Reading Challenge – 18% done.
It is now the beginning of March, 2017. I’ve slowed down a bit with my blogging, but believe my reading has been at a pace to maintain by yearly target (50 books in a year). So, what have I completed since my last blog.
Book #7 – Wolf of the Plains by Conn Iggulden
I’ve recently started watching Marco Polo on Netflix, which is about one of Genghis Khans sons, and so prompted me to finally get this highly anticipated book off my book shelf and give it a go. I’ve had these and other Conn Iggulden books on my shelf waiting to be read for a while, I’ve kind of been saving them, as years ago really enjoyed the Empire series and after a couple of recent disappointing reads wanted to kick on with something I am sure I would enjoy.
And I did, eventually, as I have to say at the start of the book I was concerned as really didn’t get into it or enjoy it. Had quite a disappointing sinking feeling and the thought of stopping did cross my mind. But I persevered and the book did eventually get going and grip me as I followed Temujin through all his trials and tribulations, willing him on every step of the way and pleased with his triumphs! Towards the end of the book it became quite, un-put-downable!
So a good, solid Historical Fiction book written by a good, solid author who is easily one of the best at his craft.
Four stars out of five.
Book #8 – Bones of the Hills by Conn Iggulden
This is the third instalment in Conn Iggulden’s Genghis Khans Conqueror series, and I admit to have somehow many moons ago when collecting them all in Hardback, I seemed to have missed the second one out. But having recently finished the first book felt that I would stay/stick with characters and see what happens next.
And I enjoyed, as always up to now, Iggulden’s writing which I can only explain or define as smooth, slick and easy flowing. You can get swept along with it like a nice flowing river. He doesn’t bog us down with lots of technical, showing off style detail that you get from other authors in the historical fiction genre. With this book, one aspect I loved as I have done in other books, is when we see things from the other characters point of view. For example early on when Genghis eldest son Jochi is left in charge of a Mongol army and the then harrowing account that follows of the Mongols taking on and subsequently destroying a Kievan Rus’ army, but we also get to see this from the perspective of one of the Russian knights. Loved this!
But I’m giving this three stars out of five. So why the dropped stars. Well although this is the last we’ll see of Genghis, I cant say I’m to disappointed, as I was feeling with this and the first book that it all was getting a bit ‘samey’. Genghis himself is slowly becoming unlikeable, but when I say getting ‘samey’ I mean because there are Lots and lots of sieges, of arrows, of massacres and of fighting battles when always outnumbered. It all had me feeling that I’d read it all before, and at one point expected Bill Murray to walk by from Groundhog day.
So, Iggulden is still one of my favourite authors, but I do now feel like switching genre as worn out from all the battles, arrows and horses. I’m getting saddle sore. Good book though!
Book #9 – The Noise of Time by Julian Barnes
This is a fascinating read. The award winning author, Julian Barnes, is clearly a very good, meticulous and intelligent writer who has put together a really interesting book about a composer, about art, about music and about life in soviet Russia.
And I think the later is what I really enjoyed about the book; reading and learning through the story, about life in the early nineteenth century Russia, and the fear that hovered over every citizen. As beliefs, powers etc. shifted as the wind did. What is popular and acceptable one minute, is soon out of favour and unacceptable the next. In the story we follow the life of the composer Shostakovich, his up’s and down’s he finds himself going through and the fears, decisions and convictions he lives with daily. Although I understand this is all factually correct about Shostakovich, this isn’t a biography as such but the author uses him as a vehicle to tell a story of how (I believe) the Arts and political powers mix, or don’t mix.
It’s not an easy read at all, but that is no doubt due to me being a layman as I knew nothing of the composer prior to reading this book and again no little on music or early nineteenth century Russia. But it is thought provoking and I can imagine it causing good discussions in book groups. Four stars out of five from me.
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Right then, what next?
