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Reading Challenge 2016 (216 in 2016) |
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#276 |
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Join Date: Apr 2004
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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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#277 |
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Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Snowy Michigan
Posts: 1,008
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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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#278 |
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Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 193
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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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#279 |
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Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 915
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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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#280 |
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Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Brockley
Posts: 2,778
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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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#281 |
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Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 4,526
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17. The Letter by Kathryn Hughes. It was ok and a very fast easy read.
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#282 |
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Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 15,423
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Quote:
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. 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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#283 |
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Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,304
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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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#284 |
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Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 84
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9) The Murder Bag - Tony Parsons 7/10
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#285 |
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Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Brockley
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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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#286 |
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Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,304
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87) The Man Who Understood Women and Other Stories - Rosemary Friedman
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#287 |
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Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 861
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16) My Mother's Secret by Sheila O'Flanaghan
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#288 |
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Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 193
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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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#289 |
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Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 84
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10) Behind Closed Doors - B A Parris 8/10
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#290 |
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Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Gourock (Rosneath xmitter)
Posts: 139
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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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#291 |
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Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 15,423
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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. 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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#292 |
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Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,304
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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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#293 |
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Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Brockley
Posts: 2,778
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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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#294 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 915
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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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#295 |
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Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Brockley
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Quote:
24. The Girl with Glass Feet by Ali Shaw.
A fairly short book that took me ages to get through. 3/5. |
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#296 |
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Join Date: Apr 2004
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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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#297 |
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Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Brockley
Posts: 2,778
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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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#298 |
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Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 193
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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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#299 |
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Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 915
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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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#300 |
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Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 915
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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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