The Changeling by Robin Jenkins - I read another of Jenkins's novels, The Conegatherers, a few years ago and really loved it and so thought it was about time I read something else by him. It's really good so far.
What are you reading at the moment? (Part 3)
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im about half way through Rik Mayall's Bigger Than Hitler Better Than Christ just now, its funny cause when im reading it, im hearing his voice in my head!
About to start Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenes, which was recommended on DS. I'm really looking foward to it.
Finished Jo Nesbo's "the Snowman" .. another fine outing for Harry Hole .. but I won't be eating carrots for a while !
Originally Posted by dymafi:
“Finished Jo Nesbo's "the Snowman" .. another fine outing for Harry Hole .. but I won't be eating carrots for a while !”
“Finished Jo Nesbo's "the Snowman" .. another fine outing for Harry Hole .. but I won't be eating carrots for a while !
”
After reading that I thought I won't look at snowmen the same way!
Originally Posted by -Sid-:
“About to start Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenes, which was recommended on DS. I'm really looking foward to it.”
“About to start Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenes, which was recommended on DS. I'm really looking foward to it.”
Like you Sid - I read it following the recommendation on here. I really enjoyed the book. What do you make of it so far?
Just finished the Book of Negroes by Lawrence Hill
A powerful and compelling book about the affect of slavery. Very effective and heartrendering.
Have now started to read Centurion by Simon Scarrow the polar opposite to the book above, this is a rollicking good yarn in the continuing adventures of Cato and Macro of the Legions, within all the wars and political shenigans of Rome.
A powerful and compelling book about the affect of slavery. Very effective and heartrendering.
Have now started to read Centurion by Simon Scarrow the polar opposite to the book above, this is a rollicking good yarn in the continuing adventures of Cato and Macro of the Legions, within all the wars and political shenigans of Rome.
Just finished (finally!) Under the Dome by Stephen King. Took me 4 attempts to read it, but got stuck in and haven't put it down all weekend. Fantastic book.
Now started The Empty Chair by Jeffrey Deaver. I'm working my way through his 'Lincoln Rhyme' series.
Now started The Empty Chair by Jeffrey Deaver. I'm working my way through his 'Lincoln Rhyme' series.
Originally Posted by harry*half*pint:
“Like you Sid - I read it following the recommendation on here. I really enjoyed the book. What do you make of it so far?”
“Like you Sid - I read it following the recommendation on here. I really enjoyed the book. What do you make of it so far?”
Hi harry
I've literally just started and it's alright. Hoping the recounting of the family's history doesn't go on too long. I'm more interested in the main character.
Just finished Plugged by Eoin Colfer - billed as "if you loved Artemis Fowl ...it's time to grow up"
Good, fun read, humorous and fast moving
Good, fun read, humorous and fast moving
Originally Posted by poppycat:
“Just finished (finally!) Under the Dome by Stephen King. Took me 4 attempts to read it, but got stuck in and haven't put it down all weekend. Fantastic book.
Now started The Empty Chair by Jeffrey Deaver. I'm working my way through his 'Lincoln Rhyme' series.”
“Just finished (finally!) Under the Dome by Stephen King. Took me 4 attempts to read it, but got stuck in and haven't put it down all weekend. Fantastic book.
Now started The Empty Chair by Jeffrey Deaver. I'm working my way through his 'Lincoln Rhyme' series.”
Could you maybe tell me what the number one in that series is ?
I have been recommended them, but don't know where to start.
Originally Posted by Tech Lover:
“Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky.”
“Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky.”
Just downloaded that from Project Gutenberg - will read it soon.
Had to quit "Only Time Will Tell", biggest pile of shite, couldn't bring myself to suffer another page.
Am just about to start Russia: A 1,000-year chronicle of the wild east by Martin Sixsmith. Will keep me occupied for a month at least.
Originally Posted by Button62:
“Could you maybe tell me what the number one in that series is ?
I have been recommended them, but don't know where to start.”
“Could you maybe tell me what the number one in that series is ?
I have been recommended them, but don't know where to start.”
The Bone Collector is the first Lincoln Rhyme book.
I enjoy Jeffrey Deaver but he does have a tendency to use similar twists in several books which means that I now find myself looking out for them as I know they'll usually be there.
