Day 02 – A book that you’ve read more than 3 times

I have read many books two times, sometimes picked up a book forgetting that I have read that before. There is one book I have read again and again during all the holidays in school, the Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson. Jim Hawkins, Long John Silver, Pew, Captain Flint, Ben Gunn were my constant companions and any day I am ready for an adventure to the Treasure Island.

The Man in Lower Ten by Mary Roberts Rinehart

I picked it up because it would fit into the three reading challenges I have joined this month. I wanted a mystery or suspense book, for mystery and suspense 2011 reading challenge with number in the title for what's in a name challenge, written by a women writer published before 1960s for the golden age girls level of Vintage mystery reading challenge. Luckily I found a free ebook in Gutenberg satisfying all these requirement.
This is my first Rinehart book and also Rinehart's first book published in 1906. My first impression on finishing the book was Confusion. So how many women got into the train? As the Narrator Lawerence Blakeley's friend Mcknight says "three women already." And who was who? I had to reread the first three chapters again after finishing the book to make sense of it. Rinehart could have used nicknames (like Harlan Coben does) or more descriptions for readers to keep track of these women until their real identity is revealed. This confusion is done on purpose, to keep us in dark until "the finer details" are revealed. So it means we cannot play along in this whodunit. The story is interesting.
Lawrence Blakeley, attorney, is carrying valuable papers on a train journey. There is a mix up of berths, a murder, theft, amateur detective, romance and a train wreck all on a single night. Blakeley is suspected for murder. He has to prove his innocence. He goes on an adventure to find who killed whom? Who stole what? And who is who?
The train journey, the trapdoor part, and the Laurels adventure are very gripping. The story is funny. With many witty statements. Here is one
"Love is like the measles," he orated. "The older you get it, the worse the attack"

When the amateur detective is wounded, as it is dark and raining, he is not sure whether the moisture on his body is blood or water. Blakeley quips "Blood is thicker than water!"

30-day book Meme

I came across this 30 day book Meme in Neer's a hot cup of pleasure. Decided to join.
Each question needs to be answered in a new post each day for the next 30 days. Here are the questions:
Day 01 - The best book you read last year
Day 02 – A book that you’ve read more than 3 times
Day 03 – Your favourite series
Day 04 – Favourite book of your favourite series
Day 05 – A book that makes you happy
Day 06 – A book that makes you sad
Day 07 – Most underrated book
Day 08 – Most overrated book
Day 09 – A book you thought you wouldn’t like but ended up loving
Day 10 – Favourite classic book
Day 11 – A book you hated
Day 12 – A book you used to love but don’t anymore
Day 13 – Your favourite writer
Day 14 – Favourite book of your favorite writer
Day 15 – Favourite male character
Day 16 – Favourite female character
Day 17 – Favourite quote(s) from your favourite book(s)
Day 18 – A book that disappointed you
Day 19 – Favourite book turned into a movie
Day 20 – Favourite romance book
Day 21 – Favourite book from your childhood
Day 22 – Favourite book you own
Day 23 – A book you wanted to read for a long time but still haven’t
Day 24 – A book that you wish more people would’ve read
Day 25 – A character who you can relate to the most
Day 26 – A book that changed your opinion about something
Day 27 – The most surprising plot twist or ending
Day 28 – Favourite title(s)
Day 29 – A book everyone hated but you liked
Day 30 – Your favourite book of all time


Day 01 - The best book you read last year
A thousand splendid suns by Khaled Hosseini
I discovered many good authors last year. Linwood Barclay, Simon Kernick, James Siegel and Khaled Hosseini. I read Hosseini's the Kite Runner and a thousand splendid suns. I liked the latter more. It tells the story of two women Mariam and Laila from different times, different personality, and different outlook in life from Afghanistan, who come together for a cause.

Read Neer's responses at
http://inkquilletc.blogspot.com/2011/09/30-day-book-meme.html

Vintage mysteries

I am signing up for the vintage mystery reading challenge 2011 hosted by Bev at myreadersblock. I am signing up for the golden age girls level. I would like to try new authors from that time along with my all time favourite Agatha Christie.

Mysterious affair at Styles by Agatha Christie

Revisiting Agatha Christie after almost a decade. I have read Mysterious affair at Styles before and for that matter have seen it on Tv too, so was not sure whether I would enjoy it as much as I had when I read it the first time. The whole point of a whodunit is the question who done it, isn't it? So if I remember who had done it even half way through I would not enjoy the book. But Agatha Christie did not disappoint me. I was all along rooting for somebody as the murderer and the end was really a surprise. There are a few red herrings, and some nice twists and turns.
This is the first Agatha Christie book published in 1920 and is narrated by Hastings. This book introduces Poirot and his methods. Poirot is not going to search for footprints in the scene of crime but use his little 'grey cells'. He is observant and sees things that Hastings would easily overlook. "If the fact will not fit the theory-let the theory go" he advises Hastings.
Now for the story. Hastings is invited to Styles by his friend John Cavendish. Mrs.Inglethrop, stepmother to the Cavendish Brothers John and Lawrence, holds the purse strings. She has married a young man much against the wishes of the family. Mrs.Inglethrop is murdered by Strychnine poisoning. The suspects include the Cavendish brothers, Mr.Inglethrop, Mary Cavendish, John's wife, Cynthia, Mrs.Inglethrop's ward, Evelyn Howard and Dr. Braustien. All the suspects have access to Strychnine and have motive. Now who did it and why?
Loved every bit of it. Agatha Christie is undoubtedly the Queen of Crime fiction.

Dead Simple by Peter James

Michael Harrison is quite a prankster. To get even with him, his best friends device a secret plan on his stag night. After a pub crawl, they place drunk Michael in a coffin and bury him with a bottle of whisky, a magazine, a flash light and a walkie-talkie. They decide to come back for him in a couple of hours. They all die in an accident. Only Michael's best man, Mark Warren, who was away knows where Michael is. But he decides to keep quite. Ashley Harper, Michael's fiancée, is not sure what happened to Michael and is completely broken.
Will Michael live? Will he be in time for his wedding? Roy Grace investigates Michael's disappearance. The repartee between Grace and Glenn Branson especially, the movie references is funny. Roy Grace believes in the paranormal and uses it in his investigation.
At one point, I was wondering how such a simple story line is developed into a gripping tale. After many twists and turns, I realised that it is not simple, but Dead Simple. Loved the book, I am ready for more Peter James. This is my first read for Mystery and Suspense Challenge 2011.

Mystery & Suspense Reading Challenge 2011

I am participating in the Mystery & Suspense Reading Challenge 2011. I love reading Crime fiction and I hope I am not late for this challenge. 12 books in 4 months may be difficult but not impossible. I already have got some books, so just need to start reading them.