Mac

Noll's 5 facts about her relationship with Grapes is a work of genius.

Under the Dome by Stephen King Having risen at 5.30am this morning purely to finish the book before I left for my week away must surely convince anyone of how much this novel drew me in. I've not read any reviews of this as yet, but can believe that many may well be negative. This has to be snobbishness on the part of the critic, however. Yes, there are small sections of the novel which are clearly self-indulgence on King's part; yes, there are moments of the gratuitous macabre; yes, some of the characters are cliché's but isn't this part of King's style? He's getting on a bit now, I'd guess, and has written and sold enough to earn the right to be a little self-indulgent. We know he can be gratuitous at times - if we don't like it, we don't continue to buy his books. And his odd clichéd characters? If he didn't have these in his novels, would we care for them as deeply or dislike them as intensely? The book is a hefty one. Not has huge as The Stand but it puts up a good fight for the title. I enjoyed the large cast list, although sometimes I felt like whipping forward so I could follow how the protagonist was fairing rather than go back to another thread of the story - but perseverance pays off in the end. I enjoyed the structure of the novel, set over the course of just over a week, and the way he divides it up into shortish, manageable chapters and sub-chapters. These make the long, film-like chapters capturing an overview of the action throughout the town more powerful, when King acknowledges the reader and flies through the goings-on - a tool he uses in other novels, keeping the reader wrapped in the events. He's a clever chap. How's that for an understatement?!? What I mean is that here is a man who knows how to keep his fans happy. Even those like me who have gone off the boil with him these last few years. I enjoyed his nod to Lee Child as well, in whom he has a fan. It came at a funny point where I had been thinking of Child's character Jack Reacher when, all of a sudden, one of the main players mentions him. When two worlds collide, eh? I'm sure there will be some who disagree with me vociferously, but I'd suggest that with King, you get what you pay for. You know what you're going to get. If you've enjoyed his novels before, then you will enjoy this one. I really did. If you have never enjoyed King, then this isn't going to convert you. Why would it? And the end is fine. Don't believe the miseries. 9/10

I'm racing through Under the Dome by Stephen King. It's terribly addictive - I can barely put it down. Interesting how the name Jack Reacher crops up in it.

Thanks, Noll. I'll probably pick it up this weekend. I will not hold you responsible if it's one of those I can't get into.

I am intrigued, Marcia. I might nip out and get this...

I'm going to get hold of Tender Morsels, having had my curiosity piqued already by Michelle. Looking forward to your review of it, Noll. And if you don't enjoy Crimson Petal... , I'll eat my hat, or maybe even three of them! It's truly brilliant.

My copy of The Crimson Petal and the White also has the above mentioned type of paper. It makes one immediately think of quality before one even begins reading the thing. A Suitable Boy by Vikram Seth has the same. This is one of the reasons I'm so resistant to the ebooks - we lose the connection with the paper, the smell and the variety. Reading isn't just absorbing the words, it would appear - it's the whole visceral experience! (By the way - excellent novel! Have you read it before? It's one of my favourites. Michel Faber is a god...)

I just bought a new Moleskin...

Only for the time being, Marcia. Only for the time being. Unfortunately, I'm a one-book-kinda-guy and this reeled me in like a kipper. I'll be back on Giotto's Hand before you can say antidisestablishmentarianism.

And, there's The Last Witchfinder by James Morrow, which is a truly superb novel. I think Marcia reviewed it not long ago. Have a look. You'll love it!

This chap's got some sauce, hasn't he!

It's the first box-set we're on. It doesn't stop, does it! Jack Bauer is a reasonably cool chap, too.

That DVD is mine! It really was an excellent programme.

I woke up at around 4.30 this morning for some reason, so went downstairs to occupy myself for a while and picked up Under the Dome by Stephen King. It's almost like he's back on form, because I rattled through about 100 pages of it. Consequently, this is now my book at the moment. Utterly absorbing immediately.

Curses! I want more! Thanks, Chesil. I'll keep my eye out. x

I've avoided this thread as I didn't want to accidentally spoil any of the episodes which I've downloaded on the iPlayer - just watched the last one and have to say that I thought they were brilliant. Cumberbatch was born for this role (I even think I prefer him to my all time favourite, Jeremy Brett, which is saying something!) I thought the casting was superb, the scripts excellent and the pacing spot on. And David Arnold doing the music! I need to know when they're making some more and how long I have to wait before it comes out on DVD, please. And, for the record, I've been wearing big overcoats like that since I was in sixth form and I wanted to look like Thrax from the story Bad Company in 2000AD (terribly sad, aren't I, but a definite trend setter...?)

Crumbs. We're watching the first season of 24. It's edge-of-the-seat stuff! How come I didn't know about this?!?

Aye, Kat's a rum'un for that - I need to stop checking her reviews out... ...that's not a euphemism for anything, you know! xx

I loved this book. Some of the kids I was working with a few years ago were doing it in English, so I thought I'd give it a go. I then watched the film which stars a young Shia LeBouef - way before his Transformers whirlwind. It's worth watching after you've read the book. He's excellent as Stanley Yelnats. Cheers now! x

Here you go, Noll. Funnily enough, Since reading The Historian I've fancied holidaying in that neck of the woods and am hoping to go there after I visit Germany next year - this book makes me want to visit there even more! Particularly since the author listed some of the places he visited during his research. What a book. What a writer. I'm going to get all of his books now - have you read any of the Jack Absolute novels? Anyway - here're my thoughts initially posted on my thread. I wrote: "Thanks to Nollaig for steering me onto this book. It grabs ones attention from the outset, drawing one into the 15th Century with all the sounds and sights almost visceral, almost physically transporting one there. The character of Vlad - indeed, Vlad's closest comrades and 'friends' - are interesting in that, despite the terrible deeds they perpetrate, as the reader I can't help but...erm...empathise with them somewhat. Should this worry me? Vlad has qualities I search for in my favourite characters in novels. He's loyal, honourable, strong minded and a pragmatist. He's determined, noble and fearless. Is this a man I would have loyally followed into battle were I of this time? The thought chills me a little, but it's a possibility... Vlad himself commits some disturbingly gruesome acts throughout the book, and orders many others, but Humphreys' skills are such that it doesn't seem gratuitous (although they are disturbing). The writing is fast-paced, a little idiosyncratic, which I enjoyed, and accessible. The chapters jump from major incident to major incident, sometimes missing out huge chunks of the years passing, but this does not affect the novel negatively in any way. In fact, out of necessity, this ramps up the pace of the novel. I can find nothing wrong with this novel at all. I loved it. It's up there with my favourite books now (along with The Historian, funnily enough). Thank you, Noll! 10/10" Hope all are well. MM

Will do. I'm on it now...