77: The Woman in White, Wilkie Collins

Date Finished: 05/12/2011
My Rating: 4/5

I do love a book that makes it difficult to get any housework done and, especially after Ulysses, The Woman in White was exactly that. I thought it was incredibly well constructed, and I loved the way that it was told using the narrative of the character best placed to explain that part of the story.

It says in the introduction to my copy that Wilkie Collins is often regarded as the inventor of the detective story. Interestingly (to me at least!), Wilkie Collins and Charles Dickens were friends, and I'm sure I remember reading somewhere that the detective in Bleak House is considered one of the first literary detectives. I wonder if the two authors chatted about the idea that detectives would make good characters for their novels, and thereby inspiring a huge market that is still incredibly strong. The Woman in White certainly kept me guessing until almost the point of reveals. I say "almost", only because I wasn't reading it in 1860, and now detective novels are such a prominent part of modern literary culture that the reader today can probably guess what's coming slightly earlier than the reader of yore. Also, some of the important parts of the story just wouldn't be an issue in today's society, and they could clear part of the mystery up using modern science. However, all that said, it was a gripping, thrilling and frustrating story! Each narrative hinted at the story to come, saying things like 'if only I knew then what I know now'. It just made me want to know immediately what they knew now!

The other sign of the times is the attitude towards women. Of the two half-sisters, the strong-minded, intelligent, dependable one is ugly. The helpless, delicate and generally more wishy-washy sister is the pretty one. Still, the book was written 150 years ago, and the fact that there is a central, resourceful and clever female character is a good thing, ugly or not. Besides, had women not been making their mark in the world, we would have missed out on sentences like this: "Being, however, nothing but a woman, condemned to patience, propriety, and petticoats for life, I must respect the house-keeper's opinions, and try to compose myself in some feeble and feminine way."

Anyway, I loved it, and not just because I got to use the phrase 'readers of yore' in my review. It maintained the feeling of suspense all the way through, and I just couldn't seem to get to the answers to the questions that were raised soon enough.

So, who should read this book? Anyone who loves a good mystery story. I would be surprised if it disappointed.

Next book: The Secret History, Donna Tartt

78: Ulysses, James Joyce

Date Finished: 21/11/2011
My Rating: 0/5

Anyone expecting some high-brow, profound review of Ulysses should probably look elsewhere...

It has taken me 97 days of pure stubborn-ness to get through this, and there was me thinking that Gormenghast was tough going. I think the first thing I would like to say about this book is in fact a question... what on earth is this book doing in the top 100 of Britain's best-loved books? I am really sorry, but I just cannot accept that 'love' is a word that anyone would use to describe how they feel about it. I can almost imagine that some people might appreciate it, or that they believe that it has a place in literary history, but on a list of best-loved books? No. I think the people who voted for this did so to make themselves appear intelligent. I apologise if anyone disagrees with me, but I can't imagine anyone getting carried away by this book, finding themselves completely immersed in its story, then getting to the end and immediately re-reading it simply because they didn't want it to end. To be truthful, I don't apologise for that anyway. If you come back to me and tell me that you did, I will consider your point of view for about a millisecond and then suspect that you're lying. Anyway, before I offend anyone any more than I may already have done, here is my review:

When I started reading Ulysses, I kept up with the notes at the back of the book, but it soon became apparent that I would need notes to understand the notes, so I decided not to bother. Very, very occasionally throughout the novel's 732 pages I would refer back to them, but I quickly realised that I was not going to understand most of what was going on in the book (and perhaps the reader isn't even supposed to understand most of what goes on), and without studying it with a pen and paper, the notes weren't going to make much difference.

Ulysses follows Leopold Bloom (who may or may not have had a bit of a foot fetish) and Stephen Dedalus throughout the course of a day, the 16th June 1904 in fact, in Dublin. The narrative changes throughout, so it's never entirely clear who is telling the story. In fact, if you had written any part of this and taken it to your English teacher at school, they would have told you to go away and do some homework relating to the rules of grammar and syntax, and to stop making up words. Plus, to make it even more complicated, there were errors in the original text ("The publisher asks the reader's indulgence for typographical errors unavoidable in the exceptional circumstances"), so you have to put up with them as well. Various versions of the novel have been printed throughout the years, the one I have read republished the original 1922 text, mistakes and all.

I suspect that Joyce doodled in words, which is why every so often there is a sentence that says something along the lines of "My kneecap is hurting me. Ow. That's better". I doodle in words. Instead of drawing stars and snails, I write down what thoughts are running through my head. Once, when taking minutes for an important meeting at work, I wrote on my piece of paper "Chuff nuggets, this is boring". As I was typing up my minutes I noticed it and chuckled. However, a few weeks later I went bright red and couldn't stop laughing for about a week when at the next meeting during 'matters of accuracy', somebody queried what was meant by "Two organisations have been told that they can say yes to this treatment, but that it would be at their own nuggets". Therefore, I suspect that Joyce brain dumped this entire book, along with all his word-doodles, onto paper, and then spent some time marketing it by saying 'oh, yeah, this novel is almost ready, but only really intelligent people will understand it, and if you don't get it, it must mean you're an idiot'. The publisher didn't want to admit he didn't understand it, and it wasn't until a little kid in the street shouted "but why is the emperor not wearing any clothes?" that the penny dropped.

No, wait... that last bit was a different story.

