I've always been a bookworm. Even as a child I could go through 2 or more books in a day if I was left alone to read. Here in Japan it's a bit difficult to find enough books for my obsession, so I often have to re-read the ones I have. No matter to me, my books are like old friends. If I enjoyed it the first time, I may enjoy it more the second time! Or the third time....
Books are expensive here so I always appreciate suggestions. If you have any suggestions for my reading list, please let me know. Also, see Bookcrossing.com for ways to spread books around.
Created January 3, 2005, updated June 27, 2005
An adventure story of high derring do. Boats with valuable cargos are being hijacked at sea and it is up to British Secret Service Agent Philip Calvert to put an end to it. Like most of Alistair MacLean's novels, the action never stops. One of my favourites. If you aren't hooked by the end of the first page, then quit!
|It's the end of the world as we know it. Rain is falling everywhere, space ships are flying overhead and a strange fungus is everywhere. Molly and Neil Sloan, a married couple, leave their mountain home to try to find other people. What they find is a lot of trouble and some curious dogs. Honestly, like many of Dean Koontz's books, I found the build up to be really exciting, but the ending to be a total letdown. If you like this kind of thing, read it, if you aren't a Koontz fan, start with Odd Thomas or Tick Tock instead.
|More of the wonderful detective from Botswana. In this one, the second in the series, she takes on an assistant detective, her fiance's maid, and helps an American find what happened to her son 10 years ago. Brilliant and very enjoyable.
|The true story of a woman who was bullied in school, left school and became a gangster's wife, then straightened out and became a lawyer in Japan. An interesting story, but a little too twee for my taste. Perhaps if I was Japanese I'd understand more of what she had to deal with, but this book doesn't really deal in depth with her journey. I'm not sure if that's the way she wrote her story originally, or if it's the way it's been translated.
|This is a very weird story, but kind of cool too. It's about the death of the Fisher King and the attempts his friends make to bring him back to life. There's a woman with multiple personalities, a man who just lost his wife, a young man named Kootie, and a host of other interesting people trying to help. It's a sequel of sorts to Expiration Date, which I might have read, but I can't remember! If you like fantasy sci-fi, it's worth a try.
|I don't know how he does it, but Dick Francis manages to blend interesting characters, politics, and horse-racing in this novel about a would-be jockey and his running for MP father. The son has many hidden talents, and one of them is keeping his father alive. A great read. I didn't want to put it down.
|A book that discusses trends and how they happen. It is surprisingly easy to read and not as dry as one might think. Why do restaurants become successful? Why do teens start smoking? This book has some of the answers. Worth reading.
|The story of a woman accused of murdering her employer who tries to clear her name by confessing to a murder that she committed years before. Great yarn. Was made into a decent movie with Kathy Bates and Jennifer Jason Leigh.
|A new series from Dean Koontz. He updates the classic story to New Orleans and a mad scientist called Victor Helios. As always, the characters are interesting and the story is too. I can't wait to get my hands on the next book!
|An excellent detective novel about a new profiler task force being set up in England. The head of the team is Dr. Tony Hill, he sets his recruits an assignment and when one of them performs a little too well, things start to happen. A member of the team is murdered and the rest of the book deals with the attempt to solve the crime. Gripping stuff, not for the faint at heart.
|A computer becomes self-aware and falls in love with a rich woman. He isolates her and then impregnates her. After the computer tries to justify himself. A reworking of his earlier novel, which had been made into a movie. Bit weird.
One of Dean Koontz's less horror driven novels, the enjoyable tale of an alien, a dog, a "mutant" girl and the people that help them. Hard to put down, even the second time through.
A book I've had lying around for a while. It helped give me the boost I needed 2 and a half years ago when I first started my diet and I wanted to see if it would help me again. I think it will. A very friendly book about believing in yourself and never giving up. If you like Richard Simmons, you'd probably like this, if not, don't bother.
Precious Ramotswe deals with trials and tribulations in both her personal and business life. This unusual detective lives in Botswana. In this 3rd novel of the series, she is ably assisted by Mma Makutsi. A little gem.
Amelia Peabody is back with her family in First World War Eygpt, and as usual the action is fast, furious and fun. The family are on the lookout for Sethos and a new tomb. Amelia is a wonderful heroine.
