The Book Whisperer

jottings, musings and recommendations of an incurable bookaholic

Day 15 – A book I have read the most number of times September 14, 2011

Filed under: Authors,John Fowles — The Book Whisperer @ 7:30 am
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Chasing butterflies…

I’m not really one for re-reading books to be honest (there’s far too many book on my virtual pile and well in huge piles all over my house!) to read the same ones over again, despite the fact that there are a few I swear I will re-read one day. However, The Collector by John Fowles is a book that I have read a total of three times and loved each time. I first read it back in 1990, the summer before I went to university, and thought it was so brilliantly creepy that I have picked it up again twice over the years.

You may remember seeing my challenge post a few days ago about a book that blew me away – The Magus: this is the very same author. The Collector is narrated by Frederick who is a loner who collects butterflies and becomes obsessed with Miranda, a beautiful and well-off young woman whom he begins to stalk and fantasise about capturing her. He just wants to admire her, as he does his butterflies and so he lays down an elaborate plan to take her (which includes fitting out a room in his cellar to keep her in). For those who don’t like crime fiction, this is not a book that neatly fits into that category; it’s more of a pyschological thriller (in fact it is classed of one of the first in this genre as it was written back in the 60′s).

Despite having read it three times I still can’t remember what happens at the end and writing this has made me think I need to read it a fourth time! I heart John Fowles! :)

  Which book have you (or will you) read over again? Why?

 

Day 14 – A favourite 19th century novel September 13, 2011

Filed under: Authors,Charles Dickens,Charlotte Bronte,The Victorians,Uncategorized — The Book Whisperer @ 7:51 am
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                      Reader, I love this book…

I love Victorian novels, although for years I was afraid of them. After reading (and hating) Great Expectations in school I was put off reading any more for another 20 years until on a whim I decided to give GE another go to see if I still felt the same….and I loved it! Shortly after that I picked up Jane Eyre and I was blown away from the first page: it is a thriller, a romance, it is gothic, had wit and warmth and there was not a single moment in the book that I wasn’t enraptured. I had no idea that 19th century literature could be so wonderful.

Jane Eyre is a fantastic character and I had more than a few laugh-out-loud moments with her. My favourite being when the school governer tell her she is naughty and asks how she can stop being burned in the pits of hell to which she replies “I must keep in good health, and not die.” Genius! Jane is a wonderful character and it was a pleasure to spend time in her company. This is a book that I love so much that I have about 6 different copies of the book and I visit the Bronte Parsonage (only an hours drive from my house) about twice a year now.

 

 

  Which books from this century do you love?

 

 

Day 13 – A book that made me laugh out loud September 12, 2011

Filed under: David Nicholls,Laugh Out Loud,Uncategorized — The Book Whisperer @ 7:21 am
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LOL!

I love to laugh! In fact I am told that I am always laughing or giggling at something (I’m not aware I do it sometimes but it beats being miserable, doesn’t it?) I love to laugh at TV programmes, funny people crack me up and I do love to read books that make me giggle too, especially ones that make me belly laugh!

There are lots of books that have made me chuckle but for this challenge I just had to go with David Nicholl’s Starter For Ten. I remember reading this so clearly: we were staying in a remote cottage in Scotland for a week, in 2003, with no TV and just a pile of books. From the very first page I was howling with laughter! All the references to the glorious 80′s (Kate Bush, Grandad shirts, DM’s, leotard tops, Newky Brown, being drunk every night and hungover every morning) were such a wonderful trip down memory lane for me but it was the non-stop humour that had me falling about. Starter For Ten follows Brian Jackson to university in the late 80′s as he falls in love, gets drunk and stars on the iconic TV programme ‘University Challenge’ (which I still watch just to see people with names like Horatio Menzies-Poncenby). It is clever, nostalgic and hillarious!

By complete coincidence, my Dad started to read this only last week and I received a text message from my Mum saying “Your dad is reading Starter for Ten and he is embarassing me! He keeps laughing out loud and can’t stop. He’s only read 2 chapters. Everywhere we sit there is an explosion of uncontrollable laughter!”

 

 

 

  Which books have had you rolling around in hysterics?

 

 

Day 12 – A favourite historical novel September 11, 2011

Filed under: Authors,Historical,Margaret George — The Book Whisperer @ 9:42 am
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I’m Henry VIII I am, I am… ♪ ♫

 

I must admit to having a little crush on the Tudors. All that feasting, snobbery, coruption, jousting, ruthlessness and beheading – fantastic!

At almost 1000 pages (and pretty small print) this book is not a quick read but having said that, I was so engrossed in the story that it did take me only about 10 days to read. Sometimes when I invest time in reading a really long book I feel so damn pleased with myself by the time I get to the end of it that I may think it’s better than it is. Not so with this book; it’s worth every page. The story of Henry VIII is told by his “fool” Will Sommers and charts Henry’s life from before birth to after his death. So much research and period detail has gone into this book and I have read that it took Margaret George over 10 years to write. It really is such a great book and even if  you haven’t read anything about the Tudors since you were at school this is a great refresher. It assumes no knowledge of those times but isn’t patronising. I never once felt lost or out of my depth; just engrossed in a page-turning book.

 

  Which other historical novels should I be reading?

 

 

Day 11 – A book that made me cry September 10, 2011

Filed under: Authors,Markus Zusak,Tear-jerkers,War — The Book Whisperer @ 9:54 am
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  It’s my party and I’ll cry if I want to…

I have a confession to make: I cry at adverts (I’m talking about ones that are about animal rescue or child abuse, not shake ‘n vac or oven chips!). It’s harder to make me cry at a book, however, but when one does make me cry it’s because the author has made me care. There are a few books that have made me wipe a tear from the corner of my eye, but only the odd one that has made me openly weep. One that almost made this post was My Sister’s Keeper by Jodi Picoult. I remember reading this on a sunlounger at a villa we stayed at in Gozo (an island belonging to Malta); this was the first Picoult I had read so I wasn’t familiar with her style of throwing a twist in at the end of the book at that time. What happened in the epilogue took me by such surprise that it completely threw me – I had come to care about the characters so much and I hadn’t seen the ending coming at all :(

However, the book I have chosen is one that broke my heart when I read it. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak is narrated by Death and follows a young girl in Germany in WW2 as she is sent to live with strangers: the characters in this book are genuinely endearing and when the ending hits you, it will hit you with the force of a freight train. I sobbed my heart out! We read this book for my book group years ago and every single person (bar one) loved it and most admitted to shedding a tear. I remember walking around in a daze for days afterwards as I tried to come to terms with the impact it had had on me. If you don’t so much as get a lump in your throat upon finishing this book, I’m afraid to say you just may have a heart of stone. Fact.

