Books - What are you reading?
Discussion
Legend83 said:
I like Follett's books, Pillars is magnificent.
I do however find his style of writing dialogue is a bit cheesy/teeth-itchy. I think it's the way he prefixes and suffixes so much of his dialogue with "she said" or "he said" it stilts the flow into something more script-like / join-the-dots.
Might be just me!
Tend to agree....he can absolutely spin a great yarn but every story tends to have a baddy in the form of a nasty nobleman, a wronged woman and a wokring class, salt of the earth type hero....I do however find his style of writing dialogue is a bit cheesy/teeth-itchy. I think it's the way he prefixes and suffixes so much of his dialogue with "she said" or "he said" it stilts the flow into something more script-like / join-the-dots.
Might be just me!
Levin said:
Did you ever experience the recipes of fourteenth-century England and, if so, do they manage to speak across centuries?
I would like to claim - yes, they said 'don't eat the leeches' but it is a 'sadly, no.' Nearest experience was visiting her elder rellies , in N Yorkshire 
I've a print of Forme of Cury in transliteration ('hew Himme in goblets' sort of rendering - i.e 'dice the meat'.)
The fashion of seasoning, flavouring and sauces e- whole taste/texture combinations - I found markedly quite different from what I expected, a totally different culinary sensibility, with odd /then-rare spice and sweetness in what are now savory dishes, for a start - but then it was a written book: ie recipes, for the wealthy & aspiring.
Legend83 said:
I like Follett's books, Pillars is magnificent.
I do however find his style of writing dialogue is a bit cheesy/teeth-itchy. I think it's the way he prefixes and suffixes so much of his dialogue with "she said" or "he said" it stilts the flow into something more script-like / join-the-dots.
Might be just me!
Follet isn't anywhere close to as teeth-itchingly annoying as Hilary Mantel's tortured way of writing dialogue - imo.I do however find his style of writing dialogue is a bit cheesy/teeth-itchy. I think it's the way he prefixes and suffixes so much of his dialogue with "she said" or "he said" it stilts the flow into something more script-like / join-the-dots.
Might be just me!
Not even in the same bloody universe. I mean, not to speak ill of the dead and all...
Edited by TheJimi on Friday 24th February 17:39
Huff said:
If you enjoyed that, you really ought to read 'Diary of a Man in Despair' by Friedrich Reck-Malleczewen
It is - astonishing. I first came across it 25yrs + ago at Uni; remains my first and best recommendation for covering such territory.
My order of books arrived today, and this was among them. Upon first impressions, I am delighted to have bought this book. Reck-Malleczewen's pen has produced some of the most fiery, if private, sedition I've ever read. And I'm still only reading entries from 1936! It is - astonishing. I first came across it 25yrs + ago at Uni; remains my first and best recommendation for covering such territory.
micky g said:
I read Stoner only a few weeks ago, it's a beautifully written and haunting book that stays with you long after you've finished it.
Isn't it? I don't remember how I came to read it a few years ago, but it's the kind of novel worth reading multiple times. How did you come to read it, and do you have any recommendations for similar books? I was thinking of rereading Revolutionary Road, by Richard Yates, were it not for the arrival of more books this morning. It's totally different in topic, but is another of the great mid-century American novels. I feel like it may be better known due to the film adaption.Huff said:
I would like to claim - yes, they said 'don't eat the leeches' but it is a 'sadly, no.' Nearest experience was visiting her elder rellies , in N Yorkshire
I've a print of Forme of Cury in transliteration ('hew Himme in goblets' sort of rendering - i.e 'dice the meat'.)
The fashion of seasoning, flavouring and sauces e- whole taste/texture combinations - I found markedly quite different from what I expected, a totally different culinary sensibility, with odd /then-rare spice and sweetness in what are now savory dishes, for a start - but then it was a written book: ie recipes, for the wealthy & aspiring.
Fascinating to think how culinary sensibilities have changed over time. I suppose the breadth of the modern palate would be unfathomable to an original reader of the Form of Cury, due to the abundance of spices and flavours from a much more interconnected globe than their own. I'm not sure if there's a term for that form of transliteration, but I had to check my (newly-arrived) copy of The Canterbury Tales. It appears a similarly modern rendition, with no Þ, Ð, Ȝ.I've a print of Forme of Cury in transliteration ('hew Himme in goblets' sort of rendering - i.e 'dice the meat'.)
