Books - What are you reading?
Discussion
dsgrnmcm said:
Just started "Running Proud" by Nicholas Monsarrat, with book two ready "Darken Ship. I hope it is a s good as the Hype of the Master Mariner books he part finished.
Also just started "The Stand" by Stephen King on audio book when driving to work. Turns out this is his second edition, where the initial one he had to drop 400 pages due to production (print) cost and average book size and cost.
Nicholas Monsarrat, wow, that opened some ancient hatches for me, it is many decades since I read The Cruel Sea, I remember it well......Also just started "The Stand" by Stephen King on audio book when driving to work. Turns out this is his second edition, where the initial one he had to drop 400 pages due to production (print) cost and average book size and cost.
Yertis said:
dsgrnmcm said:
Also just started "The Stand" by Stephen King on audio book when driving to work. Turns out this is his second edition, where the initial one he had to drop 400 pages due to production (print) cost and average book size and cost.
When I read that 30 years ago it seemed completely implausible 
My wife is reading it at the moment for (I think) the third time. When she's talking about it I get the characters muddled up with those in 'The Talisman'.IanA2 said:
Nicholas Monsarrat, wow, that opened some ancient hatches for me, it is many decades since I read The Cruel Sea, I remember it well......
Nicholas Monsarrat, absolutely first-rate author always well worth revisiting.The Cruel Sea is magnificent ; also one of the best 'WW2 naval' films ever made IMO, from a brilliant screenplay adaption by Eric Ambler - no mean novelist in his own right.
I'd also recommend The Kappilan of Malta; which is an elegant and enthralling novel by Monserrat about the role of Malta, and the fate of its populace in WW2. Again - beautifully written and fulfilling,yet deeply informed by the reality of the situation.
Huff said:
IanA2 said:
Nicholas Monsarrat, wow, that opened some ancient hatches for me, it is many decades since I read The Cruel Sea, I remember it well......
Nicholas Monsarrat, absolutely first-rate author always well worth revisiting.The Cruel Sea is magnificent ; also one of the best 'WW2 naval' films ever made IMO, from a brilliant screenplay adaption by Eric Ambler - no mean novelist in his own right.
I'd also recommend The Kappilan of Malta; which is an elegant and enthralling novel by Monserrat about the role of Malta, and the fate of its populace in WW2. Again - beautifully written and fulfilling,yet deeply informed by the reality of the situation.
K12beano said:
would say that the books allow much more of the characters to develop - you can really get in and (surprisingly for Rowling and her reputation) find yourself siding and switching support for the main characters and the agency. The adaptations whilst good, and a bit shiny on the outside, are pretty two-dimensional in comparison, so that you get the plot, but not with the level of engagement.
I was pleasantly surprised to find the books seemed to be so good - no, not literary masterpieces, but very readable ....
Thanks. I think I'll go back to the start then!I was pleasantly surprised to find the books seemed to be so good - no, not literary masterpieces, but very readable ....
epom said:
Matt_N said:
heisthegaffer said:
I'm reading Midnight in Chernobyl at the moment. Brilliant.
I ordered this based on your post and can’t put it down. Yertis said:
When I read that 30 years ago it seemed completely implausible My wife is reading it at the moment for (I think) the third time. When she's talking about it I get the characters muddled up with those in 'The Talisman'.
I'm 50/50 with S.King, some of his books I cannot put down, others I struggle to get in to (Dart tower for example) But I say the 1990's film, well some of it and never really got round to reading the book. My wife is reading it at the moment for (I think) the third time. When she's talking about it I get the characters muddled up with those in 'The Talisman'.Interesting references to Ambler. I’ve read three of his and enjoyed all of them.
Current reading is My Face for the World to See by Alfred Hayes. Nice to be back to fiction after a couple of non-fiction books this month.
I’m also reading A Thousand Mornings by Mary Oliver. Don’t read much poetry these days but her work is pretty accessible.
Current reading is My Face for the World to See by Alfred Hayes. Nice to be back to fiction after a couple of non-fiction books this month.
