What are you reading and book reviews - Page 37

Mondo · 26-05-2009, 20:13

Half way into Eclipse now, loving it !

Kitten · 27-05-2009, 20:47

The Book Thief was one of the most amazing books i've read in the last few years. Narrated by death, it's tragic and inspiring, wonderful and awful at the same time. Full of desperation and hope. Moved me to near tears on several occasions and made my heart hurt too

. Such a strange combination but one that works so, so well. At first it's a bit weird because it's very different but stick with it, it's SO worth it. I borrowed this but will be buying it as I can guarantee I'll want to read it again. I don't recommend books that often but I can't rate this one high enough.

After finishing that I went onto Company of Liars by Karen Maitland. A mish-mash band of people in the 14th century end up travelling together to avoid the plague. It's very interesting because it really brings to your consciousness just how superstition ruled and how simple life was although a lot more complicated at the same time (food was very simple but you had to catch/prepare and cook it yourself - as an example). Makes you understand how people thought and what they did. It's interesting because it plods on with them and their travels, touching tragedy along the way. Nothing really seems to happen, but everything happens. It's difficult to explain but I really enjoyed it.

Then continuing the historical theme, onto Dissolution by CJ Sansom. In the time of the reformation, (this one is set in 1536, just after Ann Boleyn's execution), Dr Matthew Shardlake, lawyer and long-time supporter of Reform is sent by Thomas Cromwell to investigate the murder of another of the King's commissioners at a monastery. This is the first in the medieval-murder series which currently consists of 4 novels. I really enjoyed this, the smells and sounds of the period are put across well and it's an enjoyable twist on the murder/thriller genre.

I think all of the above (certainly the first two) were available in Tesco for their 2 for 7 quid offer. Well worth it imo.

semi-pro waster · 27-05-2009, 23:30

Been a while since I've updated and read a few books in the interval.

The Road by Cormac McCarthy was one, despite (or perhaps because of) all the critical acclaim I didn't enjoy it all that much. It is a passable enough story but the idiosyncratic writing style (misses apostrophes about half the time when they should be there yet puts them in at other points, lack of speechmarks and lack of names for characters amongst other issues) detracts from it, I can almost see reasons for not naming the characters as it allows projection but it doesn't flow as well as it should and the ending is a bit of a cop out. Set in a post-apocalyptic landscape it details the struggles of a man and his son against the environment and occasionally other survivors. If this is one of the best novels of our generation the paucity of selection to compare it against is writ large.

A Snow Ball in Hell by Christopher Brookmyre. It makes no attempt to be great literature but I've always found Mr Brookmyre's novels to be entertaining and intricately plotted with a satisfying storyline throughout which winds up all the interweaving strands at the denouement. This one is about a cop, a master thief and a serial killer who've all been in previous outings but have unfinished business of various descriptions with each other.

Inconceivable by Ben Elton. I'm slightly torn on this one because it was somewhat better than I expected yet I spent distinct periods of the book not really enjoying it all that much, it seemed almost as if there were too many cliches. The story of a young couple who are somewhat fruitlessly attempting to have children and how they go through the travails that entail from this, the husband is also an aspiring writer who needs a story - it's written in the format of a diary, the juxtaposition of feelings is amusing at times and there are some good lines but it does have the feeling of a one trick pony which should have been sent to the glue factory a while back. I might be being slightly harsh here and it could be that if I was a bit older the problems would resonate more with me but I cannot be sure of that.

Kitten · 27-05-2009, 23:50

I think Inconceivable was made into Maybe Baby. Which is one of the few examples of a film being better than the book it was based on. I find Mr Elton very hit & miss.

semi-pro waster · 28-05-2009, 00:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kitten

I think Inconceivable was made into Maybe Baby. Which is one of the few examples of a film being better than the book it was based on. I find Mr Elton very hit & miss.

T'was indeed, I've never watched the film and based on the book alone I wouldn't be going out of my way to watch it but given your recommendation I'll not bodyswerve it should I get the chance.

I've still got to decide what I'm reading next as although I've also started The Curious Memories of Thomas Penman by Bruce Robinson it hasn't really kept my attention so I'll just finish it as and when, probably alongside another book.

Kitten · 28-05-2009, 00:07

I think it's the cast more than anything, I don't remember much about it but I know Joely Richardson and Hugh Lawrie play the main couple, and you can't go far wrong with them imo. I seem to remember thinking it wasn't half as bad as I thought it would be.

Fayshun · 29-05-2009, 08:44

Dexter in the Dark, the 3rd Dexter book. I only started it yesterday and I'm 7/8 finished, I can't put it down.

9/10 on the Faysh book-o-meter.

_dogma_ · 29-05-2009, 16:52

Just finishing up the Historian by Elizabeth Kostova.

It's really very good. It is a slightly modern version of Stoker's Dracula. Most of the story is from letters which the girl is reading and finding out why her father is going mad all over the world looking for Dracula.

Snuggle Ferret · 30-05-2009, 14:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by _dogma_

Just finishing up the Historian by Elizabeth Kostova.

It's really very good. It is a slightly modern version of Stoker's Dracula. Most of the story is from letters which the girl is reading and finding out why her father is going mad all over the world looking for Dracula.

^^^^

SidewinderINC · 30-05-2009, 18:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fayshun

Dexter in the Dark, the 3rd Dexter book. I only started it yesterday and I'm 7/8 finished, I can't put it down.

9/10 on the Faysh book-o-meter.

I haven't started Dexter by Design yet, might pick that up next week.

