It was OK but was way too long for the scope of the book. Certain passages in particular seemed to drag on, long after the point had been made. I was...moreIt was OK but was way too long for the scope of the book. Certain passages in particular seemed to drag on, long after the point had been made. I was hoping for something more from the plot but it seemed to just fade away.(less)
Really appalling - this guy cannot write - he uses a very juvenile style whereby everything is an extreme - he is the most this or that. He also seems...moreReally appalling - this guy cannot write - he uses a very juvenile style whereby everything is an extreme - he is the most this or that. He also seems to have a need to drop names - perhaps to qualify his own, self determined?, monicker "The Barefoot Doctor".
I only read the book because I got it free at a tree huggers convention. I must have been in-between books because I did actually finish it.
I had to question the validity of some of the things in the book, including the story involving the title - the author appears to believe that someone was able to drive with their eyes closed.
Don't read this book, put it in the recycling bin!(less)
I found it quite readable but left me feeling a bit empty. I didn't like the old Jacob - his lack of grace towards the other "guests" was too strong....moreI found it quite readable but left me feeling a bit empty. I didn't like the old Jacob - his lack of grace towards the other "guests" was too strong. I also found the sexual references in the love story quite unnecessary.
Apart from that it was an easy page turner. I thought the characters were well developed and I got a sense of the hopelessness of the period. The description of the chaos when the animals were let loose was quite effective.
I thought it was quite clever to confuse the reader (well it got me anyway!), in the preface, into thinking it was Marlena that committed the murder - I had to compare the preface with the main text to work out why I got confused.(less)
A couple of peculiar storylines but very readable.
Enjoyed "The Greening of Mrs Donaldson" more than "The Shielding of Mrs Forbes"
I think with the for...moreA couple of peculiar storylines but very readable.
Enjoyed "The Greening of Mrs Donaldson" more than "The Shielding of Mrs Forbes"
I think with the former it's easier to understand how she got to the position she finds herself in plus it's a more interesting story that is fully fleshed out.
The latter is a bit more curious - it's not straight forward - I didn't understand why Betty was with Graham nor where she came by her fortune.(less)
I've read another Jon Ronson (Them) and like his style - this one was just as interesting. It was funny and provocative. One of the best books I've re...moreI've read another Jon Ronson (Them) and like his style - this one was just as interesting. It was funny and provocative. One of the best books I've read in a while. I like his straight forwardness and honesty plus he comes across as very human and is not afraid to describe his perceived short comings.
It's not too heavy but it is thought provoking and Ronson is quite thorough in his research. I found it particularly interesting to read about the fashion of disorders and the effect they have on the public - like the suggestion that the triple vaccine causes autism.
I also liked the fact that he didn't clearly make his mind up one way or the other and that in fact he appeared to change his mind or was swayed one way and then the next. I can see the points he raises for both sides of the argument about the classification of disorders and I liked the way he reported his encounters with Robert Hare. It's clear that Hare means well with his test but it's also clear that it can be misused.
I was reminded of the film Halloween - Donald Pleasance is the doctor who's only desire with regards to Michael is to ensure he is kept locked up.
It's a very bleak diagnosis that psychopaths are uncurable and that instead of their condition being reduced they are, through treatment schemes, just learning how to conceal their deviancy. A particular treatment programme was described as a "finishing school" for psychopaths as it was revealed that the re-offending rate actually went up after release compared to offenders not "treated".(less)
Dreadful. Appalling style. Unlikeable character. Grammatical errors all over the place - "wondered" instead of "wandered"... I just think it must be t...moreDreadful. Appalling style. Unlikeable character. Grammatical errors all over the place - "wondered" instead of "wandered"... I just think it must be too easy for some people to get their words into print when books like this can emerge. Even if you like bikes I can't imagine you'll enjoy reading this rubbish.
For example in "Prologue" he writes "If I had a choice of a Matisse from which to draw inspiration, or a saucy postcard you buy from the seaside, well, put it this way, in my life story, and remember this well; is that a stick of rock in yer pocket boy, or are you just pleased to see me?"
