katweeble

Agatha Christie - an English Mystery by Laura Thompson

2009-12-21T18:16:57Z

Agatha Christie: An English Mystery by Laura Thompson

My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I found this an interesting read as it is the first biography of Agatha Christie that I have read. The way the author dealt with the mystery of her disappearance was a bit long winded, but the whole treatment was very sympathetic.

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The making of modern Britain by Andrew Marr

2009-12-12T09:57:00Z

Making of Modern Britain by Andrew Marr

My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is my first fully listened to/ read audio book - my i-phone made it easy to use. I found the history interesting, especially the political elements but I did find his attempt to do accents irritating. It was an interesting collection of elements which made me want to read more detailed histories of the period.

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Library roots

2009-12-08T23:12:55Z

I was inspired to work in libraries by Christine the librarian at Pensby Library on the Wirral. As well as this excellent role model I also love books, reading and working with people. I am also very nosey and like to help people both of which are useful traits for a librarian. My first work in a library was as a volunteer for a week in the summer holidays when I was 16. I was then able to get a Sarurday job at the same library in Heswall on the Wirral. I became a professional by doing an English and Librarianship degree at the College of Librarianship Wales in Aberystwyth working in the Wirral as a holiday relief assistant every summer. My first professional post was back on the Wirral at Hoylake Library.

The Family Trade by Charles Stross

2009-11-10T20:52:12Z

The Family Trade by Charles Stross

My rating: 5 of 5 stars
From the back of the book
'a bold fantasy in the tradition of Roger Zelazny's chronicle of Amber, the Merchant Princess is a sweeping new series'

the fanatasy element is caused by the Clan who are 'world walkers' that is they can move between our world and their own which is still in medieval times, but now with some families with all mod cons. An interesting concept that is well developed. Miriam Beckwith the main character is interesting and resourceful.

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Dancing with Kings by Eva Stachniak

2009-11-07T19:53:20Z

Dancing with Kings by Eva Stachniak

My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I found the style quite difficult at first as it jumps between the stories of the different characters and it took a bit of time to get them sorted out in my mind. It is an interesting story of how a woman could use her body to make a life for herself in Napoloenic times. It also shows the double standards for the men involved as opposed to the women. It is the first time I have read anything based in Poland.

Bookcrossing copy: http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/4746...

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Peter Pan by J M Barrie

2009-10-27T21:02:15Z

Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie

My rating: 4 of 5 stars
The first time I have read this, although I have seen quite a few screen versions. It was interesting to read the original version, and to see how many ways it has been interpreted. I really love the idea of a dog as a nanny. The selfishness of Peter is typical of young children.

A bookcrossing book: http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/3487...

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Up

2009-10-24T09:25:12Z

I went to see this last Wednesday in 3 D but have only just got around to posting. As usual the linked Pixar mini animation was funny. The story had a typical Disney tear jerker element, but was a good bit of escapism. It also had the moral element of older and younger working together and beware of what ambition will do for you. The talking dogs and characterisation were excellent.

The only downside is I did not feel the 3 D added anything to the story.

Maelstrom by Anne McCaffrey and Elizabeth Anne Scarborough

2009-10-24T09:21:45Z

Maelstrom by Anne McCaffrey

My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I always find the Anne McCaffrey books very difficult to put down, and this was no exception. It is the second in the series.

The selkie twins help to rescue people and their bonded animals from a planet damaged by meteors, resettlement on Petaybee does not go smoothly and the actions annoys the planetary police.

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Death of a Village by M C Beaton

2009-10-22T17:53:09Z

Death of a Village by M.C. Beaton

My rating: 4 of 5 stars
The first Hamish Macbeth story I have read - a good read which was not too demanding. He is clever in solving crime, but not in his relationships.

BC copy:

http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/5017...

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Enigma by Robert Harris

2009-10-18T14:57:22Z

Enigma by Robert Harris

My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Brilliantly written, I had seen the film and visited Bletchley Park so thought it was about time I read the book! I found it very difficult to put down, and also moving - the pressure to crack the codes as they knew so many lives depended on it. The extreme tiredness and its effect on their health was very well portrayed.

A bookcrossing book - see here:
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/7154...

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Just so stories by Rudyard Kipling

2009-10-13T18:37:42Z

Just So Stories by Rudyard Kipling

My rating: 3 of 5 stars
I found the writing style extremely dated - not a surprise considering when it was written, the word that came to mind was twee. The ideas are clever, this was the first time I had read these stories.

Bookcrossing copy: http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/3487...

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Blue Latitudes: boldly going where Captain Cook has gone before by Tony Horowitz

2009-10-09T22:17:08Z

Blue Latitudes: Boldly Going Where Captain Cook Has Gone Before by Tony Horwitz

My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I really enjoyed reading this book, and found the juxtaposition of extracts from Cook's journals and other writing by his contemporaries with Tony's own experiences following in his tracks clever. This has given me more countries I want to visit.

This is a bookcrossing book - see

http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/6352...

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Spell Checker and Name poems

2009-09-26T17:33:39Z

Spellbound

I have a spelling chequer
It came with my PC
It plainly marks four my revue
Miss takes I cannot sea.
I’ve run this poem threw it
I’m shore your pleased too no;
It’s letter perfect in it’s weigh
My chequer told me sew.

By Norman Vandal

Life’s a Spelling Test

Life’s a spelling test
When I ask you, ‘What’s your name?’
For I may spell it differently,
Although it sounds the same.

