Proper mishmash of old and new

I can't believe that I have read five books since my last post. I work full-time and have a garden, and I am trying to learn new crafts, so I don't have much time to read, but I try to read every evening, even for a short while, and I could easily spend the whole day reading! So, to start off with, I found I, Coriander by Sally Gardner, in a charity shop, and it is so interesting. I t is set in London in 1643 and follows the story of a young girl who falls into hard times, being cared for by a wicked stepmother who her father had married to protect the reputation of the family by making sure they live a puritan life, which is difficult for the girl because her mother had a vivid imagination. It is hard to imagine that a country can go from colour to black and white, in terms of lifestyle, just because of a change of ruler. I would really struggle with it! The story has lots of creative twists, but also magic and wonder, and so many lovely - and some not so lovely - characters.

In a previous post, I talked about B.B.'s gnomes, Dodder, Baldmoney, Cloudberry, and Sneezewort. This is  the next installment, Down the Bright Stream, which sees the gnomes and their friends having to find a new place to live because humans have redirected their river for the purposes of industry. They are so sad to leave their new home, but off they go, in their clockwork boat, and undergo lots of adventures and challenges, including a serious betrayal. But the god, Pan, watches over them and keeps them save, and eventually they find a new location in Ireland, to continue living their happy lives with their friends, the owls and the otters, and the squirrel.

The Little Bookroom is another treasure that I have discovered. I have started reading it on several occasions, but I could never get into it, but recently I found it again and just couldn't put it down. It is a series of short stories written by Eleanor Farjeon, and published in 1955. She writes a beautiful foreword about her personal bookroom that she had when she was growing up. The stories are all wonderful so creative! I have read so many fairy tales and it amazes me how there are still more to read, new stories, completely different from all the others. The stories are all wonderful and are suitable for all ages, and they are accompanied by lovely illustrations. I will happily return to this one over and over and am really happy to share it with you.

The next two books are both written by old favourites. I had started French Braid by Anne Tyler before, but I discarded it because the character had been asked to look after a cat by someone who could no longer care for it and as soon as the owner had left, she packed up the cat and took it to a shelter. It made me very sad, so I gave up on it. I don't like that sort of behaviour. But then I was drawn back to it and I pushed through and apart from the cat scene, it was a good read. As per usual, there is a lot of focus on families with certain quirks and the trigger for the story is something that happened years and years ago. I do like her books. They are quite gently, descriptive and easy to read.

And finally, Fannie Flagg's latest book, The Wonder Boy of Whistle Stop, the sequel to Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe, which I read so many years ago, that I am not sure if I have blogged about it before - I couldn't find a post about it. But it is fantastic, and so I will blog about it a bit here too. The first book was published in 1992 and is about a small town which is part of a railroad and the cafe that supports it. The main character is Iggy, an unusual child who grows up into an extraordinary woman who can mesmerise bees, gambles and drinks with the best of them, but cares for the people she loves. There are some dark parts to the story, but it is all about the community. The story is told by an elderly lady living in an old persons home who tells her story to an unhappy middle-aged woman and together they support each other. It is such a wonderful story and I was worried that the sequel wouldn't match it. I mean, after more than 30 years, to write a story as good as the original - what are the odds! But, oh, it is equally as good and returns to the original Whistle Stop Cafe, remembering the original community members, including the youngest who is now elderly and in a care home himself. The book flits between the different generations, with the most amazing story running throughout and culminating in the most wonderful and perfect ending. Fannie Flagg's books are such feel-good books without being too twee and they are such a joy to read, and I have to say, this one kept me on tenterhooks throughout!