Anyway, I digress (which seems appropriate in the circumstances). If you would like to read a typical sentence from Ulysses, here is one from roughly half way through the book:

"For who is there who anything of some significance has apprehended but is conscious that that exterior splendour may be the surface of a downwardtending lutulent reality or on the contrary anyone so is there inilluminated as not to perceive that as no nature's boon can contend against the bounty of increase so it behoves every most just citizen to become the exhortator and admonisher of his semblables and to tremble lest what had in the past been by the nation excellently commenced might be in the future not with similar excellence accomplished if in inverecund habit shall have gradually traduced the honourable by ancestors transmitted customs to that thither of profundity that that one was audacious excessively who would have the hardihood to rise affirming that no more odious offence can for anyone be than to oblivious neglect to consign that evangel simultaneously command and promise which on all mortals with prophecy of abundance or with diminution's menace that exalted of reiteratedly procreating function ever irrevocably enjoined?"

Did you enjoy that? The book is littered with sentences like that. There are sentences that go on for 3 pages. There are lists. Just lists of names. For an entire page. Ooft. Shortly after that sentence above, Ulysses seems to change into a play for a while. After that there are about 70 pages where it is written with questions and answers. So, for example:

"What celestial sign was by both simultaneously observed?
A star precipitated with great apparent velocity across the firmament from Vega in the Lyre above the zenith beyond the stargroup of the Tress of Berenice towards the zodiacal sign of Leo."

Well, I'm not sure I cared for the answer. Or the question for that matter.

In summary then, Ullysses is incredibly difficult to read, let alone make sense of. Admittedly, I didn't spend hours pouring over each page, studying it intently, trying to understand each line. But I read for pleasure and escape, and having to think that much about a book is neither pleasurable nor escapist for me. Was there anything I liked about it? I liked that the next book on my list was mentioned in it: "Miss Dunne hid the Capel street library copy of The Woman in White far back in her drawer and rolled a sheet of gaudy notepaper into her typewriter." Oh yeah, and a bit later on Wilkie Collins is mentioned during the last chapter, which is the internal monologue of Molly Bloom, about 40 pages long and contains about 3 seperate sentences, the first of which being over 2000 words long.

I am very, very thankful to have reached the end. I still feel like I should justify why I have given it 0/5 though, and it is purely due to emotions. This list that I am trying to read through was compiled by asking people which book they loved, and I felt nothing at all for Ulysses. I just cannot believe that more people love this than love Holes for example. Mind you, that probably isn't a very good example, because the emotions you feel for an adult book are very different to those that you feel for a kid's book. I suppose it is all subjective after all. I'm also annoyed that it has totally messed up all my averages... I'm going to have to get some serious reading in to get back on track to finish the rest of these books by Christmas next year. 17 days per book now. SEVENTEEN!

So, who should read this book? If you're having trouble sleeping I would definitely recommend it. I found it really difficult to read because you have to concentrate so much to keep even slightly on top of it, and if I was at all tired I would find my eyes closing. Also, unfortunately, if it's on your reading syllabus at university you'll probably have to read it. Also, if you're completely mental and refuse to give up a book just because it's on some stupid reading list that you've challenged yourself to complete, then you should probably read it.

Next book: The Woman in White, Wilkie Collins.

79: Bleak House, Charles Dickens

Date Finished: 12/08/2011
My Rating: 3/5

Wow. 52 days to get through this one, although I do partly blame the dog. No, really. Oh, and my student card expiring, so bus journeys are more expensive meaning that I have driven to work more than normal, thereby forsaking some precious reading time. Also, it is 900+ pages long. Anyway, enough preamble (and weak excuses), and on with the review.

I am not sure if I quite feel that I am worthy of reviewing a Dickens book. What Bleak House really demonstrates is just how intelligent and well read Charles Dickens was. It is littered with references to Shakespeare, the Bible, old folk tales and songs. Bleak House is definitely a 2 bookmark book... one for the novel itself and one for the notes to find out what was being referred to, or what had happened in Dickens' life that had influenced a part of the story. It is probably not necessary to read all the notes, but I rather enjoyed flicking to the back of the book. I feel slightly more intelligent and educated for it!

Bleak House is written in two distinct styles. The first few chapters I found hard to get through (both times that I have read the book, as I read it in my first Big Read attempt). They require a lot of concentration to keep a drift of what is going on, and the book returns to this narrative style regularly. Interspersed with this however, is Esther's narrative, which has a lovely flow to it, and is written from the perspective of the unassuming, warm, kind and just thoroughly nice Esther Summerson.

The two different narratives tell a complicated story. It is cleverly written, with the right amount of characters to give it depth and colour, but not so many that you forget who everybody is. You have to concentrate throughout the book to make the links between different parts of the story, but you are led into the right conclusions at the right time by Dickens. Bleak House is a book of mystery, murder, guilt, remorse, and redemption. And there is a lot of good. Good people doing good things.

So, who should read this book? Well, it requires some commitment to get through, but if you're a big reader, I don't think you'd be disappointed. And I promise it gets easier from Chapter 3 onwards!

Next Book: Ulysses, James Joyce

80: Double Act, Jacqueline Wilson

Date Finished: 21/06/2011
My Rating: 3/5

Double Act is the third Jacqueline Wilson book so far on my list, and although I did enjoy this one, I have noticed the similarities between her books now. I think this may have suffered by being the 4th kids book in a row that I have read, as I am now hankering after a grown-up read.