The fashion of seasoning, flavouring and sauces e- whole taste/texture combinations - I found markedly quite different from what I expected, a totally different culinary sensibility, with odd /then-rare spice and sweetness in what are now savory dishes, for a start - but then it was a written book: ie recipes, for the wealthy & aspiring.
TheJimi said:
Follet isn't anywhere close to as teeth-itchingly annoying as Hilary Mantel's tortured way of writing dialogue - imo.
Not even in the same bloody universe. I mean, not to speak ill of the dead and all...
I had, somewhere, a copy of Wolf Hall, bought a couple of years after it began to garner significant praise. I never read it. I can't even find it. I shall tell myself I didn't read it due to her handling of dialogue. For another frustrating method of handling dialogue, there's always Cormac McCarthy.Not even in the same bloody universe. I mean, not to speak ill of the dead and all...
Edited by TheJimi on Friday 24th February 17:39
Levin said:
I had, somewhere, a copy of Wolf Hall, bought a couple of years after it began to garner significant praise. I never read it. I can't even find it. I shall tell myself I didn't read it due to her handling of dialogue. For another frustrating method of handling dialogue, there's always Cormac McCarthy.
Wolf Hall is genuinely really good, despite the appalling dialogue style. I sort of tuned into it eventually, but there is a lot of reading back required. If somebody could edit the dialogue to read better, it would be superb, but they won't. I have the sequel to read when I reach it in my pile of books.
Cormac Mccarthy -agreed. Some good stuff and some turgid. The quirky/non-existent punctuation & dialogue are just unnecessary.
Edited by MC Bodge on Sunday 26th February 18:17
SistersofPercy said:
Mick Herron's Slow Horses Series is brilliant. I'm going through it now on the back of watching the TV Series. It's nowhere near the refined, sleek world of MI5 usually depicted, it's the rejects who've messed up and been sent to Slough House as kind of the last resort for failed spooks. I personally find it a lot more relatable than Le Carre with the main character of Jackson Lamb being an overweight, dirty, smelly bloke nearing retirement who's as crass as he is sarcastic. It's also very amusing in parts with Lamb getting some fabulous one liners in.
Depends on how serious you want your spies. For me, this is perfect.
I'm a couple of books into this series and enjoying it, thanks for the suggestion.Depends on how serious you want your spies. For me, this is perfect.
Skyedriver said:
And now for something completely different:
"The Enlightened Spaniel, A dogs quest to become a Buddhist". Just finished may pass on book 2 & 3.
Moving onto "Killer in the Kremlin" - John Sweeney.
Love the idea of the 'enlightened spaniel (having owned several of those wonderful and very much not enlightened dogs!)"The Enlightened Spaniel, A dogs quest to become a Buddhist". Just finished may pass on book 2 & 3.
Moving onto "Killer in the Kremlin" - John Sweeney.
Love even more the idea that book 2 might be your next - Killer in the Kremlin' (sub-title - the spaniel discards buddhism!)
akirk said:
Skyedriver said:
And now for something completely different:
"The Enlightened Spaniel, A dogs quest to become a Buddhist". Just finished may pass on book 2 & 3.
Moving onto "Killer in the Kremlin" - John Sweeney.
Love the idea of the 'enlightened spaniel (having owned several of those wonderful and very much not enlightened dogs!)"The Enlightened Spaniel, A dogs quest to become a Buddhist". Just finished may pass on book 2 & 3.
Moving onto "Killer in the Kremlin" - John Sweeney.
Love even more the idea that book 2 might be your next - Killer in the Kremlin' (sub-title - the spaniel discards buddhism!)
1) It's a bit like trying to explain Buddhism via two Springers (we've had a few so know what they're like). It's written in the 1st person, one of the dogs and has some humerous bits in it but can be a bit confusing - the dogs talk to the bookcase which has all the books on buddhism.
2) A sort of biography of Mr Putin written by a long time war journalist, only a few pages in so far.
