A Kiwi abroad

So, having quite enjoyed creating last year’s “Books I have read” list, here goes with one for this year.

Kitchener’s Last Volunteer – Henry Allingham & Denis Goodwin

A Christmas book, started last year.  Britian’s oldest man and last volunteer for WWI, and founder member of the RAF, tells his story.  Excellent!

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An Act of Courage – Allan Mallinson

Next one in the Matthew Hervey series.  Matthew is back in Spain, and we get some reminisences of the siege of Badajoz and his part in it.  Maybe not one to start with, but if you like the series, you won’t be disappointed.

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Standing in the Rainbow – Fannie Flagg

A tale of small town America through the years – 1940s to 1980s.  If you like her style (Fried Green tomatoes etc) then this one’s for you.

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When Will There Be Good News – Kate Atkinson

The next installment in the Jackson Brodie saga is one element of this tale.  Again, if you are already a fan you’ll enjoy.  If not, you don’t need to have read the others to get something out of this one.

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Can’t Wait to get to Heaven – Fannie Flagg

Further adventures of Elner Schimfissle – somwhat unlikely premise for some of the story, and a few loose ends from Standing in the Rainbow which don’t quite get tied up, but if you aren’t too picky, pretty good.

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Lords of the Bow – Conn Iggleden

The story of Genghis Khan.  I have inadvertabtly started with the second book of a series here, but if you like novels based on history (and you can tell from my readings of Sharpe, Mathew Hervey, Uhtred etc that I do) then you’ll probably enjoy this.  Will be buying the first one in the series.

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Winter in Madrid – C. J. Sansom

Harry Brett returns to Spain under difficult circumstances to try to find out what vhappened to old friend(s).  No easy answers.

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Parky – My Autobiography – Michael Parkinson

You probabley need to know who Michael Parkinson is to get the most out of this book.  And, like me to have enjoyed his chat show from the early ’70s onwards.  If so, you’ll enjoy it.

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The Life of Pi – Yann Martel

A re-read whilst waiting for other books to come along.  The story of Piscine Molitor Patel (Pi) and how his family moves to Canada, and what happens en-route . . . Very good read.

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Sons & Lovers – D. H. Lawrence

Paul Morel is the main Son from the title.  The story of his relationship with the women in his life.  I suppose this is a re-read, since I know I have read it before, but that must be more than 20 years ago (it is scary to say that sort of thing).  I can see why this is a “good” book and enjoyed the re-read but not something I would recommend unreservedly.

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Eats, Shoots & Leaves – Lynn Truss

A guide to English punctuation – a pedant’s guide to the Oxford comma, the Grocer’s apostrophe etc.  Unleash your inner stickler.

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Talk to the Hand – Lynn Truss

A second “birthday” book  – a guide to manners in a modern society – not sure how generally appealling this is, but to someone who despairs of  ”standards” in modern society, you are likely to agree with her as I did.

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Scottsboro – Ellen Feldman

A slightly fictionalised account of the Scottsboro trials from the US in the ’30s – somewhat horrifying, but a very good read.

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Wolf of the Plains – Conn Iggleden

As promised above, the first in the series which continues in “Lords of the Bow”, telling the story of the rise to power of Temujin – who becomes Genghis Khan.  Very good.

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Black Swan Green – David Mitchell

Jason Taylor 13 in 1982, a year in his life.  In my view this is more readable than his others Cloud Atls etc, but you do get slightly more out of this if you have read them.  As it happens, I was a little older than Jason in 1982, and remember things slightly differently, but for men who were boys then will get something out of this.

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Name of the Rose – Umberto Eco

Middle ages detective story – well known film but first time I have read the book.  Not sure that religious element didn’t get in the way of the story, but a good read, and one of Eco’s better

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Night Train to Lisbon – Pascal Mercier

A German teacher’s trip of discovery sparked by a chance meeting with a Portuguese woman. A really good read – if not an exciting one.

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The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas – John Boyne

This might be marketed as a child’s book (and a successful film) but it has enough of a story for anyone.

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Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - J K Rowling

Having been to see the Half-Blood Prince at the cinema, re-reading the Harry Potters.  This being the 7th and last of the series and for me is probably the best though not all the loose ends are completely tied up.

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Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince – J K Rowling

Sixth in the series – and a book not completely done justice by the film.  I really don’t agree with putting whole scenes in which aren’t in the book!  Harry’s sixth year and trickiest battles yet

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Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone – J K Rowling

The first of the books and the one which gave me the bug as it was being read as bedtime stories.  In which Harry discovers that he is a wizard and gets explanations for a lot of things which have happened in his life so far.

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Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets – J K Rowling

Second in the series, and for me, not as good as the first even though these books generally improve through the series. Reading now

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The Time Traveller’s Wife – Audrey Niffenegger

This is a re-read of a book I have thoroughly enjoyed each time I have read it.  The story of the highly unusual love affair between Henry DeTamble and Clare Abshire.

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The Post Office Girl – Stefan Zweig

Reading now