Finished "Conjugal Rites" by Paul Magrs a couple of days ago
Third in the Brenda & Effie series - fun but not as good as the previous two.
Currently reading Midnight Fugue by Reginald Hill - it's not really gripping me so far.
Third in the Brenda & Effie series - fun but not as good as the previous two.
Currently reading Midnight Fugue by Reginald Hill - it's not really gripping me so far.
Catching the Stars, by Helen Dunmore. I really like her books, and am looking forward to this one set in old Rome.
Just finished 'Blue Rondo' by John Lawton for the second time. Can't devour his books fast enough and never want them to finish.
The Changeling is an excellent book Nagel; have you tried Sebastian Faulks and Ian McEwan, out of interest?
The Changeling is an excellent book Nagel; have you tried Sebastian Faulks and Ian McEwan, out of interest?
Originally Posted by Faggy:
“The Bone Collector is the first Lincoln Rhyme book.
I enjoy Jeffrey Deaver but he does have a tendency to use similar twists in several books which means that I now find myself looking out for them as I know they'll usually be there.”
“The Bone Collector is the first Lincoln Rhyme book.
I enjoy Jeffrey Deaver but he does have a tendency to use similar twists in several books which means that I now find myself looking out for them as I know they'll usually be there.”
Thanks very much, I will look out for that.
61 books on my " to read " shelf, and that's after a cull a couple of days ago !
Currently reading I See You by Gregg Hurwitz. Not bad so far.
Originally Posted by doffer:
“Wild Swans - Jung Chang”
“Wild Swans - Jung Chang”
I was just taking about that the other day. Great book, couldn't put it down.
Just finished The Man from Beijing by Henning Mankell - excellent. Also nearly at the end of Fall of Giants by Ken Follett, which is really very good.
Before The Storm - Diane Chamberlain
First book on my new Kindle
Recommended on another thread as a good cheap book to download, so thought I would give it a go as a practice read. Enjoyable so far and am absolutely loving my Kindle.
First book on my new Kindle
Recommended on another thread as a good cheap book to download, so thought I would give it a go as a practice read. Enjoyable so far and am absolutely loving my Kindle.
Then by Julie Myerson.
In the acknowlegements at the rear of the book, JM thanks various people for getting her through a dark time, (presumably reference to her domestic upheaval/son/drugs etc). Well, one of those thanked people, on reading this novel, should have told her to put it away and write something else, and then come back to the manuscript later.
I have only read one JM book previously, the non-fiction and transfixing Home. If this new book is representitive of JM's fiction, I may not bother to seek out any further titles.
There may be many casual readers who are prepared to read a first chapter which is without context, thereafter I suspect many would give up during the following chapters as the lack-of-context continues. There is a vast swathe of intertwining conversations and halucinatory-conversations which cover page after page with no real place to anchor these to. It is only well beyond page 200 that any concrete narrative is given as to why the the characters are in the situation they are - and this is in fact never fully explained.
(I think I twigged at some point beyond page 200, but I won't give the game away as a spoiler).
Of the writing itself, there is much to commend, and JM can certainly write descriptive passages. But that in itself for me is not enough. There is probably a decent story to be had from within this novel, but a more rounded structure needs to hold it together.
In the acknowlegements at the rear of the book, JM thanks various people for getting her through a dark time, (presumably reference to her domestic upheaval/son/drugs etc). Well, one of those thanked people, on reading this novel, should have told her to put it away and write something else, and then come back to the manuscript later.
I have only read one JM book previously, the non-fiction and transfixing Home. If this new book is representitive of JM's fiction, I may not bother to seek out any further titles.
There may be many casual readers who are prepared to read a first chapter which is without context, thereafter I suspect many would give up during the following chapters as the lack-of-context continues. There is a vast swathe of intertwining conversations and halucinatory-conversations which cover page after page with no real place to anchor these to. It is only well beyond page 200 that any concrete narrative is given as to why the the characters are in the situation they are - and this is in fact never fully explained.
(I think I twigged at some point beyond page 200, but I won't give the game away as a spoiler).
Of the writing itself, there is much to commend, and JM can certainly write descriptive passages. But that in itself for me is not enough. There is probably a decent story to be had from within this novel, but a more rounded structure needs to hold it together.
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