The Hours by Michael Cunningham

I enjoyed reading this book; I was very conscious of it being well written, good prose. But at the same time I was wondering, how did this win the Pulitzer Prize? And then, in the very last line, I finally saw the final connection. Read the last chapter again and was surprised I'd missed it! And that seemed to make it all worthwhile. Interesting.
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City of the Beasts by Isabel Allende

This is one of Allende's books for young people, and as such it reads very differently from her other novels such as House of the Spirits. I have to say that I prefer her writing for adults, but this is quite a magical story. Alex and Nadia meet in the rainforest, and go on a spiritual journey in order to grow as people and, more importantly, to save the People of the Mist. Sometimes it is unclear whether the events they are experiencing are hallucinations or real.

I suppose this novel falls under the genre of magic realism; however, I sometimes wondered if I was supposed to believe certain descriptions, with the willing suspension of disbelief, or not.

I have enjoyed this story, but I look forward to be more transported by an adult Allende novel in the future!


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Bog Child by Siobhan Dowd

I read this one in a day! Another good book by Siobhan Dowd, who sadly died of cancer after writing this one. Such a shame - she is a very talented writer, and this is another moving story set in the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland during the Troubles. An Iron Age body is found in a bog, like the Tollund Man, and this sets the scene.

A Swift Pure Cry by Siobhan Dowd

What an intensely sad and moving book. Very well written. I highly recommend. About a poor Irish family, in particular, Shell, just turned 16, and her relationship with her father, the local priest, and a worldly wise boy.

The Shoe Queen by Anna Davis

I'm not sure what I expected when I started reading this book, but for a start I hadn't expected it to be set in the twenties! Lots of shoes, some intrigue, and a bit of an unexpected ending.

Girl Meets Cake by Susie Day

I can't quite remember the order I read my summer books in ... Anyway, this was a good one, about a girl whose parents work in a boarding school who ends up with a made up gingerbread boyfriend. Very fun.

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle

What can I say. Very exciting, fun and entertaining. And then Sherlock came out! Complete with Sherlock's website and Dr Watson's blog! Great stuff. I was really in the mood for it having read this book so recently!

The London Eye Mystery by Siobhan Dowd

Quite a change from the historical fiction of my last novel! This story centres on Ted and Kat's missing cousin, Salim, who went up in the London Eye but didn't come down. The narrator, Ted, has a "syndrome" (on the autistic spectrum, perhaps?) which means his brain is "wired differently" from other people. He really likes the weather. This helps him to try and solve the problem. I read this book quickly. Very good.

Daughter of Fortune by Isabel Allende

Another lovely story set in South (and North) America (and China this time, too). Eliza, a baby left at Miss Rose's house in Chile, grows up, falls in love, travels to California during the goldrush, and meets many interesting people on the way. Beautifully told and described. I do love Isabel Allende's books - and I've taken another one out over the holidays.

The Amnesia Clinic by James Scudamore

Very interesting story about two friends with a love for a story. Set in Ecuador, the two boys go exploring for a fictional amnesia clinic, with a variety of consequences. Sad, good book.
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Inkdeath by Cornelia Funke

Actually finished this some time ago, but don't think I wrote about it ... Glad to have finished the story and found out what happened. Overall, a good story with interesting characters, very dark, epic, but a bit overlong too. For me, anyway.

The Queen and I by Sue Townsend

This was an enjoyable and creative read for the weekend. What if the UK became a republic and the former royal family had to live on a council housing estate? What I found most interesting is that the book was written some time ago, so it was funny to think how some things have changed.