The Outsider by Albert Camus

Yes! I have just read the first line of the entry for this book in "1001 Books to Read ...". It states: "The Outsider is a novel of absolute flatness." I couldn't have put it better myself. Quite bizarre ... the reader learns about the death of the narrator's mother, his relationship with a girl, his sort-of relationship with a neighbour, into whose life he becomes involved because it might sort of seem rude not to, although that would insinuate some sort of feeling of which there appears to be none, a murder occurs, a trial, an execution looms ... all dispassionately accounted, blankly, without emotion or apparent interest. Very strange book to read ...

A Burnt-Out Case by Graham Greene

I always enjoy a Graham Greene book, and this one was no exception, although I have read better. Querry arrives at a leproserie in the Congo, wanting simply to be away from his old life. He's bored with life. The priests mostly let him get on with it, just being, but an expat (or "colon") discovers who he is - "the" Querry - and gets involved being a busybody. Poor Querry.

There is an underlying theme of belief and non-belief, and an interesting, if quite bizarre, ending.

The Amber Spyglass by Philip Pullman

Well, I've finished it. In about four days I have completed the "His Dark Materials" trilogy, with the final book being read today. And I have enjoyed it. There were a number of strands of the story going on all the time, but I managed to just about follow them. Many people have spoken against this trilogy, because it seems to be against the Church, and the main enemy in the book is an organised religion that has many trappings of the hierarchy of the Catholic Church; however, writers have always used different ideas and institutions as inspiration, and the story of friendship and love triumphing (although over what is never entirely clear) and people from different races working together is a positive and encouraging one. Even if the ideas of the Almighty and the Metatron being overcome are slightly absurd and comical in the telling ... It's been a good journey, and journeying is what this book is all about.

The Subtle Knife by Philip Pullman

I managed to read this book within the day ... and I have sought out the final book, The Amber Spyglass, from amongst the books on the bookshelf, this morning. Pullman introduces Will, from our own universe, who clambers through a window to another world, where he meets Lyra, also out of her world. In this world, spectres suck the concentration from adults leaving them listless, but they leave children alone. The two children are still interested in Dust, and Lyra meets with Dr Malone in WIll's world, who may be able to help them - in the final book. There are a few incidents which begin in this book but are not mentioned again - many threads to be tied up in the final book. Right, must go - I've a book to read!

Northern Lights by Philip Pullman

I had not really fancied reading this first book in Philip Pullman's "His Dark Materials" trilogy. I think perhaps because of the width of some of the books, which looked quite long, because of the controversy, the comments that it is anti-Christian, because of the fact that it is fantasy, with daemons, witches, and other such creatures.

However, facing a long tube journey, I decided that now was the opportunity. I would have nothing else to do for 20 minutes - perhaps I could make a start.

And start it I did - that was noon yesterday, and by around 10am this morning I had finished it.

I really enjoyed hearing about Lyra and Pan's travels and adventures, with her alethiometer, the gyptians, a bear clad in sky-metal, trying to rescue Roger and the other children that had been kidnapped by the Gobblers, who were facing the horrors of intercision, and trying to escape from her mother while trying to reach her father. A story of betrayals and heroic actions.

I have now started on "The Subtle Knife", in which Lyra is joined, a few days after "Northern Lights" finishes, by Will, from our universe. More later ...

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by JK Rowling

It has been done! In about ten hours, I have finished the 600+ page book. I know the fates of Harry, Ron, Hermione and the rest. I managed (mainly) without seeing spoilers (I vaguely saw one, a really bad one as it turned out, but fortunately I closed it down quickly so managed to not see all the words clearly and got some of the ideas muddled up, which was good).

The writing itself is not important - in places it is a pedestrian and overwrought, a but cliched, but overall it is gripping, because of the importance of this story. What will happen? Why did the things that have happened in the past happen that way? Towards the end there are some (almost deus ex machina like) revelations, which I enjoyed because I wanted to know them, but perhaps too simply shared! But we are talking about wizards, so these types of revelations are not that unusual - I mean the manner in which they are revealed, not necessarily the revelations themselves!

