Book Review Year 5 No 1

[smallhobbit]

And hard on the heels of the final review for last year comes the first one for this year.

The Canterville Ghost by Oscar Wilde

This was the second book I selected from the FutureLearn course Literature of the English Country House and was also a quick read, being a short story.  I enjoyed it - the ghost was lovely and very 'human' and despite the light-hearted nature of the story there's some quite deep thoughts behind it.  My first book for Book Bingo under 'Made into a movie'.


Murder on Christmas Eve edited by Cecily Gayford

Another of the Christmas mysteries I enjoy reading at this time of year, courtesy of MIL's book token.  Some great stories there, by writers like Ellis Peters, Michael Innes and G K Chesterton.  I was working shorter days at the beginning of January, taking time off in lieu of work done in November, so what better way of using the time than by reading.  Counts towards one of the substitution categories 'Anthology of short stories'.


The Unexpected Inheritance of Inspector Chopra by Vaseem Khan

Inspector Chopra is a recently retired Mumbai police inspector who continues to investigate crimes.  The inheritance is a baby elephant.  This was recommended by a Twitter friend and I really enjoyed it.  Chopra is my sort of inspector, the elephant is adorable, the descriptions of Mumbai drew me in without being overpowering and the plot was convincing.  Definitely recommened.  And it fills the 'Title at least 6 words long' square.


Talk to the Tail by Tom Cox

One of my friends on Goodreads rated this, and a subsequent book highly.  It has cats who rule the roost - which is what cats do.  So I borrowed it from the library - the local branch had a copy which I reserved Sunday night and collected Monday afternoon.  I didn't take to the author, and his cats don't just rule the roost, they are assisted to do so.  Others may enjoy it.  Counts as my second substitution category 'Animal on the cover'.

Comments

[stonepicnicking_okapi]

I like the Canterville Ghost a lot--right up to the end where the girl and he run off or whatever. But the beginning is so clever and I think portrays Americans in a blessedly favourable light for once. I've listened to Derek Jacobi read it and he's brilliant as narrator.

Murder on Christmas Eve sounds right up my ally! But it'd be hard to find.

Speaking of Indian detectives, have you read any HRF Keating?

[smallhobbit]

I liked the ending as well - I was glad the ghost finally got his rest. I can imagine Derek Jacobi would be a good narrator.

I've a feeling I've read some HRF Keating short stories many years ago.

[margaret_r]

Thanks for those reviews, they all look like interesting reads.

[smallhobbit]

I'm glad you liked it. Four very different books which was good.

[moth2fic]

I like The Canterville Ghost, too. I wasn't as impressed by Inspector Chopra who I found slightly boring, but I did like the elephant.

[smallhobbit]

The elephant is great. I liked Chopra and would read another book in the series (at some point I have so many books to read.)