 

 

  Which books have had you weeping like a newborn?

 

Day 10 – A book that gave me the creeps September 9, 2011

Filed under: Authors,Horror,Michael Faber — The Book Whisperer @ 7:04 am
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Don’t stop for the blond lady in glasses…

It’s about 5 or so months since I read this book and it still freaks me out when I think about it. Under the Skin by Michael Faber is a very strange story of a woman who drives up and down the A9 in Scotland looking for men hitchikers. She doesn’t just stop for any old man though – he has to be big and beefy and alone.

I can’t tell you any more than that for fear of ruining the book for anyone still brave enough to read it but it’s sufice to say that it completely freaked me out and made me feel sick. For me, the book was just weird and didn’t make sense. I know there are plenty who have loved this book though so don’t just take my word for it, but as far as I’m concerned this book totally creeped me out…

 

  Any others I should be avoiding? ;)

 

 

Day 9 – A favourite crime fiction book September 8, 2011

Filed under: Authors,Crime/Mystery/Thriller,Joanne Harris — The Book Whisperer @ 7:43 am
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Time, Gentlemen, please…

It’s fair to say that I’m a pretty big fan of crime fiction (in case you hadn’t noticed ;) ) but as I have done quite a few posts recently about my favourite books and author in this genre for Thrill Week I have decided to go with one that I absolutely loved but seems to get overlooked a lot. Gentlemen and Players is by Joanne Harris who is more famous for her foodie-type novels, in particular Chocolat. She has, in fact, written quite a few books that could be described as darker and this is one of them.

From the first page you know that there are a murder or two which sets the reader up for the unfolding story ahead. The story is set in a public boys school that is centuries old and has a mighty reputation to uphold and is narrated by two people in turn to keep us guessing. Whatever you think you know about this book, think again: by three quarters of the way through I guarantee that you will flick back wondering when you could possibly have missed the signs (not once but twice).  I really did not see the ending coming – brilliant twist!

No blood, gore, forensics or profiling but a bloody good read!

 

  Which crime fiction books took you by surprise?

 

 

Day 8 – A book that blew me away September 7, 2011

Filed under: Authors,John Fowles — The Book Whisperer @ 7:18 am
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You’ll never see it coming….

I rarely come across people who have also read The Magus by John Fowles but when I do we all agree on one thing – it’s a masterpiece.

This is one of those books that you can never get comfortable with; as soon as you think you have it sussed Fowles rips that rug out from under you and leaves you scratching your head and wondering how the hell he could have fooled you again. The Magus is full of twists, turns, psychological games and suspense – it’ss brilliant!

There are many, many books that I love but this is one that totally blew me away. I know it’s long (about 700 pages) but it is so worth it, I promise you. I would love to see more people read this book – it’s one of my all time favourites (in my Top 3) and I am dying to hear what other people think of it.

  Which book has blown you away?

 

Day 7 – A favourite YA book September 6, 2011

Filed under: Authors,Dystopia,Suzanne Collins,Young Adult — The Book Whisperer @ 7:11 am
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Hungering for more…

I don’t tend to read too much YA but when I do I am usually pleasantly surprised. This category was quite tough to decide actually as I kept swaying back and forth between my two favourites. I know some of you will groan at this but frankly I don’t care as I absolutely LOVED…..Twilight! I read that book when the film had first come out in the UK and there was so much hype about it but I wanted to read the book first. I had no idea what it was even about but I just adored it and then went on to read the next two in the series (still have Breaking Dawn on my pile). Anyway, I digress as that’s not the book I chose.

I picked The Hunger Games as my favourite. Again, I had heard a few rumblings about this book and picked it up knowing nothing about it. I was totally blown away! This book grabbed my by the throat and did not let me go throughout the whole book. I remember I read it on a flight from Manchester to New York and as soon as we landed I was practically dragging Mr Whisperer to the nearest Barnes & Noble to pick up the second book in the series!

One of the most exciting books I have ever read and it is in my Top 20 of all time! I insist that you read this book!

 

  Do you ever read YA ficiton? Which other books could you recommend?

 

 

Day 5 – A favourite non-fiction book September 4, 2011

Filed under: Globe Trotting,Historical,Jung Chang,Uncategorized — The Book Whisperer @ 10:27 am
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Chinese Whispers…..

Every now and then I become obsessed with a particular country or culture and devour as many books about that place as I can. Some years ago it was China (I still love reading books set there) and in 2004 I was even lucky enough to go there on holiday which was amazing.

I have chosen Wild Swans by Jung Chang as my favourite non-fiction book. This is the most incredible story I have ever read : it starts in 1909 and follows 3 generations of women in the same family, starting with Chang’s grandmother who was concubine to a warlord, then her mother who was a fervent party member and then on to herself and her own time during the Cultural Revolution in Mao’s China. If this had been a work of fiction I would have rolled my eyes on so many occasions about Chang’s over-active imagination, but you know what they say about fact being stranger than fiction – that is certainly true here; you seriously couldn’t make this stuff up. This book is shocking, astonishing, brutal, beautiful, gripping and moving and I urge you to read it.

  What non-fiction books do you recommend?

 

Day 4 – A favourite translated book September 3, 2011

Filed under: Animals,Authors,Jiang Rong — The Book Whisperer @ 7:21 am
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What time is it, Mr Wolf?

Up until I started blogging I never really paid attention to wether or not a book was translated. It’s only since reading other blogs (in particular Winstonsdad’s Blog - go and check out Stu’s blog for some real inspiration on who to read in translated books) that I became aware of just what an art it really is. Translating isn’t merely directly translating the words or even the general meaning into English, but it is about really getting under the skin of a book and the very essence of it. It’s a proper skill and has given me a whole new awareness of how a translation can either make or break a book.

