Colin's books

I have started My Favourite Mistake by Marian Keyes. I needed some lighter reading and I am sure, from past experience of this author, that...

I was right in my assumption that I would learn stuff from this book; I did learn a lot. So many aspects of history - both large scale thing...

I have started A History of the World in 47 Borders  by Jonn Elledge. Time for some non-fiction and this looked like a book from which I mig...

This book is essentially a mystery story, told from the viewpoint of the investigator, Jean. It is well written, with well drawn characters ...

I have started Small Pleasures by Clare Chambers - a book recommended to me recently. I should be moving on to non-fiction, but I’m on holi...

The main subject of this book is family relationships. The author explores this by envisaging about the most complex family one could imagin...

I have started The Magician’s Assistant by Ann Patchett. Although I should now be on to non-fiction, the last book was short and unsatisfyi...

The subject matter of this book should interest me: the operation of the space station and the lives of the [fictional] characters. My probl...

I have started Orbital by Samantha Harvey. I am somewhat sceptical about award-winning books - and this one was last year’s Booker - but th...

I expected this book to be written from a perspective with which I might identify, as the author is a scientist. For the most part, that is ...

I have started Lab Girl by Hope Jahren. I always like memoirs and autobiographies and this one has been sitting on my “shelf” for quite a w...

As I expected, this author delivered. A well-paced, pleasingly complex story that educated as well as entertained me. I learned about domest...

I have started Picture Perfect by Jodi Picoult. I needed a holiday read and knew that this author - a personal favourite - would deliver. H...

As expected, this was a well-written book that gave a clear picture of the author’s experiences in Iraq. Overall, I had the impression that ...

I have started Occupational Hazards by Rory Stewart. Having read another of the author’s books and being a regular listener to TRiP podcast...

This book starts out quite “light”, but the story soon becomes rather darker. It is well written, with clear characters. The author does a g...

I have started Strange Sally Diamond by Liz Nugent. This book got my attention because I’d heard some good things about it and I’m interest...

This book took a while to read, partly because I was busy, but mainly because it contains so much information. As I had hoped, it was fascin...

I have started Babel: Around the World in Twenty Languages by Gaston Dorren. Despite being, for all intents and purposes, a monoglot, I hav...

Once again, this author has delivered. The use of two parallel stories is ingenious and very well executed. The thread taking place more or ...

I have started By Any Other Name by Jodi Picoult. After reading a heavy non-fiction book, I needed something a bit easier going. This is an...

Reading this book was quite a long haul. It is well written in a very clear style, but the subject is large and complex. I certainly didn’t ...

I have started The Elegant Universe by Brian Greene. This book covers a topic that I find very interesting and it was recommended to me as ...

When I set out to read this trilogy, I knew that I had read the first book many years ago, but was unsure about the others. However, althoug...

I have started The Campus Trilogy by David Lodge. I read and enjoyed Changing Places many years ago and went on to read some other books b...

Another enjoyable read. I expected this book to be mainly an autobiography. It does indeed tell much of his life story up to and beyond his ...

I have started Getting Better by Michael Rosen. Although I have read other work by this author, he is best known to me as a radio presenter...

Another book that did not leave me disappointed. The story might be described as sci fi, but I feel that would be understating it. It remind...

I have started The Life Impossible by Matt Haig. I have enjoyed a couple of other books by this author, so I was interested to see this rec...

This book, as I hoped, was a very enjoyable read. It is well written and has a good pace. Stewart’s story is interesting, as he started from...

I have started Making It So by Patrick Stewart. I always like memoirs/autobiographies and have been a fan of the author for many years [and...

I have started and finished this book in quick succession. It is a very short book [a novella?], hence I read it very quickly. Not really my...

This was a very gentle, enjoyable story, with a few surprises along the way. There are two timelines, but this makes complete sense for the ...

I have started Tom Lake by Ann Patchett. Another author whose work I am pleased to return to. Here’s the blurb: It's spring and Lara...

This is a beautifully written book that was a pleasure to read. Although her accounts of her chaotic London life were harrowing, this is off...

I have started The Outrun by Amy Liptrot. We recently saw the excellent movie adaptation of this book, so when I stumbled across the “origi...

Another book that I approached with anticipation and was not disappointed. As with all this author’s work, the story is full of detail, whic...

I have started Perfect Match by Jodi Picoult. This is a favourite author so I am looking forward to immersing myself in this story. Here’s ...

I was not quite sure what to expect from this book. When I started reading it, I felt that it was rather slow, but, in due course, I got its...

I have started Thunderclap by Laura Cumming. Having recently read the fictional work The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt, about the painting of t...

This author has a distinctive writing style: he draws you in by setting up a series of story lines, which gradually come together; the pace ...

I have started I Follow You by Peter James. I have read and enjoyed many of the author’s books about his character Roy Grace, so I thought ...

Having enjoyed a previous book by Palin, I was looking forward to this one and I wasn’t disappointed. His writing brings history to life. He...

I have started Erebus: The Story of a Ship by Michael Palin. I read the author’s book about his great uncle and enjoyed it - learning some ...

This was a very long book [881 pages!], so it took me a while. But it was quite well timed as I was on holiday for a lot of the time I was r...

I have started The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt. It’s time for fiction and this is a long book that hopefully I can get my teeth into. I am tol...

I had a feeling that this book would suit me, as I like science and, because people’s lives interest me, I like an autobiography. I was righ...

I have started Breaking Through: My Life In Science by Katalin Karikó. I heard some of this book being read on the radio and was then recom...

A really interesting story, even if I had to suspend belief to accept it. Curiously, I am not sure whether I learned more about dog behaviou...

I have started Fifteen Dogs by Alexis André. This book was recommended by a friend. I am always a little wary of fantasy books, but thought...