Best reads - Club Together Book Club?
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As I have probably mentioned I am not generally a reader of fiction. Given Margaret's dismay with "The Thursday Murder Club" I have just finished reading it. I have to say I rather enjoyed it. Lightweight maybe but interesting. I was reminded of one of my previous MD's who decided in later life to go and live in a Retirement Complex similar to the one featured in the book. When I chatted to him about it he said that people from many professions living in the same place so what was in the book rang true. I thought the book dealt with some of the obvious consequences of living in such a place and the gradual decline as people got older. It will be interesting to see not only the second book but also the film/tv series which is supposed to be happening. I am sure that those that have read the book are also trying to think of a possible cast of actors!!!
David
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That's why I felt the observations in the book were good David, if you've ever known anyone who lives in something similar it is accurate and doesn't write the inhabitants off in any way. But if it's made into a film I don't think I coud bring myself to watch the usual line up of propsective players!
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Brue
I think it could make a good TV Series/Film which might appeal to those who have not read the book? I notice today in Tesco that the book is available in paperback, ours is a hardback version. As you say Richard Osman did seem to pick up on some of the nuances on living in that sort of retirement accommodation. I wondered if his Mum is somewhere like that as it would clearly give him an insight?
David
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I have just finished reading the 4th in the Anderson and Costello police detective series by Caro Ramsey and will shortly start on the 5th one. I found the first one a little confusing, but persevered with the series and things became clearer. They are based around Glasgow, with the now favoured technique of using actual locations rather than fictitious ones. As with many series they can be read as separate stories but are better appreciated if read in sequence. They are quite complex and I would recommend reading them with as few breaks as possible.
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Returned The House of Lamentations to the library today. S.G.McCleans latest Damian Seeker novel from the Cromwell period. Excellent page turner.
Whilst there I found that all that creeping to the staff paid off. They kept back 2 brand new novels for me. The new Washington Poe book by MW Craven, Dead Ground and the new Bruno Chief of Police novel by Martin Walker, The Coldest Case.
They'll have to wait as I'm halfway through The Black Echo by Michael Connelly, an early Bosch book bought in a second hand book shop whilst on holiday.
Happy bunny indeed.
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Back to one of my normal genres of books that I generally read, travel books or at least books about those that find themselves in countries where they were not born.
The first one was "The Year of Living Danishly" by Helen Russell. Helen's husband gets a job at Lego which means at least a stay of a year in Denmark. The book explores the social side of Danish life a country that always gets high marks for happiness. Denmark is a very heavily taxed country compared to the UK but it provides many services that we can only dream of. It also allows a fair amount of freedom in terms of choosing employment and working hours. So on that score they should be happy. I don't think it convinced me to go and live in Denmark but then I have no reason to!!!
The second book is also about someone making a life in a country where they were not born, in this instance for love! "Head Over Heel" by Chris Harrison is about an Australian meeting the love of his life in Dublin and then going to live with her in the heel of Italy. Chris charts the difficulties encountered en route to getting his official papers so that he can live there. Even his name (both of them) cause problems because Italians don't pronounce H in their language. There is a lot to do with family and food as you would expect from any book based in Italy. It highlights the many frustrations with rules and laws, most of which are ignored or perhaps need a friend of a friend to overcome! I have always had a soft spot for Italy so much of it just confirmed what I knew and what I had previously read about but Italy makes me smile!
Next I am on to something more serious, Ed Miliband's new book called, Go Big.
David
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The new Washington Poe book by MW Craven, Dead Ground and the new Bruno Chief of Police novel by Martin Walker, The Coldest Case.
Thanks to the heat last week I managed to get more reading than usual in and finished both of these books. Enjoyed the Craven book a lot more than the Walker one.
I'm sure Nellie will enjoy reading the Poe book when he gets his hands on it.
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I'm sure I will, but my library is stuffed to the bills at the moment with books that I haven't had time to read. At the moment enjoying the 6th of Caro Ramsay's Anderson and Costello series.
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To get into the series you will have to read more than the first one, it's more then a scene setter, but a little different from a series opener.
I've just started Laidlaw by William McIlvanney, whose books I've been looking to read for a while. He is regarded as "the father of Tartan Noir" . I found this and the second in the series in a Book Swap Kiosk so Old Brampton.
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Just finished reading The Fens by Francis Pryor, about his life as an archaeologist and lots of history and chat about an area he loves, an enjoyable read. Now started Alan Duncan's political diaries, getting into the Brexit bit and lots of very observant comments about various politicians!
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very observant comments about various politicians!