Wilson once again uses a theme of confidence, this time by telling the story of twin girls, Ruby and Garnet. I think she has cottoned on to the fact that lots of young girls feel like they are the under-confident one in their group of friends, and Wilson wants to let them know that they're not alone and that actually, in the end, things will work out for them.

It's a good read, written as a diary (well, an 'account') by the two girls, and once again I polished it off in a day. I was, however, quite embarrassed when my ex-boyfriend got on the bus. There was absolutely no hiding the fact that I was reading a book designed for 10 year old girls. Why oh why could I not have been reading a classic?!? Ah well, next time...

So, who should read this book? This is definitely one for young girls. I think as an adult, you could pick up any Jacqueline Wilson book and quite enjoy it, but it wouldn't really matter which. And that is absolutely fine, because they weren't written for grown-ups.

Next book: Bleak House, Charles Dickens

81: The Twits, Roald Dahl

Date Finished: 20/06/2011
My Rating: 4/5

I read a lot of Roald Dahl as a child, and it was lovely to go back to some. OK, I admit I've read at least a couple of his stories as an adult, but I hadn't revisited The Twits in the that time. In fact, I don't even think I owned a copy in the first place. I remember my best friend had it on tape, and I was definitely very jealous. Thou shall not covet thy best friend's story-tape.

Anyway, it's a great book, and I could easily have read it in less than an hour. I had to pace myself on the bus to make sure I had some left to read on the way home. I think the reason I like Roald Dahl books so much is that it feels like he is not just telling a story, but that he is telling you a story. I'm not even sure that makes complete sense, but he manages to make it feel so personal when you read it, and I love that. To use a couple of Dahl-isms, I thought The Twits was phiz-whizzing and whoopsy-splunkers.

The Twits are a horribly ugly couple, both in looks and personality. In fact, Dahl makes a point of saying in the book that even if you start out quite pretty, ugly thoughts will lead to an ugly face. They are nasty to each other, and they are nasty to the monkeys that they have caged in the garden. They have no windows in their house so that people can't see in, they superglue the tree in their garden to catch birds for pie, and, as any good baddy in a Roald Dahl book should, they hate children. As luck should have it, the monkeys are able to exact revenge on the Twits, with the help of a Roly-Poly Bird, and the couple come to a perfectly Dahl-like revolting end.

So, who should read this book? Anyone. It won't matter whether you're under 10, over 80 or anywhere inbetween, I bet you'll enjoy it. You could read it over a cup of tea.

Next book: Double Act, Jacqueline Wilson

82. I Capture The Castle, Dodie Smith

Date Finished: 19/06/2011
My Rating: 3.5/5

I write this sitting in the kitchen sink. Actually, I write this sitting at my kitchen table and not in a sixpenny book, but on my slightly (although probably not all that much more) expensive laptop, however it's such a good opening sentence (and apparently one of the most memorable in 20th century fiction) to a novel that I just had to steal it.

Not so long ago I was chatting to a friend about books, and Dodie Smith came up in conversation. My friend (and I'm so sorry if you ever read this, Miss B!) said, 'oh, I love Dodie Smith'. I replied saying that I also loved Dodie Smith and my friend (somewhat haughtily) asked if I had in fact read anything other than 101 Dalmations. I hadn't. She scoffed and told me that I Capture the Castle was a brilliant book and made me feel that my love for 101 Dalmations was not quite good enough to claim a love for Dodie Smith generally. I had come across some literary snobbiness! I was very excited to see if I Capture the Castle would live up to my, now high, expectations. At this point, I would also like to say that Dodie Smith actually had a dalmation called Pongo. Finding this out made me very happy.

It turns out that I did thoroughly enjoy I Capture the Castle, although interestingly I felt that it was exactly the kind of book that Cold Comfort Farm parodies, despite CCF being published first. I think that my difference in scores with these two books is purely down to how much I liked the central characters (and that I didn't get the joke with Cold Comfort Farm!).

I Capture the Castle reads as the diary of 17 year old Cassandra Mortmain, and is divided into three sections, each written in a progressively fancier notebook. Cassandra and her family are desperately poor. Her father had written a rather remarkable novel around 12 years previously (something similar to Ulysses, which is on my list in about 5 books time... I'm already stressing about it!), and made some money from both the book and giving lecture tours in the USA. Following an unfortunate incident with a cake knife and a neighbour he spent some time in prison and had suffered from writer's block since then. All their furniture had been sold, and they were scraping by on what little they could get. Without spoiling the story too much, the family's landlord had died (not that they had paid him any rent for several years), and his American grandchildren had inherited his property, and the story tells of how their arrival into Cassandra's life results in changes for her and her family. Some people fall in love, some people don't fall in love, and I was very pleased to see that the book did not turn out as predictable as I expected. In other words, it was not necessarily the people I expected to fall in love that did. Dodie Smith had obviously thought long and hard about each character, and the book was true to each of them all the way through.

As I read the book, I fancied that I saw something of Cassandra in myself. Obviously not the poverty or lifestyle, but there was something about her outlook on life that I related to. I guess that anyone who acknowledges that the thought of eggs for tea may have contributed to them never having felt happier in their life is my kind of person.

So, who should read this book? Well, I think I'll be buying this for my nieces for Christmas (they're 13). I was slightly sad that I hadn't read it when I was that age, as it was exactly the kind of book that I loved back then. However, I will also be buying a copy for my 72 year old mum, as I am sure that she will thoroughly enjoy it too. It would seem that it's another one for the girls.

