LyzzyBee's Books

JOE MORAN - On Roads: A Hidden History

Thu, 24 Dec 2009 17:41:38 GMT

From library

An interesting book on the technical and social history of (mostly) motorways - a bit of psychogeography and some excellent facts and snippets (did you know that the chap who invented the modern caravan also invented Little Chef?)

JUDITH M. BERRISFORD - Jackie and the Pony Boys

Mon, 21 Dec 2009 17:53:26 GMT

Acquired via BookCrossing 27 Jun 2009 - from the Mozfest stall

I do like a pony book so grabbed this one at Mozfest. I can't remember what the other Jackie books I've read were like, but this one, set on holiday where Jackie and her cousins meet three boys who are most unfriendly, was very "busy" indeed. Hardly a page goes by without incident or accident for a pony, dog or rider and this made it feel a bit hectic. Nice illustrations by Geoffrey Whittam set it firmly in the late 60s/early 70s. A quick read!

WILLIAM ARDEN - The Secret of the Crooked Cat

Mon, 21 Dec 2009 17:47:57 GMT

05 Jun 2009 - Corner Bookshop, Hay-on-Wye

Another Alfred Hitchcock and the Three Investigators read; this one is very atmospheric as it's set in a carnival that's been set up next to an old abandoned amusement park. There's a brilliant chase through the crumbling old rides as well as excitement involving a lion. A really good one - high quality writing and plotting.

A.M. ROSENTHAL (ed.) - Great Tours and Detours

Mon, 21 Dec 2009 17:44:46 GMT

Acquired via BookCrossing 17 Sep 2008 - in Red Cross charity shop donation bags

I've been reading this book little by little for ages as I've worked on the recumbent exercise bike - as it's lots of little bits of travel writing it was ideal. Haven't been on the bike for months and finished it off yesterday. Not much to say really - it's a good collection of pieces on locations around the world, with some more specific information on hotels, restaurants etc at the end of each. Particularly enjoyed the bits about France and Tunisia.

DEBBIE MACOMBER - Buffalo Valley

Mon, 21 Dec 2009 17:39:30 GMT

Acquired via BookCrossing 10 Dec 2009 - bookring

Buffalo Valley series no 4 - hooray! All the old favourites are back, with enough of their back story to remember them but not enough to make it slow - Macomber is so good at this. Vaughn Kyle thinks he knows what he wants out of life till a quick visit to the magical small town starts to work on him and his conscience. Happily, a Christmas story in part, which made this a nice time to read it. A very quick read but a good'un as always.

M.C. BEATON - Agatha Raisin and the Potted Gardener / Walkers of Dembley

Mon, 21 Dec 2009 17:35:09 GMT

Borrowed from Ali

Two more installments of good old Agatha. This series is certainly growing on me.

In the Potted Gardener it's interesting to see a new character criticised for making patronising or bitchy comments, including ones about race, as that was an early criticism of mine. Maybe this was the author's way of making up for that. Anyway we meet a deliciously nasty incomer to the village - will she get her comeuppance?

A slight error of continuity - at the end of that book Agatha leaves her cats with her next door neighbour, then in Walkers of Dembley we find them being returned by her cleaning lady. But I wouldn't have noticed if I hadn't chain-read them! In Walkers we meet a group of ramblers and the landowner they come up against. Agatha and James have to team up and, indeed, at one stage pretend to be husband and wife! I guessed whodunnit for this one but a jolly read.

Gill, these are 3 and 4, do I pass both of them to you or do you have one of them?

CLARISSA DICKSON WRIGHT - Spilling the Beans

Mon, 21 Dec 2009 17:29:17 GMT

Acquired via BookCrossing 04 Jul 2009 - from the Unconvention books table

Autobiography of the woman best known for the Two Fat Ladies TV series. A larger than life character, she seems to be very honest and unsparing with herself, particularly with regard to her dysfunctional family and struggles with alcoholism. This made for an interesting but uncomfortable read. Of particular interest to me was her friendship with friend of BookCrossing (and me!) Christine Coleman. Christine and her family are mentioned throughout the book, and Christine has been a very good friend to Clarissa over the years. It's good to have friendship acknowledged as so important and, indeed, life-saving.

