A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z | AA | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Cat | Title | Author | Blurb | Your Comment | Input | Total | Marks out of 10 | |||||||||||||||||||
2 | F | A Gentleman in Moscow | Amor Towles | The Gentleman in Moscow is a novel written by Amore Towles. The novel's plot is set in the beginning of the 20th century Russian Empire and follows the story of Count Alexander Ilyich Rostov and his life in the Hotel Metropol where he has been under house arrest for thirty-two years. | It was a fab book and a perfect read for these times of lock down as the Count remains upbeat, occupied, interested, cheerful and self-disciplined during his long confinement. He also relies on good food and wine which is obviously another excellent coping mechanism! A model for our times! | LMcG | 30 | 10 | 10 | 10 | |||||||||||||||||
3 | F | The Five People You Meet In Heaven | Mitch Albom | Beautifully written first novel that addresses the meaning of life - and life after death | Picked this up when returning from business in the US. Finished it before we landed and tried to hide my tears from the air hostess. | Liam | 19 | 9 | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||
4 | F | The Kite Runner | Kaled Hosseini | The unforgettable, heartbreaking story of the unlikely friendship between a wealthy boy and the son of his fathers servant, The Kite Runner is a beautifully crafted novel set in a country that is in the process of being destroyed. It is about the power of reading, the price of betrayal, and the possibility of redemption; and an exploration of the power of fathers over sons | Amazing Book, think it's fiction buy could be true. Story of 2 boys living inKabul in the 80's I thin and follows their story. | PD | 28 | 10 | 9 | 9 | |||||||||||||||||
5 | A | Tess of the D'Urbervilles | Thomas Hardy | When its heroine, Tess Durbeyfield, is driven by family poverty to claim kinship with the wealthy D'Urbervilles, meeting her 'cousin' Alec proves to be her downfall. A very different man, Angel Clare, seems to offer her love and salvation, but Tess must choose whether to reveal her past or remain silent in the hope of a peaceful future. | A great read. Many films have been made but much better to read and imagine. Life. Love. Tragedy. Great description of life in rural 19th century in Hardy's Wessex. | MR | 18 | 10 | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||
6 | F | Angela's Ashes | Frank McCourt | Imbued on every page with Frank McCourt's astounding humour and compassion. This is a glorious book that bears all the marks of a classic. | Definitely not a feel good book buy totally enthralling. Based in Ireland /new York .I loved it but I did weep , so maybe not for everyone , I'm sure some of you have read it !!! | FO'D | 18 | 10 | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||
7 | F | Jane Eyre | Charlotte Bronte | Orphaned as a child, Jane has felt an outcast her whole young life. Her courage is tested once again when she arrives at Thornfield Hall, where she has been hired by the brooding, proud Edward Rochester to care for his ward Adèle. Jane finds herself drawn to his troubled yet kind spirit. | Just really really good, despite it being out for literally 170 years I was surprised at all the twists | Katie | 28 | 10 | 8 | 10 | |||||||||||||||||
8 | F | Moby DIck | Herman Melville | In part, Moby-Dick is the story of an eerily compelling madman pursuing an unholy war against a creature as vast and dangerous and unknowable as the sea itself. But more than just a novel of adventure, more than an encyclopaedia of whaling lore and legend, the book can be seen as part of its author's lifelong meditation on America. Written with wonderfully redemptive humour, Moby-Dick is also a profound inquiry into character, faith, and the nature of perception. | A book that even Woody Allan wanted to read. "Call me Ishmael" - one of the most famous opening lines in literary history. | RT | 18 | 10 | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||
9 | F | The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time | Mark Haddon | A murder mystery following the death of a neighbour's dog. Christopher, 15, breaks out of his usual routines and follows the clues to discover the truth about family, honesty, love and what really happened to the dog. | Just a very human book about family life and individual difference. Also a fantastic stage production. | Alison | 18 | 10 | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||
10 | Fa | I Am Pilgrim | Terry Hayes | "Pilgrim" is an American former intelligence agent known as the "Rider of the Blue" who later writes a book on forensic pathology. Pilgrim becomes involved in a case in New York City where a mysterious woman uses his book to commit untraceable murders in the aftermath of 9/11. | LMcG | 10 | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||
11 | Fa | The Goldfinch | Donna Tartt | t begins with a boy. Theo Decker, a thirteen-year-old New Yorker, miraculously survives an accident that kills his mother. Abandoned by his father, Theo is taken in by the family of a wealthy friend | Big book, great story | PD | 10 | 10 | |||||||||||||||||||
