Books - What are you reading?
Discussion
Recently finished....."Rough Music" by Patrick Gale. On the back of "A Place Called Winter" by the same author which was fantastic I gave this a shot. Story of a family and an incident that occurred during the main character's childhood and it's echoes into the present. Tedious....and a disappointment after "A Place Called Winter". 2/5.
Also..."The House of Special Purpose" by John Boyne. Another book read off the back of another one of the authors' novels which Is one of my books of 2017. But this is a piece of predictable, ridiculous nonsense set around a Russian couple and their relationship with the last Tsar of Russia. If nothing else though it's made me want to go and read up on the Romanovs and the Russian Revolution - last done when I was at school. 2/5.
So, just starting....."A People's Tragedy" by Orlando Figes as recommended on here - for such a potentially dry subject this is brilliantly written.
Reading in parallel with "Earthcore" by Scott Sigler....which is very enjoyable so far....
Also..."The House of Special Purpose" by John Boyne. Another book read off the back of another one of the authors' novels which Is one of my books of 2017. But this is a piece of predictable, ridiculous nonsense set around a Russian couple and their relationship with the last Tsar of Russia. If nothing else though it's made me want to go and read up on the Romanovs and the Russian Revolution - last done when I was at school. 2/5.
So, just starting....."A People's Tragedy" by Orlando Figes as recommended on here - for such a potentially dry subject this is brilliantly written.
Reading in parallel with "Earthcore" by Scott Sigler....which is very enjoyable so far....
Edited by towser on Sunday 10th September 21:11
towser said:
Recently finished....."Rough Music" by Patrick Gale. On the back of "A Place Called Winter" by the same author which was fantastic I gave this a shot. Story of a family and an incident that occurred during the main character's childhood and it's echoes into the present. Tedious....and a disappointment after "A Place Called Winter". 2/5.
Also..."The House of Special Purpose" by John Boyne. Another book read off the back of another one of the authors' novels which Is one of my books of 2017. But this is a piece of predictable, ridiculous nonsense set around a Russian couple and their relationship with the last Tsar of Russia. If nothing else though it's made me want to go and read up on the Romanovs and the Russian Revolution - last done when I was at school. 2/5.
So, just starting....."A People's Tragedy" by Orlando Figes as recommended on here - for such a potentially dry subject this is brilliantly written.
Was the John Boyne book you had read beforehand 'The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas'? I remember reading it in school but I'm not familiar with anything else he has written. I assume the titular house in 'The House of Special Purpose' was the Ipatiev House? Disappointing that it was predictable as I'm not sure anyone expected the ending to the the aforementioned book.Also..."The House of Special Purpose" by John Boyne. Another book read off the back of another one of the authors' novels which Is one of my books of 2017. But this is a piece of predictable, ridiculous nonsense set around a Russian couple and their relationship with the last Tsar of Russia. If nothing else though it's made me want to go and read up on the Romanovs and the Russian Revolution - last done when I was at school. 2/5.
So, just starting....."A People's Tragedy" by Orlando Figes as recommended on here - for such a potentially dry subject this is brilliantly written.
I haven't read any of Orlando Figes' books on Russia but I understand he is well-regarded. I would suggest also Robert Service and Simon Sebag Montefiore for consideration. Service authored a trilogy on Lenin, Stalin and Trotsky while Montefiore has written a few fiction and non-fiction books as well, with two of them being focused on Stalin ('Young Stalin' and 'Court of the Red Tsar'). Of the two I've only read the former but he manages to take Stalin's robbery of a bank in Tiflis and make it something quite thrilling indeed.
The Naturalist, Andrew Mayne.
Very much enjoyed this. A bit ordinary in some ways as basically just another murder mystery, but with a computational biologist as protagonist - making plod look like inept buffoons. It gets rather far-fetched (silly?) at times but I found it entertaining. It's well paced, though I'm sure some may get bogged down by pseudoscience - I just rolled with it.
Very much enjoyed this. A bit ordinary in some ways as basically just another murder mystery, but with a computational biologist as protagonist - making plod look like inept buffoons. It gets rather far-fetched (silly?) at times but I found it entertaining. It's well paced, though I'm sure some may get bogged down by pseudoscience - I just rolled with it.
Levin said:
Was the John Boyne book you had read beforehand 'The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas'? I remember reading it in school but I'm not familiar with anything else he has written. I assume the titular house in 'The House of Special Purpose' was the Ipatiev House? Disappointing that it was predictable as I'm not sure anyone expected the ending to the the aforementioned book.
