Just finished - just started Showing 5,401-5,450 of 13,832

[Kath]

Squid are always damp. They live in the sea!

[Fiona (Titch)]

I gave up on The Mirror of the Soul - J. Lloyd Morgan and I've read and finished Lily and the Billionaire: Vol. 1 - Ana Vela. Now I am going back to Edge of Disaster - A.M. Hargrove.

[Elle]

Finished a dipper called World War One: History In An Hour

[Robert]

Just finished Game of Thrones. Haven't started it yet, but I'll be moving swiftly on to A Clash of Kings.

[Kath]

Finished Busted (Novella) a Karin Slaughter novella that was almost 40% advertising for another book. :(

[Michael]

I finished The Mariner, it's so good I couldn't start another book afterwards - does anyone else ever get that?

http://thecultofme.blogspot.co.uk/201...

[Lexie]

Just finished both Red Bones (the third in the series) and Raven Black (the first) by Ann Cleeves, her Shetland series. Started straightaway on the second, White Nights, which was a radio play on Radio 4 a year or so ago. Excellent reading, police procedurals with a lovely detective, rather surprisingly played by Douggie Henshall recently on BBC TV. And, oh, yes, still supposed to be reading Eco's The Prague Cemetery ...

[Natasha]

Michael wrote: "I finished The Mariner, it's so good I couldn't start another book afterwards - does anyone else ever get that?"

Not that. But I've experienced just once reading more and more slowly because I felt so sad the book would end. That was with The Beach by Alex Garland.

[Lissa]

Patti (Number 69) wrote: "Oh you know something else I wish all authors would do?

If they've written a series, put #1 or #2 or whatever in the title.

What a pain having to google the order they should be read. :("

Please start a petition about this or something. There is nothing more annoying than this in my opinion!!

[Elle]

fictfact.com is your saviour if you read a lot of series'

[David]

Just finished Something Fresh and The White Queen, P.G. Wodehouse is - of course - wonderful. Quite taken with The White Queen and I'll probably go on to rest at least the rest of the series, if not more Philippa Gregory.

Just started rereading Consider Phlebas, read it years ago not long after it came out and wanted to re-read it, especially now he is no longer with us.

[Michael]

David wrote: "Just finished Something Fresh and The White Queen, P.G. Wodehouse is - of course - wonderful. Quite taken with The White Queen and I'll probably go on to rest at least the rest of the series, if no..."

Good choice, although Excession is my favourite of his.

[David]

Michael wrote: Good choice, although Excession is my favourite of his. "

That is one I haven't read - yet. I decided to go back and read all the Culture ones in order. I also have a desire to re-read all his non-sf ones too.

[Michael]

David wrote: "Michael wrote: Good choice, although Excession is my favourite of his. "

That is one I haven't read - yet. I decided to go back and read all the Culture ones in order. I also have a desire to re-r..."

It's not his easiest to get into, so it's worth reading some of the others first.

[David]

Apparently it is fifth in the Culture series, so that will give me a decent run up to it.

[Lorraine]

Finished Shut Your Eyes Tight,was pretty good,but very long,starting Country Of The Blind.

[Michael]

David wrote: "Apparently it is fifth in the Culture series, so that will give me a decent run up to it."

You'll be good by then.

[David]

Michael wrote: "David wrote: "Apparently it is fifth in the Culture series, so that will give me a decent run up to it."

You'll be good by then."

Well, they do say there's a first time for everything.

[Tim]

Just started The Space Machine, which is supposedly a steampunkish blending of War of the Worlds and The Time Machine. This is on Audible. It's narrated by Barnaby Edwards of Big Finish/Doctor Who fame...

[Sam]

Just finished

Superbly written and constructed, but I found it a little heavy going in parts so it took me a long time to finish (and it didn't help that I'm in the throes of a WIP.)

Need something lighter so going to start

Love his books.

[Karen]

Sam wrote: "Just finished

Superbly written and constructed, but I found it a little heavy going in parts so it took me a long time to finish (and it didn't help that ..."

