Daydreams and Delights

Sunday, 13 September 2009

Harry Potter

I have finally given in and decided that I really should read the Harry Potter novels. I read the first two years ago (when there were only two!) but never got any further. Having seen all of the films so far I thought it might be nice to try and read all the novels before the final two films come out (I hear that the last novel is being made into two films...)

I'm only a few chapters into the first book and am really enjoying it so far, although I don't feel hooked. Maybe I'll feel differently when I get to the first cliffhanger?

Sunday, 6 September 2009

New reading

Well, finished off A Dark Adapted Eye pretty darn quick. It was a really absorbing read and I feel quite bereft now I will not learn anymore about the strange lives of the Hillyards et al. Definitely the type of characters that will stay with me for a long time. Has made me want to read more Barbara Vine, but then there's always the worry that another novel just won't be as good. Any suggestions or recommendations very gratefully received!

Thought of another book it reminded me of, or rather a series of books - The Cazalet chronicles by Elizabeth Jane Howard, probably because of the similar period setting and the family saga elements.

So, for a change of scenery, my next book is Innocent Traitor by Alison Weir. I'm a big fan of Philippa Gregory's tudor court novels and am hoping that I will enjoy Alison Weir's historical fiction just as much!

Wednesday, 2 September 2009

Comment on Giles

Hmmm, in an idle moment I have just flicked back through all my posts. I have only ever received one comment, and that was when I mentioned my weird crush on Giles Coren. So maybe mentioning Giles Coren again will rouse people's interests? Worth a try!

Tuesday, 1 September 2009

New reading

Have started reading A Dark Adapted Eye by Barbara Vine. It's one of those books I have had my eye on (excuse the pun!) for a while and keep meaning to read but have never quite got around to. Finally found it for 50p in a charity shop and decided now was the time. So far, it hasn't disappointed. In fact, it has un disappointed (if that's possible). I do love it when you find a book that totally draws you in and you find yourself sneaking another couple of pages/chapters in at any opportunity. It's dark and sinister, funny in parts with a lively and totally believable range of characters. It reminds me slightly of so many books, but in very good ways - The Crow Road by Iain Banks, The Franchise Affair by Josephine Tey and The Robber Bride by Margaret Atwood. There's hints and references to all these mysterious happenings in a large and complex family. Just brilliant. Kind of wish I had suggested it for our next Book Club. Instead, I shall have to settle for telling everyone how thoroughly enjoyable it is. And I'm only on chapter 7...

Even more exciting, I have just found there was a tv adaptation back in 1994, starring Helena Bonham-Carter and Celia Imrie (oh, and Honeysuckle Weeks, whom I love just because of her name...) Bliss! I'm off to Love Film to stick it on my rental list!

Monday, 24 August 2009

Freebie!

Managed to get a FREE BOOK today. Wow! Cannot tell you how excited I was on getting to work, checking my emails to see that one of the managers (who is heading off to live in Hong Kong) had brought in a box of books she wanted to get rid of. I was over there like a shot and managed to nab Claire Tomalin's biography of Samuel Pepys - The Unequalled Self. Lucky ol' me.

I also managed to resist picking up three Kate Atkinson novels, telling myself they're really more of a library book then one to have your own copy of. I don't know - maybe you disagree. I have only read One Good Turn and thoroughly enjoyed it, but don't think I'll ever want to read it again, or lend it to a friend as a must-read, although I definitely do want to read more of her work.

Funny how you categorise books... I'd be really interested to hear how you justify a book purchase, or what criteria you follow...