occasionalhope

October books

2009-11-01T14:53:05Z

Jeffery Deaver, The Broken Window – pretty good, B+
Linda Fairstein, Lethal Legacy – quite good, B+
Lisa Scottoline, Look Again – excellent, although the ending was a little too convenient, A-
Lauren Henderson, Don’t Even Think About It – not bad, B+
Kitty Sewell, Ice Trap – not bad, C+
Richard North Patterson, Conviction – not bad although rather didactic, B-
Janet Evanovich, Fearless Fourteen – one of her better books, pretty entertaining, B
Mark Wallington, Travels With Boogie (omnibus of 500 Mile Walkies and Boogie Up The River) – pleasantly entertaining, B
Alan Dean Foster, Quofum – OK, C
Harlan Coben, Long Lost: somewhat implausible, C
E M Channon, Her Second Chance – quite entertaining, C+
Carola Hicks, Improper Pursuits: The Scandalous Life of Lady Di Beauclerk, nicely written biography, B

September books

2009-10-02T11:36:13Z

Will Lavender, Obedience – interesting twists, would make good movie fodder
Karen Rose, I’m Watching you – formulaic but held my interest at least while I was reading
Barbara Willard, The Lark And The Laurel; The Sprig Of Broom – I’d forgotten just how good these were
Bobby Braddock, Down In Orburndale – an entertaining read
Theresa Monsour, In Cold Blood – not very well written
Karin Slaughter, Genesis – well written but rather nasty
Laura Lippman, Life Sentences – very good

August books

2009-09-01T15:38:03Z

Julia Quinn, What Happens In London: surprisingly dull. Apparently not much does happen in London.
Gaelen Foley, My Wicked Marquess – a very silly sub plot about secret societies
Andrew Holmes, Rain Dogs And Love Cats - not bad, if not what I was expecting from the cover
Eloisa James, A Duke Of Her Own – fun, but Ms James really doesn’t know her Quaker history; Fool For Love; A Wild Pursuit
Elizabeth Wrenn, Last Known Address – unambitious but competent and I warmed to it more as I got through it
Ian Hodder, Catalhoyuk: The Leopard’s Tale – absolutely fascinating

July books

2009-08-03T15:59:53Z

Terry Pratchett, Nation (actually last month but I forgot it, which says a lot about how interesting I found it)
Rob Thurman, Moonshine (reread), Madhouse, Deathwish – both reasonably interesting
Stephanie Laurens, Fair Juno – boring early work
Gillian Flynn, Sharp Objects – not bad
Karin Slaughter, Fractured – good
Carol O’Connell, Shark Music – compelling reading

June books

2009-07-12T22:51:22Z

(OK, I was on holiday so this is all a little embarrassing)
Stephanie Laurens, Tangled Reins – bears a Very Strong Debt to Heyer
Eloisa James, Duchess By Night, When The Duke Returns, Duchess In Love, This Duchess Of Mine
Maria V Snyder, Fire Study - OK
Rob Thurman, Nightlife (reread)

May books

2009-05-31T18:43:59Z

Patricia Cornwell, Scarpetta – not too bad
Lisa Unger, Beautiful Lies – not bad
Eloisa James, Potent Pleasures; Midnight Pleasures; Enchanting Pleasures; Pleasure For Pleasure; An Affair Before Christmas: historical errors but real charm
Gwendoline Courtney, The Wild Lorings
Hillary Jordan, Mudbound: OK
Eva Ibbotson, Magic Flutes: nice, not her best
Noel Streatfield, The Circus Is Coming (nostalgic reread); Wintle’s Wonders
Alan Dean Foster, Patrimony
Jim Butcher, Turn Coat – great
Jude Morgan, Symphony – very boring
Mary Balogh, Simply Magic and Simply Perfect – not very historically accurate or emotionally convincing, but quite charming