Next Book: The Twits, Roald Dahl.

83. Holes, Louis Sachar

Date Finished: 14/06/2011
My Rating: 5/5

There is a quote on the front of my copy of this book from Philip Pullman, saying 'Unmistakably powerful', and I couldn't agree more.

Holes is, quite simply, wonderful. A really beautiful story, brilliantly written and just so engrossing that I finished it in a day, and had the biggest smile on my face (whilst letting a few happy tears sneak out of my eyes) for the last few chapters as all the bits of the tale came together. I absolutely, totally, 100% loved it.

So, who should read this book? You. You should read this book.

Sorry it's a short post, but I can't think of anything else to say. Just read the book. I'm off to eat an onion...

Next Book: I Capture the Castle, Dodie Smith

84. Gormenghast, Mervyn Peake

Date Finished: 13/06/2011
My Rating: 3/5

271 chapters. 953 pages. 41 days. At the end of all that, I get to say (or, in fact, shout from the rooftops) that I'VE MANAGED TO READ THE GORMENGHAST TRILOGY AND IT DIDN'T DEFEAT ME!

It was this book that toppled my last Big Read challenge. On the list itself is just Gormenghast, the second book of the trilogy, however when I started reading it for my last attempt I soon realised that I probably needed to have read the first book to make any sense of it. It was this first book, Titus Groan, that I just couldn't get through.

Several years later and I went straight in with Titus Groan and, armed with dedication, determination, a hell of a lot of commitment and a good sprinkle of stubborn-ness, I made it through all three books. What I discovered is that despite having this time read the first book, Gormenghast was still as difficult and confusing to read as I'd found it the last time round. Ah well, I struggled on. I probably could have justified not reading the third book, 'Titus Alone', however, for the sake of completeness I decided to read that one too. It felt very different to numbers 1 and 2, but this is probably due to the fact that it was originally printed from a typescript from Peake's notebooks and the version I read was a further revised version, taking into account editors notes and Peake's own corrections. It did feel somewhat unpolished.

I found the whole saga hard work, and not just because the font is teenie-tiny! Peake overloads the reader with description. Honestly, he'll take a whole chapter to describe how heavy the air is, and I found it hard to maintain concentration. I'd be reading for a little while, and then realise that I wasn't really taking anything in, worry that I'd missed the one bit that was important, and have to go back and read the last couple of paragraphs again. Hey, maybe that means I've actually read Gormenghast twice. Peake himself alludes to it at one point, and this just jumped out of the page at me, writing "Tiresome in the extreme for all those present, it would be hardly less tedious for the reader to be obliged to suffer the long catalogue of Breakfast ritual,...". Yeah, too late, mister!! I'm quite convinced he could have told the entire trilogy in half the number of pages.

My other problem with this book is that very little seemed to happen for any purpose. For me, whole chunks could have been taken out, and it would have had little effect on the overall direction of the story. It is mentioned throughout the book how important the rituals and ceremony is for Gormenghast, but it never really explains why, and what would happen if this stops. I know it's fantasy, and maybe you don't need to know, but it might have helped.

There are several characters who, along with their story lines, neither helped nor advanced the book in any way. Having said that, there were some characters that I really enjoyed reading about, and was happy when a chapter started with something about them. Without spoiling the book for anyone who wants to read it, Peake disposes of a few characters in a way that I really didn't think they deserved. In fact, there is one particular case where I don't think it was necessary at all for the character to fall from the windowsill and drown, and that bit (for anyone who knows which character I'm talking about) really annoyed me, and was one of the (many) times that a shout of 'this book is so frustrating!' could be heard from our living room.

To give the book its due, there were pockets of the trilogy that were very exciting. For example, chapter 58 (FIFTY EIGHT!!) of Gormenghast, was a complete page turner. Sad that I'd had to read 647 pages of the trilogy to get to that, but it definitely was a good chapter. Unfortunately however, for the most of it, it wasn't exactly exciting. I couldn't read it in bed, because I'd get through a couple of paragraphs and then wake up several hours later with the book stuck to my face. Now, don't get me wrong, I don't need a book to be thoroughly exciting for me to like it, but I do like some progression over time. I like things to, you know, happen.

I moaned a lot about Gormenghast to friends and on Twitter, and several people couldn't understand why I didn't just give it up, and so here is my answer to that. Partly because I refuse to be defeated by a book (which is lucky, seeing as Ulysses is now on the horizon!), and secondly I've set myself a challenge, and it would be a sad thing to have given up before I got even a quarter of the way through. But the third and final reason? This may be a shocker, but I really enjoyed it. Just because something is hard work, doesn't mean that it's not enjoyable. Characters like Fuchsia, Irma Prunesquallor and Steerpike put a smile on my face each time I read about them. It may be a trudge to get through, but all that description gives a real picture in your head of what the castle and it's corridors and forgotten rooms were like. Ok, the sense of pride I got from finishing it may have bumped my rating up by an extra 1/2 mark, but this book is worth a read if only for descriptions such as "He lifted his catapult from beside him and raising it to his mouth he pursed his thin, merciless lips and kissed it as a withered spinster might kiss a spaniel's nose". Anyway, I've ordered the old BBC adaptation on LoveFilm, so it obviously didn't put me off too much.

So, who should read this book? Fantasy fans with a high level of commitment, definitely. Determination is a pre-requisite, as it's a hefty volume, but you'll be proud of yourself when you get to the end.

