[Mr.Nice Guy]

My intake of fictional books is pretty low. If I read a book it's likely to be something to do with history, sport or some sort of autobiography.

However after recently observing one of those 'top 100 books you should read' lists and realising that I have read a shockingly low amount of those mentioned, I have decided to reacquaint myself with fiction. Hence, this log.

The books here will probably be fairly famous works but I'll pick up anything that tickle my fancy. I've decided to target forty books as it's a pretty ambitious target for this stage of the year. I have read four fiction novels thus far which I will log below.

Here we go...

[Mr.Nice Guy]

I heard good things about this book and had been eager to read it. It's a story about a plague that wipes out much of the earth's population but there's much more to it than that.

I liked the way King introduced the characters and how he shifted the narrative throughout. I feel he could have done more in the latter stages of the story with the characters. Some characters felt like they had loose ends to their stories. It didn't spoil my enjoyment of the story though.

It is a big read but worth the effort.

[Mr.Nice Guy]

This is a book that seems to divide readers. It's about a few troublesome days in the life of the teenage protagonist Holden Caulfield. The story is written in the first-person perspective and from what I gather, some readers seem to dislike Holden.

Personally I found him likeable enough and the novel gave me a few laugh out loud moments. I would recommend the book. It's a short read so check it out.

[Mr.Nice Guy]

This is another acclaimed novel that appears to divide readers. Frequently characters such as the main protagonist Yossarian find themselves in difficult situations that they cannot get out of. The story shifts perspective frequently and introduces a lot of characters. It is satirical, absurd, farcical and at times serious and moving. I can understand why some readers dislike it and I believe when the novel was first published it met with a bit of a mixed reaction from critics.

My own experience was that I found it tough to get through for the first 100 pages or so (it's around 500+ pages). Having stuck with it though I'm glad I did as there are some side-spllittingly funny moments and the novel does seem to carry a lot of truth and a powerful message underneath the surface.

My recommendation is to have patience in the early going and stick with it as you may find it rewarding as I did.

[Mr.Nice Guy]

This is probably not one of Steinbeck's best known works.

Quaint and charming would be the words that spring to mind when I think of this book. It is essentially character-driven rather than plot-driven. The descriptive powers of Steinbeck are superb. He really captures the setting of the beach and coastal area tremendously well. You could almost smell the sea air on some pages.

I don't normally read books again that I've read already but I could see myself picking up this one again in the future. Presumably Steinbeck felt similarly as he wrote a sequel to this a good few years later called 'Sweet Thursday' which I must check out.

Anyways, pick up Cannery Row when you have a lazy day to spare. It's a short read and it's one of those reads that stays with you after you finish it.

[Mr.Nice Guy]

This was the last novel written by Charles Dickens and remains unfinished due to Dickens's death.

Interestingly, as it's sort of a murder mystery, and since there is no definite conclusion to the story, all sorts of wild theories have sprung up to explain the plot.

It's tough to judge this since there's maybe half or perhaps two-thirds of the story missing. I did enjoy the read which was atmospheric and had vivid characters. The lack of a conclusion didn't bother me but it might bother some, so be aware before picking this up that the outcome will be open to your own interpretation.

[Mr.Nice Guy]

This is the sequel to Cannery Row. I enjoyed this very much. This story sits with you like a fine, warm meal.

[the west wing]

I really liked Cannery Row and never realised that there was a sequel so I'm definitely interested in reading this. Thanks!

[Mr.Nice Guy]

I'd certainly recommend it to anyone who enjoyed Cannery Row. There are plenty of old faces and I found I liked the new ones too.

[the west wing]

I see also that you read "The Catcher in the Rye". I love Salinger but I think this is one of his weaker works. You should read "Nine Stories" and get a greater sense of his work. I find the Glass family an intriguing set of characters.

[Mr.Nice Guy]

Wow, what a book! Just wonderful.

This is considered a classic of children's literature but it is just as accessible for adult readers. It's a story about a group of plucky rabbits who must leave their endangered home and who find themselves in all sorts of scrapes.

