December book club

I pretty much got kicked out of my book club. I'm not particularly proud of that fact, I really liked the idea of belonging to a book club. It all started out so well, I loved reading all the books and catching up with the girls each month. I particularly loved the stack of books that I would put next to my bed and power through for the next four weeks. I am able to read at quite a rate, so I could easily get through 4-6 books in that time.

But when it came down to it, I like what I like. I like murder and mayhem, I don't really like historical novels (which everyone else seemed to really love) and I have always been a sucker for fantasy books. It turns out nobody else liked what I liked. I don't really seem to like it when people tell me I will really like some book or other, and the reasons for my buying a book are often quite obscure; sometimes I have read a review and liked the sound of it, sometimes I just like the colours on the cover. Sometimes I buy the same author I have already liked (actually let's be honest, I do that quite a lot.) The reasons we all like or dislike books can be a long and windy list.

But all this seems to tip on its ear somewhat when the holidays come around. Holiday reading seems to be a very particular beast, and most of the standing rules seem to fly out the window. A bit like choosing an airport novel; we all seem to shun the deep and meaningful and just go with an easy exciting read. Take beach novels, as I prefer to call them. There is nothing like lying in the sun, sunglasses and hat on, sand in the pages and hopefully, someone else casting a safe eye over your children (if you have any - enjoy if you don't!) as they swim in the waves. The books have to be easy (so you can pick them up and not be too concerned where you were up to), and keep you engaged without stretching the brain cells too much. The book equivalent to a box of Roses chocolates.

Thrillers

Murder and mayhem are always a good place to start, and there are two quite different books to consider. 'A faint cold fear' by the aptly named Karin Slaughter (really?) is in the vein of Patricia Cornwell's "Scarpetta" novels - the same sort of brutal, clinically-written, serial murder-type mystery. Perfect for the male of the household, and the female that likes such things. I found the protagonists (Coroner Sara Linton and her sort of ex husband, local Sheriff Jeremy Tolliver) a little distant but the book is complex enough to keep you turning the pages.

I loved the other thriller, 'Too many murders' by Colleen McCullough. I wasn't expecting much (I read 'Thorn Birds' many moons ago) but I really enjoyed this. So much so that I am going to go find the other books she has already written about chief of detectives Carmine Delmonico. The book is set on the edges of New York in 1967, and I just really enjoyed the very different view point of the culture at the time, the observations about society in general, and the pace at which the book manages to go. "One day, one city, twelves murders" is a pretty exciting way to start a book, and it certainly lived up to its start.

Historial Romance

The next selection of books I read were the historical romances, and always a strong contender for the perfect beach book of the season. I am usually not so big on them so you will have to excuse my possible slight lack of enthusiasm.

The first was the rather beautiful looking 'Sunflowers' with Van Gogh's famous painting on the cover. It scored big points with me just because it was so gorgeous looking! The book is by Sheramy Bundrick, an art historian and professor at the University of South Florida, and is her first novel. The book is based on the imagined relationship between Van Gogh and the young prostitute he gave his self mutilated ear too. Bit of a dampener really, but the book is surprisingly easy to read, if not at times too easy to read, if you know what I mean. This fantastical relationship is woven around the real events of his life, and this I found the most interesting. I liked it enough to go off and find out more about Van Gogh and his life. This book is a perfect book club read when you finally leave the beach, and even has notes at the end to help you ask all the right book club-type questions.

'A Woman of Seville' by Sallie Muirden was a bloody brilliant read, and I really enjoyed it. A 'powerful, poetic and moving novel is a testament to our capacity for wonder, for art and for love' and I couldn't have put it better myself, though I did try! It is the story of Paula Sanchez, a painter's model, set in the time of the Inquisition in Seville in 1616. "A novel of love, ladders and the unexpected;" unexpected and uplifting. I like books that end well, happily, maybe I am just getting too old and grumpy - I only like happy endings.

Children's Books

One of the things that we have to do when we go away on holiday with the children, is read to them. my children have never grown out of loving to have a story at night. Because they tend to share a room when we are away, I have to choose books that they all love (two boys and a girl who is a terrible tomboy - so this makes it easier). 'Victory and the All-Stars Academy' is part of the Pony Club Secrets by New Zealander Stacy Gregg. At first the kids refused to listen to the book, as they thought the smiling girl on the front cover didn't look very exciting. In the end they quite enjoyed the books; nice and simple, and you can see why they have such a following around the world now. I was quite impressed that it managed to keep the boys' attention as well in the end.

  

The book though that they have loved listening to, and I have adored reading, is the hilarious "Mr Stink" by David Walliams (the tall dark haired one on 'Little Britain'). Quentin Blake has done the illustrations, and that is a very good clue as to what the books are similar too. Roald Dahl would have loved the books; they are the right amount of nonsense, toilet humour and pathos. Chloe, the heroine, is a little overweight, and is lonely until she meets the fantastical Mr Stink and his dog Duchess, who help her make sense of a world where she feels misunderstood and sad. The adults are pretty much stupid and the kids are the champions. The language is a joy to read and would be suitable for anyone from 5 to 100. I can tell I will be reading it out aloud again before this holiday is over.

One book I will NOT be reading to my 6 year old though is 'The Saga of Darren Shan: The Vampire's Assistant' by Darren Shan. Soon to be released as a major motion picture, this is 'Twilight' on testosterone! This is about a boy who becomes a half vampire (and I am not telling you how) and his life after it happens. It is a fabulous book for all teenage boys - especially those that love fantasy novels - and for girls of the hardier variety. There is a tiny hint of romance, and lots of blood, gore and circus freaks of the most twisted variety. It is not a book for the faint hearted.

So I think there is pretty much something for every one in December's releases for Harper Collins. And definitely some perfect beach reads... now where is that sunscreen? Must be under my book...

By Anya Brighouse, 24 December 2009