12 | Fa | The Wealth and poverty of nations | David S Landes | The history of nations is a history of haves and have-nots, and as we approach the millennium, the gap between rich and poor countries is widening. In this engrossing and important new work, eminent historian David Landes explores the complex, fascinating and often startling causes of the wealth and poverty of nations | Why some are so rich and some so poor.I woudn't agree with everything but thought provoking and with a strong idea of the comin century | PD | 10 | 10 | |||||||||||||||||||
13 | F | Jeopardy | William Emmanuel-Jones | In Jeopardy, award-winning entrepreneur Wilfred Emmanuel-Jones argues that our natural instinct for caution is one of the greatest barriers to making progress in life and shows how embracing jeopardy is essential if you want to succeed. | The danger of playing safe on the path to success. | PD | 10 | 10 | |||||||||||||||||||
14 | F | The consolation of Philosophy | Alain De Bottoon | The Consolations of Philosophy sets out to refute the notion that good philosophy must be irrelevant and gathers together six great philosophers who were convinced of the power of philosophical insight to work a practical effect on our lives. | Despite the title, an easy read. A one-stop shop for solving the problesm of everyday life through the wisdom of history's great phiosophers | PD | 10 | 10 | |||||||||||||||||||
15 | F | Shantaram | Gregory David Roberts | this epic, mesmerizing first novel set in the underworld of contemporary Bombay. Shantaram is narrated by Lin, an escaped convict with a false passport who flees maximum security prison in Australia for the teeming streets of a city where he can disappear. | It's supposed to be factual but if it is he's had the craziest life imaginable. Brilliant | FS | 10 | 10 | |||||||||||||||||||
16 | Fa | The Outsider | Stephen King | When an eleven-year-old boy is found murdered in a town park, reliable eyewitnesses undeniably point to the town's popular Little League coach, Terry Maitland, as the culprit. DNA evidence and fingerprints confirm the crime was committed by this well-loved family man. But Maitland has an alibi. Horrifying answers begin to emerge. A man cannot be in two places at the same time. Can he? | I would not normally read Stephen King. Not my sort of books. But this was a page turner. I could not put it down. There is a bit of supernatural but not enough to make it unbelievable. | MR | 10 | 10 | |||||||||||||||||||
17 | Fa | Little House in the Big Wood | Laura Ingalls Wilder | Inside the little house in the Big Woods live the Ingalls family: Ma, Pa, Mary, Laura and baby Carrie. Outside the little house are the wild animals: the bears and the bees, the deer and the wolves. This is the classic tale of how they live together, in harmony mostly, but sometimes in fear . . . | I was sent this as a birthday present age 5. Probably my first proper book. I loved it and then read everything else in the series.Much better than the long running television series although I did love that too. | MR | 10 | 10 | |||||||||||||||||||
18 | F | Stuart: A life backwards | Alexander Masters | This brilliant biography, winner of the Guardian First Book Award, presents a humbling portrait of homeless life, and is as extraordinary and unexpected as the man it describes. | A book to remind us that whatever else is happening we are still very lucky in life | MR | 10 | 10 | |||||||||||||||||||
19 | F | The Strange Death of Europe | Douglas Murray | The Strange Death of Europe is the internationally bestselling account of a continent and culture caught in the act of suicide. Douglas Murray takes a step back and explores the deeper issues behind the continent's possible demise, from an atmosphere of mass terror attacks and a global refugee | Covers a lot of ground and well written and researched. A bit depressing, if you were that way inclined. Not afraid to put his head above the parapet. | PC | 10 | 10 | |||||||||||||||||||
20 | F | Calvin and Hobbes | BIll Waterson | This is the first collection of the popular comic strip that features Calvin, a rambunctious 6-year-old boy, and his stuffed tiger, Hobbes, who comes charmingly to life | Every page brings a smile to your face. These were the kids' books, but I think it's great to see them from a parent's perspective. Decluttering so have to check everything out! | PC | 10 | 10 | |||||||||||||||||||
21 | F | All the light we cannot see | Anthony Doerr | The stunningly beautiful instant New York Times bestseller about a blind French girl and a German boy whose paths collide in occupied France as both try to survive the devastation of World War II. | another brilliant book. Set during WWII about a young German boy and French girl. Sad but beautiful story. | LMcG | 10 | 10 | |||||||||||||||||||
