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Jack Dawkins

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    Paul's Reading Year 2009

    in Past Book Logs

    Posted

    Finished A Kestrel for a Knave by Barry Hines. Brilliant, I read this in high school back in 82/83 and its stayed with me ever since. A remark by my eldest son's football coach made want to reread the book("He looked like summat outta Kes").Time has not diminished this classic. The story is of Billy Casper and his hawk Kes. Billy is schoolboy picked upon by all and sundry his only solace is his kestrel hawk whom he has raised from a chick and trained.

    The Characters in the book are living breathing people.Jud,Billy's shocking miner brother,Billy's uncaring Mum,Billy himself something of an anti hero but you really feel for him and a special hiss for Mr Sugden the games teacher a real bully.The book is filled with great set pieces, the games lesson is class.The end of the book when Billy is alone in a derelict cinema is very touching. I love A Kestrel for a Knave both touching and gritty in equal parts. If you dont fancy reading the book try and pick up a copy in the library or a shop and read page 89 A Tall Story(Billy's class had to write something totally fictional). 10/10 The film adaptation KES is also worth a look.

    World War II Books

    in Book Search and Reading Recommendations

    Posted

    I would suggest a couple of older books

     

    Bomber by Len Dieghton

    The story of a bombing raid on Germany told from the point of view of the Bomber Crew,The German fighter pilots,The German Radar station and the people of the German town that becomes the unintetional target. Superb book

     

    Black Cross by Greg Iles

    Another story told from different points of view. This is a thriller about a raid on a German concentration camp where the Germans are developing a deadly gas to be used on the allies. A pretty regular thriller type story but nailbiting and exciting.

    Paul's Reading Year 2009

    in Past Book Logs

    Posted

    Finished Fables:Legends in Exile a graphic novel by Bill Willingham. Excellent, the story centres around fairy story characters exiled in modern day New York. The main protagonists are Bigby Wolf Fabletown's one man/wolf police force, Snow White Fabletown's deputy mayor(King Cole is the head honcho) and Rose Red, Snow's sister.

    Also included A Wolf in the Fold, a written short story explaining Bigby Wolf's origins.

    This comic book was on the adult shelves at the local library with some justification, not for the youngsters.

    Paul's Reading Year 2009

    in Past Book Logs

    Posted

    Is it a matter of lost reading mojo, or have the books just not inspired you at all?

     

    Don't worry about targets too much, it's more important to enjoy what you do get to read rather than the number. :blush:

     

    I reckon it was reading overload I was reading 3 at once and I blew a gasket and just could'nt get back in to it. I've shelved the books I was reading and started again. I'll stick to one at a time.... for now

    Paul's Reading Year 2009

    in Past Book Logs

    Posted

    Finished Bitten by Kelley Armstrong.The first 250 pages were excellent but I felt the book tailed off a liitle after that.I ended up finding Elena quite irritating.There was enough in the story to make me want to read more of the series.

    Paul's Reading Year 2009

    in Past Book Logs

    Posted · Edited by Jack Dawkins

    Finished Juggernaut by Desmond Bagley.An 80s Action thriller set in a fictional war torn African country.Not bad easy to read,the ending was slightly dissapointing,but I'll keep my eyes open for more Bagley books.

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