bree
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Posts posted by bree
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Ooh, interesting challenge! I've read Partners in crime, but didn't realise the stories were parodies! If most are available free I'm tempted to give it a go - and then like you, go back for a reread! I've read the Big Four, so 13 to do!
Yay! Do join in - and yes, a quick search will throw up the online free e-books.
I have read the Big Four too - but I don't seem to remember it(!)
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Jim Carrey's thriller : The Number 23.
It was interesting to see Carrey in new light!
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Mr. God, This is Anna just arrived - thank you poppy for reminding me of it in your 30-day challenge.
Looking forward to reading this!
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I just completed reading Christie's Partners In Crime - a collection of 14 short-stories with Tommy and Tuppence as the leads.
While the stories are not her best ones, it is a light-hearted read, with each short-story mimicking the style of a famous fictional detective of the period - 1920s.
I was tempted to read the originals, and picked up the list from this wiki link.
This is the list of the 14 authors and their detectives (and in some cases the exact book alluded to):
- Herbert George Jenkins - detective Malcolm Sage (1921)
- R. Austin Freeman - Dr Thorndyke
- Valentine Williams - detective brothers Francis and Desmond Okewood (The Man with the Clubfoot : 1918)
- Isabel Ostrander - detectives Tommy McCarty and Denis Riordan (The Clue in the Air : 1917)
- Arthur Conan Doyle's - Sherlock Holmes (The Disappearance of Lady Frances Carfax : 1911)
- Clinton H. Stagg - the blind detective Thornley Colton
- G. K. Chesterton - Father Brown
- Edgar Wallace
- Baroness Orczy - Polly Burton and Bill Owen (The Old Man in the Corner : 1909)
- A. E. W. Mason - French detective Inspector Hanaud
- Freeman Wills Crofts - detective Inspector Joseph French
- Anthony Berkeley - detective Roger Sherringham
- H. C. Bailey - detectives Dr. Reginald Fortune and Superintendent Bell
- Agatha Christie - Hercule Poirot (The Big Four)
Most of them seem to be available as free e-books on the internet - which makes it easy.
I hope to enjoy this challenge, and re-visit "Partners In Crime", to fully appreciate the parodies.
If you could make any sense of this, and it interests you, do join in!
- Herbert George Jenkins - detective Malcolm Sage (1921)
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I loved this Bree and the artwork through it is wonderful!!
It is soothing and uplifting isn't it?
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Matilda
Roald Dahl
★★★★☆
Synopsis:
Matilda, is a young girl, who has an extraordinary mind. It is capable of grasping grown-up literature, solving mind-boggling arithmetic problems, and coming up with ingenious ways to get even with her parents. Her parents aren't exactly lovely, for at best they neglect her, and at worst they put her down any which way they can.
Soon Matilda begins school and meets her lovely teacher Miss Honey and the terrifying, cruel headmistress : Miss Trunchbull.
As Matilda's genius flowers under Miss Honey's love and attention, she finds out that her sweet teacher has a sad secret past.
What does Matilda do to set things right for Miss Honey, and what eventually becomes of her, is what the rest of the story is about.
Thoughts:
Splendid book! Clever little plot. And the characters, though a bit caricature-esque (in Dahl's signature style), are completely entertaining. I sometimes wonder if Dahl's books aren't more black-humour, than children literature - because while you're chuckling at something funny - the literal fact that you're laughing over isn't funny at all.
But an enjoyable and thoroughly happy read. I can well imagine children rooting for her as she plots and plans and thwarts her parents first, and then the tyrannical Miss. Trunchbull.
Also, throughout the book are references to real life books that Matilda prodigiously devours, and this list inspired me to trigger off the
Matilda Wormwood Challenge)And this quote - from the book - it will serve me well to remember it:
It's a funny thing about mothers and fathers. Even when their own child is the most disgusting little blister you could ever imagine, they still think that he or she is wonderful.
Some parents go further.
