I've just finished this and loved it! I read The Wasp Factory in 1987, I think everything , M and non-M since (didn't finish 'Whit' for some reason) ...just The Quarry to go (I'll get some single malt in for that)Originally Posted by mark996
I love the Reacher books by Lee Child, a very clean, spare style of writing; not a word out of place. In a similar vein (trouble in small-town/rural USA), but with a less understated, but still beautifully laconic prose style are a couple of books by Ace Atkins - 'The Ranger' and 'The Lost Ones' I was initially put off by the author's name, but how wrong I was.
-- Tim
Also "Thursbitch" by Alan Garner - its the name of a valley in the Pennines, if you are wondering. Now he is a _seriously_ good craftsman of the english language. I don't think Dan Brown could see him with the Hubble Telescope, they are so far apart.
I'm not a huge Jack Reacher fan - he's a bit too ridiculously brilliant at nearly everything.
Speaking of Dan Brown, this is a funny piss-take.
There's a book I read a year or two ago called Kolymsky Heights, by Lionel Davidson. Sort of a thriller, but quite different to the norm. Well worth a read.
Reading "Trawlers go to War" at the moment.
Unbelievable eye opening accounts of trawlermen and some without any sea experience at all fighting U boats, escorting convoys and clearing mines in those tiny ships all over the world.
Cheers,
Neil.
Very good; reading some of the comments reminded me of an SF book I liked, New Model Army (I think) by Adam Roberts; I will have to look out for his 'The Da Vinci Cod' - sounds fun!
Try the Stone Book Quartet. Dark and thoughtful and when read you can pass it on to the nearest teen.
Im a big fan of Iain Banks and have reread The Bridge. Utter brilliance.
Haruki Murakamis Norwegian Wood was also a good read once I got into it..
I know this is a good books thread but I Just finished Albert Camus' L'etranger.
He is supposed to be a great existentialist writer but I actually thought it was rubbish.
It's obviously me and I realise something may have been lost in translation but...
Cheers,
Neil.
Just finished "The World House" by Guy Adams. Very weird, but pretty enjoyable.
Currently reading "The Child Taker" - a British thriller/crime set of books. Pretty average and formulaic stuff.
As usual, I have Michael Connelly's latest on my Xmas wishlist, but I think it's a Mickey Haller one, rather than a Harry Bosch novel - and I don't think they're as good.
SWMBO read a rave review in one of the weekend supplements of 'The Detective's Daughter' by Lesley Thomson.
I got it on Kindle for £0.99, and it is brilliant, about an unsolved murder in West London in 1981. Her previous book is also available on Kindle for the same amount, but her first novel, 'Seven Miles from Sydney' which is out of print, is available used in paperback from £25 to £60 and I think a hardback was £250+ earlier on Amazon.
G
Best book I have read this year? Stoner by John Williams. Originally published in 1965 and not on anyones radar. Re-issued 2006 and on all the "best books of the year" list this year. Brilliant writing, moving, melancholy. Can't recommend highly enough....
I'd say more or less in order. The character really developes.
Oh - meant to also say: anything by Phil Kerr - Bernie Gunther Novels. Start with Berlin Noir trilogy, if you like historical/and or crime fiction. Enjoy!
I've just discovered Joe Abercrombie, his First Law series is first rate.
+1 on the Kerr "Berlin Noir" books. Those things are great.
This is on my list as next in line.
I just finished 'The Circle' - a fictional tale giving a glimpse in world of the most powerful company in the world, the circle. Fascinating read into what could happen with how we get even more connected and how we have to also be a little bit worried. Good prose so the story moves at a good pace.
Kite runner , thousand splendid suns.
Great books .
No one has read a book for a month? Shocking.
I've been working my way through a couple of volumes of Roald Dahl's short stories. I'd never read any of his adult work before but, now that my son is getting into his children's books, I thought I'd give them a try. So far I've been really impressed, they're always good and frequently excellent.
I've been working my way through Hugh Howey's 'Dust' trilogy....very good indeed.
I would also recommend looking at Ben Aaronovitch...bit different,bit quirky,very readable.
I've also re-read a couple of Neil Gaiman recently. I can highly recommend 'American Gods' ( get the author's preferred text version), and 'Anansi Boys'
Just re visiting John le Carre's The Constant Gardener. I often find myself turning to the books if I enjoyed the film as the are able to give so much more breadth to the story. This does not usually work the other way though as World War Z was an awful film whilst the book was very good.
Just finished The Grifters by Jim Thompson.
Well written noir-ish book I enjoyed a great deal.
Cheers,
Neil.
I'm currently stuck in the Humphrey Carpenter Benjamin Britten biography which seems to contain far more extensive coverage of uphill gardening than is strictly necessary. Possibly no surprise...
In the Sotadic Zone, apparently.
If you like World War II era thrillers, the Bernie Gunther series by Philip Kerr is fantastic (you have to read them in order). Also the "Station" series by David Downing is very good, but needs to be read in order too. They really evoke a sense of place - what it must have been like to live in Germany in that period. Also, Alan Furst's books are terrific and are generally standalone. Night Soldiers is particularly good.
