musesong

Book 01: A Kind of Intimacy.
Author: Jenn Ashworth, 2009.
Genre: Drama-Comedy. Suspense.
Other Details: Paperback. 282 pages.

Annie Fairhurst is an overweight rather lonely woman, who in the opening chapter leaves behind her old life and moves to a new neighbourhood. Through her narration we learn of her attempts to ingratiate herself with her new neighbours as well as her desire for a 'certain kind of intimacy' with Neil, her next door neighbour. This desire soon becomes an obsession and her behaviour towards him and others, especially his live-in girlfriend Lucy, becomes increasingly bizarre. Over the course of the novel Annie also slowly reveals her past and those events and secrets that have shaped her.

This was an impressive début novel; well-written, intelligent and very engaging. From its opening pages I knew that Annie was going to prove an unreliable narrator as the warning signs of her instability were clear. While there were elements of black comedy about the story, I did not find it 'laugh out loud funny' as this reviewer for 'The Guardian' did and maybe this is because Annie's craving for intimacy which she gets all wrong, including her over reliance on self-help books, was something quite easy to empathize with.

Overall, I found it quite an unsettling read as Annie's behaviour became stranger. Her thoughts about her situation clearly become more disturbed along with shocking revelations about her past. Jenn Ashworth does an excellent job of capturing a sense of mental and emotional disintegration.

The novel proved very popular with our reading group and provoked discussion over a range of subjects. It was It wasn't the kind of book I'd normally choose to read so was grateful that it had been selected.

Jenn Ashworth's Page on 'A Kind of Intimacy' - includes extract and other information.

Cross-posted to 50bookchallenge.

These two novels were my final reads for 2011 up to the end of November. I did start a few books in December but to date they remain unfinished.

Book 136: The House of the Wind.
Author: Titania Hardie, 2011
Genre: Romance Historical/contemporary. Mystery.
Other Details: Hardback. 458 pages

In contemporary San Francisco, lawyer Maddie Moretti is in mourning following the sudden death of her fiancé. Her grandmother encourages her to visit Tuscany in order to connect to her ancestral roots and to find healing. There she becomes fascinated by the mystery of a ruined villa that had been destroyed centuries ago in a legendary storm on the Eve of St. Agnes. It has been known ever since as the Casa al Vento—the House of the Wind. In Tuscany 1347, Mia is a young woman who has refused to speak following the death of her mother. She now lives with her beloved aunt. One night a young couple seek refuge in their villa and Mia becomes fascinated by the radiant young bride who refuses to reveal her name.

I felt this was an excellent example of a novel in which contemporary and historical settings are skilfully interwoven. It is not an easy task but it is one that I felt Titania Hardie accomplished. She takes her time in developing her characters and settings, which may not be to everyone's taste but this pace suited my mood perfectly. Hardie also exhibits her extensive knowledge of myth, legend and esoteric symbolism with confidence and grace. She handles Maddie's bereavement with insight and compassion. I enjoyed it very much, appreciating it on various levels.

Book 137: The Dark Mirror (The Bridei Chronicles 1).
Author: Juliet Marillier, 2004.
Genre: Historical Fantasy. Scotland.
Other Details: Paperback. 670 pages.

Bridei is a young nobleman fostered at the home of Broichan, one of the most powerful druids in the land. It becomes clear that Broichan has long term plans for Bridei. Then Bridei's world changes forever when he discovers an abandoned child on their doorstep one MidWinter Eve; a child who appears to be one of the Fair Folk. Broichan is deeply wary of the child but Bridei insists that she be allowed to remain in the household. Thus, Bridei and Tuala grow up together, inseparable friends. However, as they grow to maturity other factors come into play that threaten to separate them forever.

This was my first encounter with Juliet Marillier's writing and I found that I was drawn very quickly into the rich world she was creating. The story of Bridei coming to manhood within the household of the Druid Broichan, had echoes of Arthur and Merlin as did the ongoing interaction with the old gods of the land and the Fair Folk. I was even more impressed when I reached the end of the novel and read her end notes that advised that this was a tale based on the life and times of the real-life Sixth Century Bridei I of the Picts.

I quite consciously took my time reading this novel, reading a little each night before sleep. It impressed me deeply and I certainly plan to continue with the Chronicles as well as her other writings. Her story-telling style just clicked with me and it is obvious from the many glowing reviews that her other writings are considered equally as good. It is a delight to discover such a writer.

Juliet Marillier's Page on 'The Dark Mirror'.

Cross-posted to 50bookchallenge.

Book 135: Horns.
Author: Joe Hill, 2010.
Genre: Horror. Modern Fable. Black Comedy. Christian themes.
Other Details: Paperback. 437 pages.

Ignatius Perrish wakes up after getting blind drunk to find that along with a raging hangover and headache that a pair of horns have begun to grow from his head. At first he tries to convince himself that it is a hallucination brought on by the drink. However, he soon discovers that he is able to influence people to reveal their darkest secrets and to give in to their repressed desires. At first he takes delight in this new devilish power before beginning to question their origin. We learn that Ig is himself a tortured soul since the rape and murder of his long-time girlfriend the previous year. Although never arrested for the crime he had been the police's only suspect. In the court of public opinion Iggy got away with murder and is almost universally shunned by the town folk. As praying to God for justice had proved fruitless, Iggy decides to use this new power to discover and punish the real murderer.

This turned out to be a very different novel than I had expected from its cover blurb and opening chapters. As it progressed it proved to be a more sober, gentle and uplifting work while retaining a certain grittiness in terms of its language and darkly comedic touches. Although horrific events do take place, its themes of sin & redemption, heaven & hell, God and the Devil led me to consider this a Christian fable similar to the TV series Reaper or Kevin Smith's Dogma.

I enjoyed it very much and look forward to reading more of his works, all which have been recommended to me by various friends.

Jo Hill's page on 'Horns' - with more detailed synopsis, excerpt and Iggy Perrish’s Rock Bible.

Cross-posted to 50bookchallenge.

