Dead right, by Peter Robinson

Police thriller. Starts with a very simple dead youth, and gets more and more complex.

Interesting to read, good characters and themes specific to the story. I thought the book ended a little bit too soon, without giving all the final results and answers to all the little things that had started to develop in the book. I suppose it's good for imagination, but I still prefer when a book finishes the story.

I enjoyed the book, but I don't think it will stay engraved in my memory.

Au bonheur des ogres, by Daniel Pennac

Bonne surprise a la bibliotheque: un Pennac de plus !

Bien entendu, j'ai adoré. Les explosions et les details de la vie de famille, les idees folles et les themes serieux se melangent tres bien.

Utopia, by Lincoln Child

A fantastic thriller. I really enjoyed discovering this amazing amusement park with all its technology and perfect immersion words. The plot is set little by little and keeps you turning page after page .. for a long time: the book is huge ! It had me falling asleep at 3AM several nights in a row.

Only draw back: I sometimes felt like the author wrote technical details just to show off (look, I know this and that about weapons, or about computers ...).

Other than that, the characters are interesting, and there are more than enough events and turns in the plot to keep the reader entertained. I hope they'll make one great movie out of the book: I want to see these Worlds come true ;D

Earthsea (the trilogy) by Ursula K. Le Guin

One book that doesn't come from the library ..

I recently went to the cinema to see Tales from Earthsea from the studio Ghibli. I liked the universe a lot, the drawings and details of course, but thought too much was going on for too little explanations. And then I was lent this book, which is the inspiration for the film.

The book as I read it is a trilogy containing A Wizard of Earthsea, The Tombs of Atuan and The Farthest Shore. All three stories are related through the life of Sparrowhawk (Ged) the wizard. Earthsea seems a beautiful (but dangerous !) universe. It seems that there are other stories of Earthsea, and more books by Ursula Le Guin. I'll be hunting for them in the library, for sure !

I wish Ghibli could illustrate the complete stories of Earthsea with their wonderful animations ...

Des chrétiens et des Maures, by Daniel Pennac

I've enjoyed so much reading "Messieurs les enfants" from the same author, that I also spent some time in the French section of the library looking for more from Daniel Pennac. And then again, I found the smallest book. The story, as unusual as ever, starts when "le Petit" stops eating and wants his father. And so we meet him .. in Pennac's way of course !

Would that qualify as a short story ? If so, that would be the first short story I ever liked. But maybe it's too long already ...

L'homme aux cercles bleus, by Fred Vargas

I had to search the French corner of Münster's library for five good minutes before I spotted this rather small book.

Adamsberg leads the search, so no toad for this time. I really enjoyed meeting all the characters: a small book, with four main characters (Adamsberg, Danglard, Mathilde and Reyner) who are well drawn, plus important side-characters. Well .. that's Vargas's style .. I like it :)

I thought maybe it started a little bit fast with witty dialogues right from the beginning, but hey, that puts the reader in context faster I suppose.

Oh and of course, the end .. as unpredictable for me as ever :D

The smoke jumper, by Nicholas Evans

Years ago, I've read "The horse whisperer" by the same author. I think I read it in one go. Then I lent it to my mother, and she did just the same, not talking to me for a day or two. Then came my brother, and the story repeated itself.

So when I spotted this book in the library I knew I had to borrow it. And I really quite liked it! First of all, I learned about smoke jumpers, which I didn't know existed. Then the story takes you in and it becomes increasingly hard to put the book down. Nothing revolutionary, but a fantastic reading, which made me laugh and cry (man, that letter !!!). Perfect escape from your everyday life :)

The house of spirits, by Isabel Allende

I'm on my way to read all of Isabel Allende's books. And I really liked that one. It had a huge diversity of characters, ideas and moods. As always, magic is present, as if it was the most natural thing. It was nice to meet the Del Valle again (although it might be the first time she introduced them .. I haven't read her books in chronological order at all).

Rosa the beautiful, Clara the mystic, Blanca in the middle and Alba with fresh new ideas yet love for her grand-father. Somehow, you leave the book as if you really knew the characters: there's a lot of them, but each is given enough time and depth that they all have a life of their own. Of course I'd recommend this book :)