Some more bookishness
Two more books to add to my list for the year. I'm seriously thinking I should increase my target. I was saying I wanted to read fifty books this year, or maybe fifty-two (to make it one a week). I know that there's still time to fall behind but as I've just start book number twenty-three, I think perhaps I could do with increasing my target. Maybe to seventy-five...
Book 21 of 2010 - Above Suspicion - Lynda La Plante
02/03/10 - 03/03/10
I decided I wanted to read this after I saw the original TV adaptation, but I was reminded of it this year after watching the adaptation of the second book The Red Dahlia. Rather than buying them myself, I decided to borrow from the library instead and I was pretty pleased to see that most of them are available from our library or the libraries in the area. Lynda La Plante has been recommended to me on a couple of occasions when I've been looking for something to keep me going in between Kathy Reichs books, but I've never really taken the time to read one of her books until now.
I chose this as this month's book club book as well, despite never having read it myself. Normally I like to chose books which I've read, but as it's on my list and other people have given it favourable reviews I decided to just go for it.
It was frustrating reading it considering that I knew what was going to happen from seeing the TV adaptation. It meant that I knew who the murderer was from the start (and I will when I read The Red Dahlia but hopefully I'll be suitably ahead if or when they do another adaptation). I wouldn't say that it spoilt the story for me, but it did remove some of the tension that I might have felt if I hadn't've seen it.
There were bits where it was odd because things deviated from the TV script and it sort of threw me, like the trip to America, but I got into the story fairly quickly and those things didn't bother me too much. I liked Anna and the way that she gradually go accepted into the team. I knew about the relationship between Anna and Langton from discussions about the adaptations and with people who had read the book. I suppose it was probably cliched and I probably would have guessed at it coming from the beginning but I don't think it spoilt the story in any way. I think I may become a rabid Anna/Langton shipper in the future...
I did find the bits with Anna talking to her dead father a bit cheesy and I knew exactly what was going to happen when she took his cufflinks on her 'date' but other than that there wasn't anything that really grated at me. I really liked the fact that it showed things as being less fast-paced as in criminal dramas on TV where everything is done in a matter of minutes. It seemed more real because they were constantly worried that if they didn't make progress the team would be cut or divided up. In some respects that kept me reading more than if it had all been happening at once, I read it quickly because I was desperate to find out what their next break in the case would be.
Book 22 of 2010 - Rhyme Stew - Roald Dahl
03/03/10 - 03/03/10
I consumed pretty much all of Roald Dahl's books as a child, but some how I missed this one. I remember reading Rotten Rhymes but Dirty Beasts wasn't in the school library and I'm not sure if I ever borrowed it from the main one.
There's something magical about Roald Dahl's writing and with Quentin Blake's pictures, it's just perfect. I've never really noticed just how raunchy some of those rhymes were, the pictures are hilarious as well. I used to have a poetry book which was all about noises which was illustrated by Quentin Blake. I don't think it was by Roald Dahl and I have no idea what happened to it, but I really want to look it up and read it again having read this.
I'd skimmed through Rhyme Stew when it arrived from Catt, but having finished Above Suspicion and as John was reading, I decided to go on with reading something which wouldn't be too heavy (as The Lord of the Rings was next on my pile of reading material). I couldn't help but read odd bits out aloud, and at one point I was worried that I might wake up John with my giggles.
I think I'm going to have to keep my eyes out for if the Book People get one of their Roald Dahl collections in again. It seems like too long since I've read Matilda and The BFG.
So no I'm back onto The Lord of the Rings. This'll be my tenth rereading and I love going back to it. It's like putting on a pair of worn old slippers that have molded themselves to your feet. It just feels right. :-)
Book 21 of 2010 - Above Suspicion - Lynda La Plante
02/03/10 - 03/03/10
I decided I wanted to read this after I saw the original TV adaptation, but I was reminded of it this year after watching the adaptation of the second book The Red Dahlia. Rather than buying them myself, I decided to borrow from the library instead and I was pretty pleased to see that most of them are available from our library or the libraries in the area. Lynda La Plante has been recommended to me on a couple of occasions when I've been looking for something to keep me going in between Kathy Reichs books, but I've never really taken the time to read one of her books until now.
I chose this as this month's book club book as well, despite never having read it myself. Normally I like to chose books which I've read, but as it's on my list and other people have given it favourable reviews I decided to just go for it.
It was frustrating reading it considering that I knew what was going to happen from seeing the TV adaptation. It meant that I knew who the murderer was from the start (and I will when I read The Red Dahlia but hopefully I'll be suitably ahead if or when they do another adaptation). I wouldn't say that it spoilt the story for me, but it did remove some of the tension that I might have felt if I hadn't've seen it.
There were bits where it was odd because things deviated from the TV script and it sort of threw me, like the trip to America, but I got into the story fairly quickly and those things didn't bother me too much. I liked Anna and the way that she gradually go accepted into the team. I knew about the relationship between Anna and Langton from discussions about the adaptations and with people who had read the book. I suppose it was probably cliched and I probably would have guessed at it coming from the beginning but I don't think it spoilt the story in any way. I think I may become a rabid Anna/Langton shipper in the future...
I did find the bits with Anna talking to her dead father a bit cheesy and I knew exactly what was going to happen when she took his cufflinks on her 'date' but other than that there wasn't anything that really grated at me. I really liked the fact that it showed things as being less fast-paced as in criminal dramas on TV where everything is done in a matter of minutes. It seemed more real because they were constantly worried that if they didn't make progress the team would be cut or divided up. In some respects that kept me reading more than if it had all been happening at once, I read it quickly because I was desperate to find out what their next break in the case would be.
Book 22 of 2010 - Rhyme Stew - Roald Dahl
03/03/10 - 03/03/10
I consumed pretty much all of Roald Dahl's books as a child, but some how I missed this one. I remember reading Rotten Rhymes but Dirty Beasts wasn't in the school library and I'm not sure if I ever borrowed it from the main one.
There's something magical about Roald Dahl's writing and with Quentin Blake's pictures, it's just perfect. I've never really noticed just how raunchy some of those rhymes were, the pictures are hilarious as well. I used to have a poetry book which was all about noises which was illustrated by Quentin Blake. I don't think it was by Roald Dahl and I have no idea what happened to it, but I really want to look it up and read it again having read this.
I'd skimmed through Rhyme Stew when it arrived from Catt, but having finished Above Suspicion and as John was reading, I decided to go on with reading something which wouldn't be too heavy (as The Lord of the Rings was next on my pile of reading material). I couldn't help but read odd bits out aloud, and at one point I was worried that I might wake up John with my giggles.
I think I'm going to have to keep my eyes out for if the Book People get one of their Roald Dahl collections in again. It seems like too long since I've read Matilda and The BFG.
So no I'm back onto The Lord of the Rings. This'll be my tenth rereading and I love going back to it. It's like putting on a pair of worn old slippers that have molded themselves to your feet. It just feels right. :-)