Book 132: The Slap.
Author: Christos Tsiolkas, 2008.
Genre: Contemporary. Family Drama. Parenting.
Other Details: Paperback. 485 pages

At a suburban barbecue in Melbourne, a man slaps a misbehaving 4-year old child that is not his own. The novel is told from the viewpoints of eight people in attendance at the barbecue and chronicles the far-reaching effects of the incident upon this group of family and friends.

Even though this was quite an engaging read, I didn't really like the novel though recognised that it was attempting to address modern-day issues such as child rearing, discipline, drug use and adultery. I felt that it was basically a laddish take on the same kind of territory that Jodi Picoult has made her own including the multiple narrative viewpoints. While I found its crude language (and I can swear like a sailor at times) and casual racism unpalatable, I did recognise that both were coming from the minds and mouths of characters that I wouldn't really want to associate with in real life. It portrayed an Australia very far away from affable soap operas such as Neighbours.

Due to illness I was unable to attend the reading group meeting where The Slap was discussed but heard later that people either loved or hated it and the novel generated a great deal of discussion; something that is always welcome in a selection.

Book 133: The Genesis Secret.
Author: Tom Knox, 2008.
Genre: Conspiracy Thriller. Adventure.
Other Details: Paperback. 516 pages

Rob Luttrell, a war reporter recovering after nearly being killed in Iraq, is sent on a 'tame' assignment to Gobeckli Tepe, an archaeological site in Turkey. However, when the site is sabotaged Luttrell becomes caught up in dangerous situations. Meanwhile in the UK a Scotland Yard detective is trying to solve a series of gruesome ritualistic murders. The novel flips between these two narratives; though they eventually do connect up.

A highly engaging thriller with a fair few stomach-turning passages. The characterisations were not quite up to the standard of Steve Berry and some of the situations that the lead bloke got himself into made me want to give him a good shake. Also, although it raised certain issues liked to the early development of religion, I didn't feel the author really wanted to address these except in the broadest terms; more that the novel was about trying to shock the reader. Still in its own way proved a 'fun' read.

Book 134: Bloodline (Anna Travis 07).
Author: Lynda le Plante, 2011.
Genre: Police Procedural.
Other Details: Hardback. 496 pages.

"An ominous pool of blood but no victim' - cover tag line Bloodline

Under the watchful eye of Detective Chief Superintendent James Langton, DCI Anna Travis takes charge of her first major investigation since her promotion. However, it is unclear whether it is a missing person's case or a full blown murder enquiry as there is no body. There were lots of twists, turns and red herrings in this highly engaging police procedural. I love Anna Travis as a character, admiring her determination to uncover the truth. Overall I feel that this series goes from strength to strength and hope Lynda le Plante continues to write more of them.

Cross-posted to 50bookchallenge.

Since late November I've been unwell and placed on a medication that interfered with my ability to read. As a result I didn't reach my goal of 150 books for 2011 and did not write up the balance of my 2011 reviews. Will attempt to catch up in the next few days.

Book 131: blueeyedboy .
Author: Joanne Harris, 2010.
Genre: Contemporary. Psychological thriller. Post-modern. Internet.
Other Details: Hardback. 410 pages.

'Once there was a widow with three sons, and their names were Black, Brown and Blue. Black was the eldest; moody and aggressive. Brown was the middle child, timid and dull. But Blue was his mother's favourite. And he was a murderer'.

This ambitious novel uses the format of blog entries on a site that closely resembles Livejournal (though called webjournal in the novel). It explores the fluid nature of identity on the web and the nature of fiction, fantasy, truth and lies.

Harris takes the idea of the unreliable narrator into a new dimension and as such it is a novel that requires concentration to cope with the various twists, turns and sleights of hand within the narrative as the reader peeks over the shoulder of blueeyedboy to read his public and private blog entries as well as those of other members of his internet tribe.

As always with Joanne Harris the writing was beautiful as she examines a darker side of the internet. I applauded Harris' willingness to challenge expectations of those readers who associate her mainly with lighter novels such as 'Chocolat'.

This was a reading group selection last autumn. It received a mixed reception from group members as some had expected a more straight-forward narrative or found it difficult to relate to the focus on the internet. Its format would be more familiar to Livejournal members and I also feel that it will appeal to those readers intrigued by the way in which the internet can facilitate mind games and uses of disguise.

Personally I found it a brilliant novel and loved its ambiguity and complexity.

Joanne Harris page on 'blueeyedboy' - Joanne talks about the background to the novel and there is also link to extract.

Cross-posted to 50bookchallenge.

UK Cover

Book 128: Mr Fox.
Author: Helen Oyeyemi, 2011.
Genre: Magical Realism. Re-told Fairy Tale. Fables.
Other Details: Paperback. Unabridged Audio; 8 hours, 15 mins. Read by Carole Boyd.

"She's not real, honey, she's only an idea. I made her up." - St John Fox to Daphne Fox.

It is 1938 and the celebrated American novelist St John Fox is hard at work in his study until his long absent muse wanders in. Mary Foxe is beautiful, British and 100% imaginary. She is in a playfully combative mood, accusing him of being a villain, a serial killer. For St John Fox has a predilection for murdering the heroines of his tales and Mary has returned determined to change his ways. She challenges him to join her in a series of stories of their own devising. However, it isn't long before St John's wife, Daphne Fox, becomes suspicious of Miss Mary Foxe and a most unusual love triangle ensures.

US Cover

Framed by this interplay between Mr & Mrs Fox and Miss Foxe are a nine short stories that flit through time and place. Foxes naturally feature prominently in this exquisite novel and the cover art for the USA edition makes this clearer with its anthropomorphic foxes while the UK cover, with its elegant 1930s motif, is more ambivalent. I actually liked both for different reasons.

Oyeyemi draws on myth, fairytale and fable from various lands with special emphasis upon Bluebeard and his English equivalent, the were-fox Reynardine. Oyeyemi weaves these into the fabric of her central story and tales with the skill of a true storyteller. There are also themes linked to creativity and the relationship between artist and muse.