My favourite translated book does have to be Wolf Totem, however, as it is actually my favourite book ever regardless of the fact that it is translated from Mandarin. Howard Goldblatt is a professor and has translated numerous works from Chinese into English (and this makes me think I should check out more of his works – especially as I have just found out while googling him that in the first four years of the Asian Man Booker Prize, 3 out of the 4 winners – including Wolf Totem – were translated by him!)

Here is my review of Wolf Totem:

“From the very first page I was hooked. Jiang Rong creates such a vivid and compelling narrative that I found myself similtaniously gripped with the story yet trying to slow down and savour every word, so beautiful was each sentence.

Wolf Totem is semi-autobiographical and Jiang’s passion for the Mongolian grasslands shines through on every page. The description of the grasslands themselves, the wildlife, the lifestyle and survival was stunning. So few books make me believe that I am there at the actual place, but with this book I was there on horseback, hiding from wolves, fleeing for my life, braving blizzards and building campfires. I smiled, I cried, I hoped and I silently pleaded all within the space of an hour. I also fell in love with wild Mongolian wolves. To get to know them was a pleasure – they are clever, cunning, brave, brilliant and I loved following their story (from both sides – the good and the bad). The Little Wolf that was captured and raised by humans both endeared me and broke my heart.

While this book is most certainly a tale of the grasslands of the last 10,000 years and what happens when modern living creeps in, it is also a book about so much more. I can’t praise this enough; I am sad that it has ended as I could have read on for another 500 pages. What a beautiful book, one I highly recommend and one I will be reading again and again.“

 

I hope I have persuaded you to read it.

 

  Which translated books are your favourites?

 

 

RIP VI is here! September 2, 2011

Filed under: Uncategorized — The Book Whisperer @ 12:52 pm
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Autumn must be here…

OK, to be fair, we haven’t really even had a summer in the UK but that’s nothing out of the ordinary. Autumn is my favourite season and alsways has been. I used to love going back to school after the long holidays (yep, must be a geek!) and it was my birthday, halloween and bonfire night. I love the crisp days and darker evenings when you have to put the fire on a curl up (with a book, naturally) and cup of hot chocolate or glass of red wine. Autumn is a time for classics, gothic reads and spooky tales hence my excitement for this challenge again.

I have successfully managed to avoid all challenges this year so far but this is one that I cannot igone! The Peril Challenge is right up my street and I loved taking part last year t00.

The purpose of the R.I.P. Challenge is to enjoy books that could be classified as:

Mystery, Suspense, Thriller, Dark Fantasy, Gothic, Horror, Supernatural.

As you know, I am likely to change my mind on a whim (I’m incredibly fickle when it comes to shiny new books attracting my attention) and side-tracking me from the best laid plans. However, here are some of the books that are on my list (for the moment):

Pet Sematary by Stephen King (currently reading)

The Retribution by Val McDermid (currently reading)

Suffer the Children by John Saul (read this as a teenager and want to read it again as I remember nothing about it except it spooked me)

Florence and Giles by John Harding (I hadn’t heard of this until Helen of She Reads Novels added it to her list and I looked it up – only 99p on my Kindle too…bargain!)

Cuckoo by Julia Couch (sent to me for review and looks like a great pyschological thriller)

Needful Things by Stephen King (after reading Carrie recently and now on to Pet Sematary I am on a bit of a SK kick)

The Remains by Vincent Zandri (recommended by a fellow blogger taking part in Thrill Week and again only 86p on my Kindle!)

Uncle Silas by Joseph Sheriden le Fanu (has been on my shelf for a few years and is supposed to be Victorian gothic at its creepiest – delicious!!!)

Blood Harvest by S J Bolton (the only one of her 4 books I haven’t read yet and it’s a sort of crime ghost story so should be perfect!)

The Resurrectionists by Julia Wilkins (another one recommended as really creepy by Helen at She Reads Novels last year during my Dare You Read It? series in October and I have since  found a second hand copy)

 

I think that little lot should keep me going for a while, but like I say, by the time I have finished the challenge it is probably unlikely to resemble the above list at all (oh the perils of shiny, new things……)

 

I will be doing the Peril the First challenge which is to read at least 4 books from the above categories (shouldn’t be too hard as they are my favourite genre at the moment).

 

Have you got any plans to join in? If so, what will you be reading?

 

 

Day 3 – A Book With a Favourite Character September 2, 2011

Filed under: Authors,Yann Martel — The Book Whisperer @ 7:11 am
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Tiger Tiger, bruning bright…

I regularly fall in love with characters in books – they don’t even necessarily have to be “nice”, just interesting and believable will do for me. I love  it when an author is able to create such brilliant characters that I either feel I know or would even like to know in real life: those are often the books that I think about years later as I really want to know how the characters went on with their lives after I closed the pages of the books.

The book I have chosen, however, has my favourite character ever, and it’s not even a human being! After reading Yann Martel’s Life of Pi I fell head over heals in love with a bengal tiger. The tiger in question was known as Richard Parker and he ended up on a life-raft in the middle of the Melacca Straights when the ship he had been on sank along with almost all the other zoo animals that had been on the ship with him. Richard Parker survived and spent the next year floating round an ocean with only a young boy (and fleetingly a zebra, orangutang and hiyena)  for company. What I loved about Richard Parker is the way that Martel managed to make the whole thing feel real without resorting to fantasy or magical realism; it all seemed so plausable to me. I still, to this day, have visions of this huge stripey hunk of fur trying to swat flying fish with a massive paw, while trying to keep balance on a tiny boat in the middle of the Inidan Ocean. Brilliant!

 

 And just to prove my dedication to said stripey hunk of fur, check out a post I did about 13 months ago about my shelves and on one of them you will surely spot a few familiar faces :)

 

  Who is your favourite character from a book?

