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The Somnambulist
Jonathan Barnes
Rating
Although the plot withered out before the end, I found it very hard to put down this book. I think I have grasped the reason behind the readability of this book. Barnes' strength lies in his quirky characters, not his ambitious but poorly constructed plot. If you're not given to reading books with many loose ends, don't bother with this one.
On Royalty
Jeremy Paxman
Rating
I do enjoy my Paxman every once in a while. The subtitle explains it all: "A very polite inquiry into some strangely related families".
Flashman and the Dragon
George MacDonald Fraser
Rating
Apparently, female readers should be highly offended by The Flashman Papers. I'm still waiting for that moment when my favourite coward offends my sensibilities. Anyways, in the 8th volume of the series, he lands himself in China during the Taiping Rebellion and gets ravished by Yehonala in the process. Now that's what I'm talking about!
The Boleyn Inheritance
Philippa Gregory
Rating
I'm impressed. Philippa Gregory hasn't lost her touch after all. Perhaps I only say that since Elizabeth doesn't figure in this Tudor Court novel. Hmm. Nevertheless, I like the multiple narratives and the overwrought emotions.
Plato & a Platypus Walk into a Bar
Thomas Cathcart & Daniel Klein
Rating
This book cheered me up and enlightened me and made me distribute the jokes to everyone around me. I'm still laughing.