Goodreads Reading Challenge – 36% Done.
So here I am, end of March, still flying through books with vigour. My yearly challenge of 45 books in a year is seeming more and more likely and achievable, in fact, doesn’t seem taxing enough. I surprise myself with how well I’m doing.
So what have I polished off from my to-read-shelf at home since my last blog.
Book #14 – The Vault of Bones by Pip Vaughan-Hughes
The Vault of Bones is a follow up to ‘Relics’, which I unfortunately haven’t read, and is about our lead character Petroc who is an ex-monk living in the thirteenth century . The story involves the hunting of religious relics, from around Europe, which involves; Dignitaries like the Pope, various murders and mysterious priests.
In genre terms I guess this would be labelled as an historical thriller, however in my opinion the pacing is way too slow to be a real ‘thriller’ and as such it never maintained any excitement with me. I was never really gripped and I, as with the pace of the book, meandered my way through at times long sections of…nothing.
That been said, maybe harshly, it wasn’t a completely bad book that contained absolutely no interest to me. The bits of action, when they do occur, are reasonable and the insight into the time period is good. However my likelihood of picking up the first or last instalment is low and unlikely. Two stars out of five from me.
Next Book #15 – The Man in the High Castle by Phillip Dick
This story is about an alternative world based on what the world would be like if the Alliance of America, England etc. lost the second world war to the Axis powers of Germany and Japan. I was curious to see how this new world would be portrayed by the author, as enjoyed reading Fatherland by Robert Harris which has a similar premise, and this book has had lots of good reviews and I understand a TV series made about it, so I expected a lot.
However I found the plot with this story swerve in many various directions, with something going on about forging antiques and a plot to ‘nuke’ Japan, as well as mention of a banned book which is about what would happen if the Alliance actually won the war, all with no resolution, which made it all quite confusing to me.
Fear I’ve either missed something here or I’m a lot less intellectual then people that have raved about this book (which is more then likely!). Not for me this one. Another two stars out of five, but now wondering if it should be one?
Recently read Book #16 – The Ides of March by Valerio Manfredi
Having read a few of the authors books before and considering myself a fan, I decided to give this one a go, and remained optimistic as the last book of his I read I didn’t enjoy at all (The Tower). But here, Manfredi again produces an enjoyable, easy to read book all about the last week of Julius Caesars life, his conspirators who tried to bring him down and the allies who did what they could to defend him.
We already know the outcome of the story and lead character, but for me, the success of this telling is the almost behind-the-scenes escapades of the other characters who are either plotting Caesars downfall or those loyal to him, rushing and fighting to try and save him. I was gripped and willing on Publius Sextius for example, centurion and loyal follower of Caesar known as ‘The Cane’ as he battled to get back with messages of conspiracies and to help protect him or Silius, Caesar’s adjutant and loyal friend, who feels Caesar isn’t doing enough to protect himself during these dangerous times.
Nice little thriller which provides some good suspense. Worth a read! Four stars out of five from me on this one.
Right, 36% done, let’s crack on with some more….:)
