Archive for the ‘Reviews’ Category

Comments Off on Half Blood Blues by Esi Edugyan

Half Blood Blues by Esi Edugyan


2011
11.14

“Here’s another from the Booker short list. This time from a Canadian author.
Moving from the beginning of WW2 in Berlin and then Paris, to the present day. We follow the lives of a jazz band, a real mixture of characters, Black American, Black German, White Jewish, White German and as you’d expect this makes for an interesting ride.
You don’t need to like or care about jazz either, this has love, friendship, betrayal, guilt. All in full colour. I’ll recommend it.

Score 7/10

Date read November 2011

What would your score for this book be? Please post your comments below.”

Comments Off on I’ll Never Get Out of this World Alive by Steve Earle

I’ll Never Get Out of this World Alive by Steve Earle


2011
11.13

“Singer & song writer Steve Earle has created an interesting first novel.
Texas 1963, Doc is a heroin addict earning his money by fixing up hookers and pimps with abortions and gun/knife wounds.
Enter an enigmatic Mexican girl and everythin begins to change. Doc is haunted by Hank Williams ghost (American country singer).
I did like this book, I listened to the audiobook edition and had the experience of Steve Earle narrating his own novel, which he does very well.
Would I read another by him? maybe not.

Score 5/10

Date read November 2011

What would your score for this book be? Please post your comments below.”

Jamrach’s Menagerie by Carol Birch


2011
10.13

“This year the Booker Prize got a lot of stick for choosing ‘readable’ books. I applaud them for their choices.
Jamrach’s is one of these on the short list. Never imagined it could win, it didn’t, but is it worthy of reaching the last six? I’m not convinced it is.
The story has elements of truth woven into it, there is indeed a statue of Jaffy Brown and the tiger in East London. The Essex was a whaling ship that encountered disaster. I won’t elaborate the details. Part of this novel I thoroughly enjoyed, others parts felt lifeless and slow, or hurried.
Our book group had mixed feeling with 5.1/10 scored. It was however well debated so a good book club choice.

Score 5/10

Date read October 2011

What would your score for this book be? Please post your comments below.”

Comments Off on Lex by James Mylet

Lex by James Mylet


2011
09.30

“Laugh out loud coming of age novel. Lex is an Irish teenager who is finishing school and hopes to go to Uni in London.
Lex is a bright boy and it’s his first person narration I like. Him, his pals, the beautiful Michelle, and Lex’s family.
Really good fun and I’ll read his next.

Score 7/10

Date read September 2011

What would your score for this book be? Please post your comments below.”