rwemad

mmmmm you are possibly right. I do think having chidren affects how we think about everything. Perhaps it's the finally learning what unconditional love is really all about. There are many reasons why somebody can dislike a person of any age, even mothers can dislike their children but it doesn't mean they don't love them. Unless you are a parent I guess that's quite difficult to 'get'. I am reading a book that quotes a passage from 'The Solace of Leaving Early' by Haven Kimmel: “I honestly believe that people who never have children or who never love a child are doomed to a sort of foolishness because it can't be described or explained, that love. I didn't know anything before I had him, and I haven't learned anything since I lost him. Everything that isn't loving a child is just for show.” (Of course as a personal disclaimer I am NOT suggesting anybody without children is 'foolish' or incapable of intense love. ) It must be like hell on earth for your child to grow into what the rest of the world can justifiably call a 'monster'. Why are some kids from the same family who have had the same advantages, love, benefits (or lack of) grow into fantastic upstanding members of the community and their siblings murderers? I read an artlcle recently about how some victims of head injury (car crash victims and the like) suffer from enormous mood swings causing them to be aggressive and even violent in some cases. A difficult birth? Can we, parents, society protect us from mother nature's accidents? We are all innocent until we 'do' something to be guilty of... even if our mother's may have suspected it was coming.... but how on earth would she say it.... and to whom? This book raises numerous questions for all of us. I saw the letter writing as a sort of self inflicted therapy. Yes they were indulgent and rambling but they were for HER, nobody else.... more like a ledger, so rambling and detailing were all a sign of her trying to make sense of it all. Heavens I can ramble too can't I?

Well, as it happens 'The Straw Men', 'The Lonely Dead' and 'Blood of Angels' all jumped into the virtual basket with the one book I intended to buy.I must stop them doing that! It happens almost everytime I go in!!!!

The Intruders by Michael Marshall **** Wow. This is a fantastic book. An early retired cop has moved out of the city to a house chosen by his wife, who is successful 'in advertising'. It is all very idyllic: beautiful house, scenery, wife, no money worries etc but a visit from an old friend and a lost phone ensures our reluctant hero is dragged into a parallel world riddled with weird and extraordinary goings on. The last 100 or so pages are better described as a supernatural fantasy than a thriller, consequently I couldn't bring myself to give it the full 5* as I think this was unnecessary, it was all so real and he is obviously a brilliant writer so why wander into the bizarre? However, I do highly recommend this book. Having siad the above, The Intruders had me hooked before the paranormal element became evident and the transition from the gritty, 'real' thriller to a supernatural 'soft horror' was carried out in a Stephen King sort of fashion; very, very clever and I am pretty sure that few writers can carry it off quite so skillfully or effectively. There are some really realistic and insightful passages. I love the way some authors, and this seems to be one of them, can awaken ideas and thoughts in me that I never even knew were there. I sometimes read a short passage and it's like those words have been sat in my subconscious and it makes me think, 'yeah, that's it! that's exactly it!'. It is a book that feeds off the uncertainties of people and their understanding of the way the mind works, how our personalities and characters are formed, self doubt, mood swings. Or perhaps that's just me. I have been visiting my good old friend the well known on line store again. I really must stop it .

I think what I will do is look out for what you guys think of it and decide from there whether to read any others. I really am disappointed as the 'fun' bits were funny, and the 'good' (all relative and personal I know) were very good. It's just ... eeeeahhh... when you read it you'll know what I mean .

Well Bethany I have both feet firmly in the support camp. I am HUGE fan of Lionel Shriver, I like her writing style. I have read The Post-Birthday World this year and loved that too. I thought We Need to Talk About Kevin is one of my favourite books of all time. However, I have been told by many people I have a very odd taste... so... . What I will say though is that the writing style doesn't change throughout the book, so if that is what you are struggling with then I guess you may not take to it at all. It is not 'entertaining' or a 'fast paced page turner' and by no means 'fun'; but it is very real and raw, offering lots to think about. I recommend it very highly.

I think I might like this one Mac, the reason I love reading your thread is that each time you write a review you offer us a little bit of 'you'. Your thoughts read as open and honest and just.... so.... soulful. It's like I'm sitting in a country pub with a glass of wine, feet curled up under me in front of an open fire listening to you talk. Boring it most definitely isn't. Loving it.

