The casual brutality of the late nineteenth century really comes through in this novel. But since the young people of the school in the book were all ...moreThe casual brutality of the late nineteenth century really comes through in this novel. But since the young people of the school in the book were all being trained up to be cannon-fodder, perhaps that was an appropriate way of rearing boys. Women don't feature in the story at all, except as a means of humiliating one of the characters and to be put in their place by Kipling as only having one role in life.
But having said all that the story is entertaining, as Stalky and his friends use their brains to subvert the rules and frustrate their teachers, all in preparation for doing the same once they were in the army.(less)
A series of short stories, some magical, some everyday. I particularly liked 'The Missing Will' and 'Sir Christopher Cockleshell". "The Char...moreA series of short stories, some magical, some everyday. I particularly liked 'The Missing Will' and 'Sir Christopher Cockleshell". "The Charmed Life" was interesting - with its notion of a separate life that can be kept safe outside of oneself it reminded me strongly of Diana Wynne Jones's 'Charmed Life'. I wonder if she had read it.(less)
I suppose the title should have warned me, but oh dear, Patty Hirst (not to be confused with Patty Hearst) really is too good to be true. Nauseatingly...moreI suppose the title should have warned me, but oh dear, Patty Hirst (not to be confused with Patty Hearst) really is too good to be true. Nauseatingly nice, in fact. At least today's main characters usually have at least one or two redeeming flaws...(less)
Read this one by way of research. In many ways a typical school story - sporting events, a bully to deal with, a mean teacher and a damsel in distress...moreRead this one by way of research. In many ways a typical school story - sporting events, a bully to deal with, a mean teacher and a damsel in distress. Very much of its time though, in the moralising tone of the author, who isn't afraid of putting his own opinions into the story. He also had a rather annoying habit of blatantly promoting the next books in the series.(less)
I enjoyed the theory parts of this book: a quick recap of why manners develop and how they relate to etiquette and social changes. Other parts were mo...moreI enjoyed the theory parts of this book: a quick recap of why manners develop and how they relate to etiquette and social changes. Other parts were more of a 'Grumpy Old Woman' rant, although I agree with a lot of what Lynne Truss feels about the behaviour of people today. One thing I do object to is the title, though: very early in the book Truss says "this isn't true of France" and the use of the word 'world' in the title doesn't reflect the fact that her book is pretty much just about life in the UK, and England in particular. The overcrowded nature of English life is a major contributory factor to the type of rudeness Truss describes (particularly when it comes to travelling public transport), and yet this element didn't get much attention from the author.
There were some genuinely funny parts and a few grains of hope for a better future, but the overall feeling I had after reading this short book was one of depression.
I was familiar with the story of the plague village, Eyam, before I read the book and I thought that the author did a great job of conjuring up that t...moreI was familiar with the story of the plague village, Eyam, before I read the book and I thought that the author did a great job of conjuring up that time and place. The language was wonderfully chosen to reflect the era: words like bruited, sennight, jussive and masty. I particularly liked the description of the Bradfords' son as a "rake-shamed, drunken fanfarroon". Must slip that into a conversation some time...(less)
I liked the setting of the book and the interspersed newspaper advertisements of the era but wasn't so keen on the storytelling. To me it felt as thou...moreI liked the setting of the book and the interspersed newspaper advertisements of the era but wasn't so keen on the storytelling. To me it felt as though the author had thrown everything she knew about the era into the book without much feeling for whether it actually needed it. So we find the First World War, the Halifax Explosion, Spanish Flu and the Boston molasses disaster all featuring, but curiously briefly and without full engagement with any of them.
