The Mis-Education Years - August 2011

41. The Mis-Education Years - Ross O'Carroll-Kelly (Paul Howard)

256 Pages; Charity Shop

Ross O'Carroll-Kelly is a fictional teenager from the southside of Dublin, Ireland. The book is a diary giving us the characters "hilarious" exploits in his own posh Dublin 4 accent. He plays on the school rugby team, "roids the arse" of various girls and generally behaves like an "orsehole".

The Ross O'Carroll-Kelly series of books is very popular in Dublin and I guess most of Ireland but to be honest, I didn't enjoy the book. Probably a case of hearing how good it was for so long that by the time I got around to reading it my expectations had been raised beyond what was ever going to be possible for the book to live up to.

The Dublin 4 accent annoyed the "orse" off me too.

I might read the next book in the series to see if my attitude changes but I won't go out of my way to hunt it down. If it happens, it happens.

I give the Miseducation Years 2 "Total Filthies" out of 5

The Complete Book of Food Combining - August 2011

40. The Complete Book of Food Combining - Kathryn Marsden

480 Pages, Borrowed from Local Library

Food Combining (sometimes known as The Hay Diet) is something I've looked at a few times, especially after reading Fit for Life by Harvey Diamond a few years ago.

To be honest, it sounds like it makes sense but Harvey Diamond made it so complicated I didn't bother trying it. He had all these rules on when to eat, what sequence to eat in etc. and it really put me off.

Having said that, the one rule about only eating fruit on an empty stomach and no later than 30 minutes before a meal cured me of fruit-related acid reflux...so he's not all bad!!!

Anyway, the Complete Book of Food Combining is a different kettle of fish altogether.

Not too many rules other than the don't eat concentrated proteins with concentrated carbohydrates in the same meal. (and only eat fruit on an empty stomach!)

It's a straight-forward explanation of food combining, how to do it, how it has helped others and how it may help you, and loads of different recipes to try.

It's a great book that will take you from novice to master food combiner in just one read.

I award this book 5 "Easy to Follow Food Charts" out of 5

Green Living in the Urban Jungle - August 2011

39. Green Living in the Urban Jungle - Lucy Siegle

160 Pages, Bought online

I got this as a 3 for £10 deal online from a  bookseller I bought a book from a few years ago.

It offers various examples of how you can live a more "Green" life while living in an urban setting.

It's told with humour and there's plenty of examples of what the author did. It covers from absolute beginners which was great as I'm petty clueless about things like this. I recycle as much as I can but it's almost unconscious as we have a recycling collection every 2 weeks here so all I have to do is rinse and sort as I go.

I'l definitely try growing something in the garden and maybe using my bicycle more.

On the whole this book is a great user-friendly introduction to green living.

I give it 4 "Green Fingers" out of 5. It would have got a five if there were more step by step examples and projects.

July Round Up

Suzanne Collins 

July Round Up

Books Read in July: 4

Total Pages: 1372
Average Pages Read per day: 44.2

Sources of Books:
Charity Shop: 1
Library: 3

Genres:
Fantasy: 2
Sci Fi: 1
Non-Fiction: 1

For more about Suzanne Collins check out her website: http://www.suzannecollinsbooks.com/

2011 so far:

Books Read: 38

Total Pages: 10,583

Average Pages Read per day: 49.91

Reading less as the days are now officially warmer and brighter, even in Ireland!

Sources of Books:
Charity Shop: 13
Library: 23
Amazon: 2 

Genres:
Fantasy: 8
Sci Fi: 14
Non-Fiction: 11
Crime: 2
Thriller: 2
Historic Fiction: 1

Dragonflight - July 2011

38. Dragonflight - Anne McCaffrey

356 pages, Bought in Charity Shop

A very popular book on Fantasy lists and the first in a series covering the Dragons of Pern.

I rarely finish a book if it hasn't hooked me by page 50.

I made myself finish this book as I figured it would improve...for me, it didn't.

I know there are a lot of fans out there but this book just didn't do it for me.

I tried.

I give this book 2.5 "Threads" out of 5

The Hunger Games - July 2011

37. The Hunger Games - Suzanne Collins

464 Pages, Borrowed from Local Library.

A new Sci-Fi classic in the making, soon to be made into a film.

Like a mix of "The Running Man" and "Battle Royale" this book focusses on Katniss Everdeen, a 16 year old girl who ends up in "The Hunger Games" a fight to the death competition that takes place every year in this post-apocalyptic tale.

But Katniss already has skills to help her survive...and maybe win.

What can I say, it's a belter of a story! It races along and the characters and situation they find themselves in seem real.

I read this in a day, and as it's the first book in a trilogy, I'm really looking forward to the next book in the series.

If you like action, plot and characters you like and start to care about very early in the story then this is the book for you.

I should mention that it's a Young Adult book. Don't let that put you off, it's still a great read.

I give The Hunger Games 5 "Mockingjay Birds" out of 5

American Vampire - July 2011

36. American Vampire (Vol. 1)- Stephen King & Scott Snyder, Illustrated by Rafael Albuquerque

200 Pages, Borrowed from Local Library

This is the first graphic novel of our list and a very enjoyable read.

It is a book of two stories, one by King, the other by Snyder.

Both stories were entertaining, showing a fresh take on vampires.

One has a girl who is attacked by vampires and left for dead. She's found by another vampire who bites her and turns her into an "American Vampire"; a vampire with teeth, claws and no problems with the sun!