 

 

Day 2 – A book I wish I could live in September 1, 2011

Filed under: Authors,Comfort Reading,Enid Blyton — The Book Whisperer @ 7:00 am
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Wish I was there…

Day two of my 40 day book challenge and you have no idea how badly I wanted to go to this school when I was a little girl……I say little girl, but I have actually read this series about once every 5 or so years since then and I STILL want to go! How badly I wanted to roll up to the front of the huge cliff-side building in my father’s roller, kiss goodbye to my sweet-smelling mother and run off to meet my friends for terms filled with lacrosse games, high teas, midnight feasts on the beach with lashings and lashings of ginger beer and of course playing hilarious pranks on the French mistress while evenings would be spent in the common room darning my own socks while discussing who would play what in the christmas pantomime. Oh joy! What I’d give….

  Which book do you wish you could live in (even for a day)?

 

Day 1 – A favourite book in 2011 (so far) August 31, 2011

Filed under: Authors,Comfort Reading,Santa Montefiore,Summer Reads — The Book Whisperer @ 7:00 am
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A favourite book this year

It’s the first day of my 40 day book challenge and first up is a favourite book this year so far.

It’s always really difficult to pick just one book, especially as I read from different genres and my reading tends to ebb and flow depending on my moods.

Anyway, I have gone for Santa Montefiore’s The house by The Sea just because I read it at the exact right time – it wrapped round me like a huge snuggly blanket and I smiled from start to finish. I found it the perfect summer read and just what I needed. If you’re looking for a magical and comforting book to escape with then look no further.

 

What’s your favourite book of 2001 so far?

 

 

40 day book challenge August 29, 2011

Filed under: Uncategorized — The Book Whisperer @ 10:56 am
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Life begins…

Some say I look like I’m still in my twenties, even more say I act like I am. But – ladies and gentlemen – the rumours are true…I am about to hit the big FOUR-OH. Life begins ‘n all that.

So, in order to celebrate this momentous occasion with my book-loving friends I have decided to do a 40 day challenge in…guess what? Yep, the 40 days leading up to the big day itself (October 9th).

The 40 day book challenge

 

So, commencting 31st August I will be posting daily under the following headings:

 

1) A favourite book of 2011 (so far)

2) A book I wish I could live in

3) A book with a favourite character

4) A favourite translated book

5)  A favourite non-fiction book

6) A book that changed my life

7) A favourite YA book

8 A book that blew me away

9) A favourite crime fiction book

10) A book that gave me the creeps

11) A book that made me cry

12) A favourite historical novel

13) A book that made me laugh out loud

14) A favourite 19th century novel

15) A book that I have read the most number of times

16) A favourite book from childhood

17) A book with the best evil character

18) A book that I tell people I have read but haven’t

19) A book that scared me

20) A book with a character most like me

21) A book I am embarrassed to say I like

22) A book I hope I get for my birthday

23) A book that is a most treasured possession

24) An “unputdownable” book

25) A favourite chicklit book

26) A favourite science-fiction book

27) A book I love that deserves to be better known

28) A book I loved but nobody else did

29) A favourite book with animals in

30) A favourite sensational novel

31) A book that everyone else seems to love except me

32) A book that has been on my shelf unread for more than 5 years

33) A book that I would love to read but never do

34) A book I wish I had written

35) The longest book I have ever read

36) A favourite book recommended by another book blogger

37) A book that I still think about years after having read it

38) An author crush

39) A book I expected to hate but loved

40) A favourite book about a celebration

 

If anyone would like to join me on all or some of the days, you are more than welcome. If not, just make sure you pop by and see what bookish surprises I have in store each day (there may even be a little giveaway or two) :)

 

  Let the celebrations commence…. :)

 

I’m Part of the Transworld Book Group! August 8, 2011

Filed under: Louise Douglas — The Book Whisperer @ 8:22 am
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The lovely Lynsey at Transworld is running another book club where we get to pick 4 books out of the list of 12 and as soon as we have read and reviewed one she sends us the next! Hurrah!!

The last book group run by Transworld was their Crime Capers and that is where I discovered the utterly brilliant Tess Gerritesen and S J Bolton so I am looking forward to seeing which authors will become favourites from this list.

I have opted to start with Louise Douglas’s The Secrets Between Us which immediately jumped out at me as being one I think I’ll enjoy:

“A chance encounter: When Sarah meets dark, brooding Alex,she grasps his offer of a new life miles away from her own. They’ve both recently escaped broken relationships, and need to start again. Why not do it together?

A perfect life: But when Sarah gets to the tiny village of Burrington Stoke, something doesn’t add up. Alex’s beautiful wife Genevieve was charming, talented, and adored by all who knew her. And apparently, she and Alex had a successful marriage complete with a gorgeous son, Jamie. Why would Genevieve walk out on her perfect life? And why has no one heard from her since she did so?

A web of lies: Genevieve’s family and all her friends think that Alex knows more about her disappearance than he’s letting on. But Sarah’s fallen in love with him and just knows he couldn’t have anything to hide. Or could he?”

(blurb courtesy of Transworld’s website)

 

I haven’t decided on the next three yet but there are some great looking crimey ones on there.

 

Will you be joining in? Which ones will you go for? Have a look at the list of 12 and see what you fancy.

 

 

 

 

Book Review: Daddy’s Little Girls by Mary Higgins Clark September 18, 2010

Filed under: Authors,Comfort Reading,Crime/Mystery/Thriller,Mary Higgins Clark — The Book Whisperer @ 10:09 am
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The Blurb

“At just seven years old, Ellie Cavanaugh lost her sister Andrea to a brutal murderer. It was her testimony that put Robson Westerfield away, but now, twenty-two years on, he is about to be released. Ellie, now a writer and investigative reporter, senses trouble and travels to her hometown just as Westerfield arrives and begins a campaign to prove his innocence. Ellie still suspects him, as does her estranged father, and both are determined to thwart his attempts. But someone has other ideas…Someone who is picking up where Westerfield left off, commiting other dangerous acts that send Ellie spiralling into a whirlwind of secrets, lies and deceit. Can she uncover the truth before a desperate killer sets his sights on her? As events reach a head, Ellie realises she might be the only person who can seek vengenance for the past…”

(source: Amazon.com)

What I thought

I love Mary Higgins Clark! You know that – I rave about her every chance I get :)

In Daddy’s Little Girl, the book is narrated by Ellie Kavanagh who, as a 7 year old, found her sister Andrea’s murdered body in a hide-out in a neighbouring property. Twenty-two years later, Andrea’s convicted killer (her boyfriend Rob Westerfield) is about to be let out of prison based on some fresh evidence that casts doubt on his guilt and Ellie is determined that he should be put back behind bars. As Ellie hunts for clues and new witnesses that will prove what she always believed – that Rob did kill Andrea – she finds her own life in danger the deeper she delves.

