Any Human Heart - William Boyd

The first book I've read from this author but it definitely wont be the last.  I was without a book to read on the return journey from France and my Dad lent me this.  I've already thanked him.

A hugely ambitious book telling the story of Logan Mountstuart throughout his life (in the form of his personal diaries).  As he lives through all of the 20th Century Logan meets many of the centuries most enigmatic and important characters from Picasso in Paris and Hemingway in the Spanish Civil War through to Edward the future royal abdicator.

A sometimes prickly character and almost constant philanderer, Logan Mountstuart is a tremendous central character.  I thoroughly enjoyed his life and following his progress through everything life through at him.

I'll be exploring William Boyds back catalogue with interest.

Flowers for Algernon - Daniel Keyes

A recommendation from a friend and a book with a similar idea to Poul Andersons Brain Wave.  In this novel it's a mouse (the titular Algernon) and a man (Charlie) who undergo surgery to raise their IQ's

The author uses the journals of Charlie as the central method of telling the story.  As his IQ increases the language, spelling and grammar used is a neat way of showing his increasing intelligence and his demise towards the end of the novel.

Charlie is a hard character to warm to as for large parts of the book he's hard to understand depending on which end of the intellect scale he's at.  But nevertheless his essential character shines through and his desire to improve himself has to go down as representing the human condition.  Is the book intended to shine a light on man's efforts to improve himself, maybe maybe not but it is a great book.  As other reviews I've read have pointed out it successfully avoids becoming overly sentimental or cheesy and keeps the reader involved from start to finish.

The Blind Side: Evolution of a game - Michael Lewis

Another book from Michael Lewis (Moneyball) this time looking at the changes in American football through the story of Michael Oher.  Once a homeless unloved boy and now a multi millionaire NFL player thanks in part to his rare physical attributes (he's huge, and quick) and the generosity of a wealthy christian family that took him in.

The book isn't quite as enjoyable as Moneyball, it lacks that books feeling of David taking on Goliath by thinking harder and working smarter.  Sure Michael Oher had none of the chances in life that many children take for granted, but as soon as he was taken in by the family it wasn't him taking on the world.....it was that wealthy, white, influential christian family taking on society.  In other words is was the establishment looking after its own.

There can be no doubting that this family changed this boys life.  But had he not been a future athlete (something which was apparent very early on) would the family have helped him as much.  If he were a short fat kid would he have even been noticed in his plight.  How many other children don't get taken in by a family with a private jet?

Maybe I'm being a touch cynical though.  As I did enjoy the book and think that once again Michael Lewis has found a fascinating angle on a very public story.

The Forever War - Joe Haldeman

I really enjoyed this book.  Its a fantastic blend of convincing science (the time elapsing while travelling faster than light) and thought provoking war book.  The author freely admits that this book is basically about the Vietnam war, he'd fought in Vietnam so what other war could he write about?

The lead character is convincing as are the future worlds the author creates (except possibly the final one which didn't quite do it for me).  As a fan of future dystopian novels I was always going to like the visions of the earth in the future ravaged by the economic deprivations of a war.

This is that rare sort of book that when you're finished reading you really wish the author had written another couple of hundred pages.  I'll definitely be recommending it to friends.