The second story follows Skinner Sweet, the original American Vampire.

For once, the artwork perfectly complements the tale. I know art is a personal thing, but when it comes to graphic novels sometimes it can take away from the storyline...that is not the case here. I would have Rafael Albuquerque do all illustrations for Stephen Kings works from now on...and re do The Dark Tower comicbooks too.

If you're a fan of vampires, and NOT the lame-ass Twilight versions of them, then this book is one to chase down.

It's the first in a series so there plenty more to look forward to.

I give American Vampires 5 "Pearl Jones" out of 5.

Teach Us To Sit Still - July 2011

35. Teach Us To Sit Still: A Sceptic's Search for Health & Healing

352 Pages, Borrowed from Local Library

This book, by novelist Tim Parks, charts his experiences in trying to free himself from distressing pain that he describes as "a general smouldering tension throughout the abdomen, a sharp jab in the perineum, an electric shock darting down the inside of the thighs, an ache in the small of the back, a shivery twinge in the penis itself". As a man, I can't help wincing as I read that sentence!

He goes to doctors, who subject him to a battery of tests...all of which come back inconclusive. He undergoes operations that do nothing to free him from this constant debilitating pain.

Finally, while in India, he consults a doctor who tells him the pain is a manifestation of a struggle going on in his mind. Then he discovers a book written by two doctors that related the pain he's experiencing with muscle tension.

What follows is the authors journey into the mind/body connection and how he discovers the benefits of meditation...the "Sit Still" of the title. It's not a self-help or "How To..." manual but it is a fascinating glimpse at a man who has been let down by conventional medicine finding peace with himself and relief from his pain. It's laced with humour, and sometimes cringe-inducing descriptions, but is a very worthwhile read, maybe more so for people with health problems or who are just getting a bit older and starting to feel it!

I'm not in pain and I'm not a meditator but having read his story I am a lot more willing to try meditiation/relaxation techniques just for the sense of peace side of it.

I give this book 4.5 "Wee Samples" out of 5.

June Round Up

Alex Haley

Books Read in June: 4

Total Pages: 1584
Average Pages Read per day: 52.8

Sources of Books:
Charity Shop: 1
Library: 2
Amazon: 1

Genres:
Sci Fi: 2
Non-Fiction: 1
Historic Fiction: 1

Find out more about Alex Haley check out his Wikipedia page: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alex_Haley



2011 so far:

Books Read: 34

Total Pages: 9211

Average Pages Read per day: 50.88
Reading less as the days are now officially warmer and brighter, even in Ireland!

Sources of Books:
Charity Shop: 12
Library: 20
Amazon: 2

Genres:
Fantasy: 6
Sci Fi: 13
Non-Fiction: 10
Crime: 2
Thriller: 2
Historic Fiction: 1

The Postman - June 2011

34. The Postman - David Brin

400 Pages, Borrowed from Local Library

Civilisation has been destroyed; not by nuclear weapons or a plague but by violent survivalists...

..kind of a BS premise for the book but once you get past that it's a great story.

A guy wandering through the former U.S. of A. hides in an old postal van and finds a warm postman's jacket and a bag of letters. He takes both, hoping to trade the letters for food; and slowly takes on the role of "The Postman"; an everyday hero destined to rid the land of the bad guys and restart civilisation to boot!

A cracker of a read, great way of looking at a post-apocalyptic land and a fun and entertaining read as well.

What more could you want ?!?

I give The Postman 5 "Holnists" out of 5

Roots - June 2011

33. Roots - Alex Haley

704 Pages, Bought in Charity Shop

I was too young to remember the classic 1977 TV mini-series based on this book but was familiar with the general story from it being mentioned online and on various TV shows over the years.

So I was delighted when I saw the book on the shelf in our local charity shop.

I found the story just amazing. It was great that the author had traced his own family "roots" all the way back to Africa and had used their lives as the framework for the novel. I also liked the way it jumped from character to character and generation to generation but I did kind of wish I could find out how the original characters lived out the rest of their lives.

I had very little knowledge of the hardships slaves endured from the moment they were stolen from Africa and using the narrative this book doesn't shy away from letting the reader know just how horrific it could be. Sadly, I believe there was plenty of worse things done to slaves that maybe the author just didn't want to mention.


It's a great historical novel and something I feel everyone should read, just to remind ourselves that humans can survive under terrible conditions...and unfortunately that suffering is nearly always at the hands of other so-called humans.

I give this book 5 "Chicken George's" out of 5

P.S. I've since learned online that Alex Haley was accused of plagiarism for a hefty chunk of the book and had to settle out-of-court with the author; and also there are doubts about his being able to trace his family history all the way back to a village in Africa. I don't care, I still loved the book and still recommend it!

Starship Troopers - June 2011

32. Starship Troopers - Robert A. Heinlein

224 Pages, Borrowed from Local Library

Another day, another classic Sci-Fi novel!

If you're a fan of the 1997 Paul Verhoeven film and hoped this was the novelisation of it...you're in for a shock!

The book bares only a passing similarity to film. Whereas the film was all fightin' buggers and gallons of blood everywhere;  in my opinion the book is almost an homage to how much the author loved being in the mobile infantry and how everyone should join and do their bit for God and country.

It was interesting but really the science fiction setting was the backdrop for talking about armies and war.

Great if you're into that sort of thing...not so great if you're not.

It WAS an interesting book though so I'd still recommend it...but more as a military book than Sci-Fi.