This was a book that I fell in love with from its first page and remained enchanted throughout. So much so that I was quite happy to revisit it immediately via its audio edition. The beautiful writing of the novel was further enhanced by Carole Boyd's rich voice and range of character voices. This is one I cannot recommend highly enough to those drawn to works of magical realism and this kind of tale of animal transformations and re-told faerie tales. This is the third of Oyeyemi's four novels I have read and each has been memorable though overall I found this the most accessible to date.

Endicott Studio Article on Bluebeard - Page 2 on Mr. Fox/Reynardine.

Helen Oyeyemi's 'Mr. Fox' page at Picador - includes links to her 'fox thoughts' and the opening chapter.

Cross-posted to 50bookchallenge. This is the tenth book in my 2011 POC Reading Challenge.

Book 126: American Wife: a Novel .
Author: Curtis Sittenfeld, 2008.
Genre: Period-Contemporary.Family Saga. Roman á clef.
Other Details: Paperback. 640 pages.

This novel, set mainly in the late 20th century USA, is the tale of Alice Lindgren, a quiet bookish young woman who ends up becoming First Lady after she marries into the powerful Blackwell family. While Alice Blackwell is a fictional character, the novel is a Roman á clef based on the life of Laura Bush.

I had been a little wary of this when it came up as selection for one of my reading groups but actually found it a totally engrossing novel that I just flew through despite its length. None of us in the group had any real knowledge of Laura Bush's background and life apart from knowing that she was a popular First Lady. It was a very easy read and while far from a 'tell-all' there were a few sizzling scenes that drew more than a few risqué remarks from our largely female reading group. The other most common comment was how affable her husband, Charlie Blackwell, came across.

The novel generated a lot of discussion, which is always good for a reading group selection. It is coming up again in 2012 at my library reading group and I am quite looking forward to re-visiting it then.

'American Wife' on Curtis Sittenfeld website - includes excerpt, related articles and interviews.

Book 127: The News Where You Are .
Author: Catherine O'Flynn, 2010.
Genre: Comedy Drama. Contemporary. Architecture. Mass Media.
Other Details: Paperback. 311 pages.

Set in 2009/10, the main character is Frank Allcroft, a 40-something presenter on 'Heart of England Reports', a fictionalised version of the BBC's Midlands Today. He is a quiet man who is fairly ineffectual and is haunted by the recent death of his mentor, Phil Smethway, in a hit-and-run accident. He also spends his time paying his respects to those individuals whose claim to fame is that they have died alone and unmarked in the city.

He is also confused by his feelings about his late father's post-war architectural legacy, which had destroyed much of Birmingham's Victorian heritage and is now was facing demolition in its own turn. Douglas Allcroft is loosely based on Birmingham architect John Madin and the issues ones faced by this and other urban areas.

O'Flynn's second novel is another multi-layered work combining a gentle character study of a middle-aged man with a touch of mystery. She explores various themes such as the nature of friendship, growing old, urban renewal and the legacy of what we each leave behind. It is heart-warming and quite funny in places, especially in her depiction of local newsroom politics.

I attended an Orange Prize for Fiction event in 2009 where Catherine was talking about its genesis and the pressures for a new author after writing an award-winning first novel. Aside from a comedic drama this is a love letter to the city of Birmingham, so often ignored in favour of London. As a reading group selection it proved a hit with the entire group, not only for it being an engaging read but because we all are familiar with Birmingham and its some of the 'horrors' of its post-war urban landscape.

Cross-posted to 50bookchallenge.

Both these novels were short-listed for the 2011 Man Booker Prize. Two very different books but both engaging reads.

Book 124: Snowdrops.
Author: A.D. Miller, 2011.
Genre: Russia. Contemporary. Literary Fiction. Psychological Thriller
Other Details: Hardback. 273 pages.

The “snowdrop” of the title is Moscow slang for a body that is discovered after the spring thaws and this slender novel opens with one such discovery, though we don't learn for some time the identity or context.

Nick is an English lawyer, who is working in Moscow during the early years of the 21st century. He is in his late 30s, affluent but without direction. One night when travelling home on the metro he assists a beautiful young woman in beating off a mugger. He is instantly bewitched by her and soon becomes entangled in her world, which includes her ever-present younger sister, Katya.

Miller served as Moscow correspondent for The Economist for some years and is an expert on the complexities and contradictions that form post-Communist Russia. This is a dark novel that seems to capture almost perfectly modern day Moscow. Not that I've ever been there but it is easy to see that Miller has walked those streets and interacted at many levels of society.

It certainly is an achievement for a first novel and is tightly written. I enjoyed it, if that is the right word, though mainly for its powerful evocation of post-Communist Russia than the plot as such.

A.D. Miller's Page on 'Snowdrops' - Q&A and pod cast discussion.

Book 125: The Sisters Brothers .
Author: Patrick de Witt, 2011.
Genre: Black Comedy. Historical Fiction. Western Noir. Picaresque.
Other Details: Trade Paperback. 336 pages.

The setting for this novel is the Wild West of the 1850s. Eli and Charlie Sisters are notorious professional killers, currently in the employment of the powerful Commodore. Their current task is to travel to California to hunt down and kill Hermann Kermit Warm. They don't need to know why this man is marked for death, just to fulfil their mission. Along the way they have a series of encounters: some violent, some comic. Eli Sisters is the novel's narrator, who aside from recounting their experiences in a laconic, deadpan style also is going through an existential crises questioning his vocation.

This was a quirky black comedy that certainly entertained me even if I had to look away from some of the scenes involving animals. The Man Booker site described it as the kind of Western the Cohen Brothers might write and I'd agree. Canadian writer Patrick de Witt takes the tropes of the classic Western and has a lot of fun playing with them. I adored its cover art, which deserves an award in itself.

Although I enjoyed this novel, it did strike me as a bit odd for it to be short-listed (or even long-listed) for the Man Booker Prize for Fiction. It was great fun and an easy read but for me somewhat lacked the literary gravitas or universal themes that I associate with this major literary award. This year I understand this controversy over the 'readability' (or commercial potential if we are being cynical) for submitted novels has been very strong.

Cross-posted to 50bookchallenge.

Book 122: Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy.
Author: John le Carre, 1974.
Genre: Spy Fiction. Thriller. Cold War.
Other Details: Paperback. 432 pages.

