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Reading Challenge 2016 (216 in 2016)


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Old 03-05-2016, 10:49
Faggy
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57/ The Horror! The Horror! by Jim Trombetta

A history of the US horror comics of the 1950s.
Each chapter starts with a brief essay concerning the rise and fall of the horror comics but the majority of the book is a reproduction of hundreds of covers and also some of the strip stories in their entirety.

The mini essays are interesting but it is the wealth of visual material that really grabbed my attention and makes this worth a look. The choice of strips is varied and all stand up pretty well.

A book that was obviously put together with care and attention
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Old 04-05-2016, 15:29
syramu
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5. White Heat (Edie Kiglatuk #1) by M.J. McGrath – Edie is half Inuit, half outsider, but she is proud of her family history and she takes southerners on tours to experience the true Arctic to raise money for her stepson’s education. When tragedy strikes her family, she refuses to believe the negative stories circulating about her stepson and begins to investigate what really happened. An excellent start to a series! I’m glad there are already a couple more to read, because I want to immerse myself as soon as possible in this northern world.

6. Kingdom of Strangers (Katya Hijazi and Nayir Sharqi #3) by Zoë Ferraris – Nineteen dead bodies of foreign workers are discovered in the desert, and the police struggle to understand the phenomenon of a serial killer. At the same time, the lead investigator, Ibrahim, is worried because his mistress, who happens to be Filipina, has gone missing, and he can’t rid himself of the idea that she might have fallen victim to the serial killer. Katya and Nayir are so cute together! I hope there will be many more mysteries with them and that they can work together to solve the cases.
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Old 04-05-2016, 20:02
cathy27
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67) An Echo in the Bone by Diana Gabaldon
68) Written in my own Heart's Blood by Diana Gabaldon
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Old 04-05-2016, 21:53
Sue_C
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23. Different Class by Joanne Harris, narrated by Steven Pacey and Ewan Goddard.

A very good psychological thriller set in a private boys school from 1981 to 2005. The story is told from the perspective of Latin master Roy Straitley who in 2005 is approaching retirement. As a former pupil and long serving teacher he is steeped in the traditions of the school and is highly resistant to changes brought in by the new headmaster (Roy's former pupil). Straitley is a real character and manages to bring humour into a dark tale.
A second strand to the story is told through a series of letters from a pupil to an imaginary friend called Mousey. These letters are sinister and creepy.

A sequel to Gentlemen & Players, but can be read as a stand alone novel.
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Old 05-05-2016, 12:37
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58/ From Russia With Love by Ian Fleming

A Bond novel (obviously).

Bond doesn't actually appear for the first third of the book as that focuses on the Russian plot against him. Once he turns up the book is pretty straightforward but is written in an engaging style that drew me in.

This is the novel that most closely resembles the film version (including some of Fleming's dialogue) so if you've seen that you'll pretty much know what you're getting.
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Old 05-05-2016, 23:34
moonlily
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17. The Letter by Kathryn Hughes. It was ok and a very fast easy read.
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Old 07-05-2016, 11:58
d0lphin
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17. The Burning Room - Michael Connolly
8/10 - book 19 of the Harry Bosch series in which Harry has a new partner who has her own history and agenda by joining the murder squad, I loved the whole book except for the last chapter, so marked it down one.
18. The Crossing - Michael Connolly
8/10 - book 20 in the Harry Bosch series. Harry has retired from the police service and is asked to help his half-brother with a defence case, so he's crossing over to the other side. Very enjoyable.
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Old 08-05-2016, 13:42
OxfordGirl
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83) Kate Morton - The Lake House
84) Helen Russell - The Year of Living Danishly
85) Thomas Benigo - The Good Lawyer
86) Liane Moriarty - Big Little Lies
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Old 08-05-2016, 21:37
Kitty5
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9) The Murder Bag - Tony Parsons 7/10
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Old 09-05-2016, 09:17
Faggy
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59/ Hello by Leslie Phillips

Autobiography by the comic actor.

Phillips gives a reasonably comprehensive account of his long career but his refusal to say a bad word about anyone makes this a trifle bland.

