This Week I are mostly reading (contd)

miamee · 04-02-2025 04:04PM

Finished Th1rt3en by Steve Cavanagh at the weekend, I really enjoyed it, some unforeseen twists (at least for me). It's book 4 of a 7 book series so I guess I'll have to go back to the start now.

Xofpod · 10-02-2025 10:41AM

Read Red Team Blues, Cory Doctorow, a technology-based crime thriller. I like his fiction writing and while this wasn't as good as some of his other stuff, still worth a read.

Now reading Acid for the Children, the autobiography of Flea from the Red Hot Chilli Peppers, and Orbital, Samantha Harvey, the space station-set short novel that won the Booker last year.

eire4 · 07-03-2025 06:49AM

Finished Tana French's The Searcher. A little different from her previous books but still a very good read set in the west of Ireland in rural Roscommon where a retired cop from Chicago has settled only to find himself sucked into the inner goings on of the local village as he gets sucked into looking for a missing local teenager.

Xofpod · 09-03-2025 05:31PM

Reading Naomi Alderman's The Future. I was aware that it was getting compared negatively to her previous bestseller The Power but I have to say that I'm enjoying it.

Rachael1996 · 20-03-2025 11:42AM

Hey, I just finished reading "The Forty Rules of Love"—and wow, what a journey. ❤️

It is not just about rumi and shams , it ismuch more than that . It left me feel very different .

Must Read !

Xofpod · 20-03-2025 12:24PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123247969#Comment_123247969

Finished it and liked it a lot, while not being completely blown away. Now onto the (non-fiction) Uncomfortable Truth about Racism by LFC legend John Barnes and Picks & Shovels, Cory Doctorow, the latest in his Martin Hench technology/crime series.

eire4 · 07-04-2025 05:54AM

Finished Robert Ludlum's The Bourne Supremacy. A classic spy/espionage thriller and a really fun read.

eire4 · 07-04-2025 05:58AM

Also finished Ken Bruen's A Galway Epiphany. Another brilliant installment in his outstanding Jack Taylor crime noir series.

miamee · 07-04-2025 12:15PM

Currently reading The Great Alone and enjoying it

ahro_john · 09-04-2025 12:04PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123334175#Comment_123334175

I also read it. I was delighted

eire4 · 04-05-2025 02:08AM

Finished Michael Connelly's crime thriller The Night Fire from his Bosch series albeit the newer Bosch/Ballard version and another enjoyable read for sure.

Quiet Achiever · 04-05-2025 10:09AM

Here Come the Men. There was some good writing and some story in it, but it didn't come to enough to justify an awful lot (too much) disturbing writing describing events and characters thoughts. Am literally throwing it out as i don't want my kid to pick it up.

Hermy · 04-05-2025 04:49PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123416502#Comment_123416502

Who's the author?

Quiet Achiever · 04-05-2025 05:29PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123417551#Comment_123417551

My apologies, it's actually called Here are the young men, by Rob Doyle

Hermy · 04-05-2025 05:35PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123417658#Comment_123417658

Thanks for that - Google wasn't helping!🙂

Haven't read Rob Doyle yet but he's on my list.

miamee · 06-05-2025 12:24PM

Reading The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O'Farrell and enjoying it. Not as much as I enjoyed Hamnet but still a lovely read in places.

Xofpod · 07-05-2025 03:44PM

Read "OK, Let's do your stupid idea" by Patrick Freyne. I like an occasional article by him in the Irish Times so I picked this up in a second-hand bookshop a while back. I thought it might be funny - and it is often hilarious - but I didn't expect it would be so emotional and poignant in places. It's rare and brilliant when a book surprises you like this, loved it and would definitely recommend.

While the Irish non-fiction/memoir thing has my attention, I picked the Robert Ballagh memoir off the heaving TBR pile. Enjoying it so far - interesting picture of Dublin in the 60s - but I haven't got to the politics yet and that may change my mind…

Xofpod · 07-05-2025 03:51PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123416502#Comment_123416502

Agree with you completely. Only read "This is the Ritual" by him but almost certainly won't be reading any more. Tries way too hard to be edgy. Aims for significance, ends up with (overwritten) nihilism

Quiet Achiever · 07-05-2025 05:39PM

Yeah, the lads were all complete nihilists and it was set during the celtic tiger for no reason other than maybe to suggest why they were nihilistic. But nothing really to support why one would lead to the other.

eire4 · 17-05-2025 11:28PM

Finished Jo Nesbo's Blood On Snow. A stand alone crime thriller rather then part of his Harry Hole series. A quick (not that much bigger then a short story) read but nonetheless enjoyable.

Xofpod · 19-05-2025 10:17AM

Read James, Percival Everett. It's a retelling of Huckleberry Finn, from Jim's pov. Absolutely loved it.

miamee · 19-05-2025 10:32AM

I've just started Careless People by Sarah Wynne-Williams and looking forward to getting stuck into it

Quiet Achiever · 19-05-2025 11:08AM

Reading The Spy and the Traitor by Ben Macintyre, an examination of a real life M16 mole in the KGB.

Reads like Le Carre but is non fiction. Great read.

eire4 · 28-05-2025 04:19PM

Finished Jo Nesbo's crime thriller Midnight Sun. Set within the same background as Blood on Snow but again very much a stand alone book and another very enjoyable read.

Xofpod · 28-05-2025 04:56PM

August Blue, Deborah Levy. Strange, dreamy novel about a crisis of confidence and identity, set immediately after covid lockdowns lifted. Definitely an odd one, definitely very subject to interpretation, but I loved it.

Quiet Achiever · 28-05-2025 09:43PM

Reading Orbital. Not loving it!

But it's a short read at least and perhaps it will grow on me .

pedro500 · 03-06-2025 02:11PM

If you're looking for some inspiration for new books, Hinterland have launched a new Podcast in the run up to this year's event featuring highlights from their 2024 Festival. It is accessible from all the usual spots or you can listen on their webpage here:

https://www.hinterland.ie/

Hinterland Festival Kells 26 - 29 June 2025

Annie West was hilarious, Peter Taylor really insightful and Anne Enright is due to publish next week.

Xofpod · 03-06-2025 05:05PM

Reading Olive Again, Elizabeth Strout. The follow-up to her Olive Kitteridge; more of the same, in the best possible sense of that phrase.

Quiet Achiever · 06-06-2025 11:23PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123494871#Comment_123494871

God I hated it. I'm not usually so negative.

Will read Ishmael next as I've heard good things.

This Week I are mostly reading (contd)

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