I've had Little Drummer Girl in the TBR pile by my bed for years. Tried to get into it, failed. Put back at bottom of pile. It got back to the top about a week ago, but again I failed to get into it. It's now gone off in charity bag. At least I don't feel so guilty now!
The 'Thursdays' one sounds fun. Will look it up.

[Michael]

I am now onto A Calculated Life, which is off to a good start.

[Marc]

slogged my way through Will Self's Booker nominated

Will start B.S.Johnson's which can be read in any order as the chapters come in loose sections in a box in the shape of a book. Can't wait! eat your heart out Self!

[Karon]

Just finished Wait For Mewhich I really enjoyed. A good mystery/thriller with a bit of romance thrown in. I am about to start In the Blood

[Nigel]

Brazzaville Beach
Brazzaville Beach is a tremendous novel.
Right from the beginning it has the feel of something rather unusual and for me there was a definite double-take moment when I realised I’d found my place.
It’s centred around 2 main aspects of Hope Clearwater’s life, her time with her husband in the UK and her time without in Africa.
The drive of the plot centres around Hope’s work observing chimpanzees in the world’s leading scientific project on the subject of the animals. She’s cottoned on to the fact that strange things are happening within her community of chimps that have taken themselves away from the main group. The chimps from the north are sending patrols into the southern territories and this is the cause for a lot of interest. Unfortunately for her, the more she finds out, the more she realises that her discoveries are contrary to the theories of her eminent bosses and it seems that they’ll go to any length to suppress her findings.
Weaving in and out of this African scene is her background and her relationship with her very driven husband who is a gifted mathematician. He’s obsessed by seeing things in different ways and interprets things with numbers and visual patterns. It’s a background that helps to explain Hope’s current situation and thinking, while providing a hugely interesting story in itself.
There’s plenty of what I’ve come to expect from William Boyd in here:
It’s quite addictive, which is quite often the case for me when reading his books.
There’s the wonderful detail in the characters and settings and he’s a bit like Hope’s husband in the way he can present what is commonplace in new ways that make it a pleasure to get to know people and place.
There are the asides that show a tremendous knowledge in a vast range of areas (or at least they seem to) that are interesting in themselves, but are also very relevant and helpful as part of a gentle analysis.
There’s the African setting, clearly understood and alive with the exotic.
I loved it. I feel like I’ve had a good workout and a huge amount of entertainment.
The sad thing is, I was reading a signed, hard-back, 1990 first edition and it’s borrowed from a friend. I’d so like to keep it on my shelves and have considered a few ways of explaining its loss (the cat ate it and the like), but it never worked on my teachers and I don’t suppose my conscience could take it these days.
A super story that you should check out.

[Patti (baconater)]

Oh my god.

I LOVED Brazzaville Beach!!

It's one of the books that inspired my yearning for travel. I still have my copy. No way I could ever part with it. It's been read, re-read, packed into suitcases, boxes and backpacks, borrowed and ALWAYS returned and is held together with about three different kinds of tape. It's almost as well travelled as I am.

Love that book. :)

[Patti (baconater)]

I finished Micheal Brookes' Conversations in the Abyss yesterday and enjoyed it very much. I'm glad I had the opportunity to read most of it in one gulp as I don't think it could ever be classified as an 'easy read'. It requires thinking about, I'd say.
The prose is exemplary. Wonderful follow on from The Cult of Me
I look forward to the next book.

[Michael]

Patti (Number 69) wrote: "I finished Micheal Brookes' Conversations in the Abyss yesterday and enjoyed it very much. I'm glad I had the opportunity to read most of it in one gulp as I don't think it could ever be classified..."

Marvelous, I'm pleased you liked it. I will be starting the final book in the trilogy later this year.

[Marc]

Patti (Number 69) wrote: "I finished Micheal Brookes' Conversations in the Abyss yesterday and enjoyed it very much. I'm glad I had the opportunity to read most of it in one gulp as I don't think it could ever be classified..."

I've never really understood the concept of an easy read

[Kath]

I hate 'easy reads' - they are mindless and light and trivial. It's Michael, incidentally. Like the Archangel!

[Marc]

Ignite wrote: "I hate 'easy reads' - they are mindless and light and trivial. It's Michael, incidentally. Like the Archangel!"

yeah I'm with you Ignite. The Americans have this concept of Summer Reads - holiday reading I get, but seasonal reading?

