14. Poirot Investigates - Agatha Christie 4/10
Harper (HarperCollins), 265 pages
<Detective> Re-read of the third Poirot book, which is a collection of short stories on cases as being retold by the ever gnarly Captain Hastings. These little mysteries are OK, but it is the blatant lack of vanity of Poirot and Hastings reactions to it, that makes this a good read.
15. Fathom - Michael Turner 5/10
Top Cow [Image Comics], 464 pages <Graphic Novel> Volume one #1-14, and Kinian's Tide #1-4. A mystery within a mystery about an underwater race colliding with humans around the Pacific mainly because of adopted Aspen… who turns out to be one of the mer people. Interesting enough to get the second volume. 16. Michael Turner's Fathom volume two - Michael Turner, J T Krull, Koi Turnball etc. 6/10
MLT Aspen comics, 687 pages <Graphic Novel> Volume two #0-11, Cannon Hawke #0-5, Dawn of War mini series and Aspen Seasons #1-3. The coming of the Black, the Blue and the humans' determination to wipe them all out. We learn more about Aspen's past and Cannon's present. Introduces some big characters like Kiani, Brande and Siphon.
17. Freshmen - Hugh Sterbakov, Seth Green, Leonard Kirk, Will Conrad etc. 8/10
Top Cow [Image Comics], 313 pages <Graphic Novel> Volumes 1 and 2 of this very innovative series about a group of freshmen that get superpowers… like being able to talk to plants, belly rumbling vibration power, super farts, and more. Great books, surprisingly so, as teenage angst is taken to a whole new level!
18. Impulse (Messner-Loebbs run) 1997 - 1999 - William Messner-Loebbs, Craig Rousseau etc. 5/10
D C Comics, 552 pages <Graphic Novel> Impulse #28-49, # 1 million, Impulse and Atom special and Annual #2. 19. Impulse (Tony Dezago run) - Tony Dezago, Carlos Barberi, Evan Van Sciver etc. 3/10
D C Comics, 920 pages <Graphic Novel> Impulse #50-89. Dezago's long run on the book continues up to its cancellation. OK, but it's attempt at young person orientated humour within the mainstream DC universe was very hit and miss… indeed much more miss than hit.
20. The Manhattan Projects vols 1-3 -Jonathan Hickman, Nick Pitarra, Ryan Browne etc. 8/10
Image Comics, 393 pages <Graphic Novel> Issues 1 to 15 of Hickman's interesting alternate parallel history / sc- fi / conspiracy / horror / black comedy. With Einstein, Yuri Gagarin, Laika the dog and Franklin D Roosevelt all part of the cast, an interesting read. For me some of the sci-fi stuff is a bit too much, but otherwise really enjoyable especially some of the off the wall original characters.
21. Have I Got News For You - Boris Johnson 5/10
Harper Perennial (HarperCollins), 391 pages
<Commentary>
Supposedly some of the best Telegraph articles written by Johnson covering the likes of modern wars, transport, politics, modern society etc… but for me the scene stealers are the 'interviews' with the likes of Jenny Agutter, Silvio Berlusconi, Alan Clarke, Martin McGuiness, Chris Evans etc.
22. Tabloid Girl, A True Story - Sharon Marshall 8/10
Sphere (Hachette UK), 275 pages
<Expose>
Supposedly one-time UK tabloid journalist's tell-all about the doings and goings on in the tabloid media… I really enjoyed this tell-all look at the world of tabloid media and the seemingly honest inward looking throughout… but have to temper that with, it being written by an ex tabloid journalist... is just more spin? Revealing read nonetheless.
4.Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman. Audiobook read by Stephen Briggs.
A pre-apocalyptic tale featuring Crowley (demon) and Aziraphale (Angel and part time rare bookseller). The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse have upgraded their steeds and are ready to go, but there's some confusion over the whereabouts of the Antichrist.
8/10 - I remember the hot summer of '76 myself so I had high hopes for this book, and it didn't disappoint, a nice, relaxing read that I wish I'd saved for the summer!
