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Book List #7

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So, I’ve finally got around to posting my first book list of the year!  I read these all the way back in January…..

 

The Lacuna by Barbara Kingsolver

This book was brilliant.  I like books which are kind of based on historical events by are actually fiction (does that make sense!) and I learned lots from this book.  I also thought it was a good length as I hate it when you get a good book that is really short and you don’t want to read it because you don’t want it to end!

 

Mr Norris Changes Trains by Isherwood

From reading the back cover this doesn’t sound like it’s going to be great but it actually surprised me and I really got into it.  I had a few books by Isherwood for Christmas so look out for them in future book lists!

 

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy by John le Carre

I really, really wanted to like this book but I just didn’t get it.  There seemed to be too many characters and I didn’t really follow the plot.  To be honest, I’m not entirely sure I know what happened in the end!  Maybe I should watch the film instead?!

 

Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger

I loved The Time Travelers Wife and this book was just as good, if a bit odd! There are a few twists in this which I wasn’t expecting so I’d definitely recommend it.
Has anyone read any of these? What did you think of them?

Book List #6

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The Girl on the Landing by Paul Torday
You can read my review here.










Mrs Dalloway by Virginia Woolf
I think this may have been the most boring book I’ve ever read!










When God Was A Rabbit by Sarah Winman
I enjoyed this – it’s written in quite an unusual style and has a few twists. I like the cover too!








Snow Drops by A.D. Miller
This was a tiny bit predictable but still a great read.










One Day by David Nicholls
You’ve probably read enough reviews by now so don’t need me to tell you that this is a fantastic book!








The Night Before Christmas by Scarlett Bailey
Brilliant Christmas book! It really got me feeling Christmassy (although I did find loads of typos!).









So that’s all the books I read in 2011 (Book List #1 to #6). The first of the 2012 lists won’t be up until I’ve read a few more books!

Book List #5

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The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson
To begin with I thought this was a bit slow but it turns into a brilliant, fast paced story which I couldn’t put down.








The Midwife’s Confession by Diane Chamberlain
This is a fantastic book – read my review here.










The Legacy by Kirsten Tranter
Some parts of this book were really good but I thought some bits were a tad slow.








Enigma by Robert Harris
My dad recommended this book to me (because of my university course!) and I loved it. I don’t think you need to be doing a maths subject to enjoy it though (my dad liked it too)!








Midwife on Call by Agnes Light
I kept on reading this thinking it would get better but it didn’t. It felt like I was reading about a woman bragging about how good a midwife she was.








The Good Soldier by Ford Maddox Ford
It took me a while to get into this but once I did I really liked it.










Far From The Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy
I really loved this!

Book List #4

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The Sorrows of Young Werther by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
This was ok but a little depressing!










Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin
I read this a few months ago now and it’s one of those books you just sort of forget about. It’s similar to lots of other girly books.








Testimony by Anita Shreve
Anita Shreve is one of my favourite authors, all of her books are brilliant and this is no exception.








Eleven Hours by Paullina Simons
This book is fast paced and really makes you want to keep reading. I loved it.








The Invisible Mountain by Carolina De Robertis
Set over three generations, the book tells the story of three women from a family in Uruguay. I enjoyed it and I think it’s the first book I’ve ever read set in Uruguay!








The Haunted House by Charles Dickens
This book is a collection of short stories by different authors. Some were good and some were quite boring!








Welcome To My World by Miranda Dickinson
I liked this book – it’s not hugely original but still a good read.

Book List #3

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Wild Swans by Jung Chang
Fantastic book – read my review here.










Little Miracles by Giselle Green
This book is a good read but have some tissues handy as there are quite a few sad bits!








Mum’s The Word by Kate Lawson
I didn’t find this book very exciting to be honest but it’s not so bad that it’s unreadable.








Harvesting the Heart by Jodi Picoult
I enjoyed this and it was quite different to some of her other books.










The Iron Witch by Karen Mahoney
I didn’t really like this book but I think that’s because I don’t usually like books about the supernatural. If you do then you’ll probably love this!








The Code of Destiny by Sara Enochs
This was another book which I didn’t enjoy because of the supernatural element. To be honest I can’t even remember what happened in the end!








The Monk and the Hangman’s Daughter by Ambrose Bierce
This book is under 100 pages long but it was much better than I thought it was going to be.

Book List #2

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The Slap by Christos Tsiolkas
I expected this to be better than it was after reading other reviews. I really didn’t like most of the characters so almost didn’t care what happened!








The Hand That First Held Mine by Maggie O’Farrell
Read my review here.










Guernica by Dave Boling
I wasn’t sure about this book from the back cover but it was actually good and taught me a bit about Basque culture and the Spanish Civil War.








East End Angel by Carol Rivers
This book was ok but nothing special.










Brooklyn by Colm Tóibín
I really enjoyed this book.










Life and Laughing by Michael McIntyre
This actually felt like Michael McIntyre talking – very funny in parts.










Thérèse Raquin by Émile Zola
Loved this!

Book List #1

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I love reading and have decided to keep a list of all the books I read. (Mainly because I often start reading a book only to realise I’ve read it before!)  I’m going to post a few at a time of the books I’ve read so far this year and when I’ve finished that will just add more when I read more!

Mister Pip by Lloyd Jones
Brilliant book and I love the cover!!!









The White Woman on the Green Bicycle by Monique RoffeyAnother great book!









Room by Emma Donoghue
A bit disturbing but completely unputdownable!









House Rules by Jodi Picoult
This was good but not as good as some other Jodi Picoult books I’ve read.








The Betrayal of Natalie Hargrove by Lauren Kate
This was awful, I definitely wouldn’t recommend it.










Bog Child by Siobhan Dowd
Quite an interesting read.










The Blasphemer by Nigel Farndale
I remember enjoying this at the time but it’s not very memorable.










Tiger Hills by Sarita Mandanna
I loved this – you can read my full review here.