100 books

This is Jo Brand's first novel: and I have to say that it is significantly more amusing when read in a Jo Brand, droll, style. Its not bad- it has pretty clear characters, is funny in places.. but its not a great. I think a part of me has gotten to the point in reading where I really want something that will engage me. This book didn't do that. Sorry Jo, stick to stand up.

This is blatantly a kids book. And a very odd one at that. I can only assume it has been written for kids who get all freaked out and anally retentive in the truest sense of the phrase. Basically it tells us that everyone poos, and that it looks different and smells different but all living things do it. And it has pictures. Which are a bit grim. As for why I read it... well, you'll just have to speculate!

Anglican priests love Susan Howatch. And they love recommending that I read them: which is fine, until you get to the first sex scene in each book and then you freak out completely. Mercifully I got two hundred pages into this one before the freak out moment. Its a good read: and so appropriate for someone just going to minister in the City. The story is that of a female city high flier who finds her ordered life invaded by the spiritual. Its great; pretty compelling, until the end. In fact it ends with a whimper. Slightly disappointing, but still well worth the read.

This is a set text for many, many schools; but unlike set texts in my day, is a darn good read. Its pretty short (200 or so pages), but as loads of different layers. I love the way the whole thing is layered with generations and stuff. Sacahr writes in such a way that you do get a few little surprises along the way. Really gald I read it: totally makes sense that its in the BBC top 100 too.

The blurb on the back of this book is all about Paula being agreat athlete and all that. It even includes the Dailiy Mail's "Britain's greatest ever woman athlete" (which I'm sure they saida bout Kelly Holmes too). Good as these things are, the fact that they are on the back of the book should betray the fact that although a great runner, Paula is not a great writer. Now, I'm not the most linear person in the world, but this book is just a bit confusing sometimes. It kind of flits all over the place.. I get the impression that it was put together almost by a series of interviews and no-one bothered to link then very well. (I guess the pressure of getting the book out soon after the Olympics took its toll). However, as an insight into the life if an athlete its great... and a bit gross. Hernias, incontinence, fluid, jabs, tears, deep friction.. all a bit vomit inducing (oh and there's vomit in there too). Aside from the grossness, I'm left with th...

Do yourselves a favour. Do NOT read this book. In terms of writing its not bad- the end is hurried, and frankly a bit twee.. but the reason to avoid it is the content. I felt quite sure that I should buy and read this book... but I'm in no hurry to pass it on. It goes into the life story (fictional but you just know its not really), of someone with repressed memory. It tracks him through life in a hostel where he was abused, into the Soho scene of the sixties and into a life of alcoholism. Its gritty, explicit and frankly a bit gratuitous. Don't read it. Its made me immensely grateful for all that God has done in my life.. but thats its huge redeeming factor.. stay away.. will mess with you head!

This is not going to go down as the most enjoyable read of all time, but it was really useful. This is a PHD thesis from back in the day when all PHD theses became books. Its a fairly well written piece about the relationship between Moravianism and Methodism. It focuses a lot on the character of John Wesley (more so than that of Zinzendorf) and is VERY English in its outlook. Its a useful wee insight into the period of tension between the two movements. I'll stop there cos there are probably only about three copies in the country and so I'm not sure its worth the read!