This Week I are mostly reading (contd)

TICKLE_ME_ELMO

Went to the library with a list, couldn't find anything on it, mind went blank so I went to the "recently returned" display and decided to pick something at random. I got... Cinnamon Toast and the End of the World by Janet E. Cameron. It's about a teenage boy in 1980's Newfoundland who realises he's in love with his best friend Mark.

I'm only about 60 pages in and although the basic plot should be interesting it's not really catching me. Personally I don't like novels written in the 1st person and just about the worst possible 1st person is the adult author writing as a teenager of the opposite sex.

Also it's very rambley. It took a whole chapter to tell of one 2 minute event because she keeps going off on tangents and then comes back to what she's telling you about briefly.... and then going off again.

shroom007

Just finished The End of Food which was a bit worrying and Of Mice and Men which was a bit sad, Im starting a Montalbano Andrea Cammilieri just to relax but any suggestions for a new book, Loved The City of Bohane so something with a good pace but not too heavy. Cheers

Decuc500

I just read Cormac McCarthy's The Crossing. Well that was depressing. The writing was as powerful as any of his books but the story was too slow for me and some of the philosophical passages narrated by very minor characters were tough to get through.

Also the first part of the story with the wolf

was just so cruel. I don't expect a happy ending from McCarthy (sometimes you can't expect any kind of an ending) but to read about the brutal, degrading treatment the animal received just to see Billy shoot it in the head to put it out of it's misery...This just really affected me. I actually wanted to stop reading the book at that point.

The Crossing was just so relentlessly grim and downbeat, I'm glad I can put it behind me. I'll still read Cities of The Plain though.

Daisy78

Gamayun wrote: »

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
Charming fantasy novel, aimed at both adults and a younger audience, about a boy who is raised in a graveyard. Very enjoyable, loved it.

Just finished his latest novel The ocean at the end of the lane.....really enjoyed it, it's a fairy tale for grown ups with some darker moments thrown in along the way. Planning on reading American Gods next which hopefully is as good.

Saorenza

I love American Gods - read it twice. Have been lobbying for my husband to read it for years with no joy. I might add Ocean At The End of the Lane & The Graveyard Book to my Christmas list.

Oh and I am still reading the Lusitania book.

emeraldstar

I was a little disappointed with American Gods - Neverwhere is much better. I really want to read The Ocean at the End of the Lane now!

Saorenza

I really like Neverwhere too. Have you read Anansi Boys?

I picked up Two Lives by Vikram Seth second hand yesterday. I read a chunk of it last night. It is pretty sad though. Between that and the book about the Lusitania I am mostly reading sad books this week, which fits my mood but doesn't lift it!

Gamayun

Daisy78 wrote: »

Just finished his latest novel The ocean at the end of the lane.....really enjoyed it, it's a fairy tale for grown ups with some darker moments thrown in along the way. Planning on reading American Gods next which hopefully is as good.

I really liked American Gods, I read the Author's Preferred Text version which is 12,000 words longer, I'm not sure what exactly was added though. American Gods is definitely more adult themed than Ocean... and there's lots of references to various older deities and world mythologies in it which I liked.

Slightly Off Topic but I found the pricing of The Ocean at the End of the Lane at launch ridiculous. I'm sure it's gone down in price now but on release the Trade Paperback was €17.99 in Waterstones and similar elsewhere. The Trade paperback had large text, massive margins and loads of white space to bulk it out to 252 pages. The, then unavailable, Mass Market Paperback is only 192 pages. I understand that Trade Paperbacks are larger, better quality paper and more of a desirable/collectible object, but €17.99 for a book that is just about above novella status in length really seemed like taking advantage. I had to refuse to buy it on principle, luckily I picked up a copy the same day in a Bookshelf shop (who usually just have chick lit and crime stuff) for €13.
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Callan57

Finished Margaret Atwood's MaddAddam trilogy - super brilliant.

