Book Review Year 6 No 2

[smallhobbit]

Six more books:

The Emperor's Soul by Brandon Sanderson

The second in my 'new reads' as suggested by members of ushobwri, this timenagi_schwarz .   It's a fantasy novel, with an interesting plot and I was keen to see what happened.  However, it's not a genre I'm keen on, so I doubt I'll be reading more by the author, although there are several of his books in the library.  But if you like fantasy adventure I would recommend it.


Aunt Dimity Down Under by Nancy Atherton

I'm happily continue to work my way through this series.  This time there's a trip to New Zealand, which was fun and a bit different.  Not knowing New Zealand I've no idea how accurate it is.


Homage to Catalonia by George Orwell

When I was doing the Getting to Know Catalonia course on FutureLearn, one of the questions was about books set in Catalonia or written by Catalan authors.  The George Orwell classic was one of the books recommended by some of the other participants.  I wasn't sure how I'd get on with it, having struggled with Hemingway's A Farewell to Arms, but I enjoyed reading it.  And the Catalonia which is revealed by Orwell is very different from the one on the course, which made very little mention of the civil war.  I think I learnt considerably more history from the book than I did from the course. 


The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon

This was the second book participants of the above course recommended - both of which I selected partly because they were available at the library.  This book is set in Barcelona from 1946 to 1956.  It's an interesting story (quite long) with a great cast of characters.  The local colour is excellent, both in physical descriptions of places and in the attitudes and behaviour of the time.  Again I felt I learnt a lot more about Barcelona, even though this was fiction, than I had from the course.  There are other books in the series, but although I liked this one, I wouldn't want to read more.


Aunt Dimity and the Family Tree by Nancy Atherton

I don't normally read two books in one series quite so close together, but in this case the next book in the series was available from the library so I reserved the copy.  This time we were back in Finch, a village in the Cotswolds, so I'm less interested in the local colour (because I'm more likely to spot inaccuracies) but happy because it includes the different characters within the village.


The Killings at Badger's Drift by Caroline Graham

The first book about DCI Barnaby (Midsommer Murders) which I'd had recommended.  I reserved this back last July and finally picked it up at the beginning of this month - another book coming from a community library branch, which means the automated system doesn't work.  I was disappointed.  The Barnaby in the book isn't the Barnaby I like in the television series, and although the plot was very clever that detracted too much for me.  I shall continue to (re)watch him on the television.

2020 book bingo card:

Comments

[stonepicnicking_okapi]

I confess I did not finish The Shadow of the Wind, so I commend you for doing so. And I am surprised (and warned off) by The Killings at Badger's Drift. I love to see the bingo board. I am working on mine, too.

[smallhobbit]

I think The Shadow of the Wind improved towards the end, and I wanted to know what happened. But it took me over a month to read it.

I think The Killings at Badger's Drift would be a good book if you read it without any other background. But the book's Barnaby wasn't my Barnaby.

And I've now re-uploaded the correct bingo card!

[moth2fic]

I read The Shadow of the Wind while I was in Barcelona, which made it quite extra-special! However, I think you're wise not to try some of his other works. They're not up to the standard of that one.

[smallhobbit]

Yes, I can see The Shadow of the Wind would be really good when read in Barcelona. And thank you for confirming the fact :)