Mac

:lol:

My brother pointed out that Torchwood is an anagram of Doctor Who and I became so childishly, ridiculously excited I should have been Sectioned. It was almost as bad as when it turned out that Derek Jacobi was The Master, and then regenerated into John Simm! My God, I needed resuscitating after that episode!

Fair enough. I kind of get what you mean about the characters, but I use these books as a break between the 'heavier' novels I read. You know the thing - switch brain on, switch brain off. Harlen Coben is much better at drawing characters full of varying shades of grey, and yet achieves the mantle of being a 'switch brain off' author for me. Don't know why, because he's very skilled at writing the pacey, witty thriller.

I've added this book to my 'buy' list. I'll never be able to save for that augmentation at this rate... How come you half froze to death earlier, then, hmm? Hope the socks (I said socks!) do the job of warming you up!

I remember now that I read Holes in one sitting. There's another one.

Yep, they really are. I do find Koontz extremely readable. I certainly think you would enjoy them. He puts an interesting slant on stuff.

So did I! And the fact that all the male line are called Stanley! I loved the book.

You have?!? If I caught the other bus, I would have done ages ago!

See what I did there? I'm like a popular fast food outlet. Without the food. Or the speed...in fact, without the popular. But there you go. I'm going to keep adding to this as I go along, and if there are any that I review on the Mac Reads 2009 thread, I'll make a point of it here too, for anyone that might be interested. Harlen Coben - Any of this guys books, really, whether you're male or female. If you want to start at the beginning, then Deal Breaker is the book for you as it introduces the main characters that continue to crop up throughout his novels (even the ones not connected with the Myron Bolitar series). I identify with the character of Myron, as he thinks in the same way as I and holds the same principles. This may well be Coben's skill, as he must make many millions of people feel the same. I highly recommend this chap. Dean Koontz - If you've never read a novel by Koontz, then maybe try Odd Thomas or The Bad Place. Koontz' style has developed over the several gazillion books he has spewed out and I have very much enjoyed pretty much everything he has produced. He writes as though he's a nice guy, he very, very rarely swears, he loves animals and is very exciting. He has also, it has to be said, written one of the scariest books I've ever read - The Mask. Saying this, I was babysitting in a very big, creaky house on the Derbyshire moors during a violent storm at midnight when I got to a particularly creepy bit, so go figure. One of my favourite books of all time belongs to Koontz - From The Corner Of His Eye. Excellent stuff. I've put a bit on the Dean Koontz thread about that. Haruki Murakami - Love him, love him, love him. Every one's a winner with me, so far. See my review of Norwegian Wood Mac Reads 2009 and the upcoming review of After Dark. I started out with this chap reading Kafka On The Shore and I believe this one's a good one to start with, because he caught me hook, line and sinker from the get go. Elizabeth Kostova - The Historian. Here is a very well crafted, very creepy book using the mythology behind Vlad Dracul (The Impaler) as a subject. I devoured this novel, relishing in her fine talent for description and creating atmosphere. Donna Tartt - The Secret History. Again, this is one of my all time favourites. I became lost in her world of academia, of the classics, of exclusivity and felt something akin to grief or mourning when I finished this book. Anne Michaels - Fugitive Pieces. This is exquisitly written, a perfectly crafted novel worth reading by anyone who appreciates the art behind scribing a novel that sinks into ones heart. Have a go. Daniel Mason - The Piano Tuner. Reviewed in Mac Reads 2009. Wonderful, moving, evocative and thought-provoking, this is one of the finest books I've read this year. Simply beautiful. Michael Marshall Smith - Any of them. This fella's d

Susan Cooper - The Dark is Rising (series). I read this when I was a youngster, it being perfect reading for early secondary school aged kids. I've mentioned them in a thread somewhere, stating how they still have a place in my soul and all that. I loved them. Seriously recommend them to anyone with kids. Ursula le Guin - Earthsea (series). Another set of books I read when I was a youngster. I adored these books - I think I mentioned these on one of Michelle's threads. Again, I seriously recommend these. Mitch Albom - The Five People You Meet In Heaven. Gentle, beautiful and thought-provoking, this is a must-read for any reader who enjoys personal introspection and asking the 'big' questions. Jeff Lindsay - This guy writes about a serial killer who only kills really bad people. A little macabre at times, Lindsay manages to avoid putting one off his books by making his lead so very entertaining. Definitely one for those crime fiction fans out there! Audrey Niffenegger - again... because Her Fearful Symmetry is terrific. Really terrific. Here's an author I hope we can rely upon. Peter Robinson - his Inspector Banks novels are great. Well worth having a go at if you like your crime fiction!

God bless you, Roxi! It was driving me crazy. Have you read it?

Dammit, no! I can't remember for toffee, and I had to give the book back to the school I 'borrowed' it from. Wish I knew. Can anyone help? Sorry Roxi. I can be really annoying!

I notice you're currently reading Stephen King - I (dare I say this?) find Koontz more consistent in his quality than King. And I also feel he likes people a little more. It comes across. King I find more macabre, more gratuitous in his description. Still, I really love a ton of his books (should that be imperial or metric now? Ton, tonne?)

Hi there. Just wanted to see if anyone has read Holes and, if they have, what they thought of it. A bunch of kids I was teaching were reading and raving about it, I was curious and picked it up. Couldn't put it down. Fast paced, witty, with endearing characters, I thought it was a cracking good book. Funnily enough, I watched the film shortly afterwards and really enjoyed that too. It stars an even younger Shia LeBouef whom I had never seen before and thought, 'Blimey, this guys going to have a brilliant career!' Transformers, anyone? You might have to switch the brain off, but, by God, it's a blinder of a good, fun action movie! I digress. I'll stop here.

I absolutely agree with you. This was just a book I happened to pick up that was being thrown out by someone, so I rescued it. I'm so very pleased I did. And thanks to you, Jo. I'm loving (predictably, some might say) After Dark by Haruki Murakami so watch this space for the point where I wax rhapsodic about him all over again...

Well, Sarah, join my club 'Soft Sh**es Anonymous'. It seems that every book I'm reading makes me sigh deeply and become all introspective and maudlin. I'm a bundle of fun, fun, fun! Hi ho. :lol:

I really like this guy, and have to admit that, over the years, I've collected them all. Yes. All of them. My absolute favourite has to be From The Corner Of His Eye, full of beautiful imagery, some wonderfully memorable characters and a bad guy who is tremendously, deliciously, stark-raving bonkers. I love it. I find Koontz' novels have evolved over the years, that his prose has become much more poetic. He never fails to draw me into the story within a couple of pages. Maybe the frequency my mind resonates at modulates with his? Who knows? I am very much looking forward to his third instalment of his Frankenstein series coming out in June. Almost vibrating with anticipation, actually. I am quite sad, you know!

I often read the first 30 pages of one book, then skip to another book - sometimes not even by the same author! - and read from page 31 to 60, then skip to another book and read from page 61 to 94 and so on and so on. It makes things interesting, if mildly confusing...