ian

Just finished "Rivers of London" by Ben Aaaronovitch. I put my review on the fantasy/sci-fi page. Books read = 25 Complete change of pace now - Sense & sensibility! Ian

I copied that from the inside sleeve notes - there was a little more, but I got tired of copying! Ian

"My name is Peter Grant. Until January I was just another probationary constable in that mighty army for justice known to all right-thinking people as the Metropolitan Police Service, and to everyone else as the filth. My only concerns in life were how to avoid a transfer to the Case Progression Unit - we do paperwork so real coppers don't have to - and finding a way to climb into the panties of the outrageously perky WPC Lesley May. Then one night, in pursuance of a murder inquiry, I tried to take a witness statement from a man who was dead, but distrubingly voluble, and that brought me to the attention of Chief Inspector Nightingale, the last wizard in England. And that, as they say, is where the story begins." I picked this up at my local library. This book is a great deal of fun, well written in an easy, page-turning style, with a good mix of action and humour. Anything with a wizard in it is obviously going to be compared to HP, but this manages to tackle that problem early on (in fact on the cover), so once that's out the way, you can just enjoy. The themes are more adult than HP, so beware of giving this to younger teens. The story starts as outlined in the sleeve notes I copied above and from then progresses as Peter attempts to simultaneously train as a wizard/police officer, track a murderer and solve a problem between warring river spirits. My only criticism is that the inital chapters where Peter goes from an ordinary PC to being told that not only does magic really exist, but that he is a trainee wizard, go a little too quickly. I would have liked a bit more disbelief to make it more beleivable! But all in all, I would give this 4 out of 5, and will now need to find the second book in the series " Moon over Soho" Ian

I was in Whitby recently for the first time since reading Dracula, so I was looking at the various landmarks that are mentioned in the book. It got me thinking about how many literary landmarks I have visited or live near. As well as the above I have also been to; Jamaica Inn Frenchman's Creek I also pass the two towers from Lord of the rings every morning on my way to work in Birmingham. I wondered what other landmarks people had visited or lived by, or could recommend? Ian

Haven't posted for a while as I've been away. In the meantime I've just finished "Killing Ground" by Lee Child. This is the first of the Jack Reacher books and the first one I've read. I have to say I was impressed. I thought it was going to be a standard thriller, but there were lots of little details which initally look superfluous, but come back at the end. So I'll be adding all the others to my virtual TBR list. Books read this year = 24. Ian

I remember that the Darling buds of may series of books by H.E.Bates had lots of eating involved! There is also quite a bit of food involved in both The Hobbit and Lord of the rings, of course. (The decription of the meal in The Prancing Pony at Bree always makes me hungry!). And there are all those feasts in the Harry Potter books. In fact I would imagine that childrens book would provide you with the most material. Now, where's my lunch? Ian

Just finished Dean Koontz - Relentless. Not bad, but not his best. I find myself getting frustrated reading Koontz now because while I do enjoy his books, I know he can write much better stuff than this. He effectively is re-writing the same story over and over again, just changing a few details it seems. Flashes of the old brilliance present themselves, but not enough. books read = 23

Welcome to the site, Seraj!

Finished "A thousand splendid suns" last night. You have to admire the writing here. To take a tale of such unrelenting misery and heartbreak, and yet still manage to make it suffused with hope as it is. And when you consider that the book is about a time and place that I can know nothing about. Is it as good as "The Kite Runner"? It's certainly as well written; the charactors are believable and sympathetic, the scenes are well observed, and an occasional wry observation makes what could be a very bleak, joyless read into a real emotional rollercoaster. If you haven't read either of these books, I can heartily recommend them Books read = 22

Some good collections of short stories that stick in my mind are any by Stephen King, but especially Different Seasons. Ian Rankin did a collection of Inspector Rebus stories called A Good Hanging. This was my first Rebus book, and I devoured it! Also the Annie Proulx collection Close Range have some very good stories. Ian

Like Kylie, I had no idea there were sequels to Cold Comfort Farm. I suspect I may have to read the first again, before tackling the next two

I love most of the Koontz I have read, although he has become very formulaic in his later stuff. I have Relentless to read next. Ian

Half way through "A thousand, Splendid suns" Sofia - you were right! Ian

Imma, you don't say how old your brother is. It probably wouldn't make a difference anyway, as others have said. If he has a good story and it's well written, his age shouldn't come into it. I guess it also depends on the audience he's writing for. Is is an adult book, or something for teenagers? It would be a shame if he failed to put pen to paper because he felt this way. Ian

Welcome, Deanna. I'm sure you'll find lots of new reads as a result of joining here. I know I did! Ian

I went to local library in my lunchhour from work. I kept coming across novelisations (hate that word! ). Now, this is something I used to read as a young teenager, but I soon got to realise that all I was reading was the script with a few very basic descriptions of the landscape or the charactors. One that sticks in my mind was The Thing - based on the Kurt Russell version of the film. Maybe I had a bad experience, perhaps there are very well written conversions of a film script into a "proper" book, but I wonder if they can even properly be called books? Am I missing the point here? I'd love to know what others think Ian

I've read the book but not seen the film. IMHO, the book sucked as well, although I understand the ending to the film is even worse than the book. Hard to believe. Ian

Absolutely Ben, which is why I was very pleased to pick up a copy of "A thousand, splendid suns" today at the Library! Now my only decision is whether to read this or the Dean Koontz (the title of which escapes me - it's in the boot of the car still!) first. Ian

In my youth I used to go Surfing in Cornwall twice a year. On the drive down we would always stop at Jamaica Inn for lunch before carrying on. They get a lot of coaches, so it's got a rather ugly extension on it that detracts from the original. But if you stay in the original part of the pub on a rainy, misty day, it's very atmospheric. It's been my brother's ambition to spend a night there. Ian

No, but it is definitely be on my TBR pile after that! There where times when what I had read moved me so much, that I had to put the book down for 5 mins or so, just to take it all in. I've now just finished book 21 - "Death of a blue movie star" by Jeffery Deaver. This is the second of the Rune series, the first of which (Manhatten is my beat) I read a couple of years ago. A "easy" book in comparison with the Kite Runner, if they makes sense. Not to denegate Deaver - this is a tightly plotted crime thriller with an engaging protaganist and few good trademark Deaver twists throughout. Not bad for £1.50 from a market stall! Unfortunately, I find myself sans book until I can get to the Library Thursday hopefully. Ian

And the best part about reading authors from another country is that you learn things about that country that probably wouldn't unless you lived there for some time. Ian

Just saw this on the BBC website; no fourth book Ian