Dora seemed anachronistic: a woman of late twentieth century attitudes who was never entirely believable in this early twentieth century context. And yet she meekly agrees to marry a man who is clearly a complete bastard. Unconvincing...(less)
Liked: all the parts with Mr George, Mr and Mrs Bagnet ("Discipline must be maintained!"), Mr Guppy and Sir Leicester and Lady Dedlock
...moreLiked: all the parts with Mr George, Mr and Mrs Bagnet ("Discipline must be maintained!"), Mr Guppy and Sir Leicester and Lady Dedlock
Disliked: overlong explanations of politics and the legal system (yawn), very-much-too-good-to-be-trueness of Allan Woodcourt and Esther Summerson, annoying passivity of Ada, idiotic behaviour of Richard, over-reliance on coincidences (trademark of Dickens's, it seems), the way people like Mr Skimpole so much (why doesn't he ever end up in the Marshalsea?)(less)
Kept me reading late into the early hours of Groundhog Day, which seemed appropriate, given the superficial similarities between this novel and the pl...moreKept me reading late into the early hours of Groundhog Day, which seemed appropriate, given the superficial similarities between this novel and the plot of the movie of that name. It would probably be more accurate to say that the book prevented me from going to sleep. Christine's predicament had such a hold on me that I couldn't relax until I'd finished the novel.
Hoping I'll have a better night's sleep tonight...(less)
I found this an interesting piece of social history, more than anything else: the conditions of the miners of the East Midlands and their uneasy relat...moreI found this an interesting piece of social history, more than anything else: the conditions of the miners of the East Midlands and their uneasy relationship with the owners of the mines as the countryside got increasingly taken over by industry. It really was a time when the landed gentry were losing their grip over the government of the country; a time of great social and economic change.
The book is famous for being the subject of a trial relating to obscenity in 1960 and I was actually expecting it to be more explicit than it is, as a consequence of that. It uses explicit words, to be sure, but not in a particularly titillating way. The focus is on the complexity of the Chatterly's relationship, Connie's confused feelings for Mellors and Mellors' own uncertainty about his place in the world. The style is very literary and as I read, I imagined the reactions of lots of disappointed people who would have bought the book on the strength of the trial and would probably been rather disappointed in its contents.
I found the discussions of Clifford and his male friends rather tedious, in the first half of the book, but enjoyed the second half more. Lawrence did a good job of portraying the depth of the various relationships. I did rather wonder about Mellors' relationship with his daughter: he seemed to move on with little thought of her. But I don't think Lawrence had children of his own, so perhaps this wasn't a big deal for him.
Mellors' despair over the miners' striving after cash touched a chord with me. My favourite quotations was: "If you could only tell them that living and spending isn't the same thing! But it's no good. If only they were educated to live instead of earn and spend, they could manage very happily...".(less)
I didn't enjoy this book as much as I thought I would. The storyline felt voyeuristic and I was uncomfortable with Moth's narration and some of the di...moreI didn't enjoy this book as much as I thought I would. The storyline felt voyeuristic and I was uncomfortable with Moth's narration and some of the dialogue. I liked the nineteenth century (or faux-nineteenth century) advertisements and newspaper articles (although sometimes the text in them was very small on my ereader) but overall I was not gripped by Moth's story and felt that there were too many threads left dangling: what happened to Nestor and Mrs Hetherington, for example.(less)
I really enjoyed the glimpse into Harar life that this book offered. I didn't know a lot about Ethiopian history and the story made me want to find ou...moreI really enjoyed the glimpse into Harar life that this book offered. I didn't know a lot about Ethiopian history and the story made me want to find out more. The main character was convincing and the description of life in London for recent immigrants seemed all too realistic. Sometimes I got the feeling that the author was using British English words a little self-consciously (loo, rubbish bin, bung) and there was one use of a Canadian English word or phrase which quite threw me out of the story (and I can't for the life of me remember what it was, but it wasn't until that point that I realised the author was Canadian).
The book is very well written and engaging and although it is clearly the result of years of research, it manages not to make the reader feel as though they are being lectured to in any way.(less)
I thought this book started out out really well - it drew me in to the horrendously lawless, commercialised, brutal alternative universe very quickly....moreI thought this book started out out really well - it drew me in to the horrendously lawless, commercialised, brutal alternative universe very quickly. It didn't grab me so much in the middle part, though. The long explanations about language and early Middle Eastern civilisations were too much: I felt as though I was being given a lecture most of the time, along the lines of 'look how much reading I had to do to write this book'. A lot of that could have been edited out without damaging the story too much.