8/10 - I remember the hot summer of '76 myself so I had high hopes for this book, and it didn't disappoint, a nice, relaxing read that I wish I'd saved for the summer!
Was I mentioned in it? I was born during that summer My poor mum.
3. Our Lady of Pain, Elena Forbes. A formulaic crime thriller but enjoyable enough
Last year I did so badly I never even managed to post my goal in the thread. (I finished 26 and my goal was 213 books.)
This year I'll aim high again with 214! As always, I have a handful of books I started the year before and need to finish, and maybe that'll help. *cough*
The good news is, I've managed to finish 3 so far:
1. Oolong Dead (A Tea Shop Mystery #1) by Laura Childs – Theodosia Browning discovers the body of her ex-boyfriend Jory’s sister, Abby Davis, and Jory wants her help in finding the murderer. He also wants to get back with Theodosia which complicates things for her. It was a pretty good mystery, and very informative about tea.
2. Death at La Fenice (Commissario Brunetti #1) by Donna Leon – This author was highly praised by some readers in older threads, so I snapped the book up when I saw it for sale on the used shelf at my library. A famous conductor is murdered and Brunetti is pressured to arrest someone.
It took me a while to get really into it, but I like Brunetti and his family, and I found the suspects to be rather interesting.
3. Lost Empire (Fargo Adventure #2 by Clive Cussler with Grant Blackwood – I listened to this in audiobook format and it’s not something I would have chosen but it’s okay. It was basically an action movie in book form, and the fight sequences bored me a bit. The book never seemed to end and I was unclear for much of the book what exactly the end goal of the adventurers was. Basically Sam and Remi Fargo come across some evidence off the coast of Africa which may prove that the Aztecs originated from that direction. An Aztec-themed political party in Mexico will do anything to get their hands on the proof first.
1. The advent killer by alasdair gunn.
Took a while to get into and I wanted to give the police woman a good slap but had a good twist. 7/10.
2. This man confessed by jodi ellen malpas.
Third part of the trilogy. I enjoyed the other two but she just seemed more ridiculous in this one and I wanted ava to grow a pair. Nice little twist towards the end but lots of loose ends not tied up so a little disappointed. 5/10.
4. Sheer Mischief - Jill Mansell
5. The Red Room - Nicci French
Both re-reads, but enjoyed them.
6. Tara Road - Maeve Binchy. Another re-read. I'm having a rubbish week in work and needed a book that I could relax with in the evenings and this certainly did the job.
7. The Humans - Matt Haig. I can't express how much I loved this book, a bit philosophical at times but for all it's imperfections it was perfection to me.
Fantastic. A little bit like a darker, funnier Addams Family.
2) Chavs: The Demonisation of the Working Class by Owen Jones
I'm a huge fan of Owen Jones and thought it was time I got round to this. I'm so glad I bought it, I adored it.
3) How To Be A Woman by Caitlin Moran
Very funny but I'm not sure I agree with all of her ideas. She also a tendency to overplay the "I'm dead quirky, me" card too, but an enjoyable nonetheless.
4) The Road To Wigan Pier by George Orwell
I'm on my socialist run at the moment and enjoying it so far.
I'm looking forward to starting Morrissey's Autobiography and Estates: An Intimate Portrait by Lynsay Hanley which are next on my list.
4.Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman. Audiobook read by Stephen Briggs.
A pre-apocalyptic tale featuring Crowley (demon) and Aziraphale (Angel and part time rare bookseller). The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse have upgraded their steeds and are ready to go, but there's some confusion over the whereabouts of the Antichrist.
Irreverent and very funny.
I read that book years ago and absolutely adored it.
I shall have to get hold of it again for another read through.
Although I exceeded my aim of reading 100 books last year, I'm cutting my target down to 50 in 2014 because I'm going to have less time to read, and I'm also going to be attempting to get through a lot of classics, which have a tendency to length!
1. Bleachers - John Grisham
2. Miss B. - Rebecca Roberts
3. Hickory Dickory Dock - Agatha Christie
4. Frankenstein - Mary Shelley
5. Vanity Fair - William Makepeace Thackeray
Although I exceeded my aim of reading 100 books last year, I'm cutting my target down to 50 in 2014 because I'm going to have less time to read, and I'm also going to be attempting to get through a lot of classics, which have a tendency to length!