To be honest, there is not a lot of character development here - we do get to know more about many of the characters, and they do get to know more about themselves, but in the main the characters are by now developed.

(Sorry, this is quite hard to review without giving away any details!)

The best bit was obviously when Snape marries McGonagall. Nice touch, Dumbledore giving them away.

(Would I do that to you? Really?!)

Don't Tell Mummy by Toni Maguire

Why read this book? Well, if you want to read shocking and fairly graphic tales of incestuous rape, then I guess this is the book for you. Not for me, I have to say. Felt I ought to finish it, but I felt it was really lacking in any sort of hope or positive message. The reactions of people who learnt about the situation was appalling, and hopefully police, doctors, social services etc don't react in the same way now, but other than that, I wouldn't really recomment it. It's a strange, morbid fascination sort of book.

Knocked Out By My Nunga-Nungas by Louise Rennison

Another school library book. This time comedy. Very teenage comedy. Loads of snogging. Or thinking about snogging. Or writing in the diary about snogging. Or talking on the phone about snogging. Quite funny, but not as much as some of the others one I've read. More funny in a "was I ever like that? No, I don't think so ... but ..." type of way. Have to say, I wasn't as impressed as I'd hoped to be. Not my type of book perhaps ... maybe I've outgrown books about teenage comic snogging!

The Boy Who Lost His Face by Louis Sacher

From the author of Holes comes another great book. This was quite a funny book, again from the school library, and was a story of friendship as well as curses. Nice twist in the tale, and a mysterious yet bizarre epilogue. I have to say I am enjoying charging through these books written for a younger audience - they are enjoyable, light and easily digestible in style if not in content.

Checkmate by Malorie Blackman

It's been a long wait. But well worth waiting for!

The Noughts and Crosses trilogy started a few years ago, and the first book - Noughts and Crosses - was one of the best books I've ever read. It was on the BBC's "Big Read" 100 best books list, and is also in the 1001 Books to Read Before You Die.

The story is vaguely Romeo and Juliet, partly based on apartheid, and is very contemporary, dealing with issues of terrorism as well as racism and immigration. The love story is poignant, and at times you want bad things to happen, because the only alternative is even worse. Noughts and Crosses has one of most heartbreaking endings I've read in a book. The second book, Knife Edge, and the final installment, which I read in almost one sitting and finished just before midnight yesterday, continue the stories of the main characters over the next 16 years.

If the first book is the the possibility of hope, and the second is the loss of hope, then the third is the hope of hope. Once again, as the characters develop, reality kicks in, and even though you want the ultimate happy ending, you realise that there probably won't be an entirely happy one - but there may be a hopeful one, which would be enough. You hope and feel for the characters, agonising over their misunderstandings and their fears, frustrated over their inability to be honest and open with each other - but understanding, having read the other books, why it came to be this way.

I highly recommend the whole Noughts and Crosses trilogy (and anything by Malorie Blackman.)

Just In Case by Meg Rosoff

Another book from the school library. What do you do if you think Fate's out to get you? If you're David Case, then you decide to outwit Fate by changing your personality. David becomes Justin, he changes his clothes, his hobbies, his outlook on life. His little brother tries to communicate with him using his building bricks - Jstn Case What? - and his friend gets on well with his imaginary dog. A slightly surreal book ... very interesting. Who or what is Fate? Are some people unlucky? Or, if they have survived a number of near misses, are they not, in fact, very lucky?

Dangerous Reality by Malorie Blackman

I am still waiting, and looking forward to, reading the final book in the Noughts and Crosses trilogy. However, in the meantime, I was happy to borrow another of Malorie Blackman's books for children from the school library.

Dangerous Reality tells the story of Dominic, whose Mum has designed a Virtual Interactive Mobile System - VIMS for short. There is action in this book, but it also shows Dominic finding out more about himself.