Mr George Smiley is small, podgy, and at best, middle-aged. He is disillusioned, wrestles with idleness, and has been deserted by his beautiful wife. He is also a senior British intelligence officer, who has recently been forcibly retired when his mentor, Control, fell from grace. Before his final illness Control had been convinced that Moscow had planted a Soviet 'mole' at the "Circus", the highest echelon of the Secret Intelligence Service. In the dead of night, a senior Cabinet member offers Smiley the resources to 'do what ever is necessary' to uncover the mole. So begins a game of long and bitter battle of wits between Smiley and the enigmatic Karla, his Moscow adversary.

This is the first in Le Carre's celebrated Karla Trilogy, which became an iconic BBC series starring Alec Guinness. This novel was selected for one of my reading groups as we also planned to see the 2011 film adaptation. I had read this and many more of Le Carre's novels years ago so while I knew the general plot I was able to appreciate it all over again. Much of the background is supplied through a series of flashbacks, which is very much le Carre's signature style and as such the text requires close attention. This is a very detailed novel that builds slowly and very differently to the all-action James Bond type of thriller. It chronicles the back room dealings of the suited grey men of the Intelligence Service during the height of the Cold War, though their machinations do have deadly consequences for those 'in the field'.

Written and set in the early 1970s, and inspired by le Carre's own experiences as an intelligence officer in the 1960s and his interaction with the infamous group of double agents known as the Cambridge Five. This is an amazing piece of fiction, which I could not put down despite its length and density. I plan to revisit the rest of the Karla Trilogy in the New Year.

Book 123: The Finkler Question.
Author: Howard Jacobson, 2010.
Genre: Contemporary. Comedy-Drama. Satire.
Other Details: Audiobook. Unabridged; Length: 12 hours, 37 mins Read by Steven Crossley.

I had read this in September 2010 as part of a Man Booker Library Reading Group. We voted it as our winner and it did indeed go on to win the Prize. As it was selected for my library reading group this month I revisited it via its audio edition. For those wishing a summary of the plot, it can be read on my original 2010 review.

Again, I was struck that this is a very mature work, full of wisdom, wit and pathos. This time round I was even more aware of its focus upon Jewish history and identity and its examination of the historical and political aspects linked to the foundation of Israel and anti-Semitism through interaction and debates between various characters.

It also provides a great deal to meditate on upon individual cultural roots and identity especially in respect of the character of Treslove. It brought to mind my own mild envy towards my former husband and his family, who while liberal Jews had a strong sense of cultural identity. At the time I felt rather displaced and had done so as long as I could remember often teasing that it was because my parents had 'kidnapped' me and my brother as young children and brought us to the New World. Yet there was some truth in that running joke as we had been too young to have a voice in the decision. That longing proved a factor that led me to return to live in England a few years later.

It is a very wordy book and given that I knew the overall plot, its audio version proved a useful way to refresh and deepen my appreciation. Steven Crossley is one of my favourite narrators and his rich voice was perfect for this novel.

Cross-posted to 50bookchallenge.

Book 120: Blotto & Twinks and the Rodents of the Riviera .
Author: Simon Brett, 2011
Genre: Cozy Mystery. Thriller. Parody. 1920s.
Other Details: Hardback. 200 pages.

While giving a guided tour of Tawcester Towers' Long Gallery Blotto is stunned to discover that two of the family portraits - a Gainsborough and a Reynolds - are missing. Blotto immediately summons his brilliant sister Twinks, who instantly deduces that the paintings have been stolen by a gang of international art thieves based in Paris. So Blotto and Twinks set off for France. Their investigations in Paris bring them into contact with the absinthe-soaked art community of the Rive Gauche though after an attempt on Blotto's life they move on the French Riviera on the trail of the criminal mastermind behind the thefts.

More silliness with Blotto & Twinks! Naturally as they are in France there are plenty of jokes aimed at the French. The modern art scene of the period and the 'Lost Generation' of intellectual Americans in 1920s France are also targets. I adore this witty, playful series which is a broad parody of the Golden Age Detective Fiction and upper class comedies of manners. I probably appreciated that latter aspect more this time after encountering Nancy Mitford's novels for the first time recently.

Book 121: The Ruler of the Realm (Faerie Wars Chronicles 03) .
Author: Herbie Brennan, 2006.
Genre: Contemporary YA Fantasy. Faerie.
Other Details: Unabridged Audio; Length: 11 hours, 20 mins. Narrated by James Daniel Wilson.

This novel chronicles Henry's third visit to the Faerie Realm, where Princess Holly Blue is now Ruler of the Realm. Lord Hairstreak, who has been the chief baddie in the earlier books, appears to be proposing a truce between the Faeries of the Night and the Faeries of the Light and Holly Blue must consider this as one of her first political tests. Meanwhile, her brother Prince Pyrgus has stumbled across some mysterious crystal flowers that may be a secret weapon. there are also rumours of a demon invasion led by Beleth, the Prince of Darkness.

I've been continuing with this series as my audiobook in the car for the last month. I felt this third outing was a little less confident in its pacing and wandered a little but was still good fun. The short chapter format was very well suited for short car trips. I was a little thrown off by the change in narrators from Gerald Doyle to James Daniel Wilson, especially as he decided to pronounce Prince Pyrgus' name differently to Doyle, which bugged me to no end for a while. Still, he had a wide range of character voices, which he used to good effect especially the humorous ones. He obviously had great fun with the reading and that was infectious.

Cross-posted to 50bookchallenge.

Book 119: The Iron King (Iron Fey 01) .
Author: Julie Kagawa, 2010.
Genre: YA Fantasy. Faery. Coming of Age.
Other Details: Paperback. 365 pages.

Meghan Chase has a secret destiny - one she could never have imagined - back cover teaser The Iron King.

Meghan Chase has never really felt as though she's fit in, either at school or home. Her life has been over-shadowed by the mysterious disappearance of her father in front of her eyes when she was a child. Now as she approaches her sixteenth birthday, strange and inexplicable things are happening. It is not long before Meghan discovers that she is the daughter of a mythical fairy king and about to become a pawn in a deadly war.

