What book are you reading atm?? CHAPTER TWO

silliussoddius · 31-03-2025 04:08PM

I enjoyed a few of Dan Jones books, that period of English history is very interesting. Too many names to remember, though.

Dial Hard · 31-03-2025 05:45PM

I've just started a reread of The Stand. If anything can get my reading mojo back, it's that. I reckon I've read it at least 11 or 12 times at this stage. I'm on my second copy of it 😆

Dial Hard · 31-03-2025 05:49PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123314140#Comment_123314140

I wasn't mad about the book either (and I'd read King's shopping list), but the HBO series adaptation of it is well worth watching. Whopper cast too: Jason Bateman, Paddy Considine, Cynthia Erivo, Ben Mendelsohn, Julianne Nicholson...

Loafing Oaf · 02-04-2025 01:40PM

Eve Bites Back: An Alternative History of English Literature by Anna Beer

provides biographical sketches and reappraisals of eight female authors over the centuries, highlighting their struggle to write and get published.

very witty and readable

littlefeet · 02-04-2025 10:28PM

Hiden Lies by Rachel Ryan psychological thriller of sorts set in Dublin It's not bad, but it's not going to set the world on fire either a genre that's popular at the moment. The plot streches crdibility a lot.

Mehaffey1 · 02-04-2025 11:33PM

Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinnaman.

Reading it on Ebook on the phone and still managing to be enjoying it immensely. Loads of buzz about it online but lives up to it for me. I'm planning to get back into gaming in the upcoming weeks so the book is tapping into that excitement.

eightieschewbaccy · 03-04-2025 12:07PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123322121#Comment_123322121

The audiobook is raved about.

AMTE_21 · 05-04-2025 10:10AM

Clete by James Lee Burke. This a Dave Robicheaux detective story told from a different angle, i.e. Clete his sidekick from his days in the army and in the New Orleans PD. It was a good read but the use of mysticism is a bit off putting. Also, they don’t seem to have aged at all, they must be in their seventies now but are still brawling and fighting as usual. The books do convey the atmosphere of New Orleans and Louisiana, good and bad.

bullpost · 07-04-2025 12:32PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123328480#Comment_123328480

Yep - I was a big fan but read one recently after a long layoff and found it a bit samey and lacking credibility for two old guys who were still thumping all around them.

AMTE_21 · 15-04-2025 03:01PM

Dark Fire by C J Sansom. This is the second book in the series set in Tudor times. Matthew Shardlake is helping an old client in trying to solve the mystery of who killed her young cousin, but is brought into Cromwell’s sphere and recruited to help him find a mysterious weapon the king has heard about, and wants for himself. A great read, well written. I love this kind of a mystery story.

silliussoddius · 15-04-2025 05:10PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123359720#Comment_123359720

I would recommend this series, deals with relic McGuffins during the Hundred Years War but doesn't stray into fantasy or supernatural.

https://www.bernardcornwell.net/series/the-grail-quest/

littlefeet · 15-04-2025 05:14PM

This was a random pick in the Library Acid Row by Minette Walters, it does a good job on the banality of evil and mob psychology, maybe a bit clichéd, I am enjoying it so far.

bullpost · 16-04-2025 10:43AM

Bunnyman by Will Sargeant. Witty autobiography by the Echo and the Bunnymen guitarist. Very enjoyable so far.

Tauriel · 18-04-2025 09:37PM

Blindsighted by Karin Slaughter

I've been on the lookout for a new crime fiction series to get into and decided to give Slaughter a go. What an amazing first novel in the series it is! Reminds me of Kathy Reichs earlier stuff, which is a bit more descriptive of the horrific crimes meted out to the victims and nicely paced.

This particular book focuses on a serial rapist, who incorporates religious elements into his crimes, and targets women of similar looks. Pediatrician/ local corner Sara must help her ex-husband sheriff solve these grisly rapes and murders before more victims turn up.

I'm really looking forward to reading more of Slaughter.

AMTE_21 · 21-04-2025 12:57PM

The Collaborators by Michael Idov. A good spy thriller. It starts off in Riga but then moves around a lot to various locations in the hunt for a missing businessman who may have, or not, committed suicide. A fairly complicated plot, but well written. It’s funny as the Russians are the baddies in this book written in 2024, how things change!

