Entertaining & quite thrilling, too, in a very creepy, sickening way. Heaps better than the movie which I wasn't impressed with. I can't help liking HEntertaining & quite thrilling, too, in a very creepy, sickening way. Heaps better than the movie which I wasn't impressed with. I can't help liking Harry, & I enjoyed his visit to Australia a few books back, but I really hope he stays off the booze, otherwise he'll become grimy & unappealing.
This tale had a few too many false alarms, & I still don't really understand the mould man, but the process of elimination made sense, especially when it was being driven so hard by Katrine. I still don't see how that wacko made it through the police checks, she could barely hold it together at the end & she must have hit extreme stressors at other times. I'm so glad Harry saved that man's life, let's hope he lingers quite a long while.
I found The Redbreast a bit tedious but this one was a very good read. 3.5*...more
I don't know whether I have read this one before or seen the episode but the story was very familiar. I remember the politician getting ill & dying unI don't know whether I have read this one before or seen the episode but the story was very familiar. I remember the politician getting ill & dying unexpectedly while in hospital. There are a lot of different suspects - doctors, nurses, wife, sister, lover, colleagues, even the Bolsheviks & Eugenecists - well, it was, 1935. I'm still not sure I like Alleyn in these early books, but Inspector Fox is a hoot. 2.5*...more
I do love Murderbot but didn't love this book. There is lots of Murderbot development, which is good, but almost nothing happens for half the book, whI do love Murderbot but didn't love this book. There is lots of Murderbot development, which is good, but almost nothing happens for half the book, which is bad. I kept drifting off & reading something else because the stuff happening on this pre-CR, Adamantine planet became so tedious, & there were so many characters to keep track of at first that I couldn't be bothered remembering who came from where. Parts of the story were missing because this follows directly from the previous book & it took me a while to recall what had happened back then - oh! a missing leg?!
There are the usual enjoyable sequences between Murderbot & ART/ART-drone, some lovely little observations of the human-ish characters, some deep thoughts about those pesky neural-tissue effects, with an emotion being experienced on occasion. Murderbot is not functioning at the top of its game because - redacted (annoying!) - but its reflections remain amusing. 3.5*
Having just finished Last Term at Malory Towers I thought I'd read one of the Pamela Cox additions just to see what they were like. I chose this one bHaving just finished Last Term at Malory Towers I thought I'd read one of the Pamela Cox additions just to see what they were like. I chose this one because it said Darrell, Sally, Alicia & a few of the other "old girls" played a cameo role.
While it did feel a little Blytonesque, I thought the tale was a bit too sensational & the dialogue a bit too flippant to have the true Enid Blyton atmosphere. As for Miss Grayling having a gossip with Felicity about other pupils' circumstances, I was a bit horrified by it. I did feel sorry for poor Lizzie, Mrs Mannering must be an idiot to have taken 6 years to realise her mistake. It was fun to have one more glimpse of the of the Upper Sixth of 1951....more
I'm sorry to say goodbye to Darrell & Malory Towers. I've really enjoyed reading them all again. They were absolutely smashing, full of hope & joy, & I'm sorry to say goodbye to Darrell & Malory Towers. I've really enjoyed reading them all again. They were absolutely smashing, full of hope & joy, & no one is irredeemable, not even the most recalcitrant. It's so refreshing to have no teenage romantic relationships....more
I couldn't put this one down, it was so much fun watching them all come into their talents, & we finally find out what Darrell is particularly good atI couldn't put this one down, it was so much fun watching them all come into their talents, & we finally find out what Darrell is particularly good at. The girls finished their school certs last term so this one is full of fun & frolics as the whole year plan, organise & perform an original pantomime for the school & their parents. Of course, there are a few flies in the ointment to cause troubles, but it really is brilliant to see them work through it. I gobbled this one up in one sitting....more
Darrell's little sister Felicity is finally old enough to join her at Malory Towers, adding to the fun. It's always the new girls that provide the addDarrell's little sister Felicity is finally old enough to join her at Malory Towers, adding to the fun. It's always the new girls that provide the added drama, & this time it's the Honourable Clarissa Carter & the twins, Connie & Ruth, who add to the excitement. I love that horse-mad Bill finally finds a like-minded friend. Poor Darrell, starts off as head-girl of the 4th but things rapidly go awry for her. Oh, that dreadful temper, & it's Alicia's little cousin June who brings Darrell tumbling down. Great fun....more
"Ah, you ladies!" Oh, you patronising sod! Not to mention that scourge of the single woman: "Well, it's not like you're busy!" I love Mildred Lathbury"Ah, you ladies!" Oh, you patronising sod! Not to mention that scourge of the single woman: "Well, it's not like you're busy!" I love Mildred Lathbury's wry, self-deprecating humour. There is something fiercely independent here, yet unutterably melancholy at the same time. I really enjoy Pym's writing - those penetrating character sketches. 3.5*...more
The 2nd Chief Detective-Inspector Roderick Alleyn mystery, with his journalist friend, Nigel Bathgate, as attending sidekick. This is the first in theThe 2nd Chief Detective-Inspector Roderick Alleyn mystery, with his journalist friend, Nigel Bathgate, as attending sidekick. This is the first in the theatrical setting, a location that always puts me off for some reason, perhaps it's because the suspects are all good actors & I can't trust anyone. The character sketches are fun & the solution fairly simple, if you don't allow yourself to be run up the garden path, which makes for entertaining, easy reading....more
Made me giggle & snort a couple of times. I love me some Real Cat & I enjoyed TP's take on them, well, the "owner's" take on them, anyway. Gray JollifMade me giggle & snort a couple of times. I love me some Real Cat & I enjoyed TP's take on them, well, the "owner's" take on them, anyway. Gray Jolliffe's cartoons are so beautifully recognisable. I have always had strays that just turned up or been rescued by some delightful organisation, & my personal Greebo died in September, sadly. I also love a curry, Death :0)...more
A fun read. Seems to be aimed at a younger audience than the "Old Kingdom" series but enjoyable, nonetheless. Plenty of action & adventure & some veryA fun read. Seems to be aimed at a younger audience than the "Old Kingdom" series but enjoyable, nonetheless. Plenty of action & adventure & some very close calls. Arthur has some extreme asthma which makes his day-to-day life perilous at the best of times, but he rises to the occasion with some magical help. Suzy Turquoise Blue is an excellent sidekick.