It's a shame he didn't take someone on his trips that could write as I'm sure his adventures would be interesting to read. I can't continue with this book as it is just too ugly and I've just remembered that there's another book I put down which I'd rather wrestle with than this monstrosity.(less)
Was a bit dissappointed with the direction the plot took - it was quite believable for a time and I would have enj...moreAn easy read and quite entertaining.
Was a bit dissappointed with the direction the plot took - it was quite believable for a time and I would have enjoyed a last dramatic turn of events.(less)
A simple enough tale but was spoilt by too many words. There were some good moments but on the whole I was dissappointed by how difficult it was to re...moreA simple enough tale but was spoilt by too many words. There were some good moments but on the whole I was dissappointed by how difficult it was to read in terms of the pace. It could do with a major edit to improve its readability.
There's a faint whiff of Catcher in the Rye but Harry is not as obnoxious as Holden Caulfield. He is still a bit annoying with his immature lack of responsibility.
I was bugged by the fact that he only went on a road trip rather than spending sufficient time away to sort himself out.
I also would have liked to have read more about the relationship between Mrs Vicar and Harry. It seemed to get interesting for a while and then it was closed down.
It seemed strange in the begining how distant he was towards his son, but I imagine it's not an uncommon thing in real life and I liked that realistic approach to the novel.(less)
Fin Macleod is a Detective Inspector with the Edinburgh Police and is sent to investigate a murder on the isle of Lewis. He is from the island and has...moreFin Macleod is a Detective Inspector with the Edinburgh Police and is sent to investigate a murder on the isle of Lewis. He is from the island and has to confront some issues from his past. The customs and landscape of the island feature in the book including an annual hunting trip, to a remote rock, that is undertaken by the men of the island.
It was OK - bit long on description in parts but found it quite readable. The cover of my copy says "Evil Lies Within" and there's a picture of a blackhouse - implies that there's something spiritually awry at that building but it's misleading - the evil lurks elsewhere.
I thought the characters were well formed and the plot moved along at a reasonable pace. There wasn't a great deal of police work involved - a lot of the book is taken up by the events in Fin's past. Every other chapter is written in the first person as Fin goes back over things.
The attention to details with some sections of the book make for interesting reading and made me think about my reactions in those situations - especially spending time at the blackhouse.(less)
Paris, 1785, a young engineer is tasked with clearing a cemetery because it's stinking up the city.
I enjoyed it - lots of action and some romance, wel...moreParis, 1785, a young engineer is tasked with clearing a cemetery because it's stinking up the city.
I enjoyed it - lots of action and some romance, well formed characters and it's partly based on true events. There was a graveyard called les Innocents and it was cleared out at the time described.
I found the environment described quite believable and was interested in the journey the main character goes on. I enjoyed his reactions to his circumstances - I identified with his failures and successes.
My favourite line is when he is describing various inhabitants of the city and, of Armand, he writes "When she lies down again, the organist's hand strolls drowsily up her thigh, plays a single slow argeggio on the heat of her skin, then settles".
It started to feel a bit flat towards the end - perhaps it's the tying up of loose ends, the packing things away.
I would recommend it but I don't think it's amazing. (less)
Toru Okada is a house husband - his wife dissappears and he ends up down a well. He's rescued by a healer and her mute son. He meets some unusual char...moreToru Okada is a house husband - his wife dissappears and he ends up down a well. He's rescued by a healer and her mute son. He meets some unusual characters and eventually ends up waiting for his wife to come back.
It was OK - bit of a mish mash though and I found the spirit world stuff irritating. What was the 'something' that was inside the women? It all seemed a bit vague and mysterious.
I found the war stories and the boy in the night story incongruous - they just didn't fit into the overall story very well. Perhaps they were too long and broke up the pace of the main story too much. I skipped a chapter, that was part of a sub story, just so I could keep on the main track and then went back and read it later.
Although these stories were quite distracting, I did think they were well written and engaging in their own right.