70s science fiction and modern Winter magic

I picked up The Xanadu Manuscript by John Rowe Towsend, ages ago, I think, from my local post office which sells second-hand books in aid of Cancer Research. I started it a number of times and couldn't get into it, but one day, I just couldn't put it down! It was brilliant. It is set in Cambridge and focuses on the experience of a couple of young people who experience some dizziness and then meet some unusual people. I don't want to give anything away, but they come from a place where poor health no longer exists and people don't drink alcohol. They arrive as part of an experiment which goes wrong, and it is up to the young people to help them out. This was a really good read, so interesting, particularly as it focused on the impact of time travel and was really convincing. I love finding surprises in charity shops and this one was fascinating, and I am curious to find more by this author, although I am finding them quite difficult to find.

I love short stories, particularly when they are written by different people. Winter Magic, ideal during this

heatwave, was lovely, full of stories by authors I hadn't read before, but who I am keen to read more of. The book is curated by Abi Elphinstone, and her story, the Snow Dragon was beautiful, about a young girl at an orphanage, who was ruthlessly treated by a bully teacher, who didn't like the way she used her words. The girl was referred to as Runt by the horrid teacher, but all came together in the end with magic and kindness. The stories were all varied and wonderful. I had only read books by one of the authors before, so it was wonderful to find so many new authors whose books I will keep an eye out for. The stories were magical, well-written, creative, and all very different, emphasising the qualities of the individual authors. Definitely a joy to read. Both of these books are for children and young adults, but I really enjoyed them both.

Bring in the new and revisit the old!

I am starting with a sad one. As you know, I love Agatha Christie's books, but the latest one I have read, Postern of Fate, was hard to read. It is a Tommy and Tuppence story and the last book that she wrote. I didn't realise that when I read it, and despite it's plot brilliance, which really was gripping, I found it was full of repetition, inconsistencies, and discrepancies, very unlike Agatha Christie. I read afterwards that she was in the early stages of dementia, which makes me sad. The idea that her brilliant brain was still susceptible to such a destructive illness. Part of me wishes that the publishers had not published this book or that her editors had done their job properly, but another part of me feels that if it hadn't been published, we would never have seen how this sad disease doesn't discriminate - everyone is vulnerable. I am back to reading her earlier books, but it is tempting me to read her books in chronological order. I find it fascinating the differences between her older and more recent works and I have to keep on reminding myself that some of her books are more than 100 years old.

To cheer myself up a bit, I read A Christmas Case: A Posie Parker Novella by L.B. Hathaway, which I picked up in a charity shop - an ideal place to find surprises! The author admits that she loves detective novels and adores Agatha Christie's novels, and while this is very much in the style of Agatha Christie, she has a wonderful style of her own, and I loved the way this was written. It starts off at a house party on Christmas Eve, with each house guest being invited to tell a story about a mystery they have encountered in the past. The puzzles are original and unexpectedly resolved as you progress through the book. I really liked the characters and even thought it was a very busy set of stories, everything included was vital to the final conclusions. I am very excited to have discovered this new author and I am looking forward to reading more. The only disappointment is that it isn't sold on Hive, an independent bookstore.

As you know, I discover a lot of books in charity shops and our local post office in St Just-in-Penwith, which sells books in aid of Cancer Research UK. I love children's books and there are so many classics that I am still working my way through. I recently discovered Pollyanna, by Eleanor H. Porter, which when I started it, I thought was going to be very similar to Anne of Green Gables, another one of my favourites. But, while there are similarities, - both focus on very animaged orphans, there was also such a uniqueness to it. It was so simple,

and so heart-warming! Just a simple message throughout, delivered via a game, taught to her by her father and which educated a whole community into being glad rather than sad. I feel that if the whole world read Pollyanna, and played the game, it would be such a better place.

Another discovery is Strange Magic by  Syd Moore is the start of a series of books about the Essex Witch Museum. Rosie Strange inherits the dilapidated museum from an estranged relative and visits it before planning to put it on the market. But once there, she is pulled into a mystery with the curator, for whom she has mixed-feelings, to put some bones to rest in order to rescue a child who has been taken poorly after being possessed by a lost spirit. It is such an interesting plot - a little bit of romance, some history, and lots of mystery and adventure. There was a lot of cross-England travelling and I really enjoyed the descriptions of the people and places that they visited. The museum sounds wonderful and I would love to visit it. While there wasn't a cliff-hanger at the end, I want to know what happens next, so I am definitely going to order the next installation!

