The Uncommon Reader by Alan Bennett

"With two mentions of his name and one of New Zealand Sir Kevin retired hurt."

Watch out when the Queen takes up reading. Her duties may be shirked and her conversations may become awkward. I rather enjoyed this little novella which is sure to raise a chuckle.
The Queen happens upon a lending library and uncovers the undeniable attraction of reading for pleasure.
This is something like 120 pages that are destined to make you smile and moorish like a tasty block of Lindt chocolate. My only complaint was that I wanted more. 


4 out of 5 monarchs don't have time to read for fun.

Amnesia by Peter Carey

"The traitor's mother leaned across and kissed me on both burning cheeks."

I have been reading this for what seems like rather a long time. Perhaps I've been a little distracted. That being said, I felt like the content was somewhat reminiscent of the title, in that I'd forget what I'd read the night before.

Computer hacking and political coverups form the basic plot and will no doubt seem very familiar to readers of the Snowden and Assange filled news of recent years. Journalist Felix Moore is offered a financial and career saving offer to detail the story of hacker, Gaby. Her story is interwoven with that of the journalist, his financial backer, the hacker's mother and so on down the rabbit hole.

3 out of 5 times spent trying to get an internet connection.

Billy Liar by Keith Waterhouse

"I had no real feeling for her, but there was some kind of pain when she went away, and when the pain yielded nothing, I converted it, like an alchemist busy with the seaweed, into something approaching love."

Considering how slight a volume this novel is, it was rather surprising how long it took me to finish. There was something rather discouraging and demoralising about the story of a young man who dreams of a scriptwriting career with a comedian, leads women on left right and centre and just basically achieves nothing.

Recycling the same engagement ring to get his way, with no intention of follow through, Billy Liar is not exactly the most reliable character.

An atmosphere of futility and disappointment is not a place I'd really choose to dwell and hence my lack of passion for this story. There is a sense that Billy would be just as home today on Tinder, making up stories and headed around in circles.

3 out of 5 day dreamers finish last. 

The Girl with the Lower Back Tattoo by Amy Schumer

"That they should never let a magazine or dating site or matchmaker monster tell them they're in a lower bracket of desirability because of their age or weight or sense of humour."

I am a massive fan of Inside Amy Schemer, and was eager to get my hands on a copy of her book. I will try not to fan girl out too much in extolling its virtues; fair warning, that may be difficult. Billed as a selection of stories, rather than a fully fledged autobiography as she "has a long way to go" until she reaches that stage, the book is a delightful peek deeper inside Amy.

Who can't relate to the angst ridden journal entries of adolescence? There is a chatty honesty and immediacy that is just as infectious as her television show. Share this with your gal pals with whom drunken antics, failed romances and dick picks are sure to strike a chord. Lest you think this is all rather shallow, Amy's remembrances of her family and growing up deliver more than just laughs and considerable pathos. It would take a hard heart not to be moved by her reaction to the Trainwreck  shootings and campaign for gun control.

So Amy, don't go changing you are a sublime teller of tales and possibly still a bit of a hustler.

5 out of 5 swipes right.

The Glittering Court by Richelle Mead

"Cedric's smile broadened, warming his features. Were his eyelashes longer than mine?"

Sometimes I'm a little embarrassed to admit my love of Richelle Mead's works. Yes they are aimed at a young adult audience. Yes, they essentially are all variations on the theme of a gorgeous young woman escaping the binds of some kind of social structure and in the process falling for the "wrong guy" according to her station, who turns out to be just right. They are also a lot of fun and well realised.

I wonder sometimes if my appreciation of such delightful flights of fancy is the sign of a hopeless romantic or of being an overgrown child. Now, enough navel gazing, let's talk about the book.

Lady Whitmore, Countess of Rothford is not looking forward to the prospect of an arranged marriage. Switching places with one of her maids she escapes to become part of the Glittering Court, an undertaking which overhauls impoverished girls into marriageable material for the well off men of Adoria. My chief concern with that conceit is that our heroine basically runs from one arranged marriage to be bought and sold in another, or at least that is what she is contracted to endure.

All these queries are put aside by a cracking pace, some fascinating characters and the lengthy eyelashes of Cedric Thorn. Will he be a thorn in her side? Will her cover be blown? Will blackmail, piracy and heretical religions keep her on tender hooks? I guess you will just have to have a read and see.

Once again, thanks go to my fellow book sharer Nicki, for lending me this lovely hard copy and I'm excited to see there will be more to come from Ms Mead in this series, namely Midnight Jewel focussing on Adelaide's friend Mira's adventures.


5 out of 5 glittering girls always command attention.

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by J.K. Rowling, John Tiffany and Jack Thorne

"All the books from the Restricted Section and then some."

Can you resist another foray into the world of Harry Potter? I certainly could not resist and all praise iBook because I didn't even have to wait to indulge. If you are expecting something new and different then you are probably looking in the wrong place. This is one for the fans and revisits all the favourite aspects and locales that you know they'd be crying out for.

Hogwarts, time-travel and he who can not be named - this one has a little of everything. If your scar starts itching, you know trouble can't be far away and junior Potter and Malfoy might just be in the thick of it.

5 out of 5 death-eaters can really ruin your day.

Zero K by Don DeLillo

"Tableau vivant, I thought, except that the actors were dead and their costumes were super-insulated plastic tubes."

I'm not really sure that a depressing book about dying was a good way to spend my birthday book voucher. Perhaps it was indicative of the drama that surrounds the gift giver, or perhaps I'm just jet-lagged still and sprouting nonsense.
I found it rather difficult to immerse myself in the novel, due in part , no doubt, to the subject matter.

Ross Lockhart, an ageing billionaire, has put in a call to his estranged son Jeffrey to visit the compound of his new investment. A place where the sick leave behind their ailing bodies pending future cures. A strange labyrinth of empty offices and endless questions.

Jeffrey's journey into his own thoughts within the strange surrounds is complex as he learns he is to accompany his father to bid farewell to his father's love, Artis. Internal monologues haunt his musing wanderings. His father has more news and there is much to contemplate here.


Perhaps I would have enjoyed this more had I not been reading it on planes and between goopti transfers - a strange way to make my way around Europe. Jeff's conflict is reminiscent of the fog I currently find myself in.


4 out of 5 scary compounds have uncertain ends.