I came across this book through the Kindle Daily Deal emails. It bills itself as ‘the inside story of the Olympic experience’. It certainly is very revealing and honest to the point of making me dislike the author in places.

I loved discovering what it takes to become an Olympian, what goes in in the Olympic Village, what’s happening in the world of doping and what athletes go through psychologically, before, during and after the Games. Everything is very well articulated and written with great insight. It makes compulsive reading.

(36th in 2012)

This book is a little dark and mildly menacing. The characters aren’t particularly likeable but I enjoyed reading about this family with all their flaws, interspersed with sumptuous descriptions of food. Although I am sure that it’s very common in real life, I haven’t read many books featuring dysfunctional relationships between mothers and daughters. The interactions between all the characters feel very real. I think that shows the quality of Joanne Harris’s writing: she makes everything convincing and a pleasure to read about.

But ultimately this book disappointed me. I had hoped that it would be of the same calibre as the only other book by Joanne Harris that I’ve read: Gentlemen and Players, which is a deliciously dark and atmospheric mystery set in a boys’ school. Five Quarters of the Orange just doesn’t come close to that. Yes, here there also is hatred, fear and passion. Again, this is very well written. But the story itself just didn’t quite make the grade. I couldn’t help but compare it to The Book Thief, also a set during the German occupation with a young girl as narrator, which is a far more striking piece of work.

(35th in 2012)

I bought this book on Amazon Warehouse Deals, which sucked me in with its bargains even though I had pledged not to buy physical books this year. I was supposed to borrow books from the library and, if I was going to buy fiction, buy it for the Kindle. Anyway, I only paid £1.27 for this book and I’m glad I didn’t pay any more than that because it wasn’t that good.

The writing is honest and sharp – I will give it that. But I saw the ‘surprises’ coming a mile off and I found the subject matter so trivial. I’d read reviews saying that this book tells the truth about the first year of motherhood so I was ready for something deep and affecting, possibly with a dark side. I’m not a mother but plenty of my peers are so I do glimpse into that world, even if I don’t have first hand experience. So some of the motherhood stuff was familiar. I had a problem with the main character though. She seems so selfish and superficial, especially the way she always notices people’s appearances. Her friendships with her friends mostly seem very shallow too, though there are a couple of touching moments.

I wanted to enjoy this book. Maybe I would have if I was a mother, but reading this book made me grateful that I’m not one. They say you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover. Well, if I’d paid attention to the cover (or at least the title) before buying, it would have registered that the books I love do not have covers like this. I don’t like books about women who don’t seem to think about anything apart from babies and relationships and bitch about other women. Perhaps chick lit is not for me.

(34th in 2012)

I’d become interested in Michael McIntyre’s journey to stardom when I heard him on Desert Island Discs. (I love how that programme brings out the human and honest side of the celebrities featured on there. Possibly the best one was when Morrissey was on it.)

Anyway, Life and Laughing is ok. Some bits are quite interesting; I never knew that his family knew Kenny Everett or that he came from ‘a broken home’. Some bits are funny; I laughed out loud a couple of times. But other parts that are supposed to be funny just aren’t. I’ve come to the conclusion that Michael McIntrye is best when he does stand up. His comedy isn’t best showcased in the written word. That may say something about the level of sophistication of his comedy. But, although he’s a bit mainstream, I do like his stand up. He’s not as good as Jason Manford or as cool as Stewart Lee but he is undeniably funny.

But the book’s only ok. I mean, it’s not as good as How Not To Grow Up, which I read last year. I liked it because it was funny and also honest to the point that it made me not like Richard Herring. Oh and I almost forgot Shappi’s book, which wasn’t particularly funny but I enjoyed it a lot more than this one.

One thing I have to say is that I hate the cover of the book. It’s completely bland and seems to be designed to cash in on the fact that he’s a household face.

In summary, there’s nothing that is awful about this book but only proper McIntyre fans will truly love it. Otherwise, there are plenty of better books by comedians out there.

(33rd in 2012)