Without fail every birthday and Christmas DH gives me a book token. This doesn't show a lack of imagination on his part though as he does it because he knows it's my all time favourite present (yes, even more so than stash) and has been since I was very young as I like nothing better than browsing for books. When we were kids my Mum used to take my bro and I to town and the local book shop was our creche as she could leave us there and nip off to do her shopping knowing there was no chance we'd leave the shop. On the rare occasions we didn't get left at the book shop it was the library LOL.
Anyway, one of the biggest book shop chains here in the UK has a constant '3 for 2' offer on books and I am a total sucker for it - I pretty much always come out with 6 books (and, in more solvent times 9 LOL). This year was no different as I used my Christmas token and a bit more to come out with 6 books (although one of them was The Wombles so I can take some Mummy credit for thinking of the kids).
I almost never read book reviews so base my purchasing on the blurb on the book cover. Also for a complete bibliophile I am terrible at remembering the names of authors, even ones I've enjoyed in the past. Other than Pratchett, Adams, Tolkein and Eddings I'm pretty clueless and I never understand why as I'm usually an extremely organised person. Oh and just because those are all fantasy type writers please don't think I only stick to that genre, that was just my early and enduring favourite one.
So, Noah's Compass. This is now my first finish of 2011. I've never ready any of Anne Tyler's books before so can't compare it to any earlier novels (subsequent reading of Amazon reviews seem to suggest earlier books are felt to be better by some readers) but it was an okay read. Nothing spectacular though as I felt it kind of lost it's way somewhere in the middle and left me a bit 'oh, okay' at the end. It sets up a mystery that ends up not being relevant to the story in the way you would expect and I found the two central characters not that likeable.
To sum up, I'd say read it if you're given a copy or get it from the library but maybe don't use your Christmas book token on it...
6 hours ago
3 comments:
I´ve just finished The Help by Kathryn Stockett and it was brilliant! Would highly recommend it.
Love the book review. I love books too - i tend to use the Book People catalogue / online - good value especially childrens books.
Anne Tyler is my favorite modern novelist. Although, I was disappointed in "Noah's Compass", I am not sorry I read it. I've enjoyed all her books written after "Dinner At The Homesick Restaraunt." Her earlier works did not interest me much. However, one can actually see her writing skills improve over the years. My favorite is "The Amateur Marriage." I thought it brilliant and moving. I actually found my self crying while reading it (not out of sadness) but from being overwhelmed by its beauty.
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