It's a nice trait that he only wants to see the best in people (even someone he sued) but it doesn't make for the most riveting read.
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Old 10-05-2016, 06:58
OxfordGirl
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87) The Man Who Understood Women and Other Stories - Rosemary Friedman
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Old 10-05-2016, 22:34
Katie-Jane
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16) My Mother's Secret by Sheila O'Flanaghan
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Old 11-05-2016, 14:46
cathy27
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69) Rumour Has It by Jill Mansell
70) Telling Tales by Ann Cleeves
71) The Final Seven by Erica Spindler
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Old 11-05-2016, 19:14
Kitty5
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10) Behind Closed Doors - B A Parris 8/10
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Old 13-05-2016, 10:39
jam73
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15) After you Die - Eva Dolan
16) Security - Stephen Amidon
17) The Stranger - Harlan Coben
18) The Hidden Child - Camilla Lackberg
19) Eye for an Eye - TF (Frank) Muir
20) Betty Boo - Claudia Pineiro
21) The great Swindle - Pierre Lemaitre
22) Taken for Dead - Graham Masterton
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Old 14-05-2016, 12:57
d0lphin
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18. The Crossing - Michael Connolly
8/10 - book 20 in the Harry Bosch series. Harry has retired from the police service and is asked to help his half-brother with a defence case, so he's crossing over to the other side. Very enjoyable.
19. When I was Invisible - Dorothy Koomson
9/10 - the story is about 2 young girls, both called Veronica/Veronika Harper, who are in the same class at school and both dream about being a ballerina. It was likened to The Ice Cream Girls and I really enjoyed it, although I did prefer the Ice Cream Girls.
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Old 14-05-2016, 14:16
OxfordGirl
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88) The Last Fiesta - Andy Rumbold
89) A Sister's Promise - Karen Lenfesty
90) The Girl in the Ice - Robert Bryndza
91) Man at the Helm - Nina Stibbe
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Old 15-05-2016, 09:55
Faggy
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60/ English Gothic by Jonathan Rigby

Excellent history of British horror cinema, updated to last year and including various tv shows as well.

Incredibly detailed and well researched this really does seem to cover everything - most impressive.

Highly recommended to anyone with an interest in this often neglected area of cinema.

Makes me look forward to his upcoming book on Euro horror.
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Old 15-05-2016, 10:01
Sue_C
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24. The Girl with Glass Feet by Ali Shaw.
Ida Maclaird is turning to glass. She returns to a remote northerly island in search of a cure. She meets painfully introverted Midas Crook and a bond begins to form.
The author paints a powerful picture of the cold, bleak island but the story is depressing with an assortment of dysfunctional characters. There is a fairytale quality to the book which is accentuated by the inclusion of weird creatures including moth-sized winged cattle.
A fairly short book that took me ages to get through. 3/5.
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Old 19-05-2016, 10:12
Faggy
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24. The Girl with Glass Feet by Ali Shaw.

A fairly short book that took me ages to get through. 3/5.
I had the same problem when I read it - whenever I stopped reading it I could never summon up the enthusiasm to pick it up again so it took forever to get through it.
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Old 19-05-2016, 10:14
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61/ Bust by Ken Bruen and Jason Starr

Crime thriller in a pulp style as you'd expect from Hard Case Crime.

Enjoyable and pacey this is violent and sweary with some highly upleasant characters.

A good read but I'm not sure I liked it enough to continue with the sequels.
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Old 20-05-2016, 09:57
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62/ The James Bond Archive - edited by Paul Duncan

Excellent overview of the making of the Bond films.

Each film is covered including the 1967 Casino Royale and Never Say Never Again. The text covers the filming and release in reasonable detail although there are some odd omissions (Robert Brown and Caroline Bliss's casting as M and Moneypenny aren't mentioned at all; detailed plot summary of Spectre but no mention of who sang the theme song).
However it is the wealth of visual detail that really makes this book. Some truly impressive behind the scenes imagery.

Easily the best book on Bond that I've read.
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Old 20-05-2016, 10:12
cathy27
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72) The Little Wedding Shop by the Sea by Jane Linfoot
73) The Dead Room by Chris Mooney
74) Billy and Me by Giovanna Fletcher
75) Love you Dead by Peter James
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Old 20-05-2016, 21:20
Sue_C
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25. Heresy by S J Parris, audiobook narrated by Laurence Kennedy.

The first in a murder mystery series set in Elizabethan times and featuring a former monk named Giordano Bruno. Bruno has had to flee Italy because of his heretical views on the subject of astronomy. After a period of time at the French court he travels to England and find himself in the employ of Francis Walsingham, Elizabeth l' s spymaster.
Bruno travels to Oxford ostensibly to take part in a debate, but also to investigate catholics plotting against the Queen. During the visit a number of murders occur and Bruno investigates.

I quite enjoyed this despite the theatrical Italian accent used by the narrator. After finishing the book I discovered that Bruno did actually exist and that the historical parts of the story are quite accurate (apart from the murders). I'll probably read the next one as it features Mary, Queen of Scots and the Duke of Norfolk's plan to marry her.
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Old 20-05-2016, 21:37
Sue_C
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26. Star Sand by Roger Pulvers.

This was a free Kindle First book from last month and has been translated from Japanese. It's set on an out of the way island in Japan during the last months of the Second World War. Two army deserters are hiding together in a cave by the sea. One is Japanese, the other American. They are discovered by a young girl who is squatting in an abandoned house.

The first part of the story is told the form of a diary and is quite good, though stilted due to the translation. The second and third parts bring things up to date and are told by a complete airhead. An interesting idea that didn't quite work for me.
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