It is a bit of a thin post compared to what others have read this month in The Year in Books hosted by Laura. I finished Richard Flanagan's The Narrow Road to the Deep South while on holiday last month but then got stuck with the book I choose to read next.
First though I cannot give enough praise to The Narrow Road to the Deep South. It might sound odd for a book about an unpleasant period in history but I really enjoyed it. The story was well written with a small amount of humour to lift an otherwise bleak subject. Nothing was held back however, when describing the conditions of life as a prisoner of war. Some of these were pretty horrific to be honest.
I presumed the whole book would have been set in the prisoner of war camp but instead the story is only partially set there. I would not hesitate to recommend this book to others.
I then started to read Neel Mukherjee's The Lives of Others. This is where everything ground to a halt! I just can't get into this book but hate giving up on a book. I have read eighty pages despite starting the book over a month ago. Has anyone else read it? Is it worth struggling on with?
My best friend wrote about not reading books you are not enjoying and I just wish I could make the decision without feeling guilty and move onto something else!
Until I decide what to do about The Lives of Others I have been reading Enid Blyton's The Enchanted Wood and reliving my childhood!!
I love reading books from my childhood, and have a lingering fondness for Enid Blyton. I didn't get organised with my 'Year In Books' post this month, my reading was a bit all over the place, and I didn't have the wherewithal to make a coherent post out of it. X
ReplyDeleteIve also been reading the Secret Seven books on and off this year!!! Its just nice to read something that you don't have to give too much thought about. although I am cringing about some of Joe's behaviour in The Enchanted wood. he is really quite a rude little boy at times!
DeleteOh, I used to love The Enchanted Wood. Reading more is definitely on my to-do list for 2015.
ReplyDeleteI borrowed it from my best friends little girl and I have really enjoyed chatting to her about the different characters!! For me the more i knit the less I read!!
DeleteA little light reading sounds just the thing. I loved Enid Blyton books as a child too. My reading has gone a bit pear shaped this month, too many other things happening!
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