The strong female characters in 'Interface' were great, but in 'Snow Crash' I felt that Juanita and Y. T. were just tokens. Y. T. seemed incredibly talented and street-wise for a fifteen year-old, while Juanita barely featured in the book at all.
There were a lot of good things about the book: Uncle Enzo, the Rat Things, the nature of the world the characters inhabited. But overall I got the impression that the book was aimed squarely at young, male, computer programmers. I'm sure they love it.(less)
I loved this book and am surprised that it hasn't been made into a movie yet. It's a well-written, gripping combination of media manipulation, abuse o...moreI loved this book and am surprised that it hasn't been made into a movie yet. It's a well-written, gripping combination of media manipulation, abuse of power and the fight of a small band of decent people trying to overcome the big guys. With a side order of intelligent humour. I had a hard time putting it down in the last two days.(less)
I think this is the first time I've read a Sherlock Holmes story. They're so familiar from film and TV adaptations that it's good to get back to the o...moreI think this is the first time I've read a Sherlock Holmes story. They're so familiar from film and TV adaptations that it's good to get back to the original. I was startled by the change of pace in part two, where we're thrown out of 1880s London and into the Mormons' journey to Utah and the story of John and Lucy Ferrier. I'm guessing Conan Doyle doesn't have too many Mormon fans... (less)
I wasn't really grabbed by this one: a lot of it felt far too familiar and there were several places where I had to read a sentence more than once bec...moreI wasn't really grabbed by this one: a lot of it felt far too familiar and there were several places where I had to read a sentence more than once because it didn't make perfect sense on the first reading.(less)
The Bodleian setting kept me reading longer than I probably would have done otherwise, but soon realised that this isn't my sort of book at all and I ...moreThe Bodleian setting kept me reading longer than I probably would have done otherwise, but soon realised that this isn't my sort of book at all and I gave up after 85 pages.(less)
A lot of laugh-out-loud moments, but an overall impression of 'these guys are a pair of complete kids'. Grown men, who order hot dogs when they visit ...moreA lot of laugh-out-loud moments, but an overall impression of 'these guys are a pair of complete kids'. Grown men, who order hot dogs when they visit Italy and who get take-away omelettes. Take-away omelettes. I mean, seriously? I didn't know you could even do that.(less)
Not a book I really enjoyed. There was a bit too much detail about Nicholas's career as a heart surgeon. Not that I'm squeamish, but I didn't think it...moreNot a book I really enjoyed. There was a bit too much detail about Nicholas's career as a heart surgeon. Not that I'm squeamish, but I didn't think it advanced the story - seemed like so much filler. And I found his reaction to his wife's post-partum depression completely unconvincing for a medically-trained person. Paige's drawings were the most interesting part of the book, with their hint of magical realism, but they didn't seem to add much to the plot, either.
And, just as an aside, I read the ebook and it was a really poor conversion: lots of OCR errors, and a whole chunk of repeated text at one point.(less)
Enjoyed this book, though not as much as Leaven of Malice. I never felt entirely sympathetic towards Monica (what on earth did she see in Giles Revels...moreEnjoyed this book, though not as much as Leaven of Malice. I never felt entirely sympathetic towards Monica (what on earth did she see in Giles Revelstoke?) and would have liked to have spent more time in Salterton and less in London. But these are minor points: the prose was wonderful to savour and digest and the world of professional musicians in the 1950s seemed convincingly drawn.(less)
I took a break from The Salterton Trilogy because this arrived as a time-limited ebook from the library. It was therefore slightly strange to find Leaven of Malice...moreI took a break from The Salterton Trilogy because this arrived as a time-limited ebook from the library. It was therefore slightly strange to find Leaven of Malice referenced in the first few pages of this one, having just finished it myself.
