
The Suspicions of Mr Witcher by Kate Summerscale. 4*. The book is much better than the recent dramatisation shown on TV.
Revelation by C J Sansom. 5*. Another Tudor mystery featuring Matthew Shardlake.
The Mythago Cycle by Robert Holdstock. 4*. A fantasy novel, well a pair in one book actually.
Between Shades of Grey by Ruta Septys. 5* . This book is based on a true story. It is very moving and had me in tears.
Good to a Fault by Marina Endicott. 4*. Along the lines of Jodi Picoult's writing with a similar what if theme.
Blood Harvest by S J Bolton. 5*. As good as her two previous books, Sacrifice and Awakening.
Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood. 4*. I seem to have had a run of picking up stories based on true happenings lately. Alias Grace is another based on true events.
Port Mortuary by Patricia Cornwell. 5*.
How to paint a dead man by Sarah Hall. 5*. A novel told from 4 different viewpoints which seem unconnected at first, but gradually all are drawn together.
Empress by Karen Miller. 4*. A really good fantasy novel, but the heroine in this novel is not very likeable, well, not for me as she is very self-centred and will let nothing stand in her way, no matter who or what.
Poppy Shakespeare by Claire Allan. 5*. A novel about the "mentally ill" viewed from within. Very funny and touching.
Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts. 4*-5*. This is the author's own life story, or part of it, written as a novel. A huge compelling book. (933 pages)
And I've saved a couple by another of my favourite author's until last.
The Last Dragonslayer is a children's novel by Jasper Fforde, which is about exactly what the title says. A brilliant children's book from Fforde. 5*
One of Our Thursdays is Missing by Jasper Fforde. 5*. Typical Fforde , with the return of Thursday Next. All I can say is if you like comedy writing and have a lively sense of humour, give Fforde a try.

I do find some books not so good, but to be honest, I don't normally buy ones that I would give a poor rating to. Although I did get one,you know the one's that someone on TV says is good, and it gets a lot of hype, and you seccumb and buy it. I bought one of those. I ended up dumping it in the bathroom, and about 18 months since I left it there, it is eventually finished.

Boy is there a lot of them. :)
I've read two by Jodi Picoult, but not back to back . House Rules is a very moving story about a boy with Asperger's. He immerses himself completely in whatever he is interested in at the time.At the time in Jacob's life, when the book is set, his interest is in CSI type situations. Jacob's mother does wonder if he has committed the murder, but

The book explores the situation. As usual Picoult has been thorough in her research. I enjoyed it immensely.
The other was Change of Heart. Again, well researched and a deeply moving book.

The next two are by Pseudonymous Bosch. I bought them thinking they would be along the same lines as Jasper Fforde, Anonymous and Tom Holt's books. I did read them, but they are formulaic children's novels, which are possibly very good for the target audience, but to me the language was over simplistic, the plot fairly predictable, I wouldn't read any more personally, but would imagine that they would be very well received by readers from about age 8 to around 12. I do mean serious readers, the kind that become avid readers as adults. Titles...The Name of This Book is Secret, and This isn't What It looks Like.

The Slap by Christos Tsiolkas. A brilliant book.
Definitely one worth reading, the book follows the repercussions that the act generates through the next year or so. Tsiolkas looks at the act from varying viewpoints. Very well written and plotted.

The Court of the Air by Stephen Hunt. A fanstasy novel following the lives of Molly Templar and Oliver Brooks. Two orphans who end up thrown together only to embark on an adveture which will either end up with them killed or they will save the world. Nowhere near as predictable as it sounds, and thoroughly enjoyable.

Love in a Torn Land by Jean Sasson. This is a biography following the life of a Kurdish woman, Joanna, during 19987 mainly, when Saddam Hussein had ordered his cousin "Chemical ALi" to bombard Bergalou, and other villages within the Kurdish area of Iraq. The true story is a real eye opener from someone who was there and lived to tell the tale.
I don't normally read biographical accounts, but this one had me hooked from start to finish.

A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray. This book is aimed at the teenn/young adult market, but is not condescending in any way. As with most books it starts just before the heroine loses her mother, she is then sent to England from India, and is enrolled at a boarding school...very "Little Princess" up to there, but Gemma is 16 years old, and finds herself prone to strange dreams , that draw her into a group of girls. A mystery unfolds. There is some passages in the book where the reader is taken into a "spirit world" that is very real to the girls in Gemma's circle.
A good book.

Valhalla by Tom Holt. :) I was given this for Mother's Day from my daughter, she'd managed to get hold of a signed copy for me. It is just as good as Holt's other books. Tom Holt has taken the idea of Valhalla and given it a unique twist of his own. If you like crazy situations, Tom Holt, and haven't read this book, what are you waiting for? Track it down immediately.

That's all for today. There is still a pile of 9 books that I have read and not blogged about.

I have read so many books since I last posted.
I will catch up tomorrow.
I apologise for the break in service, lol