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Blackness Library Reading Group

Books We Have Reviewed

A Tale Etched in Blood and Hard Black Pencil by Christopher Brookmyre

  This novel jumps between a murder investigation and the childhood memories of those caught up in the faillout of the crime. Brookmyre re-creates the language and imagery of the playground with humorous results and those who went to school in the seventies and eighties will find it particularly funny. The only negative from the reading group is that there were lots of characters, most with nicknames, which meant it was sometimes difficult keeping track.

The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown

  Given the huge amount of hype and media attention this book has generated, it was not surprising that the group were a little disappointed with the Da Vinci Code. It was often difficult to remember that the book was fictional as there were so many factual aspects woven into the storyline. There were a few 'big questions' regarding religious establishments and the personal lifestyles of some of its more extreme members, but, in general, there was nothing too strenuous on offer and even the codes were a bit obvious. We did, however, enjoy the fast pace of the book and it was relatively engrossing.

Blue Poppies by Jonathan Falla

  The majority of the group found this to be a well-written, enjoyable read, however, a few felt the descriptive nature of the text a bit too flowery. Blue Poppies follows the dramatic journey of a group of Tibetan villagers and a young Scottish radio engineer as they flee the invading Chinese army. The book provides an insight into the culture of the area and includes vivid descriptions of the Tibetan landscape. All members of the group felt the book had the potential to make an excellent film!

Birdsong by Sebastian Faulks

  The group unanimously agreed that 'Birdsong' was a very worthwhile read. Persevere through the slow beginning as the book really comes into its own once the war begins. The description of trench life is particularly moving and realistic and you are soon with the soldiers every step of the way. Some members of the group felt the present day quest of the granddaughter was not really necessary. Nevertheless, the book is an excellent read which really brings home the hardship and suffering endured by soldiers in WW1

Human Traces by Sebastian Faulks

  The group gave this book a 2 star rating because they felt it was spread very thinly. Most of the group thought that if the book was one tenth as long then it might have been a good read. Those who enjoyed the book had medical/psychology backgrounds and found the portrayal of madness and mental institutions at that time (late 1800's) quite intersting. Final verdict - a lot of padding, on a thin storyline.

Defying Hitler by Sebastian Haffner

  A real insight into how Hitler ruled Germany, how he came to power, and how he made ordinary German people, not only Jews, live with the threat of suspicion and fear of the rest of German society. The Nazi psychology of divide and rule was a slow, invasive process and frightening because of the easy with which the Nazis came to power. The book was clearly written, had a good narrative flow and was difficult to put down

A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini

  We all loved this fantastic second novel by the author of the 'Kite Runner'. This is a well-written touching book which not only captures the history of Afghanistan over the last 30 years, but also addresses the themes of friendship and sacrifice in a very beautiful and poignant way. A modern classic. Highly recommended

War Crimes for the Home by Liz Jensen

  'War Crimes' is a very humorous and extremely moving depiction of one woman's wartime experiences. Gloria, now in a home for the elderly, is forced to confront her past and, in particular, certain horrific incidents that took place. Gloria's voice cuts through with sharp, crude, humorous, poignant realism. The book is highly entertaining with a strong plot that keeps the reader entralled to the end

Embers by Sandor Marai

  'Embers' centres on two elderly male friends who are reunited after 41 years. Their estrangement was the result of a particular incident which irrevocably damaged the friendship they once had. The mood is dark and intriguing and you are drawn in to a captivating tale of love and betrayal. However, the group all agreed that the ending was somewhat disappointing with little resolution

Life of Pi by Yann Martel

  Unanimous - every one of us loved it! A joy to read such a fresh and original novel. It starts gently with vivid descriptions of Pi's happy childhood at his father's zoo in India. His family decide to move to Canada (along with their zoo animals) and while en route the cargo ship they are travelling in sinks. The middle section of the book deals with Pi's struggle for survival in a lifeboat with a tiger, hyena, zebra, and an orang-utan! Then in the last pages of the book a second story emerges! A wonderful, well-written, thought-provoking book.

