March

The Outcast - Sadie Jones
I read this in one day and it totally took my mind off my toothache. I thought the main character was really well drawn and totally believable despite having been through some major stuff and being pretty messed up. It must be hard to create a character who doesn't really understand himself, and still make the reader understand him and believe in him.
I'd recommend this one, (as do Richard and Judy, so it must be good!)
A good start to March, I think.



The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, aged 13¾ - Sue Townsend
I think everyone should re-read this once a year, so you never forget what it was like to be 13¾. I laughed so hard it hurt. My favourite bit was his Valentines Poem for Pandora:

My young love,
Treacle hair and knee-socks
Give my system deep shocks.
You've got a magic figure:
I'm Roy Rogers, you are Trigger.



Gold - Dan Rhodes
Um...I didn't really get this. It was ok, I suppose. Readable. But I was told it was hilariously funny and it just wasn't. I quite liked the main character but nothing really happened. It had a really good last paragraph, but it wasn't worth reading the whole book for.





Just Henry - Michelle Magorian

If you loved 'Goodnight Mister Tom' (and I did) you'll love this. Feel good, old fasioned fun. It's about 600 pages but I read it in 2 days. Took me right back to being 13 again.

The Stories of Tobias Wolff - Tobias Wolff
Another Tobias Wolff. I really like this guy's stuff. I'd never read any of his short stories before and I really enjoyed them. They're a bit Raymond Carver I think.
(I just looked at the back cover and they compare him to Chekhov, who they also compare Raymond Carver to on the back of 'Will you please be quiet, please?')
Excellent stuff.