Next Book: Holes, Louis Sachar

85: The God of Small Things, Arundhati Roy

Date Finished: 03/05/2011
Rating: 5/5

Oh my, do I love this book. I read it in my first attempt at completing the BBC Big Read, but all that I could remember about it was that I hadn't heard of it beforehand, wasn't sure whether I'd like it, had then been gripped by the story telling and finished it thinking it was one of the best books I had ever read. This time round, I knew what to expect and it didn't disappoint.

Roy has a wonderful way with words, using prompts to remind the reader of how the personalities of the two central characters, 'two-egg' twins Estha and Rahel, have built up. She uses an innocence of language that betrays the complexity of the story, and moves between the present, set in the early 1990s, and the past, about 23 years previously, without leaving the reader (i.e. me!) confused.

The God of Small Things is the story of a family in India and the events and tragedy that affect their lives. The undercurrent of the story is love. But particularly loving too much, and in the wrong way. So, don't expect to feel all warm and fuzzy inside after reading this book, although the last chapter is particularly beautiful and poignant. Bits of this book are utterly heart wrenching, and I felt like I was reading from behind the sofa for some of it. I definitely cried.

So, who should read this book? Pretty much everyone I think. A brilliant first novel from Roy, a Booker prize winner, and an exceptional piece of writing. My first 5/5 rating, and well deserved.

Next Book: Gormenghast, Mervyn Peake

86: Vicky Angel, Jacqueline Wilson

Date Finished: 15/04/2011
My Rating 4/5

The second Jacqueline Wilson book on the list, and a welcome change of pace after Brave New World and Cold Comfort Farm, although it did make me cry on the bus again. A lot. In fact, I had to have a wee sit down and a quiet sob when I got home.

This is the story of how a young girl, Jade, comes to terms with the tragic death of her best friend Vicky (don't worry, I haven't spoilt this for you, it happens at the end of the first chapter and is written on the back of the book). Throughout the book, Vicky appears to Jade, influencing her behaviour and attitude. Now, I read this as though it was Jade's imagination and her method of coping with the loss of her friend that made Vicky appear so life like when she needed her. However, Wilson completely leaves it up to the reader to decide whether this is the case, or whether in fact Vicky is a ghost that is staying with Jade while she needs her. Whichever the reader decides, the book explores grief in a sensitive, considerate and compassionate way.

I really love reading kid's books, and got through this in a day. Having now read a couple of Jacqueline Wilson's books, I have found them to be consistently well written, and would have absolutely loved them as a child. She has a lovely style of writing that is sensitive to the characters, and whisks the reader along with them, providing laughs and tears aplenty.

So, who should read this book? Another one for the girls (although I'm not discriminating, I'm sure it would be equally enjoyed by the boys!).

Next Book: The God of Small Things, Arundhati Roy

87: Brave New World, Aldous Huxley

Date Finished: 14/04/2011
My Rating: 4/5

I have been struggling to decide what to write about Brave New World. I have now read the book twice, and without doubt have enjoyed it both times, however I just haven't been able to think of anything to say about it.

Set in a future where humans are not born, but genetically engineered to fit perfectly into their 'caste', be it the high performing Alphas or the 'semi-moron' Epsilons. They are conditioned from birth (although 'birth' is probably not the right word... er, conditioned from detachment from the machines, I guess), fear and unhappiness are pretty much a thing of the past. People don't question their lot in life, and if things do get too much they can always take a 'soma holiday', a drug-induced state without the come-down.

Introduce to this a 'savage', one actually born in the Indian reservation to a mother who got lost on a trip there. She has tried to condition her son as best she can, and with his arrival in the 'utopian' society you get the expected conflict between having an engineered, yet content(ish), society and a desire, and in fact need, for art, beauty, creativity and individualism.

Brave New World is definitely a 'thinker'. The style of writing flowed well for me, and I found it an easy read, although not so easy on my emotions, particularly with that ending!

So, who should read this book? Definitely one for those who like stories of a dystopian society, but I think it's a great book to read for anyone. It would be interesting to have read it when it was first published, not that this will help anyone that didn't, and then go back to it now and see just how the world has changed and what Huxley got right. In fact, it's a very interesting read anyway just to see exactly what he did get right.

Oh look. I did think of something to write about this book.

Next book: Vicky Angel, Jacqueline Wilson

88: Cold Comfort Farm, Stella Gibbons

Date Finished: 10/04/2011
My Rating: 2/5

This was the second time that I've read this book, and I wasn't particularly looking forward to having to re-read it. But a challenge is a challenge, and it would be a sad thing to admit defeat before even reaching Gormenghast just because I remember a book boring me.

Nevertheless, I actually enjoyed it a little bit more this time round. I think I'd missed the fact that it was supposed to be a parody, and therefore funny. Now I don't really like to advertise a possible lack of sense of humour, obviously, but I was pleased to find that this time round there were some parts that made me smile. Not laugh necessarily, just smile.

Understanding that this book parodies the fiction of the time it was published (early 1930s if I recall correctly) probably helps, but I just found Flora annoying and unwelcome. In fact, there wasn't a single character that I even liked a little bit.

So, who should read this book? I think this is one for people who appreciate subtle humour, but who also enjoy the rural-life, romanticised novels that it pokes fun at. It is a pleasant read, just not particularly for me.

