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The one you have been waiting all year for - The Big Review of the Year 2014!

Another year has gone racing past which for the book club means 13 more books have been read and reviewed (No we don’t exist in some different calendar world, we did a double bill in January). In a nutshell these are the ones we read starting with January 2014.

The Silent Wife by ASA Harrison. Score 5.5. This had the widest split of scores (10 to a 4) but in general we hated the lead character which effected our overall enjoyment.

Death Comes to Pemberley by PD James. Score 7.5. Very English, didn’t stray too far from the original which we liked but not a brilliant crime novel when you think who the author was.

The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion. Score 7.3 liked by all, funny but with interesting points to discuss.

The Cuckoos Calling by Robert Galbraith. Score 7.5. We said it would make a good TV show and low and behold its going to be one! A successful second venture into the non-wizarding world. Looking forward to reading Silkworm

The Hidden Child by Camilla Lackberg. Score 5.5. Most disappointed by this one. It had the most potential but too many elements and a too unbelievable husband and wife team got in the way of a good story.

Kiss Me First by Lottie Moggach. Score 6.5. Most thought provoking dealing with very of the moment issues.

Before We Met by Lucie Whitehouse. Score 5. Easy enough to read but very similar to other books on the market right now

Sweet Tooth by Ian McEwan. Score 5.5. Like an ice sculpture perfectly formed but lacking warmth

Sense and Sensibility by Joanna Trollope 4.5. Introducing Marianne and Elinor to twitter was a step too far for us

The Goldfinch Donna Tartt. Score 7.66 recurring rounded up to an 8. The longest but in some ways the best.

Only Time Will Tell by Jeffrey Archer. Score 7.3. ‘Easy to read with good characters but it didn’t blow me away and I won’t remember it in 6 months’ time’

Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger. Score 5. Unanimously loved the beginning but thought it became more silly as it went on

The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg. Score a festive 9. Short, sweet and Christmassy.


Those were the books and these are the Cramlington Book Club Awards for 2014!;

Lowest Score – Sense and Sensibility

Highest Score – The Polar Express but if you take away festive cheer then it was The Goldfinch

Most Forgettable – Sweet Tooth. I had to read nearly all of my review before I remembered the storey.

Most Recommend – The Rosie Project. I look back with most fondness on this one.

Overall not as many standout books as last year and a few of them left me disappointed (Her Fearful Symmetry, The Hidden Child and The Silent Wife mostly). There were some definite talking points though (Kiss Me First) and as I got The Silkworm for Christmas there will definitely be a revisit to Comoran Strike, probably my favourite character of all year.

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