Mac
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Faceless Killers by Henning Mankell One frozen January morning at 5am, Inspector Wallander responds to what he believes is a routine call-out. When he reaches the isolated farmhouse he discovers a blood bath. An old man has been tortured and beaten to death, his wife lies barely alive beside his shattered body, both victims of a violence beyond reason. The woman supplies Wallander with his only clue: the perpetrators may have been foreign. When this is leaked to the press, it unleashes racial hatred. Kurt Wallander is a senior police officer. His life is a shambles. His wife has left him, his daughter refuses to speak to him, and even his aging father barely tolerates him. He works tirelessly, eats badly and drinks his nights away in a lonely, neglected flat. But now, with winter tightening and his activities beong monitored by a tough-minded district attorney, Wallander must forget his troubles and throw himself into a battle agaiunst time and against mounting xenophobia. This is the first of Mankell's novels, and I loved it. I really must visit Sweden soon. Wallander is (again) a flawed hero with depth of character. I find myself responding well to the guy. There's something about the cool style of the prose that I find intoxicating and addictive - I've already bought the next three in the series. One of the points I really enjoyed was that the exposition in the novel is short and to the point. Mankell doesn't labour the issue. He whizzes through the investigative processes and focuses on the important parts. This kept the pace moving and me hooked into it. I'm looking forward to the next novel. 8/10
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Thanks Kat. I'll get on it. Have a great weekend.
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A Guide to the Birds of East Africa - Nicholas Drayson
Mac replied to bookwormmum's topic in General Fiction
Ooh, yes. This does seem like something I might enjoy - it's on my To Buy list, now. Roll on payday. -
Hi Kat. I was looking at some Tess Gerritson books yesterday...are they any good? She seems to have written loads. Would I like 'em, do you think?
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This night, I am cooking for my girlfriend, my cousin and his girlfriend this: Risotto with peas and asparagus, lemon fried chicken and (get this!) broccoli from my own garden! How cool is that!?! I also have in a good stock of wine and beer, so this is also on the menu. I believe Andrew's bringing a selection of cheeses. He informed me that he's bringing some holy cheeses. Cheeses of Nazareth, apparently...
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I get that feeling sometimes, too. My friend Maz lent me Dirt Music by Tim Winton and was adamant that I'd love it. I hated it. Just couldn't get into it at all. I get really annoyed with myself when I don't like something a friend recommends, because I feel I'm letting them down somehow. How bizarre is that??? Hope you're very well.
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I really enjoyed His Dark Materials, keeping me hooked in all the way through. I loved the language and the depth of characterisation, also enjoying the religious comment running throughout the trilogy. Nothing seemed to be black and white. And The Subtle Knife made me cry! Like a baby! Like a big, weeping baby! Pathetic, really...
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I felt the same way. This was one of the books that I slung over my shoulder, shouting "Life is too short!". The bloody thing.
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Hey Ben. I'm glad you enjoyed The Hundredth Man. He's great, is our Jack Kerley. There's another 3 books with Carson and Harry in. Magic stuff. Hope you're enjoying the holidays, chum.
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The Other Hand by Chris Cleave This is what the blurb says on the back: We don’t want to tell you what happens in this book. It is a truly special story and we don’t want to spoil it. Nevertheless, you need to know enough to but it so we will just say this: This is the story of two women. Their lives collide one fateful day, and one of them has to make a terrible choice. Two years later, they meet again – the story starts there… Once you have read it, you’ll want to tell your friends about it. When you do, please don’t tell them what happens either. The magic is in how it unfolds. And it is. Exploring love, loss, identity, hope set within the most appalling circumstances, Chris Cleave has created a work of art. Narrated by the two women, each taking turns at the chapters, Chris Cleave shows great skill at understanding the differences between two different culture’s speech and language. In the past, I have struggled with reading accents and taking in the vernacular, but have had no trouble here at all. The novel is extraordinarily moving, and yet at times had the power to make me chuckle (out loud) and smile. Easy to read, upsetting in places (this is the world in which we live?!?), difficult to put down, this book should be read. This is not just a masterpiece; this is a wake-up call. Unequivocally 10/10
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Oooh oooh oooh! I've got this on my shelf! I must start it very soon (maybe after The Other Hand...) Hope you're well, Sarah.
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You know, Roxi, you really do come out with the most sage advice. I am somewhat in awe of you. This should definitely not be read in irony. I've just read your advice to poor old , love-lorn Ben, bless 'im. If only I'd had a friend like you back in the day. You simply wouldn't believe the complete arse I've made of myself in the past...
...actually, you probably would...
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Updated again. The list just gets longer...
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Ooh, you've got Shadow of the Wind to read! It's wonderful. Did you like The Time Traveller's Wife?
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I'm not sure this particular genre is quite up my street, Beth. What do you think? Do I put it on my TBR pile, or avoid adding something else to my mountainous collection? Hope you're very well.
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I am fine, thanks. Work is busy - no, life is busy - but ticking along nicely. I recently read a book of short stories by Jeffrey Deaver. I haven't read any of his stuff before, so this made a good introduction to him. It was called Twisted and every story had - you've guessed it - a twist. However, he's a very clever one, is Jeff, and the twists were mostly all surprises. Result!
As for Harlan Coben, I really enjoy the relationship between Myron and Win. It's almost a symbiotic kind of thing. Love 'em, I do.
What's going on in your world? I've applied for a new job (I've been headhunted!), and I'm hopeful I'll get it. We'll see pretty soon.
Hope you're very well.
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Oh. My. God! There very thought of turning pages down to mark my place in a book sends shudders down my spine... I'm using a piece of papyrus. It's really skinny and feels nice. Howabout that?
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Busy as a thing that's really busy, as usual, yes. I've applied for a new job, which would pay me the same salary, but with 5 hours less a week and with the school holidays to enjoy. This would be very good. It would give me more time to myself, which I don't get a lot of, currently.
I hope you're enjoying your pool-time and getting to read plenty of great books.