I don't think Terry Fallis is in the same league, and perhaps it is unkind to read him so soon after the delights of Davies: there probably aren't many contemporary authors who would stand up well in comparison. This is a competent enough book, but the slapstick humour of the first is wearing a bit thin by this one, and I'm beginning to get irritated by the lack of purpose and character of Lindsay, the love interest. There were fewer laugh-out-loud moments in this one and the material felt a bit stretched.
Oh, and split infinitives are perfectly fine in many contexts, by the way, Mr Fallis.(less)
Hard to believe that this book was published sixty years ago. It's timeless in its portrayal of human frailties, hopes and fears. A novel to savour an...moreHard to believe that this book was published sixty years ago. It's timeless in its portrayal of human frailties, hopes and fears. A novel to savour and wallow in, like a hot bath. Wonderful.(less)
Always happy to read about food and its effect on the mood. This is a series of short stories, really, bound together by the cooking school which all ...moreAlways happy to read about food and its effect on the mood. This is a series of short stories, really, bound together by the cooking school which all the characters are attending. It's a gentle read, nothing really challenging in it. I hesitate to use the word, but it's nice.(less)
Too little jam spread over too much bread. Sometimes I get the impression that publishers push authors of YA books into making them into a trilogy whe...moreToo little jam spread over too much bread. Sometimes I get the impression that publishers push authors of YA books into making them into a trilogy where really it would be better to contain the story in just one volume. I persevered with this one because I don't like giving up on a book, but it had that stretched-out quality. None of the female characters really 'grew' very much and the male ones seemed to be there mainly as brooding, vaguely threatening eye-candy.
I'm a lot older than the target audience for this book, I do appreciate that, but my daughter (13) couldn't finish it, so it's not just me. I'm not going to read the other two parts.
Why, why, why, was the book set in England? I'm beginning to think that American authors see England as adding some sort of quaintness, or maybe a historical charm to their books. But this book would have worked just as well set in a late-nineteenth century New England school, I would have thought. The girls certainly would have had more luck gathering goldenrod from the woods in New England than they would have had in England, where it isn't a native plant. And they don't do that whole 'Class of 1871' thing in England. Or have 'drapes', or, or... Well, you get the idea.(less)
An interesting read. The style of writing is very accessible: short sentences, easy to read, well designed for its everyman audience of GIs waiting to...moreAn interesting read. The style of writing is very accessible: short sentences, easy to read, well designed for its everyman audience of GIs waiting to go into Europe on D-Day. Some of it was perhaps a little patronising, but generally it seemed to be a good attempt, at very short notice, to write a guide to France for US soldiers. The concern for the reputation of the troops and uncertainty as to the current conditions in France come across loud and clear, as does worry about effect of the influx of US servicemen's cash on the post-Nazi French economy.(less)
The story line was fairly predictable, but there were some real belly laughs in the text which meant that this didn't matter very much. The main chara...moreThe story line was fairly predictable, but there were some real belly laughs in the text which meant that this didn't matter very much. The main characters were likeable and the political background was interesting without being overpowering. A fun read.(less)
This was a nostalgia read. I read and re-read this as a teenager and loved it: easily my favourite Hornblower book because of its ending. It was odd t...moreThis was a nostalgia read. I read and re-read this as a teenager and loved it: easily my favourite Hornblower book because of its ending. It was odd to read it again as a mature person. I found Hornblower less admirable than I did as a teen. Perhaps because his moodiness seems so selfish. In fact, he generally comes across as very selfish in this book: taking advantage of poor Marie and generally assuming that everyone will fall in love with him. Funny how one's own maturity affects one's liking for and tolerance for a character. I was one of Hornblower's conquests as a teenager, but am not sure that the love affair has lasted for me.
Rating the book on its nostalgia value. Though I'm sure the teenaged me would have given it a 5.(less)
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