I give Starship Trooper 2.5 "Citizens" out of 5

Yes! 50 Secrets From the Science of Persuasion - June 2011

31. Yes! 50 Secrets From the Science of Persuasion - Noah Goldstein, Robert B. Cialdini, Steven J Martin

256 Pages, Bought from Amazon.

Also sold as "Yes! 50 Scientifically Proven Ways to Be Persuasive"

While researching something for work, I came across mention of this book and had to buy it immediately! [Although as this book is about persuasion, maybe I fell under the spell of a carefully crafted persuasive advert based on the contents of this book !?!]

Basically, this is 50 chapters of varying length that pose a problem and then offer a persuasive solution based on scientific research. Stuff like "Does Fear persuade people to buy" and "Can a simple question improve support for your idea?"

Very interesting topics are covered and if you're in the business of having to "sell" your product, business or ideas than this is a worthwhile read.

In my opinion, this book has one major problem though. The chapters aren't grouped together by topic, so each chapter covers something interesting but the following one covers something completely unrelated. Then 6 chapters later something comes up that is related to the first chapter and so on, and so on. For a book on persuasion, I thought it could have been compiled a bit better.

I give this book 4 "Jedi Mind Tricks" out of 5, it lost one because of the structure of the chapters.

May Round Up

Books Read in May: 4

Orson Scott Card

Total Pages: 1917
Average Pages Read per day: 61.8

Sources of Books:
Charity Shop: 3
Library: 1

Genres:
Sci Fi: 1
Non-Fiction: 1
Crime: 1
Fantasy: 1

Find out more about Orson Scott Card check out his Wikipedia page: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orson_Scott_Card



2011 so far:

Books Read: 30 

Total Pages: 7627

Average Pages Read per day: 50.5
Reading less as the days get warmer and brighter!

Sources of Books:
Charity Shop: 11
Library: 18
Amazon: 1 

Genres:
Fantasy: 6
Sci Fi: 11
Non-Fiction: 9
Crime: 2
Thriller: 2

Speaker for The Dead - May 2011

30. Speaker for The Dead - Orson Scott Card

323 pages, Bought in Charity Shop

This is the sequel to Ender's Game and is unlike any sequel I've ever read! Like Ender's Game, it won both the Nebula Award (1986) and Hugo Award (1987)

If you're looking for Ender's Game 2 then you're going to be disappointed.

It is vastly different to the original book, following a grown up Andrew "Ender" Wiggin on the planet Lusitania, as he acts as "Speaker for the Dead" for a murdered Xenologer, and tries to understand the third sentient species to be discovered ; the Pequeninos.

Totally unexpected story that took me by surprise at how much I enjoyed it. Once again, worthy of all the accolades it has received.

I give this 5 "Piggies" out of 5

Nine Dragons - May 2011

29. Nine Dragons (A Harry Bosch Novel) - Michael Connelly

385 pages, Bought from Charity Shop

I really enjoy Michael Connelly's books, especially the ones featuring Detective Harry Bosch. There's a real gritty realism to them which I guess the author picked up while working as a crime beat journalist.

Having said that, in my opinion, this book was not of the high standard of his previous books. Maybe it's because Bosch's estranged wife and daughter are involved in the main plot. I don't know. But, for me, this book just didn't gel like the others.

I'm still a big fan and look forward to the next book as eagerly as ever.

I give this book 3 "Tunnel Rats" out of 5

Assassin's Quest - May 2011

28. Assassin's Quest - Robin Hobb

769 Pages, Borrowed from Local Library

The final book of the Farseer Trilogy and a great end to the series.

I can say this, because I already know there's another trilogy featuring Fitz, The Fool and others!

If I didn't know that there were more books, I'd say this book is a little bit of a downer. It's still very enjoyable though, and once again I'm not going to say anything more as I want you to read these great books and not have me spoil them for you ;)

Beg, borrow or steal to get this trilogy...you'll enjoy them I promise!

I give this book 4.5 "Wits" out of 5

Chicken Soup for The Soul - May 2011

27. Chicken Soup for The Soul - Jack Canfield & Mark Victor Hansen

440 pages, Bought in Charity Shop

I am very happy to admit that I am a 38 year old man and I have recommended this book on many occasions and have lent it out to people on many occasions too.

In fact that's why I had to buy it again...someone never returned it and I can't remember who!

This book, and it's many, many other titles in the series, are like Marmite. [For those who don't know, Marmite is a yeast-based food spread which an equal number of people either love and despise. I am very much a member of the latter community who thinks Marmite should be killed with fire]

Anyhoo...Chicken Soup for The Soul is a collection of 101 stories that will cheer you up when you're sad and will restore your faith in humanity, simple as that! OK, maybe not that simple but it's a book that is really worth a read, regardless of how cynical you may be.

Sometimes it's OK to enjoy a story that pulls at the heart-strings and maybe brings on a tear or two.

For the record, my favourite story in this book is the one about the teacher who got each member of a class to write something about each of their classmates on a sheet of paper. Oh man, the onion ninjas are everywhere when I read that one :)

Having said that, I haven't read any of the other titles in the series (which I just looked up online and discovered there's something like 200 of them so far!!!)