I’m also reading A Thousand Mornings by Mary Oliver. Don’t read much poetry these days but her work is pretty accessible.
droopsnoot said:
I've just finished this. It was OK, but I didn't enojy it as much I was hoping to. A couple of twists (or one for me that I thought was coming but didn't), the ending seemed a bit rushed and there seemed a bit too much repetition. Not terrible, though.
Have you read it, what did you think?
I haven't had time t read it yet, but I have finished Desolation Island in the Jack Aubrey series. I found it somewhat flat compared to the others I have read to date, with much of the book about running away from a Dutch man of war. I have others in the series to follow, but at this moment I am starting to read "A Violent Gentleman" by Danny O'Leary. It came recommended and I felt I needed a break from the sea. Here, summing up what I am told, is an other Jack Reacher but with a sense of humour. We'll see.Have you read it, what did you think?
egor110 said:
2021 i was determined to get out of my spy thriller comfort zone so i kicked things off with the salt path ( middle aged couple loose there farm then find out the husband is terminally ill so think f
k it and start walking the sw coast path) it was a pretty good read .
I really enjoyed this and had an added kick that it is a true-story.k it and start walking the sw coast path) it was a pretty good read .Legend83 said:
egor110 said:
2021 i was determined to get out of my spy thriller comfort zone so i kicked things off with the salt path ( middle aged couple loose there farm then find out the husband is terminally ill so think fk it and start walking the sw coast path) it was a pretty good read .
I really enjoyed this and had an added kick that it is a true-story.k it and start walking the sw coast path) it was a pretty good read .Just finished the way home by mark boyle.
Bit of a slog , bloke previously decides to live life without cash in this book he buys a plot of land in Ireland and goes properly off grid .
Next up reaper force , about the rafs drone pilots .
Quick question - my wife bought me "The Evening and the Morning" that's the prequel to "Pillars of the Earth" that gets mentioned here every now and again, should I really read the Pillars book first or can I start with the prequel?
She also bought me Day of the Triffids which I found to be a great read and apart from a few little bits about weapons in space doesn't really show its age (first published 70 years ago).
She also bought me Day of the Triffids which I found to be a great read and apart from a few little bits about weapons in space doesn't really show its age (first published 70 years ago).
Huff said:
Nicholas Monsarrat, absolutely first-rate author always well worth revisiting.
The Cruel Sea is magnificent ; also one of the best 'WW2 naval' films ever made IMO, from a brilliant screenplay adaption by Eric Ambler - no mean novelist in his own right.
I'd also recommend The Kappilan of Malta; which is an elegant and enthralling novel by Monserrat about the role of Malta, and the fate of its populace in WW2. Again - beautifully written and fulfilling,yet deeply informed by the reality of the situation.
The 1st LT, the man a modelled myself on. My last appointment was as the 1st LT. Although on a Fish boat, and no wearing of Number 1's all day, and no war, and no drinking every evening, but loads of snorkers though. The Cruel Sea is magnificent ; also one of the best 'WW2 naval' films ever made IMO, from a brilliant screenplay adaption by Eric Ambler - no mean novelist in his own right.
I'd also recommend The Kappilan of Malta; which is an elegant and enthralling novel by Monserrat about the role of Malta, and the fate of its populace in WW2. Again - beautifully written and fulfilling,yet deeply informed by the reality of the situation.
Well, I was hoping for a real treat, having picked up "A Violent Gentleman" which I mentioned on the last page. Having now finished it, I can assure Lee Child that he can still sleep like a baby at night. It is way below the penmanship of Mr Child, James Lee Burke or many others one could mention. It is all about extreme violence, an unbelievable plot, and instead, as is my wont, putting off finishing a really good book I got through this as fast as I could. Jack Reacher would eat Jeremiah O'Connell for breakfast.
And Droopsnoot, "Without a Trace" is next off the pile. I'll get back to you about it later.
And Droopsnoot, "Without a Trace" is next off the pile. I'll get back to you about it later.
Edited by lowdrag on Friday 5th February 16:30
droopsnoot said:
I've just finished "The Law of Innocence" by Michael Connelly, which was great. It's a while since I've read one of his, and I'd forgotten how good they are.
Just finishing that myself, up to the usual standard. As a by the by, Bosch has just wrapped up the last season of filming and a Netflix series of The Lincoln Lawyer is in the pipeline.
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