1. Bleachers - John Grisham
2. Miss B. - Rebecca Roberts
3. Hickory Dickory Dock - Agatha Christie
4. Frankenstein - Mary Shelley
5. Vanity Fair - William Makepeace Thackeray
I love Frankenstein!! Such a wonderful book we studied it at school and I've reread it a few times since then... You've inspired me to put it on my list for this year for another reread
I'd like to join in if I may. Think I'll aim for 30 books this year so starting from beginning of January:
1) Until you're mine - Samantha Hayes
2) Hanging Hill - Mo Hayder
3) It would be wrong to steal my sister's boyfriend - Sophie Ranald
4) What have I done - Amanda Prowse
Comments
15. Fathom - Michael Turner 5/10
Top Cow [Image Comics], 464 pages <Graphic Novel> Volume one #1-14, and Kinian's Tide #1-4. A mystery within a mystery about an underwater race colliding with humans around the Pacific mainly because of adopted Aspen… who turns out to be one of the mer people. Interesting enough to get the second volume.
16. Michael Turner's Fathom volume two - Michael Turner, J T Krull, Koi Turnball etc. 6/10
MLT Aspen comics, 687 pages <Graphic Novel> Volume two #0-11, Cannon Hawke #0-5, Dawn of War mini series and Aspen Seasons #1-3. The coming of the Black, the Blue and the humans' determination to wipe them all out. We learn more about Aspen's past and Cannon's present. Introduces some big characters like Kiani, Brande and Siphon.
17. Freshmen - Hugh Sterbakov, Seth Green, Leonard Kirk, Will Conrad etc. 8/10
Top Cow [Image Comics], 313 pages <Graphic Novel> Volumes 1 and 2 of this very innovative series about a group of freshmen that get superpowers… like being able to talk to plants, belly rumbling vibration power, super farts, and more. Great books, surprisingly so, as teenage angst is taken to a whole new level!
18. Impulse (Messner-Loebbs run) 1997 - 1999 - William Messner-Loebbs, Craig Rousseau etc. 5/10
D C Comics, 552 pages <Graphic Novel> Impulse #28-49, # 1 million, Impulse and Atom special and Annual #2.
19. Impulse (Tony Dezago run) - Tony Dezago, Carlos Barberi, Evan Van Sciver etc. 3/10
D C Comics, 920 pages <Graphic Novel> Impulse #50-89. Dezago's long run on the book continues up to its cancellation. OK, but it's attempt at young person orientated humour within the mainstream DC universe was very hit and miss… indeed much more miss than hit.
20. The Manhattan Projects vols 1-3 -Jonathan Hickman, Nick Pitarra, Ryan Browne etc. 8/10
Image Comics, 393 pages <Graphic Novel> Issues 1 to 15 of Hickman's interesting alternate parallel history / sc- fi / conspiracy / horror / black comedy. With Einstein, Yuri Gagarin, Laika the dog and Franklin D Roosevelt all part of the cast, an interesting read. For me some of the sci-fi stuff is a bit too much, but otherwise really enjoyable especially some of the off the wall original characters.
21. Have I Got News For You - Boris Johnson 5/10
Harper Perennial (HarperCollins), 391 pages
<Commentary>
Supposedly some of the best Telegraph articles written by Johnson covering the likes of modern wars, transport, politics, modern society etc… but for me the scene stealers are the 'interviews' with the likes of Jenny Agutter, Silvio Berlusconi, Alan Clarke, Martin McGuiness, Chris Evans etc.
22. Tabloid Girl, A True Story - Sharon Marshall 8/10
Sphere (Hachette UK), 275 pages
<Expose>
Supposedly one-time UK tabloid journalist's tell-all about the doings and goings on in the tabloid media… I really enjoyed this tell-all look at the world of tabloid media and the seemingly honest inward looking throughout… but have to temper that with, it being written by an ex tabloid journalist... is just more spin? Revealing read nonetheless.
didn't enjoy this though it got good reviews
A pre-apocalyptic tale featuring Crowley (demon) and Aziraphale (Angel and part time rare bookseller). The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse have upgraded their steeds and are ready to go, but there's some confusion over the whereabouts of the Antichrist.
