I have decided to replace my usual blog musings with short reviews of books I have been reading, so here goes ……… I’VE JUST BEEN READING ….........

If the eyes are the windows to the soul than books are the doorway into your soul. I once described my collection of books as some of my closest friends, this is still true today. And what a marvellous friend they have been.

 

updated 11 October 2006

Flask for Freedom, George MacDonald Fraser, historical adventure novel set in England, America, and west Africa, first published 1971.

My rating ☻☻☻☻

 

Sir Harry Flashman KC tells of his life of poltroonery through a series of masterful memoirs. This is the 5th instalment. Harry is a most disreputable upperclass English rogue and one can’t help but believe that his tales could be true.

 

Readers should note that the Flashman character derives from the school bully made famous in Thomas Hughes’ tales of Rugby school in Tom Brown’s Schooldays. Flashy represents the worst of a bygone Victorian era when the British Empire ruled through superiority and elitism. Very politically incorrect but it’s so bloody funny.

 

The Death of Achilles, Boris Akunin, historical crime novel set in Russia, first published 2005.

My rating ☻☻☻☻

 

This is the 4th Erast Fandorin detective mystery from this very clever Russian author. I have greatly enjoyed the reconstruction of this period look at late 19th century mother Russia.

 

Fandorin is a likeable, if a bit slightly unbelievable, sleuth who finds himself in the middle of high level intrigue and mystery in the tsarist court bureaucracy and criminal machinations. Each novel builds on its earlier companion and get better with each reading.

 

Whip Hand, Dick Francis, crime novel set in England, first published 1979.

My rating ☻☻☻☻

 

All Dick Francis novels are set in the world of English racing with jockeys, horses, trainers and bookies abounding. I was first introduced to this incredibly good and prolific writer by my father-in-law, Kevin Sattler - a colourful racing identity in his own right.

 

Whip Hand is the 2nd Sid Halley adventure. Sid is a retired (injured) jockey turned private investigator. The first Halley novel was written in 1965 and the third in 1990 and its remarkable how Sid never seems to age. However the plots are timeless. A real page-turner. Great fun and a real joy to read.

 

Temeraire, Naomi Novik, maritime fantasy novel set in England, first published 2005.

My rating ☻☻☻☻☻

 

I picked up this book by accident in the sale bin of my local newsagent. Its cover notes described two elements that are bound to catch my interest – naval warfare and the Napoleonic wars.

 

However I missed the graphics on the book’s cover and found it to be a dragon based fantasy story – not my normal cup of tea.

 

Using the tried and proven formula of classic maritime tales, much loved by Patrick O’Brian and Alexander Kent fans, Tremeraire is the story of the bond between a strong willed naval captain and a hatchling dragon. Having no real pre-conceived notion of a dragon’s personality, I was captivated by the growth of the dragon Tremeraire and its bond with the frigate captain to form a formidable fighting force in the English wars against Bonaparte’s France.

 

I found in my mind’s eye that a dragon seemed to be a have the best features of a dog and a horse with a slightly feminine but macho disposition. I found to my surprise and delight how the concept of using thorough bred dragons as much as ships, armies and assorted historical characters contributed to Britains success in the Napoleonic wars.

 

The Gulliver Fortune, Peter Corris, historical novel set in Australia, Europe and South America, first published in 1989.

My rating ☻☻☻☻☺

 

My first Corris novel, but definitely not my last. I’d been thinking for some time that I should read this noted Australian author and by chance found this novel in a garage sale.

 

Original, pacy and entertaining I have now booked out several more Corris novels from my local library.

 

Dead Watch, John Sandford, political crime novel set in the US, first published 2006.

My rating ☻☻☻☻☻

 

I think I have now read every Sandford novel published. I highly recommend Sandford’s Kidd and Prey series of books. This, his latest offering, is very different to his previous books. Although still essentially a crime story, it is more a political crime story where the hero/anti-hero is not a policeman or a criminal but a political consultant. Thoroughly absorbing and different enough to be enjoyable and thought provoking.