MARCH 2012

March 2012...... 10 books this month

Anna Funder – Stasiland

James Ellroy – Blood’s A Rover

Dave Zeltserman – The Caretaker Of Lorne Field

Tony Black – Truth Lies Bleeding

Nigel Marsh – Fat, Forty And Fired

George Pelecanos – The Cut

Joseph O’Neill – This Is The Life

Kevin Booth – Isiris Unveiled

Neil Cross – Luther The Calling

Dominic Streatfeild – Brainwash

I’ve read and enjoyed most of Ellroy’s work over the years. To be honest, I’ve struggled with most of his recent ones, reading more from a sense of duty or loyalty to the genius that brought the unforgettable LA novels;

L.A. Quartet

• The Black Dahlia (1987)
• The Big Nowhere (1988)
• L.A. Confidential (1990)
• White Jazz (1992

In my opinion the last few books he’s written have been a vehicle just to show us all how clever he is. I think I’ve enjoyed the ride, but I’m jumping off the Ellroy wagon now.

I’ve read all of Pelecanos’ output and I’ll stick with him, even though his last few haven’t been overly fantastic. Still an ok’ish book from him generally tops a lot of other writers.

Most of the rest were ok. Forget the Isiris book, as it’s a banned racing book designed to give punters an inside track on the devious bookmaker. Don’t think I’ll be making a fortune after reading this.

Streatfeild’s earlier Brainwash was a bit flat after last month’s History high.

Pick of the month boiled down to Neil Cross’s Luther or Anna Funder’s digging into the methods and madness of the former East German state’s secret police.

Despite my love of Luther and the iconic Idris Elba’s portrayal of him.

Book of the month is Stasiland

Blurb...........

In 1989, the Berlin Wall fell; shortly afterwards the two Germanies reunited, and East Germany ceased to exist. In a country where the headquarters of the secret police can become a museum literally overnight, and one in 50 East Germans were informing on their countrymen and women, there are a thousand stories just waiting to get out. Anna Funder tells extraordinary tales from the underbelly of the former East Germany - she meets Miriam, who as a 16-year-old might have started World War III, visits the man who painted the line which became the Berlin Wall and gets drunk with the legendary "Mik Jegger" of the East, once declared by the authorities to his face to "no longer to exist". Written with wit and literary flair, Stasiland provides a rivetting insight into life behind the wall.

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