I have to admit, that despite still loving this book (I love all her books) this is probably my least favourite out of all the ones I have read – about 13 or 14, I believe. I can’t really put my finger on why although if I was to take a guess it would be that it was pretty obvious who the murderer was right from the start, despite several attempted red herrings. There wasn’t much guess work or suspense involved. Having said that, as Ellie uncovers more and more evidence the plot picks up real pace and there are the usual cliffhangers and race-against-time’s that are the blueprint to MHC’s novels.

In summary, I really enjoyed this – as I do all her books – but it just wasn’t one of my favourites.

 

I read this book as part of the Queen of Suspence hosted at Tea Time with Marce (2/6)

and also as part of the R.I.P. V challenge (2/4)

 

 

 

Book Review: The Reapers are the Angels by Alden Bell September 16, 2010

Filed under: Alden Bell,Authors,Dystopia,SciFi / Fantasy — The Book Whisperer @ 9:13 pm
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The Blurb

“God is a slick god. Temple knows. She knows because of all the crackerjack miracles still to be seen on this ruined globe… 

Older than her years and completely alone, Temple is just trying to live one day at a time in a post-apocalyptic world, where the undead roam endlessly, and the remnant of mankind who have survived, at times, seem to retain little humanity themselves.

This is the world she was born into. Temple has known nothing else. Her journey takes her to far-flung places, to people struggling to maintain some semblance of civilization – and to those who have created a new world order for themselves.

When she comes across the helpless Maury, she attempts to set one thing right, if she can just get him back to his family in Texas then maybe it will bring redemption for some of the terrible things she’s done in her past. Because Temple has had to fight to survive, has done things that she’s not proud of and, along the road, she’s made enemies.

Now one vengeful man is determined that, in a world gone mad, killing her is the one thing that makes sense…”

(source: Amazon.com)

 

  What I thought

This isn’t normally the sort of book that I would pick up. Although, in recent years, I have read and really enjoyed a number of post-apocolyptic novels, I was initially somewhat put off this book by the promise of zombies. Then I read that I it had elements of McCarthys The Road (which I LOVED!) and Matheson’s I am Legend (which I expected to hate when given it to read for a bookclub, but actually really enjoyed).

The book started really well. Temple is 16, alone and kick-ass. She has spent the last few weeks on an island off the Florida coast catching and eating fish and spending her days looking out over the water to make sure she remains alone. Life as we know it is hinted at with details like Temple finding a stash of magazines (from before) which have glossy pictures of a life she has never known. The only thing that upsets Temple’s solitary existance is coming across a body on the beach. The body, as she suspected, is one of the undead (or Slugs as she calls them): it looks like the Slug has got wind of her on the island and tried to swim over but been dashed on the rocks and left for dead. Temple knows that it’s only a matter of time before more follow and she picks up her handful of belongings and makes her way back to the mainland to set off north and on to the next place.

The world that Temple inhabits is a mixture of humans (some nomads and some who have set up communities in the wake of whatever happened) and zombies who roam the the land looking for flesh to feed on. Temple encounters several people along the way: some who help her and some who are after her. Temple does whatever she has to to survive, and boy does she. She has never known a different world and it is clear early on that her parents weren’t around for very long so she has had to cope for herself all her life. There are scenes of violence as Temple is ruthless in her desire to stay alive, but this isn’t just a book about destruction and desolation; it’s also about human emotion. Temple picks up a mute man along the way (whom she calls “Dummy”) and despite her thinking that she can cast him off onto someone else, she becomes strangely attached and realises that she does have it in her to help and be kind (which is something unfamiliar to her).

The narrative in this book is clean and uncluttered and exactly what I loved about The Road. I think it will and can be enjoyed by those who love fantasy type fiction, but also those (like me) for whom this isn’t their normal genre. There was only one part that bothered me, and that was in the middle when Temple meets a group of people called “The Inheritors of the Earth”: I just didn’t get wht they were in it; it seemed unecessary to me and made what seemed a plausible storyline (even with the zombies which I could accept) into something that instantly made me snap back to reality and disbelieve again.

In summary, I enjoyed this book and would  recommend to anyone who likes post-apocolyptic novels and fantasy.

 (I reveived my copy of this book from Amazon Vine)

Have you read any post-apocolyptic books? What do you think of them?

  This book is 1/4 in the RIP V Challenge

 

 

 

Boof’s Blah Blah Blah’s September 11, 2010

Filed under: Crime/Mystery/Thriller,Mary Higgins Clark — The Book Whisperer @ 5:59 pm
Tags: , , ,

On the slopes

Hope you’re all having a great weekend? Mr Whisperer have been snowboarding at the slopes in Xscape in Castleford – just for the hell of it.  Yowzer – it hurts! Two hours of snowboarding, I reckon, is the equivalent of doing at least 1000 squats! I think I used every muscle in my legs and backside (including some I didn’t even know I had) just to stand up on the damn thing. What fun though :) Once we actually managed to stay upright for more than a few seconds it was fun going down the slopes (expecially when Mr Whisperer did the best comdey fall ever). We think we might have a go at skiing next and see what that’s like. Have you ever done snowboarding? What did you think?

This is EXACTLY what I looked like on the slopes ;)

 

  Mary Higgins Clark challenge

Oh my, I am loving this challenge. Anyone who has followed my blog for any length of time will know what a huge fan of Mary Higgins Clark I am! I discovered her books last year by accident and I can’t get enough of them now – they are my ultimate comfort reads. So imagine how thrilled I was to discover that Marce from Tea Time with Marce has started “The Queen of Suspense” challenge. The challenge lasts for a year and I am opting for reading 6 of her books: considering that I read one on holiday last week and I am currently reading another I’m off to a pretty good start. Please check out Marce’s blog if you want to join in with me.