April books

2009-05-06T18:06:52Z

Karen Rose, Scream For Me
Antonia Forest, The Thursday Kidnapping (first reread after many years, better than I remembered)
Diana Wynne Jones, The House Of Many Ways – nice but not her best
Gwendoline Courtney, The Chiltons
Simon Kernick, Severed; A Good Day To Die
Eloisa James, Much Ado About You and The Taming Of The Duke– rather good, almost Heyer-like
Isabel Wolff, A Vintage Affair
Eva Ibbotson, The Dragonfly Pool
Gina B Nahai, Moonlight On The Avenue Of Faith – pretty good magical realism, improved as it went on
Hallie Rubenhold, The Covent Garden Ladies
Linwood Barclay, Too Close To Home – pretty good
Thomas H Cook, The Chatham School Affair – nicely constructed
Julia Quinn, The Secret Diaries Of Miss Miranda Cheever

March books

2009-03-31T22:13:09Z

Robertson Davies, A Leaven Of Malice; A Mixture Of Frailties – rereads
Harlan Coben, Hold Tight – pretty decent
Julia Justiss, The Untamed Heiress – entertaining rubbish
Simon Kernick, The Murder Exchange – not bad
Lois McMaster Bujold, the Sharing Knife, Passage and Horizon, and reread of the first two – charming if a little episodic
Karen Rose, Die For Me - ridiculously implausible

February books

2009-03-01T11:00:23Z

Naomi Novik, Empire of Ivory and Victory of Eagles – both good
Rose Tremain, Restoration – lots of historical errors! This one kept me pretty bogged down.
Robertson Davies, Tempest-Tost (reread)

January books

2009-01-31T22:51:31Z

January 2009
Books: rather crime-heavy this month
Anne Marshall Zwack, The Diplomatic Corpse – pleasant but slight
Jonathan Kellerman, Bones – a definite return to form, I found this engrossing
Kat Martin, Heartless – extremely inaccurate historically
Peter Robinson, All The Colours Of Darkness – pretty good
Karen Rose, I’m Watching You – generic but an OK read
Simon Kernick, Deadline
Lynwood Barclay, No Time For Goodbye – pretty good, although there were a couple of rather unlikely coincidences
Julia Quinn, The Lost Duke Of Wyndham – pleasant enough
Jennifer Donnelly, A Gathering Light – pretty good

CDs
Donna Ulisse, Walk This Mountain Down – good but not ground breaking

Deecember books

2009-01-04T23:01:10Z

Ronald and Margaret Pugh (eds), The Diocese Books of Bishop Samuel Wilberforce
Perri O’Shaugnessy, Writ Of Execution
Julia Quinn, Romancing Mr Bridgerton; How To Marry A Marquis; Everything And The Moon; Brighter Than The Sun; Dancing At Midnight; To Catch An Heiress; Minx
EJO, The New Abbey Girls
Justin Pollard, Alfred The Great: The Man Who Made England
Peter James, Dead Man’s Footsteps
Eloisa James, Kiss Me Annabel
Adele Geras, A Hidden Life
Meg Rosoff, What I Was
Anna Candlish, The Double Life Of Anna Day

My top 10 singles of the year 2008

2008-12-23T21:49:56Z

1. Cheater, Cheater - Joey + Rory
2. Last Call - Lee Ann Womack
3. Gunpowder & Lead - Miranda Lambert
4. Learning How To Bend - Gary Allan
5. She's Pretty - Star de Azlan
6. Another Try - Josh Turner and Trisha Yearwood
7. That's What I Like About A Country Song - Aaron Watson
8. Takin' Off This Pain - Ashton Shepherd
9. This Is me You're Talking To - Trisha Yearwood
10. What Do You Do When You're Lonesome - Justin Townes Earle

Just missed the cut:
Sounds So Good - Ashton Shepherd
Shinola - Dolly Parton
Muddy Water - Trace Adkins
Dig Two Graves - Randy Travis