I give this book 5 "Campbell's Soups Cans" out of 5

April Round Up

Books Read in April: 7

John Christopher

Total Pages: 1616
Average Pages Read per day: 53.8

Sources of Books:
Charity Shop: 3
Library: 4

Genres:

Sci Fi: 3
Non-Fiction: 3
Thriller: 1

Find out more about John Christopher on Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Christopher




2011 so far:

Books Read: 26

Total Pages: 7627

Average Pages Read per day: 63.5

Sources of Books:
Charity Shop:8
Library: 17
Amazon: 1

Genres:
Fantasy: 5
Sci Fi: 10
Non-Fiction: 8
Crime: 1
Thriller: 2

Theodore Boone - April 2011

26. Theodore Boone - John Grisham

272 Pages, Bought from Charity Shop

I'll be honest about it up front and admit that while I was reading this book I wasn't aware that it had been written for a younger market.

It was only after I'd finished and went online to see if anyone else agreed with my thoughts that the standard of Grisham's writing had seriously declined that this important fact came to light!

When I did find out it was a relief because I though either:

a.) John Grisham had been taking the piss with the half-assed attempt at a book

or

b.) he'd suffered some kind of brain injury and no one wanted to tell him so they let him publish anyway!

Having found out it was neither, I realised the book was much better than the crime ones I read when I was younger (and yes, I'm talking about you Frank and Joe Hardy! I didn't bother with Nancy Drew; and the Famous Five were just annoying!)

So all in all, it WAS a good book, just read in the wrong frame of mind ;)

I give Theodore Boone 3.5 "Kid Lawyer" out of 5

On The Edge - April 2011

25. On The Edge: My Story - Richard Hammond

320 Pages, Bought in Charity Shop

Richard Hammond is a TV presenter and famous for being a host on Top Gear, BBC TV's very popular and funny car programme.

In Sept 2006 while recording a piece for the programme the high-speed dragster he was driving suffered a burst tyre while traveling at speed and he suffered life-threatening head injuries in the crash.

The book follows his life up to the accident, then switches to his wife's story as she dealt with the crash and the aftermath, and then returns to Richard as he explains how life is like after the accident.

This book was more interesting than I thought it would be, to be honest. I also learned a lot about head injuries and what it's like to be a survivor as well as a family member going through it.

I give this book 4 "Hamsters" out of 5

The Stars My Destination - April 2011

24. The Stars My Destination - Alfred Bester

256 Pages, Borrowed from Local Library

Also released under the name "Tyger, Tyger"

A Sci-Fi classic that follows the story of an anti-hero called Gully Foyle.

Gully is the lone survivor on a space ship (NOMAD) that had been attacked. He survives alone for 6 months but when a ship comes past, it ignores his distress signal and leaves him behind.

The anger he feels transforms him into a man consumed with rage and that's when he decides to live, just so he can get his revenge on the ship that left him to die.

Early on, his face is covered by a tiger tattoo. It's an interesting plot device that isn't helped by the illustration on the cover of the book I got...which clearly shows a tattoo that looks nothing like a tiger and has the name NOMAD spelled backwards! I'll add in a large shot of the cover just so you can see :)

It didn't ruin the book for me at all but it's little things like that that sometimes stick in my brain more than plot or characters!

Foyle is definitely an antihero so you find yourself rooting for him and then read about him doing terrible things just because he's angry.

I enjoyed this book especially as it predicted Cyberpunk.

I give this book 4 "Space Jaunts" out of 5

Overheard in Dublin Rides Again - April 2011

23. Overheard in Dublin Rides Again - Gerard Kelly & Sinead Kelly

160 Pages, Bought from Charity Shop

This is the second compilation of hilarious anecdotes posted on the website www.overheardindublin.com

Full of examples like...

"I was on the Luas last August, and was standing next to these two Cork guys.

Guy #1: 'Did you hear that some celebrity was stabbed yesterday?'

Guy #2: 'What? Who? What happened?'

Guy #1: 'Well, they were out with your woman Reese ...Reese ...Reese ...Whatsername?'

Guy #2: 'Witherspoon?'

Guy #1: 'With a spoon? No, with a knife! You can't stab someone with a spoon!'

What can I say...I got a few chuckles out of it and when I was finished I donated it to the charity shop I bought it from. If you're not from Dublin (or Ireland for that matter) some of the posts will make no sense at all.

Rather than read the book just go online and read them off the website.

I give this 3.5 "Legally Blonds" out of 5.

When the Tripods Came - April 2011

22. When The Tripods Came - John Christopher

160 Pages, Borrowed from Local Library

Written by the same guy who wrote "The Death of Grass" this is a prequel, aimed at the Young Adult market, that was written 20 years after the original Tripods trilogy (The White Mountains, The City of Gold & Lead, The Pool of Fire).

I haven't read the original trilogy but I did watch the two series of the BBC TV version in the 1980's.  I was hooked from it's crazy beginning, set in a future where everyone looks like they're living in a pre-industrial past and then getting sucked up into huge three-legged machines to get a metal grill stuck on their heads! The ending of the second series was miserable and depressing too. You can watch the whole two series on Youtube but be warned, it's only available in small chunks :(

This book is different. I figure it's set around the late 1980's - early 1990's and explains how the tripods quickly gained control of the majority of humanity. The story races along and there are a couple of images that really stuck with me after I'd finished it.

A great introduction to the Tripods and has left me eager to read the Trilogy.

I give this 5 "Trippy Shows" out of 5

I Am Legend - April 2011

21. I Am Legend - Richard Matheson

160 Pages, Bought from Charity Shop

How is it that I've seen the Charlton Heston ( The Omega Man) and Will Smith ( I Am Legend) film versions of this book and it's only now that I've actually read the book that the title "I Am Legend" makes any sense!?! [shakes fist at Hollywood sign]

A great book, well plotted, pacy and hard to believe it was written in 1954...that's nearly 60 years ago!

