My Uncle Oswald - Roald Dahl

This is a fascinating book, a good read and one I encourage anyone reading this blog to go and try for themselves. Most people are only aware oh his books for children; from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory to Matilda, the Twits or James and the Giant Peach. You might even have read "Boy" or "Going Solo" which are autobiographies of a sort.
But he wrote a plethora of other stories that are for adults.
Switch Bitch, The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar, Skin, Kiss Kiss and My Uncle Oswald.

It's a story that is vibrant, well written, with a strong voice of the character Oswald.

A good 4.6/5 I think and I will probably read it again at some point. (Even though this must ahve been my third reading.)

"One Day" - David Nicholls (free copy)

I picked this book up from a HUGE pile at Summer in the City. Dale had brought them and was trying to unload as many as possible.
Also, when I was at the doctors the other day I had it with me to read in the waiting room and she mentioned that she'd enjoyed it.

It was a pleasant and very very quick read although not brilliant. I probably will give it away soon enough as it isn't worth keeping.

A 3.4/5.

EDIT: I saw the full title for sale in Waterstones but decided against buying it.

Mockingjay - Suzanne Collins

I just finished it. Under a minute ago. I might return to this blog to add more thought on this book, the end of a fantastic trilogy.

I read all day. Since I signed my piece of paper for the Amazon man.

It was a fantastically well written book. Well written and structured and planned out series. 5/5 for sure.

There are tears in my eyes.

It reminded me a lot of 1984.

Oh, and here is the comment I left of Kristina's reaction:
"I just finished reading too. I feel raw and numb and overwhelmed. I have no idea how I should respond to the events I just read. Even though they came from Suzanne's mind and not from a documentary I think my reaction has been as if it was. I'm heartbroken and scared but it was such a marvellous book."

I'm going to write the next bit in dark blue.

I sympathised with the wrong romantic attachment for Katniss. I always had a favourite and this might have affected how I read the book. I still loved it though. From every time it went to her italicised thoughts to Suzanne's clearly masterful knowledge of this world she created. 

The Adventures of Monsieur Robinet - John Hegley

A very charming short book of poetry that Dad won the other night for coming up with a joke.

It struck me as I started to write this post that it would be a lovely thing to include a photo of the cover of the books I read, alas both my camera cards are in the computer completing specific functions and I plan to post this before either of them is free.

Anyway, this book has a French translation of each of the poems on the opposite page, a hark back to his mother's French roots.

I shall give it a 3.5 out of 5. :)

Artemis Fowl and the Atlantis Complex - Eoin Colfer

I'm not sure if my favourite part was the return of so many of my favourite literary characters or the optomisitc ending that didn't say "SERIES END" like the last Alex Rider book did.

The story in this one was strange, maybe not as good as it's predecessors, but then again it worked properly primarily because of it's differences. There was more consideration of possibilities that I could guess the outcome of in this one rather than fast paced unpredictable action.

I very much enjoyed this book and will happily recommend it to others (although you should read the first 6 novels in the series first). 3.8/5

Mostly Harmless - Douglas Adams

I didn't remember any of this book, I wonder if I even read it last time round.
I enjoyed this almost as much as the first in the series.
The bird was interesting, so was Random Frequent Flyer Dent.
The intricate sandwich process and the watch and the Perfectly Normal Beasts.

:)

3.8/5

The Amber Spyglass - Philip Pulman

This time I didn't cry, though I felt like it. Very close I was. I have every other time I've finished this novel and when a similar thing happened in Dr. Who. It's heartbreaking.

It's wonderful. A full 5/5 story.

I'm so glad P. Pulman decided to let Lyra have Pan outside of herself while in the other worlds (his first idea was that in worlds where daemons were inside Lyra's, and others from her world, would have them retreat within, still with a clear voice). The land of the dead bit wouldn't have worked nearly as well.

I totally adore the Mulefa and their Sraf.

Will read this again in a few years probably.