Books - What are you reading?

[Frank7]

Having recently finished the Grisham book, “The Guardians”, which I felt was a little slow at first, but soon got into its stride, and finished strongly, I looked around to see if there was anything laying around at home that I’d forgotten was there.
I found a hardback that a well meaning friend had given me for my birthday last year, “Blue Moon” by Lee Child, a Jack Reacher book.
Talk about “after the Lord Mayor’s Show”, what an anti climax.
No doubt his fans will think that it’s sacrilege, but after getting halfway through it, to me it’s like reading a 10 y.o., struggling to impress his English teacher with his first composition, compared to Grisham’s accurately measured prose.

[glazbagun]

Does anyone have a recommended list of Iain Bank's books? I've read all of his culture novels and miss the wit. Of his non-M stuff I've only read the Wasp Factory.

[Newc]

glazbagun said:

Does anyone have a recommended list of Iain Bank's books? I've read all of his culture novels and miss the wit. Of his non-M stuff I've only read the Wasp Factory.

Assuming you liked the Wasp Factory, then start with the yes's, try the maybe's, and if you run out books before you run out of lockdown have a go at the no's.

Walking on Glass - maybe
The Bridge - no
Espedair Street - yes
Canal Dreams - maybe
The Crow Road - yes
Complicity - yes
Whit - yes
A Song of Stone - no
The Business - yes
Dead Air - no
The Steep Approach to Garbadale - no
Stonemouth - maybe
The Quarry - no

[sparkythecat]

Frank7 said:

Having recently finished the Grisham book, “The Guardians”, which I felt was a little slow at first, but soon got into its stride, and finished strongly, I looked around to see if there was anything laying around at home that I’d forgotten was there.
I found a hardback that a well meaning friend had given me for my birthday last year, “Blue Moon” by Lee Child, a Jack Reacher book.
Talk about “after the Lord Mayor’s Show”, what an anti climax.
No doubt his fans will think that it’s sacrilege, but after getting halfway through it, to me it’s like reading a 10 y.o., struggling to impress his English teacher with his first composition, compared to Grisham’s accurately measured prose.

I'm a big fan of Grisham and have read most of his books. In the same genre, I recently picked up this and found the author to be every bit as good as Grisham.
I'll be digging into his back catalogue soon.

[DoctorX]

Got a bit of a back log of books to read but may have to shoehorn this in later this month. Really enjoyed the first one.

[200Plus Club]

Newc said:

Assuming you liked the Wasp Factory, then start with the yes's, try the maybe's, and if you run out books before you run out of lockdown have a go at the no's.

Walking on Glass - maybe
The Bridge - no
Espedair Street - yes
Canal Dreams - maybe
The Crow Road - yes
Complicity - yes
Whit - yes
A Song of Stone - no
The Business - yes
Dead Air - no
The Steep Approach to Garbadale - no
Stonemouth - maybe
The Quarry - no

Complicity and The Business are good. I haven't read all his works so I might try a few more off this list. After the wasp factory you don't know what to expect with his !

[judas]

200Plus Club said:

Newc said:

Assuming you liked the Wasp Factory, then start with the yes's, try the maybe's, and if you run out books before you run out of lockdown have a go at the no's.

Walking on Glass - maybe
The Bridge - no
Espedair Street - yes
Canal Dreams - maybe
The Crow Road - yes
Complicity - yes
Whit - yes
A Song of Stone - no
The Business - yes
Dead Air - no
The Steep Approach to Garbadale - no
Stonemouth - maybe
The Quarry - no

Complicity and The Business are good. I haven't read all his works so I might try a few more off this list. After the wasp factory you don't know what to expect with his !

Very surprised to see The Bridge as a no. It is a remarkable book and Banks himself regarded it as his best: 'the one from the family that went to university' as he put it.

[grumbledoak]

judas said:

Very surprised to see The Bridge as a no. It is a remarkable book and Banks himself regarded it as his best: 'the one from the family that went to university' as he put it.

I liked The Bridge, too.

[Welshbeef]

Has anyone read all of Mark Billinghams offerings?

