Books - What are you reading?
Discussion
TheJimi said:
velocemitch said:
Glad to hear you guys enjoyed it. It's a real treat of a book, in my opinion. 
I've read Northanger Abbey recently by Jane Austen. I had expected it to be a bit of a bore like Jane Eyre, but didn't find it so bad. It seemed to be a bit of a micky take of society and searching for a husband. No one seems to be spectacular and I don't think Catherine became the heroine she wanted to be. Wasn't the biggest fan of her writing style, but it'll be well worth another read one day.
I've been recommended Pride and Prejudice as a follow up.
Michael
I've been recommended Pride and Prejudice as a follow up.
Michael
I've just finished "Pitch Black" by Alex Gray. When a local footballer is found dead and his wife has disappeared it looks like a straightforward case for DCI Lorimer, until another player from the same team is murdered. A good book, I actually managed to read this one and the previous one in sequence though I don't think it would have mattered.
Just finished Ken Follet's "Never". Hmm. Disappoint. Wasn't up to the quality of Pillars of the Earth, but maybe he didn't mean it to be. It was a fairly enjoyable read, but I got a bit annoyed by his persistent need to describe his female characters in what I felt was a patronising way, they all seemed to be defined by their looks (all shekshy stunners of course), their clothing choices and their relationships with their men. So an overall rating of meh out of 10. I wanted a political drama, not a pseudo-soap opera.
And now for something completely different, it's on to Adrian Tchaikovsky's 'Children of Memory'. Which starts with with a very handy précis of the previous 2 books, well it was handy for me as I'd forgotten a lot of what went on. Hoping this one doesn't get too bogged down in fantasy techno-babble and that sort of self-absorbent 'look how clever I am' tendency he sometimes has in his writing.
And now for something completely different, it's on to Adrian Tchaikovsky's 'Children of Memory'. Which starts with with a very handy précis of the previous 2 books, well it was handy for me as I'd forgotten a lot of what went on. Hoping this one doesn't get too bogged down in fantasy techno-babble and that sort of self-absorbent 'look how clever I am' tendency he sometimes has in his writing.
I just finished Never too, had been hooked on Frederick Forsyth for a few months and thought Ken Follett might be a good follow up. It was OK, didn't really grab me. Have got "Eye of the Needle" to try next. I don't get on with La Carre's style but interested in any other similar writers worth a look
I enjoyed that Tchaikovsky series but did take me a few attempts to get started with them.
I enjoyed that Tchaikovsky series but did take me a few attempts to get started with them.
p1doc said:
just finished the steel remains by richard morgan very good-ordered the next in series
They're surprisingly readable. LotR aside, I've not done 'fantasy' for a long time, but these were quite good fun. Much like Tak Kovacs though, the protagonist is one of those stereotypical "I can soak up a load of punishment and still kill the bad guy" types.Currently ploughing through the 900-odd pp. of "Bleak House" by Charles Dickens, to find it's well worth the effort.
Ageing offers its compensations, including finally being able to appreciate Dickens & his "Bleak House" - maybe aided by having previously watched & enjoyed a few TV adaptations in digestible format.
Even if a few isolated bits deserve skipping, as nineteenth century anachronism or due to overwriting, there's still plenty of acute social observation/activism applicable to our own times. Plus lots of spectacularly-effective description. Especially when a typical London fog rolls into and through the courtrooms of Chancery in literal metaphor, right at the beginning....
And can now understand why William Dalrymple - illustrious novelist of British India - declared it his favourite book: I get it now!
Ageing offers its compensations, including finally being able to appreciate Dickens & his "Bleak House" - maybe aided by having previously watched & enjoyed a few TV adaptations in digestible format.
Even if a few isolated bits deserve skipping, as nineteenth century anachronism or due to overwriting, there's still plenty of acute social observation/activism applicable to our own times. Plus lots of spectacularly-effective description. Especially when a typical London fog rolls into and through the courtrooms of Chancery in literal metaphor, right at the beginning....
And can now understand why William Dalrymple - illustrious novelist of British India - declared it his favourite book: I get it now!
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