I wouldn't recommend the book as it was too much of a random sprawl and contained too much that was unexplained and nonesensical.(less)
One of my favourite books - a strange tale told in a unusual way. I just enjoyed Vonnegut's style in this particular book. I liked other books by the...moreOne of my favourite books - a strange tale told in a unusual way. I just enjoyed Vonnegut's style in this particular book. I liked other books by the author but think that this is one of his best.(less)
Nah - was OK but I got a bit bored with the sex towards the end - just too much.
I liked the fact that there was some compromise going on - makes you w...moreNah - was OK but I got a bit bored with the sex towards the end - just too much.
I liked the fact that there was some compromise going on - makes you wonder what will happen as the story progresses.
I shalln't be following the story though - I'm not that bothered about the characters.(less)
Frenetic action and multiple simultaneous threads. All the loose ends got tied up in the end, despite the author stating (through...moreNot really my thing.
Frenetic action and multiple simultaneous threads. All the loose ends got tied up in the end, despite the author stating (through the Scott Finn character) that "in cases this messy" things didn't always get tied up!
I didn't think it was "Brilliant and totally believable" as David Baldacci says on the cover. He is, however, the author of one of the worst books I've had to read in a book club - The Camel Club.
I guess if you like John Grisham and the like then you might like this. I tried a Grisham and it was OK - a bit like this really. Won't bother with another!(less)
Jaffy Brown's big adventure turns sour and becomes a huge disaster.
I found it a bit tedious to be honest - I thought we spent too much time at sea - i...moreJaffy Brown's big adventure turns sour and becomes a huge disaster.
I found it a bit tedious to be honest - I thought we spent too much time at sea - it wasn't really about Jamrach's menagerie after all but about Jaffy's survival.
I thought the writing was good but I wasn't thrilled by the plot.
The characters seemed a bit too empathetic with each other too - thought there should have been a bit more ribaldry, especially at sea. Is that due to it being a female author?
There was no political references so didn't get a clear feel for the period of time the story occurred in. I also couldn't imagine what kind of building the menagerie was housed in.
Didn't particularly like any of the characters. Jaffy was OK to a certain extent - especially at the end. He seems to have gotten on with his life eventually and found a way to atone for the cramped conditions the small birds were kept in.
I wouldn't recommend it, especially not for the faint hearted - I struggled to get through the latter part of the book - I'm not particularly squeamish but it just seemed to go on for too long.
A much better treatment of a long time in a boat is Life of Pi.(less)
A ripping yarn. I enjoyed the slow build up - thought it was going to be all T-Rexes and volcanoes - some quite comical moments - especially regards t...moreA ripping yarn. I enjoyed the slow build up - thought it was going to be all T-Rexes and volcanoes - some quite comical moments - especially regards the Challenger character - reminded me of Brian Blessed (BRIAN BLESSED?).(less)
I read this book because it was chosen by my book club - I don't think I would have bothered to finish it otherwise.
The plot is ridiculous and lunges around especially towards the end - it felt like a badly written James Bond movie. The nuclear strike was averted by just 1 second - that sort of timing is not dramatic - it's just annoying.
The characterisation was quite two dimensional and, in the case of Hemingway, quite nauseating - his accomplishments are just too unbelievable - standing on a 1 inch ledge in a gale force wind for 6 hours and being able to kill people with your fingers? Hai-ya!
I don't think these extremes are necessary to make an interesting character or story and the use of them just makes the book seem ridiculous.
I also found the writing very clunky and badly phrased. Some of the dialogue perhaps is accurate for the characters but the same inarticulate leaden style is in the narrative - I just found it to be very naive.
As for the educational aspects - I found that, at times, patronising. Worse though is that it spoiled the continuity of the writing. Perhaps if the elements were less convoluted then it may have made the going a bit easier? I really don't want to wade through so much instruction whilst reading escapist fiction.
On the whole I thought it was very poor and I would encourage anyone else to leave it well alone.(less)
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