booklover7809
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Posts posted by booklover7809
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I've only just started reading this... beautiful imagery and elegant writing style are my thoughts so far...
The Unicorn Road by Martin Davies
My review:
Beautiful from cover to composition. This cover art was what originally attracted me as it sat on my bookstore bargain shelf, but when I began reading I was pleasantly surprised to find the writing style inside the book just as artful. Davies sets the scene like a painter, telling this grand and sweeping tale of quest and adventure to foreign lands in language so beautiful and luxurious that the reader cannot help but to be enthralled and engrossed. The characters have compelling backstories that are uncovered slowly throughout the novel, revealing the admirable qualities of courage, honour and loyalty.
Although a work of fiction, actual historical events relating to the Silk Route and the Christian Crusades provide the framework for the plot. Despite the stories being set in different time periods, I found myself thinking of the movie Troy and its grandeur on more than one occasion. Although the story is an epic one, only parts are told in detail, leaving the book only 324 pages in length. The author manages to quickly wrap up all the loose ends to conclude the story, drawing on seeds of information cleverly planted along the journey (almost too perfectly). Despite the quick ending, I found the book a satisfying one that I'd recommend if for nothing else but for the beauty and artfulness of the writing.
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Has anyone read The Unicorn Road by Martin Davies? I've just had it recommended to me on Amazon after buying something but I've not heard of it before.
I've only just started reading this... beautiful imagery and elegant writing style are my thoughts so far...
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I've just finished reading The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and loved it. My review.
Can't wait to read the next two in the trilogy!
Booklover Book Reviews
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Amazing. If I had to describe this story in one word, that word would be
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I'd choose Reichs over Cornwell any day.
Just posted my review of CROSS BONES by Kathy Reichs. The beauty of Reichs' novels for me is that they start from real forensic cases and empirical evidence -- the time and effort put into researching the storylines is evident. I really like the characters Tempe and Andrew also - they have a well developed back story...
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What a great TBR list! Appears we have similar tastes... some of those appear in my TBR pile also, but more than anything you've given me some great ideas to lengthen my list
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Wasn't sure about these books, have thought the story sounded great but in all honesty I've been a little hesitant because of the YA classification. But after reading yet another rave review from one of my favourite book bloggers - it's now on my wishlist too!
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I just read/reviewed The Front, my first ever from Patricia Cornwell. Not at all what I expected... seemed under-done to me...
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booklover7809
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I've just read/reviewed Pants on Fire by Maggie Alderson. Thought it was a fun and sassy read! Pure escapism...
booklover7809
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This is one of my all-time favourites!
It was so great that I lent it out to so many of my friends that I have lost track of where my copy is now....
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They aren't crime novels in the purest sense. The two novels I've read so far are best described as psychological thrillers - deep, complex and gripping. Both novels have had females as the lead characters but that's where the storylines' similarities end. Hines seems to have an ability to achieve two things with her writing - craft and tell an intriguing, mesmerizing story, but also evoke a particular emotion with the reader that goes well beyond the usual empathy one might feel for a character. Improvising Carla is one of those novels that leaves you thinking about how you think about things....
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I seem to have read more British crime fiction than American. If I were to make a huge generalisation I'd say British authors of this genre tend to write more more complex and more intriguing twists and turns into their stories, the American novels can at times be a little too straight forward for my taste.
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Who's read Joanna Hines' novels? What did you think?
I've read two of her thriller/suspense books so far, Surface Tension and Improvising Carla (reviews on my blogspot, Booklover Book Reviews) and I thought they were brilliant.
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I've been put off reading Time Traveler's Wife too because of the sci-fi sound of it, but having read your thoughts I might just put it on my TBR too.
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No idea, but it sounds interesting.... no i want to know what the book is called too!
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Yeah, Learning Curve by Melissa Nathan wasn't a bad read at all from memory - terrible how she (the author) died so young...
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It's a tie between Marian Keyes and Jane Green for me. Maggie Alderson is quite good too.
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I have been wondering whether or not to purchase this book for some time, but having read this thread it's definitely going to be my next purchase!
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How about Historian, by Elizabeth Kostova - great mix of history and thriller, can't recall whether that meets your criteria of 500 pages or less though...
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Elizabeth Kostova's 'Historian' was brilliant, but read it quite a while ago and didn't realise she had another coming out - looking forward to reading that one!
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At the moment, my favourite is Val McDermid's Kate Brannigan PI
![[/url]In this story we're introduced to a diverse mix of outrageous, larger than life characters - in locations ranging from the streets of Sydney's Kings Cross to the pristine Australian Outback. I think the flaw in some chick lit these days is the lead characters are written as though they are saints and only mix with the privileged. Alderson doesn't make that mistake, providing a lead character who is fallible and has a back-story - one a broad range of readers could identify with. Some of the darker topics touched on through the story include death, drugs and dependency. But never fear -- these topics are covered with a positive outlook and Alderson never fails to provide just the right amount of romance and a satisfying, happy ending!](http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_M45NC8Li_dg/StFKwLg7TpI/AAAAAAAAADg/IoQWTC36Q8s/s1600-h/pants.jpg){kind=link}
Aussie Author Reading Challenge
in Reading Challenges
Posted
I'm hosting my first ever reading challenge, the AUSSIE AUTHOR CHALLENGE!
Challenge starts 1 January 2010 and ends 31 December 2010
2 challenge levels - TOURIST and FAIR DINKUM
* TOURIST - Read and review 3 books by 3 different Australian authors
* FAIR DINKUM - Read and review 8 books by Australian authors (a minimum of 5 different Australian authors)
As an Aussie myself (and the host), of course I will be going for the FAIR DINKUM challenge level. Authors I plan to read so far include Matthew Reilly, Shane Maloney, Kerry Greenwood, Kate Grenville and maybe Peter Temple.... but we'll see as the year progresses...