 

  Meet the Whisperer family

A few weeks ago whilste in the middle of a panic attack about how many review copies I had on my shelves, I had a brainwave: My parents love books; I have loads of unread books; they can help me read and review them. Genius! Mummy and Daddy Whisperer will making their debut in the next few weeks.

And also, I am thrilled to be introducing one of the biggest loves of my life – my gorgoues 7 year old niece, Sophie Whisperer. Sophie, to my immense joy, is a book lover too:  when she was up in Yorkshire a few weeks ago staying with us, I was giving her a goodnight kiss and cuddle and she said “we’re like twins, you and me; we both like books, we both like cats and we both wear glasses”. Exactly! ;) Sophie will be reviewing some of her favourite books and I can’t wait to see her reviews.

 

Hope everyone is having a great weekend. Have you got up to anything exciting or just having a chilling one?

 

 

 

Boof’s Challenge Update June 21, 2010

Filed under: Uncategorized — The Book Whisperer @ 11:32 am
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Bath, book, wine - what else is there?

At the beginning of this year, when I started blogging, I spent a lot of time surfing round any book blog I could find to see what other people wrote about and what was popular etc. One of the beggest things I found was that book bloggers appear to be obsessed with challenges. So after some careful consideration and narrowing the thousands of choices available to just a handfull I finally chose the following: Typically British, Thrillers and Suspense, Global Challenge, Our Mutual Read and Chunksters.

 

To be honest, I’ve been really lazy about keeping up with updating my challenges so I thought it about high time that I rectify that with a little post about where I am YTD:

Typically British

My challenge for this task was to read 8 book by British authors during the cours of 2010. It turns out that I am really patriotic, however, as I have already read 15!

Yay for the Brits!

1) Corrag by Susan Fletcher

2) East Lynne by Ellen Wood

3) Shakespeares’ Truth by Rex Richards

4) The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters

5) The Hanging Valley by Peter Robinson

6) Fever of the Bone by Val McDermid

7) In a Dry Season by Peter Robinson

8) The Victorian Chaise-Longue by Marghanita Laski

9) Blueeyedboy by Joanne Harris

10) Part of the Furniture by Mary Wesley

11) Little Boy Lost by Marghanita Laski

12) North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell

13) The Camomile Lawn by Mary Wesley

14) The Land of the Living by Nicci French

15) Caedmon’s Song by Peter Robinson

 

Chunksters

For this challenge I had to read 4 books with 450+ pages during the course of 2010. I have read 5 so far:

1) East Lynne by Ellen Wood

2) The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters

3) Blueeyedboy by Joanne Harris

4) The Help by Kathryn Stockett

5) The Book of Negroes by Lawrence Hill

 

Thrillers and Suspense

 

Whodunnit???

 I planned to read 8 thriller / suspense novels this year but due to my clearly morbid taste I have already read 14 of them! I do love me some good ole whodunnits!

1) The Cradle Will Fall by Mary Higgins Clark

2) The Hanging Valley by Peter Robinson

3) You Belong to Me by Mary Higgins Clark

4) In a Dry Season by Peter Robinson

5) The Snowman by Jo Nesbo

6) Let Me Call You Sweetheart by Mary Higgins Clark

7) Retribution by Jilliane Hoffman

8) Fever of the Bone by Val McDermid

9) Say Goodbye by Lisa Gardner

10) The Second Time Around by Mary Higgins Clark

11) The Shadow of Your Smile by Mary Higgins Clark

12) The Land of the Living by Nicci French

13) Caedmon’s Song by Peter Robinson

14) Caught by Harlan Coben

 

Our Mutual Read

 

Them Victorians!

 I just love those Victorians! This challenge is to read 12 books in 2010 from the Victorian era. Six of them must have been written between 1837-1901 and the other six can have been published later but must be set in Victorian times. Considering that this genre is one of my favourites I am not doing too well on this challenge yet. I have read a total of 6 but most of those are from the ne0-vic category. I must pick up some more Collins and Gaskell SOON!

1) East Lynne by Ellen Wood

2) Soulless by Gail Carriger

3) Alice I Have Been by Melanie Brown

4) The Victorian Chaise-Longue by Marghanita Laski

5) A Woman’s Life by Guy de Maupassant

6) North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell

 

Global

Globe-trotting!

I am a huge culture vulture and have actaully been to nearly 30 different countries around the world (I love exploring new places) so I just had to join in this challenge. The task is to read 2 books from each continent in 2010. So far I have read 7 out of the 14 I need:

AFRICA: The Book of Negroes by Lawrence Hill (Sierra Leone)

ASIA: The Japanese Lover by Rani Mancura (Malaysia)

Mornings in Jenin by Susan Abulhawa (Israel)

AUSTRALASIA: None as yet

EUROPE: The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters (England)

The Snowman by Jo Nesbo (Norway)

NORTH AMERICA: The Help by Kathryn Stockett (USA)

The Shadow of Your Smile by Mary Higgins Clark (USA)

SOUTH AMERICA: None as yet

ANTARCTICA: None as yet

 

For reviews on any of the above books please go to the review tab and you will find most of the books above listed there.

Are you doing any of these challenges? How are you getting on with yours?

 

Boof’s Blah Blah Blah’s May 11, 2010

Filed under: Uncategorized — The Book Whisperer @ 10:37 am
Tags: ,

Pussy cat, pussy cat where have you been?

I’ve been to London to see the Queen!

Ok, not exactly the Queen, but a group of UK book bloggers instead (far more exciting!). This meet-up was organised by Simon of Stuck In A Book and 18 of us turned up to chat, eat and swap books.

I managed to get a couple of London book shops in before I met up with the gang – a seconh hand bookshop that had nooks and crannies everywhere where I managed to pick up a couple of Amos Oz’s books (which I have been dying to read as he is an Israeli author and I used to live in Israel). Then I found Foyles which is the largest independent bookshop in London and I was like a kid in a sweet shop! All these thousands of beautiful books just calling my name from the shelves (it would have been rude to leave them all there so I got 3!) I got Mary Wesley’s The Camomile Lawn as I have just read another of hers and adored it, Dashiell Hammett’s The Maltese Falcon (for Nymeth’s 1930′s challenge) and Edward Rutherford’s The Forrest which I can’t wait to read as I love books with nature and animals.