If Nobody Speaks of Remarkable Things by Jon McGregor

  'If nobody speaks of remarkable things' is a very poignant novel which provides snap shots of the lives of various neighbours in a suburban English street. The plot is virtually non-existent, however, the 'fly on the wall' descriptive narrative is compelling at times. This novel received mixed reviews from the group, with some finding the unusual style too descriptive and long-winded. All thought the novel had good film possibilities

Fugitive Pieces by Anne Michaels

  'Fugitive Pieces' tells the story of two men, of different generations, whose lives have been affected by the Holocaust. In general, the group felt this book did not live up to the rave reviews on the back cover and many found it to be quite hard-going in places. The poetic language was a bit obscure at times, while the character development was often lacking. Nevertheless, the book was very thought provoking and informative, with beautiful descriptions of the Greek and Canadian environs. Maybe worth a second read!

Animal Farm by George Orwell

  We all thought this was a wonderful, classic novel which everyone should read at least once. The story revolves around a group of badly treated farm animals who revolt and evict their owner and set up their own society based on the premise that 'all animals are equal'. This utopia is short lived and the pigs soon succumb to the temptations of privilege and power. Orwell's reference to the failings of the Communist Revolution are very evident, however, this morality tale has a distinct timeless quality. The plot and prose are simple and uncomplicated which seems to add to the poignancy and innocence of the book

Fleshmarket Close by Ian Rankin

  The group as a whole were disappointed with this novel and felt it did not match up to earlier titles in the Rebus series. There were so many characters that it was difficult to identify with many of them. The plot was also rather complicated with lots of intertwining storylines which were often difficult to track. The group did, however, enjoy the local aspect, particularly the detailed street-by-street descriptions of Edinburgh. The issues of immigration and racism were also interesting and thought-provoking but, nevertheless, the group felt this was not Rankin's best effort.

Lost Art of Keeping Secrets by Eva Rice

  Very light and easy to read but with little substance. It was difficult to feel any attachment or empathy with the characters and the romantic liaisons were very predictable. It did, however, give an insight into the 1950s era and the lives of the upper classes. OK if you fancy a bit of light-hearted escapism!

God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy

  Judging by the reaction of the group, you wil either love or hate this book! If you like a very detailed, poetic style of writing then this book is for you. However, if you prefer your novels to be fast-paced and plot driven then you may be inclined to give this one a miss. The novel is set in 1960s India and focuses on twins and a tragedy which impinges on their family. The narrative is a little confusing at times as it jumps from past to present, teasing out the plot. Nevertheless, if you fancy reading something a little bit different, give this book a try.

Bad Blood by Lorna Sage

  The memoirs of Lorna Sage's childhood and adolescence are both touching and harrowing. The book depicts growing up, surrounded by a largely dysfunctional family, in 1940's and 1950's rural England/Wales. Most of the group found it to be a relatively good read, if somewhat hum-drum in places. It did, however, provide an interesting insight into the era and rural setting

Longitude by Dava Sobel

  The group gave this book a low rating primarily because of the formal and impersonal style of the author's narrative and the lack of human interest. Nevertheless, the storyline was engrossing, as most true stories are. Harrison invented the chronometer (a clock which keeps accurate time at sea) and in doing so solved the problem of how to measure longitude. Harrison had no scientific learning, nor did he have any background in watch making, which makes his discovery even more fascinating

Q and A by Vikas Swarup

  Unanimous! We all loved this debut novel and were gripped from the opening pages until the end. Q & A is a charming, humorous, touching story written in a very simplistic but effective style. It tells the story of a teenage street kid who wins a billion rupees on an Indian quiz show. He is accused of cheating and goes about proving his innocence by re-telling the different chapters in his life which enabled him to answer the 12 questions correctly. Highly entertaining and well-worth a read.

Adrian Mole and the weapons of mass destruction by Sue Townsend

  The group found this book to be an enjoyable, humorous read. The diary format is quite addictive and difficult to put down and Adrian, now 35, doesn't seem to have grown up at all. He continues to lurch from one catastrophe to another which makes for hilarious reading. As for the characters - all completely mad as well as thoroughly entertaining - embarassing parents, the girlfriend from hell, nutty future in-laws, not to mention the swans! There are also some poignant moments like Glenn's letters from the battle front. All in all, this is a humorous, light-hearted read which most should enjoy

Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon

  In general, we found this to be a good read, providing a mix of thriller, romance and history. Set in Barcelona, with lots of gothic atmosphere, this is a compelling, page-turning novel, packed with twists and intrigue. Some of the characters were a little two-dimensional and at times the plot was a touch far-fetched, however, it is definitely a worthwhile read, especially for anyone who has visited Barcelona.