Dexter in the Dark by Jeff Lindsay ** This was OK but, if I'm going to be totally honest, I was disappointed. I know he has a firm and loyal fan base here, sorry:lurker:. I have not read any other Dexter books and neither have I seen any tv or films, so have nothing to compare it with. I don't want to write anything about the plot for fear of spoiling it for anybody.Also it can be done so much more effectively by somebody who 'gets' him. It started quite strange but I was able to section that bit off in the 'that's the ridiculous bit done with' part of my head, (ie my 'imagination'). Unfortunately the 'abnormal' ramblings about Gods and alien/supernatural beings, became more frequent and just a little too much for my imagination to cope with. I struggled with the paranormal/fantasy bits as they took over everything else and made a nonsense of the story. Having said that I can see why it appeals, I enjoyed some of it: the family bits, the car chase, Dexter's chats with his fiancee and foster sister, all the 'normal' bits really. I wish I had taken to it..... really, it's a shame for me I think that my head just won't let me deal with that sort of thing as I think he write's very entertainingly; when he isn't away with the gods and fairies or spooky little ghost men.

'There's nothing to talk about,' he said. He was very pale, almost greenish, but he looked a lot more determined than he had when we brought him in. Dexter in the Dark by Jeff Lindsay

When in the library, I pick it up and read the back, and then the first few lines, and then maybe a bit out of the middle. When they first come out of the box from the well known online store and they're all new and shiny ... ..... I sniff them. Ahhhhhhh I know.... I know.... odd, odd, odd.

What You Make It by Michael Marshall Smith*** This is a selction of short stories, 18 of them to be precise, that I picked up in the library because it was written by an author recommended right here on this forum.... thanks Mac:) I love reading short stories, but this book I think may be better as being one kept on the book shelf that can be dipped in and out of. I think I've overdosed by reading them all in one shot. I think that MMS has a very distinctive style and so each story was blurring into the other a little. He is clever with characterisation though, I mean some of the characters I was convinced were great, funny, likeable guys and then ... uh oh. it is difficult to write very much as I don't want to spoil anything for anybody and I am not going to use that 'highlight to view spoiler' thing because I know most of you look when you really don't want to. Don't you? Yeah they were good.... weird .... but good. Glad I picked it up.

I don't really remember it too well, but I don't recall hating it, in fact I think I quite enjoyed it. I think I approached it differently. a. My history isn't brilliant and b. I picked it up to read as a story .... it never entered my head that it may be based on fact any more than the bible or Harry Potter is (no offense anybody). EDIT: Actually I haven't read it at all.... sorry ........ I was referring to The Da Vinci Code.

OK........... what bugs me BIG TIME is slugs!!!! particularly those that ate all my lettuce last night!!!

AND.... everybody makes mistakes and carries old wounds, they may not be as deep or as obvious, but they are there. You may be surprised where opportunities and/or help to overcome problems come from. I know I have made some proper humdingers and keep on being reminded of them by some lovely people. I think they do it as they like to feel superior...... that's their hang up not mine. I know I am not a bad person. I have no idea the nature of the mistakes you refer to, and neither do we need to, but many people need to be in the place where you are at, in order to adopt a tolerance and understanding of/for the next lot coming through. I think I am a nicer person to those in trouble because I have been there and done it.... in fact the t shirt is still in my drawer. Does that make any sense at all.

Surely all the lost mojos are in Norfolk.

I am reading this at the moment too I have just finished Diet Hell. I'm not sure what I think about them ... entertaining certainly... weird definately!! Perhaps some of them are a little too odd for me but a clever writer nonetheless. I love short stories. I am looking forward to reading a Michael Marshall book though, I have 'The Intruders' waiting patiently in the wings.

Ha........ say what you mean why dont you! I have read the Da Vinci but no others....... perhaps I shouldn't bother either. What made me reply was the Archer comment. I remember being really impressed with Kane and Abel - yes, I was young and that short story about the cat.........

