Like a log...

MagicMarker

Hmmm, this is interesting, never thought I'd have a reading log but here I am.

I am a late bloomer with regards to books, never had much interest as a child, was never read to at bed time etc. The most interaction I had with books was in school, and even then I was far too busy signing my name obsessively within their borders in a monotonous stupor to actually read the damn things.

But in the last few years my interest in books has grown gradually, usually in phases where I'd read a number of books within a short space of time and then not look at another book for months. In the last couple of weeks however I've been reacquainted with my long lost love that is Dublin Bus, so I now have ample time for reading and have taken advantage of it thus far, and hopefully this log will help me keep track of what I've read.

So far, in the last couple of weeks I've read...

Nothing to Envy - Barbara Demick
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks - Rebecca Skloot
A Walk in the Woods - Bill Bryson
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas - Hunter S. Thompson
The Great Gatsby - F. Scott Fitzgerald

And right now I'm reading Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov

MagicMarker

Just finished Lolita, a very good book that certainly requires another read once I've learned French and acquired an English dictionary that at least equals the volume of Nobokov's vocabulary.

Next up...

7. Brave New World - Aldous Huxley

Well, after getting through half of Brave New World I decided to give up on it, due to it being utter shíte.

MagicMarker

7. Of Mice and Men - John Steinbeck

Wonderful.

MagicMarker

Fairly intense novel focusing on the psyche of a murderer. Hard to believe it was written over 150 years ago. While in parts it was quite tedious, overall it was rather exceptional.

MagicMarker

How good is this book? So good I read it in one sitting, can't wait to read the others.

MagicMarker

MagicMarker

I really struggled to finish this tbh, while Hitch-hiker's Guide had me in stitches at times, this really only brought out a chuckle or two. Disappointing, I'm not sure I'll carry on with the rest of the series.

MagicMarker

Joyce is such a fantastic storyteller, you just feel immersed in every page. I feel bad for people who have read this without knowing the streets of Dublin.

MagicMarker

Reading Joyce & Wilde et al is like listening to a symphony, reading Stephen King is like listening to Metallica.

MagicMarker

Brilliant book, but bloody hell it's long.

MagicMarker

This didn't live up to my expectations tbh.

MagicMarker

I initially enjoyed this but as the book went on my enjoyment depreciated.

MagicMarker

Not a fan of Hemingway's style of writing... I may give his short stories a go in future but will probably steer clear of the rest.

MagicMarker

There's only one word to describe this...... EPIC!!!

It's easily gone straight to the top of my all time favourite books list.

MagicMarker

A very good book, but not a great book.

MagicMarker

A very good book imo.

MagicMarker

Genuinely, one of the worst books I've had the displeasure of opening. I can't say that I finished it. I started, didn't like it and so moved on to another book, I came back to give this a second chance but I just couldn't bring myself to finish, which is saying a lot for a book that's less than 200 pages.

I don't say this because the book was too ''shocking'' or too ''graphic'', because frankly, it's not. It's just an awful book, full stop.

MagicMarker

Really good book imo. Very similar to The Stand, although I'm not sure which I'd rate higher. They're both similar but yet completely different.

MagicMarker

I really did not like this at all, I tried to force myself to finish but I couldn't. Gave up even though the finishing line was in sight.

MagicMarker

Essentially the Pulp Fiction of the literary world. I like it.

Fun factoid, DM lives in Cork.

pavb2

I enjoyed Cloud Atlas the pieces stand on their own as good short stories particularly liked the old people's home story not too keen on the futuristic one. Still not completely sure how they all linked together but a decent read.

MagicMarker

pavb2 wrote: »

I enjoyed Cloud Atlas the pieces stand on their own as good short stories particularly liked the old people's home story not too keen on the futuristic one. Still not completely sure how they all linked together but a decent read.

Yeah I enjoyed the Cavendish story too, it was very funny at parts!

All the main characters were supposed to be

reincarnations of the same soul, hence the birthmark.

MagicMarker

A superbly written book, an incredibly depressing book and at times an extremely far-fetched book.

MagicMarker

Really enjoyable read, I'll definitely be reading #2 of the trilogy!

MagicMarker

Really enjoyable read and an interesting take on the whole zombie genre. Will be interesting to see how it's adapted to the big screen.

MagicMarker

Fantastic!

MagicMarker

Well, I must say that I genuinely did enjoy this book. However, quite early on I was pretty sure I knew the answer to the question "who done it". But seeing as this is supposedly one of the greatest "who done its" ever written, I carried on reading to the end, where I was sure to be greeted with a twist I wasn't expecting and to be left dumbfounded.

The twist never came, I was right all along, which resulted in a rather anti-climactic end.

I realise that at the time the book was written, the ending was rather unprecedented, which I take into account when rating the book.

MagicMarker

I would class this as an amazing book if it wasn't for the overly zealous philosophizing and verbosity. It could have been so much better imo.

MagicMarker

Unputdownable.

MagicMarker

Meh, it was alright.

MagicMarker

Another unputdownable, riveting yet tragic.

MagicMarker

This book won't win any awards for originality, but it's decent enough.

MagicMarker

MagicMarker

Amazing, such a fascinating character.

MagicMarker

I challenge any apologists for the church to read this and not change your opinions.

MagicMarker

As you can see I've been on a non-fiction buzz lately!!

pavb2

MagicMarker wrote: »

I would class this as an amazing book if it wasn't for the overly zealous philosophizing and verbosity. It could have been so much better imo.

It was a good read, covered a broad canvas but was probably too long.Very informative on slum dwelling.
GDR had a colourful history but I was quite neutral about him not rooting for him but didn't dislike him either.

MagicMarker

Thoughts. Spoilers within.

MagicMarker

Really enjoyable read, however the ending was rather abrupt. I had read certain things in reviews before reading the book which led me to believe the ending would be rather different. All in all though, a very fine book.

MagicMarker

Queen-Mise

MagicMarker wrote: »

I really struggled to finish this tbh, while Hitch-hiker's Guide had me in stitches at times, this really only brought out a chuckle or two. Disappointing, I'm not sure I'll carry on with the rest of the series.

I would encourage the reading of the rest of them. They are parts in those books that I still laugh out loud at remembering them 20 years later.
In the Restaurant, I found the cow coming over to the table and offering the customers prime cuts of steak of his rump for dinner hilarious.

The books get odder, storylines get more elusive (or following them gets more elusive, I am sure there is one) - nevermind that they are still genius.

MagicMarker wrote: »

I really did not like this at all, I tried to force myself to finish but I couldn't. Gave up even though the finishing line was in sight.

+1 million on this - I tried reading the Dark Tower a few times & they are sh*te. And some people think they are they are the best thing since sliced bread:eek::eek:

+1 also on Cloud Atlas - loved the book, it was so readable and still have absolutely no clue what it was about.

MagicMarker

lsrec

I cant agree more , just a horrible book .

MagicMarker

MagicMarker

Absolutely brilliant!!

MagicMarker

An excellent introduction into the Israeli-Arab conflict from the beginning up until the late 90's.

MagicMarker

MagicMarker

Good brainless entertainment!

MagicMarker

I would not liked to have been alive when the events in this book took place.

MagicMarker

MagicMarker