Saucier:

count:

Saucier:

Here are mine:

Frederich Nietzche - the Genealogy of morrals - guilt, Bad conscience and the like

My intelligent read for the month.

Harlan Coben - Just one look

Good read

Susanna Kaysen - Girl Interrupted

A lot better than the film

Did you find the Neitzsche accesible? Have you read much of his?

Am wondering whether to find one of his on here, but not sure where to start... Have tried to read him before, Zarathrustra I think it was, but it was a while ago now...

Bought one of those little introduction books, but didn't find it that enlightening

 

Wouldn't describe as accessible becuase they are bloody hard work to read.  This book was good for me as it is made up of three separate long essays, so I am reading one at a time with a break in between - didn't think I would manage a whole book at one time.  It was just one of my goals to read some of his work and will persevere with it.  Not sure where to start, I started with this one as I recevied a beautiful old copy of the book from a friend and beacuse of the essay format.  Sorry I couldn'tbe of more help.

Yeah, I do the same thing if I read a book that's particularly heavy - I don't know why, maybe it just gives you time to chew over the ideas a bit.

At the moment I'm reading Umberto Eco's Foucault's Pendulum and I read a chapter of that and then a chunk of A Patchwork Planet... it seems an easier way to do it.

But, thanks for the tip... might try Genealogy of Morals, when I've got through the TBR pile a bit!!

Alice

My batting rate's down badly this month - too much chatting, not enough reading!

Ami McKay's The Birth House was a good read, and I did enjoy it, but I thought it lost its way a bit in the last quarter and I was left a tad disappointed. Overall 6/10.

Two mobile library books - Alice Hoffman's Incantation was a real surprise, quite different from others of hers I've read, a bit like "Witch Child" (7/10). But I was also delighted by Nicci Gerrard's The Moment You Were Gone - really strong story, well drawn characters, couldn't put it down (9/10)

Twins by Marcy Dermansky was a good read, funny in parts, very touching in others, but something just failed to hook me - 7/10.

Then the book that makes reading worthwhile - Khaled Hosseini's A Thousand Splendid Suns.  Can't praise this one enough, best this year by miles and miles (yes, even overtaking Nineteen Minutes + The Book Thief!), will take some beating as book of the year - 11/10!

"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" by J.K. Rowling; and "Druids: A History" by Professor Ronald Hutton. 

I only completed two because I was working 7 days a week this month.  Hopefully, August will be more productive. 

Lipstick Jungle-Candace Bushell - OK read, nothing special 7/10

Harry Potter and the philosopher's stone- JK Rowling -Just mentioned to a friend that I had always thought about giving these books a go and she lent it to me and now I'm hooked. Loved it 9/10

Deal breaker-Harlan Coben - I really love his books. They keep me gripped 9/10

Surgeon- Tess Gerritsen -Brilliant read. Now wanting to read "The Apprentice" 10/10

Memory Keepers daughter- Kim Edwards - Heard good things about it, but I found it boring and longwinded. 3/10

Harry Potter and the chamber of secrets-JK Rowling Really enjoyed it 9/10

Harry Potter and the prisoner of Azkaban-JK Rowling Liked it even more as longer than previous HP books. 9/10 Really wanting to read the rest of them, but having to wait as wanting to take one of them on holiday with me in two weeks time, but my friends sister is reading book number 5 so can't borrow it until after holidays so saving book number 4 (which already have) to take with me.

Just thought I'd let you know that I have put A Patchwork Planet by Anne Tyler on my swaps, as you said you wanted more by this author and there are a couple of things on your TBR that really grab me... I will comment on your list when I get a chance, but it's past my bed time now!

Anyway, just finished the book tonight, and can say it's a great read... I have also got hold of Ladder of Years so be reading that soon, so let me kow if you want either.

Here are mine,yet another slow reading month.

White Fang :- By Jack London,beatiful book based on a wolf but many lessons for us all can be read from this book. Originaly published in 1907 my copy was printed in 1962. Very special book as it is an old copy given to me by someone thoughtful and loving.

Perfume :-   By Patrik Suskin,A story of a Murderer !! This book has to be the best I have read this year.The character in the book is on a  mission to encapsulate the essence of beauty,with a sence of smell far more powerful than the sence of sight.If you have smelt the morning air,the blossom of the cherry tree and the fragrance of a lilie and its made you glad to be alive you may relate to what drives this man to ultimately murder.total loved.  Is it actualy a Love story???

Twelth Night :- Andrew Matthew & Tony Ross  Continuing to read my childrens books of shakespear.

Have a great month to all Jim x

Not a bad month for me:

Too Many Mothers – Roberta Taylor - her biography (Gina Gold in The Bill) interesting, more about her family than herself 7/10

The Apple Barrel – Susan Sallis - an easy read, probably could class it as hen lit! Enjoyable 8/10

First Light – Geoffrey Wellum a fascinating account of a WWII Spitfire pilots experiences 8/10

The Birth of Venus – Sarah Dunant- a great book, swapped for and read on the basis of others reviews on here, didn't disappoint. Although historical it seemed modern in storyline without being out of place 8/10

Ella Minnow Pea – Mark Dunn from the mobile library, highly original, good quick read 9/10

The Little Prince by Antoine De Saint-Exupery to fill in a gap from my childhood and boost my 1001 must reads 6/10

Small Island – Andrea Levy - still reading but great so far. Set before, during and after WWII with lots of real incidents showing attitudes towards coloured people in the 40's and 50's. From the point of view of several characters, both white British and Black Jamaican. Probably a 8.5/10 for me.