22 | F | Whit | Ian Banks | Isis Whit is no ordinary teenager. An innocent in the ways of the world, an ingenue when it comes to fashion, she does however rejoice in some neat healing powers, a way with animals and the exalted status of Elect of God of the Luskentyrian Sect | my favourite book, contemporary, olds Worley, surreal and hilarious. I love this book | Tanya | 10 | 10 | |||||||||||||||||||
23 | B | Free Country | George Mahood | FREE COUNTRY: A Penniless Adventure the Length of Britain The plan is simple. George and Ben have three weeks to cycle 1000 miles from the bottom of England to the top of Scotland. There is just one small problem… they have no bikes, no clothes, no food and no money. Setting off in just a pair of Union Jack boxer shorts, they attempt to rely on the generosity of the British public for everything from food to accommodation, clothes to shoes, and bikes to beer. During the most hilarious adventure, George and Ben encounter some of Great Britain's most eccentric and extraordinary characters and find themselves in the most ridiculous situations. Free Country is guaranteed to make you laugh (you may even shed a tear). It will restore your faith in humanity and leave you with a big smile on your face and a warm feeling inside. | If you want to restore your faith in your fellow Britten have a read at this book | Tom | 10 | 10 | |||||||||||||||||||
24 | F | The Sacred Act of Stealing | Christoher Bookmyre | The book is a tale of the unusual romance between likable thief, half Scottish half Mexican, Zal Innez and D.I. Angelique de Xavia, the police officer whose job it is to catch him. Martial arts expert de Xavia is recovering from her recent experiences as told in "A Big Boy did it and Ran Away". | In my opinion, his best book. It's a very funny and very clever crime novel | LMcG | 10 | 10 | |||||||||||||||||||
25 | F | A Life's Music | Andrei Makine | In a snowbound railway station deep in the Soviet Union, a stranded passenger comes across an old man playing the piano in the dark, silent tears rolling down his cheeks. Once on the train to Moscow he begins to tell his story: a tale of loss, love and survival that movingly illustrates the strength of human resilience. | A great wee book, recommended by a friend. I've gone on to read more of Makine's books. | Liam | 9 | 9 | |||||||||||||||||||
26 | F | Crime and Punishment | Fyodor Dostoevsky | troubled young man commits the perfect crime - the murder of a vile pawnbroker whom no one will miss. So begins one of the greatest novels ever written, a journey into the criminal mind, a police thriller, and a philosophical meditation on morality and redemption. | Just great! Many have copied but none have improved. | Liam | 9 | 9 | |||||||||||||||||||
27 | F | Shadow of the Wind | Carlos Ruiz Zafon | A stunning literary thriller in the tradition of Umberto Eco. The discovery of a forgotten book leads to a hunt for an elusive author who may or may not still be alive... | Read this without recommendation and surprised by the amount of people who later asked me "Have you read…" I agree. A very special book. Must read it again (that will be a 3rd time) (Ann Black) | Liam | 19 | 9 | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||
28 | B | Operation Ironman | George Mahood | Operation Ironman follows George Mahood’s inspiring and entertaining journey from a hospital bed to an Ironman triathlon. After major surgery to remove a spinal cord tumour, George set himself the ultimate challenge – a 2.4 mile swim, a 112 mile bike ride, and a 26.2 mile run, all to be completed within 16 hours. He couldn’t swim more than a length of front crawl, he had never ridden a proper road bike, and he had not run further than 10k in 18 months. He had four months to prepare. Could he do it? | I find this writer very funny (dry) He wrtten a number of Feel good Books the best of which has to be "Free Country: A Penniless Adventure the Length of Britain" | Tom | 9 | 9 | |||||||||||||||||||
29 | F | A Prayer for Owen Meany | John Irvine | Owen is a remarkable boy in many ways; he believes himself to be God's instrument and sets out to fulfill the fate he has prophesied for himself. | Recommended by a Czech girl who worked with me. It's charms were lost in translation but I tried it years later and loved it. | Liam | 18 | 8 | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||
30 | F | Sunset Song | Lewis Grassic Gibbon | Sunset Song is the first and most celebrated of Grassic Gibbon's great trilogy, A Scot's Quair. It is hard to find any other Scottish novel of the last century which has received wider acclaim and better epitomises the feelings of a nation | Started reading this when school forced me to in 1976. Finished it last year and read the other 2 in the trilogy straight away. | Liam | 8 | 8 | |||||||||||||||||||
31 | F | Les Miserables | Victor Hugo | Part comedy, mystery, romance and tragedy - and a social document of France's turbulent revolutionary history, this title tells a tale of injustice, heroism and love that follows the fortunes of Jean Valjean, an escaped convict determined to put his criminal past behind him. | Part Comedy? I must have missed that bit. When I was in primary school, we used to get Reader A, B C, etc. with passages from classic books. One was about a guy who stole the bishops silver candlesticks and the bishop forgave him. I always remembered it and years later.... | Liam | 8 | 8 | |||||||||||||||||||
