chesilbeach
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Posts posted by chesilbeach
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May I ask whether Nurse Jackie is any good? It has Carmela from the Sopranos in it so already I'm intrigued
Well I've loved it so far. Best quote so far: "Puke away from the ear, Zoe."
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I've just watched the first two episodes back to back, and now watching the third one as well!
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Hello!
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Nurse Jackie
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Title: Men of the Otherworld
Author: Kelley Armstrong
Publisher: Orbit
Rating: 3/5
Synopsis (from blurb on book cover):
As a curious and independent six-year-old, Clayton didn't resist the bit - he asked for it. But as a long child werewolf his life is under constant threat. So when enigmatic Pack member Jeremy Danvers saves him, Clayton is determined to protect his adoptive father, no matter what the cost.
So begins this gripping collection of four tales chronicling the bloody feuds of the American Pack, and the coming of age of Clay Danvers, a very powerful - and very singular - werewolf.
Review:
I was dubious about reading this book, because I always felt the strength of the Women of the Otherworld series from Kelley Armstrong was the female characters, but I was happy to be proven wrong. Ostensibly, this is a collection of two short stories, but actually it's two short stories, and two novellas. The first short story centres around alpha werewolf Jeremy's father, then comes the two novellas, detailing how Clay became a werewolf and the story of his childhood, adolescence and integration in to the pack, before the final short story brings the focus back to Jeremy.
The great thing about the whole of this book was that it was like reading the authors notebook to a certain extent, as it's basically the back story of the male characters in the main series. It was fascinating to go back into the history of characters I thought I knew well, and understand more about how they came to be the people they are. As I expect from Armstrong now, it was an easy style of writing, and the strong storytelling which makes you want to keep going with the book and never put it down. Pure entertainment.
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Flippin eck! That was quick!
I knew you'd love it
I started it last night (and ended up going to bed far too late) and then I had to work from home today due to the snow, so I had extra reading time when I'd normally be driving to and from the office! -
Just finished Men Of The Otherworld by Kelley Armstrong. Didn't think I would enjoy it as much without the girls, but actually ended up loving it (and at least Jaime made an appearance at the end).
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Be Near Me - Andrew O'Hagan
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I know it wasn't everyone's cup of tea, but Amanda Ross who was the producer who was the brains behind the Richard & Judy Book Club, is bringing a new series called "TV Book Club" to More 4 starting on Sunday 17th January.
(ETA: Original date was wrong (thanks, Janet!) and is now correctly marked as Sunday)
Whilst I didn't enjoy or even want to read all the selections on Richard & Judy, and it did get a bit sycophantic, with no-one ever seeming to have a bad word to say about any of the books, it did reinvigorate some people to start/return to reading, and some books that might otherwise have slipped under the radar became bestsellers. I liked the fact that they tried to find a wide variety of books, so there was something for most people to try, and that after the initial success, they tried to find unknown or debut authors.
I will certainly be watching, even if I don't agree with all the book choices and reviewers!
Anyway, here's the blurb for the show:
The acclaimed TV Book Club kicks off its own new series with a look at South Bank Award-winner Sarah Waters' The Little Stranger.The series, funded by Specsavers, which champions both established and emerging authors, welcomes a new line-up of presenters: Jo Brand, Gok Wan, Laila Rouass, Dave Spikey and Nathaniel Parker.
In each episode the presenters rate and review one title, inviting viewers to celebrate and immerse themselves in some of Britain's best writing.
As well as book reviews, each episode features a major celebrity interview, starting with Chris Evans in this episode, as well as profiles on Book Club alumni, who include Kate Mosse, Victoria Hislop and Celia Ahern, many of whom have gone on to achieve major literary success.
Will anyone else be tuning in?
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Thanks. I've had a look at amazon and I'm now waiting for his next fiction book, Devil In Disguise to come out in paperback this summer.
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Hello Cookie
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@ Ben: I'd start with the TN books (The Eyre Affair is the first of those) simply because he wrote those before the NC books, which are a spin-off mini-series of the TNs; still, there's people here who've read the NC books first without getting confused so I guess Jasper wrote them to stand alone as well.
While I agree that the Thursday Next books are a good place to start, I hate to disagree with you, Giulia, but Mr Fforde actually wrote The Big Over Easy first, but The Eyre Affair was officially the first book he had published. After the success of the first few TN books, TBOE then had an extensive overhaul (and now includes some nods to our favourite literary detective) and was published after the success of the first few TN books.