Next book: Brave New World, Aldous Huxley

89: Magician, Raymond E Feist

Date Finished: 06/04/2011
My Rating: 4/5

I have an odd relationship with fantasy books (and films). I would never describe myself as a fantasy or science fiction fan. I'm very fussy about the genre, however if I find a fantasy book that I like, then I really, really like it, and this is the case for Magician.

Magician is a chunky novel that, despite its size, is very easy to read. As you would expect in a book that size there are a number of characters, each with names that aren't quite familiar (you know, take an English name and change a letter, fantasy standards), however Feist introduces them in such a way that you don't get confused between them.

The plot is reasonably complicated, with two different worlds brought together by a magical rift. There are fantasy staples like the big battles, dwarves, elves, dragons, spellbound armour etc, however despite all this, or probably because of Feist's skill in using all this, I found it an exciting and gripping novel, that swept me along with it and provided me with characters to care about and people to cheer for and all sorts.

This is the first of three books in Feist's Riftwar Saga, and when I have finished this challenge I will more than likely re-read this book, and then move on to the two sequels.

So, who should read this book? Well, if you're a fantasy fan and haven't already read it, then shame on you! And if you're not a fantasy fan, but enjoy a well-told story then definitely pick it up and give it a go. It might just open up a whole new genre for you.

Next book: Cold Comfort Farm, Stella Gibbons

90: On the Road, Jack Kerouac

Date Finished: 16/03/2011
My Rating: 1/5

I had been really looking forward to reading this book. I'd heard people say things like 'it was an instant classic' and 'it changed my life' and all sorts of exciting things like that. Oh, how my bubble was burst! What I am about to write may be controversial, but I really didn't like this book. I found it an absolute drag to get through, I hated the characters, and found very little of interest about the story at all.

Now, part of this may not exactly be the fault of the book. To me, it reads like a bit of cliche, but I think this is due to the style of writing being copied so many times since On the Road was published that the book has suffered as a consequence. I'm sure that when it was first published it would have been exciting to pick up and read something so new and different, but personally I had to force myself to get through it to the end.

I cared little for the characters. Dean Moriarty sounded like a total pain, and the way he treated his women was just saddening. In fact, the way I interpreted all the characters was that if they had walked into a pub that I was in, it would have annoyed me. They'd be that bunch of people that talk too loudly because they think that they are the only ones in the pub with anything interesting to say, and that everybody else should just know that they are cool. You know, because they were all about the 'beat' or whatever. If you then left the pub, giving them a dirty look because they were acting like dicks, they would feel sorry for you because you just don't get 'it', and would never understand them or what they were about. Oof, my worst nightmare.

This book must be loved by lots of people, and I kind of wish I was one of them. But I'm not.

So, who should read this book? I'm not quite sure how to answer this question. People that I have spoken to that remembered enjoying it, said they read it in their late teens, so maybe that's the way forward. Or if you have a list of classics that you want to get through and this is on it!!

Next book: Magician, Raymond E. Feist

91: The Godfather, Mario Puzo

Date Finished: 05/03/2011
My Rating: 4/5

I have been thinking about what to say about this book for the last couple of days. It is one of those books that I wouldn't necessarily have picked up unless it was on this list. I read it during my first attempt at the Big Read and immediately found myself sucked in and unable to put it down, and had a similar experience second time round.

I can't entirely put my finger on why I liked this book so much. Don Corleone, and his son Michael, command respect throughout the book, not only from the other characters, but from the reader. The Don has strong family values, is intelligent, calm and calculating. So what if his family business is mafia? Does that matter if he is very, very good at it?? In this intriguing, well-constructed tale of corruption and power you understand the workings of the Family, without the frills and glamour of many other mafia stories (or so I'm led to believe, I have to be honest and say that I haven't read that many mafia-type books... just seen a few mafia-type films!)

On the subject of the films, I watched the Godfather trilogy shortly after finishing the book the first time round. If my memory serves me right, the first two films followed the book quite closely, and having read the book, I had a greater depth of understanding of the characters. I have absolutely no recollection of watching the third film, except that I have a sneaking suspicion that it has little to do with the book. Maybe someone could fill me in on that one???

So, who should read this book? I can't think of a reason why anybody wouldn't enjoy it.

Next Book: On the Road, Jack Kerouac

92: The Clan of the Cave Bear, Jean M Auel

Date Finished: 25/02/2011
My Rating: 4.5/5

This was my second time round reading this book, and I loved it as much this time as I had the first time. Set approximately 30 - 35,000 years ago, the central character is Ayla who, at the start of the book is orphaned by an earthquake. Alone at 5 years old , and unwilling to stay at the site of the quake, she runs. She is eventually found, having survived on water alone, injured and unconscious by a group of Neanderthals, the Clan, who are looking for a new home after the same earthquake destroyed theirs. Their medicine woman is granted permission to help the child, and carries her with them. She is accepted into the Clan, although not necessarily by each individual member, and the resulting story is simply fantastic.

It is clear that Auel has researched this book thoroughly. The descriptions of the scenery are beautiful, and Auel's knowledge of the medicinal use of plants of the time shines through. Based on what evidence is available, and making certain assumptions to fill in the gaps, Auel has built a story of survival, power and love. Ayla seems to have a different kind of intelligence, and her use of logic enables her to adapt her own abilities to benefit the clan. Her differences, both physical and in her mental ability, prove contentious throughout the story as she battles to behave in the manner expected of her.

