What book are you reading atm??

Ipso · 20-03-2020 2:18am

bobbyss wrote: »

I tried Wolf Hall and gave up. Her third book is getting good reviews so am wondering should i give it another go? And go for the treble?

I also stopped reading Wolf Hall, just couldn’t get into it.

Barna77 · 20-03-2020 10:07am

bobbyss wrote: »

I tried Wolf Hall and gave up. Her third book is getting good reviews so am wondering should i give it another go? And go for the treble?

Ipso wrote: »

I also stopped reading Wolf Hall, just couldn’t get into it.

Stick to it.
True that it can be dense, and the reader may need some knowledge of the historical era, she leaves some things like hanging or just mentioned.

I should have bought the third book, now that I have plenty of time to read

Nigel Fairservice · 20-03-2020 12:36pm

mustang shelly wrote: »

No worries , I only read physical books and wouldn't touch a kindle or the likes. My eyes wouldn't be able to handle that much screen time after working on a laptop all day.

They're not that bad, they're very easy on the eye. I use mine mostly when I travel or if I'm on the go. Ill still read my physical book if I'm just at home. Amazon do a Kindle deals of the day where they have 4 or 5 books on offer for £1. I have a whole pile of physical books to read and if I see one of my books from the pile that's on offer with the Kindle I'll buy it. I'll read it on a plane or a bus or something.

Joe_ Public · 20-03-2020 12:51pm

Barna77 wrote: »

Stick to it.
True that it can be dense, and the reader may need some knowledge of the historical era, she leaves some things like hanging or just mentioned.

I should have bought the third book, now that I have plenty of time to read

One of the issues with Wolf Hall, apart from the dizzying range of characters to get to grips with, was the confusion people felt over the use of "he" as a pronoun, sometimes it was hard to work out who it was referring to. Mantel acknowledged it and rectified it for both subsequent books where you begin to see "he, thomas cromwell,..." etc.

I think its worth studying the family trees and cast of characters very closely, once you have a good handle on that, the whole story opens up so much more easily i think.

fryup · 20-03-2020 12:54pm

anyone get their hands on Eyes of Darkness - the book that predict covid 19

if so any good?

TheRepentent · 20-03-2020 12:58pm

Nigel Fairservice wrote: »

They're not that bad, they're very easy on the eye. I use mine mostly when I travel or if I'm on the go. Ill still read my physical book if I'm just at home. Amazon do a Kindle deals of the day where they have 4 or 5 books on offer for £1. I have a whole pile of physical books to read and if I see one of my books from the pile that's on offer with the Kindle I'll buy it. I'll read it on a plane or a bus or something.

I predominantly use the kindle...don;t have room for many books and always hated selling them. Great bit of tech to be honest.

Ionly buy books off a select few author who I love.

Having said that if I ever win the lotto I'll have my own Libary with floor to ceilins shelves and a ladder on wheels

Barna77 · 20-03-2020 1:21pm

Joe_ Public wrote: »

One of the issues with Wolf Hall, apart from the dizzying range of characters to get to grips with, was the confusion people felt over the use of "he" as a pronoun, sometimes it was hard to work out who it was referring to. Mantel acknowledged it and rectified it for both subsequent books where you begin to see "he, thomas cromwell,..." etc.

I think its worth studying the family trees and cast of characters very closely, once you have a good handle on that, the whole story opens up so much more easily i think.

I had forgotten about the use of "he". Yeah it was truly confusing.
And you're right about the family trees and list of characters.

Joe_ Public · 20-03-2020 1:37pm

Barna77 wrote: »

I had forgotten about the use of "he". Yeah it was truly confusing.
And you're right about the family trees and list of characters.

Think it was only towards end of Bodies that i could go more than a few pages without checking the cast of characters page. Reading the third book i dont need it at all and makes a big difference. The series does require a bit of extra effort i think, but rewards make it hugely worthwhile.

Mars Bar · 20-03-2020 1:39pm

I'm doing something I never do but I have 3 books on the go at the moment

Oathbringer - Brandon Sanderson (so I can get away from the real world)
Rewire Your Mindset - Brian Keane (so I can stay focused and learn some new coping strategies for these strange virus days)
The Body: A Guide For Occupants - Billy Bryson (so I can feel like I'm learning but laugh at the same time)

appledrop · 20-03-2020 7:20pm

Barna77 wrote: »

I had forgotten about the use of "he". Yeah it was truly confusing.
And you're right about the family trees and list of characters.

I probably find this easier than some because I admit I have watched every programme going about Henry IIIV so I can remember who is who quite easily. Wolf Hall on BBC was a brilliant series based on the Hiliary Mantel books.

If there was ever a time to read a book you couldnt get into now is the time!