I am a great lover of all things Faery, especially when well done, which on the basis of this first book this series certainly appears to be. Drawing on traditional Faerie lore of the Courts with a generous borrow from William Shakespeare, I found this a delightful novel with engaging central characters and beautifully imagined fantasy realms.

The discovery of a secret destiny when one comes of age is an ongoing theme in YA fantasy that can be traced from ancient myth and which speaks to a very deep level of the human psyche. Julie Kagawa handles this with grace, combining a gentle love story with action and adventure. As with the Percy Jackson novels by Rick Riordan, she works confidently with myth and legend allowing for modern interpretation without jettisoning tradition.

Also, in her depiction of the Iron Fey of the series title, I found some resonance to themes explored by Neil Gaiman in 'American Gods' in speculating on the changes that might be wrought by humankind's increasing emphasis upon technology and science and the resulting effects upon the traditional otherworldly realms populated by the Fae and other beings.

I will note that this series has some of the most beautiful artwork for its covers that I have seen for some time, including elegant raised front cover textures. I freely admit to having been seduced by this and had bought the first three on a whim without knowing anything about the writer or the series' reputation. Having loved this first one, I now look forward to settling down to read more of Meghan's story and am planning a Yuletide marathon.

The Iron King on Iron Fey site - includes first chapter and links to other pretties.

Cross-posted to 50bookchallenge. This is the ninth book in my 2011 POC Reading Challenge.

Original cover

Book 118: The Radleys.
Author: Matt Haig, 2010.
Genre: Black Comedy. Horror. YA/Crossover. Vampires. Coming-of-age
Other Details: Paperback. 343 pages.

"Life with the Radleys: Radio 4, dinner parties with the Bishopthorpe neighbours and self-denial. Loads of self-denial. But all hell is about to break loose." - teaser for The Radleys.

“Vampire? Such a provocative word, wrapped in too many clichés and girly novels." - Uncle Will - The Radleys

Peter and Helen Radley live with their teenage children, Rowan and Clara, in the quiet North Yorkshire village of Bishopthorpe. He's a GP and she paints. Their lives are settled and a little boring and they are both are trying to put their wild London days behind them and raise their children in ignorance of their true nature. The truth is that the Radleys are vampires, who are living in accordance with The Abstainer's Handbook (quotes from this are interspersed throughout). Given that Clara and Rowan are sickly, pale and 'allergic' to the sun, they are not having quite the experience of the sparkly Cullen kids over in Forks, Oregon.

When Clare is forced to fend off the unwanted advances of a boy who attacks her on the way home from a party, her vampiric nature is triggered and suddenly the family's secret is threatened. Peter turns in desperation to his brother Will, a practising vampire bad boy, to help them. However, with his arrival in town and back in their lives things quickly go from bad to worse.

Despite featuring vampires, this very far from the likes of Twilight, The Vampire Diaries or all the moody YA vampires found in the paranormal romance section. It reminded me a little of Being Human, BBC 3's wonderful series about the attempts of a vampire, werewolf and ghost to blend into normal society. It also deals with issues such as bullying, addiction, infidelity, coming of age, mid-life crises and the stresses of modern family life, making it an ideal cross-over novel for older teens and adults. It is written in a very tongue-in-cheek style with dollops of pitch-black humour and knowing references to vampire lore, literature and popular culture.

This novel was so much fun and a pure pleasure to read. Just terrific on every level.

( Some observations on is alternative cover art )

For anyone wondering about Haig's use of the surname made famous by To Kill a Mockingbird he confirmed to Publisher's Weekly that: "Yes, Boo, pale-faced, misunderstood suburban outsider, was definitely my inspiration," The surname also means "of the red meadow," which he felt was a nice vampiric connotation.

The Radleys on Matt Haig's site - contains first few pages excerpt.

Cross-posted to 50bookchallenge.

Book 117: The Absolutist .
Author: John Boyne, 2011
Genre: Period Fiction. World War I. War. GLBT.
Other Details: Hardback. 309 pages.

In the autumn of 1919, twenty-one year old Tristan Sadler travels from London to Norwich to meet with Marian Bancroft and return the letters she had written to her brother Will while he was serving in France during the Great War. In 1917, Will had laid down his guns on the battlefield and declared himself an absolutist, an extreme form of conscientious objector. His fate from this act had subsequently brought shame and dishonour to the Bancroft family.

During the course of the day with Marian, Tristan recalls his intense friendship with Will, from their time training together at Aldershot to the trenches of Northern France. He shares with Marian how her brother came to the decision to lay down his weapons despite the known consequences. Throughout the encounter with Marian, Tristan remains conflicted about how much he will be able to share about the events and his feelings for Will. The full story is slowly revealed through flashbacks and conversations between Tristan and Marian.

This was a beautifully written, intense and thoughtful novel that deals sensitively with issues such as war and individual conscience, guilt and shame as well as the fragility of the human heart. I found it a deeply moving melancholic work. It does contains scenes of trench warfare, which Boyne delivers in harrowing detail. Given the vivid first person narration it is impossible not to feel immersed in the experience including rotten food, lice, rats and mud let alone the ever-present threat of death.

This was an amazing work of fiction and I just cannot fathom why it was not up for the Man Booker Prize this year though its May publication date may have had something to do with that. Aside from the quality of the writing and the universal themes it explored it was also a very readable novel with good pacing which held my attention from the opening page to the last.

Although it has emerged as one of my favourites for 2011, I never would have normally picked it up . However, I had accompanied a friend to an 'Evening with John Boyne' event organised by Birmingham Libraries in May. John was reading from his newly published novel as well as discussing his previous work. I was intrigued by the readings from The Absolutist and so checked it out of the library when I saw it on the shelf.

Cross-posted to 50bookchallenge.

Both novels feature the theme of the Changeling Child, where a child is stolen and replaced by another. In the first it is featured in the form of a fairy tale written by characters in the past which is woven symbolically throughout the narrative. In the second, a modern day crime thriller, the nightmare of the stolen and substituted child is utilised without mythic elements.