They become so blinded by adoration they manage to convince themselves their child has qualities of genius.
Well, there is nothing very wrong with all this. It's the way of the world.
It is only when the parents begin telling us about the brilliance of their own revolting offspring, that we start shouting, "Bring us a basin! We're going to be sick!"
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It's a funny thing about mothers and fathers. Even when their own child is the most disgusting little blister you could ever imagine, they still think that he or she is wonderful.
Some parents go further.
They become so blinded by adoration they manage to convince themselves their child has qualities of genius.
Well, there is nothing very wrong with all this. It's the way of the world.
It is only when the parents begin telling us about the brilliance of their own revolting offspring, that we start shouting, "Bring us a basin! We're going to be sick!"
Done with Matilda!
What a splendid book!
★★★★★
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I love Anne of Green Gables. That and Heidi were two of the most read books of my childhood.
Yay! Me too.
But poppy is the true-blue Heidi fan - she had her own goats and named them the same as Heidi!
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Completed the Christie's Tommy & Tuppence collection of short-stories : Partners In Crime.
A light read - made enjoyable only because of the duo - the plots are rather insipid.
2.5 on 5 this one.
I havnt read yet today cause I just woke up but I am going to continue reading anne of avonlea
Hi Gad, that sounds fun!
How did you find the first book - Anne of Green Gables?
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Partners In Crime
Agatha Christie
★★★
Synopsis:
Tommy and Tuppence
-now married-
are set up as a front in a detective agency, by Mr.Carter (their old friend in secret government services). They are to look out for anyone who comes and mentions certain code-words. In the meanwhile, they manage to solve many petty, and some not-so-petty cases.
Thoughts:
This is a collection of short-stories - linked together and building to a climax. It the second of the five Tommy and Tuppence books.
In each of the stories, Tommy and Tuppence do a tongue-in-cheek imitation of detectives from old classics.
The stories themselves are rather weak - but the characters, the conversations and word play, are delightful.
This has made me curious enough to read the original detective stories (who are parodied here) and I've started a Crime Classics Challenge.
I'd like to re-visit Partners In Crime after I'm through with that, so that I can enjoy it better.
All-in-all, I don't think Christie shines with short stories - she needs more pages and chapters to flesh out her villains and red herrings.
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Hello DJMonty!
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Then I acquired all of Agatha Christie's books for the bargain price of 69p all in one handy electronic device. Apparently this is 88 novels.
Wow! How exciting!
(I have around 20 of them in paperback and hope to own them all someday)
Enjoy yourself!
Yes, it's sci-fi - not my normal genre either. I've not finished yet but what I have read so far is excellent!
I'm tempted. But sci-fi. Oh dear.
But I guess one book won't hurt...
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Hurrah - glad it's inspired you - and glad you've enjoyed them. I've yet to read those titles.
I'm reading War of the Worlds by H G Wells - it's fab!
Matilda arrived this afternoon
Will start as soon as I complete the Christie.
HG Wells = sci-fi, correct?
Not my cup of tea - but glad you enjoyed it!
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I agree, it sounds interesting. Will look out for it, Gad.
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I'm more of a discomfort-zone-non-reader (how weird does that sound!)
I won't read horror (The Shining was enough to confirm that I'm a scaredy-cat) and sci-fi (my mind just doesn't seem to be able to appreciate it).
Anything else I'm willing to try at least once.
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Hello Gad,
I've spotted your posts in a couple of threads - welcome!
I'm quite new too - but lovely people here - and you'll soon feel like you've always belonged.
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Just to restore my good name in the fantasy world: I've read the Hobbit several times, I just really love re-reading and the movie's coming up so I feel like it should be on there.
Oh - woo-ops! (Where's the foot-in-mouth smilie when you need one?)
Will store Guy Gavriel Kay in memory, and look out for them.
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poppyshake, lovely thread!