32 | F | War and Peace | Leo Tolstoy | War and Peace is a vast epic centred on Napoleon's war with Russia. While it expresses Tolstoy's view that history is an inexorable process which man cannot influence, he peoples his great novel with a cast of over five hundred characters. | Well, this could last a long time! I did read it all, except for ~ 100 pages where it flips into the theory of war tactics - but that's only a small part of it! Never-the-less, a great story if you have a spare afternoon. | Liam | 8 | 8 | |||||||||||||||||||
33 | F | Engleby | Sebastian Faulk | It tells the tale of a working-class boy who wins a place at an esteemed university and becomes a suspect in a murder investigation after the disappearance of a girl from a nearby college | Although not as popular as Birdsong, I really liked it. It's about imagined memory. | Liam | 8 | 8 | |||||||||||||||||||
34 | F | The Ragged-Trousered Philanthropists | Robert Tressell | A classic representation of the impoverished and politically powerless underclass of British society in Edwardian England, ruthlessly exploited by the institutionalized corruption of their employers and the civic and religious authorities. | Depressing and but a good read at the same time | Katie | 8 | 8 | |||||||||||||||||||
35 | F | Every Day Is a Holiday | George Mahood | George Mahood had a nice, easy, comfortable life. He had a job, a house, a wife and kids. But something was missing. He was stuck in a routine of working, changing nappies and cleaning up cat sick. He felt like he was missing out on a lot of what the world had to offer. He then discovered that it was Bubble Wrap Appreciation Day. The day after that was National Curmudgeon Day, and the day after that was Inane Answering Machine Message Day. In fact, the calendar is FULL of these quirky, weird and wonderful events. He realised that somebody somewhere had created these holidays, believing that they were important enough to warrant their own official day. Surely he should therefore be more appreciative of their existence? So he decided to try and celebrate them all. As you do. He hoped that at the end of the challenge he would be transformed into a happier, more intelligent and more content person. Follow George on his hilarious, life changing adventure as he tries to balance his normal life with a wealth of new experiences, people, facts and ridiculous situations. It’s a rip-roaring, life-affirming, roller-coaster of a ride, where every day is a holiday. | All Georges books are kind Diary Style. In thisbook George make what seems like an ever increasing trend seem funny. | Tom | 8 | 8 | |||||||||||||||||||
36 | F | Doctor Zhivago | Boris Pasternak | Doctor Zhivago is the epic story of the life and loves of a poet-physician during the turmoil of the Russian Revolution | If you've seen the film... | Liam | 7 | 7 | |||||||||||||||||||
37 | F | Huckleberry Finn | Mark Twain | If you like the sound of rafting down the mighty Mississippi then The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is the story for you! | Maybe read Tom Sawyer first but this is a much more grown up book | Liam | 7 | 7 | |||||||||||||||||||
38 | F | Sophie's World | Jostein Gaarder | A rollercoaster ride through the history of philosophy - and a huge bestseller | An introduction to Philosophy which takes you on a weird journey. Another recommendation from Cz. | Liam | 7 | 7 | |||||||||||||||||||
39 | F | We Need to talk about Kevin | Lionel Schriver | Eva never really wanted to be a mother; certainly not the mother of the … | Oh my! I took out the blurb as it might put you off but a great read. | Liam | 7 | 7 | |||||||||||||||||||
40 | F | Uncle Tom's Cabin | Harriet Beecher Stowe | Stowe's rich, panoramic novel passionately dramatises why the whole of America is implicated in and responsible for the sin of slavery | I was surprised by this when I read it, expecting it to be light-weight. Didn’t realise that it had a huge impact on US culture at the time with respect to slavery. | Liam | 7 | 7 | |||||||||||||||||||
41 | F | Birdsong | Sebastian Faulk | It is taught at school and university on both English and History syllabuses; it has sold more than two million copies in the United Kingdom and three million worldwide; it has been used at Sandhurst to instruct young officers in the realities of warfare; in polls it is regularly voted one of the nation’s favourite books. | Another great read. Was adapted by the BBC as a mini-series | Liam | 17 | 7 | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||
42 | F | East of Eden | John Steinbeck | Follows the intertwined destinies of two families - the Trasks and the Hamiltons - whose generations hopelessly re-enact the fall of Adam and Eve and the poisonous rivalry of Cain and Abel. | There are better Steinbeck books but this was my first big boy's read. If you have seen the James Dean film, it is only a fraction of the book. | Liam | 6 | 6 | |||||||||||||||||||
