Top 5 Reads Revisited!

Wish List

Books I want to read

My Book List

What I have read over the past 6 months

- Empress Orchid (Anchee Min)
- Reading Lolita in Tehran (Azar Nafisi)
- White Teeth (Zadie Smith)
- Adrian Mole, the Cappuccino Years (Sue Townsend)
- Adrian Mole, and the Weapons of Mass Destruction (Sue Townsend)
- My Sisters Keeper (Jodi Picoult)
- Atomised (Michel Houellebecq)
- Birds Without Wings (Louis De Bernieres)

Life Changing and Regret Reading!

Life Changing
Still thinking about this one...

Regret Reading
Deception Point (Dan Brown)
The second Dan Brown book I read after 'The Da Vinci Code' and I was bitterly disappointed. I really enjoyed 'The Da Vinci Code' and was expecting a similarly thrilling read. Unfortunately all I found in 'Deception Point' was a pathetically predictable action/thriller plot line that, in genre terms, was much closer to being a romantic novel with a slight action twist. Put me off Dan Brown altogether.

Biography and Love

Biography
Mayada, Daughter of Iraq (Jean Sasson)
Tells the story of a woman who's Sunni family is well known and respected in Iraq and details the effect of Saddam's rule on her life. She is thrown into prison and meets some extrordinary women who suffer together the torture and trauma of prison life. Powerful and passionate story.

Love
A Suitable Boy (Vikram Seth)
A novel, set in the 1950's in India, tells the story of a mother's quest to find her daughter a suitable husband.

Historical and Enlightenment

Historical
Sunne in Splendour (Sharon Kay Penman)
A big thanks to Linda for passing this book onto to me (many years ago now!). This was the first historical fiction book I read and led me to read many more. The story in Sunne in Splendour centres around the War of the Roses but delivers much more than just historical facts. The character portrayals are so vivid. A real page turner that is very hard to put down!

Enlightenment
Alchemist (Paulo Coelho)
An amazing book that everyone should read - at least once! An enlightening story about self-discovery filled with optimism. Inspirational guide to following your dreams.

Sophie's World (Jostein Gaardner)
Read it years ago but remember being enlightened throughout the book as the world's greatest philosphers are discussed.

Crime and Nostalgia

Crime & Nostalgia
OK, so this is a bit of a copout but I rarely read crime books - hopefully this week's topic will give me a list of some good crime books to try - so the combination of topics brought me to think about my childhood reads, which were full of crime stories... think Nancy Drew, Trixie Belden, Secret Seven, Famous Five! Fabulous series' of books that were real page turners for me between the ages of 7 and 14. I will have to search the library shelves and re-read some of these books to see if they stand the test of time!

Travel and Humour

1.TRAVEL
Holy Cow (Sarah Macdonald)
This book wins by default because I really haven't read that many travel books (apart from guides :)). I enjoyed reading this book after travelling to india as the author describes her life there and her foray into the many religions and faiths that Indians follow.

2. LAUGHTER
I think I laughed most when reading "He Died with a Felafel in his Hand (John Birmingham)
Some classic stories that really make my worst sharehouse moments seem like heaven!

Top 5 Books

1. Life Of Pi (Yann Martel)
Fantastic and fantastical story that makes you wonder... it is about a boy and a tiger stranded on a boat which sounds a bit odd but is a bit of an inspirational spirtual tale with a great ending!"

2. The Alchemist (Paulo Coehlo)
Uplifting, spiritual read which some would say is life-changing.

3. Memoirs Of A Geisha (Arthur Golden)
Insight into the mystery of the Japanese Geisha which is perhaps so interesting because the world is usually hidden behind the Geisha 'mask'.

4. The Zaphir (Paulo Coehlo)
Ok, sorry another Paulo Koehlo book but this is an amazing
story about two people giving each other the freedom to be themselves. Full of love and strength.

5. Forbidden Love (Norma Khouri)
Story of honour killings in Jordan. Eye-opening, shocking story."