I haven't read any of Orlando Figes' books on Russia but I understand he is well-regarded. I would suggest also Robert Service and Simon Sebag Montefiore for consideration. Service authored a trilogy on Lenin, Stalin and Trotsky while Montefiore has written a few fiction and non-fiction books as well, with two of them being focused on Stalin ('Young Stalin' and 'Court of the Red Tsar'). Of the two I've only read the former but he manages to take Stalin's robbery of a bank in Tiflis and make it something quite thrilling indeed.
I'd read something called "The Heart's Invisible Furies" by John Boyne this year....which was completely different to "The House of Special Purpose". It was indeed the Ipatiev House...the setting was great but the story was just romantic tosh.....thanks for other suggestions...will look up.I haven't read any of Orlando Figes' books on Russia but I understand he is well-regarded. I would suggest also Robert Service and Simon Sebag Montefiore for consideration. Service authored a trilogy on Lenin, Stalin and Trotsky while Montefiore has written a few fiction and non-fiction books as well, with two of them being focused on Stalin ('Young Stalin' and 'Court of the Red Tsar'). Of the two I've only read the former but he manages to take Stalin's robbery of a bank in Tiflis and make it something quite thrilling indeed.
While I actually finished reading Steinbeck's 'The Grapes of Wrath' last night, I find I am better at elucidating my thoughts after having allowed the dust to settle in my mind. My opinion hasn't changed much in the time I've allowed to think about the book; it is a masterpiece worthy of consideration as the Great American Novel.
Steinbeck's writing can often be very detailed and entire chapters of 'The Grapes of Wrath' work solely as interludes, but his style is rarely laborious. I became quite fond of Steinbeck's characters, some of whom would fuel the interpretation of the book as a reminder of the potential for human goodness. Given that Steinbeck's articles, 'the Harvest Gypsies', inspired some of what he wrote it is entirely possible that his characters breathe life into the acts of those who experienced the migration of the Great Depression.
I shall have to make room for more Steinbeck as soon as possible.
Steinbeck's writing can often be very detailed and entire chapters of 'The Grapes of Wrath' work solely as interludes, but his style is rarely laborious. I became quite fond of Steinbeck's characters, some of whom would fuel the interpretation of the book as a reminder of the potential for human goodness. Given that Steinbeck's articles, 'the Harvest Gypsies', inspired some of what he wrote it is entirely possible that his characters breathe life into the acts of those who experienced the migration of the Great Depression.
I shall have to make room for more Steinbeck as soon as possible.
I'm not put off by a long book, but even I wondered about my ability to get through this.
I am currently reading Gibbon's History Of The Decline And Fall Of The Roman Empire. It is the Folio edition in eight volumes and I am half way through volume four. I have always been interested in Roman history, and though 250 years old it is still of value as a historical account, let alone its status as one of the finest works in the English language.
The Western empire, under Honorius, has fallen and the Goths have sacked Rome and are rampaging their way through Italy. Fascinating to see how they infiltrated an already decadent civilisation. The last four volumes will show how the Eastern empire dwindled on for another thousand years, covering the period of the rise of Islam and the Crusades.
The language Gibbon chooses to employ (and apparently he prepared drafts of early chapters in different styles to see which worked best) is dense and skim reading is certainly not an option, but it is a masterly example of the power of expertly chosen words to pack meaning into a narrative. Not to mention his delightfully sardonic wit. I am allowing myself a lollipop book in between the volumes, but I think I will finish it in reasonable time.
I am currently reading Gibbon's History Of The Decline And Fall Of The Roman Empire. It is the Folio edition in eight volumes and I am half way through volume four. I have always been interested in Roman history, and though 250 years old it is still of value as a historical account, let alone its status as one of the finest works in the English language.
The Western empire, under Honorius, has fallen and the Goths have sacked Rome and are rampaging their way through Italy. Fascinating to see how they infiltrated an already decadent civilisation. The last four volumes will show how the Eastern empire dwindled on for another thousand years, covering the period of the rise of Islam and the Crusades.
The language Gibbon chooses to employ (and apparently he prepared drafts of early chapters in different styles to see which worked best) is dense and skim reading is certainly not an option, but it is a masterly example of the power of expertly chosen words to pack meaning into a narrative. Not to mention his delightfully sardonic wit. I am allowing myself a lollipop book in between the volumes, but I think I will finish it in reasonable time.
ribiero said:
I'm so close to finishing "the big short" by Martin Lewis, recomended about 100 pages ago on here 
one more sitting will do it I think, it's a good read.
