James Herbert
1975
0-450-03045-8
Nothing is as insubstantial as fog, so when it's the enemy, how do you fight it?
An earthquake releases a fog into the English countryside, where it roams at the mercy of the wind, sending any creature it touches completely insane. Holman, exposed and apparently immune, is left to try and convince that his story isn't fantasy, and to figure out how you fight a mist.
This is one of those horrors that unnerve you - there is normality mixed with unimaginable craziness. There is no central bad guy; everyone has the potential to lose their mind, so there is an uneasiness rather than an out-and-out fear, which seems even scarier.
There were several points in this book where I had to put it down altogether to get my head around what was happening, but it was also a story where I really had to know how it ended.
There was one thing that I thought was missed from the ending - the fate of McLellan's family wasn't told - but aside from that I thought this was riveting, and made more so for two reasons: it was set in England rather than America, and it was written in the 70s, so there wasn't the annoying convenience of technology like mobile phones and the internet.
Another reason why James Herbert is becoming my favourite author.
Date Finished: 20/03/08
Year Total: 10
Friday, March 21, 2008
Lord John & The Brotherhood of the Blade
Diana Gabaldon
2007
978-844-13201-0
Gabaldon admits that her books contain vast numbers of characters to keep track of, and this one is certainly no different. In spite of losing track and just flowing, this is a good read.
Lord John this time investigates his father's death, years before, after his brother receives a page torn from his fathers stolen journal. Along the way he is distracted by both a romantic addition to his life and family, and a campaign against the French.
I've always been a fan of Diana Gabaldon, so I knew this was going to be an enjoyable book, even if I forgot who was who among the background characters.
Date Finished: 16/03/08
Year Total: 9
2007
978-844-13201-0
Gabaldon admits that her books contain vast numbers of characters to keep track of, and this one is certainly no different. In spite of losing track and just flowing, this is a good read.
Lord John this time investigates his father's death, years before, after his brother receives a page torn from his fathers stolen journal. Along the way he is distracted by both a romantic addition to his life and family, and a campaign against the French.
I've always been a fan of Diana Gabaldon, so I knew this was going to be an enjoyable book, even if I forgot who was who among the background characters.
Date Finished: 16/03/08
Year Total: 9
Sunday, March 16, 2008
The Time Travellers Wife
By Audrey Niffenegger
2004
0-099-46446-4
One of those books that everyone raves about and insists you absolutely must read, I decided to avoid it, and only bought it as part of a bulk-buy at secondhand shop.
It was okay - a love story all out of order, caught between the nice, lineal life of Clare and the scattergun timeline of Henry, who suffers a rare genetic defect that sees him pushed and pulled thru-out his personal timeline.
Timeline stories generally frustrate me or overwhelm me with technical details; this is the first one that I felt comfortable with. Things are more or less told as you need to know as you need to know them, and the bits that are witheld are revealed eventually.
There is humour in this book, mixed in with the love and pain and fear. Altogether, it came out as an okay book, but to be honest I still don't understand the hype surrounding this story.
Date Finished: 02/03/08
Year Total: 8
2004
0-099-46446-4
One of those books that everyone raves about and insists you absolutely must read, I decided to avoid it, and only bought it as part of a bulk-buy at secondhand shop.
It was okay - a love story all out of order, caught between the nice, lineal life of Clare and the scattergun timeline of Henry, who suffers a rare genetic defect that sees him pushed and pulled thru-out his personal timeline.
Timeline stories generally frustrate me or overwhelm me with technical details; this is the first one that I felt comfortable with. Things are more or less told as you need to know as you need to know them, and the bits that are witheld are revealed eventually.
There is humour in this book, mixed in with the love and pain and fear. Altogether, it came out as an okay book, but to be honest I still don't understand the hype surrounding this story.
Date Finished: 02/03/08
Year Total: 8
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Search for the Strangler
Casey Sherman
2003
ISBN 0-446-61468-8
The nephew of the Strangler's last victim, Mary Sullivan, Sherman was introduced to the tragedy by his mother as a teenager, learning that she never believed Albert DeSalvo - the man the State chose - did it.
Deciding to unearth the truth, Sherman starts his own investigation, growing more determined as the authorities refused to co-operate or share what they knew, and even refused to show at scheduled meetings. Using the media to force the state to help, Sherman makes enough headway to prove that DeSalvo was not the Boston Strangler, and leaves the state with two important questions to answer: who did kill all those women, and who is going to be blamed for letting convenient politics get in the way of justice?
Date Finished: 19/02/08
Year Total: 7
2003
ISBN 0-446-61468-8
The nephew of the Strangler's last victim, Mary Sullivan, Sherman was introduced to the tragedy by his mother as a teenager, learning that she never believed Albert DeSalvo - the man the State chose - did it.