Aglomerado · 20-03-2020 7:44pm

fryup wrote: »

anyone get their hands on Eyes of Darkness - the book that predict covid 19

if so any good?

I'm reading it now. About halfway in. No mention of a virus so far but there is a dead boy who might not be dead ....
I'm also reading Bill Bryson's new one the Body. It's brilliant as is everything that man writes.

the purple tin · 20-03-2020 9:17pm

Joe_ Public wrote: »

One of the issues with Wolf Hall, apart from the dizzying range of characters to get to grips with, was the confusion people felt over the use of "he" as a pronoun, sometimes it was hard to work out who it was referring to. Mantel acknowledged it and rectified it for both subsequent books where you begin to see "he, thomas cromwell,..." etc.

I think its worth studying the family trees and cast of characters very closely, once you have a good handle on that, the whole story opens up so much more easily i think.

It got a bit easier when I realised that Henry VIII was always referred to as 'He' with a capital H.

Danger781 · 21-03-2020 12:19am

gmisk wrote: »

I am reading station eleven at the minute...pretty good so far.
The novel takes place in the Great Lakes region after a fictional swine flu pandemic, known as the "Georgia Flu", has devastated the world, killing most of the population.
So pretty timely you could say!

I've owned this for quite a while and now does seem like the perfect time to start reading it, given the current circumstances..

I'm just finishing Abaddons Gate (Expanse Series #3) - Should be done tonight before I go to sleep

Foweva Awone · 21-03-2020 11:16am

Current reading situation attached... I have of course read all of the Anne books before, never such a pretty version of them though!

optogirl · 21-03-2020 12:51pm

Foweva Awone wrote: »

Current reading situation attached... I have of course read all of the Anne books before, never such a pretty version of them though!

ah look. Think I'm going to reread these too.

quickbeam · 21-03-2020 2:35pm

The One Doctor wrote: »

Who reads only one book?

I only read one book at a time.

I have somehow accumulated many, many books (drat those charity shops that I just can't pass by!!) over the years so am well provided for duriing these extraordinary times. I have over 50 at last count, and there are some whoppers there too.

Just finished The 19th Wife.

mikhail · 22-03-2020 1:56am

I just finished Malcolm Gladwell's latest, Talking to Strangers. He builds the whole thing around this video of a woman being arrested over pretty much nothing: the officer tailgated her, then stopped her for changing lanes without signalling. She hanged herself in her cell three days later. The question he's interested in is why we're so bad at reading people. Chapters deal with stories like the CIA trying to spot double agents, judges making decisions around setting bail, administrators trying to assess the credibility of accusations of sexual assault against a high profile sports coach, a famous rape case and the related issues of consent and decisions made while blackout drunk, waterboarding, the universality or otherwise of facial expression, and more.

It's a bit uneven, but as usual he has lots of interesting stories in there to chew over, all told very accessably.

Adyx · 22-03-2020 2:17am

Re-reading Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir in anticipation of the sequel in June. Fantastic book if you like necromancy with a dash of sci-fi.

Weepsie · 22-03-2020 2:22am

Just finished Butchers Crossing by John Williams. Slow moving, describes mundane things about hunting in American West well. Some of it was great, someokay.

Now onto Sometimes a great notion by Ken Kesey. Started it several times and gave up, now seems an ideal time though

rushfan · 23-03-2020 11:43pm

Currently re-reading "Rocket Men" about the American space program, and on the Kindle: "Rise and Kill First" about the Israeli Mossad thingy. only 8% into that one but looks very promising.

ArchXStanton · 23-03-2020 11:49pm

Anyone recommend reading the da vinci code? Been here staring at me for the last few years, might make use of this free time..

eh i dunno · 23-03-2020 11:53pm

ArchXStanton wrote: »

Anyone recommend reading the da vinci code? Been here staring at me for the last few years, might make use of this free time..

Wouldn't normally be my thing but I enjoyed it but it's pretty long.

jprboy · 23-03-2020 11:56pm

ArchXStanton wrote: »

Anyone recommend reading the da vinci code? Been here staring at me for the last few years, might make use of this free time..

I recommend you burn it and get your hands on Umberto Eco's "Foucault's Pendulum" instead, seriously!

I read the .."Code" a few years ago and think (I'm not the only one) that Dan Brown was more than inspired (I'm being polite here) by Eco but produced a far, far inferior book.

mikhail · 24-03-2020 12:28am

ArchXStanton wrote: »

Anyone recommend reading the da vinci code? Been here staring at me for the last few years, might make use of this free time..

Don't do it.

