vodkafan

Hi mav, welcome to BCF try The Forgotten Soldier by Guy Sajer. I just wrote a synopsis for it on the reading circle thread here: http://www.bookclubforum.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/8586-august-2011-reading-circle-nominations/ (you will have to scroll down to the end to find it)

My wife has for years been frustrated that I cannot seem to read her mind.

MwaHaha (evil laugh)

That's interesting Chrissy I had that same attract/repel instinct about this book before I read it. It was a little hard for me to get into the first chapter, but I am glad I did. I hope you do read it.

Thanks Pipread, Ben, Weave and Kylie. I don't think I could feel much worse than I do right now but you never know things could be even worse tomorrow. Anyway life (and reading) must go on and I have a couple of reviews to write for you... A Case Of Knives by Candia McWilliam I don't know where I found this book from. But it was absolutely great, remarkable even as it is a debut novel. The author uses the plot device of telling the story from the first person viewpoints of 4 main characters each in turn; I have found that I do really enjoy this type of story. Not all the same events though, she does move the story along in time for each character's segment, although sometimes there is a little overlap of events. The plot is quite simple with only a few extra characters apart from the main protagonists. The two things that are so good though are firstly: the completely believable characterisations (I have never met anyone like Lucas but I was able to get completely into his world and feel some symapathy for him) and secondly the exquisite writing. The writing really is something else. Almost on every page it seems there is some small beautiful phrase, it is like going on a pleasant walk and finding small diamonds. Not going to give anything of the plot away but here is a quick look at the main characters: Lucas is a good man, an eminent heart surgeon who is also a very discrete homosexual. Hal is the much younger man who Lucas fell in love with 6 years before. However , Lucas has never been able to tell Hal of his affection, it is an agape sort of love which Hal takes full advantage of. Anne is Lucas oldest friend, who reluctantly agrees to be his co-conspirator. Cora is the plain mysterious girl who Lucas engineers to become Hal's wife.

Be back soon. Been having some real big problems and haven't felt like posting.

No haven't read anything else by him but now I will go hunting on Project Gutenburg and see what I can get for free.

Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas by Hunter S. Thomas. Wow what a book! There are some novels that just fly in out of some strange land and take you on a journey. The pace of this book never lets up. The year is 1971. A journalist and his attorney (at least that is what they represent themselves as- you never actually know if that is a figment of their imaginations) get an assignment to go to Vegas. On the strength of this they borrow money to hire a car and fill it with drugs to go find The American Dream. The book is edgy in places and hilarious in others. This was just the thing to blow the cobwebs out of my brain after Vanity Fair 5/5 for this one

Factoring Humanity by Robert J. Sawyer This a sci fi novel set in Canada (the author is Canadian). The background is that a stream of alien messages have been received from outer space since 2007 but apart from the first couple, human beings cannot decipher them. The main characters are a woman university researcher who is working on the messages and her estranged husband, who is a quantam physicist trying to build AI (Artificial Intelligence). The sub plot (which keeps you reading) is the human story of their marriage. I thought early on in the book that I had guessed the plot from the title, and clues in the first two chapters. Actually I was quite wrong and the story went in a different direction. This was an entertaining story, had a bit of science theory in that did not strain the brain, well written, and I would read more of this author's work. 4.5/5

If you are doing BBC cossy dramas don't forget Sarah Waters....FingerSmith, Tipping The Velvet and Affinity.. and wasn't there a BBC adaption of "Emma" ? I like to watch the Patrick Stewart version of A Christmas Carol at least once a year too..

Factoring Humanity by Robert J. Sawyer This a sci fi novel set in Canada (the author is Canadian). The background is that a stream of alien messages have been received from outer space since 2007 but apart from the first couple, human beings cannot decipher them. The main characters are a woman university researcher who is working on the messages and her estranged husband, who is a quantam physicist trying to build AI (Artificial Intelligence). The sub plot (which keeps you reading) is the human story of their marriage. I thought early on in the book that I had guessed the plot from the title, and clues in the first two chapters. Actually I was quite wrong and the story went in a different direction. This was an entertaining story, had a bit of science theory in that did not strain the brain, well written, and I would read more of this author's work. 4.5/5

Time for another couple of reviews... Fear and Loathing In Las Vegas by Hunter S. Thomas Wow what a book! There are some novels that just fly in out of some strange land and take you on a journey. The pace of this book never lets up. The year is 1971. A journalist and his attorney (at least that is what they represent themselves as- you never actually know if that is a figment of their imaginations) get an assignment to go to Vegas. On the strength of this they borrow money to hire a car and fill it with drugs to go find The American Dream. The book is edgy in places and hilarious in others. This was just the thing to blow the cobwebs out of my brain after Vanity Fair 5/5 for this one

Ah, you devious women. What chance do we poor men have?

Sounds good kidsmum your warrior spirit is strong.

Sure that's a great idea Kidsmum! Let's do lunch! (Always wanted to say that to someone)

Sounds like he's been watching too many "Wizards of Waverley Place" episodes Pickle !

About 6 or 7 episodes are in the book. Some of them don't end up in any sex. It reads more like a stand up comedy routine translated onto the page, but only a couple of them really hit my funny bone, because they seemed made up. No hadn't heard of her before.

Yes a long time ago before I came to BCF. I enjoyed it. There is a film too with Sean Connery which I have not seen.

This sounds pretty cool, another India book I haven't read!

All your last few books sound very good Paula going to add some to my wishlist. Forest of hands and teeth sounds a bit like the film "The Village but your review made it obvious it is quite different.

Sounds good Bobblybear. I have a few Bill Bryson's loaded onto my kindle, haven't read any yet, not sure if this si one of them....

Are you still reading Freakenomics Kylie ?

Have I missed something there Frankie ? That is what Caeser is supposed to have said to Brutus before he got stabbed. Ooshie I will be interested to read what you think of The Name of The Rose

It's been a very long while since I read VoH but I remember feeling exactly the same way. It didn't have the same power as the first book and seemed to be going into female fantasy territory to me. (Not that there is anything wrong with female fantasies) I didn't read any more of the series.

My shattered nerves are slowly recovering after reading Vanity Fair. Baby steps, slowly does it. I have managed to read 2 books so I am going to try to keep up with my reviews. Norway 1940 by Francois Kersaudy This is a history book, but written in a very readable style. Many people in England don't even remember that Norway was invaded before France at the beginning of WWII. I have a bit of an obsession about this time and place in history. From the Allies point of view it was a total mess up, we made lots and lots of mistakes. This book focuses on the political process and the interactions of the French, British, Swedes and Norwegians that led to all the decisions, rather than the battles. There were a few things I didn't know. My Horizontal Life - a collection of one-night stands by Chelsea Handler I got this one for free on my kindle, which is good because I would have hated to have paid for it. Chelsea Handler is an American female comedian and this is the (supposed) story of her debauched teens and twenties, sort of like a female Tucker Max. I thought it might be interesting to read this from a female point of view. However after only the first few pages I concluded that it was all made up rubbish. The situations and characters all seemed too contrived. It was a very quick read though so no harm done.