Onion Budgie
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Posts posted by Onion Budgie
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I'm a third of the way through The Case of the Gilded Fly, and it isn't grabbing me. Gah! I had high hopes, but it's a big flat pancake so far. Too many characters introduced all at once, and too much endless description. It makes me appreciate Agatha Christie's strong point -- her dialogue -- all the more. A crime novel's lost without that.
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I finished Four Steps. It was diabolical.
I'm about to make a start on The Case of the Gilded Fly by Edmund Crispin, which is the first in the Gervase Fen series.
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7 hours ago, Athena said:
I'm liking it so far! The only thing I'm not liking, is the fatphobia.
That's interesting, because I've read that comment before. Personally, I don't see it as being fatphobic. One of the characters is morbidly obese -- and suddenly the protagonist finds himself inhabiting that body. The narrative is more about him attempting to deal with the limitations and frustrations of being in such a frame. He's out of breath, barely able to walk more than a few steps. He needs help to bathe, etc. Imagine being suddenly thrust into that situation, and how you might deal with it. It read fairly to me.
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51 minutes ago, Madeleine said:
Sounds like they've made quite a lot of changes to The Pale Horse, hope they don't mess it up too much! I recorded it so haven't seen it yet, did you watch it?
Yes, I did. Wasn't overkeen. It's barely recognisable from the book, and they've messed up the main character. Oh well.
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It's insanely windy here too. Next door's flat-roof has lost its tarpaulin, and a couple of dustbins have gone willy-nilly down the alleyway. Rain is intermittent. Bleagh!
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I'd be interested in The Book Collector by Alice Thompson. Thanks for the opportunity, Hayley!
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Anyone here watching Good Omens? Are you liking it? If not, WHY NOT?
Agatha Christie's The Pale Horse is finally showing in the UK on BBC1 this Sunday, at 9pm. I am looking forward to it.
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5 hours ago, Athena said:
I hope Heartstopper Volume 3 will be good! (I'm sure it will be). I have it on my wishlist, but am not allowing myself to order any books for a while (to save money for the new house expenses). Hopefully I can buy the book in a few months, I am really looking forward to the book. Happy reading!!
It was wonderful! You'll love it.
(Btw, Alice Oseman's novella about the boys, Nick and Charlie, is finally going to be published in paperback in August! It's set two years after the events we're currently reading about.)
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I've just ordered three books from Amazon: Heartstopper Vol. 3 by Alice Oseman (LGBTQ+ graphic novel), The Siren and the Specter by Jonathan Janz (horror), and Life After Life by Kate Atkinson (family drama). I'll be falling on the first as soon as it arrives!
I'm past the halfway point with Four Steps by Wendy Hudson. The writing is excruciatingly lousy. How on earth has this thing garnered so many rave reviews on Goodreads? I'm so disappointed.
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11 hours ago, Athena said:
Yes, I'll be reading The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton
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Please let us know what you think of it! I've waffled rapturously more than a few times about this novel. It's so good.
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Last night I finished A Man Lay Dead by Ngaio Marsh, the first book in the Inspector Alleyn series. It had an implausible plot, and some odd characterisation, but I still found it interesting.
I've started Four Steps by Wendy Hudson, which is a mystery/thriller/romance. Not overly impressed with the writing so far, but I'll chug on through.
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Hi Filip, welcome to the forum.
I'd highly recommend The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton. Its plot is one of the twistiest and most intriguing (and exciting!) that I've ever read. I guarantee that your friend won't guess how it ends!
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I finished Dorian by Will Self, and rather enjoyed it. Bleak, grimy, wordy, and fruity. *sings* These are a few of my favourite things...
I'm craving another whodunnit, so have picked up A Man Lay Dead by Ngaio Marsh.
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I'd be in Hayley's 'chaotic' tribe! I try to organise by author, although not alphabetically, and roughly by order of publication date, but not always. My Agatha Christies are all together, but they're hopelessly out of order; ditto my William S. Burroughs shelf. (They're the two authors I own the most books by.) Most of my books are upright, but there are sections where they're on their sides due to height restrictions. My non-fiction books are shelved more or less by genre, but they're scattered in different areas. Colour organisation is for lunatics.
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I've read just a couple, both Christmas themed: Mystery in White by J. Jefferson Farjeon, and The Santa Klaus Murder by Mavis Doriel Hay. Both were solid mysteries, but I did slightly prefer the latter for pacing.
I'm tempted to read more. It's an enticing series, I think partly because of the glorious cover art.
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I finished Birthday by Meredith Russo, which was a very good and fast read. Next up, I've picked out Dorian by Will Self, which is a reimagining of Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray.
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I've had my puzzle-head on. Over the Christmas holidays I've replayed all three of The Room games (on PC), which are such fun. A couple of days ago I downloaded the Azada puzzle series from Steam, and have been playing through those -- and they are wonderful too. The first Azada is quite simple with puzzles only and no exploration, but the sequels are more adventurous. Thoroughly enjoying them!
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I read 36 in 2019. That's pretty good for me.
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I've just finished Mrs McGinty's Dead by Agatha Christie. There were a lot of characters in this one; it got a little confusing at times. But I correctly guessed whodunnit!
I'm about to start Birthday by Meredith Russo.
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1 hour ago, Madeleine said:
My favourite piece of music this year has been O Holy Night - best versions I think are the incomparable King's college, Cambridge Choir, and Il Divo.
And Martin Crane.
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Season 7 -- the final series -- of Elementary. I'll miss it when it's over, but it's had a good run.
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Who else was given books for Christmas?
Nobody bought me any! So I treated myself to Hercule Poirot's collected short stories by Agatha Christie. It's MASSIVE. A proper door-stop. I think it'll be a book I keep alongside whatever else I'm currently reading, and dip in and out of.
I don't have any shelf space left either! Being a bookworm is problematical.
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11 hours ago, willoyd said:
Just seen the trailer for this on TV - looking forward to it!!
It's an incredible series; the best thing I've seen in ages.
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everyone! Have a wonderful holiday.
A large second hand book shop adjacent to a stately home.
in Book Search and Reading Recommendations
Posted
The National Trust website has a list of estates with secondhand bookshops. Take a look and see if one of those mentioned jogs your memory!
https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/features/second-hand-bookshops