DEBBIE MACOMBER - When Christmas Comes

Mon, 14 Dec 2009 22:16:12 GMT

Bought 07 Dec 2009 - Red Cross charity shop

Another DM Christmas find! This story, about a house swap over the festive period that threatens to go very wrong indeed, is ever so sweet and more believable (well, has more depth and varied characters) than the other two I just read. Heartwarming stories and the usual gentle humour.

RICHARD REYNOLDS - On Guerrilla Gardening

Sun, 13 Dec 2009 09:35:28 GMT

Acquired via BookCrossing 03 July 2009 - in my NSS parcel at Unconvention

Another excellent read, this time about the practice of gardening unloved and unclaimed bits of land, planters, verges etc in a covert and mischevious way. A bit like BookCrossing, proponents of the scheme are registered on a website ( www.guerrillagardening.org ) have get-togethers and work to improve their communities. The book is loosely based around guerrilla principles from Mao, Guevara etc, which is quite interesting and funny and gives it something to hang on. I loved the stories of the individual gardeners and gardens and am seriously considering taking a pocketful of sunflower seeds for when I go out on my long Sunday runs...

I will be sharing this one on a bookring so watch out for the announcement.

PAMELA WINFIELD - Bye Bye Baby: The Story of the Children The GIs Left Behind

Sun, 13 Dec 2009 09:29:06 GMT

From Library

The University Library has been buying quite a few books about children left behind by soldiers after various wars and this one looked approachable and interesting. The stories here are based around contacts of the author's organisation, TRACE, which seeks to reunite American ex-soldiers with the British children they fathered. There are lots of stories in here, both happy and sad, and they are grouped loosely into themes such as stepfathers, those whose parents married, etc. However it does feel a bit scrappy and goes back to some stories where you somehow lose track a little. Valuable work but the book could have been a bit more organised, somehow.

DEBBIE MACOMBER - Christmas in Seattle

Sun, 13 Dec 2009 09:24:52 GMT

Acquired via BookCrossing 16 Nov 2009 - RABCK from Sorcha

Sorcha knows I love Debbie Macomber so shared this one with me. We have two Christmas-themed novellas, the first being set around Blossom Street. In fact the first one was the better - they were both very "romancey" (with the classic love-hate relationship between the main protagonists) but the first had more characters and more layers, where the second wasn't as engaging. Still fun though and some good laughs. Will be sharing these on a bookring soon.

OLIVER SACKS - Oaxaca Journal

Sun, 13 Dec 2009 09:19:34 GMT

Acquired via BookCrossing 03 July 2009 - in my NSS parcel at the Unconvention

Yes - I'm onto my Uncon books now (although I've skipped past the huge Ted Heath bio, which I'm saving for the Christmas break)

Not one of Sacks' neuropsychology works but a more personal work - a diary of a week-long trip to Mexico to study ferns. A beautiful book in which he both celebrates the ferns themselves and the people - mostly amateurs - who study and know so much about them. Eccentrics abound in both populations, but Sacks feels included in this quite different world, which he stumbled upon a few years ago, and obviously has a wonderful time. A lovely book which, although registered, I'm going to keep, making it available to loan only to people fairly close to me!

TIM ROGERS - Teach Yourself: How To Run A Marathon

Tue, 08 Dec 2009 21:32:21 GMT

Lent by Jen

An interesting short book which is helping tempt me into some marathon plans (at some stage). As with the other Teach Yourself books it breaks things down into handy stages. There is some odd stuff about a 3 hour run needing 5 hours including getting dressed and showered at the end... but generally all sensible advice. There's a training plan for the new runner which could have done with some variants for the slightly more experienced, and an excellent diary from a woman who never thought she could run one...

Interesting stuff!

JOHN WOOD - Leaving Microsoft To Change The World

Tue, 08 Dec 2009 21:25:13 GMT

Acquired via BookCrossing 27 Nov 2009 - Bookring

It was with a little trepidation that I opened this book, given that previous readers had said it was boring, preachy and self-centered. I actually didn't find this. Sure, it was about Wood's life-changing decision to leave Microsoft and set up the Room To Read charity, which builds libraries and schools in places that really need them, and it was maybe more a business biography than a personal one. But I did feel he was honest and open. He talks about working long days but also about the toll that has taken on his personal and emotional life, and he celebrates his teams in a good way. I loved the bits about going running with the redoubtable Steve Ballmer when he was still at Microsoft!