Finally, The Ancient Curse by Valerio Massimo Manfredi, described as "A crime so cruel it calls for revenge after millennia".  When I was growing up, I wanted to be an archaeologist. I didn't manage that and became a librarian instead, a career that I love and highly recommend. Anyway, back to the book. The style reminded me the M.L. Longworth books that I was reading over the Summer, and blogged about in July 2025. They were set in France, while this one was set in Italy, but they both bring regional food into the plotlines and the beautiful local countrysides. However, this Italian murder mystery is darker, and very interesting, with regards to ancient Italian history. It focuses on a series of very gruesome killings which have links to an unexplored tomb. Each victim has been brutally torn to pieces, and it is up to a young archaeologist to find out who (or what) is causing the deaths. Looking at the cover, I thought it might be a bit cheesy, but the plot sounded intriguing. It reminded me a bit of the Relic, by Lincoln Preston (a book which was good but terrifying), but it was less of a movie blockbuster, and more of a historical monster thriller. A great surprise and a little bit scary!

So, enough for now. Time to read. Let me know your thoughts and recommendations!

Discovering Japanese crime fiction and other new authors

The Honjin Murders

Happy New Year! We live down a lovely farm track, a mile out of town. We regularly walk up to town and this short walk should only take 10 minutes, but often takes significantly longer because we chat with friends we meet who are making the same walk, or as they say in Italy "fare la passagiata". Recently we made friends with a lovely man and his dog who is a book lover like us, and from him we have learned about new authors. I had mentioned that I had discovered Japanese novels, and he told me about Japanese crime fiction. The next time I went into a bookshop, I discovered the Honjin Murders, written in 1973, by Seishi Yokomizo. It was brilliant, a really great locked-room mystery, with such an good twist at the end, and a Columbo-style detective. I love discovering new authors, and am really delighted with our informal walking book group.

The Kamogawa Food Detectives

Another book I have recently read is The Kamogawa Food Detectives, and again, I loved it. I do not know how they come up with their creative ideas. This one is about a secret restaurant, where people go to eat, but also to discover a recipe that they had previously experienced and want to recreate. It is not all about the food, but also about the experience that person had when they originally tasted it. This is about a father-daughter duo, with the daughter, conducting the original interview with the person looking for the recipe, and the chef taking that knowledge to rediscover the recipe, exactly as the requesting person wants it.

The Woodsmoke Women's Book of Spells

The last book I am going to post about is The Woodsmoke Women's Book of Spells. I was conflicted with this one. I really enjoyed it, but the author is from North Cornwall, and I am really proud of my adopted county, so I expected it to be more Cornish. However, it reminded me of books set in America, particularly those of Alice Hoffman. It talked about pancakes, which is not very Cornish. It did mention a couple of places in Cornwall, but it just didn't feel right. I would have preferred more Cornish context. Saying that, the plot was really good, with great descriptions of the location. It is about a woman who returns to the town where she used to live, after inheriting a house from her grandmother. There was conflict between her grandmother and her great aunt, because of a book of spells and the power of the mountains. The woman falls in love with a mysterious man, who her great aunt fears will break her heart by disappearing. It is a very magical story, and I think I am curious to read more.

So, that's it for now. Wishing you all a Happy New Year! Thank you for reading!

More Japanese translations and French cuisine mixed with crime

Sorry. It has been too long again, but at least I have new books to write about...may there be many more!