- - - Updated - - -
I hadn't seen this when I posted the same thing just now!
+1 for Robert Harris - I have just finished reading it
In fiction, I've just read, and thoroughly enjoyed, The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt. Beautifully written tale of a boy growing up in contemporary America after his life is abruptly changed by tragedy. Hugely engaging and a real page-turner - very highly recommended.
I've also just finished Jeeves and the Wedding Bells by Sebastian Faulks, which is his homage to Wodehouse. Nicely written and, in my opinion, a worthy tribute to its inspiration.
In non-fiction, The Commander by Stephen Taylor, a biography of the Georgian frigate captain, Edward Pellew, who appears to have provided much of the inspiration for Patrick O'Brian's Jack Aubrey. Very entertaining, crammed with tales of derring-do on the high seas, and very good on how Pellew's character and personality variously helped and hindered his career.
Ben Aronovitch, is pretty good, like the audio books for when I have to commute. I am reading Scott Lynch's new book, The Republic of Thieves. Its ok. Currently listening to The Wheel of time, in the car at the moment and really enjoying it.
I'm re-reading the Farseer trilogy by Robin Hobb and enjoying it even more than the first time.
I'm in the middle of it and its really good. I must admit I knew very little about Pablo Escobar life and death and it seems taken from a movie.
Bowden (Black Hawk Down among others) is a great journalist with a very fluid and direct narrative style.
I tend to latch onto a particular author and then read all the books. In the past 12 months I've read:
Jo Nesbo (7)
Ken Follett (10)
Scott Mariani (7)
Chris Kuzneski (6)
Will Adams (4)
Michael Connelly (on book 7 of 10 of the Harry Bosch novels)
I've still got a collection of 10 books by Kathy Reichs to get stuck into.
I buy collections from book clubs and fill in the missing books from eBay, I still prefer a book to an eBook.
Eddie
Whole chunks of my life come under the heading "it seemed like a good idea at the time".
You may enjoy the Charlie Parker series of novels from John Connolly.
how did you find the Chris Kuzneski books?
I quite enjoyed them, why?
Eddie
Whole chunks of my life come under the heading "it seemed like a good idea at the time".
'Cause I was looking at them the other day and thinking about reading them.
Currently reading the Hunger Games its BIG here in the USA, reading Kite Runner next.
I finished Mockingjay (the last in the trilogy) recently. Overall I really liked the books, a bit patchy at times but overall really quite thrilling and ultimately moving.
Just Re-Read "The Villain; The Life and Times of Don Whillans" by Jim Perrin, excellent book, fascinating character ( if not a complete nutcase ), from the times when climbers were 'ard buggers.
Finished 'Touching the Void' by Joe Simpson last night, a true tale of a mountaineering accident. It took me a while to get into it, but when I did I was utterly hooked. Incredible read.
Agreed - truely a lesson in PAIN...
Ive just finished A matter of honour by Jeffrey Archer . Another great book by him .
I reread The Shining. Excellent as ever from him. I read The Never List which is getting a lot of press at the moment. Starts out with a good premise, but just becomes ridiculous. Honestly, some plot twist happens, and for 2-3 pages I kept reading and thinking that it was about to say 'it was all a dream'.
I've just finished reading 10 Harry Bosch novels by Michael Connelly. Sometimes when you read a number of books by the same author back-to-back, they can become stale but I can honestly say the tenth book was as fresh as the first.
Eddie
Whole chunks of my life come under the heading "it seemed like a good idea at the time".
Dream On - John Richardson fantastic book for any golfer
Try Admirals by Andrew Lambert. A fascinating insight into the influence our greatest Admirals had on the development of the Royal Navy.
Polar Star by Martin Cruz Smith.
Got it on the Kindle for 99p or similar.
Excellent read.
Started One Day by David Nicholls yesterday and I'm already half way through. It's not the kind of thing I usually read, but very well written and entertaining
I'm destroying the Lee Child "Jack Reacher" novels at the moment, getting through at least one a week just on the commute to work.
God knows why I never got onto them earlier, they are great fun.
I've just finished 61 hours, and before that A Wanted Man. Both worth a read.
I know I've banged on about the Michael Connelly "Harry Bosch" novels recently but he has such a good writing style and command of the English language that he's a pleasure to read. Having finished the 10 books I have, last night I started reading a new book by an author I've read before and enjoyed. Unfortunately, after reading Connelly I find the style of this book to be clichéd and almost child-like in style. Has this happened to anyone else?
Eddie
Whole chunks of my life come under the heading "it seemed like a good idea at the time".
Yes, he's ruined many popular authors for me, exactly for this reason (Jack Reacher books etc). You could try his non-Bosch novels, but they're not as good. the Mickey Haller ones are OK, the completely stand-alone ones aren't great.
Got to agree, Michael Connelly is one of my favourite authors.
Agreed. Must have read them all over the years.
Just finished Tatiana by Martin Cruz Smith. Another great writer.
I watched the pilot yesterday for the new tv show with the Harry Bosch character, could be interesting..
Last edited by Jan_DK; 13th February 2014 at 13:09.
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