August books

[pandop]

This month has been quite productive on the book front:

Bridge of Birds Barry Hughart



phonemonkey (no link, it buggered my formatting last time) sent me this, in a wonderful package with matching bookmark (and some other lovely things), as she thinks everyone should read this book. She is right. It is wonderful in ways I cannot begin to describe. Funny, clever plot, engaging characters - I didn't want to put it down, but I didn't want to read it too fast either, as then it would end :(

The Templar Paul Doherty



This is the first of a new series, and although I normally avoid books like this like the plague, I thought I would risk this one, as I generally like Paul Doherty as a historical novelist, as well as a mystery writer. Well I am glad this was a library book - and I am not sure I will even bother borrowing the rest of the series. I just don't care to find out what happened to any of the characters.

The Death Maze Ariana Franklin



This is the sequel to Mistress of the Art of Death, which I read earlier this year, and it is every bit as good as the first one. The characters have moved on a little since the first book, as quite some time has passed, but you don't feel as though you have missed overly much. Again, the reason I am enjoying this series so much is the characters, they are as good as the plot - and in a series they are what is going to make the reader keep coming back.

Man walks into a pub: a socialble history of beer Pete Brown



A very funny (the man makes good use of footnotes) and readable history of beer , brewing and pubs- if not entirely unbiased (Brown works for a brewery, so isn't a CAMRA fan  - although he does make some good points about them). I read this over the bank holiday, mostly outloud to Mum, as there were so many 'good bits'. Not merely trivia, I learned a hell of a lot while reading this. I have found myself looking more closely at pubs, their owners and their names since reading this.
It still didn't make me like beer though ;)

East of the Sun Julia Gregson



This is apparently on Richard & Judy's Summer reading list - so I wasn't expecting as much depth as there was in this book. No doubt some have complained that it doesn't show the reality of India in the late 1920s, but I don't feel a novel has to be terribly real all the time.All three of the main characters were engaging (and it passed the Bechdel Test, despite being about the 'fishing fleet'  - women sent to India to find husbands). 
It made a nice change between two non-fiction books, and was an enjoyable read.

Pies and Prejudice: in search of the North Stuart Maconie



I read this in a day, I liked it so much. In fact the only fault I can find with this book is that it was written by a Lancastrian (but he likes Leeds, and public libraries so I can almost forgive him his origins ;)). This is a travelogue of an exiled Northerner, rediscovering the world North of Watford Gap, with much, much humour. Highly recommended.

Comments

[hazelstitch.livejournal.com]

I think he will too, both are well worth a read.