Book 115: Arcadia Falls .
Author: Carol Goodman, 2010.
Genre: Romantic Suspense. Mystery. Folklore. Gothic. GLBT themes.
Other Details: Large Print Hardback. 605 pages.

The story involves the recently widowed Meg Rosenthal, who is forced due to reduced financial circumstances to take a teaching post at Arcadia School in upstate New York. From the 1920s it had been a famous artist's colony but later became a boarding school. Meg was especially drawn there because she is working to complete her doctoral thesis based on the fairy tales written and illustrated by Arcadia's founders: Vera Beecher and Lily Eberhardt, who were believed to be but never confirmed as lovers. She hopes to gain access to private papers lodged at the school that will shed light on their relationship. However, soon after Meg's arrival with Sally, her moody teenage daughter, one of her folklore students dies in an incident that echoes the tragic death of Lily decades before. This death has repercussions that threaten Meg and Sally along with others.

Ghostly figures in the woods, pagan rites, creepy headmistresses, fog and winter storms, hidden secrets, forbidden passion,and much more; it did rather pile on the Gothic elements though in the main quite effectively. Goodman also does a good job of exploring the mother-daughter dynamic through Meg and Sally primarily though it is a theme that runs throughout the novel.

I'd been intrigued when I heard that this author was weaving in elements of folklore, fairy tales, witchcraft and paganism into her stories and this was recommended as a good introduction. I certainly found it an engaging story with a strong sense of atmosphere and interesting characters. The fairy tale element featuring the haunting tale of The Changeling Girl was well executed along with her use of the woodlands around the school as an archetypal 'dark wood'.

Arcadia Falls on Carol Goodman's site - contains more detailed synopsis and background on the story.

Book 116: Little Face (Spilling CID 01).
Author: Sophie Hannah, 2006.
Genre: Crime. Psychological Thriller. Police Procedural.
Other Details: Paperback. 358 pages.

New mother Alice Fancourt returns from an outing and notices that the front door of The Elms, the large house owned by her mother-in-law where she and her husband David also live, is ajar. David was at home looking after their two-week old daughter, Florence, though Alice finds that he's been asleep. On entering the nursery she begins to scream and insists that the baby in the cot is not Florence. David thinks that she is either lying or having some kind of breakdown. The police are called but is since there is a baby in the house is there any case at all? Alice continues to insist the baby is not hers and her emotional state becomes more erratic while David becomes increasingly hostile towards her.

However, a week later David reports that Alice and the baby have gone missing and so the police become more involved. ( Details of an earlier police case involving the Fancourt family. )

I found it an amazingly tense psychological thriller and could see why it made Hannah's reputation. The structure features alternating chapters between Alice's first person narration from the day she discovers Florence missing and the third person perspective of the police opening a week later when Alice is reported missing. The alternating time-line does mean the reader has to pay attention though does serve the various twists and turns of the plot very well.

After reading A Room Swept White, I headed back to read this first book in the series. So I was pleased to be able to get more information on the background to the ongoing characters of Simon Waterhouse and Charlie Zaile, which by Book 5 had been very established.

'Little Face' on Sophie Hannah's site - includes link to first chapter excerpt and more details.

Cross-posted to 50bookchallenge.

Book 113: The Betrayal (At the House of the Magician 03) .
Author: Mary Hooper, 2009.
Genre: YA Historical Fiction. Elizabethan England.
Other Details: Paperback. 283 pages.

The final in this trilogy of YA historical novels featuring Lucy, who while working as a nursemaid in the household of Dr. John Dee is recruited as a spy. The concluding volume is mainly set in London as Lucy and other staff are sent to set up house in advance of Dr. Dee and family moving there from Mortlake. In the course of the novel Lucy becomes involved with a troupe of actors. She is disguised as a boy when she meets them and ends up being recruited to play some minor female roles. More importantly she again becomes involved in court intrigues associated with Mary, Queen of Scots. Her budding romance with Tomas, the Queen's Fool, is threatened by the arrival of Mistress Juliette, a new lady-in-waiting, whom appears to be paying too much attention to him and vice versa.

Again, I found this a very enjoyable read which brought the series to a satisfying conclusion. This volume is more focused on a particular time given the events surrounding Mary, Queen of Scots, whereas Hooper was more vague in the others as to what year they were set. Again, she supplies a reading list, historical notes and glossary. I very much enjoyed the introduction of the theatrical elements. There was also playful sub-plot in which one of the palace's female servants takes a fancy to Lucy in her boyish disguise which of course echoes Shakespeare's comedies.

Overall I felt this was a good series for younger readers who might wish an accessible introduction to the period with a very lively and likeable female narrator.

Book 114: On Monsters: An Unnatural History of Our Worst Fears .
Author: Stephen T. Asma, 2009.
Genre: Non Fiction. True Crime. Mythology and Folklore. Popular Culture. Film. History.
Other Details: Hardback. 351 pages.

The premises of this work intrigued me when I caught a review of it in The Guardian newspaper. It is marketed as a "wide-ranging cultural and conceptual history of monsters--how they have evolved over time, what functions they have served for us, and what shapes they are likely to take in the future". It does meet this criteria and is certainly well researched containing plenty of notes and sources.

However, in terms of content I found it a rather mixed bag with some chapters holding my attention while others left me flat so found myself agreeing with The Guardian reviewer that it was not entirely coherent. I will also note that some of the images of biological deformities collected for exhibitions while certainly necessary for historical context were fairly disturbing.

Overall though I appreciated it for the questions it raised on what exactly a monster is and how that designation has shifted over the centuries and in different contexts.

Cross-posted to 50bookchallenge.

Book 112: A Visit from the Goon Squad.
Author: Jennifer Egan, 2010
Genre: Contemporary. Comedy-Drama. Post-modern. Music.
Other Details: Paperback 368 pages. (with a little help from audiobook)

Time is a goon, right? You gonna let that goon push you around?" - Bosco, former rock star, A Visit from the Goon Squad.

Winner of the 2011 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction and other awards this is an intelligent and inventive novel that rather defies any summery of its plot. It contains 13 chapters, each of which are self-contained and could easily be read in any order as the setting hops about in time from the late 60s to the present day and near future. One of the chapters is a Powerpoint presentation and it was for this section that the audiobook proved an invaluable resource.

