Sherlock Holmes

Living in the heart of the city of Sherlock Holmes, a few tube stops away from the famous, though fictional, Baker Street 221B (No. 239 houses a Sherlock Holmes museum), I had an urge to re-read my Sherlock Holmes collection. The stories still interest me, and considering it was probably fifteen years since I last read them, it was like returning to an old friend as I turned the pages. But there were also things I saw in a new light. I remembered the ingeniousness of Mr. Holmes himself but now I also discovered his somewhat brusque attitude towards Dr. Watson.
It is Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s well-constructed stories and easy reading that brings me back to these stories. My favourite among them is probably Baskerville’s hound, it has enough suspense for cold chills to go down my spine.
Josefine

My recommendations: Last shift by Karin Whalberg

Lemons in Andalusia Part II

The other day, I picked up Chris Stewarts book, The Almond Blossom Appreciation Society from the library. Little did I know that this was his third book in the same series. I had totally missed A Parrot in the Pepper Tree. They both are a continuation on his first book Driving over Lemons, about his life in the Spanish countryside. I hope this book is as funny and well written as the first one and then I will have to go on a hunt for the second book as well.
Josefine

My recommendations: Zohra’s ladder – and other Moroccan tales by Pamela Windo

Collapse – Collapsed

I picked up Jared Diamond’s book Collapse on the recommendation from a friend, however I was not impressed. The book in itself is truly researched and the topic: the collapse of modern and ancient civilisations is important and newsworthy as any report on global warming (think Al Gore). However Diamond soon became dull and kept repeating himself. The 500 plus pages book could easily been cut down to half by tighten up some passages and cutting out others. There were many chapters where he circled around the topic so many times that eventually you lost interest in what you were reading. I respect his diligence and his thorough research and expertise in the subject, but his book would be more successful with a thorough editing.

I did however like the content of the book, I especially liked the chapters, explaining ancient civilisations collapsing because they were overexploiting their resources. A direction I fear we are heading in. The middle part of the book though, explaining the situation in many places around the world today could have been shortened. These are topics that pop up all the time in the news and a simple internet search could lead you to further revelations. Encouraging people to do research for themselves is a great start for understanding the world as it is today, rather than telling them this is how it is. The last part of the book, containing some of the possible solutions to our society’s problem, again could have been shorten for clarity and keeping the reader alert.
Josefine

My recommendations: Discoveries: Easter Island by Catherine Orliac

Chicklit

Just mentioning the word can sometimes be disastrous both in writers and readers circles. There are readers that think it is below their competence of reading a “simple” chicklit and then there are the authors who don’t want their book mixed up with that genre. Fortunately there are both readers and writers who appreciate the genre for what it (mostly) is, strong character driven, well-written books which are written to entertain.
The strong, driven (often single) woman who knows what she wants, or at least thinks she knows is possibly the most characteristic of a chicklit novel. I also appreciate them because they are easy to read, the words fly off the paper and the pages turn almost by themselves.

I think that it is time to change what seems to be the general opinion of the public of chicklit novels. There are many good writers that fall into that category and should be (probably are) proud. The first that pops into my head are Marian Keyes, Sophia Kinsella, Anna Maxted.
Now it is up to you. Your mission is to go to your closest library, pick up a chicklit novel, read it with an open heart and mind and see if you don’t change your mind. If you need some help of which one to pick go over to Trashionista and take some of their advice.
Josefine

My recommendations: Fishbowl by Sarah Mlynowski

A real page-turner

It was a long time since I found a book I couldn’t put down, but this past weekend I found a real page-turner. It was Fannie Flagg’s book Welcome to the world Baby Girl! I was at the library searching for one of her other books (Can’t wait to go to heaven), when I found this.
I started to read it, hoping it would be good. 150 pages later I looked up and realised that it was dark outside and it was late at night. I had to put it down to get some sleep. The next day I couldn’t wait to get off work to come home and keep reading.
It is one of the best books I have read so far this year and the twist at the end was brilliantly set up. I won’t say what it is, you have to find out by yourself, but if you look back through the book you see Flagg carefully placing hidden clues to what to come. Brilliant.
Josefine

My recommendations: Fried Green Tomatoes at Whistle Stop Café by Fannie Flagg

Ps. The writer’s talk last week was a success, but was cut short after an hour even though there were interest to continue.

Writers' talk

I look forward to a writers’ visit by Sarah Dunant and Paul Strathern this coming Tuesday at one of my local bookstores Daunt books. It will be a night with focus on the Italian renaissance. Dunant writes historical novels that take place during the renaissance, while Strathern writes non-fiction books. As you might remember I have a great interest in Italy and books written about Italy, fiction and non-fiction.

I have read two of Dunant's books about the renaissance and I look forward to the third, which will be published in July. I like her style of writing, entertaining but still accurate, she knows the period she writes about. There is a lot of small facts in her books that you know she had to research thoroughly to find.
I have not yet read anything from Strathern but my flat mate is currently reading Medici: Godfathers of the Renaissance and I will have first dibs on that when she finishes it.
Josefine

My recommendations: In the company of the courtesan by Sarah Dunant

The book or the movie – Take III

Act I
Q & A vs. Slumdogmillionaire.
Vikas Swarup’s story has more power, more drama and intrigues and less direct action and death, which makes it a nicer read but would be difficult to translate to the big screen, as in the case with many other books turned in to movies. The all too familiar dilemma of how to project some things in written form on to the big screen without being cheesy. Taking the book straight out would be too difficult task, if not impossible. Therefore changes have to be made and sometimes these are difficult to make and need to change.

Act II
Knowledge v. love
Swarup emphasises less on love and romance and more on the entire world around Jamal. The screen play has its central role around love and the pre-decided destiny the main character and his lover. It sells movie tickets, yes, but is it really what the story is about? When I read the book I did not get that message at all. The more important things were how he gained his knowledge, even though he is just a slum dog (not judging a book by its cover, would be a nice cliché to use here).

Act III
Judgment
The book wins hands down. I don’t say that the movie is bad. It is just that you might not want to see it as a compliment to the book, but rather see it for its own movie qualities.
The Bollywood influence in the after text is worth staying in your seats for.
Josefine

My recommendations: Bridget Jones’ diary by Helen Fielding