Michael Lewis (for it is he) is a great author on factual stuff. Always interesting and usually quite amusing even on very dry stuff. one more sitting will do it I think, it's a good read.I've just finished "The Eye of Heaven", a Clive Cussler "Fargo" story, as good as they always are if you like a bit of random adventure stuff. Not Dostoevsky, but a nice change from what seems like a constant diet of police procedurals or some interaction with rotting corpses.
On another James Oswald now, "Written in Bones".
On another James Oswald now, "Written in Bones".
I have moved on to another of my finds in my local library, 'Prague Nights' by Benjamin Black, a pen-name adopted by Irish writer John Banville. American readers get this book bearing the title 'Wolf on a String'.
The story is set in Prague in 1599, concerning the murder of Emperor Rudolf II's mistress. I'm not totally sold on it yet but the setting is at least appealing. The story is told in a retrospective manner which has hinted at the Thirty Years' War appearing in the story so I'm curious how that will pan out.
Update, 14/09/17
Finished 'Prague Nights'. It seems to me as though there could be a sequel planned as, despite referencing the Thirty Years War, which began in 1618, the story goes no further than January 1600. It was alright, if not exceptional. The mystery isn't so much unravelled as it is told in the closing pages and I had initially wondered how many of the characters were fictitious, but the author's note at the end of the book cleared that up. Some acknowledgement must be given of the breadth of the research, for there are individuals referenced who have only a Wikipedia entry in German. Historical fiction can be educational!
Next is 'Bonfire of the Vanities' by Tom Wolfe. I'm not sure what it was that drew me to withdraw it from the library, but I assume it to have been off the back of 'American Psycho' and its own satirical look at American culture in the 1980s. Hopefully I enjoy it more as I wasn't too impressed with the latter.
The story is set in Prague in 1599, concerning the murder of Emperor Rudolf II's mistress. I'm not totally sold on it yet but the setting is at least appealing. The story is told in a retrospective manner which has hinted at the Thirty Years' War appearing in the story so I'm curious how that will pan out.
Update, 14/09/17
Finished 'Prague Nights'. It seems to me as though there could be a sequel planned as, despite referencing the Thirty Years War, which began in 1618, the story goes no further than January 1600. It was alright, if not exceptional. The mystery isn't so much unravelled as it is told in the closing pages and I had initially wondered how many of the characters were fictitious, but the author's note at the end of the book cleared that up. Some acknowledgement must be given of the breadth of the research, for there are individuals referenced who have only a Wikipedia entry in German. Historical fiction can be educational!
Next is 'Bonfire of the Vanities' by Tom Wolfe. I'm not sure what it was that drew me to withdraw it from the library, but I assume it to have been off the back of 'American Psycho' and its own satirical look at American culture in the 1980s. Hopefully I enjoy it more as I wasn't too impressed with the latter.
Edited by Levin on Thursday 14th September 23:01
rst99 said:
I just finished 'I am Pilgrim'. An enjoyable read, but it did stray into bestseller cliche territory a few times.
Currently on ''His Bloody Project' which is damn good so far.
interested what you think of the endingCurrently on ''His Bloody Project' which is damn good so far.
just finished American gods-very good but ending a bit empty
now back to he died of murder by shelley smith wonder what it is about lol
and on a much lighter note see cold feet book is out summarising life of characters between the gap in the series
Edited by p1doc on Friday 15th September 08:48
p1doc said:
rst99 said:
I just finished 'I am Pilgrim'. An enjoyable read, but it did stray into bestseller cliche territory a few times.
Currently on ''His Bloody Project' which is damn good so far.
interested what you think of the endingCurrently on ''His Bloody Project' which is damn good so far.
just finished American gods-very good but ending a bit empty
now back to he died of murder by shelley smith wonder what it is about lol
and on a much lighter note see cold feet book is out summarising life of characters between the gap in the series
Edited by p1doc on Friday 15th September 08:48
BoRED S2upid said:
Just finished Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn. I swear it's a true story and written by a member on here the number of threads I've read about Psycho women!
Ending was crap but generally a decent read.
thought ending was good as left lots of scope for sequels given it to my 15yrold who loves it as very popular book at school so I am cool for once lolEnding was crap but generally a decent read.
just starting drood by dan simmons
Gassing Station | Books and Literature | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff