Paul Devall > Recent Status Updates

Back in the 80's Mr Mutch was a regular on the MAG stand at bike shows and I was on the SOC stand. Although I can't say I know him, I am acquainted with him from the shows at The Royal Horticultural Halls in Victoria London. Anyway, that's mere coincidence. This is the first book of his I have tried and although the method is similar, the destination and make of bike is different it could be me writing about trips.

Back in the 80's Mr Mutch was a regular on the MAG stand at bike shows and I was on the SOC stand. Although I can't say I know him, I am acquainted with him from the shows at The Royal Horticultural Halls in Victoria London. Anyway, that's mere coincidence. This is the first book of his I have tried and although the method is similar, the destination and make of bike is different!!!

The background to why the British and Empire forces were sent to be slaughtered on the Somme in 1916 is important.

Half way through. The story is developing. Currently see no purpose in the serpent thread at all. Maybe it will be revealed later but at the moment it simply distracts from the Pirate / Trader setup. Also, in most books and indeed movies, there is an affinity with a character or two. This book they are all unlikeable.

The story developing... Traders and pirates, what's not to like?

Scene setting. The first bit with the serpents was confusing...

Developing nicely. An easy read. Maybe the pseudo intellectuals that disparage the book for it being a young adult tome should be reading something heavier? I read on vacation and on the daily commute. Something light and airy fits the bill. I have read the Gulag Archipelago and it's not relaxing.....

Just started. Have loads of free books from Kindle and head read a few pages and discarded them! This has been on the device for ages!!

Getting into it but after reading book three first I am sort of expecting things to happen and so far it's a slow burner....

A little strange to download the third book, Outsoucerers Apprentice, on kindle without realising until later on that it's not standalone or part of a series, and then get about 7% of book one, this one, tacked on the end. A dirty trick from Orbit. The sampler at the end should be for the next in the series!!!!

Scene and character setting

Going okay..

Just scene setting.

Enjoying this more with less religious angst at the forefront.

Enjoying the travel and the build up, but the religious self doubt and flagellation is wearing me down.

I read the paperback version many years ago and am now revisiting it on Kindle. After a couple of other motorcycle travel books had me less than enthralled I have returned to Team Ted.

Just getting started...

More McCaleb than Bosch so far....

Book 4 already. Five and six downloaded so I can keep my habit topped up!!!

Why didn't I read these before...

Getting better. The threads are coming together and the suits want to brush the dead cop under the carpet. But Harry Bosch is snogging on the periphery and building a timeline. Shame I don't have Amazon Prime to watch the TV version....

Just kicking off Book Two.

Clichéd. Yes. But the books were written in the 90's,,, Too many snobs read books and turn their reviews into essays that say more about them than the book... "See how I use long words. See how clever I am" Clowns.

From the date references I guessed this was an early 90's book. The writing is pretty much genre-esque and although dated it has been good.

At last. It's like a tedious football match. We're halfway through the second half, still 0-0 and both sides boringly plugging along. Then, suddenly they bring on subs that want to prove themselves. The action speeds up, more revelations and it becomes a page turner... Into the last 9% and we're off... The leaden boots are off....

I suppose there is a bit of "Laura" in me. Why have I read more of this total rubbish? Maybe I'm hopeful by that the author will start to progress the plot rather than the execrable of the unposed letters to her friend! Yes. We now Hugo is a control freak who suffers from a mother complex and who uses women. FFS get on with the denouement!!!!

TEDIOUS!! We know that Hugo is a snobbish control freak with mother issues. But to keep digging the same whole in the unread, until now, letters to Imogen are simply boring. The best bits are the police investigation until the author decided to slip in the tiresome divorced wife facet!