I have continued my discovery of Japanese translations, and I am still loving that genre. "The Cat Who Saved Books" by Sosuke Natsukawa is so beautiful and magical. It is about a small second-hand bookshop on the edge of a town, jam-packed with wonderful books from floor to ceiling. Rintaro Natsuki is the main character of this story, a young man, whose grandfather owned the bookshop but has recently passed away. Rintaro has no-one else, except for an aunt who lives far away. He wants to stay at the bookshop, and skips school to tend to it, but realises that he will have to close it. Suddenly, a talking cat called Tiger comes up to Rintaro and asks him for help. The cat needs someone who loves books to join him on three adventures to save books from people who have either kept them hidden away or damaged them or betrayed them. This book was so creative and unique, gentle, sympathetic, tender, thought-provoking....just lovely to read.

"The Goodbye Cat" is written by Hiro Arikawa, and it is the follow-up to "The Travelling Cat Chronicles", which I posted about in my last blog. This is a compilation of short stories, filled with love and warmth, about seven cats and the impact they have on the people they live with/visit, exploring the cycle of life from birth to death, and the afterlife, and emphasising the loyalty of a well-loved cat. 

The translations of both these books are brilliant, and I assume they capture the original intentions. I would love to be able to read and understand Japanese, just to see how they are in their mother tongue.

My husband has decided to randomly choose books, but picking a letter, going into a bookshop, and picking an author whose surname begins with that letter. This time, he chose R for James Runcie, who wrote the Grantchester Mysteries. My husband hasn't seen the television series, so this was completely new to him. I had watched it, and now having read some of the books, I think that they were well-cast. I am in the midst of the series, and I am still enjoying them, although the earlier ones are the best, in my opinion. "Sidney Chambers and The Shadow of Death" is the first in the Grantchester Mysteries, and introduces Sydney as an unconventional clergyman, who has the ability to solve crimes that the police cannot. He works closely with his friend Inspector Geordie Keating, where they discuss cases over a pint and a game of backgammon. In the first book, we are introduced to his best friend Amanda, where you wonder if there will be some romance, and this is teased throughout the earlier books. It covers his love of jazz music and his attendance at a jazz club, where there is an unexplained death. There are several, well-thought out mysteries in each book, and combined with the religious aspects of his work, it provides a good mystery with interesting back stories too. On the whole, it is quite gentle, but there are some shocking moments, particulary the story of the art forgery.

My next book "Let It Snow" is a clever collaboration between John Green, who I have posted about before, and two other authors - Maureen Johnson and Lauren Myracle, who I haven't read before. I like books like this because you know for sure that you are going to like one of the stories, but you have the prospect of discovering two new (to me) authors. This book is made up of three holiday romances, which feature three different teenagers who's lives are somewhat intertwined. Each story follows their lives as they end up in Gracetown, at Christmas, during a huge snow storm. The first story features a young girl who has been forced to leave her boyfriend on Christmas Eve, because her parents have been arrested in a very comical scene. On the train she meets a young man who is trying to call his girlfriend, but has no phone signal. On the train, there is a group of very excitable cheerleaders, and when the train gets stuck in Gracetown because of a snowstorm, the first girl ventures out to find some food, and gradually the others follow. It is quite complicated, as teenage lives can be, but their stories are carefully intertwined, and there are several comedic scenes, such as the team of cheerleaders demonstrating their winning moves in a waffle house managed by a group of teenage boys. The boys call a range of friends to come down and bring a game of Twister so that they can persuade the cheerleading team to play the game in the hope of becoming closer with them. There are all sorts of shenanigans, but eventually all the stories join up. It isn't complex or deep, but it is fun to read.

As you know, I do love a good detective story, and I was lucky to find two written by the same author, ML Longworth, in a charity shop. They are both set in Aix-en-Provence, and are part of a series starring a magistrate and an inspector, whose wives both provide insights to the cases, and who all love good French food. There are wonderful descriptions of wine and French food, and the detectives seem to spend endless time in their favourite cafe, eating pastries and drinking coffee, or dining in nice restaurants with many-coursed meals, while discussing their cases. Because they are finds rather than organised purchases, I am reading them out of sync, but it doesn't seem to matter. The first is called "The Vanishing Museum on the Rue Mistral" and focuses on a small museum in Aix, the contents of which, mysteriously disappear over a weekend, leaving a bench, a reception desk, and a fern. Coincidentally, a few weeks earlier, there had been a similar mysterious robbery from an elderly lady's apartment. There are some lovely characters, including the suspects, and it is a lovely, leisurely read, with lots of twists and turns.