Levin said:
Legend83 said:
Just finished this:
An absolutely fascinating insight into the domestic German psyche across WW1 to WW2 and living through the rise of Nazism - through the eyes of a relatively sleepy village. The author really drops you Streetview-esque into the frosty crunch of the village and you have genuine sympathy for many of the main-players.
One doesn't often read this era from the viewpoint of the "aggressors" but it's easily forgotten that German civilians suffered significantly under the NSDAP.
Highly recommended.
If you enjoyed that, then you may also like Travellers in the Third Reich, as mentioned on the cover. I read it some years ago but haven't read the above. Consider me interested. As for the part of your post I've underlined, I have to recommend Florian Huber's Promise Me You'll Shoot Yourself. It is a fascinating account of the wave of suicides which took place in the dying days of the Third Reich. Some were fanatics who saw no future without their Führer, others petrified of the Red Army, and still others entirely innocent: children, drowned by parents believing it to be an act of mercy. Arresting reading.An absolutely fascinating insight into the domestic German psyche across WW1 to WW2 and living through the rise of Nazism - through the eyes of a relatively sleepy village. The author really drops you Streetview-esque into the frosty crunch of the village and you have genuine sympathy for many of the main-players.
One doesn't often read this era from the viewpoint of the "aggressors" but it's easily forgotten that German civilians suffered significantly under the NSDAP.
Highly recommended.
Huff said:
If you enjoyed that, you really ought to read 'Diary of a Man in Despair' by Friedrich Reck-Malleczewen
It is - astonishing. I first came across it 25yrs + ago at Uni; remains my first and best recommendation for covering such territory.
I am intrigued by this too. Do you happen to know what form you originally read it in? Looking on Amazon, I see a Paul Rubens translation, but perhaps there are others.It is - astonishing. I first came across it 25yrs + ago at Uni; remains my first and best recommendation for covering such territory.
Very interesting.
Am enjoying it
Prolex-UK said:
Levin said:
Legend83 said:
Just finished this:
An absolutely fascinating insight into the domestic German psyche across WW1 to WW2 and living through the rise of Nazism - through the eyes of a relatively sleepy village. The author really drops you Streetview-esque into the frosty crunch of the village and you have genuine sympathy for many of the main-players.
One doesn't often read this era from the viewpoint of the "aggressors" but it's easily forgotten that German civilians suffered significantly under the NSDAP.
Highly recommended.
If you enjoyed that, then you may also like Travellers in the Third Reich, as mentioned on the cover. I read it some years ago but haven't read the above. Consider me interested. As for the part of your post I've underlined, I have to recommend Florian Huber's Promise Me You'll Shoot Yourself. It is a fascinating account of the wave of suicides which took place in the dying days of the Third Reich. Some were fanatics who saw no future without their Führer, others petrified of the Red Army, and still others entirely innocent: children, drowned by parents believing it to be an act of mercy. Arresting reading.An absolutely fascinating insight into the domestic German psyche across WW1 to WW2 and living through the rise of Nazism - through the eyes of a relatively sleepy village. The author really drops you Streetview-esque into the frosty crunch of the village and you have genuine sympathy for many of the main-players.
One doesn't often read this era from the viewpoint of the "aggressors" but it's easily forgotten that German civilians suffered significantly under the NSDAP.
Highly recommended.
Huff said:
If you enjoyed that, you really ought to read 'Diary of a Man in Despair' by Friedrich Reck-Malleczewen
It is - astonishing. I first came across it 25yrs + ago at Uni; remains my first and best recommendation for covering such territory.
I am intrigued by this too. Do you happen to know what form you originally read it in? Looking on Amazon, I see a Paul Rubens translation, but perhaps there are others.It is - astonishing. I first came across it 25yrs + ago at Uni; remains my first and best recommendation for covering such territory.
Very interesting.
Am enjoying it
Legend83 said:
Prolex-UK said:
Levin said:
Legend83 said:
Just finished this:
An absolutely fascinating insight into the domestic German psyche across WW1 to WW2 and living through the rise of Nazism - through the eyes of a relatively sleepy village. The author really drops you Streetview-esque into the frosty crunch of the village and you have genuine sympathy for many of the main-players.
