I’m back in the reading habit. Something I’m really enjoying again. I tend to go in fits and bursts where reading is concerned but gradually I’m working my way through my pile of Christmas books.
I’ve just finished PD James, The Private Patient. The latest in a long pedigree of mystery books that I’ve enjoyed over the years. If you like mystery who dunnits, you’ll like PD James.
I wouldn’t put this latest one in the class of her best yet. It was still a great read but somehow lacked the lustre of previous works that I’ve always found a page turner gripping me to the end. But it’s all relative. When you are as good an author as PD James not her best is still a great way to spend a while in a private world of reading.
I’m not going to say what happens as that would spoil the plot. Let’s just say that Adam Dalgleish is up to his usual thing. Go on try a PD James you’ll love them.
Just before I settled down with the the mystery master I read The Outcast by Sadie Jones. This is her first novel that has won wide critical acclaim.
I liked this story for all it’s sadness and the social commentry on post war Britain in the burbs of London.
The story is a raw one of Lewis who witnessed his mother dying and then lives with his grieving father and new step mother. This is a tale of a young man coping without a mother and a father who seemingly doesn’t care.   It’s a simple plot but has twists and turns and wonderful characters who you both love and loath for who they are being. Again, well worth a read. And I think an author to look out for in the future.
I’ve just started Believers the latest novel of Zoe Heller. I used to love reading her columns and thought Notes on a Scandal was superb. The book was heaps better than the movie. So far I’ve read the first 6 pages of this book 3 times as I’ve been so tired at night reading in bed I forget what happened the next night. Am going to make a determined effort to start this again in day light so hopefully I might reach page 7 before Christmas!
Would be good to know what others might recommend to read. I feel that this reading habit might last a while.
I daren’t take any books out of the library at the moment because I know they will tempt me to while away the hours reading. Right now that is not a good thing as there is so much housework to catch up on as well as school stuff and sorting things for NZ. I’ve got a disc with 20 audio books on and my next task in mastering my mp3/4 player will be to put a couple of books onto it. I’ll probably start with some of the Middle Earth Histories because I’ve got muddled up with the ones I’ve read. I could quite happily spend all day reading, preferably outside in the sunshine.
Gosh, you’ve just reminded me that I could be reading more by listening. I love audio books and radio. MT bought me some new headphones for my ipod the other day and it’s made listening to podcasts so much more enjoyable. I’ll think about treating myself to an audio book sometime soon! JT