my uk life: shannons 2010 by the numbers

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sadie jones: the outcast: a novel
what is it with me picking really dark books at the moment? isn't there anything out there that is happy? (***)
andrew bavidson: the gargoyle
dark, dark and more dark. i should have figured this out from the blackened book spine. good, thought provoking. not sure i would recommend it. (**)
stephenie meyer: breaking dawn
didn't go to the usa as planned so had to buy this in hardback. (****)
rohinton mistry: a fine balance
my friend kelly warned me this was sad. without that warning i'm not sure i could have taken it, but knowing this, i really loved this book. mistry has an amazing ability to help you see why it's important to try to view things from another person's perspective. (*****)
stephenie meyer: eclipse
yep still enjoying these. (****)
stephenie meyer: new moon
once i got started, i had to finish the saga...i saw someone say this made them wish they were 13 again and i have to agree. it's very well done. (****)
kate furnivall: the russian concubine
while i got a little confused between the characters for the first half of this book, and i wished i had a little more political context, i enjoyed this. set in pre-revolutionary china, this looks at a russian girl who falls in love with a chinese communist. (***)
stephenie meyer: twilight (the twilight saga, book 1)
i had four people recommend this over a two day period so when i saw it in the airport bookstore i picked it up. having liked buffy, i really enjoyed it and have now bought book 2. (****)
jane harris: the observations
despite a relatively distracting voice, bessy--the protagonist in this story--grows on you and i enjoyed this story despite its flaws. (***)
sara gruen: water for elephants: a novel
four or five friends recommended this book before i wrote off to amazon to order it. i can understand why it has a viral following. it's great--good writing, gripping story, solid characters. well worth reading and my favourite new book of 2008. (*****)

listen...

come on get higher
matt nathanson: some mad hope
i picked this up during my recent trip to seattle and madeline and i both really like it, particularly come on get higher.
this is the life
amy macdonald: this is the life
amy is one of our current favourites and we went to see her in concert last week in london. her scottish brogue really comes out live.
the book i write (spoon)
various artists: stranger than fiction
we bought this after watching the movie on dvd, and subsequently have ordered a number of albums by artists who contributed tracks.
i believe in love
indigo girls: despite our differences
i picked this up in the us when we were there and it's standard (in other words = excellent) indigo girls album.
closer and closer apart
mary chapin carpenter: the calling
once we were supposed to go to a concert where mary chapin carpenter was opening for shawn colvin but we got the time wrong and arrived for the encores and a glass of wine. anyway this is a good album.
how to save a life
the fray: how to save a life
what a good album.
who needs love?
razorlight: razorlight
i love love love this whole album.
gotta have you
the weepies: say i am you
i love this album, which i bought last week in seattle. folky and cool.
without you
kubb: mother
saw kubb performing on jonathan ross and since then bought the album. we're really enjoying it.
the farmer in the dell
sesame street: kids favorite songs
ok, i'm only being honest! we got this as a gift from my team at work and we listen to it when changing nappies.

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