The Idiot

by Fyodor Dostoevsky
The idiot of the title is Prince Muishkin, a young man who has just returned to Russia after being treated in Switzerland for epilepsy. The other main characters are Rogojin-another nobleman he meets on the train, Nastasia Philipovna-a woman they both love and who has a questionable reputation and Aglaya Epanchin-a young woman who Muishkin also "loves" and at one point looks like marrying.
I struggled with this book. I found the characters hard to believe and very shallow-especially some of the supporting ones. I should say this was not helped by the fact I listened to this as an audio book, and the narrator made many many of the characters sound like something out of a Monty python sketch. I also found the book incredibly long with many of the passages being an excuse for Dostoevsky to tell a yarn of some sort. Having said that I did enjoy General Ivolgin "retired and unfortunate" and his tall tales of his exploits in the army and his time as a child with Napoleon in Moscow.
I also thought the explanation at the start of part 4 as to why you cannot write a novel about ordinary people was fantastic. But as a novel I did not like it. 4/10

For a much more positive view see this excellent review by AS Byatt from 2004.
http://www.theguardian.com/books/2004/jun/26/highereducation.classics 

The Secret History

by Donna Tartt
This book was written over 20 years ago so I am surprised that I have only just come across it as she publishes her third novel.
The book starts with a death and then proceeds for the first half of the book to tell us why it happened;  then in the second half of the book, the consequences of it happening to the protagonists. These said protagonists are a greek class at a small exclusive college in Vermont. The book is beautifully written and left me wanting to do a course in greek mythology! However, while knowing some more might of added to my enjoyment, not knowing any of the greek myths did not detract from how enjoyable a read this was. I am still musing over what I felt about all of the characters. They were all flawed in some way but who was good and who was bad is something I will still be thinking about weeks from now. That has to be a good book doesn't it? 9/10

Alex

by Pierre Lemaitre

This starts as a kidnapping thriller and is very very disturbing. If rats freak you in any way this may not be the book for you.
However, this is an incredible page turner with numerous twists and turns in the plot. If you like nordic noir then I think this would appeal.
I loved the way that regardless of what you learn about the main character the author manages to leave you always with an empathy toward her. Great writing and great thriller. 9/10

Expo 58

By Jonathan Coe
This was a very funny book that rocked along at a cracking pace and reminded me of Our Man in Havana. The ending was sentimental but well done. It is set against the backdrop of the world fair being held in Brussels in 1958. Our hero is sent there by the government department he works for. He has varied adventures of the romantic and espionage varieties. Great larks! 8/10