Oct. 1st, 2010

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[identity profile] kiwiria.livejournal.com
Hmmm... considering September was designated Roald Dahl month, I really didn't do all that well - only 3 of his books read! But I discovered I didn't have The BFG after all (was convinced I had it around somewhere) and then didn't feel like reading any of his other books. Ah well, another time.

Expand28 books under the cut )
Book of the month: Hearts of Fire - fascinating reading!
Biggest disappointment: The Twits which was a reread and therefore made it doubly disappointing. I'd remembered it as being better.

I may actually make it to 250 books this year! But is it considered cheating that so many of them are BSC books?
[identity profile] myrna-nora.livejournal.com
September: 6
2010: 47

The Case of the Missing Servant (2009) - Tarquin Hall
Vish Puri's agency is hired for two investigations. The first is into the background of a man surprisingly willing to wed a woman her father considers unmarriageable. The second is into the disappearance of a servant to a prominent Punjabi lawyer, a young woman known only as Mary. Meanwhile, Puri's mummy-ji takes up her own investigation when someone takes a shot at her son.

I really enjoyed the sequel to this, so I backtracked to find the first in the series. The mysteries are nicely and sometimes cleverly plotted. I also like the few Bollywood references thrown in. The author is able to capture the tone of their Indian English and idiosyncrasies. There is humor running throughout, but I never felt like he was making fun of the culture. I will be keeping an eye out for more from the case files of Vish Puri.


Mockingjay (2010) - Suzanne Collins
Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has survived the Hunger Games twice. But now that she’s made it out of the bloody arena alive, she’s still not safe.

I zipped through audio book while at work, and had to listen to the last CD twice to make sure I hadn't missed anything. The first in the series is still the best, but she kept it a "page-turner" to the end. The whole Gale or Peeta issue was never an issue in my mind, I was in it for the crazy twists and adventure, so I wasn’t disappointed or thrilled by the conclusion to that element. I don't think Collins made the war as clear as the earlier "games." I couldn't grasp a mental picture of it as well as the first story. At times I was confused about where they were fighting, and when and why? Some of it wasn't clear and other parts were repetitive. I don't think enough time was given to some of the death scenes. The last third or more went by in a blur. But I liked it and I would recommend the whole trilogy.

On a side note: I always see this compared to the earlier Battle Royale, a Japanese novel/film/manga. Has anyone read or seen any of these?


Cotillion (1953) - Georgette Heyer
Wealthy and cantankerous Mr Penicuik will bestow his entire fortune on Kitty Charing if she will marry one of his great-nephews. With the beaux scrambling for her hand in marriage, Kitty devises her own scheme: a sham engagement.

I've always heard awesome things about this, but found it average --but for Heyer that still means pretty good. It's made up of an increasingly complicated tangle of marriage plots. It's fun and silly, but I wasn't in the mood for this type of book. It didn't help that when I was about half way through I peeked at the first few chapters of another one that looked more interesting. I half-heartedly hurried through most of it, but it does end with a most satisfying and delightful conclusion.


The Convenient Marriage (1934) - Georgette Heyer
The Winwoods are an aristocratic family of good pedigree but little fortune. Lizzie is torn between her love for a poor lieutenant and the Earl of Rule's marriage proposal that would save her family financially. Stepping into rescue her elder sister, Horatia offers her own proposal for the wealthy Earl.

I read a description of this, and wasn't sure I would like it, but the story enchanted me. Horatia gets into a foolish scrape, but she is so enduring and youthfully exuberant that I love her. I really liked the quick pace of this one, although one or two more scenes between the hero and heroine would have been appreciated. It's set in a time of powdered wigs, masked balls, abductions, and duels. Plus, it's humorous --the last third in particular has a nonsensical subplot involving Horatia's brother and friends.


Confessions of a Prairie Bitch (2010) - Alison Arngrim
The memoirs of the girl who played Nellie Oleson on the TV series Little House on the Prairie.

Arngrim has a great style of writing. Most of the book is hilarious with a combination of tongue-in-cheek and snarky attitude. She tells a lot of behind-the-scenes at LHOTP stories. I laughed out loud numerous times. But she also shares some heartbreaking tragedies in her life --abused by her brother as a child, for one. The last chapters are about how she turns her tragedies into motivation to help others. I really loved it. I could hardly put it down. (Warning: occasional strong language.)


The Phantom of the Opera (Le Fantôme de l'Opéra) (1910) - Gaston Leroux
The extraordinary legend that excited all of Parisian upper classes: the kidnapping of Christine Daae, the disappearance of the Vicomte de Chagny, and the death of his elder brother, Count Philippe, whose body was found on the banks of the lake in the lower cellars of the Paris Opera House.

This a good story, but I think knowing the musical spoiled it too much for me. It may be the translation, but I was a bit bored at places. I'm probably in trouble with a classic book fan somewhere, but oh well...

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