My lovely new books!

Then I headed over to meet ithe others in the Persophone book shop which was so pretty: all these gorgeous books piled high with matching bookmarks for each. Again, how rude would it have been to walk out empty handed (so I got 3 again!) After a quick pit-stop in Starbucks we headed down the road to The Lamb, where Simon had hired us a room and here are the lovely peeps who I met:

Annabel (Gaskella)
Claire (Paperback Reader)
David (Follow the Thread)
Guy (Pursewarden)
Hayley (Desperate Reader)
Jackie (Farm Lane Books)
Katy (5th Estate)
Kim (Reading Matters)
Kirsty (Other Stories)
Lizzy/Marcia (Lizzy’s Literary Life)
Naomi (Bloomsbury Bell)
Polly (Novel Insights)
Rachel (Book Snob)
Sakura (Chasing Bawa)
Simon (Savidge Reads)
Verity (The B Files / Verity’s Virago Venture)

One of the highlights of the evening (as any bookaholic will know) was our book lucky-dip! We all donated a book (wrapped) and then picked another out of the pile.

It was like Christmas!

 

The book I picked up was from Sakura and although it’s not one I have heard of before it looks really good. It’s called The Makioka Sisters by Junichiro Tanizaki. I have heard that there is a group read going on for this book sometime in the summer so I will look out for that.

It was so lovley to meet up with so many like-minded people on Saturday and yes, the conversation was all about books, books and more books (with a hefty does of recommendations that I will, of course, now have to seek out for myself.)

 

A competition for the chance to decide the plot of an authors book!

This is a prize if I ever saw one. My fabulous friend Lori, over at The Next Best Book Blog, has a competition open until 15th May where not only can you win a copy of a book called The Book (which sounds really good – especially if you like dystopian fiction as I do) but also there is an opportunity to have your idea turned into the authors next book with your name up in lights in the book itself when it comes out.

All you have to do is write the outline of a plot (about anything at all) in less than 300 words! I will be entering myself as I really want a copy of that book if nothing else. Hop on over to Lori’s blog to check it out.

 

1930′s mini challenge

I am jumping at the chance of joining in this mini challenge as I have read a few books lately that have been set between the wars and so the 1930s sounded right up my street. The lovely Nymeth of Things Mean A Lot has come up with this challenge and I have already started on my first book – The Camomile Lawn by Mary Wesley.

I have a few more already lined up and ready to go like some Dorothy L Sayers, more Mary Wesley, Dashiell Hammett, a couple of Persophone’s etc. Any one else fancy joining in?

 

 

 

My beauties!

 

Our Mutual Read Challenge February 8, 2010

Filed under: Uncategorized — The Book Whisperer @ 11:52 am
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My second book in this challenge is completed.

 

1) Soulless by Gail Carriger

2) Alice I Have Been by Melanie Benjamin

 

Both of these books fall into the neo-vic category.

10 to go!

This challenge is hosted by Amanda at The Blog Jar

 

Global Reading Challenge February 7, 2010

Filed under: Globe Trotting — The Book Whisperer @ 9:35 pm
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I think I’m getting a bit challebge- happy today but when I saw this one I just had to answer. I love books set around the globe!

This challenge is hosted here and these are the rules:

 

The Easy Challenge
Read one novel from each of these continents in the course of 2010:
Africa
Asia
Australasia
Europe
North America (incl Central America)
South AmericaThe Medium Challenge
Read two novels from each of these continents in the course of 2010:
Africa
Asia
Australasia
Europe
North America (incl Central America)
South AmericaThe Expert Challenge
Read two novels from each of these continents in the course of 2010:
Africa
Asia
Australasia
Europe
North America (incl Central America)
South America
Add two novels which are set in Antarctica.

From your own continent: try to find a country, state or author that is new to you.

Try to find novels from twelve different countries or states.

Select novels from fourteen different countries or states.

 

 

I’m going for the expert challenge! This challenge will be backdated to Jan 1st 2010 so in that case I have already done:

The Expert Challenge
Read two novels from each of these continents in the course of 2010:
Africa
Asia – Mornings in Jenin by Susan Abulhawa (set in Israel)
Australasia
Europe  – Corrag by Susan Fletcher (set in Scotland) and Soulless by Gail carriger (set in England)
North America (incl Central America) – The Cradle Will Fall by Mary Higgins Clark (set in USA)
South America
Add two novels which are set in Antarctica.

 

Chunkster Challenge February 7, 2010

Filed under: Uncategorized — The Book Whisperer @ 9:05 pm
Tags:

I have decided to join in the Chunkster Challenge for 2010 which started on Feb 1st. This challenge is hosted here and here are the details:

Definition of a Chunkster:

  • A chunkster is 450 pages or more of ADULT literature (fiction or nonfiction) … A chunkster should be a challenge.
  • If you read large type books your book will need to be 525 pages or more … The average large type book is 10-15% longer or more so I think that was a fair estimate.

The Rules:

  • No Audio books in the chunkster. It just doesn’t seem right. Words on paper for this one folks.
  • No e-Books allowed – we are reading traditional, fat books for this challenge.
  • Short Stories and Essay collections will not be counted.
  • Books may crossover with other challenges
  • Anyone may join. If you don’t have a blog, just leave me a comment on this post with your progress (and to let me know you are playing)
  • You don’t need to list your books ahead of time.
  • Once you pick a level, that’s it…you’re committed to that level!

You must pick a level of participation (thanks again to Dana for the humor in these categories!):

  1. The Chubby Chunkster – this option is for the reader who has a couple of large tomes on their TBR list, but really doesn’t want to commit to much more than that. 3 books is all you need to finish this challenge.
  2. Do These Books Make my Butt Look Big? – this option is for the slightly heavier reader who wants to commit to 4 Chunksters over the next twelve months.
  3. Mor-book-ly Obese – This is for the truly out of control chunkster. For this level of challenge you must commit to 6 or more chunksters OR three tomes of 750 pages or more. You know you want to…..go on and give in to your cravings.