One doesn't often read this era from the viewpoint of the "aggressors" but it's easily forgotten that German civilians suffered significantly under the NSDAP.
Highly recommended.
If you enjoyed that, then you may also like Travellers in the Third Reich, as mentioned on the cover. I read it some years ago but haven't read the above. Consider me interested. As for the part of your post I've underlined, I have to recommend Florian Huber's Promise Me You'll Shoot Yourself. It is a fascinating account of the wave of suicides which took place in the dying days of the Third Reich. Some were fanatics who saw no future without their Führer, others petrified of the Red Army, and still others entirely innocent: children, drowned by parents believing it to be an act of mercy. Arresting reading.An absolutely fascinating insight into the domestic German psyche across WW1 to WW2 and living through the rise of Nazism - through the eyes of a relatively sleepy village. The author really drops you Streetview-esque into the frosty crunch of the village and you have genuine sympathy for many of the main-players.
One doesn't often read this era from the viewpoint of the "aggressors" but it's easily forgotten that German civilians suffered significantly under the NSDAP.
Highly recommended.
Huff said:
If you enjoyed that, you really ought to read 'Diary of a Man in Despair' by Friedrich Reck-Malleczewen
It is - astonishing. I first came across it 25yrs + ago at Uni; remains my first and best recommendation for covering such territory.
I am intrigued by this too. Do you happen to know what form you originally read it in? Looking on Amazon, I see a Paul Rubens translation, but perhaps there are others.It is - astonishing. I first came across it 25yrs + ago at Uni; remains my first and best recommendation for covering such territory.
Very interesting.
Am enjoying it
towser said:
Legend83 said:
I like Follett's books, Pillars is magnificent.
I do however find his style of writing dialogue is a bit cheesy/teeth-itchy. I think it's the way he prefixes and suffixes so much of his dialogue with "she said" or "he said" it stilts the flow into something more script-like / join-the-dots.
Might be just me!
Tend to agree....he can absolutely spin a great yarn but every story tends to have a baddy in the form of a nasty nobleman, a wronged woman and a wokring class, salt of the earth type hero....I do however find his style of writing dialogue is a bit cheesy/teeth-itchy. I think it's the way he prefixes and suffixes so much of his dialogue with "she said" or "he said" it stilts the flow into something more script-like / join-the-dots.
Might be just me!
Now, what next?
toasty said:
I've just finished Never and, yes, there are elements of all three. Follett reminds me of Stephen King in that his books can be very long but always easy to read. I also agree on the dialogue but there are worse out there.
Now, what next?
Given you mentioned Stephen King - Billy Summers is well worth a read. Now, what next?
I've just finished "The last 10 seconds" by Simon Kernick. Undercover cop Sean Egan manages to infiltrate the gang run by the man who killed his brother some years back, but his superiors don't know anything about it. Separately cop Tina Boyd has arrested a serial killer and has to try to find him when he is broken out of jail. A good read, as his always are, with the two story arcs merging towards the end.
Finished Blazing World by Margaret Cavendish earlier this afternoon. Reading it, I can imagine it being utterly mind blowing to the 17th Century chattering classes, I can see where Time Machine drew its inspiration.
Personally, I found it slightly slow starting, but it did grow on me the more I read. I found the fact that Cavendish wrote herself and her husband into the story quite odd, especially as she seemed to big herself and her husband up. But it did work. The book becomes a story of religion, governance and a projection onto the English Civil War. No surprise given the skin in the game the Cavendish's had for Charles I, but I digress.
Overall, Cavendish seemed far ahead of her time and deserves far more recognition than I feel she gets.
Next up, and I can't wait, Robinson Crusoe.
Michael
Personally, I found it slightly slow starting, but it did grow on me the more I read. I found the fact that Cavendish wrote herself and her husband into the story quite odd, especially as she seemed to big herself and her husband up. But it did work. The book becomes a story of religion, governance and a projection onto the English Civil War. No surprise given the skin in the game the Cavendish's had for Charles I, but I digress.
Overall, Cavendish seemed far ahead of her time and deserves far more recognition than I feel she gets.
Next up, and I can't wait, Robinson Crusoe.
Michael
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