I suggest instead Dan Brown's 20 worst sentences.

quickbeam · 24-03-2020 10:04am

DaVinci is mindless rubbish. But there's sometimes a time and a place for mindless rubbish so I say go for it.

I also read Foucault's Pendulum. I'll be honest, I preferred DaVinci. I couldn't make head or tail of what was going on in FP. Maybe you can draw your own conclusions about me based on that, but, honestly, it was one of the worst books I ever read.

Cheshire Cat · 24-03-2020 3:44pm

quickbeam wrote: »

DaVinci is mindless rubbish. But there's sometimes a time and a place for mindless rubbish so I say go for it.

I also read Foucault's Pendulum. I'll be honest, I preferred DaVinci. I couldn't make head or tail of what was going on in FP. Maybe you can draw your own conclusions about me based on that, but, honestly, it was one of the worst books I ever read.

I loved Foucault's Pendulum, but I was the only one in my family and circle of friends who finished it. It's definitely not an easy read.

_Godot_ · 24-03-2020 4:09pm

I'm reading Skulduggery Pleasant: Midnight. After I finish that I think I might read The Amazing Maurice by Terry Pratchett.

Duffy the Vampire Slayer · 24-03-2020 4:41pm

The Sailor Who Fell from Grace with the Sea by Mishima Yukio.

sweetie · 24-03-2020 4:44pm

Reading Station Eleven (ok so far) and Boy's Life (superb)

Wizard! · 24-03-2020 4:49pm

The Book of Fate

I am just past middle, and it is already overwhelming!

https://bradmeltzer.com/Books/The-Book-of-Fate

Skylinehead · 24-03-2020 5:01pm

I stocked up for the long haul...

TV show (The Expanse) is amazing, books are so far just as good.

Danger781 · 24-03-2020 5:24pm

Skylinehead wrote: »

TV show (The Expanse) is amazing, books are so far just as good.

I've read the first three and my impression so far:
Leviathan Wakes 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Calibans War 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Abaddons Gate 🌟🌟🌟

Not a great trend.. I hope the remaining books return to the peak of book one.

Skylinehead · 24-03-2020 5:56pm

Danger781 wrote: »

I've read the first three and my impression so far:
Leviathan Wakes 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Calibans War 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Abaddons Gate 🌟🌟🌟

Not a great trend.. I hope the remaining books return to the peak of book one.

I heard without spoilers that Cibola Burn is a bit slow, but gets better after that.

cave_dweller · 24-03-2020 6:06pm

The president is missing. Entertaining and quite an easy read. I've really enjoyed it so far!

Oh and I read 'I am Pilgrim' recently. A very good read, really enjoyed that one. It's 900ish pages so it will last a while which is good these days.

I'm not a huge fan of novels but these two are worth a read imo.

eh i dunno · 24-03-2020 6:12pm

cave_dweller wrote: »

The president is missing. Entertaining and quite an easy read. I've really enjoyed it so far!

Oh and I read 'I am Pilgrim' recently. A very good read, really enjoyed that one. It's 900ish pages so it will last a while which is good these days.

I'm not a huge fan of novels but these two are worth a read imo.

Two of my favourite books over the last few years.

nigeldaniel · 26-03-2020 6:31am

I have just started a rather appropriate book. 'Teach us to sit still' T Parks.

EmmetSpiceland · 26-03-2020 11:49am

Recently finished ‘The Sheep Look Up’ by John Brunner, an eco-disaster tale of what’s to come from the 70s.

Not a bad read, take a little time to get used to the style but once you do it’s fine. Got a few “predictions” right. Some eerily so, the US president for one.

Currently reading ‘The Irish Story: Telling Tales and Making It Up in Ireland’ by R. F. Foster. Gives a good “insight” into Irish literary history and puts the spotlight on such chancers as Frank McCourt.

Tauriel · 26-03-2020 12:46pm

I just finished reading A Conspiracy of Bones by Kathy Reichs and I gotta say, I'm kind of disappointed.

It's a bit different to the other Temperance Brennan novels in that the gory details are notably missing due to the fact that Brennan has been exiled from the medical examiners office. I enjoy reading how the victim was tortured/mutilated/murdered but none of this was here.

sweetie · 26-03-2020 12:52pm

After thoroughly enjoying Robert McCammon's Boy's life I've moved onto the more on-point Swan Song which is pretty good so far albeit not as good as the aforementioned novel.

EmmetSpiceland · 26-03-2020 1:07pm

mustang shelly wrote: »

I enjoy reading how the victim was tortured/mutilated/murdered but none of this was here.

If you “get off” on all that graphic, psycho, creepy stuff you should check out ’Exquisite Corpse’ by Poppy Z. Brite.

It’s a story about two serial killers, loosely based on Dahmer and Nilsen, respectively. It’s “jam packed” full of gruesome, and gorey, murdering.