"Master Mariner"-Nicholas Montserrat-been intending to read for years-wished I'd done so sooner. 7/10

"Lost Villages of Britain"-Richard Muir-Interesting:learned a lot too. 7/10

"El Negro que hizo esperar a los Angeles"-Gabriel Garcia Marquez -resolved to read at least 1 Spanish or Portuguese novel per month. Am rusty, but enjoyed it! 6/10

"The Interpretation of Murder"-Jeb Rubenfield. Very disapppointed in this one. 4/10

"The Memory Keeper's Daughter"-Kim Edwards-Even worse!! 3/10 (I'm being generous Neats!)

"A Spot of Bother"-Mark Haddon-Easy but enjoyable read. 7/10

"The Heaven Tree"-Edith Pargeter.Pargeter is also known as Ellis Peters, and I''ve read and loved most of her Cadfael series.This is the first part of a trilogy, and am loving it. The final two chapters are amongst the best I've read in a long time. Book of the month for me. 20/10. (sorry, 9/10)

Hi eightlegs thanks for the smile.Thought I would share this quote with you.

A smile is the light in your window that tells others that there is a caring, sharing person inside.
Author: Denis Waitley

Buster:

Hi eightlegs thanks for the smile.Thought I would share this quote with you.

A smile is the light in your window that tells others that there is a caring, sharing person inside.
Author: Denis Waitley

Very deep as always, Jamesy!

Buster:

Hi eightlegs thanks for the smile.Thought I would share this quote with you.

A smile is the light in your window that tells others that there is a caring, sharing person inside.
Author: Denis Waitley

 I'd not heard that quote Buster, thanks for it. I must add it to my repertoire!

Didn't read as much as usual in July - we moved house, so I spent WAY too much time cleaning and unpacking boxes; we have too much stuff (I blame it on the children, especially lego, but my husband - and the removal men - seem to think I have too many books...)

1. The Interpretation of Murder - Jed Rubenfeld: this was my reading group book, and I had high hopes  - sadly disappointed. I really liked bits of it - loved the summaries of psycholgy stuff - but lost interest completely.

2. The Memory Keeper's Daughter - Kim Edwards: liked this a lot - very frustrating but ultimately satisfying and moving.

3. Slammerkin - Emma Donoghue: Really enjoyed this.

4. Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows: What can I say? I had predicted some of what happened (but then, so did everyone), some of it was a surprise. I cried at least twice (Won't say when!) I actually moved house on the day it came out - I went out to buy the book in the morming and it took me a frustrating 3 days to read - all those boxes to unpack...

5. The Eyre Affair - Jasper Fforde: LOVED it and am about to try and swap for the next books in the series. FABULOUS - so funny and clever.

6. Dracula - Bram Stoker: Reread as I'm teaching Gothic lit at A level next year. Great read!

And that's all I managed! hoping to make up for it this month while still on holiday...

Chart Throb by Ben Elton  Struggled with this one quite a bit despite normally liking Ben Elton's novels (6/10)

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak  Loved it but didn't cry!! (8/10)

Death Match by Lincoln Child  Thought this was a really interesting book with interesting concept (7/10)

Seven by Anthony Bruno  Nice easy read but thought film was better than book (6/10)

Dirty Weekend by Helen Zahavi  Fabulous book, really recommend this (9/10)

Diary of a Manhattan Call Girl by Tracy Quan  Struggled through this one too.  Looking forward to reading married call girl and hope it might be a little better (6/10)

My Take by Gary Barlow  Think the avatar says it all!!  (10/10)

Getting rid of Matthew by Jane Fallon  Recommend this one, made me laugh out loud in some places (8/10)

The Undomestic Goddess by Sophie Kinsella  Sophie Kinsella always makes me laugh - she can't go wrong (9/10)

Skin Privilege by Karin Slaughter  Best book of the month!  Completely shocking ending that I had to keep re-reading (10/10)

Beach Babylon by Imogen Edwards-Jones & Anonymous  Didn't seem to have the time to read this one so wasn't as impressed as I thought I would be! (6/10)

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by JK Rowling A re-read to remind myself what happened at the end of book 6 (7/10)

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by JK Rowling  Disappointed in the last chapter, thought it was a little smoozy but fab ending (9/10)

I didn't read many this month:

Incantation by Alice Hoffman
Therese Raquin - Emile Zola
The Yorkshire Pudding Club - Milly Johnson
Heart of Darkness - Joseph Conrad
Seven Days to the Sea - Rebecca Kohn

The Last Family in England – Matt Haig 7/10

A very original story told from the point of view of a Labrador as he tries to 'save' his family from everyday dangers. I really enjoyed this one.

The Ninth Life of Louis Drax – Liz Jensen 6.5/10

This book scared me a little bit, not my usual sort of book and not really what I expected it to be – a psychological thriller about a disturbed boy in a coma. I did enjoy it though.

Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone – J K Rowling 8/10

A re-read for me but I enjoyed it so much! I forgot how good it was!

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets – J K Rowling 8/10

Again, a re-read but fantastic.

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkhaban – J K Rowling 9/10

One of my favourite Harry Potters.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire – J K Rowling 7.5/10