A great Sci-Fi/Horror crossover and well worth the praise that is heaped upon it, and a clever twist on the whole vampire mythology...there's no sign of Dracula in this book!

If none of this praise for the book is reason enough for you, then read it just for the gut-punch ending that Hollywood seems to hate so much.

I award this book 5 "Cloves of Garlic" out of 5.

Teacher Man - April 2011

20. Teacher Man - Frank McCourt

288 Pages, Borrowed from Local Library

This is the final book in the "Angela's Ashes" Trilogy. (I think I said this before, but don't read Angela's Ashes while on holiday, especially not on a romantic holiday to Paris. I made that mistake and now have the unshakeable belief that Paris is a miserable, god-forsaken hellhole...some people may agree with that :) but really, I blame this book for distorting my experience!)

In this book, Frank has moved to New York to become a High School teacher. It's more full of humour and teaching anecdotes that the previous books, maybe as he has become happier himself.

It's obviously a tough enough life being a teacher, especially when faced with students that aren't too interested in anything other than hearing their teacher share his childhood reminiscences.

I found this book a really fitting end to the trilogy and feel that having read all three books I now know more about Frank McCourt than I do about myself :)

I give this book 5 "Teachers' Pets" out of 5

March 2011 Round Up

Stephen King

Books Read in March: 8

Total Pages: 2356
Average Pages Read per day: 76

Sources of Books:
Charity Shop: 2
Library: 6

Genres:
Fantasy: 2
Sci Fi: 2
Non-Fiction: 3
Thriller: 1

Find out more about Stephen King at his site: http://stephenking.com/



2011 so far:

Books Read: 19

Total Pages: 6011

Average Pages Read per day: 66.8

Sources of Books:
Charity Shop: 5
Library: 13
Amazon: 1

Genres:
Fantasy: 5
Sci Fi: 7
Non-Fiction: 5
Crime: 1
Thriller: 1

Resurrection Day - March 2011

19. Resurrection Day - Brendan DuBois

378 Pages, Borrowed from Local Library

What if Kennedy had started World War 3? In this book Russia and America are crippled after the Cuban Missile Crisis goes nuclear and the U.K. is a super power.

Cleverly the book is set in an alternative 1972 where a journalist ( and former soldier) is trying to find out if Kennedy, the man who was responsible for the deaths of millions, is actually still alive.

This reminded me of another very enjoyable alternative history book, "Fatherland" by Robert Harris.

Really makes you think of what could have so easily happened back then and how the world would look as a result.

Great characters, enjoyable plot and satisfying ending. What more could you want!

I give this 5 "London Times Journalists" out of 5

The Martian Chronicles - March 2011

18. The Martian Chronicles - Ray Bradbury

242 Pages, Borrowed from Library ( No more Mobile Library, the local one has reopened after being refurbished...it looks great!)

Back to classic Sci Fi Books! Another top 10 regular on the Top Sci Fi Novels lists.

Sci Fi has a long tradition of holding up a mirror to humanity and society while under the guise of talking about aliens. The Martian Chronicles is the leader of the pack in this regard.

Rather than one long novel, it's a compilation of short stories covering different aspects and different times on Mars, spanning from humans first steps on Mars to their final ones.

I remember seeing the BBC series based on this book when I was a kid. The only thing I can remember (apart from being bored out of my mind by it) was that the Martians had guns that looked like umbrellas.

The book is far superior to the series and well worth reading.

I give this 4.5 "Umbrella Guns" out of 5

Blockade Billy - March 2011

17. Blockade Billy - Stephen King

132 pages, Borrowed from Mobile Library (I'm sorry I didn't take a picture while I was there, having used it I have decided I'd like to live in a Mobile Library!)

I borrowed 2 Stephen King books at the same time, "Full Dark, No Stars" and "Blockade Billy".

I have previously shared my thoughts on the first book (Great) and now I move onto the second (Not so good)

Maybe it was the baseball theme (Baseball is not big in Ireland, the closest thing we have is Rounders but that's not really popular as a national sport either) or maybe it was just the story but either way I thought it was a below par effort.

It isn't a large book and there's two stories; "Blockade Billy" and "Morality" so I guess it's worth the short time it takes to read.

"Morality" was better than "Blockade Billy" and had a real Twilight Zone feel about it too which was enjoyable.

All in all, it's worth a read if you're a fan of Kings but only if you're a fast reader!

I give this 3 "Spring-loaded Razor Blades" out of 5...2 for Morality, 1 for Blockade Billy.

Full Dark, No Stars - March 2011

16. Full Dark, No Stars - Stephen King

352 pages, Borrowed from Mobile Library, A small bus packed all around with books on wooden shelves, with a really strong smell of books too...heaven!

I'm a big Stephen King fan, or as the man himself likes to say a "Constant Reader". I started with "The Eyes of the Dragon" when I was 12 and followed that with "IT" the summer I turned 13.

I've been through the highs (The Stand, Misery, the Talisman etc.) and the lows (Dolores Claiborne, Rose Madder, Gerald's Game) but still remained faithful.

He's had an upsurge in quality again since "From a Buick 8" and Full Dark, No Stars is another example of that upswing.