[Kath]

But why do you need to take out your brain just because you're on holiday?

[Patti (baconater)]

I rarely put my brain in...

I do enjoy an occasional brain candy book. Haven't read one in ages, though.

When I do, it's usually a Jackie Collins. There. I admit it.

[Marc]

Ignite wrote: "But why do you need to take out your brain just because you're on holiday?"

when i went on holiday, which doesn't happen now, I used to take big heavy reads that I knew I wouldn't have the privilege of reading in my everyday life because sat round a pool provided me with the uninterrupted time to read those particular books

[Elle]

I define a summer read as a book which is so obvious that you don't need to *OMG LET ME PICK IT UP* at times were you would normally be having fun in the sun. I find them fun & light hearted and I enjoy reading them every once in a while.

[Marc]

i just use my holidays now to write

[Michael]

Marc wrote: "i just use my holidays now to write"

I do the same, although I'm going to try devote more time for reading.

[Mark]

I just went to my first ante-natal classes and left them thinking I'd never get to read another book again...

[Patti (baconater)]

Oh that's a horrible thought!!!

I'm sure you'll still read though. Babies do sleep sometimes. So I've heard.

[Marc]

Mark wrote: "I just went to my first ante-natal classes and left them thinking I'd never get to read another book again..."


I had twins! I used the Kay Scarpetta books to get me back into reading after about 6 months

[Mark]

Marc wrote: "I had twins! I used the Kay Scarpetta books to get me back into reading..."

Patti (Number 69) wrote: "Oh that's a horrible thought!!!

I'm sure you'll still read though. Babies do sleep sometimes. So I've heard."

I'd heard that too Patti, but apparently it'll be about 6 months before the sleep is long enough for me to concentrate on more than a page... and then I think it might be Jack Reacher for me, Marc!

[David]

Patti (Number 69) wrote: "Oh my god.

I LOVED Brazzaville Beach!!"

Me too. I've been reading Boyd ever since An Ice-Cream War, and I thought Brazzaville Beach was great, but still my favourite of his is The New Confessions.

[Patti (baconater)]

I found the Ice Cream Wars a bit dated, I think. Been a few years since I read it.

I've not read The New Confessions!

Must do.

[David]

Patti (Number 69) wrote: "I found the Ice Cream Wars a bit dated, I think. Been a few years since I read it.

I've not read The New Confessions!

Must do."

Ice Cream War was his second novel - IIRC - I read it when it came out, so I can;t remember much about it. TNC though, I've read twice & liked it better second time around. So, I would recommend it.

I don't recall ever reading one of his I didn't like. But then my memory is... er... something or other.

[Lynda]

Ignite wrote: "I hate 'easy reads' - they are mindless and light and trivial. It's Michael, incidentally. Like the Archangel!"

Erm... didn't you find A Novel Way to Die an easy read? You did call it light and frothy, as I recall.

[Kath]

It made me think - and I got the villain wrong a couple of times. And I cared what happened. Light, frothy but not mindless and vapid.

Edit: why? Didn't you want me to like it? :-)

[Lynda]

Of course I did! And I'm delighted that you cared, and even more delighted you got the villain wrong. That makes me think I did my job. ;)

I suppose I hadn't made the distinction between light and frothy and light and vapid. I blame the editing - turned my brain all mushy.

[Sam]

Karen wrote: I've had Little Drummer Girl in the TBR pile by my bed for years. Tried to get into it, failed..."

Karen, I'm glad I made it through, but can see that it wouldn't be to everyone's taste (what book is?).

That Jasper Fforde book is the fourth or fifth in a series that begins with



Although you can probably enjoy them out of synch, I would think you'd enjoy them more reading them in order.

[Kath]

Lynda wrote: "Of course I did! And I'm delighted that you cared, and even more delighted you got the villain wrong. That makes me think I did my job. ;)

I suppose I hadn't made the distinction between light and..."

It just sounded like you were trying to talk me out of it! ;)

[Jim]

Getting there, now on the 6th Cadfael Omnibus :-)