Book Review Year 3 No 3

[smallhobbit]

I've read quite a few books recently, which is why this is a slightly longer review than normal - I was going to do it last week, but was close to finishing two of the books, so I thought I'd wait.

The Minitiarist by Jessie Burton

There's been a lot said about this book, so I thought I'd give it a go.  They even had a copy in our local library (which I reserved and collected two days' later to save getting dressed to go to the library).  I quite enjoyed it, but I wasn't taken by it as much as other people seem to have been.  And the central premise of the story, that of the dolls' house, for me didn't work as I'd hoped.  I'll be interested to see what others of my flist thought.


Ovid by David Wishart

A mystery set in ancient Rome, recommended by someone in my flist.  The mystery was quite interesting and the setting was reasonably entertaining.  This is the first in a series - I may read more, but there's plenty else on my 'to read' list at the moment.


Wyrd Sisters by Terry Pratchett

The witches aren't my favourite of Pratchett's characters, but I enjoyed the story.  And even if not my favourite in the Discworld series, they're still better than some things I've read, so I shall certainly be reading more.


Aunt Dimity and the Duke by Nancy Atherton

A present from aome  I was totally taken in by the story, suspecting characters I really didn't want to suspect, but happy at the outcome.  It was definitely responsible for one or two late nights, as I had to read 'just one more chapter'.  A series I shall most certainly continue with.


All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque

Really worth reading.  Sad, obviously, and graphic, but an excellent description of the first world war from the viewpoint of the German trenches.  The daughter and I are going on a tour of some of the battlefields next April.


The Wine of Angels by Phil Rickman

Recommended by several of my friends: a mystery featuring a female vicar in a parish in Herefordshire, close to Leominster which we visited last month.  It sounded great, but to my mind, too long, too convoluted and I was tempted to give up and take it back to the library part way through.  I battled on, but won't be reading the next in the series.


As ever, I shall be interested to read any thoughts anyone has - the fact I didn't enjoy a book doesn't mean it's badly written, just not my thing.

Comments

[margaret_r]

The only one on your list that I've read is The Wine of Angels and that book got me into collecting/reading more of the Merrily Watkins series. I agree that the books do get quite convoluted but I like the subject matter, old religion vs new religion, and the supernatural elements and some of the characters are interesting, if occasionally annoying. But I think a reader would either really like them or not be into them at all.

[smallhobbit]

I liked the subject matter, and would have read more. For me it felt like there was too much added in, and it would have worked as well with less complications and two-thirds the length. I can see why my friends who recommended it would like it.

[solosundance]

Must say I didn't enjoy The Miniaturist as much as I'd hoped. My favourite part was the cover.

[smallhobbit]

I liked the cover. I'm pleased to find I'm not alone in my thoughts. I know one of our local librarians and she saw me when I was taking the book out. She said she quite enjoyed it - I'll have to ask her what she really thought - she could hardly say 'actually I wouldn't bother with it' at that point.

[aome]

Glad you enjoyed the next Dimity book!

I had to read All Quiet on the Western Front in high school. I remember it being pretty good (albeit, as you said, depressing) but don't really remember much in terms of specifics. Trench warfare, and that's about it.

[smallhobbit]

I did indeed - and looking forward to reading the next. I'm making myself take a break between books so I appreciate them more.

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I did indeed - and looking forward to reading the next. I'm making myself take a break between books so I appreciate them more.

<All Quiet on the Western Front</i> is about trench warfare, but it also shows the thoughts of the soldiers, which I suspect doesn't mean as much to those reading it in school. It's a memorial to that generation.

[aome]

I received your frog postcard today - thank you! It was a lovely surprise to get something in the mail that wasn't junk or a bill. :D And I hadn't realised that my use of this icon meant that people would start to associate frogs with me, but that's neat!

[smallhobbit]

There were so many lovely cards - I bought a couple for myself, and there were others which looked ideal for friends - and as soon as I saw the frog I thought of your icon.