A tale etched in blood and hard black pencil. Christopher Brookmyre

My third read from the word-wizz mr Brookmyre.
The story spans from first day of school to 30 some thing's following and jumping back and forth between a dussin names and bad habits. Everything from jockeying each other in class to how they relate to each other (or not) when they meet again because of a murder. A good read and thank god, the man put in a glossary for us non-Irish in the back to explain mouthwatering words such as





Baw = A spherical Object.


Birling = motion inclined to induce disorientation


Blooter = A hearty and full-blooded strike (footie speak in Irish i guess) See also lamp, scud, skelp , stoat.


Brammer = An impressive specimen


Brer =male sibling

my personal favourites beeing:
diddies= Protruberant milk-producing glandular organs situated on the chest of the human female and certain other mammals. See also Greenock morton FC (how beutifully put!)

Eejit = One not blessed with ample intelligence. See Old Firm supporters

The list goes on for 9 pages, and is just as fun as the actual book... And the swede in me jumps for joy, getting a accurate (if outdated, supposedly these words were used on the school grounds in the 70 I guess.. meaning if I ever dare use them with my faulty pronunciation I'd be laughed out of the pub.. oh well) idea of how to understand Irish. Not a mean feat. As always Mr Brookmyre puts a grin on my face at every 3rd or 5th page (there are some serious bits in there too, don't worry, its not a Disney story) with his sharp whit and engaging cussing and cursing (all the more charming in Irish dialects) My only problem being that the story spans over 20 people. With quite quick jumps back and forth through the story. And me.. being who I am, having serious trouble remembering my own name at times, get a bit confused. But that being my problem. I'll just have to stack up on post-it's the next time I pick this one up.

All fun and games untill somebody loses an eye - christofer brookmyre

I'm starting a new love affair. Found the lovely Christofer, or Mr Brookmyre, at the local library, and I'm very much carrying a crush of enormous proportions. I read the first book I found - all fun and games until somebody loses and eye- and to my delight he has been very busy for the last couple of years, meaning I have another 11 books to curl up with. Never underestimate a good curler-upper when it comes to diversions.
A-fag (until someone loses an eye) - is a story running with the lovely Jane Bell (maiden name, until she marries her couch-bound husband Tom). A grandmother at the age of 46 that realizes that her dreams of a Bond-like existence is not as far fetched as she thought when she suddenly needs to rescue her big-brained-bairn from the clutches of an international arms manufacturer that believes he is going to turn their big guns and perforation specials in to so much scrap metal waiting for the conveyor belt to the sky, and thereby sending their year-end profits into nothing. A lot of sexy brainy action where you basically speed read your way to the last page and then have a wee sob at the end, simply because there is no more words. I'm entertaining the idea of harassing the lovely Mr Brookmyre until en does a sequel of the lovely Jane. Spamming would probably work.. right? .. or does plying of drinks and gift baskets work better? Will have to take up baking of cupcakes if all else fails..

new and exciting ways

Updating your blog by e-mail. Beeing able to wiiiiine from the comforting hold of outlook..

Life is truly grand.

 

Boudica, Manda Scott

A lovely wagging tail.

I found a new favourite. Manda Scott with her series for the Boudicia (Breaca) as the main figure of the story that runs over the span of four quite hefty books to my utter joy. Since my biggest problem is generally that after 400 pages it all ends. Quite abrupbly for my part. A normal size pocket book lasts no more than a couple of hours. With Boudicia I spent several days, almost two weeks - yeah I know, not my usual brisk pace, but i had to wait for them to get the "dreaming the hound" into the library - where I spent days in the smelly and rough suroundings of naturals, dreams, horses, hunting hounds and dust. Beeing stuck in central London where the only dog i'll get close to is the spoilt spaniel accross the road, the details of shaggy inteligent hunting hounds and horses was just what I needed.


Anyway, you get to follow a fictional and very detailed tale of Breaca from childhood, to woman. With all the inbetween. And it's a joy.
The series won the "big gay read" 2008, and it is quite underastandable, the storie revolves around same sex love in between most of the main figures. And it is gay love at its best. None of the sculking around or forbidden fruit picking. Love is shared because of respect and is viewed without eyebrow raising or snickering.

The full series is :
Dreaming the Eagle
Dreaming the Bull
Dreaming the Hound
Dreaming the Serpent Spear

Go find it, I'll be returning my copies to the library tomorrow.
Now I just have to find something else to grab my attention. Oy wei..

First post, probably not the last

Lets face it, I've got an addiction. Instead of a need for handbags, matching shoes and a colourcoordinated wardrobe (black is a colour.. right? ) I spend every dime at Waterstone, Smiths and any other place where you can find books. I'm a proud owner of a library card that gives me (almost) limitless access to the Library at Ladbroke Grove that I tend to abuse to the point of pain. I'll read just about anything, but I do prefer the happy story variety. If I want to get depressed I'll read or watch the news.

Anyway, this blogg will be a blow-by-blow, or pageturn-by-pageturn, of whatever I pick up from this date. Since I've just finished my last batch from the library, I need to get my next one (sadly enough they put a 6 book minimum, that lasts me about 4-5 days)

And yes, it might get so bad that unwittingly give you the end as well, so unless your ok with that, do NOT read any of them.