Deciding to unearth the truth, Sherman starts his own investigation, growing more determined as the authorities refused to co-operate or share what they knew, and even refused to show at scheduled meetings. Using the media to force the state to help, Sherman makes enough headway to prove that DeSalvo was not the Boston Strangler, and leaves the state with two important questions to answer: who did kill all those women, and who is going to be blamed for letting convenient politics get in the way of justice?
Date Finished: 19/02/08
Year Total: 7
Son of a Witch
Gregory Maguire
2005
ISBN 0-06-08994-2
Following on from Wicked, this story follows the son of the Wicked Witch of the West, Liir, and his journey from vague child to man.
Starting in the middle and recounting Liir's travels from the Witch's mountain castle to the depths of the most notorious prison in Oz, to the squelchy, wet south, where he must face who he could be and what his obligations are.
It's been a while since I read Wicked, and found that I missed having a map to figure out where things were. Most of the characters were easy to remember, although there wasn't much of the sense of meeting old friends, and the ending suggested that there will be another chance to meet them again in another book.
Date finished: 13/02/08
Year Total: 6
2005
ISBN 0-06-08994-2
Following on from Wicked, this story follows the son of the Wicked Witch of the West, Liir, and his journey from vague child to man.
Starting in the middle and recounting Liir's travels from the Witch's mountain castle to the depths of the most notorious prison in Oz, to the squelchy, wet south, where he must face who he could be and what his obligations are.
It's been a while since I read Wicked, and found that I missed having a map to figure out where things were. Most of the characters were easy to remember, although there wasn't much of the sense of meeting old friends, and the ending suggested that there will be another chance to meet them again in another book.
Date finished: 13/02/08
Year Total: 6
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Ocean's End
Colin Woodard
2000
0-465-01571-9
From the Black Sea to the Southern Ocean, Woodard has travelled the seas, talking to anyone he could along the way. Everyone told him the same thing, which he has turned into a compelling and disheartening book: the oceans are in a bad way and getting worse.
While there are accounts of beautiful coral reefs and unique wildlife, ultimately this book filled me with despair. Written in 2000, several predictions have already been fulfilled, most notably the disastrous effects a full force hurricane would have on New Orleans. It seems the rest is coming true as well, at a slower rate.
I learnt a lot from this, and really wish it was required reading for everyone; a good dose of environmentalism is clearly what is needed, and this book delivers in spades.
Date Finished: 06/02/08
Year Total: 5
2000
0-465-01571-9
From the Black Sea to the Southern Ocean, Woodard has travelled the seas, talking to anyone he could along the way. Everyone told him the same thing, which he has turned into a compelling and disheartening book: the oceans are in a bad way and getting worse.
While there are accounts of beautiful coral reefs and unique wildlife, ultimately this book filled me with despair. Written in 2000, several predictions have already been fulfilled, most notably the disastrous effects a full force hurricane would have on New Orleans. It seems the rest is coming true as well, at a slower rate.
I learnt a lot from this, and really wish it was required reading for everyone; a good dose of environmentalism is clearly what is needed, and this book delivers in spades.
Date Finished: 06/02/08
Year Total: 5
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Murder Most Fab
Julian Clary
2007
I admit it - I love Julian Clary. Or at least, I loved his Christmas pantos that were on when I was a kid. Although I knew I missed most of the jokes, they were still fun, and I was expecting much of the same here.
Johnny D's life just seems to happen; he stumbles onto a lucrative career as a male prostitute, and from there to being rich and famous, all seemingly without effort or intent - much like the way he kills.
Much of this book shocked me - it's been a while since I read anything so blatant - and towards the end I was starting to really dislike everyone involved, but as Johnny realised what Catherine had done I surprised myself by agreeing with him: I could see the humour in it all as well, even while thinking that it was horribly wrong.
Date Finished: 31/01/08
Year Ended: 4
2007
I admit it - I love Julian Clary. Or at least, I loved his Christmas pantos that were on when I was a kid. Although I knew I missed most of the jokes, they were still fun, and I was expecting much of the same here.
Johnny D's life just seems to happen; he stumbles onto a lucrative career as a male prostitute, and from there to being rich and famous, all seemingly without effort or intent - much like the way he kills.
Much of this book shocked me - it's been a while since I read anything so blatant - and towards the end I was starting to really dislike everyone involved, but as Johnny realised what Catherine had done I surprised myself by agreeing with him: I could see the humour in it all as well, even while thinking that it was horribly wrong.
Date Finished: 31/01/08
Year Ended: 4
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