The book consists of 4 novellas, all very dark stories, all with a touch of Edgar Allen Poe about them. Light on laughs but heavy on atmosphere and a sense of danger for the characters in each story.

King is great at the long novel and the short story and here that expertise shines through. Each story is long enough to satisfy yet short enough to keep you interested.

All in all if you're a fan of King or just like tales with a dark side then Full Dark, No Stars will be right up your alley.

I give this 5 "Good Marriages" out of 5

My S*it Life So Far - March 2011

15. My Shit Life So Far - Frankie Boyle

304 Pages, Borrowed from Mobile Library (as our Local Library was undergoing renovations. I wish we could always have a mobile library, I loved using it!)

If you're any way familiar with the Scots comedian Frankie Boyle you'll know he isn't known for "pulling his punches" when it comes to jokes...or politicians...or celebrities...or pretty much anything.

He has been called the "dark heart of comedy" and that's not far from the truth.

Having said that, I think Frankie Boyle is a comedy genius right up there with Lenny Bruce and Peter Cook. I found myself laughing out loud on a few occasions while reading this and that's a rare thing, especially when it comes to autobiographies.

If you like Frankie Boyle's humour, you'll love this book. If you don't like him or his comedy, maybe skip the book and go grow a sense of humour.

I award this book 5 "Family-sized Blocks of Cheese" out of 5!

Would The Real Gerry Ryan Please Stand Up - March 2011

14. Would The Real Gerry Ryan Please Stand Up - Gerry Ryan

276 Pages, Borrowed from Local Library

Did you ever read an autobiography and really regret it? With this book I certainly did. I wish he'd stayed sitting down.

I liked Gerry Ryan. He was an Irish Shock-Jock DJ who I found entertaining whenever I got the chance to listen to his show. (He did the morning show Monday to Friday, 9.00am to 12.00 noon on Ireland's radio station 2FM)

He died tragically last year from a suspected drug-induced heart attack. Like many people around Ireland I was stunned to hear of his death.

On a side note, there was also an unfortunate bit of synchronicity when Fiona Looney, Gerry's "on-air wife" joked with fellow DJs on air that Gerry Ryan was dead and that was why she was filling in for him. A few hours later, his partner found him dead in his apartment. You can hear it on Youtube

Anyway, much as I liked him, he comes across as an asshat of stupendous proportions in this book. Really, if you liked Gerry Ryan do yourself a favour: ignore this book and keep your happy memories.

I'm giving this 1 "Lambo" out of 5...and only giving that because I did like the guy's radio show.

Digital Fortress - March 2011

13. Digital Fortress - Dan Brown

384 Pages, Bought from Charity Shop

Dan Brown has written some enjoyable books. The DaVinci Code obviously being his biggest.

I enjoyed the DaVinci code, I enjoyed Angels & Demons...but I wasn't too keen on this.

It kind of plodded along. I didn't really relate to the main character and the finale was a bit rubbish.

There's really nothing more I can say about it, other than instead of reading this book, maybe just reread The DaVinci Code.

I'm sure Dan Brown will not lose any sleep over my disappointment in this book and that's OK. You can't please all of the people all of the time and I'll still pick up his other books when I see them.

I'm giving Digital Fortress 1 "Clipper Chip" out of 5.

The Mammoth Book of Useless Information - March 2011

12. The Mammoth Book of Useless Information - Noel Botham

288 Pages, Bought from Charity Shop

This is one of those books you can dip into whenever you're stuck for something to read. It's just page after page of one or two line bits of useless trivia on all different topics grouped into related chapters.

Full of stuff like "The man who invented short-hand was deaf".

It did the job but I won't be reading it again as I donated it to charity as soon as I was finished.

The main problem I find with this kind of factoid book is that as soon as I've read the fact it disappears from memory never to return. I read 288 pages of this book and can't remember any of it.

I had to look up the book on Amazon to "Look Inside" to find the example I used above :)

Good for passing the time but rubbish for learning anything of any great use...hence the title of the book I suppose!

I'm giving this 2 "Useless Facts" out of 5

February 2011 Round up

Robin Hobb

Books Read in February: 6

Total Pages: 1922

Average Pages Read per day: 68.6

Sources of Books:
Charity Shop: 1
Library: 4
Amazon: 1

Genres:
Fantasy: 1
Sci Fi: 3
Non-Fiction: 1
Crime: 1 

Find out more about Robin Hobb by visiting her website: http://www.robinhobb.com/


2011 so far:

Books Read: 11

Total Pages: 3655

Average Pages Read per day: 61.9

Sources of Books:
Charity Shop: 3
Library: 7
Amazon: 1

Genres:
Fantasy: 3
Sci Fi: 5
Non-Fiction: 2
Crime: 1

Ringworld - February 2011

11. Ringworld - Larry Niven

352 Pages, Borrowed from Local Library

Another Science Fiction Classic!

Ringworld won the Nebula award in 1970 and the Hugo and Locus Award in 1971.

You know a book is going to be good when the main character Louis Wu is 200 years old and flies off in a ship called "Lying Bastard"!

Wu, along with Speaker, a cat-like alien called a Kzin, a beautiful woman called Teela, and Nessus a three legged, 2 headed alien called a Pierson's Puppeteer, fly out of Known Space to explore a Ringworld.

A Ringworld is an artificial ring about one million miles wide and approximately the diameter of Earth's orbit (which makes it about 600 million miles in circumference), encircling a sunlike star. (I copied this description from Wikipedia as I tried a few times to describe it and couldn't!)