The second book, "The Secrets of the Bastide Blanche", follows the arrival of a controversial author, who was once very famous, particularly for his first novel, and then all of a sudden changed genre to romantic fiction. He has moved into a grand old house which hasn't been lived in for many, many years, with a plan to retire. However, his nights become disturbed by sinister presences, and although he hires a housekeeper, they both experience strange happenings. He befriends the young daughter of the detective who lives across from him, and soon the magistrate becomes involved. They question whether the author is losing his mind, and find out what happened previously in the house, leading it to become empty. It feels like it is going to be a ghost story, and they make, and there are, comparisons with Daphne Du Maurier's Rebecca. The unfolding of the story happens while a young editor interviews the author in a restaurant known for its food and wine, and the author tests the young man by seeing which wines he chooses for each course. It is quite different from the first book I read, but just as engaging and entertaining. I loved both books, but they did leave me wanting to head straight over to Provence for some leisurely dining in the beautiful scenery of Aix.

So, I am caught up now, and looking forward to reading more books over the Summer.

Bambert's book of missing stories by Reinhardt Jung

I fell up on this book, quite by accident, in the The Cook Book St Just, a treasure trove of second hand books. I have never heard of Reinhardt Jung, an Austrian author, before, but the story was translated by Anthea Bell, and I am a huge fan of hers, as she translates all the Asterix books, which I have loved since childhood.

Bambert's book of missing stories is about a writer who lives on his own, in the attic above a grocer's shop. Bambert is vulnerable, not able to be very active because of the pain he suffers, so he stays at home and writes stories, while the grocer makes sure that he gets everything that he needs. Bambert likes to sit and talk to the moon at night, and he has written a book called the Book of Wishes, which is made up of 11 stories. He decides to send them out, via balloon, into the world to see where they will land, and he asked the finders to return them to him, telling him where the stories have landed. Those locations then become the settings for those stories. Story titles include:

• The Waxworks Cabinet - the story of a boy who was rewarded by the waxworks he cleaned up. This was one of my favourites.
• The Strange Game - so moving as it was about a child living in Sarajevo during the war.
• The Flight of the Dolls from Paris - a mysterious story about a little girl who found lots of doll parts on the beach.
• Red Stocking, Black Coat - a story of a child living in a village ruled by a greedy count, and how the boy used cunning to make sure he was fed. It reminded me of an Aesop's fable.

This book is aimed at children, but the stories can be enjoyed by all. They are beautiful, and magical, some sad, but all hopeful, thought-provoking, and full of wisdom. I loved this book. It feel's like a treasure, and reminds me of other books, particularly Michael Ende's Neverending Story, or The Little Prince. Stefan Zweig, another favourite author of mine, is also Austrian. I love Austria, so it is a wonderful surprise to discover they have such fabulous authors. If you can recommend any more, please let me know!

The Neverending Story - Michael Ende

It was my second time to read The Neverending Story; and like the best of books it suggested itself, grabbing my attention as I stared hopefully at the bookshelves.  I was duly prepared for Fantastica, a land populated by stories and under threat from the 'nothing'.  At its best this book is sublime - a real treat for the imagination and fantastically written; it even tops Momo, another Michael Ende favourite, in places.  In other places, however - about half-way through, when Bastian Balthazar Bux began to create his own world, it slumped a little, reading like a book with fillers.  But I won't knock it for long about that; I thoroughly enjoyed it, flew through it and would happily have read more.

A long overdue post, with lots of book reviews!