This is a gripping novel, that I couldn't put down, and there were more tears in public I'm afraid. Just brilliant.

So, who should read this book? EVERYONE!!! I genuinely can't recommend this highly enough.

Next Book: The Godfather, Mario Puzo

93: The Colour of Magic, Terry Pratchett

Date Finished: 14/02/2011
My Rating: 3/5

I have history with this book. When I was in my early teens my dad tried to get me to read it, being pretty sure that I would like Terry Pratchett. I just couldn't get started with it at all. Then, a few years later the amateur dramatic company I was in at the time staged a production of Pratchett's 'Wyrd Sisters'. I read that book and absolutely loved it, and so began my love affair with Terry Pratchett. I caught up with all his other books that he'd written and then went back to the Colour of Magic, determined not to leave any unread. I managed to get through it, but even after getting used to Pratchett's style of writing and the characters and such like, I found it tough going. Even when I read it for a second time during my first attempt at the Big Read, I found it tough going.

When Sky did their production of it with David Jason, I watched it and thought it was pretty good actually. My favourite of the discworld books are the ones that focus on the guards or the witches, and the wizard ones are my least favourite, so that may have been why I struggled with it each time I tried to read it.

Nevertheless, I settled down with it this time round and got through it relatively quickly. For me, the Colour of Magic doesn't read as well as the other discworld books. It is almost as if Pratchett hasn't quite got into the flow of the characters and the language of his subsequent stories. I don't know whether it is because I'm a bit older this time round, or because I haven't read any other Pratchett books for a while, but I definitely enjoyed it more than I was expecting, and laughed out loud at parts. I wonder if my fellow bus users are getting used to my outbursts yet...

So, who should read this book? Anyone that has read some Pratchett before. I wouldn't necessarily recommend it to first-time Pratchetters. It might put you off the rest of them, and that would never do!

Next Book: The Clan of the Cave Bear, Jean M Auel

94: The Alchemist, Paulo Coelho

Date Finished: 08/02/2011
My Rating: 4.5/5

I have actually read this book at least twice before, and recommended it to, or just bought it for, friends. It is such a lovely read, beautifully written with an enchanting tale of a young shepherd in Andalucia who has a dream one night that sets him on a different path through life. Understanding the signs that are shown to him along his way, he experiences people and places that conspire to help him achieve his goal.

I think this is truly an inspiring book, and each time I have read it it has left me with such a feeling of calm. It always makes me feel reflective of the choices that I have made in my own life, and also positive about the choices that I will make in the future. There is a real message of not being afraid to follow your dreams.

So, who should read this book? Anyone looking for some inspiration to achieve their dreams. It really doesn't take long to read. I would suggest a picnic blanket, some sandwiches and a sunny afternoon in a park as the perfect accompaniments.

Next Book: The Colour of Magic, Terry Pratchett

95: Katherine, Anya Seton

Date Finished: 04/02/2011
My Rating: 4/5

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. It is the love story of Katherine de Roet and John of Gaunt. Based on records from the 14th Century, Seton has constructed the tale of a great romance between these two that spanned many years, eventually leading to their marriage. At the front of the book is a family tree showing how the royal lines of England (and in the case of John, of Spain) descended from them.

Seton has taken the information known about the time and extrapolated a feasible story of how their relationship developed and the type of people that they were. Obviously there has been some artistic licence used in the details, and there is some dispute about the existence of Katherine's eldest daughter from her first marriage, 'Blanchette', however the end result is an easy-to-read, beautifully descriptive account of history. From the excitement of Katherine as she left the convent where she had been placed for her education prior to joining her elder sister in the Queen's court, to her marriage to the rather gruff Sir Swynford, to the developing relationship with John, this book engages the reader throughout.

So, who should read this book? I know that I would have loved this book as a teenager, but anyone really with an interest in history and a love of romance.

Next Book: The Alchemist, Paulo Coelho

96: Kane and Abel, Jeffrey Archer

Date Finished: Unrecorded
My Rating: 2/5

DISCLAIMER: I think Jeffrey Archer is a knob.

Right then, with that disclaimer out of the way, I can safely say that I wasn't particularly looking forward to reading this book.

However, it was an easy read for a lengthy book. I read the 30th anniversary edition, which I realised afterwards isn't exactly the same as the original, but I assume it's similar enough. I ain't reading it again! I didn't like the main characters particularly, although the story of Abel would have made for an interesting book in itself. This is the story of two people from very different starts in life, who were born on the same day; one into privilege and the other into poverty. Anyways, as luck should have it, their paths cross and the story becomes one of misunderstandings and revenge and all sorts of exciting things like that. I found it quite predictable, and it relies heavily on coincidence, but at the end of the day I read it quickly so couldn't have hated it. Archer is clever enough to make neither character worse nor better than the other. For very different reasons they were both ambitious to the point of ruthlessness, and I think Archer was probably aiming for empathy with both characters, but actually I didn't really care about either of them.

So, who should read this book? This would probably make quite a good holiday novel if you see it at an airport, but generally I'd say those who are impressed by people with power and money. Or bankers.