43 | F | Exit West | Mohsin Hamid | Pakistani writer (wrote The Reluctant Fundamentalist). Nadia and Saeeed live in an unnamed city full of repression, loss and imminent danger. They find an unexpected method of migration travel through a world of uncertainty and survival. | This is a surprising book (I like it much more than The Reluctant Fundamentalist). I really cared about the characters and it challenged my values. Not a big book, well worth the effort. I'm on my second read at the moment. | Ann | |||||||||||||||||||||
44 | F | Winter in Madrid | C J Sansom | A spy novel set in Spain 1940 just after the Spanish Civil War. British Secret Service, complicated relationships, hardship in Spain at that time. CJ Sansom really makes you care about it all. | If I say too much I'll spoil it - just to say I recommended it to my book group then remembered that it's quite a big read and some of it distressing. I thought they would complain but everyone else thought it an excellent read too. | Ann | |||||||||||||||||||||
45 | F | Shardlake Series | C J Sansom | These are historical mystery stories mainly in London during Henry VIII through the eyes of Matthew Shardlake, an intelligent and compassionate hunchback lawyer. The first of the series is Dissolution. | From the first page you are transported to that world, including to the cobbles on the streets. It's interesting (some historical stuff) and utterly engrossing. If you haven't read any of these you have a joy ahead! | Ann | |||||||||||||||||||||
46 | SF | The Chrysalids | John Wyndham | Post apocalyptic book from 1955 which involves quasi-religious fervour, eugenics and telepathy | What could go wrong? I read this as a teenager and have returned to it a couple of times. I have also returned several times to my teenage reading and love of Jane Eyre (chosen by Katie) and I think both books, so different, identified in me the feeling of being an outsider and wanting to save the protagonists (I don't think I knew that word when I was a teenager even though I did Higher English). I think it's a clever thing good writers do... | Ann | |||||||||||||||||||||
47 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
48 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
49 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
50 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
51 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
52 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
53 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
54 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
55 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
56 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
57 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
58 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
59 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
60 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
61 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
62 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
63 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
64 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
65 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
66 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
67 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
68 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
69 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
70 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
71 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
72 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
73 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
74 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
75 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
76 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
77 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
78 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
79 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
80 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
81 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
82 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
83 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
84 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
85 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
86 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
87 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
88 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
89 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
90 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
91 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
92 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
93 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
94 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
95 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
96 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
97 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
98 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
99 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
100 |