One reader had pasted in some pictures of Nepal etc and this made it very special.

Room to Read is a fantastic charity and I'll be looking at making a donation to them. The Birmingham BookCrossers have sponsored the building of a library in India through Good Gifts and it's certainly a lovely feeling to do such a thing.

Anyway - a good, interesting and celebratory read.

JOE GORMLEY - Battered Cherub

Tue, 08 Dec 2009 21:18:44 GMT

05 Jun - Castle Bookshop Outside, Hay on Wye

Last of my Hay books and a lucky rescue from those outdoor shelves! This is the interesting autobiography of the leader of the National Union of Miners in the 1960s and 70s. He brought himself up from mining work, through the Union and into the Labour Executive committee. There's so much about how Labour is for the workers, has input from the Unions - tragic to see how times have changed. The book does have a lot of detail about negotiations, which might not be for everyone, but I found that interesting. The book finishes with Arthur Scargill taking over in the very early 80s, which again is interesting, given what was just around the corner...

CARO FRASER - A Perfect Obsession

Mon, 30 Nov 2009 21:26:16 GMT

Acquired via BookCrossing 04 Jul 2009 - in my Unconvention goody bag

Fifth in the Caper Court series and, while we might be starting to tire of Leo and his exploits, he himself is doing so too. Chay's art gallery is about to open and brings together in the trustees and other interested parties some interesting characters indeed. Leo meets up with an old pupil, Gideon, and they start a tenuous friendship, but at the same time Leo is further tangled with the evil Sarah, and yearning for a more innocent and stable life. Fraser keeps the threads fresh and clear and reminds us whenever we might get lost. I did enjoy this one and wanted to keep reading.

Roll on No 6!

IRIS MURDOCH - A Word Child

Mon, 30 Nov 2009 21:19:22 GMT

Bought 21 Jan 1995

Next in our Iris Murdoch a month project and I think we all enjoyed this one. We follow the misfortunes of Hilary Burde, who has always been one for words rather than deeds, who works in a rather mad office in the Civil Service and has set days for seeing people, over-protects his virginal sister Crystal and constantly harks back to the losses of his earlier life. When someone from his Oxford days makes a reappearance, Hilary finds history repeating itself alarmingly. Will he break free of his guilt, his own structure, his odd colleagues... or will Fate claim him for its own?

Full of atmosphere and London scenes, this is a good read with some memorable events. Really looking forward to discussing this one.

POLLY EVANS - It's Not About The Tapas

Sat, 28 Nov 2009 11:11:36 GMT

Acquired via BookCrossing 27 Jun 2009 - picked up at Mozfest

I think I've read a later book by this author about travelling in New Zealand. Anyway, in this one she sets out to cycle 1000 km in Spain, in two chunks, north and south/middle. This arrangement seemed a bit odd to me but there you go - the actual narrative was good, with a lot about her learning to actually ride the bike without falling off and interesting encounters with wildlife, dogs and residents. A jolly read and a likeable author.

ELIZABETH NOBLE - The Girl Next Door

Thu, 26 Nov 2009 10:06:14 GMT

Bought 21 Nov - charity shop

Another BookCrossing destined book. This is right up to the edge of my chick-lit tolerance and wasn't the best read in the world - I found it a bit manipulative. It follows the stories of several residents of an apartment block in New York and the background setting is done well, however there's quite a lot of telling as well as showing in the actual description of the characters and their doings, which made it a little too undemanding. A decent holiday or travel read.

MIRANDA INNES - Cinnamon City

Thu, 26 Nov 2009 08:01:44 GMT

Bought 21 Nov - charity shop

Read out of order because I have BookCrossing plans for this one.

Another tale of falling in love with and buying a house in Marrakech (at first I thought I'd read this already but that was another one a few months back!). Innes is an interiors writer and journalist and this shows in the confident and atmospheric descriptions of the house and Marrackech itself; but she also shows the emotions, good and bad, and the process of buying a wreck and trying to turn it into a palace. Delightful line drawings by her partner, Dan, although I'd have liked a plan of the place at some point in the book.

