Read 100 Books Challenge

I thought it might be fun to catalogue the books I read during this school year 1 Sept 2014 - 31st August 2015 as well as challenge myself to read 100 different books as I often find reading for pleasure is squeezed out by the work commitments in my life.

Please join in and leave a comment and your Read 100 Books blog page details below to allow others to find and read your list of books and comments.

Simply state the title, author and the date you completed each book you read, write a short synopsis (5 sentences max) and leave a little comment/rating so that others may choose to take up suggestions of trying new books on their reading lists.  You may want to post a picture of the book or link to publishers/bookstores that is entirely up to you.

I look forward to visiting your web pages and discover new titles and authors you recommend.

Happy Reading :-)

P.S. I have now added a linky widget at the end of this page so that you can leave details of your page and allow others to click on and be directed straight there.  Please leave your blog name in the first box as that is what will appear in this list.  Many thanks.

The Dinosaur Feather by S.J.Gazan 

Read Sept 2-6 2014

From the blurb: “Anna Bella Nor is just two weeks away from revealing her controversial research on the evolutionary origin of birds when her supervisor, Lars Helland, is found dead - his tongue and a copy of her thesis in his lap. As the police investigate the most brutal and calculated case they've ever known, Anna remains convinced someone is trying to frame her. She must fight to prove her innocence... and fight for her life.”

I picked up this book due to its tantalizing title and the strap line across the front cover “Danish Crime Novel of the Decade”.  It was certainly an interesting book to read giving me an insight into the scientific bickering that goes on as different theories are proposed and it certainly had a Nordic noir tone rather cold and icy in its protagonists.  The book is definitely memorable and is set apart from other crime stories probably due in some degree to its actual method of murder of the main victim.

Recommend: Yes 9/10

How to Lose Friends and Alienate People by Toby Young

Read Sept 7-12

I am a sucker for an interesting or an amusing title hence why I chose this book! However, the book chronicles the supposed “real-life” misadventures of a journalist during the 1990’s who took a position at Vanity Fair in Manhattan (think The Devil Wears Prada/ Ugly Betty) and amazingly finds that it is a very celebrity focused society with a dog eat dog attitude.  There were parts of the book I found amusing and I did at times find myself feeling slightly sorry for Toby (although at the same time thinking how the other half live with all the privileges he is given and squanders!) but on the whole I felt I learnt nothing new and would not waste my time again on it.

Recommend: No 4/10

The New Policeman by Kate Thompson

Read Sept 13-14

It was the vibrant colour on the dust jacket that attracted me to this book I have to say.  It is a children’s book written for young teenagers and as it was winner of the 2005 Guardian Children’s fiction prize as well as being recommended by Eoin Colfer (an amazing older children’s author) I felt I should read it and all I can say is once I started I really couldn’t put it down – I even went up to bed early to read it on Saturday night!!  The story of a young musical lad seeking extra time for his mum’s busy life and the author’s weaving of Irish folk tales and time travel into the daily modern lives of a small Irish village was imaginative and made one really think of possibilities.  A truly magical book!

Recommend: Yes 10/10

Swallowing Grandma – by Kate Long

Read 20^th Sept

It took a few pages to get going but once it did I thoroughly got into the book and its twists and turns even understanding the double narrative (nothing is handed to you on a plate in this book!)  It has a dark humour and deals with some heavy and emotional issues surrounding an orphaned girl turning 18 and living with her poisonous grandmother and her leering male friend in a community where everyone knows everything and is quick to judge but all in all a rollicking read – I chose not to watch the telly for the evening and curled up in a chair in another room with this book (which is a bit of a one off for me – my family thought I must be in a mood with them!!)

Recommend: Yes 9/10

Now it's your turn!  Just fill in the boxes below to join the Read 100 Books Challenge Linky Party!!
(Remember to leave your blog name in the first box for it to appear on the list)