Cockfighter by Charles Willeford

“All I had left was a folded ten-dollar bill in my watch pocket and one dead chicken”

If you fancy a taste of masculine, gritty reality, this is definitely going to float your boat. I have to say I was a little put off initially by the title. The thought of cock fighting, a particularly brutal “sport” in of itself was enough to make me think twice.

There is something ultra-real about Frank, his constant movement, his dragged out engagement and his gambling; his runs of bad luck and his frantic couplings on the road. At the same time, there is something equally foreign about the setting and time.

I know this review is a little on the concise side, yet I feel this is something you -  potential reader - should discover on your own.

 4 out of 5 ruffled feathers may fly.

Half Bad by Sally Green

"Everything around me has stopped  and all I can do is drop to my knees in thanks."

I have mixed feelings about this one, hmm that makes me think of this, clearly that is way off topic. My point is, that I was constantly frustrated by this book and yet, weirdly, pulled back into its orbit.

On the surface it seemed a little cliched, white and black witches and the like, and yet there was an inherent tension that continually drew me in.

I didn't want to get drawn into yet another supernatural young adult series, I swear I didn't, but damn it...I'm still in.

3 out of 5 tattoos can't be removed.

Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow: My Life by Sophia Loren

" When I think back on my life, sometimes I’m surprised that it’s actually all true "

Perhaps there is something reassuring about the fact that former sex kitten Sophia Loren is now a much loved Nonna - although I'm certain she looks quite different from my Nonna.

I don't know, I was really anticipating a little more from this one. It certainly is an easy read and a great potential stocking filler. That being said, I think I wanted just a little more. Probably something Ms Loren has had to grapple with her whole life.

That being said, this is an entertaining piece and is certainly worth a look in. Who can't be jealous of someone who was pursued by Cary Grant? Sophia's meteoric rise from the unexpected child of an unmarried mother to a global sensation was always going to make for an interesting read.

3 out of 5 toothpicks have a tendency to fill out.

The Strange Library by Haruki Murakami

"A little after nine o'clock, the sheep man showed up at my door with cocoa and cookies."

A delicious morsel of a book that could quite possibly be the perfect christmas stocking filler. It is such a visual delight, tangibly gorgeous and quirky and over way too quickly. Here a visit to a library proves to be the entrance to another world and couldn't that be said in many ways of reading itself.

5 out of 5 beautiful, that's all I have to say.

Jeeves and the Wedding Bells by Sebastian Faulks

"The tea and newspaper bring a smile to the  features; between the ablutions and the breakfast table there is generally a show tune or two to receive its premiere from the Wooster lips."

What ho? Sebastian Faulks masquerading as P G Wodehouse, who would have thought it would be absolutely tipping? Faulks manages to invoke Wodehouse's voice in an impressive fashion. Any excuse for another outing with Jeeves and Wooster in my opinion.
I love an excursion to a world without mobile phones, after all, who needs Google when you have Jeeves?
There is just one teeny, tiny, spoilery item that really suggests that this outing is not an original and that would be the ending. No, I shall not give it away at this stage, you will just have to read it yourself and let me know if you agree.

5 out of 5 accidental engagements and faux aristocrats go hand in hand.

Mr Mercedes by Stephen King

"The de­con­structed con­tents of Deb­o­rah Harts­field’s wal­let are an as­ter­oid belt around her."

I have been a fan of Mr King's work for a very long time and consequently was really looking forward to this. Normally I would have read a work of this size in next to no time, but it took me five months to finish this.

I just zero interest. The characters didn't resonate - which is really unlike Stephen King. I have almost nil recollection of who or what was going on. My review is as uninspired and forgettable as I found the story.

2 out of 5 Mercedes drivers are dangerous.

Voyager by Diana Gabaldon

“No help for it; I was going to have to use the penicillin”.

It had been a shocker of the week and a trip back into the arms of Jamie Fraser seemed the perfect antidote. Certainly things can seem a little bit formulaic, but I say that in a good way – why fix something that isn’t broken? I’d rather worry quality time with Jamie than paying bills and kicking goals (own or otherwise) at work – my goal kicking foot is feeling a little worn. The formula of separation, hot reunion, drama, separation, hot reunion etc. never seems to get tired.

Back to the tale itself. Claire has discovered that…YES… #spoilers… Jamie survived the battle of Culloden and now that her daughter, Brianna, is grown, she is heading on back to that whip marked , hot Scot.

Not to mention this outing features a voyage on the seven seas, pirates, a bit of man love and so much more.

Imagine going back in time with your own stash of penicillin – you’d feel almost superhuman. Claire has managed to become a doctor too,  I guess you have to keep yourself busy when separated from someone like Jamie for 20 years.

As usual this novel’s excessive girth was a little overwhelming on the bookshelf, but once I cracked it open, I devoured it greedily and finished it in a two days! Such is my love of escape with Jamie. I can’t wait to run away with him again.

I’m turning into a bit of an Outlander tragic and would love to find a stone that would let me time travel to another time and all around the world to boot – this time the pair set sail for Jamaica and it looks like they are headed further north for the next instalment – I can’t wait.

5 out of 5 pirates say arrr right.