Nothing new, but a very good read.

MAEVE BINCHY - This Year It Will Be Different

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 18:22:15 GMT

13 Jun 2009 - Oxfam, Birmingham

I fell on this newer Binchy excitedly in the Oxfam shop (I remember this trip; it was just after Hay and I really shouldn't have been buying MORE books, esp not the massive Ted Heath bio that is next to read after the current crop!) but I'm afraid it disappointed slightly. Short stories, fine. About Christmas - also fine. Binchy writes a good family and a good story. But these were *very* short, often almost vignettes, and I missed the depth and mix of pathos and humour which she is so good at. Don't get me wrong - a good few of these were excellent - but it wasn't as marvellous as I'd hoped.

Will retain to register and BookCross on Christmas Day in the park.

JEREMY AYNSLEY & KATE FORDE (ed.) - Design and the Modern Magazine

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 17:41:06 GMT

From library

An interesting short volume of essays about design and magazines from the 1880s onwards, including portrayal of black people, typographical design and the use and re-use of material when advising people how to furnish their homes. Obviously fairly academic, but reasonably accessible and mostly interesting.

M. C. BEATON - Agatha Raisin and the Vicious Vet

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 17:38:30 GMT

Borrowed from Ali

Ali's feeding me all the volumes of A.Raisin as she reads them - hooray! In this one we've settled into Miss Raisin, bear-like eyes and no-nonsense attitude taken for granted, but she shows a softer side as she interacts with her pet cat and tries to pursue her handsome neighbour. The new vet turns her head a little... but is he all he seems?

MARINA LEWYCKA - Two Caravans

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 07:11:32 GMT

Acquired via BookCrossing 12 Nov 2009 - bookring

I saw Ali was reading this and managed to squeeze into the Bookring after her (thanks to Katrinat who was running it)

A bit darker than History of Tractors and on the edge of what I can cope with as regards violence and upsetting scenes - I was glad Ali had warned me about the chickens although there was also some human stuff that was quite graphic. Having said that, I did enjoy it once I'd managed to pick it up and start it.

I liked the different voices and, although I found Emanuel's letters written in such a naive style that it seemed patronising, I thought about the language of people from his part of the world and realised it was just another reflection of the variety of voices in our wonderfully diverse nation.

The book was a little reminiscent of Rose Tremain's The Road Home, showing our country and indigenous population through the eyes of an immigrant thinking of England as the promised land. Very interesting and I liked the way the author worked in all sorts of English people, whether the traditional middle class family, eco-warriors in a camp or mad drivers, and then the characters' fellow-migrants, slightly further up the legal scale than them, such as the Australian restaurant worker and the African nurses having to go to the bottom of their profession to start again in the UK.

I didn't find it hilarious but there were moments of black humour and some touching sections too. I'm glad I had a chance to finally get round to reading it.

DEBBIE MACOMBER - Old Boyfriends

Sun, 15 Nov 2009 21:09:43 GMT

Acquired via BookCrossing 21 Oct 2009 - from Gill

This was one of the comforting books Gill waved under my nose at the Cafe one Sunday when I was in the middle of a big worrying time. I was allowed to read these out of order of acquisition, when the mood took me...

It took a little while to get into this one (oh - it's called Susannah's Garden in the US in case anyone thinks it's a different book!) but I enjoyed the usual multi-generational family relationships, the strong women characters and the celebration of marriage.

Susannah feels trapped in her job, her marriage, and now between the demands of her 19 year old daughter and elderly, ailing mother. The need to go across State to care for her mother gives her an opportunity to look up an old boyfriend... who looms large and romantic in her imagination. Meanwhile, her mum keeps "seeing" her dead husband George, and her daughter starts to make the same mistake choosing between a man and her family that Susannah once made herself.

I *did* read this out of order, as when I came to choose a book the other day, I only had mysteries and other books I didn't really want to read over dinner. Finished this in the company of a hot bath and Mr Radox (was careful with it) after a day that started with a 9 mile run.

This is loosely part of the Blossom Street series, so I will see if the "usual suspects" want a read of it...