Records of 2008

2008-12-22T23:41:34Z

Sleepless Nights Patty Loveless 97
That Lonesome Song Jamey Johnson 94.5
Matters Of The Heart (1981-1983 compilation) Gene Watson 91.25
Sings Merle Haggard Leona Williams 90.5
The Imus Ranch Record Various Artists 87.5
The Life Of A Song - Joey + Rory 87
The Unreleased Recordings Hank Williams 85.5
Call Me Crazy - Lee Ann Womack, 85
Angels & Outlaws Aaron Watson 84.5
Rollin’ With The Flow Mark Chesnutt 84.5
Back Again Jeff Chance 84
This One Is II Ralph Stanley II 84
Comal County Blue, Jason Boland 84
Crystal Sands, Crystal Sands 84
Burn Your Playhouse Down George Jones 83.5
Passion, Pride And What Might Have Been Amber Digby 83
Somebody New Jill King 82
New Patches Leona Williams 82
And The Wheels Turn, Melonie Cannon 81.5
X - Trace Adkins 81.5
The High Notes Ricky Skaggs 81.5
40 Years Of The Voice Vern Gosdin 81
Around The Bend Randy Travis 80.5
Sounds So Good Ashton Shepherd 79
Dailey & Vincent Dailey & Vincent 79
Still Your Fool The Dixons 79
Rattlin' Bones, Kasey Chambers and Shane Nicholson 79
Iron And Diamonds, Gibson Brothers 78.5
Troubadour George Strait 78
Heart Of Stone - Chris Knight 78
If We Ever Make It Home, Wade Bowen 77.5
Trouble In Mind, Hayes Carll 77.5
Strong Enough - Beth Stevens 77.5
The Good Life Justin Townes Earle 77
Learn To Live Darius Rucker 76
Long Monday Tim Hensley 76
That’s Why I Run Billy Yates 75.5
The World Left Is Mine Lucas Hudgins 75.5
Something We Can’t Stop Bobby Dale 75
Between The Whiskey And The Wine Miss Leslie 75
Good Thing Going Rhonda Vincent 75
True Country Rance Norton 74.5
Sunset Man James Otto 74
Hicotine Jason Matthews 74
The Steeldrivers The Steeldrivers 74
Tennessee Pusher - Dan Tyminski 74
The New World Bruce Robison 73.5
Little Wild Flower Catherine Britt 73.5
Good Time Alan Jackson 73
Love On The Inside Sugarland 73
Now That You Are Gone Tommy Webb 73
Broken In Trent Willmon 73
Backwoods Barbie Dolly Parton 72.5
Shannon Walker Shannon Walker 72.5
Jeff Bates Jeff Bates 72
Long Story Short Barry and Holly Tashian 71.5
My Side Of Town Jeremy McComb 71.5
Once Upon A Time In A Honky Tonk Kimberly Murray 71.5
Secrets Sierra Hull 71.5
Country Girl Like Me Emily Portman 71
I’ll Pick The Guitar, You Drive The Truck Leland Martin 71
What Am I Waiting For Heidi Newfield 70.5
Wheels - Dan Tyminski 70.5
Crazy Like Me, Ray Scott 70.5
Honey Songs Jim Lauderdale 70
In The Summertime The Wrights 70
Julianne Hough Julianne Hough 69.5
Anything Goes, Randy Houser 69.5
Starin' Fires - Blake Shelton 69.5
Dawn Of A New Day Crystal Shawanda 69
The Twilight Zone Jason Allen 68
American Roads II Ryan Gallagher 68
No Rules Rebecca Lynn Howard 66.5
Stronger Carlene Carter 66
Kellie Pickler 65.5
That Don't Make Me A Bad Guy, Toby Keith 64
Roses & Lace Janie Fricke 63

November books

2008-11-30T15:12:50Z

Books
EBD, The School At Skelton Hall – rather slight
James Skelton, 1599: A Year In The Life of William Shakespeare
Julia Quinn, On The Way To The Wedding; When He Was Wicked; An Offer From A Gentleman
Perri O’Shaughnessy, Acts Of Malice
Karin Slaughter, Kisscut; A Faint Cold Fear; Skin Privilege (wth was that ending?)
Stephanie Laurens, A Lady Of Expectations

TV
Criminal Minds, Medium, Heroes, X Factor, Life, The Closer

CDs
Bruce Robison, The New World

October books etc

2008-10-31T20:14:25Z

TV
New series of Medium; Criminal Minds; Heroes: X Factor

Books
Lissa Evans, Spencer’s List – quite pleasant
EBD, Carola (GGB reissue)
Clare Mallory, The New House At Winwood
Laura Hicks (ed), Celebrating Antonia Forest - interesting
Garth Nix, Superior Saturday - meh
Karen Rose, Nothing To Fear - OK
Daisy Waugh, The Desperate Diary Of A Country Housewife – already dated
Lisa Wingate, Talk Of The Town – quite pleasant, not quite what I expected
Catherine Coulter, The Deception - OK
Jane Feather, Almost A Bride - OK
Karin Slaughter, Faithless – a bit predictable; Triptych – not bad
Eloisa James, Desperate Duchesses – delightful romantic comedy
Paul Britton, The Jigsaw Man – scary
Meg Cabot, Queen Of Babble - slight

