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[Geoff (G. Robbins) (merda constat variat altitudo)]

Recently finished An Unsuitable Job for a Woman. Quite interesting to compare it to the book I'd read immediately before Saints of the Shadow Bible. It gives an indication how crime fiction writing has changed since James' book was published in 1972.

I'm now reading H is for Hawk.

[Kath]

I can't believe I forgot to mention on here The Anniversary by Jonathan Hill. Stonking Stuff.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Also just read Will MJ's new horror story. Christmas is the traditional time for horror. Review when the book is on GR.

Currently reading and near the end of a book I've liked somewhat less than these. Set in Hull and so much is wrong with it! An hour talking to a local would have helped.

[Steven]

just finished reading relentless by Simon Kernick and now reading in to the woods by Tana French.

[Damien]

Just finished 'Girl on a Train' by AJ Waine - review to follow.

[Guy]

Luke wrote: "Just finished 'Girl on a Train' by AJ Waine - review to follow."

Not to be confused with The Girl on the Train. Amazon's best-selling book of 2015 apparently.

[Guy]

Kath wrote: "I can't believe I forgot to mention on here The Anniversary by Jonathan Hill. Stonking Stuff.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Also just read Will MJ's new horror s..."

I like the sound of The Anniversary Kath. Will add it to my to-read list.

[Pat ()]

Just finished by Brian D Anderson. Enjoyed it very much.

Also the Last Empress by Steve Robinson. Surprised about this one. Was slower than I expected

[Kath]

What is it with book titles starting The Girl...? The Girl on... The Girl Who... Millions of them!

[Pam]

Finished Nightmare Seasons . Still reading The Long Secret and RUSCH's Discoverability.

[G J (Gaff to my friends)]

Thanks David, that's a stormer! Part 3 in progress, as requested. :-)

[Lexie]

Kath wrote: "What is it with book titles starting The Girl...? The Girl on... The Girl Who... Millions of them!"

And if you add in 'The ...'s Daughter' and 'The ...'s Wife' you've covered most of the bestsellers these days!

[Lexie]

Just finished The First Blast of the Trumpet and also Cathedral Wednesday, bit of a contrast. The first is a splendid fictionalised account of the early days of John Knox, Scottish reformer (sounds dull, isn't). The second is a lovely school story I hadn't read for decades but was delighted to rediscover, set in (probably Canterbury) cathedral choir school.

[Kath]

Just finished (and I had to dig deep to continue reading this) Humber Boy B a book partly set in Hull where the footy teams' name is wrong - matters not a jot to me but it's upset a lot of people - and the generic Northern-speak set my teeth on edge. Needs lots of attention from an editor too, yet I see some respected reviewers have given it 5*. Ho hum. I'm not alone in finding it less than wonderful, however.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Kath]

Just started A Christmas Feast and other stories by Katie Fforde which is our Christmas Book at the village book group. Actually, I'm about 50% in - I started it yesterday. It's short stories which are feel-good with happy endings. I'd like to think that one or two might turn out a bit darker or more thought-provoking but maybe I'm wanting the author to be what she's not.

[Jonathan]

Just started reading Auto by David Wailing!

[Kath]

You're late! I've read Auto 2 too!

[Jonathan]

Auto Tutu.

[Gingerlily - The Full Wild]

Jonathan wrote: "Auto Tutu."

A robotic ballet dancer?

[Geoff (G. Robbins) (merda constat variat altitudo)]

et tu, Auto

[Pam]

Finished The Long Secret and started The Mouse and His Child

[Kath]

Jonathan wrote: "Auto Tutu."

Clockwork ballet frock!

[Desley (Cat fosterer)]

Finished Live Bait this morning, really enjoyed it, lots of twists and turns and an original storyline

[Kath]

Just finished A Christmas Feast and other stories by Katie Ffoorde. a Bit predictable, nice if you've a sweet tooth but fine for the dark days. I'd have liked a bit more spice - oh, and not to have had 7% of her next book as advertising padding at the back, because that's all it is.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Just started The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters. Only 7% in but I like it. She writes so well.

[Jonathan]

The Little Stranger is superb. Sarah Waters is a masterly (mistressy?) writer. Even when she's writing about nothing, it feels exquisite.

[Kath]

Haha! I love mistressy. Sounds a bit... you know... wink, wink and the occasional nudge!

[Jonathan]

Read Tipping the Velvet and you'll see it's a perfect description! ;)

[Kath]

I haven't read that but I saw a telly adaption - not the same, probably.

[Patti (baconater)]

The book is better, of course.

[Stuart]

Just started Beneath the Boards by David Haynes. Really enjoying it so far. Making me feel like I felt when I first watch The Wicker Man. Wonderful stuff!

[Steven]

Still reading in the woods by tana french but also dipping in to a nice short story collecttion called murder at the kronicle which are cosy mysteries focusing on a crime reporter in brighton in the early 1960s. they were free when I got them, don't know if they still are.

[Desley (Cat fosterer)]

Also finished [book:Ancient Images|362904, quite enjoyed it

[Will]

Half way through the first book in the Last Kingdom series by Bernard Cornwell.

The Last Kingdom


Hmm. Not sure. Really not sure. I enjoyed the BBC TV series. I like the period in history (Alfred the Great vs the Vikings). There are some elements of the book I like, such as the convoluted back story to the main character.

