BOOKS read and still reading

This summer has been quite successful in terms of getting through some of the contenders on my books to read list.
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban 

My boy and I are still reading together in the evenings, although admittedly we haven't been too religious with it during the holidays but nonetheless we have got through the third installment of Harry Potter. They are certainly growing on me with The Goblet of Fire being my favourite so far because of the way she started it. It's a mammoth book though - which does put me off slightly as I find reading aloud does seem to take an eternally long time compared with reading in your head. But it is fun to share. 

The Thief Lord by Cornelia Funke 

Perhaps not the best of Funke’s books I have read; I enjoyed Inkheart enormously as well as Inkspell, although couldn’t quite stomach reading the final instalment of the trilogy, Inkdeath. This book however contained some very interesting characters and a somewhat whacky storyline and despite the anti climatic ending was an enjoyable read. It carried me along quite nicely and was a light, easy read which plunged me in the depths of my favourite city : Venice. Funke is a German writer but I always find her style transfers very well to English. I particularily liked the portrayed relationships between the children and the adults, although the ‘wicked’ surrogate parents were a little contrived and far too stereotypical, but the close bond shared between strangers was intriguing.

The Crimson Petal and the White by Michel Faber 

I am now on to the adult section of my To Read List, and my oh my, how very adult it is. I have to be very careful of who is reading over my shoulder! Sometimes I have had to sneak into the bathroom to read in private in case my flushed face may give something away!! It always astounds me how some books can wrap me in their worlds so effortlessly, whilst others can be a real challenge. This book, The Crimson Petal and the White is one such book that can make me smell the filth of London’s streets whist I am tracking the poor  but then can elevate me to the grandeur of the Upper classes in their stately homes. Brilliant so far, and only half way through. I missed the BBC adaptation of this book and hopefully when I am finished I may be able to catch a re-run of it, just to compare. Although I would wager my house that the book is better - in my opinion it always is!! 

Bring up the Bodies by Hilary Mantel

As a bit of a treat to myself, I bought a copy of Bring up the Bodies, I loved Mantel's prequel to this book - I wasn't disappointed at all. I thoroughly enjoyed this one too, but missed the very unique style with which the first one was written with. I know so many people who felt it was very confusing but I really liked it, once I got used to it. I do believe that this will be a trilogy and I can't wait to read how she handles the fall of Cromwell.

I am not sure what I will read next but at the moment I am completely enthralled in Victorian London so perhaps I will give Dickens a go and finish off the year with Clair Tomalin's biography of him, hmmmm that is an idea! Completely going off the list then - oh well as my daughter would say: YOLO!

Till the next time.