The Reading List #21
Finally my
reading lists are catching up with where I’m actually at with my books! I have
slowed down a little bit recently as I’ve been busier, but will be back on the
reading bandwagon soon. Here’s the latest list:
The
Uninvited Guests, Sadie Jones
On the eve
of Emerald’s 20th birthday, mysterious strangers appear on the
doorstep, stranded in the area by a train accident. As the night goes on, the
Torrington family realise there may be something more complex going on amongst
their guests.
This story had
potential, and the set-up was done very well. I wasn’t sure about any of the
characters, though, and didn’t feel I knew them very well. The suspense was well
sustained, though, and it kept me turning the pages.
A Visit from
the Goon Squad, Jennifer Egan
Bennie
Salazar, an old music mogul, and Sasha, his young PA, offer two perspectives on
their lives from the 1970s onwards through their careers. They face ups and
downs, travel everywhere from Africa to San Francisco, and meet with people
from record producers to political and army figures.
This is
quite a whirlwind. The pair often seem to just miss out on things, and at times
it’s really sad. Told in simple prose, it was quite unlike anything else I’ve
read in a long time, and worth a look.
Imperium,
Robert Harris
Set in
Ancient Rome, Marcus Cicero is a rising lawyer. He gambles in the courtroom,
and will do anything to succeed. The novel is narrated by Tiro, his secretary,
and follows his path moving up through the political world of Rome.
I loved the
setting of this, it just reminded me of doing Latin GCSE. There was a great
narrative voice, and an interesting story. I wasn’t as blown away as some
people apparently were by this book, I definitely prefer some of his other
work, but it is still a good read. Harris is a master at conjuring up a time
and a place with authenticity, and that shines through.
The Queen of
Subtleties, Suzannah Dunn
This novel
combines two stories: Anne Boleyn is telling her life story from the Tower
before her death, and Lucy Cornwallis, confectioner in the palace kitchen,
tells her own story. Cornwallis’ confidante is Mark Smeaton, who becomes
embroiled in Boleyn’s scandals.
This
captures the complexities of court life well, and I loved the contrast between
the two stories, and the different voices. It’s a nice historical novel, and I
think this period is so fascinating anyway!
A nice
mixture in this list, and that’s a theme that has continued yet again… Next
instalment coming at the weekend.
What are you
reading at the moment?
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