Next on my list is The Distant Hours by Kate Morton

Daisy78

Gamayun wrote: »

I really liked American Gods, I read the Author's Preferred Text version which is 12,000 words longer, I'm not sure what exactly was added though. American Gods is definitely more adult themed than Ocean... and there's lots of references to various older deities and world mythologies in it which I liked.

Slightly Off Topic but I found the pricing of The Ocean at the End of the Lane at launch ridiculous. I'm sure it's gone down in price now but on release the Trade Paperback was €17.99 in Waterstones and similar elsewhere. The Trade paperback had large text, massive margins and loads of white space to bulk it out to 252 pages. The, then unavailable, Mass Market Paperback is only 192 pages. I understand that Trade Paperbacks are larger, better quality paper and more of a desirable/collectible object, but €17.99 for a book that is just about above novella status in length really seemed like taking advantage. I had to refuse to buy it on principle, luckily I picked up a copy the same day in a Bookshelf shop (who usually just have chick lit and crime stuff) for €13.
[/rant]

Absolutely agree with you there. I was actually complaining about the price of this book to a friend the other day. I picked it up in an independent book store in sligo and had to really think twice about forking out 17quid for a paperback. Thought it might have been down to some obscene markup by the shop but nope it is the same price in other stores and online. But ive found that the rr price for paperbacks to be verging on the ridiculous lately. Still enjoyed ocean though.

SarahBM

Well I did it people. I finally finished the Count of Monte Cristo and it did not let me down. What great story. So glad I read it.
I am looking forward to going back and re-reading the Three Musketeers. I think I read it when I was a bit too young to appreciate it, and then the Man in the Iron Mask.
I really need to start attacking my "to read" pile.
Now Im going to read Dark Places by Gillian Flynn which was supposed to be for book club last month.
And I also want to try and get Pride and Prejudice read.

Saorenza

I loved The Three Muskateers when I read it as a kid.

I read the last in the Ben Aaronovitch books set in London, Broken Homes and I started What Jane Austen Ate and Charles Dickens Knew by Daniel Pool, which I have wanted to read for years. It's meant to answer questions modern audiences have about everyday life in the nineteenth century shown through nineteenth century novels.

I am also reading Scothscealta by Padraic O Cónaire for an essay. I read the stories in English already - just going that extra mile

emeraldstar

Saorenza wrote: »

I started What Jane Austen Ate and Charles Dickens Knew by Daniel Pool, which I have wanted to read for years. It's meant to answer questions modern audiences have about everyday life in the nineteenth century shown through nineteenth century novels.

Do you recommend? I've heard mixed reviews about its accuracy but I'd like to read it all the same.

eire4

Finished a re read of Tim Pat Coogans Ireland in the 20th century and really enjoyed it.

Saorenza

emeraldstar wrote: »

Do you recommend? I've heard mixed reviews about its accuracy but I'd like to read it all the same.

Well I am glad I got it because I have wanted to read it forever. I don't know - some of the information is quite basic since it is written for an US audience and he said at least one thing I don't agree with so far. Some of it is interesting though.

Gamayun

Just finished Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami. All the usual Murakami tropes are there, cats, jazz, food preparation, surreal dream sequences etc. This was my fourth Murakami (After the Quake, Blind Willow... and The Wind-up Bird... being the others) and they've all been great so far.

There been lots of recommendations for Guy Gavriel Kay here, in Reading Logs and in the Sci Fi & Fantasy forum, so I think I'll read Tigana next.

AnnyHallsal

After Morrisey's Autobiography (fabulous to begin with but becomes a whinge-fest), I'm reading the letters of William Burroughs.

Also finished Proust's In Search of Lost Time, the most sensual, evocative, profound book - read, read, read!

IvyTheTerrible

AnnyHallsal wrote: »

After Morrisey's Autobiography (fabulous to begin with but becomes a whinge-fest), I'm reading the letters of William Burroughs.

Also finished Proust's In Search of Lost Time, the most sensual, evocative, profound book - read, read, read!

