The books we love and hate!

Here we leave notes, a paragraph or two, on the books which had an impact on us. If you're willing to share some books with us, e-mail me. We need the name of the book and the author, accompanied by a short paragraph on what the book is about and a beneath it, your opinion. Every post will be signed by the reader himself/herself.

For the Group Members:

You are now able to add your comments on a book and change it as you like, without sending me an E-Mail. Please make sure that you leave your {suser: handle at the end of the entry. If you still have any questions, you know how to reach me. Thank you!

Stop by often! Always more to come!


Background To Danger - Eric Ambler:

This is the fourth Ambler novel I've read, and he hasn't failed me yet. Publshed in 1937, Background is the tale of a free-lance English journalist with money problems who becomes entangled in a battle for the possession of stolen Russian military plans.

It's a page-turner in the truest sense. I read it in two days. The action is plenty and the characters are diverse, yet obviously good or bad. Ambler's sense of humor is evident here, mainly in the dialogue between the protagonist and the chief Russian agent. Decent ending. A possible flaw would be that Ambler didn't really go too deep into the characters' lives. But the action and political intrigue made up for that. However, there were a couple minor plot points that didn't get explained very well. mrziggles




Anything Considered - Peter Mayle:

A light-hearted caper novel about a man struggling to pay his bills who accepts a job impersonating a multi-millionaire. Things go horribly awry when a truffle formula is stolen. But then a beautiful model / ex-Israeli soldier enters the picture and adds a bit of romance to the story.

I loved the first hundred pages or so. It was still prety good after that, just not as much. There are a few awkward moments when Mayle narrates how the two lovers feel about each other. It's a PG-13 novel, so the sex is basically skipped. It's a bit too cute in places for my liking. It is a fun read though- easy to get through, easy to root for the two lovers, and I get the impression it can appeal to readers of both genders. mrziggles





The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield:

A biographer is summoned by a famous writer of whom nobody really knows much about. She's very fragile and almost on her death bed, but she feels the need to tell the truth; to finish her book, to tell her own life story. As you flip through the pages of this amazing book, your mind will try to figure out what happens next, but no one is the wiser. You'll be amazed how often you'd guess at different circumstances and still not know the answer or the truth. As it turns out, both, the writer and the biographer have something in common, but to find out more, you'll have to read the book.

Diane wrote her own book in a way so taunting and intriguing; it's a readers book, not the one of a writer. I do not know how to explain it. Her descriptions are excellent and on more than one occasion I found myself wishing to write like her. The story itself is a detective/mystery full of twists and turns keeping you always on your toes. One of the best newer books I've read. YW ~ Back from Hawaii




Sticky Fingers- Alison Tyler

Though advertised as an erotic romance, it's more of an erotic adventure, or erotic mystery. The story centers around a bisexual cat burglar, her lovers, and a hunky private investigator. It's clearly a novel for adults. It's a well-paced read, with few lulls in the action. Short chapters and frequent page-breaks make it a good book for brief sessions. Whilst I appreciate Tyler's mixture of kinky sex with an underlying mystery/crime story, things seem to come too easily to the main characters. Also, the ending could have been better. mrziggles




Pitch Dark- Renata Adler

The plot centers around a woman's ongoing affair with a married man and her brief visit to a small Irish town. The main events are interwoven with social commentary and random snippets of other unconnected events and dialogue. So it's not an easy or a smooth read. It's also an interesting read, though, as Adler is an intelligent and original writer. I guess I have mixed feelings about this one. Perhaps 3 1/2 stars on the WC 5-star scale. mrziggles



The Rules of Attraction- Bret Easton Ellis

Set at a college in New Hampshire, there are basically three main characters (connected to each other somehow) and several other characters who are connected to them in some way. Ellis switches narrator from section to section, so you get the perspectives of everybody involved. The events are limited to one semester in 1985, and there are many '80's cultural references. Drugs and sex are plentiful. It's a very accessible novel, very natural and real. It shows how interesting ordinary life can be. The ending is brilliant. I rate this book 4 1/2 stars (barely). mrziggles