I can imagine that
Sounds like my sort of book!!!David
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The latest DI Nick Dixon Kindle book by Damien Boyd is in Amazon Deals today for 99p
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Just finished a book by a new author to me, Sarah Hilary called "Someone Else's Skin". Very accomplished first book, written about 6 years ago. I've got the second one on order.
Started reading Nellie's recommendation of Caro Ramsay and have the second one to follow on as well as having to pick up The Trawlerman by William Shaw from the library.
Also just finished a book about London in 1665/1666 which tells the tale of the lives of those who lived and sometimes died through the Plague and the Great Fire. More interesting than it sounds as it was factual.
Mrs WN mentioned that Michael Connelly's book The Late Show was on offer for a limited time on Kindle. Don't know if it still applies.
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I am normally a great fan of Michael Connolly and have recently read the book The Night Fire which is the second book in the Renee Ballard series, The Late Show being the first. I found the book to be disappointing.
Unsure if it was me who was out of step, I read the reviews on Amazon and found many others who also thought it was far below par. I have similarly checked the reviews of |The Night Fire and again the reviews are poor.
Similarly as a avid reader of Lee Childs early books which started off excellently, there has been a steady decline over the years and one of his latest offerings Blue Moon is best described as trash.
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I agree with you about Lee Childs, Mikey. Read the latest because the library had it. Very poor compared with first few books. Of course his brother has taken over the series. Can't see what he could do to improve it.
I found Connelly's Ballard books good but didn't enjoy his McEvoy book as much. Funnily enough I recently re-read the first Bosch book, The Dark Echo. Cracking first book.
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Started reading Nellie's recommendation of Caro Ramsay and have the second one to follow on as well as having to pick up The Trawlerman by William Shaw from the library.
I too have The Trawlerman to read, another 99p Kindle bargain as it jumped to 9:99 the next day, but need to get his previous one Graves End to read before starting it.
Have just finished the 3rd DI Helen Grace book by M J Arlidge, and have a few more in the series to go at, also the new Stuart McBride too.
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👍
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Just finished a rather strange but very moving book "The Phone Box at the Edge of the World", picked up for 30p from a box at local village hall. Written as a tribute to the victims and survivors of the tsunami that hit Japan in 2011. Need to do a bit more research but I believe it's based on true events in the aftermath of that tragedy.
Well worth a read.
(Now for John Connolly's latest!
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A recommendation - if you didn't buy the Hardback, now's the chance to buy the Paperback (light enough to take on holday). Our friend James Rebank's award winning book "EnglishPastoral" is out in paperback on 2nd Sepetember.
The link is to the publishers (Penguin) but it's available at all good bookshops (and Amazon).
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Well, so much for political diaries, I had to give up on "In The Thick of It" by Alan Duncan, it did reveal some awful characteristics of some well known faces and it was unwittingly funny, encounters with the Dowager Duchess of Rutland reminded me of Bertie Wooster and Aunt Dahlia. Alan Duncan's dog Noodle played a walk on part (or chase off part for some poor creatures.) If you'd rather not have your worst thoughts about politicians confirmed, avoid these diaries....
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Brue
Sounds like my sort of book
More by accident than design I have just finished a book called "Chasing the Italian Dream" by Jo Thomas. I say by accident as the book was picked up as a possible travel blog/overseas experience type book because of the title but it turned out to be fiction. Should have paid more attention! A quite lightweight and predictable story but some might enjoy as a distraction. Will stick to the Travel Section in WH Smiths in future!!!
David
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I often pick up fiction in library that attract me by their covers and time permitting I try to read the jacket to get an idea as to what they are about. Normally I look for thrillers/spy novels/ detectives but have read others including travel. I also like historical novels for a change and recently read a couple of books by Paul Doherty which were good medieval stories though far more descriptive than I expected with regard to the poor and/or treatment of wrong doers. Am waiting for 2 new books by favourite authors of mine C J Box (Joe Pickett character) & Daniel Silva (this 1 on order at library) though I was disappointed with last Daniel Silva book so hope this is better. I also agree with others Lee Child’s Jack Reacher books are no longer page turners for me. I will continue to read them in the hope that they improve as he is supposed to become more up to date with tech/phone.
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If you enjoy historical novels N1805 try the series by S.G.MacClean with Damian Seeker in it.
Knowing what the puritans in Cromwells time meant doesn't stop you enjoying the main character's role in preserving the authority of O.C.
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Wherenext - Had to order S G MacClean books – 1 featuring each character as our library had none on the shelves. Just finished Daniel Silva’s latest book. The story was very topical, featuring Israel’s ‘secret service’, money laundering (Russians) and Covid gets a mention. Will take a look at Panorama’s program featuring ‘Pandora Papers’ on iplayer when time allows as it appears to be about offshore dealing so could be interesting. I did find the book a bit heavy going at 1st.
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