Colin Marks's Blog, page 19
October 6, 2014
Review: Full Dark, No Stars
Full Dark, No Stars by Stephen King
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This novella collection was a mixed bag. All were written with Stephen King’s usual relaxed and readable style, but a few felt lazy, as though he rushed them down without exploring and developing the what-if’s like he normally does. Fair Extension is a good example. The story, even brief as it was, plodded towards a predictable ending. That said, it’s still Stephen King; when he’s not at his best he’s still yards ahead of the pack.
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September 12, 2014
Review: Jeeves and the Wedding Bells
Jeeves and the Wedding Bells by Sebastian Faulks
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Note: I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in place of an honest review.
I must confess I’ve never read Wodehouse. He’s one of the authors who’s persistently remained midway on my to-read list, keeping Chekhov and Elmore Leonard company. One day, if I can resist slipping in other authors, I’m sure they’ll climb to the top. My only history with Jeeves and Wooster comes from the television series back in the...
August 3, 2014
Review: Digging to America
Digging to America by Anne Tyler
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I read Anne Tyler’s ‘Accidental Tourist’ many years ago, so long ago that I wouldn’t be able to remember the plot if the film hadn’t refreshed my memory. But one thing I clearly remember about that novel was quality of the writing – how easy it was to read and how each word was perfectly placed.
‘Digging to America’ has that same familiar style, as though it’s being narrated by someone you’ve known since childhood. This is a bigger acco...
July 3, 2014
June 11, 2014
Review: Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency
Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency by Douglas Adams
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I was really looking forward to this book. I reread Hitchhikers recently and have watched the Stephen Mangan’s Dirk Gently production and loved them both. As an aside, I provided the crew’s electricity for the fish and chip shop scene. A guy knocked on my door one night with a power lead in his hand and asked if he could plug it in – Dirk Gently would’ve loved the interconnectedness. Although this read like a ty...
May 22, 2014
April 22, 2014
Review: Look Who’s Back
Look Who’s Back by Timur Vermes
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Note: I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in place of an honest review.
It’s easy to take offence at the concept of ‘Look Who’s Back’ (Hitler miraculously regenerates in modern-day Berlin) but read it first before making a judgement. Timur Vermes does an excellent job of ridiculing the Nazi ideals while staying within Hitler’s thought process. He broaches on the darker elements of World War II and the horrors committed by the Nazi regime, yet he always treats those events with dignity by highlighting the ridiculousness of Hitler’s agenda. This is a humorously dry satire, very well written (and translated) and well worth a read. Top marks!
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April 1, 2014
Review: Narcopolis
Narcopolis by Jeet Thayil
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Narcopolis is a rambling story consumed within a narcotic haze that flits between characters and times, drifting decades at a time. It’s hard to explain what the story is about. Imagine trying to recall a dream: some parts will be clear, others foggy and unclear, while others will seem pointless or nonsensical, but you have an overriding feeling that at the time it was enjoyable. Thayil can write, that’s indisputable, and if you like poetic prose you’ll enjoy this but be warned, this book reads like a drug hit: you’re likely to be disappointed if you like clear narratives and structured plots. To misquote Wallace Stevens, this “is a book too mad to read before one merely reads to pass the time”, and like the drugs, the madness is addictive.
February 28, 2014
Review: Page After Page: Discover the Confidence & Passion You Need to Start Writing & Keep Writing
Page After Page: Discover the Confidence & Passion You Need to Start Writing & Keep Writing by Heather Sellers
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
‘Page after page’ is one of those books that probably sits better with American readers, no offence to my fiends on the other side of the Atlantic. Us Brits are a cynical lot, we just like to be told where we’re going wrong and how to fix it, everything else is fluff, padding that gets in the way. Motivational razzmatazz, ra-ra pep talks, ‘you are the centre of your world’ kind of sentiments, all that stuff appeals to America’s go-get-em culture.
I stopped reading this book twice but kept finding it buried under papers on my desk, so both times I continued reading. On the third occasion, I admitted defeat and with some sadness returned it to my bookshelf. I had wanted to like it, but I found myself getting frustrated by Heather’s style of writing, her constant use of minuscule sentences. That fragmented style, and the upbeat positive message, made me feel as though I was trapped in a childcare nursery.
I’ve given this book three stars since it does contain some sound advice that other reviewers found helpful, but I hate to say it, I gave up before reaching the end.
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February 15, 2014
Review: The Lie
The Lie by Helen Dunmore
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Note: I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in place of an honest review.
This is a simple story, interspersing three periods of a man’s life: as a child, fighting in the Great War and finally upon his return. This is the second book of Helen’s that I’ve read, the first being Burning Bright (1995). Her poetic writing, gorgeous in that earlier work, has matured significantly. The fluid, evocative style creates believable characters and dramatically sets each scene, creating a book that is a joy to read. If you like war stories heavy on plot, Birdsong springs to mind, then this probably isn’t for you, but if you enjoy getting lost in meandering prose, you won’t go wrong with The Lie.
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