January 2010: Book no 2

Book no 2: Sonbrand en Braaiboud - Bun Booyens (editor)
As this book is not available in English please pardon the Afrikaans review.

Al die lekkerste stories van al die beste rebriekskrywers van Weg. Dink aan Dana Snyman, Toast Coetzer ens. Propvol lekkerlees reisverhale. Ek geniet altyd hierdie tipe leesstof veral oor vakansies.

My pount - 8/10 vir net lekker lees.

February 2009: Book no 7

Book no 7: My life as a fake by Peter Carey.

This is the second book by Peter Carey that I have attempted to read - the first was the much praised "Oscar and Lucinda" which I have never completed. Once again, I started out reading this book without being interested in it. I persevered, and it took a while, but eventually I did get into it and completed the read. My problem with reading Peter Carey's books is not the story or the characters, it is his writing style, which I find over explanatory and cumbersome. But maybe that's just me.

The story is really good and very original but jumps around in time quite a bit, but not without direction. The places are exotic and interesting and the characters original to say the least. I know that this is a good read, but I really did not enjoy it much and it left a dull memory - not all pleasant.

Cat's rating: 6/10

February 2009: Book no 5

Book 5: Norrevok by C Johan Bakkes.

Firstly, apologies to my English readers - this book is in Afrikaans and not available translated. However, his other two books have been combined and translated into: To Hell and gone.


Johan Bakkes is an adventurer by heart and an academic by day. He also tries to be a father and husband and in his own words describes his wife as being and angel as she let's him tramp off on adventures on is own at every whim. He finds (well, more like places) himself in some of the most remote and least visited places on earth and tells the story in his own unique and entertaining way (and swearing along as he speaks).

Definitely worth the read - entertaining as always (and very educational in an informal way)

Cat's rating: a comfortable 7,5/10

January 2010: Book no 1

Infanta by Deon Meyer (Available in English as Devil's peak at Amazon.com and also as a Kindle book.)

In a sense this book is written in a slightly different style than all the other books by Deon Myer that I have read. From the first few pages you are aware of who the murderer is, but it's the question of whom the guilty party is that haunts you to the end. Excellently written and as usual so well researched, this book also provides and insight into the post apartheid police force and the escalating crime and violence in our country.

It is however the excellently and sympathetically drawn characters that provides the real strength of the book. Each and every one is so very real - each with their own ghosts from the past and dreams for the future.

Not only is Deon Meyer seen as the best crime thriller writer in South Africa, but having his books translated into 20 languages just proves how popular his books are.

I see that 13 uur (13 hours) that I read last year has now been released in the USA, UK France and Russia.

February 2009: Book no 6

Well, I have done it! One month ahead of schedule I have reached my targeted 36 books for the year. I still have a lot of book reviews to catch up on here, but goal achieved!

Book no 6: Amsterdam by Ian McEwan

I discovered Mc Ewan last year when I read the bestseller "Atonement". I really enjoyed the book and I have subsequently read quite a few of his books. I share his fascination of mentally disturbed individuals or normal people being challenged on an emotional level to beyond general reasoning.

Amsterdam is an extremely clever story with a great unexpected turn to it. It is well written as one would expect of McEwan.

Cat's opinion: 8/10 and well worth the read.

November 2009; Book no 32

Book 32: Handle with care by Jodi Picoult
In general I enjoy Jodi Picoult's books that deal with controversial topics - like her most read "My sister's keeper" and "Nineteen minutes". This book has more than its fair share of controvercial and heart breaking topics.

The main character Willow never speaks for herself and the whole book is constructed from letters or conversations directed to Willow. This makes for interesting reading and an unique angle.

What I did find very uncomfortable, I can really find no other way to describe it, is that I really never got to like Charlotte, in a sense the hero of the book. She is portrayed in a way which evoked very little sympathy in me - maybe this is due to peronality on my side. On the other hand, I really liked sone of the other characters where the father, Sean, and the doctor, Piper attracted me immediately.

I really hated the end of this book and would have loved any other ending.

Cat's opinion : an ok Picoult - 7/10

November 2009: Book no 33

Book 33 : People of the book by Geraldine Brooks.

I can with all honesty say that this book will definitly find its place in my top 20 books of all times.

A very valuable and old Haggedah (Jewish prayer book) is saved twice by Muslims in Sarajevo - once right below the nose of the Nazis in the second world war and once during heavy shelling in the Bosnian war in the 1990's. But this is not the first time that this very special book has been saved from fire or other destruction. On these two instances of true life rescues Brooks base a long lifetime of stories for the earliest illustrated haggedah ever discovered.

Elegantly written with stunning true to life characters, it is truly exceptional. I can not wait to read it again. I will also make sure that I read more of her books.

Cat's opinion: a rare 10/10