This book is definitely written for younger readers (and younger than those that Noughts and Crosses is aimed at), but it's still nice to have a quick read that still has elements of suspense - I guessed at some of the twists, but not the biggest one, so that was good.

Wild Swans by Jung Chang

I've finally finished it! Wild Swans was recently on a list of books that are started but not finished ... well, after about three months, I've finally finished it!

I think it's a case of "history being written by the victors", or at least history being retold by the literate. As she came towards the end of the book, with the descriptions of illiteracy being praised or prized, it seemed surprising that she was getting all the breaks, being able to go to school, to university, to get a job at the uni, to win the scholarship to the UK. But, of course, the reason she is able to write this book is precisely because it is her story.

I knew very little about Mao and Communist China before I read this book. I know a little more now ... it sounds a very harsh political climate, full of torture, thought police and lack of individuality. Chang is very descriptive, and many passages are very interesting.

But above all, it is a long book, that feels long.

Nights at the Circus by Angela Carter

What a treat! This has been one of those books that has been non-put-downable. I've followed H around DIY shops with my nose in a book, sat reading it in the car, been up late into the night, and lain in bed in the morning in order to finish it! With a touch of magic realism, a touch of humour, a touch of romance, a touch of travel ... it's been a great read, and I highly commend it!

It's a much longer book than Fear of Flying, but as you can see, it read it much more quickly ... and not even any tube journeys with it!

Fevvers is a woman with wings ... only a bird in a gilded cage ... Jack Walser is a journalist trying to find out if it's all a big con trick ... and when she goes off travelling with the circus, he goes too. Lots of interesting characters ... clowns, tiger tamers, a strong man, a prophetic pig, clever apes ... What's not to love?!

Fear of Flying by Erica Jong

Jewishness, psychoanalysis, sex. Those three words pretty much sum up this book. And boring. She writes better, I think, about "her" (the narrator's) past than present. Not really my cup of tea ... a bit too "so what?" Shame. I'd been quite looking forward to it ... before I realised what it was about! The prose style was fine, readable, but the storyline was a bit inconsequential. I would therefore disgree with John Updike's description of it: 'Unihibited, erotic, delicious ... a winner'. Apparently it was the "modern classic that changed the way we thought about sex". Hmmm. Nice cover, though.

After the Quake by Haruki Murakami

I finished this small book of short stories this morning. Each tale tells the story of someone who, in some way, was affected by the Kobe earthquake of 1995. Other than that, the stories are very different ... They deal with love, death, friendship, and some are fantastical. I hadn't realised it was a book of short stories when I began, so turned the page to find out what happened next, at the end of the first story, and got quite confused! An enjoyable little book, though. I do enjoy short stories, and the sense of completeness and incompleteness you get at the end ... what happened next?

The Breast by Philip Roth

A lecturer in Kafka and Gogol wakes up one morning to discover that he has turned into a six foot high mammary gland. What more can be said?!

Silk by Alessandro Baricco

I'm still ploughing through Wild Swans by Jung Chan, so this little novella by Alessandro Baricco, about silk, made a welcome retreat while I had my lunch. A short book, a short tale, a bittersweet tale. I'm glad that the list of 1001 Books to Read Before You Die is opening my eyes to a different sort of literature, to books I would not have chosen by myself.

A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man by James Joyce

I really enjoyed studying this at uni. My favourite passage was the hellfire sermon. I have drawn on it many a time since to demonstrate Medieval religion to little Year 7s.

I've just looked it up. The sermon is about seven pages long.

"Consider then what must be the foulness of the air of hell. Imagine some foul and putrid corpse that has lain rotting and decomposing in the grave, a jellylike mass of liquid corruption. Imagine such a corpse a prey to flames, devoured by the fire of burning brimstone and giving off dense choking fumes of nauseus loathsome decomposition. And then imagine this sickening stench, multiplied a millionfold and a millionfold again from the millions and millions of fetid carcasses massed together in this reeking darkness, a huge and rotting human fungus. Imagine all this and you will have some idea of the horror of the stench of hell."