I always have such good intentions to write a post as soon as I have finished a book, but it just isn't happening. Since my last post, I have read four books.....gosh, at sounds like I am in a confessional! But seriously, I have, and today, as I finish a fifth book, I realise I must write a post, just in case the books I read are of interest to you. Moreover, I have just bought another two books from one of my favourite book shops, the St Ives Bookseller. Therefore, I pledge before I start my lovely, new purchases, to write a new post.

If you read this blog and my earlier blog, Bibliolic, you will know that I am a huge fan of Alice Hoffman. Her books have such magic and eloquence, but recently, I have struggled with her books as she tackles more realistic topics. However, her latest one reminds of my old favourites, The Probable Future, Blackbird House, The River King, Seventh Heaven, etc. Nightbird is about a family, where the eldest male in the family is cursed with big, black wings. He is hidden away, and the rest of the family live a reclusive life, mingling with the community where necessary, but keeping themselves to themselves the rest of the time. Things change when a friendly family move next the cursed family, and the youngest daughters become friends and confide each other, deciding to resolve the curse. It is beautifully written. Gorgeous descriptions, and full of love, friendship, compassion, and of course magic!

Anne Tyler is another of my favourite authors, so when her latest book was published, A Spool of Blue Thread, I grabbed it immediately. Her books are usually set in Baltimore, in America, and focus on generations of family life. This tale is no exception, and focuses on one family who keep aspiring to fit in with the rest of the community. No matter how hard they work, or whatever tactics they apply, they never feel as though they reach acceptance or get what they want. On the outside, it feels to me as though they do, but in the story there is a lot of dissatisfaction, which made me a bit sad. It is a really good story, very well-written, which is why I could sense the unhappiness, but my favourite of her books is still A Redbird Christmas.

Asterix and Obelix......I have grown up with these two Gaulish characters, and have read their books in a variety of languages. It never fails to amaze me, how well they translate in to different tongues. They are so clever, and I could read their tales over and over again, and I do. However, when Rene Goscinny passed away, I thought these stories would come to an end. But no...Albert Uderzo continued to produce these wonderful adventures, in the same creative style. However, the latest one, Asterix and the Picts has been written and illustrated by two new people, with the blessing of Uderzo, Goscinny's daughter. I had my doubts, but they have so been put to rest. This comic book is just as good as the original creators. I loved it, and I am so delighted that they are going to carry on. I am really impressed with the way they have maintained the integrity of the original characters, while injecting new adventures and comedy. Really fantastic, and so talented!

Have you ever read The Neverending Story by Michael Ende? The film is well-known, but the book is wonderful, and goes much further than the book. I highly recommend it. I hadn't realised that he had written another book, called Momo, and it is just delightful, although quite daunting in places. It is about a little girl who appears in a town, with no sign of a family. She takes up residence in the amphitheatre, and the townsfolk all decide to take care of her, making sure she is safe and has food, and in return she helps them resolve any issues and keeps the children entertained with creative games. But a shadow falls on the town, and everyone seems to be running out of time. It seems that some evil men in grey suits are stealing time, and only Momo can save them all, together with her new friends, Professor Hora, and his tortoise. This is such a lovely story, creative and magical and suitable for all ages.

I found my fifth book in a charity shop, and it is called Alfred Hitchcock's Ghostly Gallery. It starts with a fantastic introduction by the great man himself, and then presents eleven short stories by different authors. They are supposed to be ghostly, but some are magical. I only recognise two of the authors. They are all really good, but I especially like "The Truth About Pyecraft", "The Waxwork" and "The Upper Berth". I don't like explicitly, gory horror stories, but these are more suggestive, and really great tales.

Right then...now for my next book experiences! Happy reading!

A quintet of books

I have been chain-reading, hence my lack of blogging, but I thought it was high time I wrote about what I have been reading. I think you will find it an eclectic mix, and I cannot see a common theme, but feel free to correct me. Four are by women, and five are by my favourite authors. It's funny, but when I was younger, I only read books written by men, and now I am older, I seem to focus on female authors, with the exception of Michael Crichton, and we will come to him later.