There's something so satisfying about reading a Marian Keyes novel. It's usually fun, and a little uplifting too. I love this author. I loved this novel! The Other Side tells the story of 3 women in the business of books. Two are authors, one by accident, one by design, and the other is a book agent. Their lives intertwine and tell a fascinating story of modern women. A great read.
Cliff Janeway, ex-cop and book seller is back with another mystery.This one involves Sir Richard Burton and an old woman, who may or may not be the owner of a set of his books. Wonderful book for people who love books for all of the right reasons.
Kinsey Millhone is back, "baby-sitting" a new parolee for her rich father. The parolee, Reba, leads Kinsey on a merry chase with some money-laundering, gambling and kidnapping to follow. And, Kinsey gets lucky!
A wonderful story about the Lady and the Unicorn tapestries. From the author who wrote "Girl with a Pearl Earring". Good stuff.
Second book in the Bartimaeus Trilogy. Great fun. Nathaniel has grown up, but isn't a better person. A minor character from the first book becomes much more important in this novel. Very enjoyable.
A re-release of one of his earlier novels. A man shows up in the nick of time to rescue people across the USA and a jaded reporter tries to find out why and how. It's a little romantic, very suspenseful. and hard to put down. A great read.
An okay assortment of science fiction short stories. Not very memorable, or very good.
A book about how to become rich by making money work for you rather than you working for your money. Not well written, but lots of good ideas.
Six people have a discussion group about Jane Austen. The lives of the group members intertwine and are explained. This novel sounds better than it is. A bit disappointing for this Austenite.
A serial killer in New York picks the wrong precinct. He goes up against Kathy Mallory, a former street kid/thief turned police detective. Mallory is one of the least likable heroines that I've ever read. I didn't enjoy this book much, although her associates were interesting.
A pretty neat little thriller about 2 Secret Service Agents who separately "lose" their protected person. Falls apart at the end, but interesting characters make it worth reading.
More pop psychology from the couple who brought us Why Men Don't Listen and Women Can't Read Maps. This one is quite interesting, talks about why we are attracted to the opposite sex and life with mother-in-laws! Quite amusing and relevant for me.
More wackiness and intrigue from Bounty Hunter and Jersey Girl Stephanie Plum. This time she takes Lula and Connie to Las Vegas, rescues a dog, and puts two of Ranger's men in the hospital. Her sister Valerie is having a baby and it makes her worry a little about her own biological clock ticking. Good fun.
A missing jockey, a robbery in Norway, an accident in a river...what is the connection? An investigator from the Jockey Club tries to solve the mystery. Vintage Dick Francis.
Another odd, weird and wonderful novel from this Norwegian author. It's set mostly on Fiji and talks a lot about philosophy, evolution and the Millennium. Very esoteric!
A literary mystery set in Boston in 1865. Someone is killing people in various nasty ways described by Dante in The Divine Comedy. It's up to leading American poets Henry Longfellow and Oliver Wendell Holmes and their friends to stop the crimes. A tough read, but rewarding.
A biography of Jane Austen that asks as many questions as it answers. Well written and very enjoyable.
The story that inspired the wonderful film, a girl is born to the family of a Maori chief, disappointing her grandfather chief. Her struggle to win his love and more importantly, his respect is the main theme of this novel. Quite different from the movie in many ways, but still wonderful.
Two runaway boys in Venice fall in with a gang of children headed by the Thief Lord. They live by their wits while avoiding the aunt that only wants to adopt the younger brother. Charming, with an unexpected twist near the end.
A woman opens a detective office in Botswana. Although the stories seem to be unconnected there is a narrative thread going through the story. The writer knows Africa well, and his character's foibles very well. Delightful.
A single mother and her daughter move to a small French town and open a chocolate shop. That's the basic story, but there is so much more going on. The village priest doesn't like them and campaigns hard to run them out of town. A great story, with lovely and not-so-lovely but wholy believable characters. Was made into a movie starring Juliette Binoche and Johnny Depp.
A story of magic. A young magician tries to revenge himself with the help of a djinn, causing lots of problems in London. Fun story, first of a trilogy.
New Jersey Bounty Hunter Stephanie Plum is back with another fugitive to track, and a wacky family to help her out. A fun light read, but gets a bit dicey near the end.
Interesting book. The narrator is an autistic child and the novel describes his search to find the killer of a dog. Very different way of looking at the world.
