Since I’m sick* and way behind on reviews, I’ve realised the only way to catch up is to make them speed reviews and post a whole batch at once.
The Age of Napoleon; Alistair Horne, eng, 235
Interesting, but a little choppily written, and also the author assumes you know certain things and never explains them, [...]

Posted on July 7th, 2008 by Love
Filed under: A-Z Reading Challenge, B, Book Blowout, C, Classics, D, English, GLBT interest, Historical, History, Lifestyle, Mystery, Religion, Romance, Science Fiction, Sex, sexuality & gender, Speed reviews, Swedish, To Be Read, Young Adult | 1 Comment »

Throne of Jade
by Naomi Novik

For the Here Be Dragons reading challenge.
English
399 pages
Del Rey
ISBN: 978-0-345-48129-0
First line: The day was unseasonably warm for November, but in some misguided deference to the Chinese embassy, the fire in the Admirality boardroom had been heaped excessively high, and Laurence was standing directly before it.
Back cover blurb:
When Britain intercepted a French [...]

Posted on June 22nd, 2008 by Love
Filed under: Adventure, B, English, Fantasy, Here Be Dragons, Historical | No Comments »

Mr. Darcy Presents His Bride
by Helen Halstead

For the Back to History reading challenge.
English
310 pages
Ulysses Press
ISBN: 978-1-56975-588-4
First line: What a joy it is to have a worthy topic of conversation, to hold the power to amaze!
Back cover blurb:
In Pride & Prejudice, Jane Austen brought together one of the most beloved literary couples of all time—Elizabeth [...]

Posted on May 27th, 2008 by Love
Filed under: Back to History, D, English, Historical, Romance | 3 Comments »

Heart of Darkness
by Joseph Conrad

For the Decades ‘08 reading challenge (first published 1902).
English
111 pages
a Project Gutenberg e-book
First line: The Nellie, a cruising yawl, swung to her anchor without a flutter of the sails, and was at rest.
Back cover blurb:
In this tale of colonial exploitation, the narrator, Marlowe, journeys deep into the heart of [...]

Posted on May 25th, 2008 by Love
Filed under: C, Classics, Decades '08, English, Historical | No Comments »

Strong Poison
by Dorothy L Sayers

English
261 pages
Harper Mystery
ISBN: 978-0-06-104350-5
First line:There were crimson roses on the bench; they looked like splashes of blood.
Back cover blurb:
Mystery novelist Harriet Vane knew all about poisons, and when her fiancé died in the manner prescribed in one of her books, a jury of her peers had a hangman’s noose in [...]

Posted on May 22nd, 2008 by Love
Filed under: B, English, Historical, Mystery | 1 Comment »

Lugn för dej, Gelika
by Olga Wikström

For the A-Z reading challenge.
Swedish
204 pages
Bokförlaget Settern
ISBN: 91-7586-051-1
First line: Hon levde i en värld där allt fanns ovanför henne.
Back cover blurb:
Hon heter Gelika. Hon är en vallonflicka, mörk, ful tycker hon själv. Gelika bor på en stor gård i Värmland. Fadern, den älskade, har övergett möbelkonsten för lantbruket, därför [...]

Posted on May 17th, 2008 by Love
Filed under: A-Z Reading Challenge, D, Historical, Swedish | 1 Comment »

Atonement
by Ian McEwan

English
481 pages
Anchor Books
ISBN: 978-0-307-38884-1
First line: The play—for which Briony had designed the posters, programs and tickets, constructed the sales booth out of a folding screen tipped on its side, and lined the collection box in red crêpe paper—was written by her in a two-day tempest of composition, causing her to miss a [...]

Posted on May 11th, 2008 by Love
Filed under: C, English, Historical | 3 Comments »

Hästen från Porten
by Carina Burman

Swedish
354 pages
Albert Bonniers Förlag
ISBN: 978-91-0-011729-0
First line: För andra gången kom jag till Philadelphia.
Back cover blurb:
Han hette Djinn. Åtminstone var det så hon kallade honom, succéförfattarinnan Euthanasia Bondeson, när de möttes i den syriska öknen.
Det fanns varken lugn eller inspiration där i hettan, där sanden letade sig in överallt och städerna [...]

Posted on May 6th, 2008 by Love
Filed under: B, GLBT interest, Historical, Mystery, Swedish | No Comments »

The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club
by Dorothy L Sayers

English
243 pages
Harper Mystery
ISBN: 978-0-06-104354-3
First line: “What in the world, Wimsey, are you doing in this morgue?” demanded Captain Fentiman, flinging aside the ‘Evening Banner’ with the air of a man released from an irksome duty.”
Back cover blurb:
Ninety-year-old General Fentiman was definitely dead, but no one knew [...]

Posted on March 12th, 2008 by Love
Filed under: B, English, Historical, Mystery | 1 Comment »

Unnatural Death
by Dorothy L Sayers

For the A-Z reading challenge.
English
280 pages
Harper Mystery
ISBN: 978-0-06-104358-1
First line: “But if he thought the woman was being murdered—”
Back cover blurb:
The wealthy old woman was dead—a trifle sooner than expected. The intricate trail of horror and senseless murder led from a beautiful Hampshire village to a fashionable London flat and a [...]

Posted on March 10th, 2008 by Love
Filed under: A, A-Z Reading Challenge, English, Historical, Mystery | 5 Comments »