September

2008-10-01T17:24:19Z

Books
Helen Dore Boylston, Carol Goes On Stage; In Repertory; Comes To Broadway
M E Allan, Black Forest Summer
Jude Morgan, Indiscretion – very enjoyable
Bethan Roberts, The Good Plain Cook
Simon Kernick, Relentless
Penelope Lively, Consequences
Sadie Jones, The Outcast
J Wallis Martin, Dancing With The Uninvited Guest – creepy
Lisa Scottoline, Dead Ringer
Karin Slaughter, Blindsighted – frankly unpleasant; Indelible - better
Elaine Dundy, the Old Man And Me
Susan Elizabeth Phillips, This Heart Of Mine; Ain't She Sweet

DVDs
Buffy 4.14-22
Angel 1.12-22

CDs
Patty Loveless, Sleepless Nights – stunningly good
Sierra Hull, Secrets
Darius Rucker, Learn To Live: good
The Imus Ranch Record
Crystal Shawanda, Dawn Of A New Day – disappointing and over produced, but she has a good voice
Leona Williams, New Patches

August books etc

2008-08-31T20:16:59Z

Books
Matt Haig, The Last Family In England
Suzanne Enoch, London’s Perfect Scoundrel
Nicci French, Losing You
Margaret Yates, Town And Countryside In Western Berkshire, c.1327-c.1600 – excellent content, let down by seriously sloppy proofreading
Laura Lippman, The Power Of Three – very good
Karen Rose, Count To Ten – formulaic but well done
F P Keyes, The Heritage
Jonathan Kellerman, Obsession – better than his other recent stuff
Tana French, In The Woods – pretty good, although I pegged the villain much sooner than the narrator
Phillip Thomas Duck, Grown And Sexy
Lisa Miscione, Twice
Julia Quinn, The Viscount Who Loved Me – charming romantic comedy, let’s ignore historical issues
Stephanie Laurens, An Unwilling Conquest – meh
Peter James, Not Dead Enough
Michael Connelly, Blood Work
DFB, Nancy Returns To St Bride’s

DVDs
Buffy 4.11-13
Angel 1.9-11

TV
End of Nashville Star
Without A Trace (very dull)
Olympics
The Truth About Pedigree Dogs
Who Do You Think You Are: Boris Johnson episode
A Man And His Dogs
Gone Country ep 1
X Factor

CDs
Jamey Johnson, That Lonesome Song
Gene Watson, Matters Of The Heart
Julianne Hough
Shannon Walker

July reading etc

2008-08-02T15:12:38Z

Books
Jim Butcher: White Night and Small Favour; after rereading Death Masks to Proven Guilty
Maria V Snyder, Magic Study and reread Poison Study
Carol Anne Davis, Shrouded (sordid and not that good)
Linda Barnes, Cold Case
Hilary Bonner, Moment Of Madness and A Passion So Deadly (sordid and predictable)
Debbie Macomber, 50 Harbor Street
Lisa Miscione, Angel Fire
Nora Roberts, Public Secrets and Search For Love
Deborah Crombie, Leave The Grass Green
Susan Hill, The Risk Of Darkness
Peter James, Looking Good Dead
Jack Sheffield, Teacher Teacher

CDs
Miss Leslie, Between The Whiskey and the Wine: pretty good
Randy Travis, Around The Bend: great to have him back recording, I adore You Didn’t Have A Good Time
Sugarland, Love On The Inside

TV: Nashville Star (lamentable)
Crystal Palace athletics meeting
Without A Trace (dull)
The Making Of Me

