Here is a review of some of the books I have been reading lately -
David Mitchell - Black Swan Green
David Mitchell is most famous for the book 'Cloud Atlas' which is made up of intertwining stories from across several centuries and narrators, and which has a post apocalyptic sci-fi element to it. It was made into a film by the people who did The Matrix. I was given Black Swan Green as a christmas present by someone who had read and loves the Cloud Atlas but has never read this particular book, and I myself hadn't read anything by Mitchell. It is nothing like Cloud Atlas at all. Weirdly enough is is like a darker Adrian Mole - following the life of a school boy in 1980s Britain dealing with bullying and his parent's marriage falling apart. I couldn't stop reading it for some reason and really enjoyed it. This is definitely not for kids though.
Gretchen Rubin- Happier at Home
I loved this book. Practical thoughts on how to be happier and enjoy your home more.
The Laws of Simplicity - John Maeda, M.I.T
I have only just started this book which was written by a professor in M.I.T's media lab who is also a graphic designer. Seems ok, has a few interesting points to make. I hold my judgement, but I feel I could learn some things to benefit my design work.
Vogue on Alexander Mcqueen
Kind of disappointing and sticks to the bare facts, but covers Mcqueen's life quite comprehensively. I would like to read more books about Mcqueen as he was such a visionary and an extraordinary designer.
Robin Mckinley - Shadows
Its no 'Sunshine' (also by Mckinley) which is in my top 10, maybe 5 favourite books of all time, but it has lots of similarities to it. This novel is set in our world, but with major differences. The use of magic is real and also banned, and causes rifts in reality. The main character is a young girl who's mother marries a man from eastern Europe who's shadows move of their own accord and form unnerving shapes that look like creatures. An engaging escapist fantasy.
Audio books
Terry Pratchett's Moving Pictures
I really enjoy the Discworld books - they are consistently hillarious, comforting and engaging with entertaining story lines and great characters. I love how prolific Pratchett has been at creating a whole world of stories - 40 so far, with a new one due out this Autumn. Nigel Plainer voices this audio book and he is my favourite out of the actors that do them, doing great character voices and a real range of accents and funny voices.
Books I didn't like
Both The Book Thief and 'Never Let Me Go' which were both made into movies quite recently. I found The Book Thief a bit pretentious and weird - it tries too hard to be constantly poetic and I couldn't get into it so never finished it. It is about war time Germany and as you would expect it is very depressing. Never Let Me Go was also grim and sad, I read the whole thing but more because I wanted it to get better and it never did, and also because the author kept baiting me with this big secret he revealed in dribs and drabs, which was that the main characters were all clones made to be harvested for their organs. Lovely.
