I have decided that i have too many books to review one at a time so here is a quick overview of what i have been reading.
So Many Books, So Little Time – Sara Nelson
It was a good until i had read to page 171 then i realised she was just repeating herself. However i did read it to the end. Sara Nelson works in publishing and has a very negative way of saying other authors books were no good, however she has never written a novel of her own. Many of the books were based on the Jewish/American life and others were written by like authors, who all seem to have a chip on their shoulder. This book, with it’s pretty cover gets *** from me.
It Could be Worse, You Could be Me – Ariel Leve
Another Jewish writer, i didn’t do it on purpose. I should have known not to bring this book home with me from the library as about half way through there were several corners folded down and the second half of the book looked untouched, but i didn’t notice until i got it home and started reading it. Ariel Leve writes a column for a newspaper and i can’t remember which one, but this is a book made up from the said column, i think, reads a bit like a blog in book form. Some of it was funny but it became repetitive and i got bored with the ‘oh woe is me’ of the Jewish people and how they are so badly treated, its the chip on the shoulder again. I give it *** it was amusing but i wouldn’t read it again.
The Man Who Forgot His Wife – John O’Farrell
Vaughan is travelling on the Underground train towards Heathrow airport when he suffers a psychological fugue and forgets who he is, where is going, where he lives and even his own wife and children. He reports himself to a hospital where he sits until the patient in the next bed starts reading baby names at him and one of them appears familiar to him. It turns out to be a friend, who when he appears he doesn’t remember either. I couldn’t put the book down and i read it in a few days. It is funny, in an odd way, but O’Farrell keeps you reading to the end, where Vaughan gets some of his memory back. It gets ***** stars.
When I go to Sleep – S J Watson
Christine loses her memory every time she falls asleep. So each day she remembers nothing until she meets a Dr who encourages her to keep a Journal. Although each morning is the same, she also has the Journal to help her remember what she did and what she learnt the day before. I didn’t want to put the book down and actually go to sleep it was so good. It is a brilliant psychological thriller with lots of twists and turns but in the end the truth wins out, but then Christine needs to go to sleep and will she remember? It gets ***** stars.
A Mercy – Toni Morrison
Set in 1690 in the days of the slave trade and witch hunts Jacob Vaark is a good man who doesn’t want anything to do with those things. Forced to take a slave as part payment for a debt, he is given but her mother a young girl called Florens. He believes that Florens will be a balm for his wife and the lost of their little girl Patrician, but Mistress wants nothing to do with her and Florens care is left to Lina. Pox strike the colony and the Jacob dies, Mistress is left dying but the blacksmith comes and they believe he has healing power and she survives. Jacob had made enough money to build a grand house but the only thing he gets to do in it, is die. Beautifully written, i only had one problem with it, as i began each chapter i was left wondering if i had missed a bit as they didn’t follow on. It was difficult to follow the story, but the message remains the same people are not property. It gets **** stars.