DVDs
Buffy 4.5-10
Angel 1.5-8

June books etc

2008-06-30T20:50:08Z

Books
Reread (with some skimming) EBD, all the Swiss books
Susan Elizabeth Phillips: Fancy Pants (boring with unlikeable characters); Lady Be Good )much better), Natural Born Charmer (loved), Match Me If You Can (not bad)
Sophie King, Mums @ Home – dull and predictable
Sarah Webb, Take A Chance – less dull but equally predictable
Kate Elliott, Spirit Gate – enjoyed more than I expected
Reread Jim Butcher, Dresden Files up to Summer Knight

TV
Without A Trace 6.1-5 (I think) - rather dull on the whole
Heroes 2.6-10
Supernatural 3.13-16
Can You Duet (via Internet) (and I keep on rewatching Cheater, Cheater). Pretty happy with the winners, but I want to hear more from Joey and Rory.
Nashville Star eps 1-3: pretty awful so far

DVDs
Buffy 3.7-22; 4.1-6
Angel 1.1-4

CDs
Zac Hacker, Get Your Love On –good but a bit short
Charley Jenkins, Round Here and Ridin’ –not bad
Jeff Bates, s/t: not bad exactly, but a bit disappointing after the last two, which I loved
Carolina Chocolate Drops, Heritage – very good
Jeremy McComb, My Side Of Town – This Town Needs A Bar is great, the rest a bit so-so
James Otto, Sunset Man – not bad
Catherine Britt, Little Wild Flower – a bit disappointing
Jason Eady, Wile Eyed Serenade – great
Mark Chesnutt, Rolling With The Flow (reviewed)

Review: Mark Chesnutt, Rollin' With The Flow

2008-06-25T19:55:33Z

I’ve always loved Mark’s smoky voice and pure country approach, and this is a great new album from him.
Things To Do In Wichita: beautiful measured slightly sad song, 9/10
When You Love Her Like Crazy: another beautiful sad song about lost love, 9/10
Rollin’ With The Flow: charming laid back feel to this song about growing older, 9/10
Going On Later On: OK uptempo feelgood thing, 7/10
Live To Be 100: quite amusing, 7/10
When I Get This Close To You: just lovely, swingy waltz I could hear George Strait doing, 9/10
Come On In (The Whiskey’s Fine): not bad, though not as funny as the writer thinks it is, 7/10
If The Devil Brought You Roses: very good and interesting song, 8/10
Woman: cheerful and engaging little song, 7.5/10
Man In The Mirror: touching tribute to a father, 9/10
Long Way To Go: good but not that memorable, 7/10
She Never Got Me Over You: saving the best for last, a classic lost love song, 10/10
Negatives: no songwriter credits.

May books etc

2008-06-02T17:53:04Z

Books
Peter James, Dead Simple – pretty good twists, must look out for more by him
Gaelen Foley, Her Secret Fantasy
Jack Sheffield, Mister Teacher
Reread EBD, Goes To It; Highland Twins, Lavender Laughs; Gay From China, Tom Tackles; Three Go, Island, Peggy, Carola, Wrong, Shocks, CS in the Oberland, Bride, Changes
Stephanie Laurens, All About Passion (hero was a total jerk); The Reasons For Marriage
Mary Laven, Virgins Of Venice
Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Heaven, Texas (another annoying hero); Nobody’s Baby But Mine; Dream A Little Dream (loved this one); Hot Shot (very dull)
Mary Balogh, Slightly Sinful (quite enjoyed this one); One Night For Love (why can’t they get the names and titles right?)
Jeremy Sims (ed), Thames Navigation Commissioners Minutes 1770-1790
Meg Rosoff, The Way I Live Now – one heartstopping moment
Kim Edwards, The Memory Keeper’s Daughter

TV
Heroes 2.2-5
AI – Best.Ending.Ever
I’ll Do Anything – best of a bad lot won
Can You Duet (via Internet); particularly loved Cheater, Cheater from Joey and Rory
Walk The Line – great
Frustrated by wait for remainder of Supernatural on ITV2

DVDs
Supernatural 2.18-22
Buffy 3.1-6

CDs
Listened to Andy Griggs' latest - utterly dull, I shan't be getting it.

Amazon

2008-05-14T20:03:25Z

I hate amazon. I really really hate amazon. They cancel my orders and don't bother to tell me, and keep my money without refunding it and LIE ABOUT IT.

