Sunday 19 August 2012

July and August books

Inspired by J and EL here is a list of the books I have read or listened to in July and early August:

The Art of Fielding by Chad Harbach - wonderful book about college life in America and baseball but a lot more interesting than that sounds.

The Gathering & The Calling by Kelley Armstrong - new series of supernaturals but this time kids 'bred' and not aware of their skills. Well written and addictive. Now have to wait for book three...

The Hunter and the Huntress by Kelley Armstrong - clever publishers fooled me into buying this as it contained a short story (new) but then the rest is just a reprint of Thirteen.

Thirteen by Kelley Armstrong - finishing off the story of the supes, all getting together for a final battle. Enjoyable but not the best in the series.

A Perfect Blood by Kim Harrison. I love how preordered books just turn up in the Kindle! This was a treat as I had run out of books and this arrived unexpected (as did Thirteen and Shadow of Night). Amusing as always but I think it is time to end this series...

Shadow of Night by Deborah E Harkness. Oh what a lovely surprise when it arrived, I devoured it and enjoyed the escapism to Tudor England. I look forward to book 3.

Fifty Shades by you know who - well what can I say. Written like a Barbara Cartland novel but with more sex. A lot of swooning and the ususal BC themes - older cynical man who needs saved by blue eyed and innocent girl. Really annoying by book three.

Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta. Recommendation from sister. At first I wasn't sure if I liked it but as the book progressed I got engrossed and liked the characters more and more.

Eldest, Brisingr and Inheritance by Christopher Paolini. For our 4th July weekend I forgot to load the Kindle so had to buy a book (gasp) at Walmart (double gasp, we went camping so not a lot on offer ok). Found book 2 of the series and was hooked. Quickly sped through the remaining books as a teenager stuck in a rainy summer house all summer.

Audiobooks:

The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce. This book cheered me up no end. Wonderful to listen to (narrated by Jim Broadbent). Well worth reading or listening to. I ended up walking around the flat with my headphones on continuing to listen after I got home just because I wanted to know what happened to Harold.

The Charming Quirks of Others by Alexander McCall Smith. Same same. Nothing new but nothing offensive so an A OK book to listen to as I walk / subway to work.

Sherlock Holmes: The Rediscovered Railway Mystery and Other Stories by John Taylor. Enjoyable but not overly memorable.

Casanova read by Benedict Cumberbatch. Need I say more?