Wombling in Colchester January 2013

What's to be found? 7th January 2013
Tally:
1 hat
1 necklace
1 car park ticket
36 pence
1 fake rose
£25 top man voucher

The Sins of the Father - Jeffrey Archer

Is Jeffrey Archer a guilty secret? He is definitely a great story teller although his books do take very little time to read. The Sins of the Father is the second in the Clifton Chronicles of what looks to be 5 lined up. At the end of the last book our main character had stolen an identity only to find it was that of a murderer. In this book he ends up in prison....where he writes a diary....which is published...sounding familiar? Fortunately this part of the storyline doesn't overpower the rest of the story as we're led through 1939 in the UK, Tobruk and the US. Tongue in cheek humour is to be had as well providing added entertainment. Again the book ends on a cliff hanger ready for part three which I understand is to be published in early 2013.

Jeffrey Archer writes the sort of books that take only lightly longer to read than a decent sized magazine so on my value for money scale they're quite low. I will be reading the next one but again when it makes it to paperback.

Would I buy another? When I next take a train journey

Publisher – Pan MacMillan

Wombling in Colchester December 2012

What's to be found? 18th December 2012

Tally:
1 hat
1 necklace
1 car park ticket
9 pence

Without Warning - John Birmingham

In a bookshop that was nearly empty of people on new year's eve I took advantage and looked around slowly. Without Warning was filed in amongst the crime fiction and as it was an author I hadn't heard of I settled in for a read of the first chapter. Cheeky maybe but not as cheeky as photographing it to buy from amazon/ebay/abe later.

The first little bit that I read dealt with a woman awaking from an accident and realising she had been using an alias to infiltrate a group and to compound the deception she had been pretending to to understand French. An impression she quickly dispels, accidentally. As a taster it is well written enough to warrant handing over the cash.

It's a 'what if' book and in this case America has been nearly wiped out by a mysterious 'wall'. It deals with the impact on the near community and also overseas repercussions including Cuba and France. From food shortages to riots to who is going to be the government now that New York is gone there's a wide variety in the book with a cast of very distinctive diverse characters.

Despite the dire situation that people are in the book still has a sense of humour running through it lifting the tone to an enjoyable entertaining 600 pages plus read. For those of us not immediately aware of who the prime minister of Venezuela it is adept enough at leading us through the different politicians involved in the various scenarios although it's slightly disconcerting reading about Tony Blair (not something I usually volunteer for).

The ending leaves us on a hook ready for the next in the series, due out in February 2013. It looks like a re-issue and it's a book that will appeal to Ken Follett fans, although it is likened to Tom Clancy. It could have done with less acronyms or maybe just more explanation of what they were but overall a great adventure sci-fi to read.

Would I buy another? Yes, in February 2013

Publisher Titan Books

Wombling in Colchester Dec 2012

What's to be found? 17th December 2012
Tally:
1 hat
1 necklace
1 car park ticket

The Patchwork Marriage - Jane Green

Several reviews gave the impression that this one was more than women's fiction and headed towards the clever “what if” of Jodi Picoult. For me it didn't make it. A step family and the dynamics with a father devoted to his daughter and a stepmother trying hard to create a new family. Unlikely situations and reckless teen behaviour abound with a definite lack of presence from the actual mother-disappointing.

Would I buy another? No, I'd trust my instincts

Publisher – Penguin Books Ltd

The Lighthouse - Alison Moore

On the Man Booker list which usually means I won't like it. Another one I heard of via twitter.

This is the story of the oddest character I have come across in a long time. Socially dysfunctional and brilliantly described it tells of the collapse of a relationship and the absolute unknown of the future. Given freedom it's surprising how many options there are. The lead character heads off to Germany and once there stays in the lighthouse of the title “Helle Haus”, a local inn. On meeting the landlady and her possessive, aggressive husband he is clearly unable to begin to see, let alone understand the undercurrents between the couple. The book flips between watching the lead character on his journey and the couple in their hotel. As he travels on and makes more and more bizarre decisions we are given glimpses into their relationship progressing rapidly downhill. The husband has great capacity for creating imagined scenarios but he is given cause to exaggerate by his wife.

Brilliantly written there is an element of finishing the story in your head as you reach the ending. Worthy of it's place and the list and well worth the cover price for a thin read.

Would I buy another by the same author? Yes

Publisher - Salt Publishing