It features an ensemble cast of inter-related characters including Bennie Salazar, an ageing rock music executive, his one-time assistant, Sasha, along with various friends, family and associates. Popular music is central to the book as most of the characters work in and around the music industry. Given the emphasis upon youth culture in music, this plays well into the novel's themes of the loss of youth, innocence and the changes in circumstances brought about by time.

Egan cites Marcel Proust's In Search of Lost Time as one inspiration and while I have never dared tackle that mammoth work, I can appreciate that time and memory are major themes in it as indeed they are in this novel as well as the interconnectedness of people. It also examines the changes brought about by the digital age and certainly allowed me to reflect upon the times I have lived through and my own brief experiences on the fringes of the music industry.

I loved this book and it is one I certainly look forward to reading again as it is coming up as a selection for our library reading group next year. I had been intrigued by its positive reviews when it was selected by the UK's Channel 4 Book Club and so suggested it for one of my reading groups this autumn. However, aside from myself only one other adored it. Its unusual, complex narrative format just did not appeal to others in the group. So it may well be a Marmite book, one that people either love or hate.

Jennifer Egan's page for 'A Visit from the Good Squad' - includes Powerpoint chapter, some sides with audio and other links.

Cross-posted to 50bookchallenge.

Book 111: Sexing the Cherry.
Author: Jeanette Winterson, 1989.
Genre: Historical Fiction. Post-Modern. Magical Realism. Re-told fairy tale. Feminist. Surrealism.
Other Details: Paperback 144 pages.

“The Hopi, an Indian tribe, have a language as sophisticated as ours, but no tenses for past, present and future. The division doesn not exist. What does this say about time?” - opening of Sexing the Cherry.

Set in a fantastical world that both is and isn't seventeenth century England, this short complex novel recounts the story of Jordan and Dog Woman, a giantess who raises dogs by the Thames.

As a baby Jordan had been set adrift in a basket on the river but was rescued and raised by Dog Woman. Set against the events of the time, including the execution of Charles I and the Restoration, the novel explores the powerful bond between this unlikely mother and her adoptive child as well as Jordan's later voyages with John Tradescant as they seek out botanical curiosities. Along the way Jordan is caught up in a personal quest to locate an elusive dancer, one of the Twelve Dancing Princesses of fable.

When this was selected for our library reading group I expected reading its back cover blurb a conventional work of historical fiction. I soon found myself surprised and enchanted when it turned out to be such a rich, fantastical tale. I loved the integration of the story of the twelve dancing princesses as well as the historical perspective of the period, which was sketched so well despite the slenderness of the novel. Moving between the narratives of Jordan and Dog Woman, Winterson's writing is exquisite and inventive.

I could see the influence of 16th century French author Francois Rabelais in the characters, especially of Dog Woman, who seems a direct descendant in literary terms of his Gargantua. Also, its broad satire, ribald humour and the integration of philosophical ideas evokes early novelists. It is a bold, memorable work that is also challenging in its reflections on love, sexuality and the nature of time, space and reality. Its complexity meant that it did take longer than I expected and actually I ended up reading it twice to really get a proper grasp of its themes; the first time for the reading group and then a month later when I bought my own copy. I can certainly imagine re-visiting it in the future.

I will mention that although I loved it, it wasn't well received by some members of our reading group who were put off by its surrealism, preferring a more traditional narrative.

Sexing the Cherry on Jeanette Winterson's site - includes some background and excerpt.

Cross-posted to 50bookchallenge.

Both written by eccentric British gents, these alternative Victorian histories playfully mix historical and fictional characters and events.

Book 109: The Japanese Devil Fish Girl and Other Unnatural Attractions .
Author: Robert Rankin, 2010.
Genre: Steampunk. Comedy. Historical SF.
Other Details: Paperback. 373 pages

This is the first in a series of comedic steampunk novels set in Victorian London. A decade previously Mars had invaded the Earth as chronicled in H.G. Wells The War of the Worlds. The crashed Martian spacecraft were reverse engineered allowing the British Empire to invade and conquer Mars and attract the attention of other planetary civilizations. Now a giant new spaceport is being built in London and a vast airship named the 'Empress of Mars' is is about to tour the Earth. Among the passengers is sideshow proprietor Professor Coffin, who has found that his pickled Martian tentacles are no longer the attraction they once were. Hearing rumours about the legendary Japanese Devil Fish Girl he sets off on a quest to obtain her for his exhibition. Accompanying him on an increasingly bizarre series of adventures is his naive assistant, George Fox.

This was a fun romp featuring many historical and literary characters. While not quite as strange or philosophically complex as Robert Anton Wilson's writings (with and without Robert Shea) there is some common ground including a familiarity with various snippets of esoteric lore and conspiracy theory and a quirky humour. Rankin merrily plays with the timeline, though always comments on these anachronisms in footnotes. This was just a treat and while my first Rankin, I am sure it won't be my last.

Book 110: Anno Dracula .
Author: Kim Newman, 1992.
Genre: Horror. Alternative History. Vampires.
Other Details: 2011 Extended edition. 547 pages.

In this 'sequel' to Dracula, the infamous vampire has survived his encounter with Van Helsing & Company and has established himself in London society. It is 1888 and he is now Prince Consort, the new husband of Queen Victoria . As a result vampires are now out of the coffin and hold important places in society. New vampires are being 'born' daily throughout all classes of society. In Whitechapel new born vampire prostitutes are being brutally murdered and mutilated. The ancient vampire Geneviève Dieudonné and Charles Beauregard of the mysterious Diogenes Club work together to solve the Ripper murders.

This was a delightful reading experience with Newman making good use of his extensive knowledge of 'Dracula', the SF/F genre and the Victorian period to create a rich work of alternative history in which historical and literary characters freely mix. It also is something of a romp though a much darker one than Robert Rankin's.

I'd been recommending Anno Dracula for ages and so was thrilled to learn that this long out of print novel was getting a new edition, along with extra added bits. I had read it when it was first published though had forgotten much of the details so it felt quite fresh with this re-read. I had suggested it for one of my reading groups and was a little disappointed that most of the group were not that keen on it. Only myself and another die-hard 'Dracula' buff were waxing lyrical on its attributes.