Are you Catherine with a C,
Or Katherine with a K,
Or Kathryn with a y,
Or Catharine with an a?

Is it Stephen with a ph
Or are you Steven with a v,
Are you Glenn with a double n?
Do I spell Ann(e) with an e?

Are you Sophie with an ie
Or Sophy with a y?
Are you Jon without an h
Or Clare without an I?

Life’s a spelling test,
It’s your parents who’re to blame,
What’s on your birth certificate
Is how they spelt you name

John Foster

Copied From Crack another yolk and other word play poems as I really enjoyed them, the first as I have seen this happen so often and the second as it struck a chord - being called Katherine I automatically spell my name - it is why I changed to Kate which worked until Cate Blanchett came along

A brief history of time by Stephen Hawking

2009-09-20T09:59:46Z

A Brief History of Time: From the Big Bang to Black Holes by Stephen W. Hawking

My rating: 2 of 5 stars
I understood less than 25% of this but felt I wanted to stick it through to the end. I found the politics of the science interesting and more within my level of understanding

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Treasure Box by Orson Scott Card

2009-09-15T21:26:10Z

Treasure Box by Orson Scott Card

My rating: 5 of 5 stars
A surprising change in style but so well written I still struggled to put it down. Not a style of story I am normally comfortable about reading but I read it because I love the sci fi stories that he writes. Saying more would be a spoiler.

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Book crossing copy: http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/5423424

In pursuit of the proper sinner by Elizabeth George

2009-09-12T20:49:00Z

In Pursuit of the Proper Sinner by Elizabeth George

My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I enjoyed this book, although as usual I get rather annoyed by Lynley's supercilious (sp??) attitude. The book goes into the nature of relationships and the way they make you react to situations, not always sensibly.

A bookcrossing book: http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/4945...

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The Girl from Hockely: Growing up in Working House Birmingham by Kathleen Dayus

2009-09-03T20:54:02Z

The Girl from Hockley: Growing Up in Working Class Birmingham by Kathleen Dayus

My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I found this a moving tale of about the extreme poverty that some people lived in in Birmingham's Jewellry Quarter. I didn't expect a reference to HMS Ganges in Shotton, Suffolk where my uncle by marriage went and which is over the river from Harwich where I have been staying this weekend.

Bookcrossing copy - see http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/6965...

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That certain age by Elizabeth Buchan

2009-08-22T20:20:31Z

That Certain Age by Elizabeth Buchan

My rating: 4 of 5 stars
It took me a bit of time to get into this book, but when I did I found it a bitter sweet book as it is about 2 women in their 40's their marriages and relationships with their husbands and children in the 1959 case and the pressures about having children in the 2009 relationship. I am sure men don't agonise over relationships as much as women do, and why do we always feel guilty about doing what we want to do? No wonder I am enjoying solitude and being single.

Bookcrossing copy - src="http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/3308593/"

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The Time Travellers Wife by Audrey Niffenegger

2009-08-21T20:19:12Z

The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger

My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I found the story very moving, and the characterisation of the relatives and friends as good as that of the main characters. It is a fascinating concept with a plausible reason for the time travel happening.

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My Bookcrossing Copy

G.I Joe the rise of the Cobra

2009-08-19T19:00:59Z

Went to see this last night as I needed a new film fix. I really enjoyed the escapism, and I can see how they managed to have the highest car write off of all films to date (if that is not an urban myth).

Some of the story is predictable, but aren't all comic book based films. The action scenes, especially the chase sequence in Paris, are truly amazing.

Changelings by Anne McCaffrey and Elizabeth Ann Scarborough

2009-08-16T21:19:30Z

Finished Sunday 16th August 2009.

Anne McCaffrey is another author I struggle to put down once started, so this has been a reading Sunday to round off my holiday.

This is a new Petaybee book about the Selkie twin children of Yana Maddock and selkie Sean Shongli and how they link with otters and other parts of the sentient planet. I loved Sky the otter.

Driving Force by Dick Francis

2009-08-16T21:13:10Z

Finished on Sunday 16th August 2009

I always find Dick Francis difficult to put down, and this was no exception and even though it was a re-reading I didn't remember the story at all. I find the stories scarey but believable, and love the racing setting. In this case the ex-jump jockey has moved into the horse transport business, but is nearly stopped by people using his transports for nefarious purposes.

Rest Upon the Wind by Gill Twissell

2009-08-15T19:21:41Z

Finished on Saturday 15th August 2009.

This book is self published and was written following the author finding out information about her families history. I found it difficult to put down and a very good read. It links together the story of Emily who was born in the late Victorian period and lived in Cumbria during both world wars and her great granddaughter Sophie.

Playing the Moldovans at Tennis by Tony Hawks

2009-08-15T19:03:15Z

Finished on Saturday 15th August at Towcester, Northants.

I wasn't sure whether I would enjoy this book at all, but ended up laughing out loud quite a few times while reading the story of this strange bet and the lengths Tony Hawks goes to to win it. It is also interesting to see how others get drawn into the positive feelings caused by achieving the strange and nearly impossible

Resistance by Anita Shreve

2009-08-15T18:56:29Z

Finished on Thursday 13th August on the Oxford Canal. This was a very moving story with a bitter sweet ending. Very evocative of the difficult times caused by being in an occupied country. The description of the thoughts of the protagonists made it very real.