Iain Banks - an excellent way to end 2012

My last book of 2012 is Stonemouth, by Iain Banks, which I read in audio format, with Peter Kenny narrating. It's the tale of Stewart Gilmour, who arrives back in his hometown of Stonemouth after a five year exile imposed on him by the Murstons - the local gangster family - after he broke the heart of their precious Ellie. Having had to literally run for his life when leaving Stonemouth all those years ago, Stu is not quite sure what kind of a reception he will get. It's tough, raw, violent, very sweary but also highly amusing in places. The back story is slowly revealed as Stu catches up with all the people he grew up with, lost his virginity to, got roaring drunk with, fell in love with and those who will always be his friends no matter how many years and miles get in the way. There are some great characters in this book - hard men, manipulative women, caring parents and ex-girlfriends. My favourite character is "Ferg", a drunken, drug-ridden bisexual who gets most of the best lines in the book. Stu has only been allowed home to attend a funeral, but the undercurrent of unfinished business pervades everything, and all roads lead to one heck of a finish. This is a very satisfying book - well worth the journey if you can handle the copious amount of swearing - but somehow, in a thick Scottish accent, it doesn't sound out of place or even over the top. I really enjoyed this book - Iain Banks on good form again. Not his very best (Transition, The Wasp Factory and Steep approach to Garbadale get my votes on that score), but certainly up there.

My STAR rating: FOUR.

Length: 448 print pages
Price I paid: £7.99
Formats available: Print, unabridged audio download and CD, ebook.

The Hunger Games ... I now know what all the fuss is about

I've been seeing The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins in bestsellers lists all year, and the film of this, the first book in a trilogy also received good reviews. So, when an offer came in on my usual audio book account I decided that I would give this book a punt. And I'm pleased to say that it is a punt that has paid off. This is the story of a 16-year-old girl called Katniss Everdean, who lives in a post-apocalyptic world, where there isn't enough food, but there are many, many rules! Every year, a boy and girl from each of the 12 districts is selected at random to take part in The Hunger Games - where the prize is 12 months worth of food for your district. There is only one way to win the games, and that is to be the last one to remain alive - and it's all shown live on TV! When her beloved younger sister is selected, Katniss volunteers to go in her place, and begins a journey into the brutality of the games where she has to find the strength of character to not only survive, but also to kill other children. I know that this sounds immensely distasteful - and indeed, the premise is just that. However, it is also an uncomfortable look into a future that is deeply unpleasant,and yet believable. Can our young heroine stay alive and keep at least some of her moral code and beliefs intact, or will the experience totally dehumanise her and all involved in the Games? This is a good read and a great central character. I think I might read the other two books in print or ebook as I found the narrator a little on the irritating side - but that's a personal thing. Don't be put off by the subject - this is a good read and I really do want to spend time with this character and see where she goes and how the narrative develops.

My STAR rating: FOUR

Length: 464 print pages
Price I paid: £4.00.
Formats available: print; unabridged audio download; ebook.

Malta - small island, big place in history!

Last year, I read The Information Officer, a thriller based in Malta during the second world war. I found it to be a bit of an eye opener, as I was unaware of how Malta was under the cosh during that time. My brother-in-law, after reading my blog about this book, offered me two books of his about this Mediterranean island. I have just finished one of these, The Great Siege: Malta 1565, by Ernie Bradford, which I read in print. I was not disappointed! What could be a very dry bit of history from the time of Elizabeth I, is really brought to life by the author, who details the events of the epic defence of the island by a few thousand men, including the Maltese, led by the Order of the Knights of St John, against the hordes of a Turkish army and navy who were ordered by the Sultan to take this strategic lump of rock. The Order was determined to hold out in their new home after being routed out of their base in Rhodes some 40 years previously by the same man (Sultan Soleyman the Magnificent) who now had his sights on Malta. The Order were led by Grand Master La Valette, an exceptional leader who at the time of the siege was 70 year old, but still put on his armour and fought side-by-side with his men. It was brutal. The loss of life was particularly huge amongst the Turkish army, who were forced to try and break through the walls of the various forts through sheer force of numbers. Huge amounts of bravery was shown on both sides, especially when it became clear that the promised reinforcements from Sicily were not forthcoming. The Knights and the islanders were not to be moved, and eventually, the Turkish army - diminished by hunger, disease and, of course, the fighting, left Malta, vowing to return - but never did. Although shattered by the siege, the Order helped to rebuild the island and never longed to return to Rhodes again. I do like a bit of history! A very readable account of an event I knew nothing about - thanks Mr Bradford!

My STAR rating: THREE

Length: 256 print pages.
Price I paid: free loan from my brother-in-law.
Formats available: print, audio CD, audio download, ebook.

Lennox - the Glasgow underworld at its deadliest

Lennox, by Craig Russell which I read on audio is set in 1950's Glasgow. Our eponymous hero will work for anyone - villain or police - as long as it pays. He has a knack of finding things about people in ways that others don't seem able to do. He is commissioned to find Lilian Andrews, the missing wife of a local businessman, it seems a straightforward enough case. But then Tam McGahen - the brains of an up and coming criminal gang - is brutally murdered. The assumption is that the hit was ordered by one of the Three Kings - the triad of underworld bosses who control pretty much all the nefarious activities in the city between them. However, when they deny it, Tam's twin brother, Frank, tries to secure the services of Lennox to find out who did. He refuses, and later that night, Frank winds up dead and Lennox is well and truly in the frame. The only way to get himself out of this mess is to find out who is behind it ... but why does his other case regarding the missing wife, keep cropping up at the same time? This is gritty, violent and intelligent - and keeps you guessing all the way through. It genuinely feels like you are discovering each clue at the same time as Lennox himself. Although a hard man, a product of his experiences during the recent war that still resonates in everyone and everything, you can't help but route for the main character. His dark sense of humour - also a product of war - surfaces from time to time to lighten things. Tough, rough and gripping from the start - one of the best starts to a book I've read in a long time - there is much to admire in this tale. My only quibble is that the female characters are a bit one-dimensional. This is the first of a series of books featuring this private investigator - and I will definitely be delving into his dark and dangerous world again - particularly if the audio versions are narrated by Sean Barrett - who gave a great reading bringing all the characters to life, particularly Lennox - who was inflected with a world weariness that suited him well.

My STAR rating: FOUR.

Length: 352 pages
Price I paid: £5.33
Formats available: print, audio CD, audio download, ebook