1. Did you grow up in a book-loving household, and did your parents read to you?
Daddy was a quiet man who always had a book with him. Not English but in our native language. Mum is a magazine flipper, but she was the one who'd buy picture books, rhyme books and children magazines(anyone know/remember MISHA?) for me. But what influenced me most was that I'd go to bed every night with my dad or grandmum telling me numerous stories off the top of their head.
I also remember flipping through pages of my little books, and somewhere along the way the blurry font came actual words and beautiful worlds. It just grew from there.
Pick a favourite book from your childhood, and tell us about it.
Enid Blytons - lots of them. My first books - and still dear old friends. The Faraway Tree series top the list. I love dear old Moonface, Silky, and Saucepan!
2. What was one of the first 'grown-up' books that you really enjoyed?
I started my first Christie and Wodehouse at 13. And they are still faithful companions.
(On the other end of the spectrum, at 14, I read Sidney Sheldon's Stranger in the Mirror and was shocked at the explicit, graphic writing. I still feel violated.
I re-read it recently and it still makes me cringe. I guess that would be the first "grown-up" book")
3. Pick a favourite book that you read in early adulthood - especially if it's one which helped set you off in a certain direction in life.
Without doubt The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand. I was given a copy by my friend's mother at 16 - and it heavily influenced me. Howard Roark was an ideal.
Over the years I've grown past it - but some lessons of 'the virtue of selfishness', not having a sense of entitlement, being the best you can by your own judgement, being self-made and independent as far as possible - have all seeped in and are a part of me in some degree.
4. What's one of your favourite books that you've found in the last five years?
Sadly not much reading in the last five years - not much new reading that is. Of the few books that I have read Mark Haddon's The Curious Incident Of The Dog At Night-time stands out.
And has belonging to the Book Club Forum changed your reading habits?
I've been here for only a month - and yes, it has. I haven't read as much as I'd like to have for a few years now - and being here amongst others who love reading is very inspiring. I'm suddenly looking out for books, buying them, making time to read - and review - and am really happy.
5. Finally - a guilty pleasure, or a favourite that might surprise people!
I have no guilt about my pleasures.
But a favourite series which may surprise (as it may be considered age-inappropriate) are all the darling William books by Richmal Crompton. William, The Outlaws, their beautiful misadventures never fail to brightnen my life. I love that riot of a boy!
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All my dear books are at my mums - some in bookshelves and some in boxes.
My partner and I lead nomadic lives - keep moving every year or so to a new location - and our house is essentially minimalistic.
I usually keep around 6 to 8 books with me - and then deposit them at my mums when I visit her next - and get a new batch.
(Since joining this forum, I've a sudden craving to get all my books over - but I'm scared of the work involved in transporting them each time!)
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What an interesting list!
I've only read The Hobbit on it(!)
It's 5 star book for me and I try and read it at least once a year.
Hope you enjoy Bilbo's adventures too! Will look out for your review.
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Aww, yeah! Kevin and Winnie.
Ah yea, I loved the Wonder Years! I'd forgotten about that.
Yay! And goofy old Paul!
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Not sure when it played in other countries, but does anyone know/remember The Wonder Years?
I loved that one so much!
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Pied Piper - Neville Shute
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Also for me the ending was a little bit 'happily ever after' for me, with where all the children ended up, I couldnt see the parents letting them go off to live in a completely different country.
A very well written review Laura. It's 4.5 for me too.
As to the ending, I thought it a bit too idealistic - it's hard for me to believe that the children would be all right with being shipped off to new place, new people - all the material comforts not withstanding. But I guess, to Howard, in the face of realities of war, survival was happiness enough. And the book can be forgiven a bit of over-simplification.
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I mostly find the Introductions very tedious to read. And then a voice in my head says - "if you can't read 3 pages of introduction, how will you read the 300-odd pages of what the author's written?". And I dutifully read it. But honestly it's tougher than those 300 pages.
Gad786's books 2012
in Past Book Logs
Posted
Nice list Gad.
And wow, you've already ready 23 books this year!
Good going