All very disturbing.

Tauriel · 26-03-2020 2:26pm

EmmetSpiceland wrote: »

If you “get off” on all that graphic, psycho, creepy stuff you should check out ’Exquisite Corpse’ by Poppy Z. Brite.

It’s a story about two serial killers, loosely based on Dahmer and Nilsen, respectively. It’s “jam packed” full of gruesome, and gorey, murdering.

All very disturbing.

I see that it's classified as horror. I don't know if that's my thing.

I usually go for crime fiction with an emphasis on the main character either being the pathologist/anthropologist or the detective. I really enjoy a good book that can take you through the crime solving process.

Foweva Awone · 26-03-2020 3:24pm

I do 99% of my reading through the library, my order list is constantly full and always being updated, and obviously I'm really missing that at the moment.

So I'm using this opportunity to order books that I've always wanted to read but that weren't available in the Irish libraries ... right now I'm reading My Fair Junkie by Amy Dresner, and after that it'll be High Achiever by Tiffany Jenkins - both addiction/recovery memoirs (both from Amazon.) I do love me a good addiction memoir!!!

DenMan · 26-03-2020 3:30pm

I'm following Noughts and Crosses every week on BBC One. It's brilliant. I'm curious, has anybody read the books before?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noughts_%26_Crosses_(novel_series)

quickbeam · 26-03-2020 4:06pm

I'm not watching the show, but I read the first book.

EmmetSpiceland · 26-03-2020 4:29pm

mustang shelly wrote: »

I see that it's classified as horror. I don't know if that's my thing.

I usually go for crime fiction with an emphasis on the main character either being the pathologist/anthropologist or the detective. I really enjoy a good book that can take you through the crime solving process.

Ah, I wouldn’t consider it a “horror”. Not in the classical sense. It’s as much a horror as ‘American Psycho’, it’s certainly horrific but it’s probably closer to a thriller.

It focuses on the bad guys and what they get up to. Lots of graphic details of their “exploits”. And, while it’s fairly stomach churning, it’s also fairly childish too.

If you’re into gory, descriptive, murders then you’ll enjoy this. Especially, if you like it very “over the top”.

Autosport · 26-03-2020 4:53pm

mustang shelly wrote: »

I just finished reading A Conspiracy of Bones by Kathy Reichs and I gotta say, I'm kind of disappointed.

It's a bit different to the other Temperance Brennan novels in that the gory details are notably missing due to the fact that Brennan has been exiled from the medical examiners office. I enjoy reading how the victim was tortured/mutilated/murdered but none of this was here.

Have you read any of Chris Carters books??

Fann Linn · 26-03-2020 4:57pm

Trafalgar-An Eyewitness History.
Edited by Tom Pocock.
Penguin Classics.

Illustration of life onboard a 19th Century battleship.

Tauriel · 26-03-2020 5:16pm

Autosport wrote: »

Have you read any of Chris Carters books??

I haven't actually

Ipso · 26-03-2020 6:15pm

mustang shelly wrote: »

I see that it's classified as horror. I don't know if that's my thing.

I usually go for crime fiction with an emphasis on the main character either being the pathologist/anthropologist or the detective. I really enjoy a good book that can take you through the crime solving process.

What crime fiction authors do you recommend?
I really like James Ellroy, David Peace’s Red Riding quartet was great and just got into the Harry Bosch series. From an Irish point if view, I enjoyed Tana French’s books and Alan Glynn’s trilogy of Winterland, Graveland and Bloodland.

Tauriel · 26-03-2020 6:31pm

Ipso wrote: »

What crime fiction authors do you recommend?
I really like James Ellroy, David Peace’s Red Riding quartet was great and just got into the Harry Bosch series. From an Irish point if view, I enjoyed Tana French’s books and Alan Glynn’s trilogy of Winterland, Graveland and Bloodland.

I'll look into those that you mention, I'm always open to recommendations for the crime fiction genre

Kathy Reichs would be my favourite, I have read all of the Temperance Brennan books (19 in total) and also her young adult offerings (co-written with her son).

I also really like Tess Gerritsen and have just today moved on to the last book in the Rizzoli & Isles series (12 books in total). I've given JK Rowling's Strike series a go but find it to be a bit hit and miss, I find I get bored quite a bit.

I have books by Patricia Cornwall, John Grisham and Steve Cavanagh (Irish author) on my shelf to give a go once I wrap up the the Rizzoli & Isles series by Gerritsen.

I've also read quite a few books by Mary Higgins Clarke but I would not recommend her. I thought her books were very basic and followed the same set up, so no surprises or twists and turns.

What book are you reading atm??

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