 

I think I am going to go for the Do These Books Make my Butt Look Big? challenge (to start). I haven’t decided which books will be in this yet but I am reading The Little Stranger now which has 500 pages so that will count towards it.

 

Is anyone else doing this challenge?

 

Our Mutual Read Challenge #1 January 15, 2010

Filed under: Gail Carriger — The Book Whisperer @ 5:42 pm
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 My first book in this challenge is completed.

I have read Soulless by Gail Carriger which falls into the Neo-Vic category as it is set in Victorian time. See my review of this book.

1) Soulless by Gail Carriger

11 to go!

 

This challenge is hosted by Amanda at The Blog Jar

 

New Book Challenge – Our Mutual Read January 13, 2010

Filed under: The Victorians — The Book Whisperer @ 12:03 pm
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I’ve found a great new challenge (this one was made for me!). It’s called Our Mutual Read and here are the details:

It’s hosted by Amanda at The Blog Jar. The aim is to read books published during the Victorian times or Neo-Victorian books (books set in Victorian times).  

Next, decide on what level you’d like to participate:
~ Level 1:  4 books, at least 2 written during 1837 – 1901.  The other books may be Neo-Victorian or non-fiction.
~ Level 2:  8 books, at least 4 written during 1837 – 1901.  The other books may be Neo-Victorian or non-fiction.
~ Level 3:  12 books, at least 6 written during 1837 – 1901.  The other books may be Neo-Victorian or non-fiction.

Then, determine if you are up to a mini-challenge:
Period Film Mini-Challenge — watch at least 6 films that take place between 1837 – 1901 (they don’t necessarily have to be based on a book) and post a review.

Short Story Mini-Challenge — read 12 short stories written or taking place between 1837 – 1901 and post a review.

This challenge will run from January 1st, 2010 to December 31st 2010.  And it is completely okay to double-dip, what you read/watch here can count on other challenges!

I’m going to go in for Level 3 and read 12! Ambitous I know, but I think I can do it. For those that don’t know, I co-run the Victorians group on Goodreads so this will tie in nicely with our group reads.

I’ll update as I read.

 

Typically British Challenge January 8, 2010

Filed under: Frances Hodgson Burnett,Joanne Harris,Rose Tremain — The Book Whisperer @ 3:41 pm
Tags:

 I have joined a new challenge in support of my fellow country-men and British authors! This is hosted by Book Chick City and here are the rules:

Timeline: 1st Jan 2010~ 31st Dec 2010. Only books started on January 1st count towards this challenge.
 
Details:
 
1. Anyone can join. You don’t need a blog to participate. 
 
2. There are four levels:
 
 • “Put The Kettle On” – Read 2 Typically British novels.
 • “Gordon Bennett” – Read 4 Typically British novels.
 • “Bob’s Your Uncle” – Read 6 Typically British novels.
 • “Cream Crackered” – Read 8 Typically British novels.
 
3. Any book format counts. Must be fiction not non-fiction.
 
4. You don’t have to select your books ahead of time, you can just add them as you go. Also if you do list them upfront then you can change them, nothing is set in stone! 
 
5. The books you choose can crossover into other challenges.
 
I’m going for the “cream crackered” option. There’s loads of books that I want to read that are by Brisith authors, some to be released this year and some that I have on Mt. TBR at home. Some of my picks at the moment are:
 

Blueeyedboy by Joanne Harris

Trespass by Rose Tremain

The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
 
Shirley by Charlotte Bronte
 
Moonstone by Wilkie Collins
 
 

Victorian Corner January 4, 2010

Filed under: Charlotte Bronte,The Victorians — The Book Whisperer @ 10:45 am
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I am a huge fan of Victorian lit. My favourite author is Charlotte Bronte (if you haven’t read Jane Eyre or Villette you missing a real treat). So when I came across this meme on Laura’s Reviews I just had to join in the challenge.

Challenge Details
 
1. The All About the Brontes challenge will run from January 1st to June 30, 2010.
 
2. You can read a book, watch a movie, listen to an audiobook, anything Bronte related that you would like. Reading, watching, or listening to a favorite Bronte related item again for the second, third, or more time is also allowed.
 
3. The goal will be to read, watch, listen, to 3 to 6 (or beyond) anything Bronte items.

There are a whole pile of suggestions on Laura’s blog: as well as the original works by the sisters there are a huge range o biographies as well as spin-off books like Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca that were influenced by the Bronte’s.

My list for this challenge is:

Shirley – Charlotte Bronte

“Written at a time of social unrest, it is set during the period of the Napoleonic Wars, when economic hardship led to riots in the woollen district of Yorkshire. A mill-owner, Robert Moore, is determined to introduce new machinery despite fierce opposition from his workers; he ignores their suffering, and puts his own life at risk .Robert sees marriage to the wealthy Shirley Keeldar as the solution to his difficulties, but he loves his cousin Caroline. She suffers misery and frustration, and Shirley has her own ideas about the man she will choose to marry.”

Charlotte Bronte: A Passionate Life by Lyndall Gordon

“In this groundbreaking and unconventional biography, Lyndall Gordon dismantles the insistent image of Charlotte Bronte as a modest Victorian lady, the slave to duty in the shadow of tombstones, revealing instead a strong and fiery woman who shaped her own life and transformed it into art. “

The Infernal World of Branwell Bronte by Daphne Du Maurier

“As a bold and gifted child, Branwell Brontë’s promise seemed boundless to the three adoring sisters over whom his rule was complete. But as an adult, the precocious flame of genius flickered and burned low. With neither the strength nor the resources to counter rejection, unable to sell his paintings or publish his books, Branwell became a specter in the Brontë story, in pathetic contrast with the remarkable achievements of Charlotte, Anne, and Emily. Daphne du Maurier concentrates all her biographer’s skill on the shadowy figure of Branwell Brontë, and no reader could fail to be intensely moved by Branwell’s final retreat into laudanum, alcohol, and death.”

I have also set myself a challenge of reading a total of 10 Victorian novels for 2010 for my Victorians  group  on Goodreads. I keep changing my mind about what I want to read but some of the favourite contenders are:

The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins

North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell

Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens

Far from the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy

 

 
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