Pride and Prejudice and Zombies - Jane Austin & Seth Grahame-Smith

Now I like a good classic; 20,000 leagues under the sea, Dracula, Count of Monte Cristo....but the Austen novels have never held any appeal to me. Girlie twaddle in my opinion. I've tried the films but the characters are annoying and the plots are just moronic.

Sorry if that offends anyone, and I know it's controversial, but it's the way I feel. But when I spotted 'P&P&Z' in book shop I saw the chance to read one of these classics, but with added 'all-new scenes of bone-crunching zombie mayhem' as it states on the cover.

It's great! Austen's novel remains (I believe) but Grahame-Smith has subtly added the zombie action. Mrs Bennet is still searching for husbands for her daughters, all of whom are trained in the ancient arts of combat; Mr Darcy is still as arrogant as ever - but a dab hand with a sword and not scared of beheading any unmentionables who wander across his path; and the endless balls, parties and teas still take place, when not interrupted by zombies breaking into the kitchen and eating the brains of the household staff.

Of course Elizabeth hates Mr Darcy, feeling that she "must avenge her honour ... She meant to follow this proud Mr Darcy outside and open his throat.", a threat she does not have time to follow through due to a crowd of zombies invading the ballroom.

If you've seen the film or read the book you'll already know the story - but even if you have read the original and loved it, this version is entertaining and funny in ways that the original couldn't hope to achieve.

I'm sure that Jane Austen would be mortified, at least I hope she would be!

Bought for me as a birthday present by John.
22nd May - 12th July 2009

Quirkology, the curious science of everyday lives - Richard Wiseman

If you think science is about high minded things such as microbes, physics and nanoparticles, think again. Science can be about fun things too.

Richard Wiseman writes in a easy engaging style about some of the more quirky and very interesting studies that he and various international colleagues have undertaken into the science of everyday life.

Do you wonder why all the spoons go missing in communal kitchens? What is the funniest joke in the world? Why women should get men to write their personal ads? or whether your surname influences your life? These are all the subject of scientific studies carried out and reported on in this book.

I found myself wanting more information about many of the studies, especially the one about lost gloves (!) - but luckily this book is written well and each study is fully referenced with an excellent bibliography at the back.

There is a website (www.quirkology.com) to follow up things afterwards, and lots of quirky bits of information to share with friends and family.

Who can resist the following facts -

The Mona Lisa seems enigmatic because Leonardo da Vinci painted her so that her smile appears more striking when people look at her eyes rather than her mouth.

People would rather wear a sweater that has been dropped in dog poo and not washed, than one that has been dry-cleaned but used to belong to a mass murderer.

The personality of lemons is seen as dislikeable, onions as stupid and mushrooms at social climbers.

Words containing the 'K' sound - such as duck, quack and Krusty the Clown - are especially likely to make people laugh.

Yep, all of these facts are as a result of serious study. Little do we know that we are being watched and questioned by an army of researchers, taking down notes about our every action!

I loved this book and didn't want to finish it, i'm off to see what else Richard Wiseman has written.

Lent to me by Liz.
14 April - 11 May 2009

Nation - Terry Pratchett

The kids gave Nation to John for his birthday, it's a children's book - but don't be put off.

As many will know Pratchett is a master of words and storytelling. I've read, and enjoyed, a few of the Discworld novels; but this is not one of those.

Mau lives on an island, the 'Nation', part of the 'Mothering Sunday Islands' in the Great Southern Pelagic Ocean; he's just returned from the Boy's Island - he'd been expecting a welcome on the beach - he is now a Man.

But when he returns he finds everything, and everyone, gone. A HUGE wave has destroyed everything, and brought a large ship, the Sweet Judy with a one survivor.

Now Mau is the only member of the 'Nation', he must defend the island, keep the customs, make the beer and please the gods - even if he isn't sure that he believes in them.

The new inhabitant of the island is a 'trouserman' girl, she has been brought up properly - being that she is 139 in line for the crown of the Empire - but this isn't the empire, and things are done differently in the middle of nowhere (not that her grandmother would ever believe that).

Don't be fooled by the cover text, this is not a funny book (well certainly not like Pratchett's others), but it is a wonderfully crafted story of friendship, tradition, theology and science. I found myself growing to love the idea of the Nation, to care for the strange Mrs Gurgle, for the Pantaloon (or Grandfather) birds who throw up their dinner straight after eating it, and especially for Mau and the trousergirl, Daphne.