I consider this book a nice mix of science and soap opera which kept me entertained from start to finish.

The only problem I had was there were a few instances were things got a bit far-fetched...which is ironic considering this is a fictional tale of humans and aliens flying to a planet shaped like a ring!

Otherwise I enjoyed it immensely! There are 3 sequels and 4 prequels so I'll keep an eye out for them.

I give Ringworld 4.5 "Tasps" out of 5.

Royal Assassin - February 2011

10. Royal Assassin - Robin Hobb

688 Pages, Borrowed from Local Library

The second  book in the Farseer trilogy sees Fitz recovering and back at Buckkeep. More court politics, intrigue and adventure. I can't say more as it might ruin it for people who haven't read the first book yet!

A great follow up to Assassin's Apprentice and really makes me want to go buy the third installment.

I can't recommend these books enough as I'm really enjoying being immersed in the land of the Six Duchies and all it's history and tales.

This book gets 5 "Red Ship Raiders" out of 5

Childhood's End - February 2011

9. Childhood's End - Arthur C. Clarke

224 pages, Borrowed from Local Library.

Another Arthur C. Clarke book and another Science Fiction book that's always in the Top 10 Best Science Fiction list.

Alien spaceships turn up one day and announce they're taking control of us in a limited way to prevent us killing ourselves. The aliens stay in their ships and won't show their faces...or whatever they have for faces.

Not what I was expecting at all. I thought it was going to be a bog-standard alien invasion tale but it's so much better and different than that.

Humourous, fascinating and so unlike anything else I'd seen or read, it is easy to see why this was one of the authors favourite books.

A book that will stick with you long after you'd finished.

I give Childhood's End 5 "Overlords" out of 5!

The Death of Grass - February 2011

8. The Death of Grass - John Christopher

195 Pages, Borrowed from Local Library

The Death of Grass is a very English disaster story which follows John Custance and his friends/family as they make there way across England as the grass dies, starvation really kicks in and civilization crumbles.

Unlike anything I've read before, I was lulled into thinking things wouldn't be too bad if the grass died but this book really brings home how devastating it would be.

You really feel for the characters as they find themselves acting in ways they never thought possible, just to survive.

The book was renamed "No Blade of Grass" for the U.S. market and was also made into a film in 1970 which is available to watch on YouTube (unless you live in Ireland or one of the other countries Warner Bros. won't let you see their films for free.)

I was going to say I enjoyed this book immensely but "enjoyed" seems wrong considering the misery and death and everything but I can't think of a better word and searching on Thesaurus.com didn't help :)

I give The Death of Grass 5 "Blades" out of 5!

Prayer: the Mightiest Force in the World - February 2011

7. Prayer - The Mightiest Force in the World. Thoughts for an Atomic Age - Frank C Laubach

95 Pages, Ordered from Amazon

Now, anyone who knows me at all knows I'm not a big BELIEVER.

I was raised a Catholic but since 12 I've only been in church for weddings and funerals.

Having said that, my dad was diagnosed with Lung Cancer recently and had to have his left lung removed...and then a course of chemotherapy and radiation.

I'm sure I'm not alone in thinking "Hey, maybe I should start seeing if there's anything in this whole praying business that might help out my Dad"

I didn't want to mindlessly trot out the usual prayers I'd been taught as a child so I searched online and this book was mentioned as being different from the usual spiel.

I read it, and it was definitely different. It encourages you to make more personal prayers and pray in different ways. It is interesting although dated...keeps mentioning "atomic power"!

Like I said, I'll give it a go and see what happens.

I give this 4 "Halleluiahs" out of 5 as it is an interesting idea.

Deal Breaker - February 2011

6. Deal Breaker - Harlan Coben

368 pages - Bought in Charity Shop

Deal Breaker is the first Myron Bolitar novel from Harlan Coben. My Mam, sister and fiancée love his books so I figured I'd give it a go.

Didn't do anything for me really.

I read the book, it passed time but I can't say it was anything special.

That's no reflection on the writing, which is clear, sharp and punchy. It was just the characters of Myron and his psychopathic associate Win that didn't gel with me.

Having said that, this is the first book so maybe if I read a few more I'll grow to love them as much as everyone else obviously does.

I give this 3 "Career-ending Knee Injuries" out of 5

January 2011 Round Up

Arthur C. Clarke

Just a quick round up of what's happened in January!

Books Read: 5

Total Pages: 1733

Average Pages Read per day: 55.9

Sources of Books:
Charity Shop: 2
Library: 3

Genres:
Fantasy: 2
Sci Fi: 2
Non-Fiction: 1

Find out more about Arthur C. Clarke by visiting his website http://www.clarkefoundation.org/

Enders Game - January 2011

5. Ender's Game - Orson Scott Card

352 Pages, Borrowed from Local Library

Ender's Game is one of those books that is always in the Top 5 Best Science Fiction Lists.  It won the 1985 Nebula award for Best Novel and the 1986 Hugo award for Best Novel.

Oh boy, it sure does deserve the recognition it gets! It's a little cracker of a story.

I read this in one sitting, I just couldn't put it down. It sucks you in right from the start and delivers action, suspense and a great ending...actually 2 great endings! (When you read the book you'll know what I mean)

The only problem I had was with the characters of Ender's brother Peter and sister Valentine. I know they have a purpose...but they kinda slowed down the story for me.

Other than that, it's a great read and highly recommended.