Irreverent and very funny.
4. The Firework-maker's Daughter - Philip Pullman.
8/10 - I remember the hot summer of '76 myself so I had high hopes for this book, and it didn't disappoint, a nice, relaxing read that I wish I'd saved for the summer!
Was I mentioned in it? I was born during that summer
3. Our Lady of Pain, Elena Forbes. A formulaic crime thriller but enjoyable enough
3.Behind Closed Doors by Kerry Wilkinson
4. Sheer Mischief - Jill Mansell
5. The Red Room - Nicci French
Both re-reads, but enjoyed them.
This year I'll aim high again with 214! As always, I have a handful of books I started the year before and need to finish, and maybe that'll help. *cough*
The good news is, I've managed to finish 3 so far:
1. Oolong Dead (A Tea Shop Mystery #1) by Laura Childs – Theodosia Browning discovers the body of her ex-boyfriend Jory’s sister, Abby Davis, and Jory wants her help in finding the murderer. He also wants to get back with Theodosia which complicates things for her. It was a pretty good mystery, and very informative about tea.
2. Death at La Fenice (Commissario Brunetti #1) by Donna Leon – This author was highly praised by some readers in older threads, so I snapped the book up when I saw it for sale on the used shelf at my library. A famous conductor is murdered and Brunetti is pressured to arrest someone.
It took me a while to get really into it, but I like Brunetti and his family, and I found the suspects to be rather interesting.
3. Lost Empire (Fargo Adventure #2 by Clive Cussler with Grant Blackwood – I listened to this in audiobook format and it’s not something I would have chosen but it’s okay. It was basically an action movie in book form, and the fight sequences bored me a bit. The book never seemed to end and I was unclear for much of the book what exactly the end goal of the adventurers was. Basically Sam and Remi Fargo come across some evidence off the coast of Africa which may prove that the Aztecs originated from that direction. An Aztec-themed political party in Mexico will do anything to get their hands on the proof first.
This should have been 15) - not 150!
16) Two Times Twenty - Bethan Darwin
1. The advent killer by alasdair gunn.
Took a while to get into and I wanted to give the police woman a good slap but had a good twist. 7/10.
2. This man confessed by jodi ellen malpas.
Third part of the trilogy. I enjoyed the other two but she just seemed more ridiculous in this one and I wanted ava to grow a pair. Nice little twist towards the end but lots of loose ends not tied up so a little disappointed. 5/10.
6. Tara Road - Maeve Binchy. Another re-read. I'm having a rubbish week in work and needed a book that I could relax with in the evenings and this certainly did the job.
Fantastic. A little bit like a darker, funnier Addams Family.
2) Chavs: The Demonisation of the Working Class by Owen Jones
I'm a huge fan of Owen Jones and thought it was time I got round to this. I'm so glad I bought it, I adored it.
3) How To Be A Woman by Caitlin Moran
Very funny but I'm not sure I agree with all of her ideas. She also a tendency to overplay the "I'm dead quirky, me" card too, but an enjoyable nonetheless.
4) The Road To Wigan Pier by George Orwell
I'm on my socialist run at the moment and enjoying it so far.
I'm looking forward to starting Morrissey's Autobiography and Estates: An Intimate Portrait by Lynsay Hanley which are next on my list.
I read that book years ago and absolutely adored it.
I shall have to get hold of it again for another read through.
1. Bleachers - John Grisham
2. Miss B. - Rebecca Roberts
3. Hickory Dickory Dock - Agatha Christie
4. Frankenstein - Mary Shelley
5. Vanity Fair - William Makepeace Thackeray
I love Frankenstein!! Such a wonderful book
1) Until you're mine - Samantha Hayes
2) Hanging Hill - Mo Hayder
3) It would be wrong to steal my sister's boyfriend - Sophie Ranald
4) What have I done - Amanda Prowse