April

2008-05-01T23:07:29Z

Books
Reread: EBD, Exploits, Lintons, New House, Jo Returns, The New CS, Exile
Gaelen Foley, Her Every Pleasure – better than I was expecting, although not what one might call believable
Mary Balogh, A Summer To Remember – a little dull. Why do writers of historical romance give their characters such totally unhistorical names?
Chimamanda Ngozie Adichie, Half Of A Yellow Sun – very good
Ian McEwan, Enduring Love – OK
Maggie O’Farrell, After You’d Gone – OK
Stephen Taylor, Walking Ollie – dog memoir, slight but pleasant

TV
AI: love David Cook and Jason. I’m increasingly irritated by Brooke and David A.
Torchwood: last couple of eps. Fab season finale.
I’ll do Anything: meh.
Supernatural: wow at Mystery Spot. Funny in a black comedy sort of way, then really really dark. Even more stunned by Jus In Bello. Just as I got to like Henricksen… Impatiently awaiting its return at the end of May.
Heroes 2.1

DVDs
Buffy 2.11-22
Supernatural 2.1-17

CDs
George Strait, Troubadour (reviewed)
Aaron Watson, Angels & Outlaws – very good, he has a knack for picking interesting songs
Billy Yates, That’s Why I Run [out of good songs?]
Justin Townes Earle, The Good Life: excellent folk/country debut
Dolly Parton, Backwoods Barbie: good (reviewed)
Jim Lauderdale, Honey Songs: a little disappointing, apart from I’m Almost Back, which is great

Review, Dolly Parton: Backwoods Barbie

2008-04-13T11:44:34Z

Dolly Parton: Backwoods Barbie.

Dolly’s image tends to hide the fact that she’s actually an amazing singer and songwriter. This is her first straight country album for a few years although she put out some excellent bluegrass/acoustic work in that time. She’s written most of the material, including the best tracks. She is in excellent vocie, and she and co-producer Kent Wells have overseen some excellent playing. But what really matters, as always, is the songs:
Better Get To Livin’: OK but unremarkable, 7/10
Made Of Stone: ditto, 7/10
Drives Me Crazy: boring pop song (one of the outside songs), 5/10
Backwoods Barbie: I expected to hate this song, but it was actually extremely good, a classic tune and a wry self-aware lyric, 9/10
Jesus & Gravity: a little hackneyed, but not bad (another outside song), and she sings it great, 7/10
Only Dreamin’, nice song with a Celtic feel, 7/10
The Tracks Of My Tears: nice but who really needs another version of this song?, 7/10
The Lonesomes, good song, 7/10
Cologne: good cheating song but it gets a bit samey and doesn’t end up going anywhere, 7/10
Shinola: good uptempo kissoff, 7.5/10
I Will Forever Hate Roses: touching song, 7/10
Somebody’s Everything: good, 7/10

Review: George Strait, Troubadour

2008-04-04T19:19:56Z

George Strait’s latest record, Troubadour, finds him in excellent voice. It doesn’t reach the absolute highlights he’s capable of, and it’s not quite as good as 2006’s The Road Less Travelled, but there are some fine moments nonetheless, and overall it’s well up to standard.

Troubadour: tasteful but not that interesting, 7/10
It Was Me: lovely waltz, may not break any new ground, and the tune sounds very familiar to me. The Chair, maybe? 8/10
Brothers Of The Highway: pretty good trucking song, 7.5/10
River Of Love: pretty enjoyable little chugalong thing, 7/10
House Of Cash: fabulous song (written by Leslie Satcher and Monty Holmes) about the burning down of the home of Johnny Cash and June Carter, sung as a duet with the always great Patty Loveless. I love both the song and the performances, 8.5/10
I Saw God Today: OK. Well meaning but I’ve heard far better songs on the theme. 7/10.
Give Me More Time: quite touching, but again, not the best song I’ve heard on the theme, 7/10
When You’re In Love: charming. 7.5/10
Make Her Fall In Love With me Song: pleasant, 7/10
West Texas Town: nice relaxed piece of western swing enlivened by being performed as a duet with Dean Dillon, 7.5/10
House With No Doors: Fabulous, slightly quirky song. Loved it, 9/10
If Heartaches were Horses: another lovely song, 9/10