There are other "Ender" books...I don't know if I'll read them or not. I don't want to dilute my enjoyment of this classic!

I give Ender's Game 5 "Buggers" out of 5!

P.S. It turns out the author, Orson Scott Card, has a bit of a controversial stance on some topics. Regardless of this, Ender's Game is still a great book..maybe get a loan of it rather than buying it ;)

The Hair of the Dog: And Other Scientific Surprises - January 2011

4. The Hair of the Dog - Karl Sabbagh

304 Pages, Borrowed from local Library

I love science. I love watching programmes about science and I love reading books about science...but not the heavy stuff. Stephen Hawking stuff is just a bit too much of a strain on the brain for me.

But I especially love science that is aimed towards explaining the big stuff to the general audience; Prof. Brian Cox, Cosmos, Through the Wormhole etc.

This book is filled with little tidbits of weird, strange, funny science that makes it perfect for me. the writing is also very easy to read with a lot of humour and tongue-in-cheek stuff to keep it amusing and interesting.

The author also uses these to explain bigger concepts in science so that the reader doesn't get scared off by the idea of deep science.

Each chapter covers a different area which I like as I found just when I was getting a little bored of the world of space science, the chapter ended, and we moved onto Mathematics...and when that got boring the author moved on to Plants and animals...and so on.

If you like science, you'll like this book. 

I give this 5 "Flipping Crayfish" out of 5!

2001 - A Space Odyssey January 2011

3. 2001- A Space Odyssey by Arthur C Clarke

260 Pages, Borrowed from Local Library

Another film related book, this time a much more enjoyable experience!

If you've seen the Sci-Fi classic film by Stanley Kubrick then you'll know it can be a bit hard to follow...to say the least!

It turns out that this book was written by Clarke in conjunction with Kubrick when they were creating their film masterpiece.

I loved the film and having now read the book I find my enjoyment of the film is even greater. The book fills in a lot of the gaps, leaving you with a clearer understanding of what's going on during the dialogue-free sections.

There are a few differences between the book and the film (Different Planet!) but nothing that would spoil things.

In fact, it's such a good book, you can enjoy it without having seen the film or ever needing to see it...although you should because it brilliant!

I give this book 5 "Star Babies" out of 5!

The Princess Bride - January 2011

2. The Princess Bride - William Goldman

336 Pages, bought in Charity Shop

Let me start off by saying I loved The Princess Bride film.

I loved it in the cinema, I loved in on VHS and I still love it on DVD.

That love did not extend to the book.

For me, this is one of those rare cases where the film is better than the book.

"INCONCEIVABLE!" I hear you shout!

I picked up the Anniversary edition which has an introduction by the author, where he explains he didn't write the book, his father merely abridged an older book by a Florentine writer named S. Morgenstern.

All this messing and the authors comments really spoiled my enjoyment of the book. I can't explain why but it really irritated me. And Westley is kind of an asshat on a few occasions in the book too. I won't tell you how but they really did the scenes better in the film.

There's a chapter from the unwritten sequel "Buttercups Baby" which kind of dumps all over the original too.

I forced myself to finish this book but it was hard work.

I then watched the film and my love was rekindled.

I give this 2 "Dread Pirate Roberts" out of 5...only because my love for the film prevents me from giving a 1.

Assassin's Apprentice - January 2011

1. Assassin's Apprentice - Robin Hobb

481 Pages, bought in Charity Shop

What a great book to start off the year! I was hooked from the first chapter, and stopped after a few chapters to go check online to see if there were any more books to follow. I was delighted to see there were 5 more to go! This is the first book of the Farseer Trilogy and then the story continues in the Tawny Man Trilogy.

It's a refreshing, original fantasy covering years of the characters life and not just the usual "let's all go on a quest" stuff that's all too common in the Fantasy genre...not to say I have a problem with that, but it's still nice to read something new.

I give this book 5 "Forged" out of 5!

Welcome to Colm Burke's Books Blog

Hello, and welcome to Colm Burke's Books Blog.

In this blog I hope to share with you my thoughts on every book I've read since January 2011.

I've always enjoyed reading, and curling up with a good read is an experience I try to enjoy every day. I've read hundreds of books over my lifetime but realised that I didn't have any kind of a record of what books I'd read over the years.

Sure, some book have stayed with me since I read them, but many have gone by the wayside of memory lane. I can tie some books to a particular time in my life (Stephen King's IT during the summer I turned 13) or a particular experience that may have happened while reading them (Note: Don't read Angela's Ashes while on a romantic break in Paris!) but many have just disappeared into the ether.

So I decided I'd keep a log of the books that passed through my hands since 2011 and have studiously noted each one over the years in a notebook kept on my bedside locker.

This blog lets me add some more details and maybe will entice some of you to read some books you might not have considered before.

I read fiction and non-fiction, some serious topics and some not so serious ones; Adult, Young Adult and Kids books too.

I'm not a book snob and this will become very obvious as you read through the list.

The list is slightly skewed towards Science Fiction books as I had previously decided to try to read all the great sci-fi classics...but there's other stuff in there too!

I add to the list of books I want to read on a daily basis, I also add to the collection of books I'm waiting to read on a weekly basis.

I normally pick up a book or two from some of the many great charity shops in my town. These are stored under my bed...beside my bed...on my bedside locker...in a bookshelf at the bottom of the stairs...in the sitting room on a table...in a bag in the attic...in my car...etc, etc, etc.

I also have some on Kindle.

I have a problem :)