Cross-posted to 50bookchallenge.

Book 105: Dante's Numbers (Nic Costa 07).
Author: David Hewson, 2008.
Genre: Mystery. Thriller. Police Procedural.
Other Details: Large print Hardback. 562 pages.

Published in the USA as The Dante Killings, this seventh outing for Nic and his mates opens with a series of bizarre and deadly incidents occurring at an event celebrating an epic film by a legendary director based on Dante's Inferno. Soon Nic and the gang are sent to San Francisco as part of a detail that is protecting an exhibition linked to Dante as well as hoping to recover a valuable artefact stolen in Rome.

I have from the start enjoyed this series, not only for the characters but for Hewson's weaving of art, architecture and the like into his narrative. As always there are plenty of twists and turns. In this novel references to vintage films abound. Certainly a treat for me and other film buffs. The main film referenced is one of my all-time favourites and opened up some interesting parallels between it and Dante's masterpiece.

Book 106: The Shape of Water (Inspector Montalbano 01).
Author: Andrea Camilleri, 1994. Translated from the Italian by Stephen Sartarelli, 2002.
Genre: Mystery. Thriller. Police Procedural.
Other Details: Hardback. 250 pages

A local politician is found dead in his car in a seedy neighbourhood known for prostitution and drug trafficking. Due to his state of semi-undress he is assumed to have died of natural causes during a sexual escapade. Inspector Montalbano's superiors expect him to close the case quickly to avoid a scandal. However, the Inspector suspects that there is something suspicious about the death and launches a full investigation.

This was my first experience of this renowned series of Italian police procedurals. I had first seen the film versions of a couple of the novels on the wonderful BBC 4. Like the films the novels are full of unusual characters, bizarre situations and playful dialogue and packed with events despite its short length. I found it a very engaging novel with a quality that I am not sure I can put adequately into words : perhaps best described as a lightness of spirit rarely found in crime fiction. I certainly plan to read more.

Book 107: A Room Swept White (Spilling CID 05).
Author: Sophie Hannah, 2010.
Genre: Mystery. Thriller. Police Procedural.
Other Details: Paperback. 480 pages.

The USA title for this novel is The Cradle in the Grave, which is a fairly straightforward title compared to the poetry inspired UK one. The main protagonist is Fliss Benson, a young TV producer, working on a documentary about cot death and three women who were put on trial following the deaths of their babies due to the reports of an over-zealous doctor. One of the women is found dead and beside her body a card containing a series of numbers that is identical to one sent to Fliss. The Spilling CID become involved in the case.

This was an intense psychological thriller that used a number of narrative devices throughout. It was a library reading group selection and its themes provoked a great deal of discussion in the group. While the cover didn't mention that it was the fifth in an on-going series, it became obvious that while the central story worked as a stand-alone the police characters had plenty of back story that was somewhat perplexing. As a result of this and enjoying the novel so much I have checked out the fist in the series to find out more about these characters.

Book 108: The Killing Place (Jane Rizzoli and Maura Isles 08).
Author: Tess Gerritsen, 2010.
Genre: Mystery. Thriller. Police Procedural.
Other Details: Paperback. 324 pages

The US title of this novel, Ice Cold, seems to suit it more than its UK one. While attending a medical convention in Wyoming , Maura accepts an invitation from some new friends to join a small party for a spur-of-the moment skiing trip before returning home. They get lost and things go from bad to worse when their SUV dies on them. They end up in a seemingly abandoned community named Kingdom Come during a heavy snowstorm. Very bad things happen. Eventually Jane Rizzoli and her husband get involved when Maura fails to return to Boston as scheduled and they receive shocking news.

As with all of Tess Gerritsen's novels I pretty much zoomed through this one, unable to put down. A perfect book for a hot summer day because she really evokes the snow and ice cold of the wintry setting. Brrrr.

Cross-posted to 50bookchallenge

Book 102: Dead Reckoning (Sookie Stackhouse/Southern Vampires 11) .
Author: Charlaine Harris, 2011
Genre: Southern Gothic. Supernatural Mystery.
Other Details: Hardback. 336 pages.

More trouble for Sookie and friends as the novel opens with a fire bombing attack on Merlotte's Bar. Now that weres and shifters are out in the open suspicion naturally falls upon those within the human population who hate the two-natured. However, Sookie had a brief glimpse of the bomber and could swear they were not human. She also learns of the dangerous plans of Eric and Pam to free themselves from their oppressive new ruler.

I had felt the last book Dead in the Family was setting up for future events and here was the pay off. There was plenty of action here as well as revelations. I found it an extremely satisfying instalment in the series though there appear to be plenty of reviewers on Goodreads who would disagree. Still I always seek to be true to my experience and give a book a thumbs up or thumbs down based on that.

Books 103-104: Grave Doubts and Heaven Sent (Mediator 05 & 06) .
Author: Meg Cabot, 2003 & 2005.
Genre: Paranormal Romance. Ghosts. YA.
Other Details: Paperback. 2010 Omnibus edition 419 pages.

As I've noted before Meg Cabot's books seem very prone to this different titling between North America and UK editions. In the States these books were released under the titles Haunted and Twilight (published 10 months before Meyer's Twilight). These two books conclude the series featuring Susannah 'Suze' Simon, a teenager with the ability to see, talk to and touch ghosts. Her main task is to assist them to pass onto the next life by dealing with any unfinished business they have.

Fellow mediator Paul Slater, introduced in Book 4, gives Suze a chilling ultimatum. Unless she agrees to date him, he'll send Suze's love, the ghostly Jesse, into the afterlife. Paul even threatens to use his more advanced mediator powers to travel back in time to stop Jesse from ever being murdered in the 19th century, which would eliminate her memory of ever meeting him. What a rotter Paul is!!!

Suze as a narrative voice is a delight with a wry sense of humour. I thoroughly enjoyed this series as light relief and felt that Cabot brought the story to a very satisfying conclusion by the final pages.

Cross-posted to 50bookchallenge.