So, the first was Lost Lake by Sarah Addison Allen. I have been a fan since her first book, Garden Spells, which I still love. Her books are gentle, romantic, and magical, similar to Alice Hoffman, but less harsh. This book is about two family members, estranged due to circumstances beyond their control, but in need of each other. It is set in a holiday camp by a lake, and tells a lovely story about love, friendship, and working together to make something happen. The women in all her books are really strong, and usually have a special sense, which makes the tale even more enchanting.

The next book I read was so inspiring. The All-Girl Filling Station's Last Reunion, by Fannie Flagg, who wrote Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle-Stop Cafe, which is just fantastic! Anyway, this latest book was about a couple who emigrated from Poland to America, and opened a filling station in a small town, in the 1920s. They had several daughters, and each was taught how to manage the filling station, including basic mechanics, so they could do emergency repairs where necessary. They could all drive, and then one learned to fly, and as the war started, they all learned, and helped the war effort by delivering planes to where they were needed. This is such an amazing story! Talk about total girl power! I hadn't heard about what women did during the war in America, and it is just so impressive. This isn't just about flying and mechanics. There is romance, which leads to an unexpected twist, and brings the story to modern times. These women did so much during the war, and when it was over, their roles were taken over by soldiers returning from the frontline, and they were just expected to stop flying planes and return to their kitchens with no recognition. What a shock that must have been!

So, next I read Adriana Trigiani's book, The Supreme Macaroni Company. Again, her books are about strong female immigrants, this time from Italy. I love her books because they go into so much detail about Italian culture, food, and with this one, making quality, leather shoes. It makes me want to be an Italian living in America, returning home on a regular basis. My one criticism is that in all her books, the woman sounds a pain in the neck to be married to. That sounds harsh, but they seem very needy and confused when it comes to the men they love, and don't always treat them nicely. Despite that, I really enjoyed the book and look forward to more.

Now, on to the men. I have loved most of Michael Crichton's books. I don't like his more recent ones, like Rising Sun, Disclosure, Prey, and I think it is because they are too realistic. Jurassic Park (so much better than the film), Congo, Sphere, could all possibly happen, but probably not. Anyway, he started writing to make money while he was a medical student, and he wrote under another name, John Lange, which I have only recently discovered. These books are brilliant, quite sexist, due to the time they were written, but great. I have just read The Venom Business about a man who smuggles ancient artefacts, by hiding them among venomous snakes as a distraction. It is an action adventure thriller, with twists throughout, and it is very creative. I can't compare him with anyone because he has such a unique style. Might not suit everyone, because there is a lot of machismo, but it is very entertaining and well-written.

So finally, my wildcard. I love the film Grand Budapest Hotel. Total genius, and I discovered that it was based on the writings of Stefan Zweig, an intriguing author whose books were banned by the Nazis, and who fled with his wife to Brazil, where they killed themselves. I wanted to read his books, and randomly chose Beware of Pity. It was a wonderful, albeit frenetic surprise! Set in the Austria-Hungary, just before the start of World War I, it tells the story of Lieutenant Anton Hoffmuller, who takes pity on the crippled daughter of a wealthy business man, who is delighted with the friendship. It is a wonderful yet tragic story about friendship, misunderstanding, and pity. I really enjoyed it, although I found the emotional feelings both exhausting and engaging. Usually you read about the hysterical emotional female, so it was interesting to read about the Lieutenant's conflicting emotions and how he deals with them. It is told in the first person of Lieutenant Hoffmuller, so you really feel the roller coaster of emotions that he goes through, it is a superb piece of writing, and well done to Wes Anderson, director of Grand Budapest Hotel, for perfectly translating the style and characters so accurately. While the film isn't about this book, I could definitely recognise similarities between the style and the characters.

So that's that. Now I can feel less guilty about starting my next book. I hope I have given you some books for thought. Remember to share your recommendations too!