26-05-2009, 20:13	#361
Mondo Absinthe Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 2,174	Half way into Eclipse now, loving it ! __________________ My Website / MSN / Email / Flickr / Blog

27-05-2009, 20:47	#362
Kitten Spinky-Spank Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: 668. The Neighbour of the Beast Posts: 11,226	The Book Thief was one of the most amazing books i've read in the last few years. Narrated by death, it's tragic and inspiring, wonderful and awful at the same time. Full of desperation and hope. Moved me to near tears on several occasions and made my heart hurt too . Such a strange combination but one that works so, so well. At first it's a bit weird because it's very different but stick with it, it's SO worth it. I borrowed this but will be buying it as I can guarantee I'll want to read it again. I don't recommend books that often but I can't rate this one high enough. After finishing that I went onto Company of Liars by Karen Maitland. A mish-mash band of people in the 14th century end up travelling together to avoid the plague. It's very interesting because it really brings to your consciousness just how superstition ruled and how simple life was although a lot more complicated at the same time (food was very simple but you had to catch/prepare and cook it yourself - as an example). Makes you understand how people thought and what they did. It's interesting because it plods on with them and their travels, touching tragedy along the way. Nothing really seems to happen, but everything happens. It's difficult to explain but I really enjoyed it. Then continuing the historical theme, onto Dissolution by CJ Sansom. In the time of the reformation, (this one is set in 1536, just after Ann Boleyn's execution), Dr Matthew Shardlake, lawyer and long-time supporter of Reform is sent by Thomas Cromwell to investigate the murder of another of the King's commissioners at a monastery. This is the first in the medieval-murder series which currently consists of 4 novels. I really enjoyed this, the smells and sounds of the period are put across well and it's an enjoyable twist on the murder/thriller genre. I think all of the above (certainly the first two) were available in Tesco for their 2 for 7 quid offer. Well worth it imo. __________________ "You only get one life. There's no God, no rules, except for those you accept or create for yourself. Then once it's over... it's over. Dreamless sleep for ever and ever. So why not be happy while you're here?" Nate Fisher

27-05-2009, 23:30	#363
semi-pro waster Provider of sensible advice about homosexuals Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: London Posts: 2,615	Been a while since I've updated and read a few books in the interval. The Road by Cormac McCarthy was one, despite (or perhaps because of) all the critical acclaim I didn't enjoy it all that much. It is a passable enough story but the idiosyncratic writing style (misses apostrophes about half the time when they should be there yet puts them in at other points, lack of speechmarks and lack of names for characters amongst other issues) detracts from it, I can almost see reasons for not naming the characters as it allows projection but it doesn't flow as well as it should and the ending is a bit of a cop out. Set in a post-apocalyptic landscape it details the struggles of a man and his son against the environment and occasionally other survivors. If this is one of the best novels of our generation the paucity of selection to compare it against is writ large. A Snow Ball in Hell by Christopher Brookmyre. It makes no attempt to be great literature but I've always found Mr Brookmyre's novels to be entertaining and intricately plotted with a satisfying storyline throughout which winds up all the interweaving strands at the denouement. This one is about a cop, a master thief and a serial killer who've all been in previous outings but have unfinished business of various descriptions with each other. Inconceivable by Ben Elton. I'm slightly torn on this one because it was somewhat better than I expected yet I spent distinct periods of the book not really enjoying it all that much, it seemed almost as if there were too many cliches. The story of a young couple who are somewhat fruitlessly attempting to have children and how they go through the travails that entail from this, the husband is also an aspiring writer who needs a story - it's written in the format of a diary, the juxtaposition of feelings is amusing at times and there are some good lines but it does have the feeling of a one trick pony which should have been sent to the glue factory a while back. I might be being slightly harsh here and it could be that if I was a bit older the problems would resonate more with me but I cannot be sure of that. __________________ "Your friend is the man that knows all about you, and still likes you." - Elbert Hubbard

27-05-2009, 23:50	#364
Kitten Spinky-Spank Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: 668. The Neighbour of the Beast Posts: 11,226	I think Inconceivable was made into Maybe Baby. Which is one of the few examples of a film being better than the book it was based on. I find Mr Elton very hit & miss. __________________ "You only get one life. There's no God, no rules, except for those you accept or create for yourself. Then once it's over... it's over. Dreamless sleep for ever and ever. So why not be happy while you're here?" Nate Fisher

28-05-2009, 00:07	#366
Kitten Spinky-Spank Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: 668. The Neighbour of the Beast Posts: 11,226	I think it's the cast more than anything, I don't remember much about it but I know Joely Richardson and Hugh Lawrie play the main couple, and you can't go far wrong with them imo. I seem to remember thinking it wasn't half as bad as I thought it would be. __________________ "You only get one life. There's no God, no rules, except for those you accept or create for yourself. Then once it's over... it's over. Dreamless sleep for ever and ever. So why not be happy while you're here?" Nate Fisher

29-05-2009, 08:44	#367
Fayshun Rocket Fuel Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Adrift in the Orca Posts: 6,845	Dexter in the Dark, the 3rd Dexter book. I only started it yesterday and I'm 7/8 finished, I can't put it down. 9/10 on the Faysh book-o-meter. __________________ We must move forward not backward, upwards not forward, and always twirling, twirling, twirling...

29-05-2009, 16:52	#368
_dogma_ Long Island Iced Tea Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Kirkcaldy, Fife. Posts: 278	Just finishing up the Historian by Elizabeth Kostova. It's really very good. It is a slightly modern version of Stoker's Dracula. Most of the story is from letters which the girl is reading and finding out why her father is going mad all over the world looking for Dracula. __________________