Raven

I read it quite a few years ago now, and don't remember it all that well, except for the idea of handing on stories by an oral narrative. I know that feeling! What kind of story are you in the mood for? (if any).

I have a copy of that to read. And that. Have read that one, though...

'lo!

Meeting

I've been picking off a couple of Iain M. Banks Culture novels that I've not read before. I finished Inversions at the end of last month and am now onto Surface Detail. Picked up a book of Japanese short stories and the second Tegan Frost novel last weekend.

It is a good start, and they get better as they go along as well. I like Feynman; What Do You Care What Other People Think? is an interesting account of his time on the Warren Commission, investigating the loss of the Space Shuttle Challenger. I've been reading Surely You're Joking, Mr Feynman! in stages on my Kindle, that is good as well. You might find Moondust, by Andrew Smith interesting.

Last Saturday was the first time I've been in a bookshop since lockdown started, and I did look at a copy, but it was a bit dog-eared so I left it. I'm not in hurry; if I don't get a copy for a while it's not a problem!!

There are quite a few Poldark books on Kindle for 99p today.

And Ian Holm has gone as well. I had no idea he was 88.

Nearly half way through the year and I'm probably on target for 10 books by the end of the month. I had expected to be a lot further ahead than that, given the current situation and the fact that I'm confined to being at home most of the time, but I used to read books on my Kindle when sitting in the pub, which I am obviously no longer doing, and this seems to have had a bigger effect on the amount I am reading than being at home is countering. The thought has crossed my mind I was probably spending too much time in the pub, but - pff - how can that be remotely right? Either way, I found myself flicking through the first 40 pages of my current book again this evening (Inversions, by Iain M Banks, which is excellent, by the way) because I've read it in such a disjointed manner - a few pages here and there over the last couple of weeks - that I wanted to make sure I hadn't missed anything. I should give this one more time, because it is shaping up to be a very good book indeed.

If you haven't read it, The Big Sleep, Raymond Chandler's first Philip Marlowe novel is 99p on Kindle today. Murder Most Unladylike, by Robin Stevens, is also 99p.

The first five books in Patrick O’Brian's Aubrey & Maturin series are 99p each on Kindle today.

Was just coming here to say that as well! Bargain!

Bleak Mouse, by Charles Dickens.

Thanks for the replies, all. Think I am going to go with Pickwick Papers based on the above. Now I just need to get a copy (want a print version for this, not Kindle!).

All five of Douglas Adams' Hitch-Hiker's books are 99p on Kindle today.

Second weekend running for very high winds around me.* I know I live in a different area to where I grew up, but I don't remember the wind being as high as this, as often as this, when I was younger - or even a decade or two ago... *Not me personally, where I live. I don't only eat beans or something...

Okay folks, after finally reading A Christmas Carol last year, I've been thinking about reading another Dickens novel. Looking back through this thread (or at least the first couple of pages) the recommendations appear to be largely for the obvious: Oliver Twist, Great Expectations, David Copperfield etc. I thought I would start at the beginning with The Pickwick Papers - would those in the know say this is a good idea?

My Dad, who is nearing 90 and has considerably downsized his book collection over the years, has always hung on to his Nevil Shute novels. Might have to borrow one!

I've contemplated reading them as well, so thanks for the heads-up! I'm now 20 pages into Pinball, 1973, by Haruki Murakami. Only the second novel he wrote, but the writing is still very good.

^ I forgot to add: Yes, I totally bought this based on the title alone.

Material Girl - Madonna

Cheers! might have a look at that over the weekend, then. I've just cancelled Prime for a bit, but I have a few days left to run!

The Girl Who Could Move Sh*t With Her Mind By Jackson Ford Teagan Frost can move things with her mind, but right now she's in a spot of bother because someone has been murdered and only someone with her specific skill set could have done it. Can Teagan find whoever is responsible and clear her name before her Government employers catch up with her? Yep, it is yet another Urban fantasy novel! (although I’m not sure if and how that term applies to a story where the main character has superpowers rather than a magical ability). The book is set in modern day Los Angeles, and tells the story of a young girl with psychokinetic abilities (basically, she can move non-organic items just by thinking about it). Teagan works for a covert government agency that – between official jobs – has a cover as a removal firm. When framed for a murder she didn’t commit, she and her colleagues are forced to go on the run to try and clear her name and keep their agency from being closed down. They are an ill-assorted group from the start, and a lot of the book revolves around their patching up their differences to get the job done. Though the plot is a little formulaic in places, the story is well told and paced and moves along quickly. My only real quibble is that the end of the book seems to ramble a bit after the main plot has been resolved - this is the only place the story could be said to drag at all - and the conversation in the penultimate chapter definitely feels out of place (something that should have been covered in the next book, possibly?). Teagan is likeable character; bolshie and sarcastic (or having plenty of “snark,” as I believe the Americans say) but she is also unsure of herself and her abilities which she feels places a barrier between her and those around her. This combination keeps the character grounded and gets the reader onside with her pretty much from the start. The supporting cast has a good mix of characters, which I think bodes well for future stories. The cover of the book has a quote that describes it as being a cross between Alias and the X-Men, which makes me think the person being quoted was grasping for a spy show with a female lead because I couldn't see the link to Alias otherwise (the situations certainly don't compare and, if anything, Teagan is the polar opposite of Sydney Bristow!) If I had to give a comparison, to go with the X-Men, I would possibly go with 24 for the pacing of the story, but that would be rather misleading as well. If I was forced to draw a parallel of my own I would say the book feels like an American version of Paul Cornell’s Shadow Police series, but not quite as dark, and it also reminded me of Daniel O'Malley's The Checquy Files. So, in summary, an entertaining read, and a good opener for what looks set to be a series of novels (which I believe are already being referred to as The Frost Files). Book 2, Random Sh*t Flying Through the Air, is out in paperback in July. Recommended (certainly for fans of this ever growing sub-genre).

Is that on Amazon? I'm sure I saw it listed as coming soon on one of the streaming services recently.