And that's just the smell! The sermon goes on to describe the horrors, the tortures that would be faced by those in hell. And then the pupils at Stephen Dedalus' school are reminded of the sins they might commit that could send them to hell. No wonder this sermon sparked off Stephen's questioning.

The Rainbow by DH Lawrence

Again, it's been some time since I read this ... It was part of the course at uni.

Here is the opening paragraph.

"The Brangwens had lived for generations on the Marsh Farm, in the meadows where the Erewash twisted sluggishly through alder trees, separating Derbyshire from Nottinghamshire. Two miles away, a church- tower stood on a hill, the houses of the little country town climbing assiduously up to it. Whenever one of the Brangwens in the fields lifted his head from his work, he saw the church-tower at Ilkeston in the empty sky. So that as he turned again to the horizontal land, he was aware of something standing above him and beyond him in the distance."

Our lecturer began. "Many would say that the church tower is a phallic symbol, that it represents sex, and power ... I say that it represents that there was a church in the village."

Well, it got a laugh out of we first year students, who were used to having obscure symbolism pointed out to us in the literary texts that we studied, and having had English teachers who had seemed more than usually preoccupied with sex. In fact, my choice of personal essay in my Higher had been based on the fact that my English teacher seemed preoccupied with sex, and funnily enough that was about another, more well known, Lawrence novel.

It's interesting re-reading that paragraph now ... I used to live near there. But would never have expected that at the time I studied it!

The Thirty-Nine Steps by John Buchan

It's been some time since I read this. I had watched and enjoyed the film first, and at some point got round to reading an old, second hand, blue and black copy of the book. Enjoyed it, but can't remember much about it ... I remember the couple crossing the moor, handcuffed together, in the film, but then I've read articles since then that point out that the romantic interest was added for the film and was not present in the book, but I can't remember, so maybe I ought to read it again sometime. But there are still so many more to read ... I think I will keep plodding on.

The Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad

What a coincidence that this one should come next! We watched Apocalypse Now again a few nights ago, and it continues to amaze me that I was foolish to pass up on the opportunity to watch this at uni while I was studying the novel. I suppose loud, violent war movies didn't appeal to me then, even if they would have added a slant on the literature I had to study.

My favourite line?

`The last word he pronounced was - your name.'

Marlow to Kurtz' fiancee.

When he had actually said ... "The horror! the horror!" I always thought that was full of meaning. I mean, obviously "the horror" is full of meaning, but the implication that his Intended could also have been part of that horror. I've just been reading some interpretations, about how Marlow has managed to lie in order to protect the woman, but I've always thought it was an indictment on her. The Heart of darkness.

The Hound of the Baskervilles by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

I read this the way it was meant to be read. As a little girl, on holiday in the Ardennes, with rumours of a child kidnapper in the air. No, I don't think that is the way it was meant to be read ... be patient! Anyway, we were in a big, rambling farmhouse. The owner remembered that he had some old magazines in English in the attic somewhere. So off he went - and returned with two or three bound folders, full of original copies of The Strand. A very interesting magazine, I was soon devouring every page of it ... and more so when I started reading the serialised account of The Hound of the Baskervilles! It was a beautifully hot and sunny Belgian summer, and I could hear my parents looking for me, to go outside for a walk down to the bridge or to play outside, but there I was, lying upstairs on my bed, head in dusty old magazines, and imagination far away on English moors.

Dracula by Bram Stoker

No, I haven't read this one recently. But I had started this list by wanting to write about the books that I have read on the 1001 Books list, and then recently I have been adding the books that I have been reading at the moment. Well, at the moment I am reading "Wild Swans" by Jung Chang, and since we also have a visitor this week, and are waiting to be inspected at school, I am a bit behind with that. So I thought I'd use this opportunity to catch up with a few more of the books on the list that I have read. Dracula is the 37th book on my original list (which consisted of 91 books - I am pleased to report that I have read a few more books since then, so my total is a bit higher - those books have already been written about on here, though!)