I must say having heard great things about this book I was slightly underwhelmed by the first section (there are four sections in all). Maybe I let my expectations get the better of me. I needn't have worried as pretty soon I was gripped by the story and the highly endearing characters. I'm not ashamed to say I had tears in my eyes at a few moments and the final pages are some of the most beautiful I've read.

Spinge-tingling, heart-warming and highly recommended!

[Mr.Nice Guy]

Certainly leaves a very different impression to the other Steinbeck books I've read, and I don't mean that in a negative way. There is a different tone here but it is a story that resonates powerfully.

The dialogue is excellent and I found it enthralling. I can see why it is so highly regarded. It is a short read and I'd recommend it.

[Mr.Nice Guy]

What a struggle. And I don't mean with Ahab and the whale ; I mean trying to finish the novel.

This is certainly a classic, iconic tale and I think the concept behind the story is wonderful: obsessive captain tries to hunt down the elusive, near-mythical white whale that once took his leg.

The problem, sadly, lies in the fact that the novel is way too long-winded and at times detracts from the story altogether which, for myself and I imagine many others, was what was most interesting and compelling. By all means give me chapters exploring the character's motivations and the turmoil on the ship; don't give me whole chapters devoted to the anatomy of the whale, a chapter exploring the tale of Jonah in the Bible, the mechanics of various parts of the ship etc. It was very frustrating to me to have to deal with all these various tangents.

Aside from that obvious issue, I also found that the dialogue was tiresome. It's like Shakespeare meets Blackbeard at points. Many characters seem quite wooden and one-dimensional too. The red indian, the 'negro savage', Ahab the greedy, doubloon-peddling capitalist and so on. I get that there are themes exploring the America of the time at work here but they could have been explored with a bit more attention and care in my opinion.

I'm sure the novel will have its fans and many will point to the themes at the heart of the novel as being of great significance. They may be, but the novel is very unsatisfying at several points.

The novel however is not without merit. The actual chase of the whale is compelling. If the novel had centred on this more and cut out a lof of the technical aspects I would have rated it a lot higher. It feels like the novel finishes very strongly. There is a chapter called 'The Symphony' near the end which I found particularly touching. The climax to the story is also interesting.

I would say the actual iconic aspect - the idea of the white whale roaming the seas and the desperate hunt to catch him - I suspect this is what has helped the story endure in the public mindset most of all. To use an apt metaphor, the idea itself is the hook ; the bait.

I wouldn't recommend the novel though unless one has a desire to experience Melville's actual take on the story.

[Mr.Nice Guy]

I've reached a quarter of the way to my target of forty books, and I took on board the recommendation to check out more of Salinger's work.

This book comprises the short story 'Franny' written by Salinger for The New Yorker in 1955 ; as well as 'Zooey', which appeared in the same publication in 1957. Franny is the youngest member of the quite large Glass family, and Zooey is the second youngest.

I liked this book which was not a very long read. It's essentially about the emotional issues going on in the lives of both siblings. There are quite a few strong themes under the surface to do with religion and society. The story is dialogue-driven and after my difficulties getting through Moby Dick, I found this a very refreshing read.

If I'm honest there were points in the story, particularly near the final pages, that I didn't quite understand, in the sense of themes at play that maybe were lost on me. I don't mean this in a negative sense though. Some pages were challenging, but in a good way, requiring me to perhaps reflect on certain points a bit more.

I understand that Salinger wrote quite a lot on the Glass family and I hope to sample some more. With that being the case, unsurprisingly, I am going to recommend Franny and Zooey.

[Mr.Nice Guy]

Brave New World is considered by many as one of the most important books of the twentieth century. It depicts a future dystopian society (or utopian depending on your P.O.V.) in which babies are no longer 'born' in civilisation but produced ; there is no monogamy and so everyone belongs to everybody else ; and the ultimate goal in life is happiness, so people take 'soma' drugs to achieve bliss when they are feeling down.

I found this to be an interesting book. Many of the themes touched upon one can identify with today, which is impressive since the book is around eighty years old. I wouldn't say it's without its flaws though. The characters feel a bit thin. I liked Lenina and felt she was notable, but the novel seemed more about the issues and theme than about the characters at the heart of it.

The book is primarily about the message and the message hits home ; so, for its foresight and significance to twentieth century literature, I would recommend giving Brave New World a read.