[epom]

tomw2000 said:

egor110 said:

The Jason Matthews books are worth a read .

Thanks, I'll give Red Sparrow a go in that case (haven't seen the film!)

In the middle of this at the moment (thanks to this thread). Very good so far, have no idea which direction it’s about to head in, which is great.

[judas]

grumbledoak said:

judas said:

Very surprised to see The Bridge as a no. It is a remarkable book and Banks himself regarded it as his best: 'the one from the family that went to university' as he put it.

I liked The Bridge, too.

The protaganist also makes a brief, if somewhat oblique, appearance in Complicity too.

[glazbagun]

Now that it's mentioned, I've read The Bridge, too. I recall the protagonists adventures with cars being loosley reminicent of Bank's own.

[droopsnoot]

Welshbeef said:

Has anyone read all of Mark Billinghams offerings?

I wouldn't like to say I've read them all, but I have read quite a few, very enjoyable as I recall. I've got one on the pile that I don't think I've read.

sparkythecat said:

I'm a big fan of Grisham and have read most of his books. In the same genre, I recently picked up this and found the author to be every bit as good as Grisham.
I'll be digging into his back catalogue soon.

I've read one or possibly two of his, and have "Thirteen" on the to-read pile.

[droopsnoot]

I've just finished "The Way Home" by George Pelecanos. A couple of ex-cons find a bag of money while they're trying to go straight. Doesn't go in quite the expected direction. I've read a couple of other books (or maybe one was a TV or film thing) with a similar premise and this is different to both of them.

[i4got]

droopsnoot said:

I've just finished "The Way Home" by George Pelecanos. A couple of ex-cons find a bag of money while they're trying to go straight. Doesn't go in quite the expected direction. I've read a couple of other books (or maybe one was a TV or film thing) with a similar premise and this is different to both of them.

I've been looking at this - would you recommend?

[droopsnoot]

i4got said:

droopsnoot said:

I've just finished "The Way Home" by George Pelecanos. A couple of ex-cons find a bag of money while they're trying to go straight. Doesn't go in quite the expected direction. I've read a couple of other books (or maybe one was a TV or film thing) with a similar premise and this is different to both of them.

I've been looking at this - would you recommend?

I enjoyed it, yes, it's difficult to go into much more detail without giving stuff away. Then again, it was in a "three for a pound" bundle that I bought a while back, so perhaps that alters it. But it's a decent enough story. If you do go for it, it'll be interesting to hear what you think.

[i4got]

droopsnoot said:

I enjoyed it, yes, it's difficult to go into much more detail without giving stuff away. Then again, it was in a "three for a pound" bundle that I bought a while back, so perhaps that alters it. But it's a decent enough story. If you do go for it, it'll be interesting to hear what you think.

Added to my list. Thanks

[stuarthat]

The man Who broke into Auschwitz, some people have the knack to survive when everyone else is dead .

[Frank7]

Frank7 said:

Having recently finished the Grisham book, “The Guardians”, which I felt was a little slow at first, but soon got into its stride, and finished strongly, I looked around to see if there was anything laying around at home that I’d forgotten was there.
I found a hardback that a well meaning friend had given me for my birthday last year, “Blue Moon” by Lee Child, a Jack Reacher book.
Talk about “after the Lord Mayor’s Show”, what an anti climax.
No doubt his fans will think that it’s sacrilege, but after getting halfway through it, to me it’s like reading a 10 y.o., struggling to impress his English teacher with his first composition, compared to Grisham’s accurately measured prose.

I plugged away for one more day, then gave it best and quit, life’s too short for all that repetition.
Until I can get a couple more books, I’ll re-read Company Aytch, the autobiographical story of Sam Watkins, a Tennessee Confederate soldier in the American Civil War.

[Prolex-UK]

slopes said:

Stan the Bat said:

slopes said:

Just got the latest Reacher book The Sentinel

Just finished it.

Middling.

Fair assessment

I agree

first one with his brother co writing.

Was OK but wonder if twill be the last one I read