BOOK CHALLENGE 53/1000 (61) Okay, well I was going to start on the period pieces but I got a bit side-tracked. Black and Blue by Ian Rankin slipped in there somehow. I am not sure why or how! I love a good crime novel and despite the fact that Rebus isn't a particularly likeable character, I found myself warming to this rogue. This isn't the first Rebus book in the series and although I haven't read any others, I didn't feel lost at all. There are another couple listed on the challenge but I will save these for later and try to focus on some of the books I am not really looking forward to. That way I can reward myself with something I know I will enjoy just to break the boredom.
BOOK CHALLENGE 54/1000 (62)
Everything I thought I remembered about this story was wrong! It has been more years than I care to admit since I read this book. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte is a classic for very good reason. I thought this one would be a real chore. I haven't really read any classic books since leaving school and I realise now that I have been missing a lot. I'm actually looking forward to re-discovering these standards.
BOOK CHALLENGE 55/1000 (63)
Another classic which I know I read eons ago but didn't recall the story properly. The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde is a much darker novel than I remembered. Although I was engrossed and read it through quite quickly I can't truthfully say I enjoyed it. The story and characters are excellent but the dark and twisted nature of the lead character didn't sit well with me. The edition I picked up is an early one and after a little googling I realise that the story was a little more expanded in other editions. I don't think this is a book I will ever pick up again, though.
BOOK CHALLENGE 55/1000 (64) A little side-step was called for. The Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler is the second by this author on the challenge. In my opinion, this story is much better than The Long Goodbye and I didn't find Philip Marlowe as obnoxious in this one. I don't understand why all these women keep throwing themselves at him. The man is a pig!