Tauriel · 25-04-2025 10:19PM

Kisscut by Karin Slaughter

Book 2 of the Grant County series and definitely not one for the fainthearted. This book centered on an extensive child sex abuse ring which only comes to light after the death-by-cop of a teenage girl.

Ceist_Beag · 28-04-2025 10:31AM

Just finished Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver. Fantastic read. It's a modern take on David Copperfield (admittedly I have never read David Copperfield so I'm paraphrasing the author here). It's the story of one boys struggle through childhood, starting with a single parent, then moving through foster care and all the challenges along the way, including references to the Oxycontin problems in the States. It's heartbreaking, funny and inspiring sometimes all in the one chapter! I would go so far as to say it's a modern day classic.

BraveDonut · 28-04-2025 03:58PM

Just finished Demon Copperhead too.
I thought it lost its way a bit in the middle but finished strongly.
I'm always on the look out for 'something different' and this fit the bill - really enjoyed it

appledrop · 28-04-2025 09:20PM

Oh thanks for the reviews, bought Demon Copperhead over Christmas but haven't got to read it yet, looking forward to it now!

Currently reading James by Percival Everett, about a slave trying to flee for freedom in America in 1860's.

Very good so far.

appledrop · 28-04-2025 09:21PM

I've gotten a good few gems from Irish Times special weekend offer with paper in Easons over the years, well worth a look.

Jack Daw · 30-04-2025 08:50AM

Recently finished reading The Illiad and The Odyssey by Homer

Note: Potential spoilers ahead (although maybe it's not necessary to include a spoiler warning for a 2700 year old story)

I read the Robert Fagles translations which having looked up on the internet appear to be the most highly recommended translations. I had initially bought the Emily Wilson translations which came out recently but then saw afterwards that large amount of people who seem to know there stuff regarding ancient Greek literature advised to stay well clear of them.Also then having researched more she mentioned toxic masculinity as part of how she translated the books (poems) so I'm not sure having that sort of modern ideological slant when translating ancient texts is a good idea.

The two books (poems) are very enjoyable in my opinion. Slightly different than what I expected as the Trojan Horse and Achilles Death is not covered extensively (no mention of Achilles being shot through the heel) and only a brief mention of the Trojan Horse trick.The Iliad only deals with a fairly short period of time at the end of the trojan wars, not much covering the build up and Helen's kidnapping or the ending of the siege.

The supposed Heroic characters like Hector,Paris, Achilles etc are actually quite sleazy and somewhat unlikable at times. Odysseus and Ajax are the most likable of the Greek warriors and Agamemnon and Menalaus are a lot more likable than I expected (I guess the film Troy has some influence on me there).The Odyssey is the easier to read of the 2 although maybe that;'s because it come second and your used to the writing style, but the action changes location more and there is more variety in the stories told.

One thing noticeable about is what a complete bunch of dickheads the Greek Gods and Goddesses are, just constantly causing trouble for the sake of it, a real bunch of **** stirrers.

Very enjoyable read overall and glad I read them, I'd recommend people give them a go.

AMTE_21 · 01-05-2025 09:37AM

Any Human Heart by William Boyd. Really enjoyed this book. It’s about Logan Montstuart from when he was a boy in boarding school to the end of a very interesting life. Parts of it, especially the part when he was in boarding school were laugh out loud funny. This is the third book of his I’ve read, all seem to cover lives from beginning to end and so are very engrossing.

AMTE_21 · 05-05-2025 12:32PM

You are Here, David Nichols. An easy read. It’s basically the story of two lonely people who find love on a trek from coast to coast across England. It took me a while to get into it as I found it hard to “like” the characters, I stuck with it. As I said, an easy read.

cj maxx · 06-05-2025 09:40AM

I just ordered Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad .

silliussoddius · 06-05-2025 09:43PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123421702#Comment_123421702

It's only a small book, should take a couple months to read.

KH25 · 07-05-2025 01:17PM

Insomnia - Stephen King

Dial Hard · 07-05-2025 01:29PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123425417#Comment_123425417

Are you a fan of/familiar with his work? I only ask because Insomnia is one of his more... esoteric, shall we say, books, and I wouldn't necessarily recommend it as anyone's introduction to King.