Monday 27 January 2014

World Book Night 2014 - my thoughts on the choices

Yep, Monday again. It's not really that long until World Book Night and I really wanted to be a giver last year, but I was pregnant and it was too close to the due date. This year I missed the deadline, so I am just going to have to participate by buying books - the hardship!
Anyway, I wondered if any of you have participated actively in World Book Night in the past, or if you'll be giving it a go this year. Or, do you follow it, know the books on offer, discuss it with friends?. How many on this year's list have you read? Which interest you? Which book(s) would you recommend to others?

So, here's the link for the full list of this year's books - http://www.worldbooknight.org/books/2014-book-list

I don't know very many of them - in many cases I know and have read the authors, but not these particular books.
So, here's my pick - The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas by John Boyne - a very short book, but a powerful one. If you aren't crying, or on the verge of tears after reading this, there's something wrong with you.
I've also read Getting Rid of Matthew, which I really enjoyed, by Jane Fallon. I've read most of her books - they are mainly in a similar vein, but highly readable.
And the other I've read is Theodore Boone, by John Grisham. Loved it - different to his other novels, but enjoyable nonetheless. I am a huge Grisham fan.

Those are the only three I've read, so which of the other seventeen am I keen to read?
Well, Confessions of a GP, I have always liked the title and I may well already have it, but haven't read it. I might well be adding Dr. Benjamin Daniels' offering to my reading list again.

I'm always being told Nora Roberts is similar to Maeve Binchy and I am a huge MB fan, so have been meaning to read NR for a while, so maybe Black Hills, although I have to admit the cover didn't do anything for me.

Now, I haven't read the blurb for any of these books. I'm just looking at the World Book Night snapshot of the titles, so it's the covers I'm seeing. So basically, all I have to go on is the cover and the author's name.
I quite like the look of the cover of Four Warned by Jeffrey Archer. I read his early books and really enjoyed them, so I would look up the blurb for this one.
I still  have some Adele Parks books, so although I like the cover for Whatever It Takes, I need to read the ones I have of hers first, before buying any more.
The one that really stands out for me is Gorky Park. Now perhaps I've heard about this somewhere, but if I have, I can't remember. Maybe it's being made into a movie or has been already, for all I know, although I'm probably thinking of Gosford Park!! But the cover has captured my attention and now I will go and look up its blurb.
To be honest, I am sure I will like a lot of the books, although I don't think I am ever going to be into Andy McNab, no matter how often my father and father-in-law pass me his books! It's just not my thing.
So, I'd like to know your thoughts on this year's list. Next Monday I'll have an in-depth look at the titles, AFTER having read the blurbs - then we'll see which ones might have grabbed my attention if they had a more eye-catching cover.
Have a great week everyone and tune in Friday for a book review and interview with Tara Ford, author of Calling All Services
And be ready - there will be lots of posts in the next few weeks about The Dating Game, plus a few surprises, events and competitions, all in honour of Valentine's Day of course.
Bye for now
Sooz

3 comments:

  1. Hi Susan,
    Sad to say I have read only one of these books. I hadn't heard of World Book Night before. I'll have to check it out, I do read a variety of things, with some fiction thrown in. I just don't make enough time. I have read Roald Dahl's short stories, and love them. He is an amazing writer! Thanks for sharing your reads.

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  2. Well, you know what I think of John Boyne - you must read more of his!

    I read a Jane Fallon recently, Foursome, and found it a bit average - my review is on Amazon. However, lots of the reviews said it was disappointing after GROM, so perhaps I started her on the wrong book!

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  3. I've also set myself the challenge to read all the books on this list. See here what I've read http://wp.me/p36K8M-TZ . Good luck! :)

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