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That sounds quite good - I'm tempted to reserve it at the library, but I've already got six reservations in, and a big TBR pile, so maybe I should hold off for a while on that
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dinnerladies
Cricket: Australia vs PakistanIt is SO exciting. Pakistan have 1 wicket in hand and need 41 runs to win. This morning it looked like Australia didn't have a hope of winning, but they've really turned it around and it looks like we might win! Man, I love matches like these!
:lol:ETA: We won! We won! Yay!!!!
I couldn't believe it when I got up this morning and saw the result - how on earth did you manage that?
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I don't think ANYONE really enjoys Lord of the Flies. I tried to read it years ago and vowed I'd never go near it again, despite not finishing it. I think it was actually one of the very first (if not actually the first) book I didn't finish and it's one of very few of those early ones I don't regret not finishing!
I enjoyed the film though.
You might be right - one of my friends and I disagree on nearly every book we've both read, but this one united us!
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Yippee! Another new Fforde fan is always good news.
I'm really pleased you enjoyed it, CW. -
Yellow Lighted Bookshop - Lewis Buzbee (currently reading)
I loved this book! Not only was it a great read, but I loved the physical size and feel of the book I have, with the deckled edges to the pages. Hope you're enjoying it too
In Tearing Haste - Letters between Deborah Devonshire and Patrick Leigh FermorThe Ladies of Grace Adieu and other stories - Susanna Clarke
These are both on my wishlist - just trying to reduce my existing TBR before buying anymore books for the moment
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Wow, Kelly, that's quite a TBR list! I've read a selection of them, some I loved and some I hated with others falling somewhere in the middle, so I can't wait to see what you have to say about them and compare notes
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I had to read Lord of the Flies in school 25 years ago, and I still remember how tedious I found it.
I can't believe it's still on the curriculum and being inflicted on you today. -
Mock The Week
Me too!
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Burned by PC and Kristin Cast (House of Night series) is out in April
This series has been a bit hit and miss for me, but the last one was better and ended with such a cliffhanger, I'm going to have to get this one as well!
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Nice work, Nollaig, those are lovely!
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I also have this one on my TBR, I can't wait to get to it. And to hear what you thought of it! Have you seen the TV-series? I thought it was amazing, and a bit funnier than the usual BBC dramas from 18th/19th century
I bought the book specifically after watching the BBC series! I love it for perfect Sunday evening viewing, and I'm hoping the book will have the same sense of warmth and love for the way of life and its characters that the television adaptation has.
This one is one of my favorite books, I do hope you enjoy it Happy reading chesilbeach! Hmm, I'm still not sure about this one. I'd actually heard him and another author interviewed on a radio programme, and I got confused over which one was which, and bought this book when I'd actually meant to get the book by the other author. The book has gradually been creeping further down my TBR list, and I'm still ambivalent about reading it, but since you and others here have praised it, I'll give it a go and see how I get on!
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Title: Murder Most Fab
Author: Julian Clary
Publisher: Ebury Press
Rating: 4/5
Synopsis (from blurb on book cover):
Hello. I'm JOHNNY DEBONAIR and thank you for buying my book. You won't regret it. Everything that has happened so publicly is explained. Of course, I'd prefer it if you remember me as I was at my height, before the past caught up with me so spectacularly - TV's Mr Friday Night with an enviable lifestyle and the nation at my feet. My fame might have looked easy to you at the time, but getting to the top of the celebrity ladder is hard work. It took talent, beauty, commitment and, uniquely in my case, a number of unfortunate deaths.
Review:
I loved this book! Although Julian Clary had previously written memoir and humorous non-fiction, this is his first foray into fiction, and what a great start it is. Written in the style of a memoir, it gripped me from the first page, with a central character, Johnny Debonair, who was full of charisma and wit, and despite the dark turns his life takes, Johnny tells his story honestly and with integrity.
It should be noted, however, that this darkly funny tale is not for the faint hearted, as the book contains graphic descriptions of sex and prostitution.
What the book does have, and has it in spades, is brilliantly funny writing. I must admit, I've not had a lot of exposure to Julian Clary as a comedian, but from what I have seen, I think his style is often based on innuendo and double entendre. This is not the same style of humour on display in the book, which is more subtle at times and at others, a slap across the face, but the comic touches sparkle on every page.
I guess if you're going to pick up a bright pink and yellow murder book, written by a notoriously risqué comedian, with quotes from newspaper reviews referring to "filthy", "shocking", and "high camp", then I would hope you know what you're letting yourself in for. However, if you can cope with this type of language and content, then you won't be disappointed with a genuinely unputdownable book.
A new first line of current book
in General Book Discussions
Posted
"The fancy dress theme was refuse and waste paper."
The Shoe Queen - Anna Davis.