Next book: Katherine, Anya Seton

97: Love in the Time of Cholera, Gabriel Garcia Marquez

Date Finished: Unrecorded
My Rating: 3/5

OK, so this was a book that, despite not particularly liking the main characters, I enjoyed. I found the first couple of chapters incredibly frustrating. You read the first chapter and think that the book is going to be about Dr Juvenal Urbino. Then, at the end of the chapter he falls off a ladder while trying to rescue his parrot and dies. Don't worry, this is not a spoiler... it is actually written on the back cover, I'd just forgotten. So then it felt kind of like the book started again and was about somebody else. And then at the start of the third chapter, it started again and was about yet another character. OK, so it took me a while to realise that actually the book is about all 3, the doctor, his wife Fermina Daza, and 'hopeless romantic' Florentino Arizo, and it isn't a straight timeline and all the rest of it. (Honestly, I'm more intelligent than this blog may make out at times!). This is a book about love, with rich descriptions that help keep what is quite a slow-paced story interesting. It is not a typical love story though, but includes the worries and woes, trials and tribulations that accompany human relationships.
As always with a book translated from another language there were times when I found the reading quite tough going, but generally it was an enjoyable read. The different aspects of the story linked together well. I lied a little at the start of this entry, the character that I didn't like was Arizo. He just made me feel a little uncomfortable (plus I'm sure he'd be poorly... if you read the book, you'll understand why).
So, who should read this book? This is definitely one for those who like contemporary fiction. No tricks, just good story-telling.

Next book: Kane and Abel, Jeffrey Archer

98. Girls in Love, Jacqueline Wilson

Date Finished: Unrecorded
My Rating: 3.5/5

Another kid's book, this one aimed at 11 - 16 year old girls, and I read it in a day. Jacqueline Wilson books pop up a couple of times on this list, and I was pleased to discover that she writes an incredibly easy-to-read story. Written in the first person, with Ellie as the narrator, this book explores the friendship and experience of three Year 9 (age 14ish I think) best friends. Ellie is the slightly dumpy one, lacking in self-confidence, and constantly comparing herself, negatively, to her two friends. I think almost everyone will be able to relate to that!
On the back of the book is a list 'written' by Ellie, of 9 reasons why you should read this book. Two of those reasons are (and these, in my opinion, are good enough reasons to read any book) 'you can have lots of laughs', and 'you might even cry a bit too'. I did both of those things, and again read most of this on the bus. Public displays of exaggerated emotion are embarrassing enough, but when you are 31 years old, on the number 52 in Sheffield, reading a book aimed at 11 year olds, and going from laughing out loud to crying actual tears, it's probably time to get a grip.
So, who should read this book? Again, girls. Probably young girls, but I don't think you'd think it was a waste of an afternoon even if you're a grown-up, responsible adult.

Next book: Love in the Time of Cholera, Gabriel Garcia Marquez

99: The Princess Diaries, Meg Cabot

Date Finished: Unrecorded
My Rating: 3.5/5

I expected nothing from this book. Absolutely nothing. Don't get me wrong, I love reading kid's books, and after the rather grown-up Midnight's Children I was actually quite pleased to have an 'easy' read as my second book. I am not, however, a 'girly' girl. I had seen the trailer for the film of this book, and expected the book (and film) to be twee and predictable and a little bit naff.
It was all of those things, and yet I read it cover to cover in about 2 days, a tear escaped my eye (the first Big Read related embarrassing tears on the bus... there are many more to come!), and I found myself remembering that I was in fact a 'girly' girl, had wanted to find out I was a princess when I was a kid, and I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
I liked the fact that Mia, the Princess in question (I want to say eponymous... am I tapping into English terms from my Highers???), didn't immediately rejoice in her discovery. In fact it totally freaked her out, as I'm sure it would you and me. I also rather liked the cantankerous old grandmother in it.
So, who should read this book? GIRLS! Girly girls. Girls who have forgotten that they are girly girls. And girls that completely deny that they have ever been girly girls. You might surprise yourself. (or you might completely hate it, but it won't take up too much of your life, so why not give it a go!).

100: Midnight's Children, Salman Rushdie

Date Finished: Unrecorded
My Rating: 3/5

I felt rather intimidated picking up the first book of my challenge and it being quite a big one, and written by Salman Rushdie no less. Fortunately however, I spent a lot of time reading as a child and teenager, and had a couple of years with no TV in my early 20s, so am no stranger to picking up a chunky novel and settling down with it. I was somewhat out of practice, or habit maybe, and this book took me a long time to read, as I literally only read it on the half-hour bus journeys to and from work a couple of times a week and the occasional lunch break too.
Weirdly, what I remember most about the first half of the book (remember that I'm back-blogging this), is that I kept forgetting that it wasn't a true story. Now, this is weird because the 'Midnight Children' are more than just a little bit magic. Think characters out of Heroes for an idea of some of their 'powers'. The True Story thing is down to Rushdie's style of writing, as it is told from the viewpoint of the main character looking back over his rather eventful life.
I thoroughly enjoyed the book right up until the last chapter, and then remember feeling a little bit disappointed with the way that it ended. Without going back and re-reading the whole book, I'm afraid I won't be able to tell you exactly what made me feel like that, but do not let that put you off reading it.
So, who would enjoy reading this book? This is not a trashy airport novel, and is definitely a bit of a 'thinker'. I would probably recommend investing more time into reading it than I did so that you don't lose the fluidity of the story. There are a few twists and turns in there that you will do well to keep abreast of.
Anyways, apologies that this is not more in-depth. As I have mentioned, I finished this probably about 6 months ago, so am going on memories. Not the best start to my blog, I know, but I wouldn't feel like it was complete if I didn't mention something about the first 15 books I have read.