What are you reading and book reviews - Page 31

NokkonWud · 06-02-2009, 22:09

I've not even really got going yet, I've had so much going on, but from what I've had the chance to read it feels very polished and definitely intriguing, Larsson definitely paints a rather nice picture with words, or at least the translator does - any worry I had of a worrying translation is gone and the only signs that it is in fact Scandanavian is in the names of the characters and locations. So whilst it's descriptive, Larsson doesn't become dull with details like Giles Foden, which is great for me because Zanzibar by Foden is hands down the single most boring book I've ever read. It was a 40 page story over 400 pages

.

What has surprisingly thrown me is having Swedish cities as opposed to the usual British/American/French/Italian where you have some geographical knowledge of roughly where they are, I've found that almost a little off-putting, especially as places are thrown around quite early on and it's a case of consulting the old atlas, I suppose the flip side of it is that it's a bit more of an adventure

.

I think I'll have the majority of it read over the weekend, so I'll be able to tell you more then.

Tak · 06-02-2009, 22:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by NokkonWud

I think I'll have the majority of it read over the weekend, so I'll be able to tell you more then.

Excellent

Has anyone else read The Household Guide to Dying? I am still very tempted to get it but as it is so different to what I normally read I can't make up my mind

NokkonWud · 06-02-2009, 22:55

Couldn't get away with the Dan Brown stuff, read The Da Vinci Code and it was okay, I was very surprised to see it take off like it did. I then started Angels and Demons and it just didn't do it for me.

I much preferred Michael Marshall (Smith)'s, The Straw Men for example. For me that is probably the book that brought me back into reading and it still holds a dear place in my heart.

Tak · 07-02-2009, 10:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kitten

I haven't but having read the description, I'd probably get upset reading it at the moment.

I usually do that all the time but...I don't know...its just caught hold of my interest some how.

DVC was such a success because people protested against the content so everyone else then wanted to know what all the fuss was about.
I read all 4 of his books; there is some blatant cut and paste he has done between his books (at one point I thought I'd made an error and picked up one I'd read rather than the new one I was starting because it was the same), but they kept me amused for a little while, I haven't re-read them yet but I do intend to one day.

_dogma_ · 11-02-2009, 17:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by NokkonWud

Just going to start "The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo".

Bought this the other day. Looking forward to reading it.

On the Bourne Supremacy at the mo. It takes a bit to get into at first but it's great once I got into it!

NokkonWud · 12-02-2009, 23:12

Due to not being at home and then badly spraining my ankle I've not been able to read as much as I'd hoped, I swear I'm the busiest unemployed person in the world. I've also got to make a couple of long distance trips (Birmingham and London) at the end of the month, so I'm saving large sections for both of those.

What I will say though is that it's not the quickest book to get going taking around 60-70 pages just to paint an outline remotely describing where it's going, but it has become enthralling and the authors choice of descriptions are both accessible and interesting so you never feel like you're reading filler as opposed to describing characters and locations to make you feel there. The locations in the book do still throw me with both Scandanavian media (such as Aftenbladet which is the most well known of those mentioned) and locations leaving me both mentally tongue-tied and a little lost as to their true locations but that's mainly a minor problem and if it bothered me Google maps is but a few clicks away.

Where the book is starting to stand out for me is in the character descriptions, you feel the author has really thought about it all, from their roles in what they do to their flaws and links to their past. I can see this becoming an even bigger hit in the future than it is now. It's certainly going to make for a fascinating whodunit.

Tak · 13-02-2009, 08:05

I finished The Secret Garden and am back to Discworld again now

semi-pro waster · 13-02-2009, 09:15

The Odyssey by Homer is the most recent book of note I've read and it was good if somewhat rambling and way too much described about each characters lineage (I know why it was done but it doesn't really interest me so I felt it distracted from the story). A lot of modern authors could do far worse than reading it though for an understanding of how to tell a story and weave in different threads.

I've also finished Hold Tight by Harlan Coben, a book I picked up cheaply and it's a reasonably decent generic thriller, I wouldn't necessarily go out my way to read more books by Mr Coben but nor would I run screaming in the other direction either.

Snuggle Ferret · 17-02-2009, 19:00

The 19th Wife by David Ebershoff. About the Mormon Polygamist way of life. Interesting so far, if very weird.

