50 Book Challenge: February update

I feel like I’ve been reading less this month (totally blame discovering Candy Crush, and feeling more tired in the mornings so reading less then before getting up).  Haven’t downloaded many new books as I’ve got a stack piling up already, and have also purchased a few on promotion from my favourite authors – I’m getting seriously behind with those.

Here’s my February update:

Summer at Willow Lake – Susan Wiggs: Easy reading book, I found this quite an old fashioned style of read.  If you’re a Dirty Dancing fan, then this is the book version of camp relationships, looking back and re-building relationships. 

In a New York Minute – Eleanor Moran: I totally missed the fact that this was a short story, so was a bit disappointed that this was a bit abrupt in it’s completion.  

Double Trouble – Deborah Cooke: Obvious plot outcome, family relationships, secrets etc. The usual chick lit. Nice and quick to read, if you like happy endings and people sorting their lives out, then this fits the bill.

Blood Loss – Alex Barclay: I’ve had this on my to read pile for some time.  Another female crime write to investigate if you’re looking for new authors.  Another book which features (annoying) fed Ren.  I wasn’t keen on this book having the voices in her head amongst the prose, although the more I got into the book, the less intrusive I found it.  I don’t enjoy the main character who’s maybe more complex than I can be bothered with for leisure reading, so it wouldn’t be a top read for me although a good (but disturbing) story.

Family Affair – Mary Campisi: I really enjoyed this book.  Again, it was fairly obvious what the outcome was going to be, but you wanted to see the main characters happy. Split lives and families coming together.

Life of Pi – Yann Martel: I’m glad I read this book before the film came out so I could make my own judgement before reading about the film. It’s not my usual type of book, and if it hadn’t been cheap or free I’d probably not have gone near it.  For most of the book, I couldn’t get my head round it at all.  It just seemed a bit pointless with no purpose.  I guess as a ‘biographical’ take on Pi’s life then it’s interesting, but it was all too surreal for me.  After reading some book club talking point ideas afterwards, I definitely think it’s the type of book for people who want to study and really think about what they’re reading, rather than like me just reading for pleasure.  Despite all the critical acclaim, it’s definitely not a book I’d be picking up again.

I’m joining the 50 book challenge at Mama Owl’s – you can find out more here.