So, Dracula. We watched a film a couple of months ago which was a variation on the theme. In it, Arthur Holmwood had contacted syphillis, so when married Lucy, he could not sleep with her without passing on this illness. The non-consummation of the marriage upset Lucy, who confides in her friend Mina that she is sad, but does not explain precisely why. In the meantime, and unbeknownst to Lucy, Arthur has contacted some strange characters who have said that they can cure him of this disease by giving him a blood transfusion. Mina's fiance, Jonathan Harker, is sent by his solicitor's firm to Transylvania. Mina does not hear of him again, so she is very sad too. Dracula eventually comes to England ... and finally bites Lucy etc etc. So it was Dracula with a twist. But I suppose that is one way to interpret Dracula - an STI that causes people to die, but not before they have passed it on. Very topical ...

A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian by Marina Lewycka

Hmm. This was shortlisted for the Orange Prize. Hmm. An interesting book, certainly, and I did not know about the Ukrainian famine and the hardships faced by Eastern European families as described here ... but, I feel there has to be a but! Perhaps there was too much hype surrounding the book. I couldn't say that I didn't enjoy the book, but compared to the feeling I have when a book has to be devoured, or the exquisiteness of Cold Comfort Farm, or the romanticness of Jane Austen, or the magic of Jostein Gaarder ... well, I suppose it's like comparing a kebab to a gourmet three course meal. Perhaps I just didn't "feel it", as my pupils would say.

I had wanted to read this for a while, and eventually bought the book in a motorway service station shop as part of a "buy one, get one half price" offer, when my husband was buying another book.

Right. The next one will be on the 1001 Books list ...

Cold Comfort Farm by Stella Gibbons

An exquisite book.

What was the "something nasty" Aunt Ada Doom saw in the woodshed?

(I feel that I should also add that much of this was read on the tube recently, and when we went to the cinema I carried on reading until the lights went down. Very funny, very unusual. A funny/strange feature: it is said "in the near future" - it was written in 1932, and at one point a character refers back to a 1942 war. What is funny is that you are not conscious of this normally - if anything, it has a real twenties/thirties feel about it - but every so often there's a strange anachronistic feature, such as "he dwiddled the dial on his picturephone" (that's not an actual quote, by the way!) or the "airpost". Anyway, other than that, this is a great book. Not bad for £2.49 at Oxfam ... As I said - exquisite.)

Like the Flowing River by Paulo Coelho

Paulo Coelho always writes interesting books. I love The Alchemist, which was for me, like many others, the first of Coelho's books that I encountered.

This book is a collection of reflections, often less than a page in length. Many of them are very moving. Some are funny. There are quite a lot of "life's like that" ideas, which I suppose in shorter form could grace the pages of the Reader's Digest magazine, although that seems quite flippant when writing about Coelho!

One of my favourite images was that of comparing a pupil to a pencil: 1) the pencil is guided by a hand, as we are by God; 2) sometimes the pencil needs to be sharpened - this brings suffering, but makes the pencil sharper, and better; 3) we can rub out the mistakes a pencil makes - correcting a mistake is a good thing; 4) what matters is not the wood outside but the graphite within; 5) the pencil always leaves a mark - so do we. We should consider what that mark is ...

A Christmas present from Mum, I will probably dip back into this ... I'm sure there are some assembly ideas in there!

Cry, the Beloved Country by Alan Paton

I have finally finished the first book of the year. And what a moving, great book it has been. Set in the South Africa of the 1940s, two men meet in sadness and despair but part in reconciliation and hope.

I love the way this book is written, from a variety of viewpoints and voices, breaking off from the main plot occasionally to touch upon other issues that matter. Very poetic.

Highly recommended. And only £1.49 from Oxfam ... A bargain.