I'm interested reading In Search of Lost Time, did it take you long? (I have heard horror stories!)

AnnyHallsal

IvyTheTerrible wrote: »

I'm interested reading In Search of Lost Time, did it take you long? (I have heard horror stories!)

I read it over the course of a few months, with other books on the go at the same time. Having read a lot of Victorian novels, I don't think it's much different in terms of length. It's so worth it, Ivy. It's highly accessible and filled with the most beautiful insights about memory and love. It's funny too and you'll catch your breath at some of the passages about the past and loss. Just gorgeous. Looking forward to starting the second volume tonight, Within a Budding Grove.

PS: I meant I'd finished the first book, Swann's Way, the rest will take a little while!

Swiper the fox

Read Revolutionary Road after a glowing report from someone here, have to say I wasn't particularly impressed even though it is written beautifully and contains quite a few remarkable observations on typical human behaviour which appears as relevant now as in the 1950s. Thought that the story was quite weak and there didn't seem to be adequate justification for the tragic ending(the sleeve mentions the tragic ending, hope this isn't a spoiler) from my reading of the book. Nicely written as I said and very easy to get through.

TICKLE_ME_ELMO

I'm reading Colm McCann's "Let The Great World Spin".

I dunno. I was kind of getting into it when it switched to a completely different character. I'm struggling now to get back into it.

emeraldstar

TICKLE_ME_ELMO wrote: »

I'm reading Colm McCann's "Let The Great World Spin".

I dunno. I was kind of getting into it when it switched to a completely different character. I'm struggling now to get back into it.

Read it recently on the great recommendation of someone from work - didn't blow me away. I didn't find many of the characters very sympathetic so didn't particularly care what happened to them.

Tom Joad

Finished Midnight's Children by Salman Rushdie and still unsure whether I love it or hated it. It alternated between brilliance and sheer tangential drivel - would have loved to have been editor for Rushdie - the book would have been at least 150 pages shorter . But still a great insight into Indian history.

Choice between Donna Tartt Goldfinch or Watership Down for next read.

paddyh117

Tom Joad wrote: »

Finished Midnight's Children by Salman Rushdie and still unsure whether I love it or hated it. It alternated between brilliance and sheer tangential drivel - would have loved to have been editor for Rushdie - the book would have been at least 150 pages shorter . But still a great insight into Indian history.

Choice between Donna Tartt Goldfinch or Watership Down for next read.

Hey Tom! - just started reading your book - it's been on the to-read list for a long time!

Have never read any Rushdie, but always wanted to - do you have a stand-out you'd recommend?

Merkin

The Last Runaway by Tracey Chevalier which is a bit of a snore fest.

emeraldstar

I've just started "The Shining". Only my second King novel. Let's see how it goes.

MagicMarker

emeraldstar wrote: »

I've just started "The Shining". Only my second King novel. Let's see how it goes.

Snap, started it yesterday myself. Really enjoying it.

Einhard

Just finished Jamrach's Menagerie by Carol Birch. Quite enjoyed it. It's very much a bok of two halves though- there's quite a shift in tone between the first part and the latter chapters. Would recommend it though. Now on to HHhH by Laurent Binet, which apparently is a fictionalised account of the plot to kill Reinhard Heydrich, the head of the wartime Gestapo. Have heard great things about it, so here's hoping.

Tom Joad

paddyh117 wrote: »

Hey Tom! - just started reading your book - it's been on the to-read list for a long time!

Have never read any Rushdie, but always wanted to - do you have a stand-out you'd recommend?

Enjoy - One of the greatest works of literature in my opinion.

Re Rushdie that was my first attempt - he's not the most prolific author either. Midnight's Children is regarded as his best work and although I can't decide if I loved it or hated it would recommend it - it was frustrating and brilliant in equal measure but well worth the read.

Aenaes

Started the second part of Michael Collins' biography by Tim Pat Coogan. I read the first part a while ago so some of the names are drawing a bit of a blank with me..