But the thing I am struggling with is the writing. There is a hell of a lot of talking about inconsequential things, then the things that matter (like battles) are rushed in a sentence or two. There is a lot of dialogue, but it is fairly clunky. Characters are forever "snarling" at each other or "said bitterly". There are overlong and clumsy sentences.

If it wasn't for the TV series I would probably have given up on it by now. I can't help thinking that part of the reason that it sells is Bernard Cornwell's name on the cover.

Strong story, reasonable characters, iffy writing.

[Kath]

Don't you think writing goes through fashions, much like everything else? I often think if Dickens or Hemingway produced a book now it'd be ripped to shreds for the writing style.

[Will]

You're right. Curiously, I think part of the issue I have with Cornwell is that his writing is slightly unfashionable, almost naive.

Nearly all the writing books say that we shouldn't go hunting for alternatives to "said". Betty whispered. Ted grunted. Uhtred explained. Holmes ejaculated.

We should also avoid constructions like "said angrily." The word "said" is supposed to be invisible. Better to use "said" on its own. Plus the occasional action beat. Plus some unattributed text where it's clear who said it. But not "Ragnar roared".

Cornwell either hasn't heard this piece of advice or has decided not to follow it. His characters snarl (a lot). They cry, explain, interject, "put in". Sometimes he will have two snarls or "said bitterly" on the same page.

He will also use very long sentences which are really two, three or sometimes four sentences arbitrarily glued together with commas.

And a part of me thinks that this is newbie writing that any publisher would reject. But it's Bernard Cornwell, a well loved and respected writer who has sold gazillions.

That's the bit that puzzles me. There is something about his name and reputation selling books. But there is also something about readers not caring about these "thou shalt not" writing rules as much as writers do.

Or maybe he built up his reputation before "said bookisms" became the big thing that they are now.

I really don't know.

[Kath]

I think if you have to say 'bitterly' or any other adverb or modifier, then you need to look at whether you've successfully made him bitter already. If not, go back and do it. Yet people like Barbara Taylor Bradford who sell in lorry-loads use adverbs at the rate of three or four a page. I read that somewhere - I haven't personally counted them!

[Will]

As does JK Rowling!

The funny thing is that many readers who aren't writers don't seem to mind "said bittely" or "retorted", but editors and publishers (usually) hate them.

[Kath]

And my feeling is that we're writing for readers - but don't want to be despised by writers. It's a funny road to tread!

[Jim]

Kath wrote: "And my feeling is that we're writing for readers - but don't want to be despised by writers. It's a funny road to tread!"

And those who have time spare to do the despising probably have the time spare because they're not selling many books, so does their opinion really matter ?

[Lisa]

I just started Death in Leamington for the second time. Last time my reading was interrupted by an eye operation and of course I lost the plot while recovering. So here we go again, confident that I will thoroughly enjoy it.

Death in Leamington

[Kath]

Just finished (I read it again last night) the second of Will Macmillan Jones's Snort and Wobbles books which I read to my grandgirls on holiday - they want more!

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

[Pat ()]

I stayed up far too late last night (1.30) finishing I did fore see the outcome but enjoyed it anyway.

[Lexie]

Pat (Scorpio) wrote: "I stayed up far too late last night (1.30) finishing I did fore see the outcome but enjoyed it anyway."

I agree - despite the fact it's written in the present tense, which drives me mad! I hoped she might drop it after the first book, but I'm readingThe Ghost Fields just now and it's the same. The trouble is it means her past tenses get very confused and it distracts from otherwise good writing.

[Anita]

Just finished Evil Games and started Lost Girls enjoyable reads.
I love Elly Griffiths Pat and have read all her Ruth Gallowway books. This year she has brought out another series that is set in the 1940s I think, I haven't read them yet .

[Kath]

I've read one of those, Anita - Smoke and Mirrors - excellent stuff.

[Pat ()]

Went mad and downloaded the remaining Ruth Ellis books and her Zig Zag Girl too. I must be a fan.

[Stevo]

I've started Divergent. Let's see if its as good as people say!

[G J (Gaff to my friends)]

Stevo wrote: "I've started Divergent. Let's see if its as good as people say!"

I was really disappointed with the ending of the trilogy. Divergent as a novel was great and I had high hopes for the rest of the series. Sadly, not to be. But that's just my own opinion. Mrs Gaff loves them all.

[Anita]

Kath wrote: "I've read one of those, Anita - Smoke and Mirrors - excellent stuff."

I'm pleased to hear you say that Kath, I'm always a little wary when I have enjoyed one series from an author and find I am disappointed when they bring another out. In fact I think you have just helped me choose my Christmas Day book. Part of my Christmas is when everyone has been fed, watered, played with and put to bed I sit down with a nice tot of whisky, some nice chocolates and a new book, it's something I have done all my life and I still enjoy it now.

[Kath]

I believe it's the second in that series but I didn't know that and it read very well alone. You might want to start from the beginning - and award yourself Smoke and Mirrors for New Year!

[Geoff (G. Robbins) (merda constat variat altitudo)]

Anita wrote: "Kath wrote: "I've read one of those, Anita - Smoke and Mirrors - excellent stuff."

I'm pleased to hear you say that Kath, I'm always a little wary when I have enjoyed one series from an author and find I am disappointed when they bring another out. In fact I think you have just helped me choose my Christmas Day book. Part of my Christmas is when everyone has been fed, watered, played with and put to bed I sit down with a nice tot of whisky, some nice chocolates and a new book, it's something I have done all my life and I still enjoy it now.


Sounds like a plan to me.