JUMPURS · 13-03-2009, 09:30

I have just finished Dead until Dark and Living dead in Dallas by Charlaine Harris, going to get the new couple of books in the series.

So whilst i am waiting i have started Twilight.

06-02-2009, 22:09	#301
NokkonWud BD Recruitment Officer Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Smogville Posts: 3,880	I've not even really got going yet, I've had so much going on, but from what I've had the chance to read it feels very polished and definitely intriguing, Larsson definitely paints a rather nice picture with words, or at least the translator does - any worry I had of a worrying translation is gone and the only signs that it is in fact Scandanavian is in the names of the characters and locations. So whilst it's descriptive, Larsson doesn't become dull with details like Giles Foden, which is great for me because Zanzibar by Foden is hands down the single most boring book I've ever read. It was a 40 page story over 400 pages . What has surprisingly thrown me is having Swedish cities as opposed to the usual British/American/French/Italian where you have some geographical knowledge of roughly where they are, I've found that almost a little off-putting, especially as places are thrown around quite early on and it's a case of consulting the old atlas, I suppose the flip side of it is that it's a bit more of an adventure . I think I'll have the majority of it read over the weekend, so I'll be able to tell you more then. __________________

06-02-2009, 22:55	#303
NokkonWud BD Recruitment Officer Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Smogville Posts: 3,880	Couldn't get away with the Dan Brown stuff, read The Da Vinci Code and it was okay, I was very surprised to see it take off like it did. I then started Angels and Demons and it just didn't do it for me. I much preferred Michael Marshall (Smith)'s, The Straw Men for example. For me that is probably the book that brought me back into reading and it still holds a dear place in my heart. __________________

12-02-2009, 23:12	#306
NokkonWud BD Recruitment Officer Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Smogville Posts: 3,880	Due to not being at home and then badly spraining my ankle I've not been able to read as much as I'd hoped, I swear I'm the busiest unemployed person in the world. I've also got to make a couple of long distance trips (Birmingham and London) at the end of the month, so I'm saving large sections for both of those. What I will say though is that it's not the quickest book to get going taking around 60-70 pages just to paint an outline remotely describing where it's going, but it has become enthralling and the authors choice of descriptions are both accessible and interesting so you never feel like you're reading filler as opposed to describing characters and locations to make you feel there. The locations in the book do still throw me with both Scandanavian media (such as Aftenbladet which is the most well known of those mentioned) and locations leaving me both mentally tongue-tied and a little lost as to their true locations but that's mainly a minor problem and if it bothered me Google maps is but a few clicks away. Where the book is starting to stand out for me is in the character descriptions, you feel the author has really thought about it all, from their roles in what they do to their flaws and links to their past. I can see this becoming an even bigger hit in the future than it is now. It's certainly going to make for a fascinating whodunit. __________________

13-02-2009, 08:05	#307
Tak L'Oréal Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Portsmouth Posts: 9,977	I finished The Secret Garden and am back to Discworld again now __________________ The look on your face when a toddler rips out your heart and shows it to you? Priceless.... For everything else, there's FWOOSH!

13-02-2009, 09:15	#308
semi-pro waster Provider of sensible advice about homosexuals Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: London Posts: 2,615	The Odyssey by Homer is the most recent book of note I've read and it was good if somewhat rambling and way too much described about each characters lineage (I know why it was done but it doesn't really interest me so I felt it distracted from the story). A lot of modern authors could do far worse than reading it though for an understanding of how to tell a story and weave in different threads. I've also finished Hold Tight by Harlan Coben, a book I picked up cheaply and it's a reasonably decent generic thriller, I wouldn't necessarily go out my way to read more books by Mr Coben but nor would I run screaming in the other direction either. __________________ "Your friend is the man that knows all about you, and still likes you." - Elbert Hubbard

17-02-2009, 19:00	#309
Snuggle Ferret Mellow Birds Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Gosport Posts: 367	The 19th Wife by David Ebershoff. About the Mormon Polygamist way of life. Interesting so far, if very weird. __________________ ]

13-03-2009, 09:30	#310
JUMPURS Columbian Coffee Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Glesgae Posts: 98	I have just finished Dead until Dark and Living dead in Dallas by Charlaine Harris, going to get the new couple of books in the series. So whilst i am waiting i have started Twilight. __________________ You have come here because society has no further use for you. This place will now become your holding pen until our death. I am very good at this business because I make all the rules. But if you break any of my rules, you will find that there is life after death.