Adams, Douglas - Mostly Harmless

Last book in the Hitchikers Guide to the Galaxy, which I finally got around to reading. Muchly enjoyed. I like this kind of humor, exceptionally clever. Proabaly not quite as good as some of the previous ones... however they become a bit of a blur after a while as to which is actually which. The joyful robot and Ford's adventures in 'the Guide' were well done.
I'm not sure what happened to Fenchurch between this book and the previous which is a tad dissapointing. I dare say I've missed massive ammounts of what went on - not the best for a non-complicated train read. Still exceptional.

Sparks, Nicholas - The Notebook

I am amused, I found this review on Amazon it speaks rather a lot of truth. I have not yet seen the movie, and I really only read the book as a friend of mine (a non-reader) said she liked it - yet the movie was better. I had a bit of laugh reading it anyway, the description was 'try-hardish' and pathetically 'soppy' in some ways. It was an 'easy read'. It's not entirely terrible, but haha, mmm. yes. I think I've had worse.

I bought this novel for an easy, no-brainer, enjoyable read-on-the-beach book. So far as being easy and a no-brainer, The Notebook followed through. When it came to enjoyable, however, it fell terribly short.

I think the premise of the book is wonderful. An Alzheimer's patient being read the ultimate love story -their own- by her husband in hopes of rekindling old memories, if only for a moment. Very nice and the story is sweet.

BUT... the characters. Good lord. They were, without doubt, some of the most two-dimensional protagonists I have ever seen. They were undeveloped, their dialog was rigid, and some of the scenes that could have potentially been fabulous (like the scene on the lake) were murdered by characters I could care less about. If I can't empathize with them, I won't care what happens to them, and this is what happened in The Notebook. I was extremely disappointed. This could have been something great, but instead made me feel like I had wasted my time.

For once, I will have to say that the movie was better. I saw it several days after finishing the novel and was pleasantly surprised by how they added new scenes and the cast breathed life into otherwise stale characters. Not to mention that the movie completely changed the original ending... the original ending being an entendre that was not only 110% unbelievable and unlikely, but also made me want to vomit. If you read the book, you'll understand why... but I suggest renting the movie, instead.

Rowling, J.K - Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

Well I finally got around to reading it, I haven't read the other few in a while so the apperance of characters such as 'Tonks'... well lets say I couldn't exactly remember where they fit into the picture. No matter. Enjoyable, it being the continuting story, probably not the worlds greatest literacy. Have heard people say it's only good in the last little bit, true the action does pick up however I thought it was fairly reasonable all the way through. Not the best of the books though.

I still have hope for Snape as I have had the entire series, yes he {spoiler warning} 'kills' Dumbledore... but mmm. I think there was a valid reason, that or Dumbledore is not dead. Who knows. I'm perfectly happy to wait until whenever the next book comes out. It is said to be the 'darker' book than the past 5. I personally think the characters are a little more realistic. Anger, sadness, jealously are ironically quite human things to feel. The author should introduce a little more real fear or something to make it a bit more believeable.
The predicted Harry and Ginny thing happened, as Ron and Hermione. Quite laughable.
Good read. Enjoyable as I said before.

McCourt, Malachy - A Monk Swimming

Another train ride consumer book. A Monk Swimming, facinating although a little (some might say a lot) crude. Desperately honest.
Like an unlike Angela's Ashes and 'Tis (books by Frank McCourt his brother) more about his adulthood and less about childhood in Ireland.
Amusing, entertaining, thought provoking.

Thomas, Angela - Do You Think I'm Beautiful?

Excellent book. A little like "Captivating"... but different all the same.
Aimed at older women - which was a nice change.

The only vague annoyance was the metaphor/usage of 'dancing' throughout... as a fairly 'non dance' kind of person I didn't entirely 'get it' on that level. But the principle of being asked, I do understand that.

Brilliant and wonderful, a mixture of: I got stacks out of it, and yeah this is not bad.