My only hope for this book is that they don't ruin it by trying to make it into a film.

29th (ish) March - 13th April 2009

The Book Thief - Mark Zuzack

I've learnt some wonderful German words - none of which I'll repeat here! I had tried a couple of times to read The Book Thief by Mark Zuzack, but just hadn't got on with it.

Loving books about books I was drawn to this one, but the subject seemed a little depressing.

The story follows the life of Liesel during the difficult years of the Third Reich in a small suburb of Munich. Narrated by Death himself, the story told is that of Liesel's book thieving, starting at the funeral of her brother (The gravedigger's handbook) despite the fact that at the time she is unable to read.

Living in Himmel Street with her strict, but kind, foster mother and her loving foster father; she experiences the trauma of everyday life for the average German family (not Nazis) in Germany during the war.

Her friendship with the boy down the road, her reoccuring nightmares, her fathers attempts to keep food on the table (not just the terrible pea soup her Mama makes), the Jew who lives in their basement for a time and the library in the mayors house on the hill; Death watches all this and tells her story.

I listened to this as an audio book and not to put to finer point on it - it was spellbinding!

Listening meant that I could hear the use of the German language, the sharp tone of Mama when she was angry, and the softness of Papa when he spoke to Liesel after one of her nightmares.

Despite the grim narrator, this is not a morbid book; it's actually uplifting and life affirming. I won't go so far as to suggest that everyone should read it, but it wouldn't be a bad thing if they did.
5th - 15th March

Watchmen - Alan Moore & Dave Gibbons

The Watchmen - Alan Moore & Dave Gibbons

I know that this book if supposed to be the one that defines the genre but I have to admit to not being as impressed with it as I had hoped. Certainly I don't think it lives up to the hype.

I bought the book a couple of years ago as I really like graphic novels and had heard so much about this one. But therein lies the problem perhaps?

Having loved 'From Hell' and 'League of extrodinary gentlemen' by Alan Moore, and very much enjoyed 'Maus', perhaps I've left it too later in my graphic novel reading to go back to the one that started it all?

I can't begin to explain the multiple storylines, but the basic story involves a bunch of retired masked crime fighters slowly being killed off, and the race to discover who is behind it. Obviously that is a terrible over simplication and the story also covers nuclear accidents, shipwrecks, millionaire geniuses and hairbrained plans to end all wars.

Anyway, if you enjoy graphic novels and haven't yet read this one, you must.

Now I've done so I feel I can go and see the film version.


Bought on Green Metropolis (some time ago!)
13-17th March

The testament of Gideon Mack - James Robertson

You'd think that not believing in God would hinder someone wishing to become a Minister of the Church of Scotland - but it never stopped Gideon Mack. This book, supposedly written by Mack, tells the story of his life, from his early years, his marriage, disappearance, his meeting with the Devil and the events following this meeting.

I guess the story is about believe, or non-believe - and about people's ideas about the truth. Mack is ostracised but the village, the church and his friends, when he decides that it is important for him to 'tell the truth' about is disappearance and subsequent meeting with the Devil.

This is one of the most wonderful, folk/fairy tales that i've read for sometime - a modern folk tale with engaging characters and a storyline that you just can't help being dragged along by. Told mainly by Mack (his 'testament') the story starts with a prologue from the publisher setting out how the book came to be published, and then ends with an epilogue including 'interviews' with the key people of Monimaskit.

I heard a tiny snippet of this book on Radio 4 a couple of years ago, as it was book of the week - and it tweaked my curiosity - although it's taken me a while to get round to reading it, it was well worth the wait. Although slow to get started, it's a satisfying yarn, well worth the effort.

Bought on Green Metropolis.
5th - 13th February 2009

The Dogs of Riga - Henning Mankell

Having read the first Wallander book and very much enjoyed the descriptions of Sweden and the characters, I was looking forward to the second book.

However, it wasn't as good as I'd hoped - and maybe that's because much of it is actually set in Latvia.

When two well dressed dead bodies wash up in a life raft on the Swedish shore, Wallander becomes involved in a confusing Eastern Block/Russian mafia world - one that he's not at all comfortable in and certainly doesn't understand.

The characters are interesting and I'm certainly warming to Wallander himself, the story kept me interested and reading, but it just didn't have the same feel as the first.

I won't be put off, and will return to the series - but I'm glad this wasn't the first otherwise I might not have continued. There are only nine available so I will pace myself and spread them out.

Bought on Green Metropolis.

25th January - 4th February 2009