A Wild Sheep Chase by Haruki Murakami ***** Well............ another holiday read bites the dust before I even think about packing. This is not the most bizarre book I have ever read, but it is the most bizarre I have enjoyed so much. It is about an ordinary bloke getting dragged in to some very strange, but serious, goings on which are centered around a sheep - hence the chase. The lead character is totally likeable (utterly adorable actually ), he is funny, easy-going and incredibly 'normal'; every time I started to struggle and think that this book may be a little too weird for my taste, I was reeled back in, he was like the anchor to reality. I don't know if it were just me, but as a little kid I used to think that the house and world behaved differently when I wasn't around... perhaps a different language or different rules. It's possible I think this as being the youngest I figured they wanted me in bed first so they could all get on with 'living' and I could hear the rest of them having a fine old time downstairs without me (Iknow, I know I was a little odd but I'm OK now )anyway, this feeling of the world and its people behaving in a different way is happening to our man in this book. A candid camera sort of thing that the immediate world around him is playing, he recognises how surreal the world around him is becoming and at some point questions whether they're all having a bit of a laugh........ he isn't sure enough to pooh pooh it entirely but does do a little bit of macho, puffing chest out stuff for appearances sake. All good fun and a pleasure to read but then it does turn darker and I wasn't quite sure I liked the ending. The writing is as impressive as I hoped; some fabulous poetic phrases and some passages that I read twice simply because I thought they were truly awesome: the way the characters are created so easily, the scenery described naturally, the language so simple but oh so effective, there is no arrogance in his style. I really wish I could write like that. Totally brilliant. So I'm torn, I want to give the 5* because of the writing but I did find the strangeness of the story a little much sometimes so consequently I didn't enjoy it as much as After Dark. I have ordered Dance Dance Dance, The Wind-up Bird Chronicle and Norwegian Wood from a well known on line store though . And I have ordered The Remains of The Day and The Unconsoled by Kazuo Ishiguro

Oh no........that's just so.............. unfair!

Oh my goodness........... that's worse than a bug........... that's horrid.

The Twilight series have landed at my house too .... not ordered by myself I hasten to add. I may......... I may not.

Well, I know I am well overdue here but thought I would add a few niggles and ponderings about this book. I did wonder why after the visit to Madame they didn't just keep driving and perhaps hang out at Kath's place.... even if only for a couple of days. This then made me wonder if she HAD a place. I mean, she complained about the tiredness of driving a lot but never mentioned her own place or earning a pay. Perhaps there wasn't any and therefore that was one reason why they didn't run away. This would not have only made her totally dependent on the powers that be, but also keep her isolated as all her time would be travelling or in clinics. The students appear to think that everybody knows they are different from 'normal' people. Perhaps they do look different... another possible explanation for the 'revulsion'. However, I prefer to think the revulsion is more a response to fear not necesarilly of them but for them, or perhaps the process is all relatively new and ignorance and prejudice has found a new (another?) outlet. Another thing I thought about was how Kath and Tommy claimed to be 'in love' but they never progressed from having sex to making love.... it was always a very practical act to fulfill a physical longing or to gain a referral. There was no real emotion. Tommy did run and shout from the car but I got the impression it was anger as he felt they should have been told, not because he was grief stricken about not being with Kath. Surely no real sense of love means no real sense of grief. I didn't get the impression Kath was grieving.... just sad that he had completed. Of course, a lot of grief on death is somewhat selfish. Whatever one's faith, or lack of it, death is supposed to be a better place or at least no worse. Perhaps the whole idea would work and that makes me feel really, really uncomfortable as we recognise the problem is with us not them. oooooo made me shiver that did.

Absolutely!!! I couldn't agree more. Michelle kindly gave me the link to the thread but I wanted to put my thoughts here first so I wouldn't be influenced. I have been thinking how to add my thoughts to everybody else's and am about to head over there now.

I don't think so........ I know there was one where it was some sort of big brother spoof and I gave up on that...... just too, too weird.

Never Let Me Go by Kazio Ishguro **** On trying to describe how this book is written the first word that comes to mind is 'intimately'. I have been ill today and have read this whilst feeling sorry for myself in bed. Perhaps because I was in such a private and peaceful place I became completely absorbed by it, but it felt almost personal. Ideal for a winter evening in front of the fire. The book is written in the first person and the language is simple. 'Kath' tells us her extraordinary story but the parallels with the ordinary are what, for me, make it so unsettling. The characters quiet acceptance of their place in society, the ability of people to ignore that which makes them uncomfortable and the feeling that our choices are somewhat limited when seeking to make a difference, are a few things to make this a book to think about long after the last page is finished. It is an unusual story and I feel it is quite unique which makes it difficult to describe. Well worth reading, I highly recommend it.