I listened to the audiobook as well - isbn 9781742603407, Bolinda Audio, 13 May 2010. The narrator, Allan Corduner, did a great job, making it exciting, amusing & easy to tell who was speaking....more
A fun collection of Phryne Fisher short stories, some of them are obviously precursors to a full-length tale, & some just random tidbits. Phryne is evA fun collection of Phryne Fisher short stories, some of them are obviously precursors to a full-length tale, & some just random tidbits. Phryne is ever-so omniscient & takes the prize every time, such a clever, soignee woman. I particularly enjoyed Kerry's introduction "On Phryne Fisher", I can see why she chose her elegant heroine. I must say that the real Phryne would never lose her gun as she did so often in the TV series - I found that extremely irksome & think the producers let us down with that....more
An extremely thought-provoking novel; powerful & poignant in its subject, yet almost detached in its revealing. I understand the why of it in an acadeAn extremely thought-provoking novel; powerful & poignant in its subject, yet almost detached in its revealing. I understand the why of it in an academic way, but I was repelled by the sheer self-centredness of both women, particularly Camille. And yet, I imagine that is the way a mother would feel - "please let someone's child die so mine can live" -, no amount of experience as Organ Donor Co-ordinator had prepared Camille for it. A compelling exploration of love, grief, art, & the bodies that hold them; a very surprising book....more
Zerelda is such a treat & I loved Miss Hibbert's straight talking - that sort of honesty gives the girl a chance to live & shine elsewhere, providing Zerelda is such a treat & I loved Miss Hibbert's straight talking - that sort of honesty gives the girl a chance to live & shine elsewhere, providing she's the "right stuff", which she is. Bill gave me the irrits with her mooning about, what were her parents thinking to allow her to become such a one-trick pony (excuse pun) - to love horses is one thing, but to the absence of all else is very bad. Still, she came good, as everyone is allowed to in Enid's school tales. Darrell was her usual delightful self. Good fun....more
Darrell Rivers & Sally Hope are great characters to read about. I particularly liked Darrell when I was a kid, if only for her name which I thought waDarrell Rivers & Sally Hope are great characters to read about. I particularly liked Darrell when I was a kid, if only for her name which I thought was the bees knees. Thank goodness we finally got Daphne & Ellen sorted out, they were driving me nuts. As usual, favourites from the previous book & a couple of newbies....more
An interesting memoir that follows a year in the life of a sheep farmer in Devon. What a hard life it is, at the mercy of the elements & all the diseaAn interesting memoir that follows a year in the life of a sheep farmer in Devon. What a hard life it is, at the mercy of the elements & all the diseases to which sheep are prone, constant changes & challenges. A shepherd certainly couldn't do it without his brilliant dogs, & I loved reading about Gail, Swift, Ernie, Fern & Greg, & was so happy with Ernie's success in the end. The author notes: "It's a sobering, saddening thought, but I do sometimes wonder whether I represent one of the last generations of shepherds." I think he may well be part of an ever-decreasing way of life....more
Such fun to re-read this after all these years. I do remember enjoying Malory Towers more than St. Clare's, I think Darrell Rivers is a great characteSuch fun to re-read this after all these years. I do remember enjoying Malory Towers more than St. Clare's, I think Darrell Rivers is a great character. There are always morals to the story but I wonder if I noticed them at all as a kid or just sneered at poor, silly Gwendoline Mary. I intend to read the full set....more
3.5*. A nice ending to the series - I won't be reading the 3 inserted books by Pamela Cox. We don't see very much of Pat & Isabel in this episode, exc3.5*. A nice ending to the series - I won't be reading the 3 inserted books by Pamela Cox. We don't see very much of Pat & Isabel in this episode, except to find that they'll be joint head girls of the 6th form next term as Hilary will not be staying. Angela & Mirabel play up atrociously, will they never learn, Alison is as wet as ever, & a couple of new girls throw a spanner in the works. The 1st & 2nd-formers get quite a big part to play in the development of the older girls. I'm off to Malory Towers now....more
The O'Sullivan twins & their friends are now in the 4th form, terribly grown up now, well, some of the time. It's hard not to like Claudine, she has sThe O'Sullivan twins & their friends are now in the 4th form, terribly grown up now, well, some of the time. It's hard not to like Claudine, she has such an amiable personality, but what a frustrating child she is. The three other new girls are much harder to like. There's even a new Matron on the scene - you'd have to be very forbearing to be a school nurse, I think. I enjoyed this tale, & even remember bits of it from the dim, dark past....more
An enjoyable term at St. Clare's as we see the continuing development of old favourites & some interesting new pupils. Pat, Isabel, Bobby, Janet, DoriAn enjoyable term at St. Clare's as we see the continuing development of old favourites & some interesting new pupils. Pat, Isabel, Bobby, Janet, Doris, Hilary & Carlotta return, more grown up but not above the odd trick or silliness. Alison has a nasty experience which finally sets her on a more dignified path & Elsie returns as spiteful as ever. They are joined by Gladys & Mirabel, two new girls who are hard to like at first, although the 2nd-formers do their best, & who eventually flourish in their mutual friendship. Nice!...more
